Ana investigates the food, but doesn't partake. She watches the woman move away from the corner of her eye, wondering if she will try to listen in. At the priestess' quiet suggestion, she nods.
Surprisingly, she quietly volunteers, "The mine might be interesting."
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"The priest seems to be exerting some influence over the townsfolk - we've been led to believe it is the work of his magic rod. I think we need to go and listen to him to get a sense of what he is about and ingratiate ourselves with him and the townsfolk so that we can get close." Alivar makes sure that the nasty innkeeper and any townsfolk are not listening in as he speaks. "I doubt we have magical means between us to offer much protection from magical influence; I propose that two or three of us - the most strong willed - go to listen to the sermon, the others wait out of earshot, and be ready to try to snap the listeners out of any influence after the sermon if needs be. I consider myself relatively strong willed, and I suspect Alahazra may be too?"
It turns out that the food is pretty good, and the ale not bad. Even the wine is almost up to Alivar's standards. When it comes to time to sleep the rooms are cleaner than you may have expected and certainly more comfortable. As much as the woman talks, she seems to run a tight ship.
The morning passes with just as little activity as the afternoon appeared to. You see men and women working on the statue, and business goes on as normal. But this isn't a bustling metropolis. Days pass slowly here.
Just before midday a crowd begins to gather. It's obvious that by noon the entire town is there. Businesses are left empty and not a single man, woman or child is not stood with rapt attention on the small stage set up in the square.
A man in the robes and Iron mask of a priest of Razmir takes the stage flanked by two guards. HE begins his daily sermon, but after a moment or two notices your presence.
"Ah! My dearest children, it appears some stray lambs have wandered into our flock! Surely Razmir can uncloud the minds of these wayward souls." With a flourish he produces a long, ornate looking rod and waves it through the air, muttering some arcane words. The crowd looks on expectantly as, well, nothing happens.
As the anti-climax of this act dawns on the crown, and on Folloch himself there are shouts and jeers in your general direction.
As realization dawns on Folloch's face he stammers something almost inaudible about defending him and flees the stage.
The crowd presses forward.
The crowd seems to part a little for Alivar, even without Zasha's help, and the two manage a few steps forward.
Crowe's word are lost to the general noise.
Ana and Leryn hang back from the crowd, both for her comfort and the crowd's (Leryn being a wild animal and all).
She will try to keep the fleeing man and his guards in sight, but not pursue without the team.
She does not draw a weapon until she knows that the team is in danger.
[dice=Perception to watch the fleeing priest]1d20 + 6[dice=Survival to predict his path based on what she sees]1d20 + 6
You can see him easily, but don't know enough about the town to predict where he will go.
Alahazra peers over the heads of the crowd, trying to see where the 'priest' is going. If the crowd press forward she will move closer behind Crowe.
Yeah, you will be able to see the direction he goes in. There's not a lot of obstruction and the crowd was fairly closely packed.
Unfortunately both Alivar's plee, and Crowe's attempt to push through the crowd fail and they make no progress.
Somewhere between 50 and 100, enough that you won't outfight them more than likely, but not enough to ultimately stop you getting through.
Ana steps back into the inn to get out of the crowd's sight and tries to make for a back door to circumvent the locals.
While Ana sneaks off around the edge of the crowd, Zasha finally breaks through a little with words and make some progress through the crowd.
Eventually you pass through the crowd and out the other side. You can see a building off to the left that Folloch seems to have run towards.
It's a fairly typical house for the town. Although on the bigger side. A wealthy merchant perhaps?
He hasn't entered, but has gone around the side, guards in tow.
Ana and Leryn are circumventing the crowd and working to keep an eye on the man's direction of travel. Once she sees that the others are getting through the crowd, she focuses more on the quarry.
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Crowe storms through the crowd behind Alivar, looking like a thundercloud about to launch a lightning strike. He mutters, "You will fear Crowe next time we meet."
As you round the corner of the house, you realise that you are right on the edge of town. There is a fortified wall that some past mayer started and never finished . Folloch appears to have had a moment or two while you struggled with the crowd but he is now aparently leaving town, with his two guards.
"Folloch, stop!". Zasha rounds the house's corner. " We just want to talk, "
[Dice= diplomacy] 1d20 + 9
Folloch ignores Zasha's attempt at discussion, instead concentrating on a scroll in his hands.
Once clear of the crowd, Crowe attempts to get a little distance from the priestess, also, moving ahead to put Alivar between himself and the oracle, not paying so much attention to where the holy man and his men are.
Folloch stops what he's doing.
She readies an action to shoot one of the guards if he attacks the others. Leryn awaits her signal.
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Zasha skirts the building to stand next to Folloch. Her swords trail down her legs.
"Good. All we want to do right now is talk. You tried enspeling us with that rod. And now you're working on that scroll. No one in the River Kingdoms takes being enchanted lightly. So you're going to behave and make restitution and we'll all get out of this fine."
Could someone post Crowe's action? It comes before Zasha's.
Crowe strides forward confidently , scowling and flexing in an effort to intimidate the nearer guard.