I suppose you had no choice and could only work with what you had, but there should have been another... Nevertheless I will help you how I can. Who are the Silver Spectres and are they still a threat?
Marcus still looks very uncertain about the whole situation
The priest looks a little shaken. The truth is I tried to convince Rector Belvas it was a good idea but his disagreed, rather severely. So when I say I borrowed the money, well, there is no easy way to put thus, temporarily embezzled? There aren't enough priests to go around, and my recall would leave these souls without guidance so I haven't dared to tell him, he'd feel obliged to report me and that would result in recall.
The silver Spectres are a gang of elves that kidnap and extort. I don't think they are still a threat.
Mathias nods satisfied with the answer. He glances to the rest of the party as he cannot clear the orphanage by himself but this now seems like a worthy cause.
Okay, now that it seems like everyone is on the same wavelength, a little more of an information dump. I've assumed you've quizzed the priest and taken 10 on knowledge checks here.
Velcastos : Velcastos is short, even for a halfling. His gang comprises around two dozen cohorts, most of them human. He is surprising quick in a fight and uses two poisoned daggers for maximum effect. During the day he is often found at the Wolf & Princess Tavern, at night he has a small house in the middle of town.
Wolf & Princess : This tavern caters to the miners in town. It is quiet during the day, and a complete carnival at night. The owner is a human called Randos, who is on the take with Velcastos. During the day expect 6 members of Velcastos crew to be around.
Law & Order : Falcon's hollow as a Lumber town has an interesting set up.
The sheriff is Deldrin Baleson, human male, known to be completely on the straight and narrow. The fact he got the job was incredible, the fact he is still alive in the job is testament for his exceptional reflexes and use in a fight.
Thuldrin Kreed is the Lumber Consortium's gavel (think union leader) in town. He runs a small gang of thugs who enforce order in the consortium. There are rumors he is skimming money from the Consortium. He is constantly clashes with the sheriff. Kreed sees the sheriffs office as an extension of the consortium, and the sheriff sees the consortium as under his power. It is believed that Kreed has tried to assassinate the sheriff on more than one occasion. Kreed has a dim view of Velcastos who he views as a troublemaker and disruptive influence. However Velcastos has not been silly enough to steal / murder from the consortium directly.
A half elf by the name of Lithonas is a Silver Spectre informant in town. He can be found at the mines, the mining camp, or drinking in the Saucy Sylph depending on the time of day.
I'll take suggestions/backstory if you want more information.
Marcus is still uncertain about the morality of how he got into this situation but is certain about helping.
Beswaur is severely drained from our fight with the spirits in the old orphanage can you help him before we deal with the brigands tomorrow?
I suppose we should go to the tavern and try and reason with this man then knock sense into him if he refuses.
But of course The priest intones, rubbing his leg again. [b] Follow me to the living quarters where I will heal and prepare you beds [/]
While the haunted orphanage is a risk for this town's people, these brigands are actually within the town and a much more immediate threat. But as there is an actual law abiding sheriff, I am uncomfortable with too vigilante of an approach.
I would suggest we go talk to the sheriff about way we can help each other. Possibly he could deputize us to arrest this Halfling.
Marcus puts his hand on Beswaur's elbow.
My friend you travel with a Paladin of Iomedae, no approach is vigilante. But I suppose it would be polite to tell him what we intend to do and see if he will assist.
I agree, lets try to be deputized before we do anything here.
Deldrin Baleson might claim to be human, but his bright shining eyes suggest he might actually have elfish heritage. Even first thing in the morning he is dressed fully in leather armor. The candle still burning on his desk indicates that he has been working since before dawn, and judging by the emptiness of his desk he has almost finished what he is working upon.
After hearing your request he pauses.
Well its the first time I've had anyone volunteer to get involved with Velcastos. Usually my men try to avoid his. The difficulty with him is that he's yet to get his hands dirty himself, and I can't yet touch him. at this his eyes sparkle.
if you could however get one of his companions who visited the priest last night to tell you that he was acting on Velcastos's orders you have yourselves a rock solid case. You'd have the immediate authority to arrest Velcastos and drag him down here. I'd have to ship him off to Oregent for trial. So even if you have moved on, and your statements are challenged, Velcastos will have been gone so long I would have collected all of his men.
Nobody needs to be listening too hard to get the implication that the sheriff wasn't going to check the confession of any of Velcastos' men.
Well then, I see no problem in lending a hand, we just have to make sure we keep him alive.
Alright yes, let's go to the tavern and see if one of the men from last night is there.
Perhaps one of us should stay with the priest or at least return before evening prayers to ensure his safety. I need a couple supplies first however.
Mathias walks around the town with the others picking up a few items he needs along the way and looking for the men from the night before, in particular the man with the rings. At the tavern Mathias purchases a round of drinks and bread and cheese for the party so that they can sit down and scan the room without seeming too out of place.
While ordering the drinks he speaks quietly to the bar tender.
Sir, perhaps you could assist me. I met a man last night and I seem to have forgotten his name but I wanted to speak with him on a matter of some importance. Perhaps you have seen him?
Mathias gives a full description of the man with the rings.
Yeah I know the guy. the perky redhead behind the bar says. he comes here regularly and keeps asking what I do on my days off. His name is Raphael Cliffless, and I know he's a devout follower of Gozreh, so if you want to catch him the only place I can suggest is try the shrine just outside of town, I heard him mention once or twice he hangs his chimes there
My thanks.
Mathias returns to the others and relays the information.
Marcus frowns at the information and implied course of action.
I don't want to use a man's faith against him. I wouldn't mind if we just had a conversation with him, an actual conversation, to confirm he threatened the priest for Velcastos. He looks about the group, not in accusation, but pointedly. A man shouldn't have harm befall him because of his faith.
Marcus puts his hand on Beswaur's elbow.
My friend you travel with a Paladin of Iomedae, no approach is vigilante. ...
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I would not use the worship of Gozreh against Raphael, but she wasn't necessarily proposing that. She just said where we can locate him. So if you just want a conversation with him we have to actually find him.
Checking at the shrine to discuss the situation either before or after his worship should allow that. This seems reasonable to me.
I believe that approach is honorable.
Mathias finishes his drink and bread and awaits the others to set out.
Very well, I can accept this course of action. Let us go wait by the path to the shrine then?
Unless they already it's location Marcus asks another patron.
Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the shrine to Gozreh?
Then he leaves.
Mathias goes with Marcus to wait.
The party finds the shrines location without any difficulty. It is a very short walk out of town. The shrine itself is a low pier that goes out about five feet into the river. It has been carefully constructed from whole logs and tied together with rough flax ropes. The construction of it was obviously a labor of love, although the thing does move slightly with the current so right now Marcus & Beswaur are very happy they don't have to get on the platform in their armor.
Sunken at the end of the pier is a tall thick log with some form of disk resting on the top of it. It looks as if it is designed so that persons standing on the pier can reach out and hang their chimes in the disk, and rotate the disk to accommodate more chimes if there are many people on the pier.
The builders were optimistic. The party arrives just before 11, and nobody arrives until well after noon. It is Raphael, sauntering towards prayer. He is accompanied this time by an oily looking gentleman with thick greasy black hair.
Seeing the party Raphael stops and fiddles with this three rings a little nervously.
"The blessings of Gozreh be upon you all." He says nervous. "I hope your time upon the water is as profitable to your souls as mine has been to me."
Raphael doesn't appear to be armed, but the oily character is reaching cautiously for a dagger.
Marcus holds out his hand in the calm down gesture and looks at the man with the dagger.
Stay your hand, this has nothing to do with you.
Then he turns to Raphael.
We're just here to ask a question and be on our way. Just tell us what we need to know, leave town, and this doesn't need to go badly for you. Now, did Velcastos send you to intimidate the cleric at the church last night?
Raphael fingers his rings before shrugging slightly. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. What I do with my evenings is my own, like yours are, and the cleric's are his own
Raphael isn't moving towards the shrine, nor is he turning his back, he's now just waiting to see what happens.
Attempting a reasonable tone, That is true. What you do with your evenings is your own. Right up until you threaten the life of a beloved and helpful member of the community and priesthood.
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Now if that was just your choice, you just decided out of the blue for some reason to go rough up the priest for no reason... Well then that is all on you isn't it.
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On the other hand, you were ordered to accost the priest... Hmm... There is still the question of why you agreed to something that obviously wrong, but even more it is on the person giving the orders.
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We would be more inclined to spend our time and energies looking into the one giving orders rather than the one following orders.
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Where do you want us to focus our efforts?
I think. Says Raphael in a slow drawl I think the priest should pull his head in. He doesn't want work about him getting out now does he? Probably afraid of that rector. So all he has to do is front with the goods and we'll leave him alone until he wants something else. It's simple as that really
We approached you with reason last night and you responded with reason in kind. Perhaps as the priest was granted the courtesy of his side of the story we should grant you the same.
Oh I doubt if you're hear again, on behalf of the priest you're much interested in the story. Raphael says as he fingers his ring. Way I see it, he defaulted on his arrangement see, and unless you want to work off his debt, we are going to collect, one way or another. I hear you got deputized, so you really after the boss, and I am disinclined to dob myself in you understand.
If that were true, I would be inclined to just let things proceed. however, I believe you have been misinformed. The priest had already paid the agreed on debt.
Some people simply think they can squeeze some extra blood out of the turnip. That would be blackmail and stealing. From the church. That will not happen, one way or the other.
Even if you managed to rob the parish, word of what you've done will get out. Sure, it will ruin the priests reputation. But then the church elders will get involved. They can't let their reputation be such as accedes to blackmail and allows stealing from them. They will get their icon back.
Do you think your boss will protect you when the fires of the archons are raining down on your little gang? Or will he let you burn while he tries to run off with what he can carry?
Mathias listens to the man and then to Beswaur.
It appears that you feel as if we have come to attack you and your friends or company. Let me put you at easy friend, we wish to settle a matter in a way that best protects all interests. A man of your employers status I am sure keeps impeccable records of loans and a receipt of the loan he paid out can be presented?
Mathias truly hopes the priest was smart enough to ask for a receipt upon payment.
Come now. says Raphael, I am quite sure if I am not accommodating that you will be prepared to beat me until I give the response you require. After that I am sure you are insane enough to do the same to Velcastos... So forgive me for being perhaps less than forthcoming and keeping my distance. I am quite sure the Priest's debt is not paid, he promised us the sacred soil, and tried to trick us with giving us dust from town. That will not settle his debt.
Marcus takes a healthy halfing step towards Raphael.
But that is exactly you should be very forthcoming. You are going to tell us all about how you threatened the priest last night, but you were just acting under orders. How Velcastos is strong arming the church by sending his loyal bootlickers to intimidate the clergy. Then you are going to leave town. We are going to go get Velcastos, drag him off in irons, and send him to his trial. Then we are not going find you and do the same. If you don't cooperate we will have to.
Sir, you know that your employer would throw you to the wolves if it came down to it. Perhaps your cooperation could provide an agreement where you remain free and unharmed when the sheriff decides to move.
Raphael seems remarkably unmoved by Marcus. But his eyes light up a little at Mathias's suggestion.
Tell you what he says Thomas was with me last night, he's gone away for a while but I might have heard him say something important about who gave us the job. Plus I hear Velcastos might have a new mistress he's visiting this afternoon. If I am helpful are you going to let me leave, unharmed, and never trouble me again?
While I disagree with your threatening of a priest if you were cooperative and our paths didn't cross in the same manner again I could leave you in peace and unharmed yes.
Marcus glares at Raphael and then looks back at Mathias who said the same thing as he did but from higher up. And less angry.
Yes, I agree with this.
Beswaur nods.
Valcastos looks across the adventurers. Well I heard Thomas say Valcastos said to go down to the temple and rough that priest up. Velcastos said that if we don't come back with the relic, he's going to be really pissed with all of us. He said don't be afraid to be a little rough, to break a little bone or two. Or a large bone. Velcastos say that the priest he reneged on the deal, and now this is his last chance before Velcastos throw him down the river himself. That what Thomas told me. With this he winks at the party.
Valcastos, he got himself a new honey. Pretty girl, she now lives in the pretty red brick house, its on your left as you head back into the city, about the fourth house in, can't miss it. He's probably there now, he'll have three of his men with him, but he'll be distracted upstairs, if you're quiet you can probably surprise him. Now gentlemen, is that all, I wish to make my prayers for good fortune?
May your prayers bring you peace.
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I would also suggest you find a more upstanding way to make your way in the world. The current path leads no where pleasant.
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Velcastos is obviously a parasite and needs to be removed from the community. I have no issue with that.
Having said that, do you folks believe the priest was lying to us? I have a problem helping someone to get out of deals made in good faith.
The thief was very determined to stick to the story that father Athul owes them the relic. Marcus frowns. You may be right. We should speak to the Rector after we arrest Velcastos. If the priest tried to barter with a holy relic that is a church matter. As for reneging on the deal, so it means Velcastos and his men did a good deed for the people of this town He shrugs a bit pre-trial community service?
I was hesitant to believe the priest's story when he was being misleading with us the first few times I think it wouldn't be too out of character for a man willing to lie, to share one of half truths.
Perhaps we should visit Velcastos and ask to view his receipt. If he shows that he is owed a relic we can allow the Rector and thief solve this. The Rector can solve his problem with the priest making false promises above his grade and we can breath easy knowing that we have not put a man behind bars for the wrong crime.
Eh... I wouldn't go that far. Even if he is legitimately owned something, roughing up the local priest is not the way to go about it.
Velcastos is obviously a blight on this community and needs to be removed.
But if the priest really did promise the relic, I think we should also insist that the priest own up to his actions with the Rector.
If the priest promised a relic he had no power to give away then Velcastos is owed a debt made in good faith. The Rector has the power to make a payment from the church coffers and he can renegotiate with Velcastos. Of course Velcastos has to be able to prove that the debt is owed which is why I believe we should ask him to see the receipt and then we go to the Rector if it is a deal he needs to make. Either way I believe the Rector needs to sort out his own house with the priest.
I cannot send a man to jail for the wrong crime, while roughing up the priest is wrong it has yet to happen and thus the crime has yet to be committed.