HotDK 4: "Into the Maw of the Dragon Cult"
2018-05-18
After a day's worth of careful travel South/Southwest of Greenest you finally come upon the raider's camp. 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.
Upon finding the camp, Aluric felt the best approach was the direct one - just walk right in, find an officer, and start asking questions, while Pubert and the rest of the team took the "let's carry some stuff so we look like we fit in" approach.
Sure enough, being a Bronze Dragonborn in a camp full of chromatic dragon worshippers, it didn't take long to be recognized. Alas, Pubert's combat with the Blue Half-Dragon (who's name is now known to be Langderosa Cyanwrath) also proved to make him more famous than hoped and both get taken prisoner at the order of the camp's apparent leader, Frulam Mondath, a human female. As luck would have it though, depsite the execute at dawn order, they are tied up along side the Elven Monk, Leosin Erlanthar, whom they were searching for.
Meanwhile, Arynor was also almost recognized as being seen in Greenest, but was able to convince his would be whistle blower that it was as part of the raid. He was also able to join a group of hunters that were about to go out to secure meat for the camp (which was cancelled when Aluric and Pubert were captured by order of Mondath that no one leave the camp that night).
Malice managed to also discover where other prisoners are kept and spotted several familiar faces from Greenest. He and Rargir then manage to locate Arynor and the three hatch a plan to steal a cart and horses so that they can rescue the prisoners (all of them) before dawn.
Other information gleaned/gathered whilst overhearing conversations or talking to other cultists:
- • This is a camp of the Cult of the Dragon—praise Tiamat’s glory! (Some cultists extend their right hand with fingers outstretched to represent the five heads of Tiamat when they praise her glory. Others curl back two fingers, to show that Tiamat’s strength is hidden. This is not mandatory, but adepts and hard-core cultists look favorably on those who do it sincerely.)
- • Not everyone here is a full-fledged member of the cult. Many are new initiates working toward full acceptance, and many others are simple mercenaries, hired to flesh out the camp’s strength during raids or if it should come under attack.
- • The kobolds are here because their worshipful attitude toward dragons makes them easy for (you overhear the name "Rezmir" a few times) and other high-ranking cultists to manipulate, but they are not well liked or trusted by the other races.
- • Hunters who bring in antelope and other large game from the grasslands feed the camp. The cultists and their allies eat most of it, but some is stored in the cave.
- • The cave at the back of the camp (area 4) is off-limits to all but those who’ve been cleared by Mondath and Rezmir, which includes a handful of guards and kobolds. It’s known around camp as “the nursery,” and it’s an open secret a clutch of dragon eggs is kept there.
- • The plunder from nearby settlements is stored in the cave. No one but the leaders know how much is there altogether, but it must be a big pile by now.
- • The cult has been ranging far and wide on small raids to collect treasure. Greenest was the closest target to the camp, the biggest of all the towns they’ve attacked, and the most profitable—praise Tiamat’s glory!