A flickering candle in the dark. (Inactive)

Game Master Helaman

Adran thinks to himself, "Just my luck, the one member of the party who's hurting worse than I am for money."

Adran rummages around in his belt pouch and pulls out a second gold coin, handing both gold coins to the innkeeper.

Mala will switch into her common clothes, leaving her armor and most of her weapons in the room. She will keep the scimitar for ... religious reasons.

"A meal sounds wonderful," Mala tells Grimm, returning to the common room after they've secured their gear.

"Stew and a pint," Mala tells the Innkeeper.

Rex wanders outside the inn, after putting one of his daggers in the room. He looks around. So run down for the town, of.... 300 was it? What is making them disappear. It must be scarry. What got them.Maybe the woman at the temple knows. Its a big building. She was... wierd. Maybe dangerous? Maybe a friend... How do I tell. One way I guess is to find out. Rex starts to head down to the church once more.

Rex wanders on to the street, alone for now, while his friend Adran checks the room. Mala and Grimm wait downstairs for the innkeep to serve them.

Gusteelus and Beckett are hemming and hawwing over the remaining sleeping arrangements but as the Wagoneer snags the 'fancy' room, it leaves them only the larger room... its that or head back to the bunk house, or check out the other Inn in town.

Anything else?

Not a lot of foot traffic on the streets for Rex to see but the inn is set directly across from a goodly sized farm house and what may be a dairy if the cows and smell are any indication.

This house and barn are clean, whitewashed wooden buildings. Several cows chew their cud just outside the barn. Three little girls playing in the yard of the house stop to gawk at you.

Adran stashes his gear in the room. Then he goes back downstairs and looks around for Rex. Not seeing Rex down in the inn, Adran goes outside to look for him. Assuming that Adran sees Rex he will catch up with him and say, "Rex, come on back to the inn. Nothing good can come of charging off by yourself."

The kids across the way laugh at Rex.

While waiting for their meal, Grimm engages Mala in conversation.

"So what do you think lass? Strange town, but not so much as some I have visited. People seem normal, just a bit skittish is all."

Looking around the room, Mala says in a low voice, "I definitely think there is something strange going on. The temple is holding a dark secret, and we need to open it to Sarenrae's light."

Rex will head back, not paying any attention to the kids.

Adran will head back to the inn with Rex and approach the table where Grimm and Mala are sitting. He asks, "Mind if we join you?"

"Come, sit down and take a load off.", Grimm says, kicking a chair out for the elf to sit in.

Rex pulls a chair up as well.

"So we was just talking about this here village and why all the people seem strange. Any ideas?"

Grimm sits back with a pint of ale and listens to what the others think of the place.

Adran pulls up a chair and says, "The only thing we really know for sure is that the local temple is keeping dogs in a shed most people would store tools in. That could indicate nothing more than that they're worried about being attacked. Which also might partially explain their initial reaction to us. Other than that the inn keeper has bizarre ideas. Not sure about the Constable."

Adran shrugs. He continues talking.

"Regardless of all that, I'm inclined to think it will likely take us several days' worth of talking to people and investigating before we can figure out what's going on. I just hope we don't get too spread out."

The innkeep will serve soup and beer.

breakfast 1 sp
breakfast, fancy 3 sp
supper 4 sp
supper, fancy 1 ep

soup or stew, bowl 2 sp

beer, pint 1 sp
beer, pint, dark 2 sp

wine, pint, watery white 2 sp
wine, pint, watery red 2 sp
wine, Special, pint 1 gph

Trusting you to keep track of your own money and yes, at this point I don't want it hand waived for certain reasons

Gustav joins you but sits huddled, almost mouse like.

I'll... I'll conclude my business tomorrow morning, get the wagon loaded. I'll pay for your breakfasts too - once we get back to Hochoch I'll give you a reward for your helping me. We should be leaving tomorrow mid morning, okay?.

I have have to wonder if they have given in. Every town has survived somehow. The lack of a massive wall makes me wonder why they are still around. I look to the wait staff. Can I get some hot water? I pull out some herbs an a tiny censer.

Hot water is delivered.

You and your other friend want to share the bigger room elf? 12 silvers each - I can book the room exclusively for you two, no other guests, for 4 gold and 8 silver, the Innkeep asks.

He doesn't volunteer any information as to Gusteelus' and his musing on the township. Nor do the other people in the tavern... who are looking at you as they drink and quietly talk to each other.

Adran orders two bowls of soup and 2 pints of beer for himself and Rex. Adran comments after the inn keeper leaves to get the order.

"Originally this place was settled by military veterans. They might not have needed a wall. Their children and grandchildren might not have martial abilities to match those of their ancestors, so we may be seeing things happening now that couldn't earlier. All I know is it's going to take some time talking to people to figure out what's what."

Next move?

Adran comments to the group. "Perhaps we should visit the Priestess when we've finished our meal? She said she would talk to us when we came back."

I will be honest, if we want them to actually like us, or at least not fear us, then I am better at listening then talking.

The meal is nothing to comment on, at least positively. The soup is watery and a bit greasy, making up for its lack of substance with big pieces of well boiled turnip.

The beer is acceptable.

After lunch you decide head back to the temple as a group.

This time you are greeted, albeit nervously, by one of the villagers in a green smock and shown into the Central sanctuary.

This large room has a tile floor decorated with a mosaic pattern in gold, brown, orange, and green depicting harvest and growth. Several tapestries hang on the walls depicting scenes of lush farmland and crops in various stages of maturity. Five huge tree trunks serve as columns in the room.

Beckett notices (easily noting the detail) that the Temple’s holy symbol is missing from its place of honor at the far end of the sanctuary. No candles are lit where it should have stood either.

The priestess joins you.

Ahh, you have returned. How may I help you?

Adran says, "I'm sure that my friends will have a bunch of questions for you, but as a sage I am interested in history. Do you know if there was a structure on this site before the temple was built here? I am also interested in finding out where they got all the stone to build the temple."

Are the tree trunks actually rooted in their current locations or does it look like they're supposed to be some sort of "log cabin" style beams set up vertically?

She smiles.

How... quaint.

Well, you'd be interested to know that this was the first structure in town. Veterans built it first as a refuge, a fort of sorts. The stone was quarried about 20 miles from here as the stories go but there are some tales also of the stone, at least some of it, belonging to a pre-existing Kellid site out that way.

Life was pretty hard and dangerous the first few years and it wasn't until after time had passed that the families took to building their own houses, but using this building as a fall back site - the fact that they were all military men and well equipped taught local threats that Faubough was best avoided.

Fourteen years ago the towns folk decided to formalise something that had already been precedent - Services to Erastil had always been held here but it was for lack of a better location, but at that point they decided to dedicate the site for worship. Some beautification was done - I am sure you noticed the carvings on the gate and that brings us to where we are today.

Are the tree trunks actually rooted in their current locations or does it look like they're supposed to be some sort of "log cabin" style beams set up vertically?

Looks like the trees have been used to form in their natural cyclindrical state, pillars for the roof. Why build stone columns when you can use a tree? That would be your feel of it

Adran will wander around in the temple and look the artwork over. He will also be looking for things that seem out of place. If he can do so without being blindingly obvious about it he will peek behind one or two of the tapestries (hopefully some of the other characters will start asking questions).

Intelligence (Investigation): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Wisdom (Perception): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Adran, You wander around the Central sanctuary and note the missing holy symbol

Perception. Investigation would be too obvious. You'll need a deception roll with a DC15 to quickly peek behind the tapestries without notice assuming the others provide distraction enough. She is watching you all with a diligence that could be expected when watching 'strangers' and so sneaking deeper into the temple beyond this room or to leave this room without notice would need something extra-ordinary

Adran's dexterity and therefore his Stealth leaves a lot to be desired. So for now at least just the missing holy symbol is noted.

What would it be to distract the priest with blabber and small talk?

huh..my post got eaten....oh well

Grimm wanders through the building, noting the stone and structure of the place. He also uses this as a ruse so he can investigate the area more thoroughly, hoping to discover any hidden passages or doors.

"Hmm, this stone is interesting, as well as the technique for fitting them together...see her, this seam is slightly out of alignment with the following one....(etc.)"

Using stonecunning to determine the age and where the stones came from...just to see if she is telling the truth.

Investigation: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Stonecunning (history): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Her tale fits with what you see from the dressing of the stone works - some are more weathered than others which appear non weathered but non the less are stained with the amount of soot and dirt you'd expect from a structure about 100 years or more old.

However there is no guided visit of the temple entire - you are in just one room. Between Grimm and Adran moving around the room checking things out its coming across a bit... well, creepy.

No offense, but is there something I can help you with? I don't often get caravan guards prowling around the central sanctum peering at things and asking historical questions. Are you... are you some sort of agents?, because if you are, the place isn't for sale, we aren't moving out and we aren't looking for some Noble to move into town to take over affairs.

Adran replies, "Actually our primary interest is in finding out how and why people seem to be disappearing from this place. Their health and safety is a concern for us. Another concern is why shipments of produce from this town have fallen off to the point that prices in Karcau have been adversely affected. It seems strange that given a situation where prices for their produce should bring a premium, people here seem to be unwilling to sell."

"Given that a temple to Erastil should be a veritable fountain of information about the local agricultural conditions and the concerns of the average farmer we have come here to talk to you. And for my part I truly am interested in history. Many of the problems of the present day have their roots in the past and cannot be properly addressed unless their history is known."

"So, how long have you been living in such fear that you feel the need to keep guard dogs in a temple that is easily the most defensible place in at least a days' travel of here? What is it that you fear so much? Have the beings that I described in my previous visit been a problem here too and not just on the road?"

"Honestly, sister, we came here hoping to find the clearest idea of what is going on in your community," Mala begins.

"As Adran mentioned, this is a small community and it's ties to the beliefs practiced here should make you a person with your finger on the pulse of much of the community," Mala shrugs. "It seems, however, you are more interested in protecting your secrets. And that's fine. I pray for the wisdom of Sarenrae to guide you back into the light."

What is going on, miss?Rex asks the priestess

It is strange - crops haven't been as good as one would think and families are leaving their farms. The dogs? We had our holy symbol stolen 2 nights ago. One of the people who volunteer service recall seeing a bald middle aged warrior with a beard leave here mysteriously. We bought the dogs in as a response.

I'm sorry but I do have duties to attend to - a class for our acolytes. You can ask the Constable for more about the towns history if that's all you want on that. He can probably speak to the crop yields as well if urgency is an issue for you. If needed we can meet later but even here in this remote village I am still busy.

She makes to leave.

Time for a final attempt to engage her attention otherwise she goes back into the temple proper

Maybe you mentioned this and I just spaced it, but is the Priestess wearing a Holy Symbol?

Yes, Erastils

Adran asks, "The stolen holy symbol, what was it made out of and roughly how big and heavy was it?"

She halts in her departure A wooden bow bound in silver, strung with a golden wire, backed by a gold gilded wood carved sheaf of wheat - about the height of a mans forearm and as wide as a mans palm.

That's a holy symbol? sounds like a small weapon. Rex says not thinking

At hearing Rex's exclamation, Gusteelus chortles to himself.

Beckett finds nothing majorly untoward or too unorthodox here... It's strange that the temple is a converted fort. It's strange that their centrepiece symbol is a bit rich and inclusive of wheat as a motif but it's no so far out there either. As a farming community crops would be a focus in their worship of Erastil. There's a lot here that seems just a tad 'off' but not to the point of him wanting to start accusations of apostasy or lead him to believe the priestess is an imposter.

That's a holy symbol? sounds like a small weapon. Rex says not thinking

Only if used as a club, she says as she leaves the room.

The serving man in a temple smock approaches.

Thats all fer now - time to leave.

I leave with an overly exaggerated bow.

When everyone else joins me, So, where to now?

Grimm simply turns and makes his way out of the temple. He waits for the others outside.

Adran comments after the group has left the temple, "I'm not sure what to make of all that. If the Priestess is to be believed then it sounds like Stephain stole their holy symbol. Given that the holy symbol was supposedly mostly wood with some gold and silver covering then I wouldn't think it would be that valuable. What do you think about that Gustav?"

Gustav didn't come with you - he's not an investigator but assuming you go back to the inn? He'll tell you that his guard was no thief