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Prisim can't help but sneaks into a dark room and peeks through the curtains to see what she can see. She doesn't try to leave the house, and after a few minutes gets quickly bored.
Going from bed to bed she selects a nice soft one, preferably gnome sized.
She does try out her magic to see if she can take the blankets to a tie-die pattern before falling asleep.
Moments after sunset the party hears three distinct bells. The curfew is over, and the party is free to roam around town.
As the sheriff promised, the message box is full of food — fresh raw vegetables, berries, onion bread, cashew milk, and cashews, as well as jugs filled with fresh, clear water.
It's time to look around town.
"I'm going to guess that I amy not be very welcome at the Temple ... and am I ... er ... not so good talking to other people, so I guess that I will check out the Artisan's square ..."
[dice=Perception]1d20+9
As you approach the townsquare, you hear a heated argument between two major groups: the blacksmiths and the carpenters.
"We carpenters build and repair the walls! Everyone needs us more than you!"
"Oh yeah, and who provides the nails and tools to build these? Blacksmiths like us are much more important than you!"
Egos clash as the craftspeople argue over who is more useful for the town, overall.
After breaking his fast on berries and cashews Lannior is ready to explore.
Hey Prisim, I've heard tell of a Painted House, that sounds interesting you wanna go check it out?
One my way I want to walk by the giant Tree God in the center of town and check it out as well.
The temple is the largest building in Mercy. Wooden pews line the east and west side of the building, with a garden on the south. An enormous, twisted tree takes up the north side of the building. A pleasant walkway snakes around the tree up to the temple opening, which has no door. Animals made of twisted twigs adorn the branches, and vanilla orchids flourish in the shade.
You've never heard of Robori before. This diety must be local to the town of Mercy. Zuri is the high priestess.
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Prisim wanders the streets, looking at the sights and enjoying the company of the tall elf.
"Painted house sounds fun... oohh look at them argue"
Prisim dances over to the argumet, unable to resist putting in her two cents.
"It sounds to me like you are both incredibly important. And Mercy is a Community. Nobody would be able to make walls or nails without the food gatherers. And are we not all better together than as individuals?"
It sounds good to her, but maybe not to the locals.
"So Lan, where is this painted house anyway? I bet it had some excellent carpenters and skilled smiths both contribute to it."
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Previous healing for Creat
"Honestly" He says. "How many other people get speared through the guts and have to go to work the next day? It's un-Andoran!"
Later, while still attempting to explain to Lannior and Prisim that it doesn't matter that he not from Andoran--the principle still stands (and the Andorans would be first to say so!)--he should have the day off, he is rudely interrupted by other peoples' little quibbles and in a fit of pique attempts to settle the matter, so that he can get back to discussing something important.
"Oh yeah, and what about the miners who brought you the iron to make those nails with, huh?! Dying of black lung, and cave-ins all so you could have your iron ore to make stuff with. You make me sick. You should get down on you hands and knees and thank your tree that you have miners willing to go down into those black abysses and bring you your ore. Miners who care enough to sacrifice their lives so you worthless bastards--who are not even worthy enough to lick the coal dust off their boots--can crucify other people with boards and nails.... Bunch of pansies."
*Crickets*
I should have stayed in bed....
Pau's words actually manage to interrupt some of the arguments. But the head of the Carpentry Guild is still yelling at the Master Blacksmith...
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Yeah, everyone is important it takes all of you to make it work.
Following the other's lead, Lannior tries to help.
-----
Pointing to the other at the tree a short time later.
Look the roots of the tree are afflicted with a blight. Lannior inspects it more closely. The branches and trunk still look okay. Now examining the roots more closely.
The roots are the heart of the tree, it will not survive another decade at this rate.
Since this tree is there God...that's not a good sign at all.
Lannior's disdain of the human race shines through, and the Carpenters and Blacksmiths continue arguing. At least the Weavers are staying out of it. Prisim checks out their orange and yellow garments.
At the temple of Robori, Lannior notices something wrong with the tree's roots. Before he can move on this information, a human female walks up to the party, dressed in bright orange.
"Welcome to the Temple of Robori, where all are welcomed. My name is Zuri, and I am the high priestess here. How may I help you today?" She checks the party members with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Well met Zuri, my name is Lannior. I have curiosity of why Mercy is spared from mana storms. I've been told Robori preserves you? A colleague of mine came here to learn about this herself, but I've lost touch with her. Her name was Amenira. Do you remember her?
"Greetings Lannior. Welcome to the temple of Robori. The tree you've seen is Robori himself, and he has protected this town from terrible storms. I will grant you his blessing." She pulls out a branch, similar to the large tree outside and raises it high above the party.
Wood of the tree speaks a whisper to thee. The sun rises soon. To you, a boon. Such is the will of Robori.
"Now, that Amenira. She lives in the painted house and makes toys for the children. She’s an outsider, but she dresses like one of us. If only she would convert to Robori, maybe she could join us someday. She’s been gone for a while now.”
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Prisim leaves the arguing craftsfolk to their discussions and follows the flow to the temple.
"My, what a magnificient tree!" she gushes, stepping forward to give it too a big hug.
"He looks so tall and healthy, no wonder Mercy has been spared. I wish I could grow a tree half as good as this one."
She turns her personality onto the priestess.
"Did Amenira ever come to join and and see how you worship? I'm sure she must have been curious."
"Amenira has visited a few times, yes." At first she smiles at Prisim's kind words, but she becomes worried a few moments after.
"She has been gone for two months now, and people are starting to worry about her. No one remembers her saying anything about being gone for longer than her usual trips back to Alkenstar to send letters to her family."
"My apologies, I should prepare today's ritual for the Great Robori. If you have nothing else to talk about..."
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Lannior compliments Nerisiel on her words. Well said, your tongue is silvery and looks to have calmed down the quarrelsome.
-----
Later after Zuri departs and Lannior has shared his concerns to the others about the health of Mercy's God. He makes sure no other townsfolk are around before sharing.
I wonder if it's all connected somehow, the taint, the fighting. The disappearance. Amenira had mentioned being sick -- she may well be dead. Remember those halfling tracks we saw by the cave...
Lannior trails off in thought...so many ideas swimming in his head.
Let's scout out this Painted house. I think we need to take a look inside.
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-=-=-=-= in the square -=-=-=-=-=
"Ohh.. nicely put."
"After the temple, we should totally check out the painted house. I wonder why it is called that, are they not all painted?"
She looks around.
"Well, whitewashed."
-=-=- at the temple -=-=-=-=
"Ohh... we should totally mention that problem with the roots to Zuri"
She raises her hand.
"Excuse me... my friend here knows a bit more about plants than me and..." she points to the damaged area.
"I was also hoping that I might be able to attend and watch your rituals, as you allowed Amenira ."
"Ohh... we should totally mention that problem with the roots to Zuri"She raises her hand.
"Excuse me... my friend here knows a bit more about plants than me and..." she points to the damaged area.
"I was also hoping that I might be able to attend and watch your rituals, as you allowed Amenira ."
"Hmm? Oh my. I- I didn't realize..." Zuri kneels down to look. "Thank you for pointing this out to me. You are all truly blessed children of Robori. Come back this evening, right before sunset for our ceremony, alright? Thank you so much."
Zuri turns to the clergy, speaking to them about the newcomers's discovery and how they helped save Robori.
Back at the Artisan's Square, the craftsmen finally calm down and admit they both contribute to Mercy's well being, and that's what is truly important.
With arguments out of the way, the townspeople at the Artisan's Square return to normal. The party walks through town towards the Painted House.
The plant life is extremely vibrant in Mercy, much stronger than usual.
form of plant life that could survive the blighted landscape of the Mana Wastes many centuries ago.
See the DC 20 Knowledge(Nature) spoiler.
---
This well-kept wooden building, painted in festive shades of orange, is the only painted structure in Mercy. A pair of cashew trees flanks its front entrance.
Inside there is a mess of workbenches, tools, toys, and dolls in varying stages of completion.
Looking through the bedroom, you see a spellbook and a journal. The journal has Amenira's handwritting all over it.
The bed has several twigs on it and you can tell a small child must have slept on there.
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Perception
Perception
Perception
Pau keeps quiet while they investigate the house. He looks around the mess of workbenches, tools, toys, and dolls in varying stages of completion. "It looks like whoever was here left in a hurry, and just grabbed a bunch of weapons, armor, and other items.
As the group entered the bedroom, Pau spotted the two books, one a spellbook and the other a journal. The journal has Amenira's handwriting all over it. As Pau scanned the journal, he found a page that he directed the group's attention toward. "Ah, this will be useful. For lack of a better term, this book describes the dos and don'ts while talking to people in Mercy. This might help us make friends a bit easier."
Pau begins reading the do's and don'ts in Mercy.
The people of Mercy are rather secretive, even about their social norms. I have deduced the following unspoken rules.
1) No meat. Everyone in Mercy is strictly vegetarian, but the opposition to the presence of meat goes beyond dietary choices and seems to have a religious significance.
2) No cursing. They have a broad sense of what constitutes a curse word, and even polite words said in a rude tone are taboo.
3) No blue clothing.
4) No unleashed dogs.
5) No gambling. This includes benign references such as, "I bet" as an affirmative.
6) No spreading of false gospel. The townsfolk refuse to even acknowledge the existence of deities other than their own.
She seems to have underlined rule 6, with a "no Nethys!" scribbled hastily.
He then notices Prisim and Creat are wearing some blue clothing.
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Pau points out the list to the others. "This has to help improve our relations. Amenira's handwriting is distinctive, so I believe this comes from her research.
The people of Mercy are rather secretive, even about their social norms. I have deduced the following unspoken rules.
1) No meat. Everyone in Mercy is strictly vegetarian, but the opposition to the presence of meat goes beyond dietary choices and seems to have a religious significance.
2) No cursing. They have a broad sense of what constitutes a curse word, and even polite words said in a rude tone are taboo.
3) No blue clothing.
4) No unleashed dogs.
5) No gambling. This includes benign references such as, "I bet" as an affirmative.
6) No spreading of false gospel. The townsfolk refuse to even acknowledge the existence of deities other than their own.
She seems to have underlined rule 6, with a "no Nethys!" scribbled hastily."
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"This place looks newly built unlike some of the other places in town no more than five years old possibly as little as one?
"Looks like someone left in a hurry"
Nerisial crouches down and addresses the girl under the bed.
"Hello little girl. Are you hurt? Be brave! We are here to help."
Nerisial smiles in her friendliest manner [
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"Oh no. And Blue is one of my favorite colors.."
With a wiggle of her fingers, Prisim changes her hair and clothing to being more sedate colors. Greens and reds.
Shen Nerisial notices the girl, Prisim crouches down.
"It's okay, we won't hurt you? Were you the girl whose tracks we saw leave the cave? That was very brave of you."
Nerisiel carefully looks at the construction and concludes it's very modern, no more than a few years old. She then notices a leg sticking out from underneath the bed and looks down to address the girl underneath. She seems made of wood and looks like the other handcrafted dolls, except a vine is growing out of her neck.
She offers you a scroll, scrunched up in her hand.
This is a scroll of Enter Image.
"I am Nira. I do not know you. You are not from Mercy. You find Mercy. You find murder."
Her head shakes and she holds it still, as if she is trying to shake some kind of memory out. In the end, all she can remember is-
"Dolls see why children hide."
"It's okay, we won't hurt you? Were you the girl whose tracks we saw leave the cave? That was very brave of you."
"Yes! Cave! Children hide. In dolls see.." She drops to her knees, holding her head like she has a terrible headache.
"May I...be in the guesthouse?"