the frogman and rockman are actively wanted in this city, and I believe that you only have 2 hats of disguise between you.
the squad you killed was all human with one survivor. you currently have no idea where or what the survivor is doing.
to be clear the docks district was burned down to the water during low tide on a new moon. the same time that the Eleder docks were burned down
the guards are retreating back to the main district now. what are your immediate plans?
"Are there any gates in and out of the city that are not near the main district we can get to?"
Karla looks uncertain
walk out the gates? I think crossing the walls would be safer. But if you think so.
you can definitely get to one, its 6 blocks away even. the northern fortified gate
"Hashik's idea about blustering our way past the guards has some merit.
"But we don't want to spend too much time preparing while the guards are short in number.
"One thing we could do is have one of us whose good at going undetected climb over a section of wall unnoticed with the magic weapons.
"And then the rest of us could follow through a gate without causing suspicion. Hopefully.
"Then we could rendezvous soon after outside the city walls.
"More elaborate, I know, but that would avoid the search for magic weapons."
"Those walls are of stone. If we could find a section of the wall which is unguarded, I would be able to pass through with the magic weapons. Hashik, you said you could create disguises? If Raok can be passed off as a halfling or some such, we would not be abetting a wanted criminal - as far as the guards know."
Raok currently looks like a halfling as he has a hat of disguise.. thus the overly clever Karla caught him out as he didn't know much about actually being a halfling though..
”That’s a good hybrid plan! So we can get the arms and armor out with Jarek. Raok and I have the hats and I have a spell for one more. So if Karla can make it over the wall. The three of us left looking like half starved adventurers seeking to kill the dragon for a reward should be able to get out. What do you think?”
"Sounds great Hashik." says Raok enthusiastically with a halfling look of glee
will you be leaving tonight or later?
also Hashik, you haven't seen your wanted poster in town, or Karla's.
is Karla not coming with you through the gate? is she going with Jarek over the wall?
also you do manage to find a place to crawl over the wall very easily. its unlit until a guard walks over with a torch, which isn't very often
And the rest of us go through the gate disguised-like.
If that surviving guard did alert the others, a lesser number of us might rouse less suspicion at the gate.
ok, with no word from either of them I'll assume that Karla is being tied onto the back of Jarek
the plan goes off without a hitch, the guards frisk you and you are allowed out unmolested. you also see another squad of enforcers and a small mercenary group going after the same prize as you. along with 5 other civilian groups just wanting to get out of the city.
the dragon showed up at the middlish part of you journey, and harassed you almost all the way to Crown's End. what's your plan?
"So were did you find the dragon and are there any likely places for a lair around there?"
It is not a very big dragon, but it is nasty enough. I don't know enough about this area to say where it lairs.
what is your plan for catching and killing this dragon? and what are you going to do about the other mercenaries and bounty hunters going off to kill it?
"Well, that dragon seemed to be keen on messing with our water supplies last time.
"Maybe if we had extra water with us as if we were on a long trek, that might draw it out?
"Some bait, of a sort."
you do know it was actively avoiding you near the end of your journey so there is that to consider. it's an earth dragon with lightning breath. when it was harrasing you, you had the beginning of the Bandu hills to the east and the ocean cliffs to the west
Karla scratches her head
That may work. Have you any water like that? And a lot of people are hunting it, the same sort that are likely hunting us.
She squints up at the taller characters
Still, getting the dragon, and any reward for it may help us disguise ourselves.
"I can make magic water, so we just need some containers." Raok replies to Karla
”Perfect! I think we will need to find some food provisions however. Maybe some hunting and gathering is in order?”
you find one badger and somehow kill 2, you're all set for a week. what are you storing the water in?
"Excellent I can help with this and he brandishes his net, I hope you like insects." with a mischievous smile
When they are organised Raok will go food hunting and actually will try and catch some insects as well
that is a sufficient roll to provide. one of the mercenary group (all human) is approaching you. he is wearing a stupid amount of jewelry
he yells out "I see you have some food over here, we would be willing to pay for some."
While making preparations Hashik informs the party.
”I have a waterproof bag and a waterskin we can hold water in.”
When the mercenary comes up.
”We have a little bit of food, but we are going after the dragon. I assume you are as well. What are you offering?”
Seeing the mercenary approach, Jarek quietly pulls up the hood of his cloak, just to be safe.
He says nothing for the moment, but waits for the man’s response.
Karla considers the mercenary carefully.
that's a lot of decoration he's wearing. Why does someone with that much jewelry need food? It's not that short. Is it?
Karla suddenly gets nervous. Either this guy is stringing them on, for nefarious reasons, or...
They might have a real problem.
what's your name sparkly? You going to a party?
Draalûsh sits quietly as the mercenaries approach.
Making sure his crossbow is within reach.
He tries to stay alert for any sign of trouble:
there are 5 mercenaries, only one is approaching. even then only at a distance
"we have some spare gold for the food, half a days rations is what we're asking"
he flips Karla the bird
"Don't take offence, Karla. I'm sure he's just telling you you're number one."
Then he shouts at the nearing mercenary: "How much you offering?"
"an earring. should be able to get at least 10 gold for it at market"
Karla imagines the merc on fire, and smiles sweetly.
She starts to raise a hand when Draalush speaks. The hand goes down.
"Sold!", Draalûsh shouts.
"Business is business, Karla", he whispers to the halfling with a wink.
He then grabs a day's rations and walks up a few yards in front of the party.
He then shouts to the others: "Shall I meet one of you half way, so we know there's no funny stuff from either side?"
Raok draws his dagger and increases his paranoid looking around for bad guys sneaking up on them
"Meh, fair enough? Hey, have you heard any rumors about what's going on in any of the other settlements?"
Hashik asks conversationally.
they're rich mercenaries!
the deal goes off without a hitch. Hashik add an earring to your inventory
you, Raok see exactly 13 tumbleweeds rolling off in the distance.
as you're handing the food Hashik off he says "nah, I'm not that well connected. besides barely anyone cares what happens in Crown's End." he seems friendly for a professional killer
you said you were going to the derelict wagons for supplies. you all get there in 4 days, with the mercenary group traveling relatively close to the road and the group of enforcers out of sight. what are you looking for?
"We just need some tell-tale signs of that dragon.
"Any ideas what exactly to look for?
"Aside from dead bodies, that is…"
"Please give me some idea of what the dragon did, claw size, did it land and stand on four feet? Did it perch anywhere? So that I can try track it's movements."
Raok waits for the information and starts looking around, he will follow leads and climbs up rocks etc
"It could fly, obviously. It was blue, and small enough to hide under some of our carts.
"The only time it was on the ground was when we flushed it out from under a cart.
"And even then it was airborne soon after.
"Spouted electrical breath, and seemed able to evaporate water somehow.
"It also dropped some sort of animated scarecrow on us at one point.
"Not much useful detail there, I know.
"But we were somewhat preoccupied with it trying to kill us."
"If I can get within 10 yards of it, I may be able to pin its wings with my… " He pauses, realizing he’s not sure what it’s called. "… rock blast? Whatever you would call it, it might help immobilize it."
"I thought of trying to sell those guys the magical arms and armor, but that might have been too big of a fence. Maybe after we reach the cart graveyard huh? Plausible we could find those there and then have them for barter."
Hashik muses aloud before addressing the question about the dragon.
"Its not very big, but it is a dragon and it somehow got access to a construct. Its hit and run tactics are maddening. . . "
"Actually, it is quite ingenious in its tactics. This tiny little lizard has almost brought the town to its knees and open rebellion. A single being has cut the Consortium's supply line in two."
"When and if we kill it our wanted posters and possibly bounty hunters, will be able to reach us. Such a double edged sword."
"As crazy as it sounds I almost want to ally with it."
Roak I am sorry, but it is a flying based monster with about a 50 mile long area of operations. you find nothing.
the mercenaries are also following the road here to the carts. the enforcer group is keeping their distance, but still following your groups
these are all very interesting thoughts, but I do need to know what you're going to be looking for at the carts.
again, it takes 4 days to get there. with the mercenary group in easy reach the whole time.
"Since that dragon is no friend of the consortium, allying with it would be tempting.
"Were it not for the fact it did try killing us off. On several occasions.
"Let's just hope it will make itself available for another donnybrook.
"At least now we know what we're dealing with."
"Yes and seeing as you have new members it may underestimate us and allow us to gain advantage over it.. maybe my net will come in handy as well." ponders Raok while looking at the net
It's a dragon. Don't underestimate it.
She sighs
it also has a Huge hunting range. And no reason to trust us. But it is acting like it is at war with the town. Maybe it has a grudge.
well, you get to the wagons with dead horses leading them, and the mercenary group just rushes ahead and take a blue tarp off of one of them. they also start hacking off 4 ornate corner-posts and tip it over and takes off the axle assembly of another.
they drag that up to a hill in the distance and start setting up some shade. one of them comes back down for 2 more blue tarps. while that's happening the rest of them are attaching some golden skulls to the tops of the poles and burying the bases in the hill, cut up the fabric and make a massive tent with a hole in the middle, and when they're done one of them empties out a backpack of silver and gold at least 5 times of what the bag could possibly hold directly under the hole.
any responses?
Draalûsh will watch the mercenaries with interest.
"Peculiar behaviour, that, don't you think?
"You might think they're bastards, Karla.
"And you may well be right.
"But they're obviously minted!
"Looks like their using silver and gold as a dragon lure.
"Something we couldn't afford to do, of course."
He will also see if there's anything else salvageable from the wreckage of the caravan.