Tarinhil stands with a weak smile, cheering dryly, "Yay, we won!" then his tone shifts to one of alarm, "Val! No!"
He quickly searches the chests for traps before stepping back and drinking his cure extract, using the boro bead to refill it, and then drinking it again.
His own health somewhat restored, he says, "I think we've enough here to pay to restore Val, or at least to have her reincarnated... but does anyone know how she'd feel about that?"
Phooka walks over to Val and turns into his natural form
I am sorry, I wasn't able to save you. I will never forget you friend. He then curls up as a cat again and sits on her lap.
no commentary on the letter?
Fernus sobs and then notices the letter folded into the pocket of the one they just vanquished.
He reads it carefully and his eyes seem to widen with every word he reads and then he stammers quickly slowly looking up at the others.
"G.. G.. Gu... Guys... You'd better... read this... Seems the one that almost got the better of us, had a big sister doing the same things across the land. Val's burial has a priority, but it seems like great and evil things are afoot. Turtleback Ferry? Fort Ranick? Harvesting greed from people what could this all mean?"
Fernus's mind is rattling itself to find common ground with the sihedrons and what he has already heard and seen together with this new puzzle piece.
Fantastic. Is the lord-mayor of Magnimar alive? I didn't really have time to settle into town.
Tarinhil growls, as if the bestial nature of his mutation were more than skin-deep, "Another one of these things? And bringing more of this vile evil to the land?" He looks to the others, his red-eyes burning with a mix of purpose and hatred, "We'll just have to kill them, too. We owe them for Sandpoint, and now we owe them for Val."
He turns to Darin, "Have you magic that lets you see things as they are? I'd imagine that if the Lord-Mayor's been taken, and we've not heard about it, then someone is likely sitting in his seat."
There is a prayer that allows servants of Cayden Cailean to see the truth of all things, but unfortunately I am not high enough in my deity's regard to be given such a spell. I do have one that reveals lies, but I need a rest to request such a spell as well.
Would be good ot know if we can trust the leader of this town. Of course if we can't trust im...could be trouble.
Yes, if he is a pawn we need to know and find someone to remove him. If he isn't he needs to know what's happening in his town.
Tarinhil nods, "I agree. We can go kill the nasty thing after dealing with his Lordship... or making sure he's really his Lordship."
"Hopefully it just turns out that she had plans for him that weren't finalized, but we'd better know."
OK long enough of a pause to level up!
You contact the Lord Mayor and he agrees to see you when it is suggested that you have something of extreme importance to tell him and your reputation precedes you a bit.
You find yourself standing in front of the mayor
What can I do for you?
Unalaq detects evil on the mayor. "Speaking frankly sir, we're concerned about your safety. We just defeated a monster and found a note that suggested that she had designs on your life. Something about 'harvesting' you. Does the name Xanesha mean anything to you?"
Tarinhil does his best not to gape at the Paladin's direct approach, Wow, he just blurted it out like I would have. Must be something about him that makes him likeable enough to get away with it...
He shakes his head at the name and looks so horrified at the idea of being harvested he passes out
He does not detect as evil
Paladins! Gotta love 'em.
Darin will smile at Unalaq's bluntness, and then at the mayor.
what spell? go ahead, you can assume that you waited 20 minutes to get in to see him
I see, you did not discern any lies before he passed out
"Mmmm. I guess you come to take a few things for granted when you're facing evil every day. He's not evil or at least not powerful enough to register as evil if he is. I suppose we should speak with him a bit more once he wakes up. At least advise doubling his security detail even though hopefully the danger is past."
just gonna leave him laying on the ground? not gonna get help? or help him? Some heroes...
Fernus looks at Unalaq then at Darin and shakes his head in disbelief.
"The man faints when you mention his possible fate and the first thing you do is bicker over if he is evil or not?"
Fernus sits near the man and lays a small pillow under his head, then takes out his waterskin and sprinkles a few drops onto the man's face. If that doesn't work he purs a little more over his face to try and wake him up.
After about a minute the man begins to stir and he comes to.
wha...what happened? How did I get here?
Darin will stand next to the mayor and offer his flask.
You passed out - probably stress from working too hard for the citizens. Here, this might help.
Darin will wait to determine if the mayor will take the drink or not.
Now, we've been finding a problem with a fanatical cult that may be targeting you, led by a...creature...named Xanesha?
What is it? He sniffs it, suspiciously
Tarinhil says, "I'm assuming it's alcohol of at least decent quality, having come from a cleric of the Drunken Hero."
It's called Stone Spirits - I get it from a distiller in whatever skyhold I'm nearest.
no it was a local check actually
The Mayor accepts help to his feet and he takes a long hit of the booze, and he coughs hard and wipes away a tear.
I do not know what a Ganesha is... I am sorry. But I am glad that you are here, I have been getting reports about you all dealing with, quite the horrific cult and murderers of all kinds. Please allow me to reward you all.
He places a nice wooden chest on the table.
Also one Sheila Heidmarch has sent one of her representatives to me seeking assistance. I think you all might be very interested in what her representative has to say. He turns to the other room and calls
Vincenzo! If you are free come on in!
Tarinhil tenses slightly for a moment, This'd better not be a trap..., keeping his distance and his hands free as the Mayor works the chest and calls for assistance. After that near-death experience... and Val's death... I'm feeling more than a little nervous when I'm not mutated...
Bear has been standing in the back, observing the whole thing.
That man's like a little child, the first talk of blood and he starts weeping. I still don't trust i'm. Hopefully it's back to the woods for us...
The man who walks in bares a small similarity to someone they would all recognize.
His long, dark hair and dark skin mark him as native Varisian, and when he speaks, it is clear he is not from one of the main cities.
"I don't know that I am much of a representative of Captain Heidmarch, but I am here at her behest. She has asked that I represent her in this particular situation due to...recent events." He pauses as he moves to stand beside the mayors desk. He moves like a cat, all grace, but a raw aggression contained with it. While he has a shield strapped to his back, no weapons are apparent.
"I am Vicente Valentino Valdemar. I believe that you were the last ones to see my cousin alive. I was in the process of trying to track her down when I heard of her...fate. I was hoping to find out why she died and make sure those who were responsible pay." There was a glint to his dark eyes at that.
"Captain Heidmarch has an important and pressing mission for the lot of you...with me going with...," he pauses for a second and then throws on at the end, "Oh yeah, call me Vinny. Vincente is what my dad calls me." The fellow was a little younger than Val, but not by much, but much more rough around the edges. Very little gave an idea of what he would do in an adventuring situation, but the thin metal band around his head marked him as a champion in Serpent's Run.
"Val's cousin. We are sorry for your loss Vinny. She was a very brave companion. Are you sure you want to join us though? We nearly lost Tarin in the same battle. Where we are going is sure to be as bad if not worse."
"If it gives me the opportunity to get some justice for Val, then absolutely. Besides, there is little to do in Magnimar to keep my interests..." he says, a glint in his eyes at the word justice. That might not be the right word, the right word might resound more clearly to Unalaq than to others. As he transitions to the back half of the statement, there is a lightness that returns to his voice.
Darin will nod at Vinny.
I am sorry for your loss as well Vinny. You'll have to excuse me, unlike the rest of this motley crew, I am unfamiliar with the area. Who is Captain Heidmarch?
"She is the local Venture Captain of the Pathfinder Lodge here in Magnimar. She was an adventurer and Pathfinder of quite a bit of renown. She and her husband actually funded the lodge here themselves," he says as if he is an expert. Or as if he had had to study up on the woman himself.
A very large and pungent man approaches you from the back of the group, he extends his very hairy and beefy hand, Good to meet ye Vinni. Yer sis was a brave warrior...she will be missed.
Bear looks away, some shame evident on his face, She died under my watch...I wish I would have been able to save her...but the things we face, when our time is up, it's up. But there will be time for payback. This Xanesha creature is the real enemy we want to find and punish for all it has done.
Tarinhil's eyes narrow, I don't know this guy, but he's no Val..., then he forces a smile to his face, "Not sure we were looking for anyone else to come along... We're already pretty far down a dark path, one that's already cost your family quite considerably... though I am interested what the Venture-Captain wants with us."
The mayor clears his throat. Well I hope that you will all join me this evening at my manor for a lovely dinner, if you would like I can invite the Venture captain as well?
Darin sighs - inwardly! - at the idea of a party at a politician's house.
Of course, we'd be happy to join you. I apologize in advance, I don't have many...presentable clothes. Cayden Cailean's not a formal deity and I travel most of the time anyway. I'll try to clean the mud off.
Darin will wait to leave the mayor's office and then open the box with his companions present.
Darin will find gold equal to 6000 per person who survived the fight at the tower
Fernus lets out a low whistle at the gold, but then looks with a hurt look in his eyes at Vincente.
"I'm very sorry for the loos of your Cousin Vinen... Vinny. Though Val and I didn't talk as much, I'm quite quiet myself, I really liked her."
Fernus looks at the others while he asks.
"So a dinner at a politician's house... He probably wants something from us doesn't he?"
"Don't they all?" he says with a wry smile and a shake of his head. It was a very similar motion to one that Val did in polite conversation.
Nodding to Fernus, "She and I barely knew each other, sadly, but I was looking about for her, as I had heard she was in Magnimar and I couldn't believe it since she had not checked in with the family. Sadly, I didn't find her in time..."