"A signal of some sort, although I don't know what it means. Come to it, we should probably arrange a few signals of our own for this kind of situation."
The line of soldiers left in the square warily watch those few bystanders left at the edges of the square, focusing particular attention on the pair of armed Karands studying the building and whispering to each other.
"Laithe, I'm not sure why the face pulled back from the window -- whether it noticed me staring back or did not want to be seen more generally... but I do wonder if the person knows anything that would shed additional light on the present situation. What did Pharris's signal look like?" Before he gets his answer from Laithe or Alton, Keildrithe notices the row of soldiers looking at them. "Um... my friends... perhaps we should scatter and disperse down the side streets? We seem to be garnering unfavourable attention and have few people to hide behind. If we get separated, we should meet up again at Pardoner's Square. Perhaps Laithe and I can linger and keep and eye out for Pharris and Nicolai? Laithe and I are a tad too conspicuous...but do keep an eye for a potential late comer leaving the chapel..."
"Laithe, I'm not sure why the face pulled back from the window -- whether it noticed me staring back or did not want to be seen more generally... but I do wonder if the person knows anything that would shed additional light on the present situation. What did Pharris's signal look like?" Before he gets his answer from Laithe or Alton, Keildrithe notices the row of soldiers looking at them. "Um... my friends... perhaps we should scatter and disperse down the side streets? We seem to be garnering unfavourable attention and have few people to hide behind. If we get separated, we should meet up again at Pardoner's Square. Perhaps Laithe and I can linger and keep and eye out for Pharris and Nicolai? Laithe and I are a tad too conspicuous...but do keep an eye for a potential late comer leaving the chapel..."
Laithe nods at Keildrithe's suggestion. "Yes, we apparently attract too much attention." He begins moving away with the departing crowds but continues talking. "Let's see if we can find a way around so we can stay close to Pharris & Nicolai in case there's trouble."
As they move he repeats the signal Pharris made to Kajetan and Keildrithe. "Any idea's on what she...wait a second! It mean's danger! It's occassionally used by karandic bushmen, but I've only heard it used once and I'd almost forgotten. We had all better follow them - let's find a way around and make some haste."
Knowledge check DC 20+ ** spoiler omitted **
If there is no verbal introduction, Nicolai follows quietly behind Pharris and the priest, allowing his smile to do the talking. He walks fully upright, chest slightly puffed out with his hands locked behind his back. He's content to follow, but gives the impression to a casual observer of both knowing where he's going and of having the full authority to do so.
While walking, he glances occasionally at Deacon Terim to try and get a read on the man, and perhaps a sense of his rank among the other priests.
As they move he repeats the signal Pharris made to Kajetan and Keildrithe. "Any idea's on what she...wait a second! It mean's danger! It's occassionally used by karandic bushmen, but I've only heard it used once and I'd almost forgotten. We had all better follow them - let's find a way around and make some haste."
Keildrithe follows Laithe without hesitation. "Is there a way to scale nearby walls or buildings in order to gain access, unobserved, to the cathedral complex?"
While walking, he glances occasionally at Deacon Terim to try and get a read on the man, and perhaps a sense of his rank among the other priests.
Keildrithe follows Laithe without hesitation. "Is there a way to scale nearby walls or buildings in order to gain access, unobserved, to the cathedral complex?"
The square facing the cathedral is fronted by buildings, most of them of two or three stories with narrow windows and peaked roofs. Most of them appear to be either residences or administrative buildings associated with the church as far as you can tell.
It may indeed be possible to scale a wall somewhere further around towards the back of the complex – doing so here would almost certainly arouse the ire of the guards. Of course, remaining unobserved or unobtrusive if and when you gain access to the complex is another matter.
"I wonder if Pharris was signalling 'danger' for herself, or for us if we remained in the square? Would it be wise to split up? Two follow the wagons to the morgue, and the other two try to find a street that leads up to the cathedral complex from the rear, behind the soldier line? Again, we could arrange to meet up later at Pardoner's Square, at a specified time...?"
"I wonder if Pharris was signalling 'danger' for herself, or for us if we remained in the square? Would it be wise to split up? Two follow the wagons to the morgue, and the other two try to find a street that leads up to the cathedral complex from the rear, behind the soldier line? Again, we could arrange to meet up later at Pardoner's Square, at a specified time...?"
Laithe continues to make his way around the edge of the crowd and square towards the path taken by Pharris and Nicolai. As he moves, he considers Keildrithe's question appraisingly. "I hadn't thought of that - it could be us who are in danger. But I think we must assume it is she in trouble as she's the one being led away with only Nicolai to back her up."
He eyes up the guards watching the square. "I don't like the chance of Keildrithe and I being allowed to follow them directly, and even Kajetan & Alton may not be let by. But I fear it could take a while to find an alternate way around."
He pauses then says "I can call up a cloud of fog similar to the one Nicolai summoned which allowed us to escape from the freak show. It's going to be obvious something strange is happening, but it might be our best chance to slip through and stay close enough to help Pharris and Nicolai if they get in trouble. It will also allow us to stay together. What do you think?"
While walking, he glances occasionally at Deacon Terim to try and get a read on the man, and perhaps a sense of his rank among the other priests.
EDIT: knowledge (local) roll
Knowledge (local): 1d20+7 = 14 miss
Pharris and Nicolai:
He gives Nicolai a moment to reply before continuing. “As I was telling the young lady here, it is most unlikely that your cousin – I’m sorry, what was his name again? – is amongst the dead here. Why do you think he would have been caught in the fire?”
Pharris and Nicolai: ** spoiler omitted **
She begins wailing again, seeking comfort from Nicolai as she walks.
Pharris and Nicolai.
Behind the library a high stone wall marks the edge of the square. The priest walks along beside it, and through an archway between the wall and an adjacent building, onto a narrow street (hedged by the wall to the right and tall, blank faced stone buildings on the left), which becomes a set of stairs leading back down the hill. An old woman clad from head to toe in black climbs slowly up the stairs towards the group, bowing her head and touching the star of Arton at her throat as she passes the group.
At the bottom of the stair is a wider street leading away from the wall. Where the street meets the wall on the right stands a wide arch, blocked by a wooden gate guarded by a red clad soldier. An austere looking stone building is straight ahead, and it is towards this that the priest seems to be making.
Depends what you want to do - if you just want to get out of the square, sure, go for it - but the streets of Lichford are confusing, none of you know the way around, and you don't know exactly where Pharris etc are heading. So if the plan is to find a way around to follow her ... the wagons are apparently heading in the same direction...
Depends what you want to do - if you just want to get out of the square, sure, go for it - but the streets of Lichford are confusing, none of you know the way around, and you don't know exactly where Pharris etc are heading. So if the plan is to find a way around to follow her ... the wagons are apparently heading in the same direction...
The bodies have been loaded in, and the wagons are being turned around and pulling out, headed towards a wide street heading out from the rear of the square (near to where Pharris, Nicolai and the priest headed to, but not exactly the same spot).
It is possible to head around the edge of the square and reach the same street without passing through the line of soldiers – although you would be clearly visible to them.
By this stage, most of the other lingering watchers have left the square. A few junior priests hurry through on their way from one place to another.
Pharris and DM:
"Pleased to meet you, Padre. I'm Nicolai. I really don't have any idea why Tadarosh would have been in the library, or anywhere near the cathedral for that matter. But I do know this young lady," he says, placing his arm around Pharris' shoulders and squeezing her reassuringly, "and trust me when I say that there will be no rest for any of us until her worries are put to bed!"
Unless Padre Kelly presses on with the interrogation, Nicolai follows silently. He tries to keep a vigilant eye on the crowd, but finds it difficult to focus on anything other than Pharris, who is now practically draped over him in an effort to supposedly seek comfort. Despite this welcome distraction, Nicolai somehow manages to keep pace with the Artonite.
The bodies have been loaded in, and the wagons are being turned around and pulling out, headed towards a wide street heading out from the rear of the square (near to where Pharris, Nicolai and the priest headed to, but not exactly the same spot).
It is possible to head around the edge of the square and reach the same street without passing through the line of soldiers – although you would be clearly visible to them.
By this stage, most of the other lingering watchers have left the square. A few junior priests hurry through on their way from one place to another.
"Well I guess there's not much for it except to follow" Laithe mutters. He begins making his way around the edge of the square so that they can follow the wagons.
Pharris and Nicolai:
The small, rather plain chamber beyond holds a simple wooden bench, a door to another chamber, an open archway to what looks like a guard room – and a red clad soldier.
Padre Kelly turns and looks Pharris and Nicolai over while the guard stands to attention. “You’ll need to leave your weapons here,” he says, then raises a hand as if to forestall any argument, looking mainly at Pharris. “I care not whether they are tribal weapons, ancenstral weapons, or whether they have sentimental, personal or monetary significance; they stay with the guards here if you wish to come with me any further.”
As the priest speaks a second soldier emerges from the guard chamber and waits expectantly to take your weapons.
As the group makes their way around the edge of the square towards where the wagons are slowly trundling down a steep street away from the square, Kajetan walks with his head down, seemingly mumbling to himself under his hood.
Suddenly there comes a shout, a man’s voice from within the burnt library calling out in Atuscan – “Fire! Guards, come quickly!”
A number of the soldiers immediately run towards the library, whilst others begin casting about for discarded buckets or sources of water. Regardless, their collective attention is effectively distracted from the group, who takes the opportunity to hurry away down the street that the wagons are making their way down.
It is easy enough to catch up – the two wagons are moving very slowly down the quite steep, cobbled street, which twists its way down the hill. The street is not very busy, although there are a few folk here and there going about their business, or looking worriedly back up the hill, perhaps having heard the shout of ‘fire!’
DM and Pharris:
Another option may be jumping/climbing up into the open back of the wagon and trying to hide within, amongst the bodies – of course, that may present problems at the other end.
Alton grins at Kaejatan's distraction. "Excellent! That should clear the area for a bit. I have an idea; if one or all of us could get on top of the wagon's, we'd have a decent chance of gathering a little more information. I should probably be the one to go, being the smallest. What do you think? Should I try it? I could probably get up that thing quick-like without being noticed. Do any of you have magic that could help me? Or a better idea?"
DM/Nicolai
"The sword was gift, paid for by my family so please treat it well."
Then she moves to the other door expectantly. Her hands wringing each other in fake tension.
Alton grins at Kaejatan's distraction. "Excellent! That should clear the area for a bit. I have an idea; if one or all of us could get on top of the wagon's, we'd have a decent chance of gathering a little more information. I should probably be the one to go, being the smallest. What do you think? Should I try it? I could probably get up that thing quick-like without being noticed. Do any of you have magic that could help me? Or a better idea?"
"Nice work Kajetan" Laithe says as they make their way unnoticed down the street after the carts.
To Alton's suggestion he says "Well, it could cause problems when they go to unload. But it also could provide us a good advantage if there is trouble." He shrugs. "If you feel up for it, you can give it a go. If they spot you you can perhaps feign distress and that you heard one of your friends is among the dead..."
Meanwhile, Laithe looks ahead to see if he can see any sign of Pharris and Nicolai.
Pharris and Nicolai:
Padre Kelly says, “Please wait here for a few moments if you would. I shall check whether the bodies have arrived.” He then heads out one of the door, shutting it behind him, leaving the two of you alone.
Meanwhile, Laithe looks ahead to see if he can see any sign of Pharris and Nicolai.
No sign of them on the street. Perhaps they left the square via another street, or went into one of the buildings.
"I'll be off then." Altons says and slips away into the crowded moving as if he belongs towards the wagon.
DM/Nicolai
Alton reaches the second wagon easily enough, without attracting any apparent notice from the drivers. It is trundling slowly enough that he thinks he could probably jump up onto it and climb up to the roof.
Alton leaps up onto the wagon, clambering to the top and praying that everyone's attention is still focused on Kaejatan's distraction.
Pharris and DM:
Nicolai and Pharris:
The other door out of this waiting room is locked, and Pharris cannot hear anything from beyond it.
Alton nimbly jumps up and grabs the backboard of the wagon, then swings agily around and scrambles up the wooden sides of the wagon to the timber top, then presses himself down, hopefully out of sight of anyone on the street.
A moment later, the lead wagon slowly turns into another street (the second wagon that Alton is atop following it). Both seem to be making for an austere looking stone building which features a large set of double wooden doors (wide enough to accommodate a wagon), with a smaller door into the same building further along the street. Above the smaller door hangs a black iron star of Arton.
With the likelyhood that Alton will also be separated from the group, Kajetan looks around at his surroundings taking in the detail of the land. Remembering back to his studies on city design, the scholar pictures in his mind's eye the probable lay-out of Lichford and the most logical alternate route in which Pharris and Nicolai would take to reach this building, if it would be their final destination.
Before Alton is in the building, Kajetan makes every effort to stay unnoticed but within reasonable distance of the building. He pulls out a thin copper wire and mouths something quietly. He points to the Halfling and whispers, "Alton, do not be alarmed. It is Kajetan. For a short while, we should be able to communicate with each other while you are in the building. You can whisper a reply, and I should be able to hear you. Let me know what you see and hear, and above all else, tell us if Pharris and Nicolai are in the building. Try not to wonder to far from the building wall so I can remain in contact with you."
Alton turns, a little alarmed by the voice in his ear. When he hears that it's Kaejatan, he relaxes and then whispers "Got it. I'll try to stay in contact as long as I can."