Yes Pegrin does have a key on him. Who is going to open the chest?
Terevalis will.
Ok well Terevalis you unlock the chest but it seems Pegrin was pretty paranoid about people breaking into his chest and had a trap set on his chest which is set to go off unless someone (namely Pegrin) disarmed it. The trap attacks you at as a poison needle shoots out the lock and pierces Terevalis's hand. Make a fort save, DC 13.
As for what is in the chest you find the lions share of the loot. A sack of 500 Steel pieces, 4 Silvenesti jade carvings, 3 bottles of fine wine, A masterwork chainmail (with Dark Knight markings) and a wooden hexagon shaped box.
Further searching the room you also find 10 gemstones and 2 potions hidden under Pegrin's bed.
Here goes,
Fort Save
You take 1 Con damage. Every 4 rounds you make another save until you pass or get treatment.
Clara will identify the potions:
Ok.
How nice I am poisoned and the gnome is checking for potions.
Datura helps Semus in gathering ropes, and binding those that still live. He stays mostly silent, as he doesn't have much opinion on the matters. He doesn't see much point in capturing and helping those that are mostly or almost dead. The wolf doesn't help his rival after they fight to be the alpha.
"There there, Terevalis, Great grandpa Umbilicus always said nothing takes the sting out of foolishly opening a chest without checking for traps like delicious and uplifting fizzy pop. Here have a sip."
Ok well both the potions are potions of Cure Light Wounds (One check was enough for both). As for Clara's fizzy drink, it tastes good bot does nothing to really help Terevalis overcome the poison. Speaking of which Terevalis give me another fort save, same difficulty. Now I'll say that in the general supplies in the supply tent there is actually a Healer's Kit, so Clara could use them for a +2 bonus on the next check if she makes use of it. As for the captured people, all the normal bandits are dead (Mooks usually die at 0 HP unless you're doing Non-lethal damage), but Derg, Pegrin and Cole are now thoroughly tied up with rope.
"What about that wooden hexagon shaped box, huh? Aren't you curious what's in the box? Let's see what's in the box, OK? Semus, anything seem trappy not it? Terevalis, can you tell if it's magic?"
Fort Save.
I might be able to do so if I were not fighting the effects of being poisoned.
Ok Terevalis, Clara actually uses some real cleaning materials and bandages for the wound. Make another fort save with a +4 bonus Terevalis.
Fort Save
With the treatment of Clara's healer's kit and cleaning of the wound the poison stops harming Terevalis further although he feels weak and sickly from the poison and definitely up for some rest. So is Terevalis going to investigate the box?
He will cast detect magic Moncolik kulit bontuk cermin oktom blnu
The box detects as having a mild magical aura to it although it does not seem overly powerful. Make me a knowledge history check for the box as you examine the symbols, markings and workmanship.
Knowledge History Check
All terevalis recognizes is that the box bears markings of the royal house of Quinari and has superior elven craftsmanship. Definitely is something from the palace back in Silvanost.
Terevalis will claim it since he is the only member of the Silvanesti here.
"So this is adventuring, huh? It's even more...vivid...than I'd imagined." Clarabibulus pauses to take in the scene.
"Semus, I'm sure you're right that we should sleep here, though I do worry that those who ran off will return with reinforcements...or even just to try to salvage what of their loot they can. I suppose if we have two of us on watch at any given time, that should be sufficient. Can I suggest: myself and Drake, then Terevalis and Datura, and then Seren and Semus? I don't know about you all, but I'd like to sleep as close together -- and in as few tents -- as we can manage, just in case?"
I will need 8 hours of rest if I am going to be able to re-prepare my spells in the morning. I will do either the first or the last. Since you have two people who can see in the dark it might be wise to have us on different watches as well
How about Clara and I take first watch, then Datura and Semus, with Seren and Terevalis taking last watch.
Why not Clara and Seren? Elves have the ability to see in the dark with their elven sight.
"Oh dear, it does make sense to have those who can see in the dark on different shifts, doesn't it now? I really am new at this. What do you think then? Terevalis + Drake, me + Datura, and Seren + Semus?"
Clara looks expectantly at the others.
Terevalis knods.
The group grabs the abundant sleeping material and settles down for the night with their captives. Fortunately no one shows up to hassle you for the bandits have long fled and the camp was fairly unknown to most. Late in the morning you awaken well rested. Pegrin is still near death but Derg has awakened although has little to say as he's likey tied and gagged at the moment. Cole is somewhat better than he was as well but still hurting from his arrow wound.
Terevalis will prepare spells and attempt to charm Derg.
Ast kiloncor thinthin DC 15
As a half-elf he has a +2 bonus VS that spell so
Terevalis tries to charm him but he proves to be pretty strong willed and defiant and gives him a hateful glare definitely not liking his situation.
Clarabibulus wakes early, with the excitement of the previous night keeping sleep from her, and finds she has a sudden inspiration for a new recipe. When the others awake she's just finishing it up and beams proudly at them. "Hey everybody, gather round for some fresh, good morning fizzy drinks. This one's made with grapefruit, prickly-pear cactus fruit, fennel, radish, and birch bark."
While anyone interested shares her breakfast soda, she's suggest in a whisper, "Oooo, Oooo! Now that Derg's awake, who should question him? I bet he knows where they've been raiding, and maybe lots more cool information too."
_______________
Datura just watches all the back and for the who should watch what, and when, before simply adding "Sadly, like my cousin here, I also must get a full night's rest to be prepared for accepting the World Mother blessings. But, Awd doesn't sleep. She can't. She always watches over me while I do. She has decent scent receptors, and an eye for prey. As a plant, she can become fairly unrecognized as a sentry, allowing her to get the jump on anyone trying to approach. I have no problem tasking her to watch over us all as we sleep."
Datura actually accepts the drink this time, recognizing each of the ingredients as plant-based. All the same, as they talk, he takes Awd out so they can try to forage up something to eat for everyone.
Indeed. Despite it being winter Datura is able to forage up some wild plants more resilient to the cold in order to provide enough for the party.
Terevalis will ask Cole what he knows and will continue talking to him about high sorcery.
From questioning Cole on various magical knowledge Terevalis can tell he is a fairly intelligent man and has some structured magical training from his college days. You get the feeling he could transition well into High Sorcery as many Academy sorcerers have done. He also knows a few languages including elvish, both written and spoken. The only problem you can tell is that he is rather weak willed and that this could be dangerous for him if and when he does take the test of High Sorcery.
I say we do a quick yet thorough search of the rest of the camp, gather up all the spoils of victory for the party, then take the bad guys back. We will have Seren go in and meet up with his elven contacts he has made to meet us just a bit outside the city, and turn the bandits over to them for justice. Then we head back in the city and thank the Herald for his guidance before making preparations to depart.
Ok so you tie up Pegrin and throw his unconscious body over someone's sholder (Likey Drake) of a and drag Cole and Derg along with you. The group travels back toward Pashin and reaches the town at early evening. However with 2 tied up people the gate guards are definitely going to have some questions. There are Dark Knight soldiers manning the gates. Either you have to find a way to sneak them into the town or admit to the guards that these are wanted criminals and turn them over to the Dark Knights for "Justice".
I never intended for us to approach the gate or enter the city, I was going to have "Seren go in and meet up with the elven contacts he has made to come meet us, just a bit outside the city, and turn the bandits over to them for justice."
Since it has been brought up, before we leave I will attempt to question Derg and Cole to see if this group was anything more than simple bandits, whether they had other objectives than merely collection of wealth, alterior motives, or just any general information they might usefully provide, etc.
Terevalis will show Cole his spellbook.
Derg stubbornly says "What's in it for me if I tell you? You're just going to turn me over to the Dark Knights who will torture me on the rack before they'll put my head under the axe."
Cole on the other hand says, "As far as I know, Pegrin was a profiteer of elven relics. The bandit operations were just ways of getting extra supplies and goods for sale on the open market."
"Drake, I agree, surely there must be some elven authorities to turn them over to outside the city, or who can come out to claim him."
I'm good on the questions, unless anyone else has anything, pretty straight forward banditry it seems.
Seren knowing the trip to the elven colony is treacherous on his own gets in contact with an elven messenger to call upon Naelathan Shadowdark, Shaylin's right hand man who would be the ultimate authority on what legal proceedings would be warranted on these thugs. An hour later Nathalin and two of his men meet with Terevalis in a back alleyway. Nathalin is an elf with golden hair cut ragged and short with pale skin blue eyes and an intense glare and dressed in a black robe. His complexion shows that he bears the marks of the Sunblight. He listens to his tale and says.
"So you got that bastard Pegrin. That is good news to my ears. Well done at ending his operations in the town. Still I'm not going to risk exposure dragging prisoners to our encampment. I would advise that you inform the Mayor of Pashin that you have ended a bandit operation. Turn over your captives to Khur justice and claim whatever reward he is willing to give you. I am sure he'll pay better than those bastard Dark Knights. With the amount of crimes Pegrin is guilty of the Mayor will see to a swift execution."
Terevalis will inform Nathalin about Cole and will ask if Mistress Shaylin would be willing, as an adherent of High Sorcery, to help him undergo an ephiphany so as to help strengthen the Orders.
Terevalis will then report what recommended to him about the bandits.
Nathalin says, "I doubt Shaylin would be willing to train a human in the arts of magic but I will tell her when I return. Shaylin may be a Wizard of the White Robes but she has many elven concerns to deal with. You and your companions have done a right for the resistance though, so if Shaylin feels them worthy she will allow them access to the elven colony and meet them in person. Now I must depart before the Dark Knight patrols get too close."
With that he leaves with his fellows.