Okay this is to role play the discussion following Princess's post.
Princess, I know you are upset with me, but I am more upset with you - and Szuki. We had only just stabilized those poor prisoners and were trying to interrogate that cultist women when you all just started an awkward threesome without warning in front of us all. The things she was saying before then were quite troubling and we needed more answers from her. Despite her troubling words, she was obviously quite rude and had no regard for anyone except those who happen to appear the most dominant and strong in her sight. The other cultists couldn't even stand her for goodness sake... And then we come to find out that she was the one who captured those other prisoners and decided that she was going to kill just about every other cultist and cultist group because she believed them to be inferior.
We have never in our months of working together handled a situation like that. No communication. No order. No group discussion. No teamwork. I let you 2 have your fun with her and figured we would all restart the interrogation when you were done. ... But then you were allowing her to put on armor and arm herself within seconds of us returning into the room... and seemingly agreeing to just let her stroll out of the room when she felt like it.
That was unacceptable to me. Allowing what was in my mind an unpredictable, dangerous, violent, and impatient individual to gain any benefit or comfort before we all can talk about what to do with her.
Don't be mad at Harley. He was only protecting me. I tried to talk to you and the group when I saw her donning the armor but was never heard. So I let my arrow do the talking. I wasn't aiming to kill her, just to immobilize or stun her so we could put her back in the cage.
And as far as her revoking her allegiance to the cult and swearing she was going to help us... My heart doesn't buy it. Her allegiance would have belonged to whatever group would suit her desires and she could have turned on us in an instant.
If she was pregnant, I am sorry. But you could do much better than her. Thank you for protecting your tribe. I hope we can move past this and continue on our quest as before. A strong united unit that can move together with ease and bring balance and justice to the lands.
Kleah informs the Emerald Enclave of our recent journeys. That earth cultists have taken some of the delegation to their stronghold, that we have rescued 2 from the Dwarven fortress which has been overtaken by air cultists, that the wife of one of the freed delegation is believed to still be within the fortress - possibly with others.
Kleah takes this time in Red Lark to socialize a bit with her comrades, relax and recharge, and investigate local markets and stories/intell. from travelers. She also helps care for some of the animals and trains more with Midnight, ensuring that their bond stays strong.
Don't forget that we level up to 7th. I'll look over my notes and such and inquire about items / try to get a hold of any necessary/wanted supplies for our journeys ahead. I'll either post stuff here for Flaco to look over or just PM him about it.
I nod to Harley and say, "Well old friend, I am happy you were able to have such a unique bonding with the wolf in this form and understand why you don't want to feel like you're casting it back into a realm of anguish due to these strange times.
Is the wolf able to help you sense out more about your surroundings or the presence of evil or the supernatural activities we have been encountering lately? That could be most useful to us.
I understand what you mean about if their are monstrosities or evil roaming around a town, that you'd have the same freedoms - especially being that we'd rid said town of the creatures. But for normal towns, you roaming or talking in this form may cause us a lot more issue. I just usher the same caution we use for some instances as we would with Princess or Suki.
The new coat is most interesting. Very beautiful coloring.
..I could totally convince people that I have a matching set of black coated companions..
Once they're done talking and have started grinning at one another in the firelight, I say softly without moving,
"So you can't transform back into your original Elvish form, Harley? Do you feel in control of the wolf as you were before this new transformation? If you ever feel you're not, you must let me know immediately for both your and everyone else's safety. Also, do you still have all of your items and an ability to use them in this form?
Lastly, I don't want you roaming towns or villages in this current form for many reasons... perhaps I can convince others that you are an extremely well trained companion animal or pet of sorts. *a smug grin creeps across Kleah's face* Welcome back MurderMutt."
"I know how you are and admire that you never deviate from who you are. I'm a scout and ranger, scanning perimeters and surveying situations is one of my strengths; I'd gladly repeat joining you in quickening our understanding of a foreign place or situation.
I suppose I'm just being overly cautious in regards to the information sharing. I just have a sour feeling about this area... There's been such a concentration of evil creatures and foul characters. I'll be more at ease once we figure out what is going on and who's behind this. As well ridding these lands of any further filth as we've encountered thus far."
"You have no way of knowing what communication methods they have. They could have communicated the information you and Princess divulged to others before they were eliminated. And besides, we all have seen that the dead can rise again."
When Harley addressed me before he walks to Princess, I say, "True. I didn't hear Princess direct your attention to her. I was already hyper focused on taking her out as she was casting fire magic on our group and she needed to be eliminated. Even after I saw you run after her, I wanted to slow her at least in case there were others nearby she was trying to run to for help - which could've been an ambush situation for you."
I have a passive of 16, but show no signs that I've overheard Harley and Princess's conversation - simply appearing to regain my composure as I readjust my quiver and bow from the fight.
When Harley and Princess regroup with us, I turn and say, "We need to not divulge so much information to strangers about what we've seen and done. It alerted them too much to who we are and gave them reason to set that flare signal in the sky - they may have already sent specifics to their leaders. We must move fast to that other camp (Hc5) to see if the friendlies are still there. And then I feel we just need to push into the fortification to see what is happening. We may not have time to regroup with those other druids who are laying the dead to eternal rest."
I stop sprinting as Harley and the bear tumble to the ground in a strong bear hug. Midnight also stops (she was sprinting in front of me). I say to Harley, "I do not want to kill the creature. It was in chains at that other camp for 'causing issues with the camp grounds' around this ceremony. I wish to relocate it away from here - somewhere safer for it."
In realizing this, Kleah readies her bow with a fire arrow and concentrates her gaze on the tunnels that the freed slaves have just traveled from. She says to her companions, "I think it's imperative that we explore these tunnels now - seeing as how fresh the blood is. I don't want us to be ambushed by these foul beasts."
Perception to see anything moving or out of the ordinary from the direction the slaves just came:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Okay. What about Kleah determining how fresh the blood sprays are on the 2 freed slaves among us? Or their responses for how long ago they saw or heard the beasts of which they spoke? Those responses would drive her next actions.
Perception for freshness of blood on the 2 freed slaves:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
"Also, I do not think it wise to take a short rest in these tunnels. They are just tunnels so far. No where to have a somewhat reliable safety factor. Besides. We haven't been down here for long and the blood on these 2 is still very fresh. The monsters and survivors are very close. I do not wish to sit on my hands idly while they could be but a few minutes away."
Intelligence for Underdark:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 History for Underdark:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
"I can ask Midnight how well she can hear and smell. Her senses are quite keen, but this place has many smells - old and new. Midnight?" I gesture at Midnight. She take a few steps to be at the edge of the group and faces the direction the 2 freed slaves came from. She then concentrates her gaze, opens her mouth, and inhales deeply several times to taste the air.
Midnight has advantage on checks relying on smell, so I'll roll 2x and we'll take the higher? And I'm assuming a 'smell/hearing checks' would be survival/perception.
Smell check for Midnight:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 2nd Smell check for Midnight:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 Hearing check for Midnight beyond us into the tunnels:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
"I have a vote in this matter as well. All of us do. Although we have someone to oversee our debates, we all have a voice and opinion that needs to be heard and considered."
I turn to the 2 escapees and look them in the eyes. "I'm so sorry for what has happened to you. Calm your minds. Think now. How long ago and where in these tunnels did you last encounter those creatures?"
While they sniffle and figure out answers to my questions, I turn my head slightly to the side so I may glance at my companions and say in a soft voice, "I cannot stand idly by while these events happen. If these creatures are as easy to destroy as you say, Harley, then it wouldn't take much time from us. And you also have new boots that will undoubtedly make you as fast as the wind. There is potential for you to scout and see if you can find either the people or the monsters and relay the information to us via our stones. Either that, or you can zip ahead and scout out the tunnels and rooms we have yet to blaze to find the rest of the delegation. But I cannot just ignore these people and continue onward... even though I know there are others further below who need saving. We just don't know where they are at the moment or if they are even still alive. I want to kill these evil creatures and gather survivors for the time being. I haven't lost sight of our original mission, but ignoring these people would weigh on me as much as knowingly sending them into a starving lion's den."
I agree to help fit the leather to anyone who desires it.
Seeing how weak and unsure they are about the weapons Harley has offered to them, I encourage them to at least keep some of the butcher knives and like cutlery from the kitchen on their person. That should, if nothing else, give them a slightly better sense of security.
While we are setting up and fortifying rooms M5 and M6 for these folks and ourselves, I turn to my companions and say, "We can not take the time to escort this group out of the monastery to safety... there are others deeper in the basement that could be dying or are being tortured at this vary moment. We must make sure that we gather everyone we can before leaving. In the morning, We can lock these folks in these rooms while we go back to the basement to finish what we started. (Let's come up with a password they they will recognize as being us as another level of security.) I can even set an alarm on the doors so that I'm alerted should anyone force their way into the rooms while we're away.
Suki and Marek, with your casting abilities, is there any way I could teach you my alarm spell so that you may cast it via a ritual as I've seen you do with other things? Or perhaps you have something at your disposal already which is similar? I've held back using my spells thus far; fearing that we wouldn't find a means to safely rest for at least 24 hrs and need my ability to cure wounds. But, with this rest ahead of us, tomorrow I will fight to my fullest potential.'
I also offer to take 2nd watch once Harley has finished his.
Once we are in the kitchen, I tend to Midnight as best as I can: cleaning her up, addressing her head wound and burn, and feeding her. Then I feed myself.
I believe it's past midnight for in-game timing. And I think there are too many people to stay in that one bunk room - between the freed slaves and ourselves.
I turn to my companions, "We should allow the people we have with us to eat their fill here and then package up as much as they can carry without being slowed. We can secure them in the pantry of the kitchen - giving them cutlery to protect themselves. We should conceal ourselves nearby to keep an eye on them and take a long rest.
In the morning, they can either say put or leave the monastery with that dwarvan sage and hide in the woods. Either way, they can stay put till we are finished and we can guide and protect them till we reach the nearest town.
We need to finish exploring the lower level and find those other captives - especially those who were taken by those 'knights' on vultures weeks ago.
And, I do not know much about Renwick, but do you think it wise to not talk to him again? Suki, Marek, and Fredrick, do you have any ideas of what kind of magic he is studying or trying to learn? Perhaps there's a way to cure him?"
Kleah has specialty in Undead creatures now, but from what I understood last night, she wont be able to use that to her advantage till a long rest or time in town right?
Has anyone explored that door that's in the dungeon area we're currently in? If not, I will roll to investigate it before saying the following in a low voice only meant for my compainions.
"I am most thankful for all of your help in finding Midnight, but will not risk your lives. I want us to proceed cautiously and intelligently. Most of us are worn down and there are no guarantees for a long rest while here. (I feel fine at the moment and can push onward - which is what I'd prefer to do.) If we leave the monastery, I am fairly certain they will re-fortify entrances and anyone of importance who lies deep within these walls will be alerted to our attacks... Negating most of the surprise and efficiency of our mission.
I can set an alarm on this dungeon area if we'd like to go back upstairs and decimate what is left while liberating Midnight. But I am fairly certain there are things with much power being kept beyond this door *motions to the new door in the dungeon area*. That creature we encountered might have been a guard to protect whatever lies beyond."
I see the drastic transformations of my companions and am awestruck. Harley seems at peace and so happy now. I've known him for a long time and have not seen him quite this way. Princess seems to be glowing with more splendor than ever while being more peaceful than I have known her to be. And Marek's faith in his god seems unshaken; perhaps even rejuvenated.
I glance down at the remaining gifts left by Twitch. I reach down and pick up the quiver which he left for me. Slowly turning it every which way, I hold an intense, inquisitive gaze upon it so that I may examine all of the exquisite details and solid craftsmanship of Twitch.
I look up at Orxy and say, "I humbly accept 'Twitch's Hope.' I hope that I am able to put it to great use across the lands I travel and that my archery skills with it can bring Twitch satisfaction. I know what a joy it is to see something you work towards creating be used as you wished by the one you offered it to."
I nod my head and raise the quiver slightly as to acknowledge Twitch's presence and offer thanks. Then I go to private place to meditate with Hope.
I turn to Orxy. Thank you so much for helping Twitch overcome his restraints and giving part of your life force to do so. I am sure Twitch is most grateful for your help.
That's horrible... Poor thing. At least he is free now. And that was so sweet that he left us items he created. I hope he is able to track down the fiends who enslaved him and is able to go back to his former life and friends.
I will gladly attend his mortal body funeral / Solar body rebirth.
In seeing that everyone is accounted for, we should thoroughly search this ship and release the slaves from any shackles they have. We should tell them how we are and what we're doing with them, and ask where they are from.
Midnight and I can be as quiet as the night and as fast as the breaking sun. That and my longbow would be best suited to quietly infiltrating the keep to find and extract the slaves. We will join 'group 3.'
Wanna give code names to the groups? Like: Group 1 = Infiltrators; Group 2 = Saboteurs; Group 3 = Liberators. (Squires = bench warmers lol)
Oh... I forgot it was at Summit Hall... I need to go back and read shit and makes notes. lol
I agree, Harley. I believe he'll be nothing but a detriment if we keep him. Although, I can understand the intended kindness of the cleric.
I turn to Marek. I know it is your vow to help others and not to end lives, but this Reaver tried to kill all of us and has probably killed countless others. If there's a chance he gets freed, he'll no doubt rejoin his group. Divulging information about us. He'll continue in helping them recruit people, trafficking slaves, and murdering the innocent and helpless who happen to cross his path.
Perhaps you could just pray that his soul can redeem the evils he has committed in this life in a future life?
Hmmm. I'll counter with him being secured out of view of the river and gagged. Putting him out of earshot will delay our journey too much.
What do you think we should do about that flash near that horrid monastery? We definitely need to free those captives as quickly as possible, but I strongly feel we need to investigate that flash - potentially with reinforcements...
Not pleased with the results, I continue my gaze upon the Reaver; and say gently and coldly to Harley, 'He's of no use but in wasting our time. He said it himself that he's no more than a knowledge-less grunt for these slave drivers. We should be done with him and go our way as quickly as possible.'
I do not know of a way to get word back to Summit Hall without physically sending someone there...
I turn my attention to our captive, walking behind the fully shifted Harley and leer over his shoulder with intense eyes which pierce our captive's. Do you have any idea what the slaves have been ordered for in that monastery? Under what guard are your slaves kept in Scarlet Moon?
Intimidate:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Midnight is still under the cover of what foliage is available away from the shoreline whatever distance (I think 20 ft) from the shore to the trees
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Midnight must be distracted by that flash...
I look on at the happenings with a face of agreement. But I will pry Harley away from our prisoner should I feel his interigation tactics will kill our prisoner before he gives us good information. ... But, if he keeps on about how we have no chance and that we should surrender, I'll want to be rid of him so we can move onwards to safer ground.
We were setting up camp within the cover of dense trees I thought. That's how the the whole river as been thus far. Huge river, 20ish feet of shore, and then dense woods which continue inland for a ways. But in looking at the map we appear to be decently deep into the mountainous region, maybe I misunderstood Flacco's description of the environment.
Yeah. I'm pretty sure Harley or Marek was given a map. Although, Kleah should probably have a copy made at some point as she's a ranger. I'll have to review her skills to see if she'd have any proficiency or abilities to remember maps/routes/etc from her background. Then she wouldn't need a copy.
But I'm really liking the access to maps and such this site provides. Once we're all used to it and remember all the little perks, it'll help cut out a ton of confusion and discussions on things. Making it easier to RP and get to the plot at hand. :D
We have a Dessarin Valley Map from one of our encounters if I'm not mistaken. Our players can use that to find possible routes and simply scout those areas to confirm they are passable or safe enough for us.
I take a moment to gaze over the water, weary of the potential for another attack. I give Midnight a watch task as I point across the water by saying, "Midnight, be a good girl and keep those eyes and nose pointed toward the water and chirp if you sense something." Then I pat her gently on the back and she hides herself amoungst the shadows of the tree line. I begin to scan over skiff and the people we terminated searching for anything that may be useful or provide us with information.
Whilst scanning our generated wreckage, I tell the others, "Let's drag the bodies ashore and dispose of the wreckage as quickly as possible. Those that got away may return with assistance and I don't want them finding us easily. We also need to hide our own vessel and perhaps move camp a bit north and further into the trees. And.. let's do something about that one dear Princess is bear hugging... gag and tie him for now till we are done?"
In the morning, I:
- tend to Midnight's needs
- freshen up quickly in the baths and ensure all of my equipment is in order
- get breakfast with my group to catch up on events and plan the next few days.
At breakfast I:
- attempt to gain insight on the personalities, intents, and usefulness (abilities and skills) of our new companions: Ted, Sam, and Sir Ryan
- suggest to the group that we
= investigate the condition of the skimmer vessel we were offered
= request for more ropes, rations, and other general supplies we may need
I assume that my wilderness time with Brill has not alerted me to anything misleading about her thus far.
I tend to Midnight 2x/day to ensure that the stable hands are taking care of her properly. He and his helpers seemed.... confused on what to do with her.
