Do tell.
"Spells to let you hide and climb. We'll leave it at that until there's time to use them."
Just tell me when
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Garuneh is able to find a live spider during courtyard drills. It tickles his palm as he tries to keep in cradled in his hand but not to crush it either.
7:30 p.m. Evening prayer. The other half of the congregation attends this session. Evening prayer resembles the afternoon prayer, except the familar black robed priest usually leads the procession, and those in attendance must participate.
Everybody is able to stay awake during this round of prayers.
9:30 p.m. Transcription. The group spends their final 2 hours of the day copying holy texts by candlelight in the Meeting room. One of the priests oversees this process. The long day and night is affecting Aldous and he is unable to perform his scribing duties. He stays an additional hour to finish his assignments.
At the end of the day, you are shown to the barracks. Eight wooden double bunks rest in this room, each outfitted with simple straw mattresses and a thin blanket. A communal table sits in the center of the room, flanked by four chairs. Two chests lie open between the bunks, each one loaded up with fresh white robes. Pegs are mounted to the walls above the chests for the acolytes to hang their masks on when they are not wearing them. An everburning torch rests in a cloth-draped frame hanging from the ceiling above the table.
There are 9 other white robed acolytes that share the barracks with you. Typically there are a couple of them dicing at the table talking quietly about the days events. The subject of conversation tonight is Bria's beating. A few people are already asleep. You get the impression that an acolyte duties can happen at any time of the day.
And so ends your day. Is there anything you would like to do during this chuck of time?
Liz whispers to her friends. Do you see that man who was at the inn with us when we got fragged in?
Aldous joins the rest of the group after he completes his linguistics duties. Sitting at the table wearily, with aches and pains still from the beating he took himself, he introduces himself.
Speaking quietly in common: "I'm Aldous. Are these guys routinely so brutal to newcomers? The poor dwarf girl really got whalloped on, eh?"
diplomacy, after using a Diviner's blessing on himself (disguised as a minor elvish verbal greeting.)
In elvish to the half-elf who came in with the rest of them: "Greetings, cousin. I am Aldous Mor'Esti, and would like to extend an offering of friendship and camaraderie during this trying time."
diplomacy
Liz will turn to Garuneh. So what plan do you have in mind?
Garuneh checks for guards and looks for a quiet place to cast some spells on Liz.
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The other men move over to make room for Aldous as he rests his bones. "Hey there Aldous. I'm Britheow, this is Des and that's Cesa and welcome to the club. And to answer your question, that is just Krant. He's a real stonetosser. We've all been under his heel in one way or another. He is more of an enforcer then an instructor, and an idiot to boot. But I wouldn't get on his bad side, I mean his real bad side. I once heard that he choked an acolyte to death with his bare hands."
The half-elf responds to Aldous in kind. He gives off a rough demeanor, but softens up a little bit aith Aldous's calming words and actions.
"I'm Evlar, Evlar Thilisson. Yah, it looks like we are in it together. Hopefully this life will be better then the one I left behind. Power, riches and all that."
The room you are in is a 15' by 40' room. There are two doors that exit the barracks. There are no guards within the room, only acolytes. If you cast spells in the barracks, it will be known by people within the room.
Hmm.Garuneh, you might want to try to find a better place to do that. No telling who will tattle. Perhaps when the others go to sleep.
Garuneh nods. "Not tonight. Evlar, do you think that this---" he sweeps to indicate their meager surroundings "---will lead to riches? It feels like the military to me, or prison. Is there hope of advancement in here?" His second question is addressed to the group.
"So far, power and riches seem beyond our grasp. I would hope this learning process is one which rewards the attentive and alert."
Aldous makes small talk with the others for a while, seeking to learn more of their "pre-acolyte" lives, as well as to determine if any are Razmiran "plants" intended to ferret out non-believers and rat out newbies.
sense motive (after another diviner's blessing )
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"It beats grinding it out there. You just got fed three times today and a bunk with a roof for free. In the army, they pay you in 'honor' and 'duty.' Here is power and wealth. I know which one I prefer." Evlar says in response
Most of the people here have lived a hard life on the road, taking what they can get. Nobody is actually from Tarman, but the countries surrounding the lake.
"Free food is good," agrees Bria.
Mmmph..for free? Even the most benevolent church wants it's tithe, instead of honor, there will be 'faith'
So where do they usually chuck the stuff they get as 'donations' from newcomers? The coin isn't important, but there was a locket from my mum I lost.
I need to find our stuff, maybe tomottow I can look around the store room. Or even see where if and when they kidnap new recruits!
Well in the morning, Liz will start getting the lay-out of the area better. Especially of any store-rooms and those who in regularly. If she dfind any time to do it, she will start searching to see if she can find the items that were taken from the party.
Bria is just going through the motions of piety.
Aldous makes small talk for a bit, before turning in for bed early.
He spends the time before falling asleep reciting the facts and names he learned during the day, committing them to memory as best he can.
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The party is awoken early in the morning and taken to breakfast across the hall. After the meal, Krant takes all the acolytes into the courtyard but separates the party and Elvar. He then tucks each member into a corner of the courtyard while handing saps to each party member.
"Let's see what you got. You must fight one another, and that the last man standing will be excused from transcription duties for the night and win a bottle of fine Chelish wine from my private stash. Don't hold anything back. And to make things interesting . . .
Krant throws heavy flail into the center of the yard as blank faced masks of the acolytes look on.
"Ready? FIGHT!
Round 1
All Heroes Go!
Umm.Yar!
Liz thumps another acolyte, trying to avoid hitting her own team for now.
Bria braces herself for defense and studies her situation.
Which one? she ponders.
She walks over to Aldous and swings.
for nonlethal damage.
"Lay down your weapons! We are being tested! The followers of Razmir act as one! We do not fight amongst ourselves!". Garuneh takes total defense and does not strike. He does not drop his sap, however.
We are? Uh...makes sense..my...brethren?
Bria readies another blow as she considers picking up the flail. No, I could kill or seriously hurt someone with it. If someone else goes for it, I will stop them. She looks even more dour than before.
Aldous lays down.
"I yield. I do not wish to strike my brothers or be struck myself."
for nonlethal damage. Same 'target'
When she is certain Krant is not looking at her, Bria whispers "I'm sorry" to Aldous.
She then yells some sort of traditional dwarven warcry:
Liz punches Elvar
non lethel.
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Aldous continues to cower as Bria punches him ever so slightly
Garuneh continues to maintain his defensive position.
Elvar swings at Liz with his sap with all his might.
Krent starts to uncoil his whip as he takes a few steps down the stairs. He calls out again for the entire courtyard to hear.
"A man confronts you, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy. The weak have no place among the ranks of the Blinding Light. Now FIGHT, you worms!"
Round 3
"And do you confront us, Brother Krant?"
Liz takes another swipe at Elvar
Bria, being quite the swinger, throws a punch at Aldous again
for nonlethal damage
Taking a total defense, Aldous curls up and awaits another stomping.
Liz is confused but keeps swinging (Perhaps in that windmill arm schoolyard fight way)
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Elvar is looking pretty socked out, continues to sap Liz in hopes he can outlast a girl.
"You dare defy me! I of the higher order! I a priest of the Seventh Step!"
The runes on Krant's rusty iron mask begin to glow as he begins to shout and snap his whip to prod on Garuneh.
Garuneh is shakened for 2 rounds.
Round 4
Liz is getting some black eyes but keeps swinging!. Come on Garuneh! Let Aldous have it!
And Bria whacks at Aldous again.
for non lethal damage
Liz keeps punching!
Garuneh sighs, defeated, and turns to Aldous.
"I'm sorry," he says simply, and strikes out with the sap.
Garuneh conjures up mental visions of feeding Krant to a horde of swamp rats when this is said and done.
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Liz easily wackes Elvar across the face. He stumbles and nearly falls over, but is able to gather his feet underneath him.
Aldous is able fend off Bria's weak-wristed attacks.
Garuneh misses the covered up elf, under the watchful eye of Krant.
Elvar barely standings at this point, hopes to impress his superiors with his valor.
Elvar lands a mighty swing against the rogue.
Krant chuckles to himself at the spectacle before him, anxious to see who will come out on top.
Round 4