"Dangerous people?" She thinks for a moment and then replies. "The only new people coming here, aside from you folks are the two weird fellow. The first showed up a while ago. His name is Gaster Lucas, a merchant from Caliphas or so he said. He didn't seem interested in my wares when I talked to him and barely spent a minute at the market. The only person he really talked to is the head of the temple in town." She pauses for a brief moment then continue. "The other got here a few days ago. Really creepy guy. He meets up with the Lucas fellow and ran off together somewhere."
"I didn't notice anything going missing aside from people. The sheriff is working on that, and told us not to worry, but so far, he didn't catch anyone." She seems to worry about the disappearance, and her cheerful personality fades for a moment.
"Really creepy guy..." Anna says out loud while she thinks. "Any idea where they went? Any where at all? Come on, it's really important. We've got to catch up to him, before he does something bad to this town, too."
She spares a glance to Danica and Tolvan, nodding at them, since no doubt they were planning a trip back to the "Gozran" temple.
When she turns back to Jaleen, Anna looks serious. "Don't worry, the mayor's got us on the job of the missing people too. I have no idea if creepy guy and the missing folks are related, but I wouldn't be too surprised if they are."
Indeed miss Halrush. Its unusual to me that a merchant would care so little for markets and your's is the second comment that ties those strangers to the temple. There was something not quite right about that place. If you cannot give us an idea where to look for these two strangers the temple might provide more information.
Danica's focus intensifies after hearing the mention of the temple. She recalls the feeling of malice from the worshipers when she used her detection spell on them.
"No, sorry. But the creepy guy left his horse at the stable, so they can't have gone far." She cheers up went she heard that the group is working on the missing people. "Good to know. Maybe a fresh set of eyes can find something that the sheriff couldn't. But the disappearance started before the creepy guy showed up."
Looking at Tolvan. "Be careful at the temple. There is something about the people working there that just sends a chill down my back. Especially Vizier Voltiaro. There is something not right with his eyes... He left town a few days ago to go visit the neighbor down the bay, whoever that is."
Anna nods, actually rather grateful for the straight talk. "Careful. That's us. You can count on that." She excuses herself if she can do so without buying anything, though if Tolvan or the others spot something they'd like to purchase she waits patiently on them.
Once they've said their goodbyes, she looks at Tolvan, Danica and Ananias. "Back to the temple for us, huh?"
"Yeah....back to that temple." Danica nods her head in anticipation to getting back to do some "cleaning".
But before the group leaves Danica will move from the rear to ask some questions. "You have been most helpful ma'am. Can you tell me any history on the temple. How long has it been active? How long has this Vizier Voltiaro been around?
Once outside and alone Tolvan prepares for a potential confrontation at this temple by casting mage armor on himself and Danica and Overland Fight on himself.
As they walk, Ananias shares his misgivings. "Gozreh and his worshippers have always been an odd sort--neither for or against any of the causes of good or evil. But this temple, it gives an uneasy feel. Like in this place they do work towards evil ends."
"The temple as being here way before I got here. I think it was even built before the village was settled. As for the vizier, he's been in charge of it for the last twenty years or so."
Walking back to the town square, you face the temple. For some reason, the old stone structure looks even gloomier than before. Tolvan casts a few spells in preparation of the possible future fight ahead. A quick inspection of the exterior reveals no other entry point than the main entrance, leaving very little chance of a stealthy approach.
We could go check the stable first. Tolvan offers.
Danica clears her throat in front of Anna while making eye contact to her special ring of invisibility. "Do you think some stealthy recon is in order?"
As everyone walks toward the temple to 'Gozra,' Anna starts talking. "Okay, children, let's review what we've learned so far," she says in a schoolteacher's cadence.
"We leave Lepidstadt to show up in Thrushmoore. We stay at an inn where the owner makes a pass at Ananias and tell Tolvan and me that a couple shady characters came through there and met with a third. They went to the market, to the old stone things, star stellas, I think they were called, and to some old chapel. We checked out the big stones -- nothing there but bad mojo. We go to the old chapel and take out some folks that had a pet scorpion and a garden full of poisons. Tolvan finds a scroll with a cryptic message -- something about an exchange and a raven's head? At the market, I find a lady who tells us that we can talk with Jaleen Halrush here in Illmarsh."
Taking another deep breath, she continues. "So, on the way to Soddentimbers, which is where this lovely town is located, we come upon a boat about to crash in a storm. We save the crackpot who actually wanted to sail in that weather. Oh, his cargo? A boat that goes under water. And he's promised us a ride in thanks for saving him." She beams a smile dripping with sarcasm.
"So, we show up in Illmarsh, get the stinkeye from the inn's patrons and owners, find out that there's a huge horse in the stables, and learn that the fishing's been poor and for some reason the locals are blaming it on the outsiders. Us.
"The stableboy said something about a Watcher in the bay. Lots of folk disappearing. We check out a home of someone who's gone, and I find a green stone statue of a fish. We then check out the Gozran chapel for the first time, and none of us like the vibe it's giving off. So we take off, and immediately afterward we're accosted by the sheriff and taken before the mayor, who's got a job for us: investigate the missing townsfolk."
She rolls her eyes. "Jaleen doesn't tell us all that much that we don't know already. Something's bad going on at the chapel. There's a merchant from Caliphas called Gaster Lucas that we need to see as well."
She looks around to everyone. "Is that about right? Am I missing something?"
Danica looks over to Anna and Kimberly. "Sounds about right to me. Your accounts of our recent adventures is some much more entertaining when you say it." Danica pauses and thinks about their destination, the temple of Gozran. "So....what is our plan when we get there?"
"Well, I'm liking your 'stealthy recon' idea," Anna says to Danica. "But we already kinda did that when we went and checked it out before. And there's doors. Being invisible is cool and all, but unless you can also walk through walls, doors are a problem. I think another option is to go there and just poke the bear. How bad could it be?"
I'd prefer to not separate the group. Tolvan says with a worried look on his face. What if we go in and announce we are shutting them down? That would be a decent poke.
Anna gets a wicked grin "Or tell them we're converting this temple to Pharasma." She glances at Kimberly.
Ananias grins, perhaps a bit too wildly. "I'm learning how to poke the bear. It's, ahh...." His grin widens, then he forces it down, though he can't contain it fully. "It's working."
He too looks at Kimberly. An opening in the cloud cover allows a ray of sunlight to reflect brightly off of Ananias' silver skin. "Maybe they need to be reminded of the gift Pharasma leaves for all."
"Well," Anna says, loosening her daggers in their sheaths, "we can always let Pharasma sort them out."
"However," Anna says after thinking over what's transpired some more, "before the knives come out, we really need to talk with this vizier about the merchant from Caliphas."
I do not know Anna. We can try, but I cannot help but feel we are lucky that we got out of that church the first time without the need to defend ourselves. I'll happily let you do the talking and be ready to back you up.
Anna smiles brightly at Tovan. "All right, then. Me and the vizier are going to have a chat."
"We'll have your back if it goes south."
Putting on her game face, Anna heads back to the temple of Gozrah. She smiles sweetly at whatever acolyte is there to greet her, and asks to see their boss, the vizier.
"Hi, remember me? I asked around about that Cartus Scrint to told me about, and I can't seem to locate him. But word has it that you met with another merchant from Caliphas, goes by the name of Gaster Lucas? Maybe he'll know Mr. Scrint. Can you help a girl out?"
...
Happy to see you back. Let see if can answer some of those.
1- You are in the town of Illmarsh, you can find a map of Ustalav here
2- You have been there for about 18 hrs.
3- In front of a temple of Gozreh in the town. The group suspect that there is more to the temple that is advertised.
4- Find the cult members of the Whispering Ways that left Feldgrau on horseback with the items they are gathering for some reason. One of the items is a piece of the heart of a powerfull werewolf.
5-They are members of the Whispering Ways and your only lead to what they might be preparing next.
6- Horace Croon is an inventor that you meet on the way to Illmarsh. His ship was about to run aground. The group managed to help him safely dock ship. As a reward, he invited you to participate in the inauguration voyage of his latest invention, a ship that travels underwater.
7- The Vizier is the head of the temple in Illmarsh. The mayor suspect the man of involved in the disappearance of people in town. He also said that the man was the real power in town. Jaleen Halrush, the town alchemist mentioned that the man hasn't been seen in a few days and that has been in power for at least twenty years.
8- After a question, you learned that the rider of the Whispering Ways meets up with a merchant from Caliphas that is visiting Illmarsh. The actions of that merchant are described by some as odd. Like not visiting the market and shops of the town. Everyone gave the same name for the merchant (Gaster Lucas) except for the priest at the temple that mentioned the name Cartus Scrint.
If you have more questions, don't hesitate.
Anna gives Kimberly a wink to reassure her, then goes to try to talk with the vizier.
Kimberly wanders the temple, not wanting to interfere with Anna, but available as a back-up if she needs the help.
She takes in the the various aspects of the temple. wondering if this high priest is in fact true to his professed diety.
The group walks back into the Temple. Paying more attention to the details this time, Kimberly is able to recognize the statue by the entrance as an old obscure depiction of Gozreh used by some coastal communities on Lake Encarthan. As you pass the vestibule, you notice again the line of shoes and boots lining the wall. Seems that there is the same amount as earlier. (11 pairs) Stepping into the next room with your shoes still on would probably be a good way to upset the people inside.
Anna's mouth twists in distaste about taking off her shoes again, but she decides she still wanted to talk with the vizier before picking a fight. So she slips off her sandals of quick reaction but carries them with her as she steps into the next room.
"Hey! Anyone seen your boss? I'd be so grateful if you could get him here. I've got a few questions for him."
Tolvan seemed to be waiting on Anna to set the tone of the discussion. When she takes off her shoes he frowns but follows suit.
Kimberly carefully counts each pair of shoes. whispering each numbered pair as she does so. and taking in each shoe style and trying to discern something about each owner.
then she removes her own shoes and places them at the end. and counting them last.
Ananias grumbles about the shoes. "This is heavy armor; they don't exactly slip off. I'll be a minute here." But eventually gets the boots off and follows the others into the room, staying close to Kimberly.
Anna tries to stop Ananias from pulling off his armored boots. "Just hang back and be ready to come in if you're needed, big guy. No point in all of us going shoeless," she says quietly to the warrior.
Danica gladly takes her boots off and immediately wiggling her toes, taking advantage of the "freedom". The monks back in the monastery all were barefoot during training or wore crude looking sandals. Only recently has Danica been using boots. Boots allow her to navigate the various terrains outside of the monastery.
"I agree with Anna, Ananias. I will go with Anna."
Danica will continue to use Detect Evil whenever she can get an opportunity.
Ananias nods, and stops undoing the straps at his calves. He straightens, and almost instinctively finds himself standing nearly at a formal military attention. He clearly forces himself to relax a bit, perhaps an attempt to undo an old habit, as he tries to keep an eye and ear open for trouble that might surprise the others.
Anna winks at the ancient warrior. "I'm not going far. Just hang tight."
She moves a bit further into the monastery, looking around for anyone who can point her the way to the Vizier. "Hello? Anyone here?"
Walking in, you find the three same looking figures praying around the statue. As Anna speaks, all three of them stand. One point at those that entered to stand where they are and walks in the same door as last time. The figure opens the door and poke his head in the next room. He then walks back to stand with the other two. Within seconds, the same young man walks out and smile at the group. "Back so soon? I'm afraid I still don't have any sculptures to sell though."
The priest seems bigger/bulkier than last time. He either gained weight in the last few hours, or something more under his robes.
Anna waves away the concern about the statues. "That's fine, I'm here to ask about the merchant from Caliphas anyway. You know where he is?" Her amiable smile fades as she notes the priest's new bulk. "Hey, you all right? You kind of just... bloated up there since I last saw you."
Danica is going to Detect Magic
"The merchant? No, I have no idea. I don't keep tag on everyone that come and goes." He laugh a bit at your second comment. "No, no. Just some added layer of clothes. I was getting a bit chilly. Wouldn't want to catch a cold after all."
His pants are on fire!!
Anna rolls her eyes with amusement, and lets an easy smile grow on her face. "Oh, sure, those quick chills can be nasty. So, where's your boss, the vizier? I've got it on good authority he's been hanging with the merchant. So if you can't help us, I'm sure he will."
"Help you? To find a merchant?" The young man actually raise an eyebrow to Anna's comment. "The Vizier as more important things to do. And even if he would, he isn't currently at the temple. He left a few days ago on private business. He left me in charge of the temple for now." He takes a few seconds to ponder and then continues. "What's so important about that merchant anyway?"
Anna decides being coy isn't getting her anywhere, so she decides to be direct and blunt. "That 'merchant' is part of a conspiracy that's trying to free the Whispering Tyrant. And your boss was seen with him. So, where is your boss now? We heard he's visiting the 'neighbors down the bay'. Do you know where they like to hang out?"
She studies his reaction closely, to see how he responds.
"You don't say?" With Anna's direct approach, the men that were near the statue take a few steps forward. "And you think they will succeed this time when they have been trying to free the tyrant for centuries? Isn't there a country fully dedicated to preventing such thing?" He smiles at you, yet you find no warmth in it. "I don't think you need to worry about this. And if the Vizier has been spending so much time with the man, maybe he was converting him to a better philosophy. What the Vizier does only concern himself and our patron. " He turns slightly as if to leave, but keep Anna in his field of vision. "As for the neighbors, I don't think you want to visit there. They are rather particular in their way of treating guesses. Now I think you have disturbed this temple for long enough, you are invited to leave."