She reaches out and rests her hand on Zhu's arm briefly.
"We indeed have a lot of history between us all. I had not realised this was a point of honour for you. I will stand by you in this. My initial reluctance was more because I am uncertain as to whether this is beyond our capabilities? Certainly our chance of success increases if we all stick together.. as we have always done."
The dragonborn paused and met Zhu's gaze with his implacable one. Eventually, he spoke. "In that, there is a cold, hard truth. I can respect your own adherence to duty, and as a group we are mutually indebted to the furtherance of our collective aims. Very well. Let your duty be our duty, let the bonds of honour which bind you to this action bind us all. Let us hope that it does not constrain us for so long that we awaken to the giants triumphant, but we go together here. On this, I give my word."
He stops to turn around looking at Zhu, Aubric and Jaliera. He thought they were all agreed to continue on, but it seems not. Their strong convictions to help the villagers makes him bow his head as he closes his eyes for a moment, while feeling horrible for turning his back on this all in the name of expediency. Zhu makes a good point that taking the time to to investigate will probably not make much of a difference in catching up to the doppelganger.
In a unusally soft voice for himself he says, "I'm ashamed. I do really want to make things right here, but thought we had to hurry ever since leaving Calling Horns."
He points back to the village and quietly says, "Why don't we walk back and find a quiet place to plan."
"The afternoon or longer. Seems like we are set to all see this through. And who knows these lords might have an idea why the giants are suddenly active enough in the region to warrant a daily hunt." {OOC: The intent is the same. But it seems they are staying as well so...}
"We can go back to the inn," she says to Davroar before turning to Pavel.
"Good thinking Pavel," she says. "Look, the people in this town have shuttered their homes and those that are about avoid others. We can all sense it. Something is wrong. Most think we're a hunting party. I'm not sure they'll just openly tell us anything. Maybe their afraid? Maybe some of them are part of the problem? What have we learned here? Anything really?"
The group huddled up outside the inn. They had to return there for their horses anyway. When there Zindra spoke up.
"We definitely need to move forward," she says looking at the crew headed into the High Forest. "Hopefully you can handle whatever the Hunt Lords are and dig into it," she says looking at the other group.
"What I know is that with giants here, some undead, and the doppelganger a step or two ahead of us, we must make haste. News that the doppelganger has impersonated Jaliera now, as well as Bern gives me the chills. It is as if it was taunting those who stopped it in the Mines of Phandelver. It could impersonate anyone but it chooses them and acts as if wants to ruin their reputations. That would mean we should expect Davroar and Kriv to be impersonated as well."
"I am very worried about what would happen if it were to reach Turlang before us. The entire forest is at risk now so we must part ways. But we will meet again and we've discussed ways of identifying ourselves in case we suspect that one of the four from Phandelver isn't who he or she says they are."
She pulls out four lanyards made out of vines that had been stripped of their leaves. Each was tied to a copper coin with a hole bored in the middle. "Here," she says, "I've been making these over the past few days. The doppelganger can imitate clothing and look and knows our thoughts but these things it does not know about. Keep them hidden. You'll know when to reveal them." ooc: See attachment generated by Gemini AI.
"We also need to know where to meet with you again. Aubric, you have that spell that lets us communicate? We should be able to keep in touch. Let us commit to using it every other day, if only to update each group of the other's whereabouts?"
Last edited by Neptune; Wed 13/08/202501:04 UTC. Reason: got rid of "twice"
He was disappointed in the ultimate decision and deep down knew it was for the best.
Turning to Zhu he offers a paltry excuse. "It seems that Zindra has expressed the importance of tracking down the doppleganger before it creates more mischief. A goal of mine as well. And apparently one that can not be delayed any longer. I believe you are doing the right thing in learning more here. I wish I could help. I really do but my path lies with Zindra, Davroar, Jaliera and Bern into the High Forest."
Turning to the smaller group staying with Zhu. "I wish you well and hope to meet again."
Pavel then readied his horse to depart with Zindra and the rest.
She listens to Zindra and Pavel and nods. "Good luck to you as well. The Doppelganger definitely needs to be stopped." She glances around at Kriv, Sindar, and Aubric. "I am confident the 4 of us will be able to handle things here and can then move off after the Dwarf."
"I do indeed," Aubric replies to Zindra. "And every other day sounds like a reasonable expectation, although I may do so more often as we get started, just to figure out how much we can communicate." He pauses, adding, "Likely in the evenings as we're making camp or enjoying posh inns," he adds, the last with a bit of a smirk.
The foursome bid the others farewell and are left on their own in town. They had gone back to the stables to say their goodbyes and did an inventory. Sfter Arus had departed, it left Boris and wagon which carried the harnesses to Sindar, Aubric's horse Conundrum and Zhu's horse survived. But Kriv's steed did not survive the battle with the undead hill giant.
Now they have to decide what action to take and when. They are near the stables and the stablehand ask, "Be you stayin'?"
"For a short while I suspect", she answers, then turning to the others she begins to gesture outside where they can speak more privately, but stops and turns back to the stable hand. "Tell me, young man, what is your name?"
"Ralphie." She nods. "Yes, three horses and a cart. Tell me", she holds out a pair of gold coins, "what is going on here? I've heard tell about the Hunt Lords, yet their tower is bricked up like a tomb, and that Dwarf Major Domo is a bit gruff. Do they ever leave the place? Has anyone seen them?"
His eyes light up at the huge tip and quickly those coins disappear into his pocket.
"Just be inside at night," he says in a quiet tone.
OOC: If you want any more, give me either an intimidation roll or, since you've bribed him, a persuasion roll with advantage.
ooc: Still on the road but no longer baby sitting. Oh, I didn't explain. We drove to New Jersey and have been babysitting my grandson while mom and dad were in the hospital delivering his sister, grandchild #4. The baby came home today so they're all together again and we're in a hotel. Posting could be a tad easier for me the rest of the vacation. Only time will tell.
"Presumably that includes people? How long have they done this? Has no one come to confront them about it?" She is curious whether members of the Order of the Gauntlet or the Silverymoon Spellguard have visited here. If so, they would likely have confronted these Hunt Lords about these things. Also she wonders about the timeline and tries to recall what she knows about this place and the Hunt Lords. If this has been going on for a long time it supports the Undead hypothesis.
Zhu History Zeim rolled d20 and got 17 Total: 17+3=20
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