HotDQ - Marpenoth 23, 1489 DR

"And who is the leader of your cult?"

The Half-Dragon Langdedrosa is but a Lieutenant for Frulam Mondath, a wearer of purple. Rezmir however, a Black half-dragon, outranks the other two.

"Very well, Sah. In that case I draw on the authority granted by Bahamut and with your confession I find you guilty of homicide. Furthermore, I grant you your wish to be reunited with your Queen. May you Rest In Peace."

He turns to Harold. "We shall execute them for the crimes they have committed, Sah, and then we shall be on our way."

To the cultists, "Kneel, this will be painless." Bartholomew raises his sword with the intent to behead them humanely in the service of justice.

Harold walks up and will stick his shortsword into the neck to sever the vertebrae for anyone who doesn’t resist, and for those that squirm or fight he will slice down on their neck with his scimitar.

Kel attempts to block Harold, quietly saying, "Don't interfere, my friend, unless he asks."

The act of executing the prisoners is completed, more or less without incident. Some or resolved but fearful of death while others take it without flinching.

Harold gives a sideways glance in the direction of the wizard (he doesn’t give him much thought other than that he is a lame duck), cleans his blades, and begins to search the cultists for clues and cool stuff.

The cultists have nothing on them but their weapons and clothing.

"We must keep moving. We have been dallying too long. Let’s go."

Harold will pull their corpses under the trees, so if anything flies overhead, they will not see the bodies.

He then says, Ranger, where to next?

You press on and about an hour before sundown you come to the end of your trek. The cultists have set up their camp in the hollow of a rocky plateau that’s shaped roughly like a horseshoe. The lower portion of the plateau rises gently from the surrounding land, but it quickly steepens and ascends to a height of 150 feet above the landscape. Boulders form jumbled heaps at the bases of the cliffs. The level shelves and top of the plateau are covered in long grass, and brush and scrubby trees grow in patches.

Kel follows keeping an eye on the others as well as for the enemy.

Harold lets the ranger lead, as he holds his bow ready to fire at these cultists.

Actaeon remains quiet, bow at the ready, and takes the lead.

Bartholomew waits for news.

The sides of the plateau rises sharply while the floor of the hollow slopes up gradually to the east. The steep sides of the plateau are dotted with shallow caves. Boulders or brush conveniently conceals many of the cave mouths. As you approach closer you see a guard tower standing 20 foot high in the distance at the entrance to the hollow. It is made of rough timber lashed together with ropes and appears to be manned by kobolds. To the east you can see a second tower atop the plateau. Looking past the first tower you see collections of crudely built huts and tents on the lower flat level decorated with animal skulls that. As the land rises up as it leads towards the plateau cliff side it flattens out again and you see another collection of tents. At the far end of the camp on the 2nd Level you spot a tent larger than all the others that is spaced a good distance from the others.


From what you can see, the camp appears disorganized and chaotic. Morale seems high and security lax. If you wanted, you could probably just walk into the camp and nobody would bother you. If you did that there's a risk someone might remember you from the fighting in Greenest. You could also wait till nightfall and try to enter the camp then, but if you're spotted that will be even harder to explain.

"Looks like we found them. The big tent looks promising, Sah."

The Ranger nods, I think 1 or 2 of us should disguise ourselves and gather intel.

"I’d like to investigate, Sah, but I am not stealthy or particularly subtle. Who should go?"