"I think we should do see the Sheriff. We should have probably done so when we first returned.
Kaddoc finishes his drink.
"Though I guess I can now say that I've enjoyed a drink with a dead child in a sack."
He frowns. "Probably could have lived without ever having done that though."
Ryu smirks at Kaddoc "Well, we could have split up to go to the inn and the temple at the same time, then meet up before going to Das. It turned out this way though."
The big half giant answers deliberately. "I will go with you Ryu rather than let you go alone. This group is mixed up in interesting and important events. We need to stick together as much as possible. A danger faced by one, should be a danger faced by all."
"Strange magic I am not used to gives me the Willies!"
still red in the face, and with slightly slurred wording
"Is it not the adverturer's code to "never go it alone, unless your that darn good" or was it something else."
Brin: Not specifically, though it did seem odd that no mention of the Lady of Graves was made.
Alkaid: One of your teachers mentioned an odd new religion (though he called it a cult)that cremates it's dead, much like in Ustalav. But there, Pharasma is the major diety due to the tendency in that cursed land for spontanious appeance of undead.
Ryu looks at Brin and nods. "Thank you." then leaves the inn, thinking about how exactly the danger that his father is can be faced by all.
Brin will explain he is eager to fit in with his mother's people (humans), and he is very careful to avoid getting on the wrong side of a religious dispute.
"I have found humans take religion very seriously", he says. I worship Chaldira Zazaristan, a halfling diety."
As Ryu walks he replies to Brindolfin. "I have nothing against the religion of others as long they respect mine, and their gods don't misuse the faith granted by their followers in them." He looks into the distant. "This is how demons usually grow in power, through lies and misuse of faith they lure people to follow them, and the victim often doesn't even realize the power it gains through this makes it actually weaker and more vulnerable." He smiles weakly. "As far I know nothing of that would be an issue for me with any halfling deities. At least no halfling cleric I met has spoken ill of my religion or used demonic powers."
Sense Motive check to know what exactly the mood is Lonjiku in and how to prepare the news the best way so he will respond the least negative/most positive way
Diplomacy check to tell the events, explain how and why Ryu decided to make a funeral ceremony right there
Actual RP:
"Greeting father, I fear I bring both important and sad news."
Ryu tells about what happened, that the mother and child (fetus) as undead were attacking them, and that after the battle he found the bottle with the medallion.
"The group discussed what to do, and there were arguments for bringing the bodies home or burning them. in my opinion it was the best choice to have them granted a proper funeral and finally a rest. I agreed to the burning as my own religion hold pyre funerals by fire. This way it became more than just disposing of undead corrupted bodies and they had a proper ceremony."
Ryu here goes a bit into details of the ceremony, and how the spirits found peace at last. Also tries to calm and handle Lonjiku as needed. Ryu points at Brindolfin and says how he was an eyewitness and of great help on the island. Ryu says that Ameiko plans to go and visit the location for a prayer.
"I am sorry not bringing them back, but there was just too great a danger to continue exploring while the corpses weren't dealt with, moving them was not a logical option, and leaving them had the risk they could disappear again due to sorcery before they could have been put to rest. If you are mad with me for it you have the right to it, but at least I was there as a family member, and watched over them as they found release from this undead existence as my duty is. We never discussed religion father, I knew you always had your mind on business and I didn't want to bother you with my own views, sadly it also meant I don't know whom you worship or whom they worshiped if at all."
Ryu hands the bottle with the medallion over to Lonjiku.
"I haven't opened it, but saw the emblem on the outside, and drew the conclusion based on the situation and the age of the two at the time of their dead. I believed it to be right for handing it over to you unopened. Das's dead son has also been found and it also had a related undead we had to deal with. I am surprised no one properly looked at what was going on on that nearby island, much could have been averted otherwise. Maybe they were still alive when they found their way to the shores after the storm, and could have lived if they would have been taken care of by a healer."
Ryu shakes his head, and says how a persistent settlement or some local group there could still avoid similar disasters in the future. Ryu explains his opinion on how having both the monks on the island in a monastery and a building for the people who took part in the quest for additional security could be a benefit to the city for such situations, something he didn't think of earlier. No need for further sorrow if it can be avoided. Ryu then asks for the agreement only if Lonjiku is in a better/calmed mood, otherwise waits with it.
Please copy-paste the conversation as you need once there, am afraid I won't be online when we get to the Kajitsu Estate and I don't want to hold the whole game up further if it can be avoided. I would also like to know if I can send "spoiler" events, like the time-slip ones directly to you as PM-s, by this point you know at least 2 people read the GM tagged ones. I don't see any use of spoilers anymore, and earlier problems could have been avoided if spoilered info wouldn't have been misused ingame.
PS: for those who aren't the GM and stillread this, Ryu is right now trying to get a place for both his religion AND the adventurers on the island, I believe that is a fair proposal, ignoring the fact that almost since start of the game Ryu was trying to get the island for the cult and could probably get it just for them.
Hey Strae, Sparrow. glad you guys are coming with me to Dras'. I have no idea how to explain what happened to his son. Maybe we should simply return what is left of him and leave out the part about the training.
Looking down at her feet, Cilyanka continues, I really don't feel right about lying to him, but sometimes it's just better not to know. What do you guys think, you have way more experience at this stuff than I do.
"My only legitimate son...gone..."
He seems to reach into himself with a great effort, then looks up at you.
"I guess you did as you thought right. But, in the future, consult those more experienced in such matters."
He looks at the rest of the group. "So are these -adventurers- your new friends? Introduce me, please."
Hey Strae, Sparrow. glad you guys are coming with me to Dras'. I have no idea how to explain what happened to his son. Maybe we should simply return what is left of him and leave out the part about the training.
Looking down at her feet, Cilyanka continues, I really don't feel right about lying to him, but sometimes it's just better not to know. What do you guys think, you have way more experience at this stuff than I do.
Strae considers the problem as they head toward Das' forge. "I've got no talent for lying. Perhaps we should stick to the least detailed truth that we can get away with. We know the child wasn't butchered by the Chopper and that he died 'peacefully' - not violently - and possibly it was in his sleep given that we found the bones in a bed. Hopefully, that will satisfy Das. If it doesn't, if he presses us for details... I think he's got a right to know. If it were me - I'd want to know."
The gnome beetles his brows at the taunting children until Sparrow comes up with an elegant and amusing solution - embarrassing the rapscallions.
Your right Stae. Did you want to be the one to tell him?
Straehan pushes on towards the forge, trying to work through what to say to the grieving father of a murdered son.
Clearly, I picked the wrong town to visit.
Ryu decided to address the agreement and the mention of legitimacy later, but hinted at that they would deserve a building on the island for their prowess.
I understood this as it were in a bottle.
Straehan: you should be able to get the story across without upsetting Das.
Ryu: the family business is jewelry making and glass blowing. The crest on the pendant is made of glass.
Kaddoc wasn't particularly interested in going to either the cathedral or Das', but instead goes to the Sheriff's office to give him a rundown on what has happened.
To the best of his abilities and without embellishment, he gives an accurate description of the event that occurred on the island and of what they found there.
Though not religious, Straehan considers offering a brief prayer to any god that will keep Das from asking questions.
she stands straight again "If Brindolfin is allowed to settle the island I, shall see if I can get some of my brothers and sisters to purify the Island of any evil that remains there"
Then he seems to have an inspiration. He turns to Ryu.
"It's obvious you don't understand the situation. Probably a symptom of your raising. Still, you are the only living male of my bloodline. I need you to grow up and join the family properly. First, drop this cult thing of yours and follow Shelyn like your ancestors. Secondly, you need to start learning glassmaking. Amaya can teach you the basics, then I'll teach you as well...move in here. Today."
He thinks a bit. " Perhaps if your sister sees that obedience gains more rewards she'll drop this silly tavern keeper bit and come home like she should. I will have to arrange a marriage for you...and maybe her. Hard, though with your status and her having had an affair with that Varsian...but at least he's dead and there's no child from it..."
He pauses and looks at Ryu. "Yes. Finish up this business and bring your things here. I'll have Amaya start training you tomorrow. Be at the Glassworks at dawn. I'll forgive your ignorance of the proper burial rites, you're no priest. I'll also bring a private cleric from Maginmar to teach you properly. I need to leave immediately for Magnimar to make the arrangements."
He looks at Alkaid and seems stuned for a moment. He smiles, kisses her hand, then says "Thank you for your offer. I will also as Father Zantus to do so and the cleric I plan on bringing back. Perhaps it can be done in conjunction with the dedication of the chapel."
The gnome hates every second of the conversation, every detail he is forced to divulge. "We found this with the body." He pulls out the red tattered remains of a small, stuffed toy dog and offers it to the smith. "I believe your son was one of the last to go missing. The child we found wasn't killed by the Chopper - which makes him one of the last victims. Did this toy belong to Simon?"
His grin over his shoulder to Ameiko says, 'See? I can be subtle.'
she replies to Lonjiku
"As an old saying goes, many hands make light work. I hope the Island gets purified before it becomes a well settled island."
"Why didn't the original group find him?" He sounds angry and confused.
"Where is he?"
The red female dog comes out and walks over to Das, raisng herself slightly to sniff the toy. She then starts sniffing around, looking as confused as a dog can. She stops at Straehan, sniffing him, and wagging her tail slowly.
As you leave you bump into Tsuto. He looks at Lonjiku then speaks to Ryu. "So, you've sworn vengence. So very traditional. Do you believe that slaying someone who murdered a family member is just?"
"My office, then?"says Father Zantus.
Ryu stops and looks pondering at Tsuto upon his question. "Vengeance doesn't help the ones left behind in most cases, but it may help the departed. Whatever the reason for vengeance may be, be it duty or revenge, or to help the spirits find rest, it is of great importance to not get blinded and be sure of whom you hunt as prey, and to have evidence that The Hunt is just. One has to be a wise hunter, and know the right moment to act, and for the right reasons." Ryu also heard the rumors that Lonjiku should have killed his wife, even if that would be true there is no evidence about it. He was not feeble, and replied in a proper way that should answer Tsuto's question without angering his father either because anything getting suggested or because mention of the Divine Phoenix. Ryu choose sentences which would work even if the Hunt would not be the way of the Phoenix Cult and avoided thus a religious undertone.
Give me a sense motive check.
As they pass windows, altars, closets, and offices, Biter's curiosity (which often manifests as nosiness) compels him to walk a meandering line behind the priest, randomly poking, sniffing, and inspecting every curiosity along the way. When they finally reach Zantus's office, Biter swaggers his way in, waiting for Ameiko to enter before giving the hallway a serious look of warning and closing the door.
He drags two chairs from against the wall, the heavy wooden legs complaining loudly at being slid across the hard floor. Quickly clambering on top of one, he gives the priest a long and heavy look before depositing the bag on the other chair (before Ameiko can sit down on it).
"Biter and Biter's crew was'ing to find…" he waits a dramatic few moments before throwing open the bag, revealing the boy's remains as if they were a legendary treasure, "… THE BONES OF THE BIRD-BOY!" He waits curiously for the priest to do his priestly-duties (whatever they are), continuing in his broken common, "Friend Ameiko was'ing to ask Biter and some otherings if'ing they would be looking into some long-leg's problem… as a favor. So Biter and others is'ing to go to Chopping Island for the searching." The re-telling of events is long, detailed, and painful in his broken tongue, but the father is left with a surprisingly accurate telling of their little excursion. Finally he winds down, struggling to determine if he's more interested in watching the old priest or the hundreds of interesting doodads, books, and corners of his office, "… so now'ing Biter is'ing to bringing the bird-boy's bones to a Praying Man so Praying Man can be doing his praying over the bones to making them… um… clean?" He looks up at Friend Ameiko in question as if to say, 'that was what we brought them here for, right?
La casa de los dios
And hopefully we'll get to see your bride to be, Ryu."
Ryu nods. "Might be better though if it is handled before you leave. Some circumstances or events may influence the other families while you are gone which wouldn't be profitable for the glassworks." Then turns to Alkaid. "Well, it wouldn't be be bad if I would get a look at her myself." Ryu is not exactly full of cheers and joy even though he didn't oppose the idea.
Ryu bows slightly towards Lonjiku and also nods at Tsuto. "Well then, I will come to live here soon, I assume it means we will be able to have a proper chat then Tsuto. Now excuse us, we have to go."
He shakes his head. "Once we inform Das, we'll seee to the child's proper burial next to his mother. I'll send someone right away."
An idle thought seems to strike him, though, and his face scrunches up as his fingers still the page. "Friend Ameiko's whelp clutch-mate was'ing to do something strangeing when the bird boy body was'ing to be found. Was'ing to wanting to burn the bodies? Is'ing body-burning some kinding of human thing?" He points vaguely in the direction of Sandpoint's cemetery, "Biter was'ing to be thinking Long-Legs praying customs was'ing to put dead Long-Legs into the dirt."
"Perhaps Ryu is fom Ustalav. The land there is so cursed after the rule of the imprisoned lich-lord called the Whispering Tyrant that undead can spontaneously rise if he body is not burned or specially blessed by a Pharasmin priest."
He ponders Biter's words. "I have been remiss, I guess, in not learning more of the boy and his beliefs."
He stands and says "I will summon some of my acolytes and let Vosk Naffer know we have a new, if delayed, burial"
Note: Naffer Vosk is the deformed (twisted spine), retired Varisian smuggler who runs the Graveyard as pennance for his former crimes.