@Wyeth: "Well, the Sheriff found enough evidence to round up the Pathfinders. Then, town law kicks in. Since most crimes affect the community one way or another, bein' so close knit and all, verdicts and punishments are done by consensus. In this case, the town was definitely freaked out 'bout the murders, particularly how gruesome the first was. With the inquisitor wanting to stamp out evil as quickly as possible, most everyone wanted to have 'em killed so they won't bother us or anyone else 'gain."
@Benson: Most of the games are being held at the tent city, where there's room for strengths of test and agility. Inside, however, several patrons are engaging in brew races; chugging down three different types of beer faster than everyone else. The current competition involves a light wheat beer, then an amber barley ale, and ended with a particularly hearty and hoppy stout beer.
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Benson strolls over to the brew race and indicates his interest in participating, while thinking, "I wonder if Cayden Cailean had to win one of these in his rise to godhood?"
As he prepares to drink, he says loudly, "Let's see what kind of juice drinks you brew around here. I've had grog so strong, ..." [pause to see if someone says, 'How strong was it?'] "... so strong after drinking it, Delour Aulamax looks as sexy as a forest nymph."
"Whoa!" *cough* *shudder* "Mellow, with a hint of ..." *wheeze* "coriander."
"Excellent! How much for a barrel of this stuff?"
Three other contestants compete against Benson. The first, a grizzled farmer with as much hair on his face as he does on his scalp greets everyone with a 'Bottoms up!' before waiting for the sound to go.
The second, a young man who barely looks drinking age but is as wide as an ox, simply eyes the beverages with a grin of "I'ma gonna win this!".
The last fellow is already half-drunk farmer who's in this for the free beer.
At the sound of go, everyone starts taking their drinks!
The grizzled man chugs the light ale along with you Benson, but the youngin' and the drunk both have a difficult time; the former for lack of experience and the latter spitting his out for the drink wasn't strong enough.
Both of the experienced drinkers handle the barley ale with no problems, although the young contestant doesn't share your taste of the coriander.
The last drink sends the grizzled old man to sleepy time, while the youth enjoys a beer he can chew and the drunk finally saying he got a proper beer.
The bartender, however, grabs your hand Benson shouting, "And we have a winner! Your prize for today is this miniature keg of Mendevian apple brandy that bears a crisp taste and a strong follow-through, much like the brave men and women defending the land!"
@Benson: The crowd is mostly at your side; not a perfect finish but finish you did!
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Benson bows, sways a little, and says, "I want to save this to take back to Absolom. I know some merchants who specialize in exotic spirits. I'm sure after they taste this," taps the small keg, "they'll be sending a caravan up here as soon as the rivers thaw to buy up whatever you've got to sell. But one must share good fortune to be blessed with it again, so bring out a regular keg of this brandy, put a tap in it, and let's enjoy the moment." Benson pays for the keg and after getting some brandy in his cup, tips a bit on the floor to honor Cayden Cailean, making it look like an accident, and sits back to see what he can find out about recent events.
Once things settle down a bit, Benson offers a toast, "To those who recently passed, both at the front, and closer to home."
After a respectful silence, if no one says anything about the local deaths, says, "I heard some local folks lost their lives to some kind of crime spree. Damn shame. How'd it happen?"
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@Mivvy: "Not sure why she's so vigilant lookin' for demons, but she was almost happy when the Pathfinders were caught for them murders. 'Course, everyone knows that she hated Pathfinders right from the get go, so when the crowd said they wanted a hanging... I swear I never saw a smile on her face any bigger!"
The wife chips in another detail. "Yeah, heard she was thinking 'bout settling down roots here, since Iomedae started talking to her upon her arrival. Heard she'll establish a proper church and maybe even challenge Sheriff Tobias for mayor!"
"Ha, like anyone would vote for her for mayor!", the husband chimes in.
I join in with some eye-rolling, "Zealots..."
"So, how were those pathfinders caught then? That sounds like it should be worth a story."
@Mivvy: "Oh, you'd have to ask th' Mayor about that. I weren't there when the Pathfinders were apprehended; I just caught up when the crowd was following him with the culprits in tow."
@Benson: "Yeah, coupla murders. Gruesome ones, too. Luckily, the Sheriff grabbed them foreigners an' the towns been safer since."
The party returns once again to the inn to share clues, rumors, and research discovered in the afternoon. Marduk gets the innkeep to prepare a light meal before the discussion.
Only a minute later, a blonde woman wearing polished breastplate and a vibrant red cloak descends the stairs from the upstairs bedrooms. Seeing the group, she immediately approaches.
"I am Ekira Varigas, an eye of Iomedae. You don't look like the regional lot visiting that would be visiting Dawnton. Please state your business."
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"Thank you very much sir innkeeper."
Something like this?
By Irori, the senior monks showed more a smile than this woman.
It's this lack of social skill that itches me.
Marduk takes a sip of his tea and a bite of bread as she demands the knowledge.
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"Hello Ekira. A pleasure I'm sure," says Raevin, in his soft androgynous voice. "Business? We are but travelers, drawn here by the rumors of some excitement in the area. What's it to you what brings us here? Are you the sheriff, perchance? If so, well met! Lovely little town you have here. Eye of Iomedae, you say, eh? What does that mean exactly? I am not exactly a follower, but I am also not an unbeliever, take that as you will."
While two of the men seemingly ignore the woman, Raevin's response gets one back in kind. "I am a force for the Inheritor, to root out demons wherever they may be. She speaks to me to cleanse these lands from evil. And I am not the sheriff, but a champion of justice.." She pauses at Raevin's pleasantry. "I've heard a group of newcomers was looking into the murders that occurred recently. Why the interest? You wouldn't be Pathfinders yourselves perhaps, trying to get your murderous friends free?", staring Raevin straight in the eyes.
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Marduk whipes his mouth with the napkin provided with the meal.
Champion of justice my Iroran behind, you're blind with zeal.
Ma'm, we aught to take that leather belt of yours and gag you with it.
"Milady, we are not. I'd like to mention why we are not.
The first being such an occassion would draw the attention and natural interest in the how and why of anyone foreign to this town.
The second is that, if we were pathfinders, we'd have been trying to break them out noticable, would we not?
Third, complimenting the second motion; pathfinders would be foolish to attempt freeing fellow pathfinders.
.....
We are merely traveling through and in town to enjoy the festival, as such things are a rarity during long treks."
"But milady, you do sound as if you were expecting the third party, being the pathfinders, to bother to come all the way here. If they were indeed to bother spending their precious resources, would they be killed?"
@Marduk: You get the feeling she is definitely antagonistic against Pathfinders, although not going to strike you in the middle of the inn antagonistic. She's still law abiding, although as a force of authority (in her eyes at least), resistance if she doesn't believe you would not be tolerated.
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Benson sighed and set down his beer, still feeling buzzed from the afternoon's competition. "Best we tell her the truth. I 'xpect she can see a lie as easily as a dwarf can see a gold piece. We've been enjoying the festival, 's true, but tomorrow, we intend on going to the mayor and telling him why we're really here. We'll tell you what we plan to tell the mayor: We are all that remains, healthy anyway, of a scouting 'xpedition for a consorshion of merchants from Absalom. We're the support staff, mind you; the main investigators that hadn't gotten killed fell ill and are recovering down in Karcau. They sent us up to check out the trade of state ... the state of trade in Mendev. We paid the Pathfinders a visit in Nerosayn as we did in other areas, to find out news. They told us of this festival and some trouble a few of their agents got into. We had planned on visiting the hinterlands near the Estvov... the Erestri... the forest near here an' we figured, murders and executions might be news traders might want to know 'bout. So we're jus' here to find out what we can about the crimes and observe how justice is served. Anything you care to contribute will be included in our report."
Erika glares at Benson. "That's a lot of big works and names there...", but besides a stern gaze at Marduk and Raevin, she somewhat relaxes her aggressive stance and tone, but she is still unfriendly towards the party.
Answering Marduk's question, "The Voice of Iomedae informed me that Pathfinders were to be in town, engaged in more villainy. With so many new people visiting town, I have to be ever vigilant in rooting out these so called 'murder hobos'."
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Mivvy or Wyeth have the best shots at diplomacy, so Benson will let them say something if something needs to be said. At this point, Benson sips his beer and studies her and her weapons, armor, and other items at reach, trying to notice anything that might be useful later if we find ourselves fighting her.
@Benson: She's armed as you would expect a typical Iomedaean of this area; breastplate and cold iron longsword. You do see she has her silver holy symbol around her neck. At her back is a short bow along with a quiver of arrows, and a book at her side, hanging from a tethered cord, reads 'The Acts of Iomedae'.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike; base attack bonus +6, brawler’s flurry† class feature, or flurry of blows class feature.
Benefit: As a full-round action, you can pool all your attack potential in one devastating punch. Make a number of rolls equal to the number of attacks you can make with a full attack or a f lurry of blows (your choice) with the normal attack bonus for each attack. For each roll that is a hit, you deal the normal amount of damage, adding it to any damage the attack has already dealt from previous rolls (if any). If any of the attack rolls are critical threats, make one confirmation roll for the entire attack at your highest base attack bonus. If it succeeds, the entire attack is a confirmed critical hit.
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Erika glares at Benson. "That's a lot of big works and names there...", but besides a stern gaze at Marduk and Raevin, she somewhat relaxes her aggressive stance and tone, but she is still unfriendly towards the party.
Benson thinks to himself, though he would dearly love to say it to her face, Next time I'll be sure to use smaller words, so you'll be sure to understand, you ogre-faced vrock.
@Benson: Can you give me a Sense Motive check or Intelligence check?
@Benson: Not good enough until she does something to force her dominant hand into action.
"Hrmph.", the blonde woman sputters. "Enjoy the festivities, but don't go snooping around in affairs above your standing. Iomedae demands justice for these murders, and I look forward to seeing Sheriff Luin upholding this justice against those heretical Pathfinders soon."
With that, Ekira is about to leave when Benson makes her offer.
"Well...", surprised at the sailor's donation. "Thank you.", she graciously bows, unable to come up with any other response. With her right hand, she takes the coins and places them into an empty leather pouch. "These will be the first coins for a new church dedicated to the Inheritor."
With that, she whips her cloak around her and heads upstairs.