West Camp Guard Interrogation

Now or Never

28th Uktar

(28th November 2023)
After discovering Isaris' real purpose, it's decided that the next logical step is to send a party out to the West Camp, where the dragon Seryt is guarding a stone circle, and do some more reconnaisance. The party also have a goal in mind to try and capture a guard for questioning.
They meet at the South Gate before heading into the Jaded Woods, following the trail eight miles West to the camp. Along the way, they are spotted by a pair of Scouts with a pack of Leucrotta.
After dispatching of the first group and resting, they approach the camp, where they see a group of guards standing watch over the stone circle. They remain hidden and try to come up with a strategy to get the leader of the guards without being noticed.

Kyra: {Telepathy} “We came this far, we should try to get the captain. If we silence and freeze them at once, the others can pick off the rest while we try to grab him.”
Allora: {Telepathy} "I won't be able to get them all. And even the ones I target might not all fall to it."
Iris: Iris stays behind just a bit while the others plan all these complex plans in her head. She quietly wonders why she can't just walk up and deck them in the face.

Jaded Woods Wilds

They work together to quickly take out the group of guards, but the dragon notices the lack of moving torches, and sends the rest of the guards to investigate. The group grab their target and quickly retreat under cover of the canopy, where they're able to get away and hide from the dragon.

Seryt lets out a screech at seeing all the corpses and watches as Allora disappears into the forest. "Times up. I'm coming for you."

Jaded Woods Wilds

...Just One More Thing

Allora gazes down at the unconscious man. "I suppose we should bring him around. Maybe charm him?"
Nyx:"Start with that first.....he resists... we'll continue down another path"

Creslan Hollows

The group take the guard to Creslan Hollows, tie him up and charm him using magic. They manage to convince him that they are friendly to him, and find out that he works for The Flaming Branch, and that the camp in the swamp was set up only a few months prior, and was finished in a hurry.
They then turn the questioning towards the dragon, Seryt, and try to find out some information about her weaknesses and motives.

Bandit: He gives a nervous, uncertain chuckle. "Uh I dunno, you gotta be real fast to dodge her... 'ere, you were fast though, when you came out the trees at the camp. Knocked everyone out in a... They're alright, aren't they? My men?"
Nyx:"Yes yes they're just fine" She speaks then casually moves on past the question. "Is there anything you guys know of that could help us take her out?"
Bandit:He thinks on it for a moment. "Well... not like she tells us how to hurt her, you know... But she does get right paranoid in the daylight. Extra guards around her while she sleeps..."
Kyra:“Does she behave any different in the day other than sleeping?”
Bandit: "She... looks different. More... solid. Still as nasty as ever though, 'specially if you wake her up..."

Creslan Hollows

The conversation then turns to talk of Siouxsie Crowe and what she's using the stone circle for. They discover that whilst the sorceress has not come through in person, she has been a topic of conversation among the guards for some time, and a source of fear. Soon, the charm magic fades and the guard becomes belligerent, refusing to co-operate and shouting for them to let him go.
The group switch tactics, with Nyx and Kyra threatening the guard into talking.

Kyra:“The teleportation circle, how does it work? What are its limitations, make it an elaborate response like your life depends on it.” She glances at Nyx’s dagger purposefully. “Cause it does.”
Nyx:She just continues to smirk. "Lie and it'll hurt more"
Bandit: He gulps and nods. "I dunno how it works, I'm not a mage. I only know it needs a stone to send people, monsters, anything. They use it to send reinforcements from the Shadowfell, never more'n once a day. It's not like a city circle, you know them big fancy things... it just takes you back to the last place you came from, stone in hand."

Creslan Hollows

With this, they discern that the bandit has nothing else to tell them, and they kill him, disposing of his body in the hollows and returning to the city deep in thought about their next move.