D&D 5E [IC] Creamsteak's Princes of Elemental Evil

[Creamsteak]

"We were to expect a caravan out of Mirabar some time ago. They have not arrived here. Please, come inside, and you can discuss this further with the senior knight."

With some effort, they open the gates to their rather nice walled fortress. It has the appearance from the inside of a civilized monastery with full provisions to sustain itself. There are many workers, a few trainees, and a handful of proper knights to be counted among those present. An elderly but strong woman can be found inside. She has a stern demeanor.

"I am Ushien Stormbanner. I am in charge here. I am told you come seeking out the caravan that was to bring a fallen brother to be interred here. I am afraid we have not heard word from them nor seen them. Our last communication was a month ago, we were informed of the death of one of our own far to the north. Our numbers have been limited, only our instructors and trainees typically stay in Summit Hall. Many others are out on journeys of their own."

 

[hafrogman]

Tolan hangs back while the others greet the woman, keeping a suspicious eye on Lars. The scratching eerily reminds him of the erstwhile captain and his barnacle affliction.

 

[Forged Fury]

Damien felt a bit uncomfortable. Knights always had a way of putting him off. They could be knights who were reasonable, those who obeyed the right order of law and suppressed anyone who defied them, particularly those who chafed against laws they felt were unjust. Or they could be the unreasonable types who used the sanctity of law and order to promote the health and well-being of all, as if that was even possible!

Not sure which direction to step, he simply stuck to their mission, "Well met, Lady Stormbanner. The last official word we had of the caravan was that it was in Beliard some time ago. If none of the caravan has arrived, then it seems they have been killed or captured to the man. We had run across a few rumors to that effect, but it seems they may have been verified..."

 

[Creamsteak]

Lars seems to be avoiding eye contact with anyone and occasionally scratching.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Thaliss focuses for a few seconds as Damien talks and mumbles munbles a few arcane words. He continues after Damien: "Indeed, well met lady Stormbaner. I am Thaliss of house Eviastarim. Tell me, are any of these four unfortunate souls the comrade you were expecting?" Thaliss proceeds to show her images of the four corpses that were found in the shallow graves. "It seems thugs viciously killed them, and they seem to be from Mirabar"

OOC: Casting of silent image

 

[hafrogman]

Tolan keeps a particularly close eye on Lars during Thaliss' demonstration. Especially when it comes to the corpse in stony plate and the one in the feathered cloak.

edit: makes sense to leave this until any discussion of the silent image is complete.

Tolan seems to have a thought.

"What about the books?"

He addresses Ushien Stormbanner directly, pulling out one of the books.

"We have also come across some Dwarven manuscripts which may have been associated with the caravan. Do you know anything about these, or if they are indeed related?"

 

[Creamsteak]

Damien felt a bit uncomfortable. Knights always had a way of putting him off. They could be knights who were reasonable, those who obeyed the right order of law and suppressed anyone who defied them, particularly those who chafed against laws they felt were unjust. Or they could be the unreasonable types who used the sanctity of law and order to promote the health and well-being of all, as if that was even possible!

Not sure which direction to step, he simply stuck to their mission, "Well met, Lady Stormbanner. The last official word we had of the caravan was that it was in Beliard some time ago. If none of the caravan has arrived, then it seems they have been killed or captured to the man. We had run across a few rumors to that effect, but it seems they may have been verified..."

The older woman ponders the thought... "That is certainly possible. I have told you what I know. The Knight Gray the Umber was killed at the Spine of the World mountains. He had been fighting against an Orc incursion there. If his escort was attacked, the Knights of Samular stand by the side of those that would right this injustice."

Thaliss focuses for a few seconds as Damien talks and mumbles munbles a few arcane words. He continues after Damien: "Indeed, well met lady Stormbaner. I am Thaliss of house Eviastarim. Tell me, are any of these four unfortunate souls the comrade you were expecting?" Thaliss proceeds to show her images of the four corpses that were found in the shallow graves. "It seems thugs viciously killed them, and they seem to be from Mirabar"

OOC: Casting of silent image

The woman takes in the information. "None of those faces are of a Knight that has ever trained in these halls, however, I recognize the armor of stone. It matches the regalia of the guardians of the Sacred Stone Monastery. And the female warrior is clearly a soldier of Mirabar."

Tolan keeps a particularly close eye on Lars during Thaliss' demonstration. Especially when it comes to the corpse in stony plate and the one in the feathered cloak.

edit: makes sense to leave this until any discussion of the silent image is complete.

Tolan seems to have a thought.

"What about the books?"

He addresses Ushien Stormbanner directly, pulling out one of the books.

"We have also come across some Dwarven manuscripts which may have been associated with the caravan. Do you know anything about these, or if they are indeed related?"

"There was a dwarven historian by the name of Bruldenthar that was part of the expedition out of Mirabar. Those books could be possessions of his."

 

[hafrogman]

Tolan starts at Stormbanner's mention of the monastery, dots begin connecting as he pieces together what he sees.

"The Sacred Stone again? It seems that they keep appearing in the slowly unfolding tale. The caravan left Beliard, but never arrived here. I think we can safely assume that they were beset on their way, seemingly by these golden masked monks? They took prisoners across the river, aided by Shoalar who received loot from the caravan as payment. Later, an altercation or an escape attempt results in the deaths of four. At least one from the Sacred Stone and one of the Mirabar delegation."

He turns himself to face north as if he could stare through the walls to the road beyond.

"We could backtrack and try and find where the caravan's path failed."

Next he turns west, towards the Sacred Stone.

"Or we could take what we know and strike for the heart."

 

[Forged Fury]

"Two from Mirabar," Damien offered. "The dwarf's possessions indicated he was likely a smith or smith-apprentice from Mirabar. He and the woman guard from Mirabar, this Sacred Stone warrior, and whomever the feather-cloaked person was... and further west than the Sacred Stone Monastery to boot. Very odd. I'm not generally hasty, I think we should backtrack and see if we can find where the caravan was beset. Perhaps the body of this knight is still there?"

Glancing at Lars, he continued, "Speaking of injustice, this itchy man here was one of the bandits who attacked us on the water. After we slew his companions in self-defense, he surrendered to us. We didn't want to let him flee for fear that he would break more laws, but didn't know a proper way of disposing of him. Given his display of fighting skills, I fear he would meet his doom posthaste if he continued traveling with us."

 

[Creamsteak]

"We do not warden a jail here or keep men in bondage. What are you suggesting, then?"