I clear my throat, hoping to get our groups attention and end up coughing a bit. Ah, darn...
"Eh heh, we agreed we would be going to the closest town, yes? I feel since the villains in question robbed my church, then maybe they will try to rob other churches for their artifacts as well? I would like to visit a place of worship and speak to the priests and nuns for information or to see if there have been any robberies and poisonings that fit our culprit's modus operandi. At the very least, it would be nice to warn folks to keep an eye out. Would anyone wish to accompany me?"
Dovah: 2
Ildun'hil: 4
Krengos: 4
Rika: 1
Twila: 1
This right?
Armor: Chain
Enhancement: AC
Power (Daily ✦ Healing): Minor Action. Until the end of
your turn, each character healed by one of your encounter powers or daily powers regains additional hit points equal to 1d10 + your Charisma modifier.
You get +7 to your AC, and have a daily power that boosts healing for the round.
Kregos and Ildun'hil both have a hard time keeping pace and the thumping and riding wears on them. Still, you manage to ride into town earlier than expected people milling about at their afternoon meals, and giving you an advantage to your investigation.
Ildun'hil intends to head to the commons which is all abustle with activity right now. If Areli is interested in finding the Clergy, she may consider going with Ildun'hil.
Rica is interested in going to the Barracks.
Dovah, and Krengos can either join them or can do other stuff.
Twila has pretty impressive Streetwise which is the general Gather Information check.
So once you RP out your planning, we'll roll checks and get results for your inquiries.
"It's settled then. Areli and Sourpuss shall speak to the commoners and clergymen. I'll take Dovah with me and see the guards. Twila and Krengos would be the best choice for gaining street-level intelligence. Unless there are any objections, I suggest that be our tactic. We shall meet back up at that tavern over yonder when we're through and discuss our next course of action." with that, Rica dismounted her horse and tossed a gold coin to the stable-boy, walking briskly toward the nearby guard tower.
Obnoxious as she is, she can take charge of a situation quickly, I think to myself. Wordlessly, I head off towards the town center.
I feel a smile growing on my face,we are lucky to have Rica, we need somebody who command attention to keep us all on the right path and I do so love a lady that takes charge! Reminds me of my upbringing!
Then I realize she paired me off with Mr. Sourpuss.... I suppose this would be an opportune time to make perhaps make friends? Dear me, well, this only needs to be as awkward as we make it and I don't want anyone to accuse me of being difficult. So I will comply to make our new leader happy.
I smile at Rica "Yes, we shall try to return by the evening then to exchange information? Good plan, Rica and pairing off is a good idea too in case there is trouble. So, see you all by the end of the day, then? Good luck, everyone."
"We haven't the time for your dawdling, woman!" I shout over my shoulder as I stride away. I survey the area for any spires or symbols that coukd indicate a church. That would likely be the best place to start looking.
Dovah didn't exactly know what he should do once he got back to town. The job wasn't over, he hadn't gotten his money yet. Money meant the job was over. He spent most of his time silently following around the party members who looked like they knew what they were doing, until Rica announced to the group that Dovah was going with her. He didn't much mind that no one asked him, doing this was simpler. Besides, he liked the fact that she had called the probably-an-elf sourpuss. That was funny.
Rica and Dovah head into one of the guardhouses. There the Deputy strolls over to speak to the Dragonkin and She-elf. THe men continue playing a card-game and drinking with eachother.
The deputy raises an eyebrow at the armored woman taking the lead, and then looks the Dragon up and down. "Hmmm... Welcome travelers. What business 'ave yea got here?" You discuss briefly that there was an attack and theft. There have been no such occurrences, but it's not like the hamlet has much of a militia. "Yer in the sticks, ma'am. There ain't much by way o' sinister crime, and the 'militia's mostly farmer's kids what are strong enough ta take a weapon up ta fight a stray animal or rovin' bandit. An' it's not like there's anythin much worth stealin' here in the first place."
Krengos strolls with Twila and tries to remain inconspicuous and not put people off, while Twila chats folks up.
Krengos and Twila are able to gather some information about goings-on from one of the barmaids. A man came in last night, very late and she had to get out of bed to heat up some stew and get him a drink. "He was gone this morning, which is just as well. He was a finickey snob and demandin' and a cheapskate. We 'ad a real busy mornin t'day an' I'm glad we werent' here ta complain as well..." The barmaid is somewhat somewhat unfriendly and seems to have had a bad day with crappy customers, and it seems like she thinks you're being overly chatty.
I continue walking through the crowd, careful not to let my eyes linger too long on these apparent spies. I lean back slightly as I walk in order to talk to the priestess.
"Priestess," I whisper, "Do you see those suspicious fellows milling about? We need to find out why they are here. You're less conspicuous...you should be the one to interact with them. I'll speak with the high priest of this church and see if I can get any worthwhile information out of him."
Rica looked upon the guard with a face of grim determination, of a detective on a case. "It seems at the very least that I should tell you and your men the full story, so that you may keep an eye out in the future. The suspect appears to be targeting magical religious artifacts. We believe he is collecting them for some sort of dark ritual as it were. He is likely traveling on foot, unless he's managed to steal a horse or has access to magic. We DO know he has access to strong poisons and alchemical devices such as explosives and powders. He poisoned a small child and threw lots of debilitating smoke bombs at us when we confronted him last. Should you need further evidence, I can bring in the priestess Areli as a witness. It was her charge who was poisoned."
Rica did a quick pace around the center of the room with her hand on her chin, then looked back up at the deputy. "Do you perhaps have a method of relaying messages ahead to nearby towns and villages? Preferably faster than foot-travel? Maybe we can message ahead to the other towns in the area to station guardsmen at the churches. That way, they can be ready for the assailant and won't be such easy targets. Hell, even something as simple as a carrier pigeon might do the trick."
Rica and Dovah
the Deputy's bemused expression fades once Rica mentions that a child was poisoned. "Now yea've got my attention. We gots a Raven Keeper here, so go an get him a letter detailing what happened. we ken get birds out to the two hamlets nearby. It's all mostly farmland in there whereabouts an not much what anyone interested in magic would much care about. But We'd best let folk know ta be wary, knowin not ta cross whoever yer speakin on, keep an eey out. You after them ta bring em in fer their crimes?" he asks, scribbling a quick note, and dripping some wax on it.
He uses his badge of office, a small metal pin on his collar, to seal the envelope and hands it to you as he gives you instructions to get to the raven master.
Ildun'hil
"Good noon to yea, Judge. I am Friar Camin. How may we serve?" This priest welcomes you into his "church" which is really more like a house that has had it's interrior walls taken down and chairs and benches placed in it. aside from the small table that's rather centrally located, and small shrines to the major deities of Krannandor, as well as a few obscure gods that rural folk may venerate. You can speak to him about anything regarding your investigation, but he may not be the most knowledgable in some things, considering where he is the priest and the fact that he doesn't have any particualr symbol that shows him beholden and blessed by a god.
Your RP choices have ease of difficulty as well as rewards that blanace out the Risk if you succeed. SO lemme know what you do next!
I look around the house-church with disdain. I give the priest a brief bow and say "Morridan's blessing be upon you, Brother. I am Monsignor Ildun'hil Dawnstrider, and I come to you with a warning, and perhaps in return, you can help me as well. I have come from the village up the road, where the church of Kemma has had a powerful artifact stolen. We have come to this town to pursue its thief, and I feel it necessary to warn that you keep a close eye on your church and its...somewhat meager possessions.
Now, as for the latter part of our exchange. There are some strange men outside wandering the streets, I'm sure you know to whom I'm referring. Do you know anything about them? Perhaps you can tell me what you've heard?" Finally I stop to let all this information fester in the doddering old priest's head, all the while giving him a look as if to say I'm not angry with you, I'm just disappointed.
"Aye, we're after 'im for his crimes. We come from the church of Kemma near Crux Mesma, and we travel with a Jusiticiar of Morridan. Rest assured, we will find and capture this base villain," Rica declares, placing one foot on a wooden chair, clenching her fist, and looking up to the rafters. "Villains such as this must not be allowed to burden the common folk with their misdeeds. Someone must take a stand for the beleaguered masses, and exorcise the wickedness from their community! Those who spit in the eyes of justice, THEY shall face the full wrath of I, Rica Vontmere!"
Rica climbs down from the table, blushing slightly. "So uh, where can I find this raven keeper?" Rica graciously accepts the packet of directions and looks up at Dovah. "Well then, let's get this message out."
Ildunhil
"We've nothing of such value here, friend, of that I can assure you. As for the travelers, there is not much to say, although there is an offering to the Lady that weren't there when I locked up the church. As far as what these folk are doing, perhaps they are here for you?" He raises a bemused eye at the Eladren, who seems to have rather unrealistic expectations for religious houses in such a small Hamlet.
"Now the artifact you mentioned does peak my curiosity. What is it that was stolen?"
Rica
the deputy s slightly confused and points toward the exit, telling you, "It's the tower over there. It's the tallest building here, you really can't miss it,"
As Krengos and I leave the tavern, I scan the streets for ne'er do wells. This hamlet may be small, but evil is everywhere, and bad guys usually happen to know where other bad guys are.
Sorry for the delays, I was hoping for a couple more posts...
Rica, the men are impressed by your speech! Make a note on your sheet that you have 3 reputation with the Guard, for my easy reference!
Now at the tower, there is a man there frantically looking around where are you sweety? Come out, come ou- WHAT DO YOU WANT! he snaps at you.
Tells, you notice shady men looking for someone, and figure you may want to avoid them. Turns out you we right. The local hoods tell you that this crew showed up this morning, and been handgun round their turf. Gots blades wit' 'em an look tough... More'n my hands wants messin with, dig? Don't think they is local ta these parts. So I dunno what then here for.
"Um, greetings good sir. We have a message we need relayed to the nearby towns as quickly as possible and we were told you're a most excellent choice for the job. We humbly request the use of one of your carrier birds." Rica bows slightly to the man as she says this, in a manner that is polite but not ostentatious.
I eye the monk suspiciously. I can't be sure that he is on the level, but I sate myself knowing that the artifact cannot be more stolen than it already is. Perhaps the monk could serve to give us more information.
"The thief made off with an ancient dragon's scale, a powerful talisman that was used as a ward for the Church of Kemma in that town. I believe he plans to use it for some ritual, but I cannot be sure of its nature. Perhaps you might know of some use for it?"
Rica
well one is already gone!. . . Lydia dear, where are you? he starts turning over piles of junk, presumably looking for the missing bird. Eventually you are able to calm the poor man somewhat, and you gather that each bird knows a single other town. And one of the birds that knows the town south of here is missing...
Ildun'hil
The "priest" seems on the level, hmmm, a draconic ward, not only that, but if it's an actual scale... A piece of dragon flesh... There is much lore regarding such things, ancient texts and stories, but so many possibilities!
Please roll a knowledge check.
The priest shows the Eladren his library and they peruse to get some specifics. Ildun'hil gravitates toward religious texts, and through some thorough cross-referencing and recounting of various divine comings and goings, they learn some things that may be relevant.
"See, in the ancient Draconic faiths, there are points where thei draconic gods could grant boons to their followers. This sacred ground has been appropriated by deities and churches throughout the ages, often times in remote locations. He pauses, and pulls out another text " You know, the twin church of the twins was also the site of an ancient draconic site. In the old myth, Titan, the great war-god of the Dragons submitted to the will of the Sky Dragon, when he became King. It's close by and has a link to ancient Dragonic Deities... Perhaps the site would be of some use to the thief?"
"So, the assassin seeks a god's power, is that right?" I scoff. "All this lunacy to obtain the power that the gods may grant, when he could have all of that by submitting to Morridan. My own power is evidence enough of that. But I digress. Thank you for the information, Father. I must make my travelling companions aware of what we have discussed here. Blessings be upon your house."
I bow and excuse myself from the small church. I scan the crowd to see where that priestess woman is. I briefly suppose i should make an attempt to learn her name if I'm to be travelling with her.
Rica saunters over to the nearest window in the birdkeeper's den, leans out the window, and *attempts* to whistle, imitating the bird's call. The noises that actually come out are mostly just wispy blowing sounds and spittle. She keeps trying to whistle for about a minute, finally managing a single long, flat note. She turns back to the birdkeeper. "So I might not have ever really learned to whistle," Rica admits sheepishly. "That's all I've got. Any ideas, Dovah?"
The man looks at you like a you are a crazy person... "It's alright I'll find it myself. What was it that you needed the birds for anyway? Rica, you explain the situation and the man is shocked. He takes a couple scrolls and copies the gist of the story on them, but as you look over his shoulder there is an inordinate focus on the danger to the carrier birds and that they are in grave danger! he also ads to the letter heading south to send a bird back if they had Lydia and if a message had been sent.
I nod stiffly at the local thugs and decide to head back at the dank tavern Rica had suggested. I'm not sure others will be there yet, but as far as street-level information goes, I'm fairly certain nothing more can be gained, at least until it gets dark. We can all pool our information piece by piece once everyone gets there, and if there are any gaps, they shouldn't be too hard for me to fill.
Krengos and I reach the tavern and pull up some chairs. I order something stronger than I usually would. This whole mission, no...this whole mess...it's hitting far too close to home. I'm getting too involved again. I sigh as I look down to the bottom of my goblet and drink. The stuff has a stinging aftertaste. I don't like it very much, but I keep drinking. And order another.
...and a third. I smack my empty goblet down onto the table and blearily eye Krengos, sitting opposite of me.
"You always look so disgrungtled, Krengos. And wha's even up with that cold aattatude? Serisuly, wha happened to make you so damn booooring?" I hiccup and giggle. Giggle. "At least I have a decent reason to be awll laloof and stuff...can't 'magine your reason is more than bedhead or somethin..." I wave the waitress over for another drink.
Krengos side-eyes Twila as she continues her consumption of the alcohol and upon her inebriaiton starts asking him questions. He figures it's best to humor her and just respond instead of ignoring her drunken ramblings. He orders himself a drink as well to feel more apart of the conversation. "Well I didn't grow up in the best of places for starters." He mumbles after taking a swig from the glass. "It was kind of just do what you can to survive. The Underdark isn't the most welcome or friendly place to grow up." He then frowns slightly after it clicks that he is apparently boring. "I-I'm not boring... I just..." he pauses and trips on his words, he tries to think of a good reason as to why they find him boring, and then he meekly squeaks out "I'm a little shy." he says as his complexion starts to redden a bit.
I pause for a moment, slightly shocked even in my intoxicated state, then burst out laughing, booze spilling from my half-full goblet.
"Tha's perfect! Hahahaha*hic*aha! The super dark and tigh-lipped Krengos is shy!" I wipe my mouth and blink dizzily at Krengos blushing across the table. "No, but seruosdly Krengos, you shouldna be shy. You've got like this..." I wave my hands around my face instead of using words. "...and you should totally use that to yer avantage! Like...why be shy, right? Yer dark n broody thing is cool and stuff, I never thought it was a cover-up for bein shy, why not just...yannow, be cofident in yer darkness n broodiness and if you are, I'm sure the boring part would *hic* go away. Yannow, just...talk to us, friend." I grin cheerfully at him before knocking back the rest of my drink. I smack my empty goblet on the table before hiccuping again and saying, "If any of tha makes sense at all."
Rica and Dovah stroll into the bar soon after Twila and Krengos. Rica's arms are crossed with one hand resting under her chin and her brows are furrowed with the questions she still has. "It strikes me as odd that the guards knew absolutely nothing about this man," she says aloud, almost to herself as much as to Dovah. "You'd think someone would have reported a strange man wearing a trenchcoat full of bombs. Well, let us hope that our associates have had better luck than we did."
Rica walks up to the bar and places two coins on the counter. "Perchance do you have something peach flavored, but that still has a kick like an unruly stallion?" she asks the bartender.
The barkeep looks at you, confused, then glances at the gold. He does some figuration, then reaches for a large stein, and pours some ail into it. Then he grabs a peach, looks at the money and concludes you bought a clean fruit and so he wipes off the fruit, and his hands down with the cleanest rag at the bar holds the peach over the stein and crushes the juice out of it till the pit is all that's left. Last hr pours in some kind of subtly amber tinted liquid and sets it before you with a big grin.
It's ail with a subtle peach flavor, and to s down easy, then kicks like a very ill-mannered thoroughbred warhorse for certain, if you've ever been kicked by an ill-mannered thoroughbred warhorse. Yum.
Dovah had been wracking his brain the entire time on how to help. He wasn't much of a speaker, and he couldn't very well whistle to a bird or anything really, as his lips were not exactly made for such a thing.
No one noticed a dark mysterious man? No one knew where the missing bird was? He sat down at the end of the table, offsetting its balance with a creak, staring into its alcohol-stained wood grain. Dovah hated feeling so useless in a party of such able-minded people. At least the purple-skinned creature and the dark elf seemed to be enjoying themselves. He couldn't even afford a pint of the cheapest grog.
He thought over all of the facts they knew. The bad purple-skin poisoned a child and stole an artifact. He hired a group to carouse around. One of the messenger birds was missing. Could one of the bandits have stolen it? No, it wasn't at the camp. He held his head in his hands, growling.
I smack my fifth goblet down on the table, and when I turn to hail for another, see that Rica and the Dragonborn have caught up with us. I wave my empty goblet in the air and call drunkenly across the tavern for them to join Krengos and I, dabbing the spilled alcohol off the table, while accidentally spilling more from the goblet the slightly peeved waitress had set down for me. I hand her the empty one and wink.
"Keep em comin, I've had sooooo little time to unwind, you unnerstand." I knock back a huge swig from my sixth drink as Dovah and Rica sit across from Krengos and I.
"Hey guys, *hic* guess what, Krengos isn as mush of a stick in the mud as we thought he was!" I point at Rica, finger wavering in the air uncertainly. "Are you as mush of a stick in the mud as we though you were? No offense, I'm veeeeery drunk, so whaddever I say jus...take with a grain of slalt." I wobble my pointed finger in Dovah's direction. "And do you have somethin like bein shy, too? You're big and scary and stuff so tha would make a weird kinda sense." I straighten myself with about as much resolve as someone as trashed as I could muster. "If we're gonna be aventuring toggezher, we should know about each othzer!" I at least have enough wherewithal to set down my drink clumsily before clapping my hands together happily and announcing, "Backstory time!!"
"WOOOOHAA! That's what I'm talking about!" Rica exclaimed after taking a swig of the magical concoction the bartender had prepared her. She placed a third gold coin on the counter and winked at him "Masterfully done, my good man. Masterfully done."
Rica walked over the table where most of her companions had gathered and gently seated herself between Dovah and Twila. "Hah! We travel with an Eladrin priest with an entire infantry pike up his arse and you're calling *me* a stick in the mud?" Rica joked.
Rica looked up at Dovah, stern look frozen onto his face and his humongous arms crossed. She reached up an put her hand on his shoulder, and smiled. "It'll be alright, friend. Care to try a sip?" Rica said, offering Dovah her now half-full tankard.
I turn to the direction that Mr. Dawnstrider was gesturing to. "Yes, I see them" I replied "Good idea,I will do my best"
I then make my way toward them
"I hope this works" I think to myself.
Dovah looked down at her, shaken out of his thoughts. He looked down at the beverage she offered him. The drink was an odd colour, he thought; one not common among alcohol.
"I suppose I should not turn down charity. Thank you for the offer, friend."
He takes a swig and swallows, seeing how it sits.
Areli approaches one of the shady men, "Well, well, well, what have we here? the man says as he approaches. "Found you little priestess, but your quizzical expression gives him pause. You cleverly avoid giving him any information as to your identity, claiming to be a local to this town, and determine that these men are watching for a group passing through and stop them. He tells some lie about the folks they are tracking being dangerous, but you can tell that they are just hired thugs.
It is clear that they are in face looking for your party and are likely hired by the Shadarkai, but he doesn't say where the Shadar-Kai went or where they were based out of.
Rica looks out the window to the setting sun and furrows her brow. "Speaking of our dear religiously inclined friends," she says before turning around to face the others again, "They haven't returned yet and I'm worried they might have run into a spot of trouble. Maybe I should go look for them. Krengos, since you still look sober as necromancer, why don't you join me? The rest of you can relax here, we won't be long." Rica looks at the drink she handed Dovah and smirks. "Just be sure to save me some, I spent three gold on that."
I'm going to say that your an adventurer, so you can handle drinks equal to your con mood, them endurance cheeks to see if you get to drink after that many. But that's during a challenge.
Go ahead and drink a bunch, and roll one endurance when your done...
Right now the pastry needs to figure out where to go now. There is a bunch of info to indicate where your target is, you just need to tell me what you do. Three answers and we'll move. Feel free to discuss a beforehand if you don't know where to go on your own yet