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"We'll see each other VERY soon... mayor, count on it" Thror snarls before whispering to his companions:"Let's check this place out. Evil is afoot here... I can smell it! And that mayor... my line of inquiry made him very nervous... a clear sign he's in league with the forces of the Abyss! We need to keep an eye on him and his brother as well!"
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At the sight of the others spreading out through town, Kenza looks around warily.
Is it better to disobey an order, in order to protect them; or to obey an order and leave them unprotected..?
After a few long moments of thought, Kenza bows deeply to Vello and Lucy. "At your command."
Then she turns and takes a few steps away... Only to pause and look back at the 'weaker' members of the group... After another few moments she forces herself to walk off down the road.
She walks to the far edge of town, presuming this area would be the most dangerous. As she walks she nods at the people she passes by respectfully, and watches for danger, signs of Jeminda, or anything particularly odd.
It's strange being alone... She's not used to it. There's always another agent to protect or a team to assist in their mission. She can't remember a time when she didn't have duties to tend to, or a superior to serve. The sudden freedom is unnerving. It sets her on edge. Makes her feel lazy, useless.
When she reaches the far end of town she begins approaching people.
She bows respectfully. "Greetings. I am Kenza. I am honoured by your presence. My I converse with you for a moment? I seek the Pathfinder Jeminda. Do you recall meeting her? I am grateful for any information you can provide me."
"I humbly thank you for your time."
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Looking at the others Frostwind shrugs.
"You are like an elephant in the porcellan shop. This is their home and we bark in as if we were a godsend. We are not. We do need the help and cooperation of the locals. But hey continue behaving like aspis. I am sure that will make us loads of friends in the future."
Looking at the snobish woman she continues.
"I am sure you want to say something witty, but alas safe it for later."
Drinking an extract of heighten awareness Frostwind walks towards the town, starting with the local shop and spends some coin to get some clues.
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When Kenza stops and looks back to the group she may be startled to see that Lucy pulls her lovely black horse along side her. She stares at her fingernails, as if inspecting them for dirt, despite how immaculate they are.
I don't do well talking to the masses. Commoners annoy me. I think I'll follow you Kenza, you seem much more interesting.
As Kenza talks to people randomly, Lucy continues to look aloof, occasionally playing with her dagger, looking bored.
What I wouldn't give to be back in Cheliax.
It doesn't take long to learn that Ravenmoor a small town full of small minds. There's only a handful of points of interest the townsfolk that eventually open to Vello point him toward. Kenza only seems to get dirty looks.
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Comforted by the nearby presence of Lady Galonnica, Kenza worries slightly less than she otherwise would have. When Lucy speaks to her, Kenza hesitates, unsure if she was expected a reply.
"I will do my best to assist you in your mission, so that you may return home as soon as possible."
But, as she's rebuffed time and time again, she bows to Lucy in shame.
"I apologize for my failure."
She waits there, still bowing, apparently waiting to see if she is forgiven.
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Lucy gives a small smile to Kenza and aloofly examines her fingernails again as they travel down another street.
Bah, ignore them Kenza, it's to be expected from small minded country folk like this. There is barely a failure to apologize for, but your forgiven anyways.
She studies Kenza more intently as they travel. Kenza is once again struck by the odd feeling that determining how much of Lucy is an act and how much is genuine is a more difficult proposition than it may first seem, as Lucy looks at her with the eye of a alchemist examining a particularly fascinating bug.
I'm sure our fellow comrades have learned at least something of interest. This was never really something for you to do... you show respect to your betters, and some culture at that. You must tell me where you learned your manners, they are impeccable.
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Kenza looks at Lucy in mild surprise.
"You honour me," she replies respectfully. "I was raised in the Sandswept Hall. That is the Pathfinder Lodge in Sothis. I was a poor academic, but my masters were generous. I was given extensive combat training--from within the Lodge, and with external tutors. My duty is to protect more valuable agents from harm. With my life, if necessary." She bows her head to Lucy, clearly considering her such an agent.
She turns her attention back to their surroundings and adds, "Respect is an integral part of Osiriani life. Respect for your betters, respect for the dead, and respect for those around you. Even respect for your surroundings, and the history of the land. For one such as myself to show disrespect is unacceptable, and reflects poorly on my mentors, The Sandswept Hall, and the Pathfinder Society. I do not desire to be the cause of such shame."
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When gathering the group back up, "I didn't discover much. But there are some points of interest that we can check out. A weaver, a psychic, a trading post, a ruined church, some standing stones, and the mayor's place."
Vello looks at everyone, "I think we should check all of these places out, especially the mayor's place but perhaps without the mayor and his brother there."
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Lucy looks at Kenza with a soft smile.
Good. Hopefully, it will not be necessary... as I told our Mad Dwarf friend, I did not rise to this position on the accolades of my name alone. But, as a Chelaxian, we also value respect, if perhaps for different reasons, and I value someone who understands that.
She let's the pseudo-compliment lay and continues to the meeting place with Vello. As he describes the place, Lucy speaks up.
Perhaps, but I feel neither I, nor Kenza, are suited for such a clandestine thing. We may be better off looking to some of the other place.... a trading post might hold news if she supplied to make to go AWOL from the society, and if she kept her natural Pathfinder nature, the church and standing stones will be natural prizes. The Psychic and the weaver may hold additional information... I bet a Chelaxian gold piece that their both gossip mongers.
She thinks for a moment. My preference would be the trading post, followed by the church and stones. My own pathfinder curiosity is calling.
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"Who did you call mad, you devil lover?!?! And... ah! As Chelexians you value all the respect you managed to steal! I'll tell you something about "respect"! It's what you garner when you DIE a GLORIOUS DEATH, battling uncontable HORDES of demons, smiting them LEFT and RIGHT, vile ichor running around you like a RIVER of INIQUITY! That's what "RESPECT" truly is! Something you EARN through SACRIFICE!" Thror counters Lucy's words with feverish, almost ecstatic, abandon...
Then he brusquely changes expression... and the subject:"Where to next then? I'd love to check that "mayor"'s place out... I'm sure he's hiding something. But I admit the abandoned church and those standing stones sound promising... that's the kind of places demon cultists love to infest after all!"
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Kenza holds her tongue for a long while, letting better agents decide upon their next move. Eventually she remarks, "We will have access to the Mayor's home this evening. He opened his home to us as a place to rest. Would it not be wise to wait until willingly granted access to the house before intruding?"
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Vello nods, "Right. Forgot he offered his place to us. We can check out the Mayor's place later this evening as Kenza suggest. As for checking the rest of these places. I suggest we stick together. Gathering information was fine for splitting up while we were surrounded by people but if we are going to be investigating hotspots, we might be in danger."
"Lets go with Lucy's preference. The trading post first, followed by church then the stones. Finally the psychic and then the weaver before taking part in the festival."
One of the more chatty locals points the party in the right direction.
While this building bears a sign that proclaims it to be the town trading post, the lack of business and activity certainly sets expectations of a poorly stocked store at best.
The trading post seems to contain mostly agricultural equipment: plows, scythes, flour sacks, flails, and the like. Most of the available space is otherwise taken up with tables and the building’s long counter. In the hearth a large cauldron filled with a thick, creamy stew simmers.
A muscular bald man of middling years is tending the shop when the party arrives. Seated at the counter is a beautiful younger woman, busily repairing a fine but threadbare dress.
"Don't got any weapons or armor", the muscular man explains dismissively upon the party's enters. "But I got just about anything else you might need."
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Lucy looks around the place, trying not to be snooty about it, and not be super successful.
I don't suppose I could put in a order for some festival dresses? I only brought a few finer things with me for the travel, and I refuse to be caught dead in my mournsday outfit during a party, even one all the way out here.
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"Him offering us access is clearly a trap. And he'll have the place scrubbed clean of any evidence we can use to implicate him!" Thror counters Kenza's reasoning before snorting:"Fine! Ket's check this trading post. Demon cultists may hid EVERYWHERE!"
Once there Thror enthusiasm quickly deflates:"What did you expect besides rusty shovels and plows?" he scoffs before closely studying the bald man...
"Don't sell ladies dresses", the man grunts. "Try Alizna's place. Most of the clothes folks 'round here are wearing came from her."
"Is Jeminda that woman that was talkin' with the mayor? We don't get many city folk in Ravenmore. She never came 'round the shop."
Thror gets the distict impression that the shopkeep is holding something back.
***
Remy easily finds the ruins.
The ceiling of this abandoned church has mostly caved in, and while the church’s two-story steeple still stands, the bell that once hung within appears to be missing.
The young woman looks like she's about to speak but the older man butts in.
"Shel why don't you take your work into the back while the customers do their shoppin'?"
Without a word of complaint the young woman takes her threadbare dress and exits the front room of the general store.
"I don't know how things work in the city but 'round here it's not appropriate to question children without the blessing of their parents. My family and I don't have anything else to say on the subject of your missing friend. I think it's best if you pay for whatever you need and move along."
***
Poking around the ruins Remy doesn't find much of interest or even really to suggest that this was once a temple. He does find a single crude idol of Desna, more akin to a gourd-faced and straw-stuffed scarecrow than a proper religious icon.
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Kenza bows deeply to the shopkeep. "I humbly beg your apologies." She returns to standing, then remarks, "I am from a land far from here where all people answer the questions posed to them, regardless of age. I did not realize you would rather I ignore your daughter. May I enquire why?"
She listens to his answer intently.
Kenza definitely gets the feeling that speaking with the girl was a sore spot for the shopkeeper.
Unfortunately he doesn't seem willing to answer anymore questions. He wordlessly points at the door and waits for the party to exit his shop.
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Thror scoffs, his hands balled into fists, shaking:"HEATENS! The lot of them! Do you see the disrepair? The purposeful abandonment? This speaks volumes about the DEEP CORRUPTION of this community! I worry that they might be past our ability to redeem them! Even so we need more evidence! I suggest we visit these "standing stones". That's exactly the kind of place demon worshippers use for their unspeakable rituals"
This large ring of black river stones and tall, stacked rock columns encompasses an open-air amphitheater built against a steeply sloped sandstone outcropping. Stone benches sit nearby, while a misshapen wicker and corn-husk figure with mossy canvas wings looms over an altar stone at the far side.