Clarabibulus is visibly sweating nervously as they see the fire and tents ahead of them, and her hand keeps opening and closing on the mutagen in her hand.
She whispers, "OK, how do we make certain this is Pegrin and his gang? Shall a quieter subset of us to approach closer, to scout? I can be quite inconspicious, especially after drinking my Mutagen of Zesty Dexterity and my Fizzy Extract of Emsmallening...though so far I can't get the latter to last for more a minute."
From a casual glance from the trees the party can see some figures moving around the camp. The camp itself is well lit, with a large firepit providing a massive amount of light as well as some lanterns here and there so beyond the tree cover is standard lighting. You count maybe 9 tents. Beyond that you'll need to get closer to get any further details.
"We should be wary, my friends. This is not an entirely unanticipated outcome. We could attempt to strike in stealth, or we can go in with weapons waving. We could even do both, as Clara suggested, with one group taking all the attention, and others hiding and attacking from behind?" Seren whispers to his companions.
"Now, I believe that Semus knows how to remain hidden. I would imagine also that mistress Clara is also at an advantage due to her size. Good squire, I presume you are in favor of the blind assault?" Seren smiles, taking any sting from his words. "In any case, we must decide soon... I would rather not allow any more caravans to be raided. Personally, I believe mistress Clara is correct, though, that some of us should scout before we engage."
Terevalis will pull out his spell component pouch and bring forth a few items. With a look of concentration he speaks in Magius, "Ast kilthanon bumbador talinin as a shimmering outline of armor surround him.
Datura draws his bow as they near, knowing he would have preferred they rest a little before they left, because now he is at a loss for some of the divinity granted by the World Mother. "I think we should act as the wolf, and surround our prey. I am decent at being unseen, but Awd is very skilled. If the little one, Clara, wants to go one way maybe Semus can go with her. Awd and I could go the other side, and the three of you stay here. You three can approach normally, and on a signal we act if needed. I would save any short term effects until we know we will be fighting."
"Before we strike, let's scout. I want to be absolutely certain that this is Pegrin's camp...and to know as much as we can about how many of them there are, and where. Why don't Semus and I scout first to get the lay of the land? Semus?"
Sounds good to me, we'll go around their camp, and try to determine if this is the camp we're looking and what is their strength. We'll be back to formulate the plan, if they discover us, just join the fray he winks at the group
Follow me... he says to the gnome.
Semus pulls both of his axes and begins moving quietly as possible, keeping a safe distance, moving from one hiding place to another.
Seren nods slowly, arching a brow. "I can join you as well, if you like." He adds, voice quiet. "I learned to sneak away from the Dark Knights when I was younger." He grins brightly, almost laughing at the memory.
Despite Semus making a bit of noise by accidentally kicking a loose stone under the snow the guards appear to be less the wiser. As Semus beat their perception by more than 10, he can pick two options from the list below.
1. Move up to any one tent the map.
2. Do a perception check to search the immediate area.
3. Sneak up to a guard.
4. Attack a guard by surprise.
5. Provide a +2 circumstance bonus to an ally's stealth check.
6. A +2 bonus to the next stealth check he does.
7. Enter one tent without being detected. (But he must be at a tent for this to work).
8. Another option as suggested by the player.
Semus nods to Serenatholos and signals the elf to come along.
Using his skills in stealth to plot out a course, Semus guides his friend into the camp. Everyone sneaking into the camp make a stealth check. The DC for the check is:
Follow me, huh? Gulp!
Clara pops the cap off the vial in her hand and drinks her Mutagen of Zesty Dexterity. She shudders at the taste, like a dog shaking off after a bath, and you see her eyes are bulging, her skin has turned purple and (if you look closely) actually seems a bit thicker.
"WellThatWasBracing-AlwaysIsAlwaysIs-NeverBeenBetter-NeverABetterTimeToScou t-SeeYouBackInAJiffy!"
And with that she follows, staying about 25' behind Semus, picking a slightly different path in spots where it seems he barely stepped on a dried leaf or twig.
Clarabibulus beat the perception by 12, thus she gets 2 hits on the stealth chart. I assume you're taking 1 and 2 on the list with that. Ok with 1 you're able to sneak up to the big tent. However as you're sneaking in through the south entrance (As its ideal to circle around rather than move straight though the camp) you might hit a trap. Give me a perception check to see if you can spot the trap before you fall into it. Give me a second perception check for your listen check when and if you make it to the big tent.
Spot traps?
Listen
Indeed with a 17 Clarabibulcus is able to spot a tripwire hidden in the snow and is able to step over it without setting it off. As for the second perception check Clara hears snoring from inside the large tent. The snoring is audible enough to hear. However this uses up her two stealth raises, she'll have to make a 2nd stealth check to actually sneak into the tent itself without being perceived if she wants to take a look.
Well, I've made it this far...
Guard Perception
Ok the guards totally don't spot you. As for the listen check the camp is pretty quiet right now. You get the sense most of the bandits are asleep at the moment, the only major sound being the bonfire in the center of the camp and the occasional footsteps of the sentries. You also get to hold 3 from the stealth list.
OK, I'll take a quick peek: How many are sleeping in the big tent? Anything interesting visible in there?
For my other two from the list, I'll take 5 & 6 as I back away, carefully remembering the location of the trip line to warn my comrades, and head back to the group to report.
Clarabibulus looks into the big tent. There is a very large burly looking man with black hair sleeping in the tent. You see that there seems to be fairly well decorated with a number of pelts and other random goods there is a large chest next to his bed.
I will instead of taking number 6 you basically automatically succeed at sneaking back to the group without making another check. You can keep number 5 for one of your allies if you lead them.
Seren smiles at the two small folk, shaking his head, then quietly moves into the camp. Once away from Terevalis and Datura, he chants quietly, focusing the wild magic in the area into a sweet lullaby that should prevent the targets (those bandits he goes closest to), rather oblivious and drowsy.
That done, Seren seeks both the cowled and hooded figure that he associates with the dark elf, as well as the half-human who is Pergrin's lieutenant. If he does not detect any sign of them, he will scout out one of the tents on the edges, his dagger ready.
Seren, remember to add +2 Aid to your stealth role if you haven't. Clara makes sure he sees the trip wire as well, and knows to look for more.
Perception Test
Will Save for Guard
The guard is affected by the spell and yawns and looks a bit non attentive. He goes over to one of the logs near the fire and takes a seat, feeling suddenly exhausted.
As for Seren, it depends on what route you're taking. Are you using the route Clara took or are you following Semus from another direction?
Seren you get to pick 3 by the way on the stealth list. One of your picks is the active perception test for traps. It will also cost a pick to use a spell without being detected as spells make sound and could give you away. This leaves you 1 pick to reach the tent of your choosing.
(OOC: I have drawn the tripwire trap on the map BTW and revealed who is in the lower tent.)
When he uses sleep, lol.
Seren heads toward the northwestern tent with Semus. Fortunately they hit no traps along the route they take. Peeking inside the tent they find a young man with brown hair and a beard, dressed in red robes sleeping there. They also see there is a few scroll cases and a few sacks in the tent. He has different clothing from the rest of the bandits. Give me a bardic knowledge roll for the man.
Clara comes back quietly back into the camp, aiming to arrive back the same time as Semus and Seren, eyes a bit wild.
"HeyThereIThinkThisIsItIThinkIt'sPegrin'sCampTheseAreTheThieves." She pauses a bit to catch her breath. "There's a trip line set up on the south side of the camp. I'll show it to you but watch out for others, they may have more. Most of them are sleeping right now; just three guards on watch. I snuck a bit into the big tent AND THERE'S A GIANT SLEEPING IN THERE! Maybe even bigger than Drake. I think it could be Pegrin: He has a treasure chest and lots of pelts and the biggest tent all to himself."
She pauses. "What do we do?"
Well Seren does not know what affiliation he is. But from the stuff in his tent, Seren suspects this guy is a magic-user of some kind.
Seren narrows his eyes, wondering if he could steal the scrolls. Not that that was particularly appealing, but if he did, perhaps the sorcerer's abilities would be less... effective? He looks at Semus, arching a brow. After a moment, he looks at the sleeping sorcerer, sighing softly. He did not have it in him to harm a sleeping man, but he does look carefully for the sorcerer's spell component pouch, not approaching yet. After another few seconds, he elects to quietly take the scroll cases, as well as the sack that looks most like a spell component pouch, assuming it's not on the sorcerer himself.
Seren easily slips into the tent without the man noticing. The man is currently sleeping soundly in the tent. Seren also peeks into the sacks and find a few of his personal belongings, another sack appears to have a mix of coinage inside of it and the last sack is a mix of a bit more exotic magical components probably used for magical rituals of some kind. There are three scroll cases total in the tent which are easily taken.
Seren takes the scroll cases, as well as the sack with the mix of magical components. Stowing them carefully, he returns to his companions wearing a small smile. "I've partially disarmed the sorcerer, I think..." He points to the tent where he had just arrived from. "That's where he is, by the way." He offers the sack to Terevalis. "Do you recognize these, honored cousin?"
Gathering the scrolls in his hands, unfurling them, Terevalis begins to chant, "Rsathin wijnun" casting Read Magic in Magius,
There are three magical scrolls from the cases, these scrolls look like they were made by the orders due to their age and markings. The spells are Sleep, Burning Hands and Lesser Orb of Fire.
I would say we incapacitate the guards one by one, then deal with the rest quickly and quietly
Most of them are sleeping, it would be easy
"Hm. Most intriguing. I agree, Semus, we could very easily put them all to sleep, I think. But at the same time, I have no stomach for slaying sleeping men, as you might be able to tell." Seren smiles faintly, gesturing at he sorcerer's tent again.
He looks to Terevalis, "But also, do you know what these magical components might be used for? I am not familiar with magical knowledge and the like." He hands the sack to the Silvanesti.
As for the sack, roughly 100 steel in random spell components. Some wine is the major items, used mainly for identification spells.
The way you wrote your post when you described what you did with the scrolls sounded like you were handing them to me.
"Seren, I agree that True Heroes don't slay sleeping men...but knocking them out and tying them up?
"We know that the Dark Knights have a 50 steel reward on Pegrin's head. We could perhaps capture them and bring them to justice, such as it is in this realm. Perhaps if some awaken unrestrained but see that many of their comrades are bound they will see the light and yield...and if they don't then we can deal with those alone with blades, spells, and alchemical creations.
"I confess I don't have rope with me, but perhaps others do? If not, hey, we could even come back tomorrow night at this point, with exactly the supplies we'd need and exactly the spells prepared. I doubt one more day changes anything, if we really need it."
I have a prepared a spell that can help keep them asleep.
To Terevalis,
"Great, how many do you think you can make slumber, and for how long?"
To the rest,
"Anybody have a rope, and skill in tying it?"
I might be able to put a group to sleep but they would have to be close to each other.
Seren shakes his head. "I do not have any rope on me, regrettably." He sighs, noting that he should probably purchase some in the future.
I have 50' of hemp rope, that's probably enough to tie a couple of people
Wizard, given the stuff Serenatholos took, would the sorcerer still be a threat?, can he function without his pouch of ... magical stuffs
Datura listens to the discussion of it, before giving his opinion. "If we take the leader prisoner quietly, then the others may be persuaded to just not fight. Or if we promise harm to him if they try. Would that work? I have no rope though."
Kender, sorcerers do not follow the laws of magic. As this would be my first time dealing with one I am not sure.