Chapter 2: High Road to Krusk

Before you can leave the dining area for the kitchen, Thogred walks out, and addresses the group.

"Oooh, four of you now looking for Daddy Krusk? Good luck to you, that guy is quite the wanderer, never in the same place for longer than a month really. But the last missive I got from my contact in Candlekeep said that he had been sighted in the surrounding woods, hunting and camping."

He holds out the piece of parchment, upon it a short note was scrawled. Thogred adds, "That fortress, Candlekeep, it looks intimidating from the outside, but inside it's all monks and books. Nothing to worry about. It's a straight shot from here too, maybe two days travel at most. When you get there, hand this back to Tharn. Hopefully she'll have more updates when you get there."

[Finish whatever business or inquiries you may have with the Angry Pancakes' staff or management, or with your newfound travel companion, then head outside. I've been sick but I've prepared my Fallout-inspired encounter tree. - DM]

"I know my way around this area pretty well."

OOC: can I read the note?

You open the note from Tharn to Thogred, a small rolled parchment with rather finely executed penmanship:

"Yo Thoggie, tell my 'kobies' I said hi. Saw some rando running around in the woods that looks like that orc-butt you work for, but older; maybe it's his 'Pops' or somethin. - Tharn"

Seeing Cordial reading the note reminds Ezythyr that he found a note on the warden wannabes. He pulls it out of his pack and unrolls it.

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OOC: Completely forgot about that.

When you open the twine-rolled parchment--formerly the property of Axel the false ranger--you read a small note within:

"Bring the elixir to the south of the Cloakwood for your payment. - X"

It must be referring to the vial of red shiny stuff.

Ezythyr clears his throat. "If I may be so bold," He shows the parchment to the rest of the group. "This could be an opportunity to investigate our false wardens a bit more." He shrugged. "Or p'raps a way to accrue additional funding." He looked to Cordial. "Do ye know where this 'Cloakwood' is?"

OOC: do I roll to see if I know this?

"I can lead us there, for sure!" Cordial says enthusiastically, "any time you're ready. Is there anything else we need to know or any supplies we might need?"

Think drains his mug and then delicately wipes his mouth with a napkin. "I don't think I need anything in particular. Krusk, is there anywhere around here that could supply us? Or anywhere on the way!"

Billiam winces a bit, then replies, "Don't feel committed to calling me 'Krusk', that's my father. You can call me Billiam, we're practically friends now, right? You could probably hit Scornubel to the north, a lot of trade caravans stop up there. And if you're following the main travel roads, there's always Baldur's Gate."

"Good enough for me," says Eledriar with a nod. "What do you say, folks? Supply up and then hit the Cloakwood?"

Ezythyr pulls out the bottle of liquid. "Aye. We'll deliver this, fulfillin' the impersonators' contract, then be off to Candlekeep."

"Or ye could drink it."

Ezythyr hesitates a moment. "Or..."

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OOC: Last thing, and I can't believe I didn't think of this before, but can I identify what's in the bottle?

OOC: Arcana +5

The member 'Ezythyr Coalthane' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'd20' : 15

[Arcane check of 15 + 5 will do it. - DM]

As you lift the vial to the light, you see the red liquid within shimmer, tossing around and swirling in the small vial. This is typical behavior for most Greater Potions of Healing... except, Ezythyr, you do notice that there has been additional magicks cast upon the potion. Unless one was quite proficient in the necromancy, they would not notice the Energy Drain spell cast upon the potion; the person that consumes this particular potion would be healed for a time, and then a few hours afterward be drained of all their health. Not even Greater Restoration magicks could reverse such an effect.

When the party exits the restaurant, you see what appears to be the local militia, taking the false rangers into custody. They carried their unconscious bodies, already clasped in irons, throwing them into the back of a covered wagon. One of the militia men walks over to address the party.

"If you're the group that bested these criminals, our thanks to you. We're escorting them back to the Enclave to answer for their crimes, and if history serves, they'll probably be dead before the next full moon. Quick reminder, if you are traveling about the coast, stay frosty; we've been receiving reports from the locals about animal attacks. You're probably 'safest' on the main roads... maybe."

OOC: Just for clarity's sake, I took the dead ranger's body already.

Also, I'm ready to go. Cloakwood first? Is that closer?

OOC: I'm not sure where to put this... I'm dying to get going, but I'm not sure if I should know anything about where we might go first...? I've tried having a quick go-through of the site, but I'm not sure if it's there and I've missed something. So, provided that I'm not missing anything, I say we start on the main roads and head in the correct general direction towards whichever city/town/landmark comes first.