Interrogating the Dead

Miz'na Interrogates the Captain's Severed Head

11 Marpenoth

(12th October 2023) After retrieving and storing the head of one of the dead thugs from a recent attack at the campsite, Miz'na arranges a trip into the forest with Ryder and Allora. She hopes to convince the thug that she is a turncoat guard looking to make some coin. She disguises herself as Tony, one of the city guard, while Allora uses a disguise kit to fake a bruised and bloodied face. Once they reach a quiet spot in the forest, Ryder turns invisible and stands guard while Miz'na casts Speak With Dead.

{Miz'na} immediately hunches over, panting heavily and clutching her illusory bloody ribs, as though injured. "Mghh... C'mon mate, Need you t'wake up," she groans in that practiced voice in a lower register, snapping fingers clad in illusory gauntlets in front of milky eyes that, moments prior, had been hidden behind coins. "Don't have much time, fella..." The decomposing head opens it's eyes. A maggot crosses one pupil, and a Bluebottle flies out of the other empty socket. "Fuck do you want? 'The fuck am I?"

Talking Head in the Forest

Information Gathering

Miz'na manages to confirm that the thugs were trying to catch Allora in the camp. And also that they know who Tony is, by name. She asks for the location of their camp, and the Captain directs her to the West. She also finds out that he had a sending stone in his trouser pocket, which he could use to communicate with his leaders. Lastly, she asks if there are bounties on anyone else.

"Yer want bounties. This bitch got something that dunt belong to her. Then there's that fucking Fox Boy who stole mi dinner. An' she wants her fucking dog back too. We'll be kings if we get all em Tony. Waddaya say?"

Talking Head in the Forest

Taking the Initiative

"Hmm. Little gross, but delightful." Miz'na cracks her knuckles and stretches indulgently after the incense smoke clears, seemingly satisfied with the results of her ritual in the dark. "Well... It's unsurprising that the three of you are still targets. He seemed to think his camp was... Yonder-ish," the pale drow says with a point westward. "And while I'm assuming the whistling thing was just the severed head being an ass... It sounds like there might have been a sending stone in his possession when you killed him." And also, he recognized the guard I chose to disguise myself as. By name."

Talking Head in the Forest
Deciding their next steps, Miz'na, Ryder & Allora decide to track the thug's camp to the west, with only the intention of information gathering. The travel through the Jaded Woods for a while until the terrain shifts to that of a swampy marsh. They find the thug's camp, and an inscribed stone circle, under heavy guard. They also hear loud snoring, which Miz'na climbs a tree to investigate...

The creature is one of legend. Miz'na sees it's wings are nade of literal shadow yet seems to have mass. With such astute eyesight she sees the flicker of a large tail tucked behind it too.

Talking Head in the Forest
The trio almost consider stopping to attack the dragon. Well, one-third of the trio almost consider it, while the other two try to convince them that they're crazy and now would be the time to leave.

{Allora} "Miz, I love that you have such a thirst for knowledge, but maybe we should focus on keeping our heads attached to our bodies for at least one more night? And not bitten off by a fucking dragon? We can solve puzzles another time. With reinforcements. Lots of reinforcements."

Talking Head in the Forest
Miz'na begrudgingly agrees, and the trio make their way back to Fate's Haven. Ryder says he'll inform the mayor, the others agree to keep the information a secret, and try to find out more about the dragon, and also find the sending stone dropped by the thug at the Jaded Woods Camp.