Ran is able to slip away while the sisters are otherwise engaged. She manages to pick the lock to the room and slip in quickly.
Ran finds the letter untrappped. She opens and reads it.
Ran begins to hear footsteps as Spruce begins tapping on the wall. She quickly makes her way back to the party's room.
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Ran takes the letter with her in a pocket.
Ran thinks about the implications (especially the fact that the letter hasn't been opened before her), and changes her mindset back to that of Vanja Ofir, priestess of Ramzir.
"Excuse me, could you show me to our room? I'd like to take a nap and change into something nicer before dinner. Midori, please come with me?"
"Midori, I'm going to run a sting on the sisters. Watch the door so that I'm not disturbed while I prepare."
Ran will pull out her forgery kit, where she will take 20 min to make a really good forged letter using the handwriting of the letter she took from the Sister's room as a template. The forged letter will state that Vanja Ofir is a member of the clergy with the authority of Holy Ahendile, and that they should cooperate with her completely.
When Ran is finished, she will come out decked out in her high priestess clothes, forged letter in her pocket.
"Ms. Grymble, is dinner ready?"
Addas Grymbal's eyes widen with surprise as she Ran enters. Uh..uh, um Priestess, I did not know one of the Living God's representatives were among you! Sisters! Come quick and pay homage to the Living God! She then moves forward and and kneels, kissing Ran's hand. The two sisters appear and quickly follow suit. To what do we owe this great honor, Misstress? say Addas.
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"Rise, children of the living god. Here is my introductory letter," handing the sisters her forged letter.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier. I needed to see how you normally acted in front of others before disclosing myself. My name is Vanja Ofir. These are my hired guards, Brutus, Midori, Corbalias, and Wayne," nodding to each in turn.
"Holy Ahendile has sent me here for two reasons. First, you three are to be commended for your dedication and fervor. However, some... irregularities... have been discovered related to your sacred function. My main purpose here tonight is to discover what has gone wrong and to correct it. Please tell me exactly what you did so that I may correct the problem for our lord.
Addas and her sisters continue to prostrate themselves. Addas takes the letter and reads it. She nods to her sisters and they rise slowly. We will do whatever is in our power to aid you. How can we serve the Living God?
Addas nods. You speak of the dwarves in the cellars?
Brutus's eye go wide but he remains silent.
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"Excellent. You still have them. Initially, I thought I would have to stay here overnight and track the dwarves down in the morning. I am glad that is not the case. Not only has these dwarves failed to pay their tiething step in Xer, they pubicly denownced Razmir in front of a priest. I was instructed to bring them back to Xer right away, so that they may be publicly burned at the stake, an example to all those who do not follow Razmir. Therefore, I will be leaving with them tonight after dinner."
"You three, who follow Razmir, are to be commended. Loyalty to your faith brings its own rewards. Just as those who denounce Razmir are to be punished, those who follow his teachings are rewarded."
Ran pulls out her purse, counting out 45 gold, and beckons the sisters forward.
"Life is about the acquisition of gold and power. Those who follow the teachings of the Living God may enjoy life's luxuries while blasphemers and heretics deserve only to toil for the faithful. Come and receive your reward for following the Living God."
Ran gives each of them 15 gold.
"Now, I will be having dinner privately in my room. Midori, please get me my dinner and bring it to me. The rest of you, prepare to take the prisoners with us. No need to be gentle with them if they resist, as they are heretics after all. However, make sure they stay alive. We leave immediately after dinner."
"If there are no questions, I will be in my room meditating."
Addas greedily takes the coin, her eyes darting to see if her sisters notice. As you wish Priestess, Voice of the Living God be praised. My sisters and I will retire for the evening and let you do you the will of the Living God. As Addas finishes speaking, all the sisters chime in together. All praise the Living God! The sisters then retire to their room, shuting the door behind them.
As you look around, there is no immediately obvious stairs to a cellar.
After some searching, Brutus is able to locate a trapdoor under one of the tubs in the bathing room on the south side of the inn.
Brutus, Corbalias, and Wayne enter through the trapdoor in the bathroom. A wooden ladder descends from above into this cluttered and dimly lit L-shaped room. Crates and bits of furniture are stacked against brick walls and oaken doors lie to the east and south.
Brutus finds the door harmless and opens it, finding another room that appears to continue south. This area is bare save for a rickety side table and chair set against the north wall. A set of keys lies on the table, alongside a browned, half-eaten apple, stale crust of bread, and dull paring knife. Ironbound oaken doors lie on the eastern and western walls, and a door-lined corridor stretches to the south.
As Brutus picks up the keys he notices, the surface of the table is carved with swirls and chipped grooves incised by an untrained hand, and the name “Rosh” carved among the other shapes. The key ring contains eight blackened iron keys on it. The hall stretches to the south with seven doors visible.
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"I would like a charging lane, please." Corb notes in a creepy whisper towards the front of the group.
-Posted with Wayfinder