Yes! The Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea! That’s our local church to Gozreh. Not much of a praying man myself, but simple fishing folk have to look to something, I suppose. The priests can be a bit self-important, but the vizier—that’s the fancy foreign title the high priest uses—is a good man, well respected in town. The church watches out for folks around here, and we appreciate it.
Vivian tries to remember if she has ever hear of this particular order fomr Gozreh followers.
But her knowledge of the god of Winds and Waves is quite scarce.
Perhaps Sophie or Niculae know more than her
"I'm something of a scholar of such things."
"Gozreh? Seems like a fine god to worship. Anything else happen in the last few weeks that seemed out of the ordinary?"
Pontia gazes into space for a moment, pondering, before interrupting the reply to Gregor's question. "Wait, what was the--never mind, it was nothing."
Vivian nods at Ponta, and waits for the mayor's answer to Gregor's inquiry.
Mayor Greedle looks uncomfortable about Gregor's question. Well...uh...We’ve had several people go missing recently—over a dozen so far. The sheriff and his deputies haven’t found hide nor hair of any of them, not a single clue as to what might have happened to them. It’s like they just up and vanished. People say it’s part and parcel of the bad luck we’ve had recently, but I’ve got my own suspicions. Greedle looks very nervous, as if he’s weighing whether or not to share more information. Finally, he takes a deep breath. All right, I’m going to come clean with you. Something’s going on in this town, and I can’t sit by any longer and watch it slowly die. I told you about the Recondit Order of the Indomitable Sea—it’s our local temple, and most of the townsfolk are loyal churchgoers. It’s no secret that the Order pretty much runs this town. Oh sure, I’m the duly appointed mayor, but it’s the vizier who pulls the strings. And I think he—or someone else in the Order—may be behind these disappearances. I don’t have any proof, only suspicions, but I can tell you that temple is not all that it seems to be. Like I said, practically everyone in town is a loyal follower of Father Voltiaro, including the sheriff, so there’s no one else I can trust.
I need your help. Normally you would be suspects as strangers in town, but I’ve had you watched since you arrived—don’t look at me like that! You can never be too careful with strange folk hereabouts! Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’re not involved, and in these troubled times, that’s my only certainty. You look like professional sorts who know your way around the business end of a blade, and I need someone from outside to look into this for me. Therefore, against my better judgment, I’m willing to deputize you to solve these disappearances and bring whoever’s responsible to justice.
I’m beseeching you on behalf of the good people of Illmarsh to go to the Order’s hall and take a look around. I’m sure you’ll find the priests are hiding something. If they’re behind this, you’ll be removing a blight from this town, and earning the gratitude of its humble citizens. I assure you, you will be well rewarded from the town’s treasury. Fish isn’t the only bounty we take from the sea. There’ve been enough shipwrecks and whatnot over the years that we’ve got some gold amassed—surely enough to gain your services for a short while. Plus I know you’ve been poking about, looking for someone—a rider from the north. Well, I may know a little more about him than I let on earlier. If you help me, I’ll tell you everything.
The Mayor looks a little relieved after spilling his secret.
"I'm something of a scholar of such things."
Pontia looks around at the rest of the party and replies, "Yes, we should be able to help you. I do have one question, though: when you were having us watched, did your people see any sign that anyone else was watching us?"
The Mayor looks confused at Pontia's question. From what I understand, they were to busy watching you to notice if anyone else was watching you. Besides we don't get many strangers in this town so most likely everyone was watching you!
Niculaie nods in agreement. “Yes, I think we will be able to assist you, and we should. Both for the sake of your townspeople and for our own mission. Not just for the information you may have, but because if Father Voltario effectively controls your town, then perhaps the … art thief we have tracked here.”
Gregor nods as the full truth spills out of the mayor. He wonders for a moment if he would feel better spilling some of his truths. But he'd lived long enough hiding his own secrets, his own freakish body, that confessing the truth would not be so easy.
"Thank you for trusting us, Mayor. Maybe our quests are related. Maybe not. If the Order is really behind over a dozen people disappearing, we'll root it out."
Excellent! I will pay you 4,000gp from the town treasury if you can get to the bottom of what's happening. Now, do you have any further questions of me?
"I don't think so. Should something come up, though, we'll speak to you."
Once the mayor has left, the wizard ponders. "How do we want to proceed? I counsel a quiet approach, since the majority of the townsfolk will be on this Vizier's side."
Do you know who the most ardent followers of the vizier are? Some people we should be wary for, if only not to be spied? And, to the best of your knowledge, do you know of townfolks who don't get to the local temple, because of their onw faith or another reason? Even if they can't be allies, having some neutral folks wouldn't hurt.
After anyone asks their questions and the mayor leaves, Gregor joins in the plotting.
"I say we pay our respects in the Hall in the daytime, then figure out how we want to break in at night. Wouldn't have thought anything about a church of Gozreh in a sea town. I bet it's the most interesting tourist attraction in Ilmarsh."
"It's a lake town, actually, although Lake Encarthan is several hundred miles across. When the winds are out of the south the waves here and in Caliphas can be respectable--the bay funnels them." The wizard pauses in reverie before catching herself.
Sophie agrees with the suggested course of action.
Niculaie has a few more questions for the Mayor.
“Is there anything that the missing villagers have in common? Maybe the time of day when - or the location where - they were last seen, or even something apparently unrelated to their disappearances?”
“I agree, Gregor. Assuming this Father Voltiaro asks why we’re in town, I think should we give him a version of our real reason for being here similar to what we told the Mayor. I like Pontia’s description of our quarry as an ‘art thief’.”
"I don't think so. Should something come up, though, we'll speak to you."
I am here in my office most days. The town's business is never done! The Mayor says with a weak smile.
Do you know who the most ardent followers of the vizier are? Some people we should be wary for, if only not to be spied? And, to the best of your knowledge, do you know of townfolks who don't get to the local temple, because of their onw faith or another reason? Even if they can't be allies, having some neutral folks wouldn't hurt.
Since I am not an ardent follower and do not attend services, it seems like the Vizier has made it his sworn duty to isolate me.
“Is there anything that the missing villagers have in common? Maybe the time of day when - or the location where - they were last seen, or even something apparently unrelated to their disappearances?”
It is a real-headscratcher! There is no rhyme or reason or disernable pattern as far as we can tell!
The Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea dominates the southern side of Illmarsh’s town square. Constructed of dark, weather-beaten fieldstones, the building displays an archaic architectural style not seen elsewhere in town. The Hall of the Recondite Order is Illmarsh’s only church.
"Master Mayor, does the Order's building predate the town? Its style doesn't seem to match anything else here."
When they get closer to the building, Sophie will cast detect magic.
"Master Mayor, does the Order's building predate the town? Its style doesn't seem to match anything else here."
I can't rightly say. The building predates me!
Sophie does not detect magic.Map of Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea
Sophie strides into the first antechamber and looks around.
This open, colonnaded portico faces the dark waters of Lake Encarthan. A stone statue of a mermaid with long, flowing green hair holding a trident and a conch shell stands in the middle of the portico, also looking out to sea. An open archway to the east leads inside.
Two leaded stained-glass windows to the north and south display images of the same mermaid depicted by the statue outside. Two doors and an open archway lead to the east.
Eleven pairs of shoes currently sit neatly lined up against the north and south walls.
It looks like some rarely used image of Gozreh. You can find it in some old chapels around the lake Encarthan, in secluded fishing town mostly. Or in the books of my dear mother. I hated having to read them, in my youthful folly. Now I realise, in my adult folly, how useful they were.
Vivian gets a good look around, studying the shoes, then the doors and archway- these lasts mostly for traps
Vivian does not see any traps.
Gregor follows along, entering into the Vestibule. "We supposed to take off our shoes here?" he asks, uncertainly. He looks for someone who might be able to tell them the proper custom, or any other clue. If he's still not sure, he decides to take off his shoes to follow what others have done.
Preoccupied with studying the architecture and making mental notes, the wizard returns to herself and nods. "It's a common tradition among many faiths. If we do, we may have a chance to bluff our way out of an encounter. We should carry our shoes along with us, though." Suiting action to words, Pontia unlaces her serviceable boots and doffs them, putting them into her small satchel.
Vivian removes her shoes, ad puts them in her backpack.
I should walk barefeet more often.
Before entering the vestibule, Niculaie casts heightened awareness.
“Good suggestion, Pontia.” The dhampir takes off his boots and slides them into his handy haversack.
Warped wooden pews stand within this central meeting hall, decorated with a decidedly nautical theme. A wooden statue of the same mermaid depicted elsewhere in the temple stands at the front of the hall, though she holds a strange octopoid creature in one hand rather than a conch shell.
Four men stand in the hall, apparently meditating before the statue.
When they sense your approach they quickly stand up. I am sorry you cannot be in the temple. The notice your bare feet. No matter how good or holy your intentions are. Please leave immediately. We will escort you out.
They start moving towards you.
I'm sorry, I supposed it was a town church, not a private church. I just wanted to pray for a dead uncle, uncle Vanya, who was a fisherman and a follower of Gozreh, and was lost at sea a few years ago. My friends here were kind enough to come with me. Every time I see a coastal church, I'm reminded of my uncle, and all I ask for is the opportunity for a few minutes prayer to his soul, and maybe a few cons to give for local charities, mostly fishermen widows if possible
Gregor is surprised as he realizes the wall he's looking at is a secret door. This wasn't the time to open it, but later?
"The lady just wants some time," says Gregor, his arms crossed as he stares down the meditating men.
.
The acolytes listen to Vivian.
Two of the acolytes start to nod at Vivian, but the two others say, Yeah? Likely story lady! Now you all get out of here. We are men and women of peace, but we will throw you out violently!
The biggest acolyte looks at Gregor. Are we gonna have a problem here?
Vivian takes 5 gold pieces out of her purse, and gives them to the closest acolyte, one of those who believed him.
Well, could you at least give these coins to a fisherman's family in need, and maybe have a short prayer for my uncle Vanya? I guess I'll pray elsewhere...
Niculaie realizes that the western wall is a secret door. When he sees Gregor staring at it as well, he nods at the warrior. Later, he thinks.
Two of the acolytes start to nod at Vivian, but the two others say, Yeah? Likely story lady! Now you all get out of here. We are men and women of peace, but we will throw you out violently!
The biggest acolyte looks at Gregor. Are we gonna have a problem here?
Niculaie pulls back his hood to reveal his pale, gaunt face and glares at the acolytes. “Gentlemen! The lady’s admirable concern for the memory of her late uncle aside, we are here primarily to speak with Father Voltario. Is he available? Or are your instructions to threaten all of his callers?”
Gregor tries not to inflame the situation further, though he hopes that some of his friends' strategies work out.
Hmmm...the only spell I have that influences minds would definitely be interpreted as a hostile act. Pontia holds her peace and waits to see what happens.
Vivian hands one of the acolytes 5 gold pieces, which are quickly slapped out of his hands. In the confusion, Vivian snags a set of keys. While surprised at Niculaie's gaunt appearance, they are unmoved.
You got five seconds fore we throw ya out!
"Enough--we're obviously not wanted here."
He gestures to his friends to leave, and will do the same if they move toward the exit.
Pontia retreats ahead of the bloodrager.
“That won’t be necessary.” Niculaie follows Gregor and Pontia out of the temple.
fine, fine, you'll get no troubles from us. We're going.
The acolytes seem really pleased with themselves. Yeah! Stay out of here strangers!
They make no attempt to follow you out...
When they are out of temple, and out of view from any acolyte, Vivian says
So, what do you think of it? I hoped my little story would bought us some time, but it wasn't the case, unfortunatly. At least we don't come out of this encounter empty handed...
With a florish, the redhead shows the stolen key in her hand
I don't know what it open, but we will find. That's one less door to worry about.
Pontia gives a small smile. "Well done! I suppose the thing to do now is watch from a distance--I don't know if the acolytes stay in the Hall, or if they live elsewhere. If the latter, we may be able to return after they've gone. I'll have to watch for wards if that's the case, and leave the mundane traps to those better trained in that sort of thing."