Trevor does what he does quite a bit and stay silent.
"Ah, so you are interested in current affairs. Excellent. Tell me about this Glorious Reclamation, and this Tilevia. Come, you can tell us about it as we walk to the Darkwood lumber camp. Something tells me you're just dying to see it. I know I would kill for a chance to see it. Wouldn't you Jerax?"
The gnome offered the woman his hand as he spoke.
"Indeed, inquisitor", spoke the large tiefling. "A place..of learning."
She blanches, "I don't know any more than that announcement The Fifth Sword made! She's the leading priestess of Iomedae in Longacre and I haven't spoken with her since the last time I went to church."
Cimri quickly pulls everyone aside, "Most of the lumber camps are quite a distance away, a couple of weeks at best in good weather." Her face darkens with bad memories, "That's why I was left here with my aunt Rhona, the camp my parents worked at was too far from 'civilization' for a growing girl." She growls and spits on the floor, much to Ilmerri's chagrin. "Anyway, I don't think we can make the trip without leaving the town open to more sedition, but that's just my thought."
Sirs, shall I get our things together for an extended expedition?
Vokrin isn't entirely certain what's going on but acts smug and above it all just the same. What was the interest in the defunct lumber camp? He felt they should be more inquisitive of this priestess and her congregation, as that seems to be a source of disturbance.
Thank you Trevor but I don't think that will be necessary." Penance's demeanor had shifted significantly.
"Cimri's right. The lumber camps are too far away. If the rebellion is here, they'll be closer to town, if not already in it. It would be nearly impossible to recruit from weeks away. No, they're here somewhere."
"I think it's time to go to church. It's getting close to confession time. After that we can talk more with our guests."
Ilmerri tries to stop you as you leave, reaching out, but clearly reluctant to touch any of you, "Wait! What about my son?"
"It is as I've said. He has been arrested for striking an officer of our Lord Baron. Unfortunately this altercation has lead to him being restrained and imprisoned. I would have expected someone with your...insight, to have more of a guiding hand with him. It is true though that youths can be impetuous. Why don't you come to the jail at dusk tonight. I will see about arranging his release, provided he signs a full confession and acknowledges his wrongdoing in this ordeal. I'm sure you would agree that the sooner we put all of this nasty business behind us, the better off Longacre and its citizens will be."
Penance turned and walked out. He had heard enough and spared more than enough words for this woman. It was time to investigate more serious and direct leads.
Trevor follows.
"Have a good day", states Jerax as he follows the rest out.
She shakes as you leave her, shutting the door behind you.
Your group heads to the church of Iomedae, not many people being around as services are not held yet. The churchyard is largely empty, enclosed within a wrought-iron fence. A graveyard huddles east of the church, mostly filled with several dozen stark white grave markers. These headstones are designed to look like swords thrust into the earth, each bearing a name and span of dates to commemorate the life of particularly dutiful or devout member of the church. Even a cursory investigation of the graveyard is enough to see that no one has been interred for months.
Inside, the space is airy and open with a number of folksy crafts decorating the walls—mostly carved or woven pieces featuring the holy symbol of Iomedae. The chamber’s most impressive features are its stained-glass windows, the largest of which depicts a giant, golden figure bearing the sunburst and sword symbol of Iomedae floating skyward while small, blue figures below exalt her.
Tileavia's office lies ahead while to the right double doors open to the main hall.
Vokrin ponders. "Perhaps it would be best if Jerax and I leave this portion to the two of you. Our kind are not well loved by followers of this... so-called deity."
Jerax scoffs. "I will not run from some Iomedaean. That's for damn sure."
Cimri shrugs, "I don't know, I like the presence you guys bring. Granted a cleric is less likely to be intimidated, but I still think its worthwhile."
Jerax looks down and gives Cimri a knowing smile.
"Oh come now Vokrin. You are the only thing these bloody heathens are afraid of. Your arcane power gives even the most faithful cause for concern, and you are Vokrin, the mightiest of mighty, the most powerful of powers, the most feared wizard within Longacre. If that makes these rubes uncomfortable, than so be it."
Penance did not wait for a response. Instead he continued on towards Tileavia's office. He thought about sneaking up and peering in quietly or trying to eavesdrop from the doorway but assumed that their conversations had probably already alerted anyone within. He simply walked up and knocked as he politely called out.
"Hello? Ms. Tileavia? I hope we're not disturbing you..."
...at least, not yet.
Cimri flashes a smile and throws a wink at Jerax as she follows Penance into Tileavia's office following a call of "Come in!"
The woman herself looks up from some paperwork she was working on which she quickly shuffles away with a scowl. She notices Fex's badge still proudly emblazoned on Cimri's gear and curls her lip slightly before working her face into a neutral expression. "The Archbaron's new law in town. What can I do for you?"
Trevor stands quietly by the door
The tall tiefling stands at military attention, looking as intimidating as possible, glaring down at the woman at the desk.
This b!+<h is the mother of those two twin bastards, Locall and Loran. It's entirely possible she ordered her sons to harass me. Now that I'm a officer of the law here in Longacre, I might get some vengeance along with dispensing justice.
Tileavia is nonplussed and maintains her composure, "Are you just going to stand there?"
Vokrin looks to Penance to continue talking nice. If it devolves, he can certainly contribute, but he's not generally one for speaking to people in a friendly fashion, or even in any fashion without invading their minds.
"My apologies. We've been inquiring lately into this Inglorious Reclamation. You see there are a lot of rumors flying around the town and our most recent information has pointed us towards your office. We were hoping you could shed some light on the situation. I would remind you, of which I'm sure you hadn't forgotten...as a fateful follow of Iomedae, that lying to a lawful official, or interfering with an official investigation would be a dishonest, and outright disrespectful act towards our generous Lord. Any information you volunteer now would be most appreciated. You see, we're just trying to stop the violence that seems to be gripping our fair town of Longacre. These impetuous youths these days, why they just seem so easily...corruptible. It would seem someone has been whispering falsehoods into their eager young ears. Such a cowardly act, I must admit and one I'm sure an ordained leader such as yourself would have no part it, but I'm afraid we must investigate all leads fairly you see. It is the just thing to do."
Vokrin stands there looking powerful and demonic.
With Vokrin backing him up Penance's menace sinks through the Fifth Sword Knight's toughened exterior. She doesn't back down, but now looks furtive. "You speak of justice and yet know nothing." She raises her chin and a single tear drops down her face, "Bolgart Caggan was a good man despite his monstrous nature, and you revealed and killed him without a care. You know nothing of justice."
She gulps down a breath of air, "But I will help you just the same. This," she pulls out a scroll and puts it on the edge of her desk, "is the letter I received that I talked about two weeks ago. I have gotten no further missives, no other information, this is it."
The scroll is the same as what she has read before:
People of Longacre! The time of your redemption is at
hand. When the song of the Inheritor rises, you all must
choose: live as complacent vassals of corruption and evil, or
embrace honor and claim the glory that is your right. The
Glorious Reclamation gives you a choice.
Lencia Visserene, Knight-Inheritor of the Glorious
Reclamation.
Jerax leans down to read the notes over Penance's shoulder.
"So it's sedition then", growls the towering tiefling.
"Who is this Lencia Visserene? Surely not anyone local... why come here to instigate?" Vokrin posits questions which likely have no answer, a peculiar trait he picked up from humans.
"Oh come now Ms. Tileavia. You let your emotions get the better of you. I truly did care about Caggan's death. I welcomed it, you see. We are all monsters. Caggan just couldn't control his emotions. That is not a path I would advise. I mean, it didn't end well for Caggan, after all."
"We will be confiscating this document. You should know that I believe you, but I suspect that you are not telling us everything. You should know that we have several suspects in custody. We have not yet taken the time to ascertain their official statements. I suppose on how much that is needed now depends somewhat on you. I really don't want to waist their time and ours."
"I offer you this one chance, here and now. Tell us everything. Save everyone the time, and hassle, and pain...of this investigation. I can promise you two things. One, the longer this takes, the more these good people of Longacre will be effected. And two, the longer this takes, the more...thorough, my extraction of information will need to be, and I'm sure I don't have to tell you how hard it is to get blood out of clothing. I mean once something is stained with it, you almost have to discard it."
Although the gnome doesn't see it, Jerax grins approvingly at Penance.
This inquisitor is good. I could learn much from him.
Tileavia keeps her hard stare, but hands over the letter and waves you out the door, pulling up the paperwork she abandoned as you entered.
Cimri sighs as everyone walks out of the door and back into the Church square. "I know we're bein' proactive and s&*+ trying to run these guys down, but its so boring hitting dead ends all the time."
You make your way back to the sheriff's office and discover an impressive amount of horse dung has been flung against the windows. "Gotta admire the tenacity..." Cimri jokes.
Looking at the vandalized building, Jerax poses a question.
"Vokrin, are you familiar with the prestidigitation spell? Its use would make quick work of this mess."
Vokrin shakes his head. "Am I some purveyor of cheap parlor tricks? No, while familiar with prestidigitation, I do not use it."
Staring hard at his fellow tiefling, Jerax barks, "Fine! I guess I'll see if the sheriff's office has a bucket or two, because we are doing this the hard way, then!"
"This would seem like a good job for our guests. I think it's about time those youngsters lend us a hand in cleaning up this town. And let's speak with the deputies. Maybe they saw something. I wonder where they got all of it anyway. Most residents can't afford one horse."
Cimri smirks at the idea, "Oooh, that's good." She rushes inside and returns a few minutes later with the teenagers on a chain gang. "All right you lot, start scraping! And if a drop of that stuff comes our way you're all going in the pillory!" She giggles nastily before heading down and handing a note to Penance, the contents stating the deputies have gone to do patrols and enforce the edicts of the Archbaron.
"All right you lot, start scraping! And if a drop of that stuff comes our way you're all going in the pillory!"
"Or as I like to call it, dagger throwing practice", adds Jerax.
Trevor polishes buckles.
Jerax stands by his word and offers to watch the prisoner in the evening. If Cimri helped, all the better.
Trevor will help stand watch when Jerax/Cimiri rest.
The antipaladin nods his consent to the oracle's assistance.
Vokrin states that he must rest in order for his powers to remain at their peak, so he will not be remaining awake through the night.
The night and the next day pass without any significant progress made in either investigation. The youth that have been arrested do not take much to break under Penance's careful ministrations, though they certainly know nothing of import. It seems they are more full of idealism than anything else. No more horse dung is flung on the windows either, though whether that is from the culprit knowing that you're watching or out of ammunition you don't know.
Noises from the jail draw your attention. As you move to investigate you see Tileavia's sons breaking the teenagers out of the prison.
With little to do for the past 36 hours (and too little privacy for wooing Cimri), Jerax gets a workout, practicing his spike chain maneuvers and advances near the front corner of the sheriff's office.
Vokrin is similarly unable to hear anything as he is sleeping quite a distance away.
As much as he wanted to stay awake and continue his alchemy work, Penance was simply too tired to do so. He found a mostly clean pile of straw to throw a blanket over and laid down, his big hat pulled down to cover his face and muffle his own snoring.
Trevor contemplates dusting and polishing around the office when somethign catches his eye.
ALERT! THE PRISONERS ARE BEING FREED!