Gared nods, impressed at Silas' transformation.
"Be careful out there, Silas, you don't know who will be watching. If you get in trouble, get back here and we'll sort things out," Gared says.
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep for tomorrow, so I shall see you all then," Gared says, as he makes for his home.
Before he leaves the room, Silas tells Hecktor, "Ethan wouldn't have any reason to ask after your man, but I have more than one outfit... I'll see what I can do!"
"Thank you Silas."
Gared to your knowledge this is the only time a cultist has been captured.
Silas, your Gather Information checks if you will and you may RP out the questions you ask for a bonus.
Gared shakes his head at Hecktor.
"As far as I am aware, no other cultists have been apprehended in the Hollow," he replies to Hecktor's earlier question.
Michael looks at Lucanor and says,
"I've got no problem with helping out the church of Iomedae as well. Two temples to law-abiding and helpful gods in the same area is never a problem in my book so long as they get along with each other. And I agree that the cultists are probably more of a problem than where to sell stuff at the moment. But we need to find a way to bring them down without drawing too much attention to it. No open witch hunts, try not to fight in public, that sort of thing. The less noise we make, the better."
To Hecktor he says,
"It would definitely need expanding if we were to make it into any sort of training ground. Outside of the cells, there weren't any bunks in those ruins. They were probably in that collapsed corner room, but that room wouldn't have been big enough for more than maybe 10 beds if we were lucky. And I don't really know about you guys, but I had my fill of sharing a barracks like that when I was training with the Order."
Hecktor nods at Gared, but casually comments;
"That's a pity. However, the guy captured didn't have a tattoo did he....if the guy in the monastary had been a cultist, that tattoo would have been on our captive as well. Maybe they are connected, maybe a coincidence, but they didn't seem to be of the same sort."
Ethan walks at a steady pace into the market, seemingly oblivious to the calls of the hawkers and their wares. He finds a street vendor favored by lumber jacks and farm workers and orders a warming broth.
"Ahh! Jus wot I's be needing, than'k ee Bertram!"
Bertram looks slightly puzzled, he's not sure he recognizes Ethan although the face is somewhat familiar...
Seeing this momentary confusion Ethan smiles and says, "You'se be see'n many faces ev'y day no? Heh, tryin' to remember me name fer courtesy like as no? I's rekon you sees me Cousin in me! He works in yonder vale and is underfoot more than likely."
Ethan finishes the broth and orders a hot cheese croissant which he makes a show of enjoying, "Don git t'likes of this up in dem hills! Cold enough up there to chill yer cockles..."
Ethan then asks Bertram, "I dun suppose, you'se seen mi cousin recent like? He be yey high, with my eyes but darker hair and deeply tanned on account of his Da who came from Oppara all dem years ago. Speaking o'which his Da sent me. He and his Ma be powerful worried, they'se had no word in a season, not since he got dem new friends"
Bertram replies Well mister, sounds like you been looking for Treivor the Taldan, mostly we been callin him Double T. Yeah, I seen him not 3 weeks ago down here in the low market drinkin and boozin with the rest of em. He sold his stake though I've heard, after some run in with the He lowers his voice Fairies
Hadn't seen him in a few weeks though. Heard he had moved back to Taldan or wherever.
At the mention of Faries 'Ethan' looks Shocked, and says in a troubled and slightly exasperated voice, "Erastil have mercy! What's me loony cousin gone and done now?! His Da'll never forgive me if aught happens."
Ethan leaves Bertram a tip and heads back to the inn by a circuitous route, and tells the party what he learned.
Gared furrows his eyebrows at the mention of faeries.
"Perhaps the fey have gotten fed up with the lumber operations in the area and are trying to get rid of the folk of the Hollow?" he muses, although he doesn't sound sure.
Michael looks at Lucanor and says,
"I've got no problem with helping out the church of Iomedae as well. Two temples to law-abiding and helpful gods in the same area is never a problem in my book so long as they get along with each other. And I agree that the cultists are probably more of a problem than where to sell stuff at the moment. But we need to find a way to bring them down without drawing too much attention to it. No open witch hunts, try not to fight in public, that sort of thing. The less noise we make, the better."
"Well, Torag and Iomedae have similar philosphies, so I imagine they'll get along well enough. As for Open Witch hunts," He looks amused at the phrase, "I guess that depends on how many open witches we find," A bit of humor slips through at that, "No, I'm not one for endangering the public lightly. Though one has to be careful, I wouldn't put it past the consortium to make a witch hunt of their own if they think they can get away with it, for their own purposes, of course."
When Silas returns, Lucanor is curious.
"Perhaps the fey have gotten fed up with the lumber operations in the area and are trying to get rid of the folk of the Hollow?" he muses, although he doesn't sound sure.
"Well, that's another problem if so. Sad thing is, scraps like this can escalate. Forget witch hunts, we may have innocent villagers and innocent fey both hunted because of the actions of their trouble making kin." Lucanor scowls
Its a little strange at first seeing a Shepard talking with Silas's voice, but within a few minutes the cosmetics have been washed off and Silas is back in his normal clothes. He says to the assembled group, "Unless I've misread the situation it seems our man is called Trevior and he's a recent convert. The taint started about 3-4 weeks ago didn't it? Mighty suspicious timing if so! I think its worth sounding out his former drinking buddy's although I have a feeling that could be dangerous if any of them are cultists. One other thing we should probably let the Sheriff know the name of his captive."
"For all we know, we could have left his drinking buddies dead on the roadside earlier. Best thing now probably is to try and find out about his friends and associates. Maybe track down who he sold his stake to and find out what they know."
"That's possible", Silas admits.
He ponders for a moment before saying, "Anyway the angle I was thinking of playing is pretending to be debt collectors, perhaps from Cardotti's House of Leisure in Almas. They're well known for hounding debtors to the ends of the world, and also for providing a bounty on information leading to a debt collected. We'd have a plausible reason to be looking for Trevior and folks may volunteer information for a few gold..."
Hecktor pays extra attention at the mention of the Cardotti house. Having spent time and working alot in Almas, he's had a few business dealings with said house.
"Silas, those are indeed a persistent lot. Sense of duty at high a level. They are sometimes intimidating, depending on whom they're sent after. As for that bounty, that might work well on the rich folk here in the Hollow as well, not that they need it. They are also known to hire muscle if they think a case could go messy.
I've met some of them in the past...luckily not as a debtor though."
Damn, slip of the tongue....perhaps they won't ask further why i know that much about them.
"From what I, ahem, heard Cardotti's usually send an 'accountant' plus a few heavies to collect a debt", Silas manages to look completely innocent, in fact butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, "I reckon Hecktor here could pass for one for one of their enforcers with the right clothing, as could Michael although he'd need a bit of a disguise, perhaps a fake beard and something to make him look a little older. Gared would be perfect, but he's far too well known alas. Lucanor could be an adviser and Dr Lawson has the right build to pass for an accountant but he's too nice, unless there's a side of him we've yet to see... I think I can pull off the accountant role, although it would be strange for a Varisian to be one given our, ah, reputation."
"Oh, the Doc can be mean enough when he gets his dander up."
Gared nods at Lucanor's words.
"Indeed he can," he says with a grin.
"Well then, I say we sack out for the night and tomorrow we go about our plans to try and save the town from itself. Starting with heading to the sheriff's office and the temple to lend a hand. The sheriff could probably make use of some of that gear we acquired that wouldn't be worth much on the market. That spare armor we got off the hobgoblins is still usable, as are their weapons. Not exactly sure what all we'll be able to do for the temple of Iomedae, but I'm sure we'll figure something out."
Michael then stands up and heads off to bed.
The party spends the evening discussing the future and how to best help the citizens of Falcons Hollow. Before long the sun sets and night falls, the party retires for the evening to a free room at the inn (I think you guys are at the Sitting Duck).
In the middle of the night you hear a dreadful commotion!
Help! HELP! The Sheriff's been attacked! There's undead in the streets!
The party wakens to find the young deputy from the previous day frantically beating on doors and when he spots someone from the party he exclaims
By the Inheritor! Thanks be! Please come quick, the Sheriff is being attacked! The jail is overrun!
Michael jumps to his feet at the yelling and beating on the doors. When he sees that it's one of the deputies, he ushers the man inside the room.
"Get in here! Quickly!"
Michael then kicks the beds of anyone not yet awake and starts yelling, "Get up! Get up! The town is under attack!" before he begins to put on his armor as quickly as possible. Once his armor is on as best as he could get it in such a rush, he grabs his belt, straps on his weapons, and grabs his shield as he heads to the door.
Gared rouses slowly from his deep sleep, unsure as to why he has awoken at such a late hour. It is only after a few moments that he hears a panicked cry; the kind of cry that spells trouble. Springing from his bed, he dashes over to his wardrobe and pulls on his armour.
With his armour fixed, he grabs his weapons and hauls open the door. He sets off for the inn at a dead run to gather the others.
Yes Sir!
The young deputy is armed only with a club and no armor so he begins outfitting himself with the axe and armor.
"Huh, what, undead?! We'd best get a move on..."
Silas sleepily dons his armor and absent mindedly hums a tune that causes his bow to glow softly.
"Now what did I do with that holy water? I could have sworn I had a vial"
Absolutely, in fact assume everyone has at least 1 vial of Holy Water. Things are about to get real.
"I'm awake, I'm not deaf.." The inquisitor, having lighter armor, actually slept in it and moves. When he hears it's undead, he mutters, "Sometimes I wish I'd had the stuff to become a proper cleric."
Attempts to rouse reveal that the thin alchemist is a surprisingly deep sleeper... and a surprisingly loud snorer. Nevertheless he is eventually woken up; blinking, he dons his monocle, already in his armor; pausing to swig a drink of water, he staggers out into the street.
Hecktor wakes to the noise and gets up. As he was walking towards the windows to check it out he hears Michael rushing in.
"What? Under attack?"
This certainly spices up our situation, and not for the better.
Hecktor dons his gear and goes downstairs to join up with his comrades.
As we get closer Silas casts light on anyone who asks for it and says in a loud whisper, "Make whatever preperations you can, it seems we'll be going in hot. If we hit them hard and fast we may be able to take some out before they can react."
Hecktor has a faint smirk on his face.
"Just like the old routine."
He loos up at Silas;
"Hearing you say that reminds me of someone who used to say stuff like that when something serious was about to happen."
Ok, since everyone has posted we will move the narrative along a bit.
The party stumbles sleepily downstairs but wakes up to a scene from a horror novel. Screams from townsfolk pepper the air as do...other sounds best left undescribed. The party can see flames in the distance as at least one house is on fire. The street near the Sitting Duck is oddly silent and peaceful. However, a couple streets away, horror has come to Falcons Hollow.
Come on this way! The deputy, newly armed and armored says leading the way to the Sheriff's house.
Silas exchanges a glance with Hecktor when he mentions his past and mutters, "I've got a feeling about this... Well let's see if I can fake being a good Sergeant!"
Heart in his throat, Silas' imagination starts running wild with the eerie light shed by the burning building, the bitter smell of woodsmoke intertwined with the sickly sweet odur of burnt flesh and something indescribably other... Up ahead are the cries of pain, torment and worse, the sound of something being noisily eaten. Before he knows it, Silas is in a cold sweat with butterflies in his stomach, on the edge of panic...
By Shelyn's grace what in heavens am I doing? Safety is thataway! Oh hell if I break the others will too. Time to put my my party face on and pretend I'm fine!
Open seeing the enemy, in a supreme show of confidence, Silas turns his back on them and takes a deep breath and in his seargent major's voice he commands, "Show the undead no mercy. For the Vale!!"
Something about his words resonates deep within, piercing the bleak mood. With a renued spring in your step you stride forward.
Gared acts without pause for thought, and charges the zombie attacking the mother and child. He moves quickly, and relatively quietly, in the hopes he can dispatch the creature without attracting the attention of more of them.
The party consisting of everyone except Gared and being led by a deputy, he says his name is Eior Ramels, heads towards the Sheriff's house/jail. Which is also where the majority of the craziness is coming from. A couple of blocks from the Inn you see your first corpse, or what's left of one. Looks like someone hacked it into pieces with an axe.
One block later you hear
DAMNIT SAVRAM USE THE WAND! as a man with eldritch light around his hands blasts a zombie apart. A young boy next to him, maybe 10 years old is holding a wand and mumbles something and the wand shoots forth a beam of light, striking another zombie squarely in the chest and toppling it over. At least 6 zombies seem to be surrounding the pair.
Hecktor looks at the performing Silas and grins.
Nice try, but you might make things complicated.
"Silas, in such a silence, making such a ruse is bound to attract a crowd. By the way, nice attempt. But i've never been in the army, if that is why you are imitating a drillsergeant.", he says the latter
with a grin.
Michael sees the zombies attacking the man and child, and without hesitating he rushes towards them.
Lucanor sees the boy in trouble and moves alongside Michael to help , flinging a spell of his own at one of the undead.
While the group is heading forward, Hecktor carefully watches back from time to time. "Watch your backs"...was a creed valued in his line of work.
"Good girl, Kimi. Yes, it's me. Both of you, stick with me. Kimi, you wait until I engage a zombie and then you attack from the side. It'll make it easier for you, and reduce the chance it'll go for you too. We'll head for the jail. Ready?" Gared waits until the pair are ready and then begins to stalk towards the jail.
Upon seeing the magician Silas quips, "I trust these aren't yours!", before Savros can reply Silas adds, "no matter, we'll help you destroy them."
With that Silas raises his bow and takes aim at one of the Zombies.
Damned nerves, I can't hit the broadside of a barn like this. I need to calm down...
Hecktor takes action:
Move: Head towards the zombie Silas was aiming for.
Standard: Attack said zombie.
Michael you notice your hammer doesn't seem to do the trick versus these guys.
Hecktor you cleave through a zombie and it falls into pieces in the street.
Savros Vade glowers a bit at Silas and says Keep your ignorant assumptions to yourself peasant and help me destroy these things. Davram, the wand, use the wand you imbecile. He then proceeds to destroy another zombie.
Zombie charges Hecktor
Zombie charges Lucanor
Zombie charges Michael
Zombie charges Savros
Gared glowers at Kimi's mother before noticing the zombie coming for them. He dashes forward and attacks it with his greataxe.
Gared jogs back to Kimi's mother and grips her arm.
"If we don't move now, more of those things are going to appear and then I won't be able to hold them all off. Pull your sh*t together and follow me," he whispers harshly, nodding in the direction of the jail.