The rain soaked barbarin reenters the inn, followed by the holy man and warlock. Seram takes a seat and waits for the server. "Drinks and food", he says with a toothy grin.
"Manfred old friend, what have you been doing?"
Akahale probes the plate of savoury stew in front of him with forensic throughness. He keeps one eye on Grafire's activities, confident his old comrade will return soon to learn of their discoveries at the church.
The rain soaked barbarin reenters the inn, followed by the holy man and warlock. Seram takes a seat and waits for the server. "Drinks and food", he says with a toothy grin.
"Hmm and a good fire to draw off the chill and the rain outside," Rowan adds wondering where this was all going to lead.
"It found the others," It remarks to nobody in particular.
"It found the others," It remarks to nobody in particular.
"Hello It, has Manny been behaving himself?" Rowan greets It.
Looking around briefly.
"Thats' a yes then," Rowan notes wondering what the wizard was going to make of what they had come across outside.
Akahale extracts something that might be an onion from his stew and subjects it to a hard stare.
"Where, in this weather and this area, are fresh vegetables to be found?"
Pushing the plate aside, he concentrates on the beer and comes to the conlusion that Seram Zal's taste buds have not mislead him. He turns to the warforged.
"It, you are a conscientious and precise observer. Will you inform us of what has been happening in our absence?"
Akahale extracts something that might be an onion from his stew and subjects it to a hard stare.
"Where, in this weather and this area, are fresh vegetables to be found?"
Pushing the plate aside, he concentrates on the beer and comes to the conlusion that Seram Zal's taste buds have not mislead him. He turns to the warforged.
"It, you are a conscientious and precise observer. Will you inform us of what has been happening in our absence?"
Looks first at Akahale then at It then back again before glancing over to Manny before looking back.
"I think thats a definite yes, even if under extreme circumstances" Rowan points out.
"So Manny any revelations since we've been outside?" Rowan asks the wizard.
"I've had a revelation", the barbarian interupts. "This town is boring as hell, but has the food and drink I've had in some time", with that he rips into a piece of steaming meat.
"I've had a revelation", the barbarian interupts. "This town is boring as hell, but has the food and drink I've had in some time", with that he rips into a piece of steaming meat.
"Well that is good news," Rowan replies.
"Perhaps this town might not be as boring as you think," Rowan muses as he stares into his flagon.
"Good food and drink, fun does not always make."
Akahale exchanges glances with Rowan.
"I agree that you underestimate this town's potential for destructive fun Seram. It is not likely we would be sent here without good reason. Still less that you would be invited to be part of such an enterprise unless violence was expected.
Do you think we could return later to the church? I have a grave curiosity about the hinged pew I saw there."
"If you're that interested I'll tag along. How knows, they may something worth my time."
The man looks at Grafire through narrowed eyes, "As if you didn't already know." he says suspiciously, "What sort of deal have you cut with that Goldleaf witch? Who do you represent?"
A tall, dashingly handsome man (one of the three waiting staff, the others being the women encountered earlier) enquires of the members of the group dining, "Everything alright? Bet you've never had stew so fine!" he says flashing a winning smile.
More out of habit than from any particular need, Akahale regards the man thoughfully.
Insight check on handsome waiter: (1d20 10=14)
"May I enquire where you grow or purchase your vegetables? This climate hardly seems conducive to market gardening. It is an interesting town. We have had an enjoyable walk, despite the weather and visited the church. I understand there is a ceremony taking place this evening. Are visitors allowed to attend?"
He provides a perfectly reasonable explanation, describing home and communal allotments and the trading system whereby fish are exchanged for vegetables. It is quite dull, but your interest is kept by his lively manner.
Ever polite, Akahale's interest in the manner in which allotments are organised is unfeigned.
"Thank you for your explanation. Before you leave us, could you tell me if it is possible to join the ceremony at the church this evening. One would not wish to be discourteous either by missing the event or by intruding upon it as an unwelcome visitor."
" Ahh, yes the Gold Leaf lady. Pretty thing for a human." Grafire pauses for a second, put his scaly hand on his chin and rubs it. "I have made a quite lucrative deal, or at least from my point of view. One that perhaps you maybe able to beat. You do look quite well off. It regards some items I had discussed with her. But enough of that for now, I'll most likely will keep them for myself, I do fancy antiquities. Tell me, about what you bring, after all you are the trader not I." Grafire cracks a smile.
"Perhaps we could discuss your items over an ale. Waiter 2 ales please, that is if this fine merchant has any goods for me to look at?"
The waiter, Sannuel by name, looks puzzled for a moment, "Ceremony?" he asks, "Oh! Mother Sharallan mentioned some rite or other she was going to perform. It's not a public thing, it's just her. Too sacred for the likes of us, I suppose!" he laughs.
The trader looks at Grafire like a hawk, "I knew it!" he crows, "So, let's lay it straight, dragonborn, I represent Surrens, Creel and Blackwell of the Free City of Greyhawk. You're a dealer then? We can come to some sort of agreement." his manner is still cold, but more interested than before.
"It, you are a conscientious and precise observer. Will you inform us of what has been happening in our absence?"
"It observed Mandrake lose his marbles and recover them. It observed dragonborn Grafire discussing issues with the humans here which seemed to ahave no relevance to Mandrake or It."
"Manfred old friend, what have you been doing?"
"It found the others," It remarks to nobody in particular.
"Hello It, has Manny been behaving himself?" Rowan greets It.
The questions jars Mandrake from his lewd ditty, much to the relief of the nearby tables. The mage knits his brows thoughtfully, then grins.
"I found my Marbles!" He declares proudly."Thats' a yes then,"
"It observed Mandrake lose his marbles and recover them. It observed dragonborn Grafire discussing issues with the humans here which seemed to ahave no relevance to Mandrake or It.""It, you are a conscientious and precise observer. Will you inform us of what has been happening in our absence?"
" 'Observed', Thpppt! 'Sat there like a lump on a log' is more like it. It's SO hard to make good help these days. Ah well, at least he makes a good hatrack!" He grins, indicating the large pointed, floppy brimmed hat still hanging on IT's back.
"Did you have a nice stroll? I always enjoy walking in the rain. There's something about a storm. So powerful, so primal,..."
His curiosity satisfied, Akahale finishes his plate of stew. Once Samuel is out of earshot he comments quietly to Seram and the others.
"It is my opinion that further exploration of the church is merited. However, I accept that I am overly suspicious. I will be guided by others in this."
For the benefit of Manny and It, he outlines their discoveries.
Mandrake crosses his arms across his skinny chest and listens to the dragonborn, nodding slightly at intervals. When Akahale finishes and looks to the others, the momentary silence reveals a soft rumbling sound.
Manny is snoring, with his eyes open.
At the first tentative prod the mage arches back, his head snapping up.
"I didn't do it! Nobody saw me! I'll never do it again!" He cries, looking around wildly. When his gaze settles on IT he calms down, looks around the table, and clears his throat sheepishly.
"Ah-hem, well, yes,... Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they ARE'NT out to get you." He offers sagely.
"I'm up for a late night stroll, especially if it's still raining. I wonder if I can get him to talk again today? Probably not, but it would be rude not to say 'Hi' wouldn't it?,..."
"The rain seems likely to continue long enough for your enjoyment Manfred. It, would you care to join this expedition? I am hopeful that Grafire may wish to come along."
"The rain seems likely to continue long enough for your enjoyment Manfred. It, would you care to join this expedition? I am hopeful that Grafire may wish to come along."
"It will accompany wizard Mandrake. It does not rust."
"The rain seems likely to continue long enough for your enjoyment Manfred."
"That's ManDRAKE, as in Dragon." Mandrake mutters with a glower from under his bushy eyebrows.
It, would you care to join this expedition? I am hopeful that Grafire may wish to come along."
"It will accompany wizard Mandrake. It does not rust."
Manny gives the others at the table a look and rolls his eyes.
"Of course IT will accompany Mandrake, what else would IT do? Besides be silent it seems. I Knew I should have gone for the built in weapons over the vocabulator,..." The wizard mutters off into the background. Something about "Excessive Independence", "Independent Thoughts" and "Thinking can't be that good for you. It's never brought ME anything but trouble",...
"Yes indeed some sort of agreement." Grafire attention shifts back to his table and notice the rest of his party has arrived. "We shale talk later, perhaps first thing in the morning. It is very nice to meet you."
Diplomacy check vs. Greyhawk trader. (1d20+12=26)
With that he heads back to his table to inquire on what Akahale has discovered in their journey. He takes his seat and lets them all know that there are a couple of traders here that seem to be interested in antiquities, artifacts and jewelery.
"I presume they probably come from ship wrecks based on the weather here. Or maybe there is something else going on?" Grafire tells them. "What did you find , Akahale?"
"A grove with a defaced statue of Melora, many closed buildings and a church whose incumbent wished us to begone. All of these things may have an innocent explanation, but the church showed no signs of preparation for a ceremony claimed to take place this evening and there is a hinged pew at the back. My proposal is that we investigate later tonight once these people are asleep. There is no need to alarm them with our investigations."
Akahale summarises their findings so far and continues.
"What is your opinion old friend? Your judgment in these matters is better than mine. As you know, I tend to see the worst in everything. I realise I may be overly suspicious."
The last comment is more a matter of form than anything else. Akahale knows very well he's overly suspicious, but he regards that as the natural result of the worst nearly always happening.
"Ah, suspicions are there for a good reason and I do trust yours. They have been, for the most part, right on." Grafire rubs his chin, "A defaced Melora statue, huh? I presume that the church is for Pelor and Melora if there is a statue of Melora. Defaced as well but not repaired, Hmmm. I agree kinda odd. Thank the gods it was not a defaced statue of Bahumut or who knows what I may want to do... This place makes my senses heightened, I do believe something is going on. Some of the people here are kinda agitated and it takes some doing to get them to be personable but maybe it just the weather, only the gods know for sure."
Grafire's thoughts drift for a moment. "Yep we better do some further investigating tonight."
"What deity might want strife and such nefarious purposes that we know of?" Rowan asks after a moment.
"What kind of ceremony is she preparing if its a ceremony and not a parlay with some aquatic creatures exchanging the goods from these ill-fated ships in return for goods they can't get any other way?" Rowan whispers keeping his voice low so only those at the table can overhear.
"Troubling thoughts..." Rowan mutters to himself as he considers their options and what is truly going on.
"You all worry too much. Scared of rites an' ceremonies. What really can a weakling her, all magic users really, do. There's nothing in this world that a strong arm and a good blade won't fix"
"Hmm, you bring up a good point Rowan. Could there be some deity of evil that could influence the weather and aquatics? I know of none but I am sure that Seram would take much pleasure in defeating such an entity. I suppose tonight's investigation will lend much more to our understanding." Grafire replies in a low rumble.
"I have seen strong arms and good blades cut out their owner's throats because the mind willed it so. Not just seen it, but caused this to happen."
Just for a second, Akahale's eyes darken with bad memories.
"Rowan, you may have bit upon an answer. A wrecker town. If they seek to lure ships to destruction in order to sell on goods, of course we are welcome guests. We are removing the evidence of their duplicity and of our own volition. Perhaps some kind of false signal to call ships into dangerous waters is hidden somewhere. Ahhh, this will be an interesting evening after all."
"Men not strong enough to stand again magic deserve that fate. A true warrior not only uses his 'own' power, but could easily shrug off and kill the offending user."
"Could there be some deity of evil that could influence the weather and aquatics? I know of none but I am sure that Seram would take much pleasure in defeating such an entity.
"If there was such a thing...A thing of unheard of strength and power...I would be the first...The only person to fight it." The thought of fighting such an person brings another toothy, almost feral grin to his face.
Mandrake strokes his beard thoughtfully.
"There are of course Deities of the seas and oceans, possibly many different ones, but more likely all the same known by different names." He intones, as if lecturing to a class.
"But while Deities do accumulate things, mostly power, usually gained by increasing the number of followers,... the accumulation of material wealth or it's equivalent seems to be the bailiwick of lesser beings, us mere mortals, if you will."
"IF there were activity such as you suggest going on," He nods to Akahale, " Then it is far more likely to be at the instigation of undersea denizens than at the whim of a capricious ocean deity. Unless it increased his power by decreasing the number of his opposing deity's followers, such as by starting an inter-faith conflict."
"But fear not Seram, there are as many varied inhabitants under the waves as there are above it. Even if whatever is behind this is not deific, living in the depths only makes a creature that much stronger. I'm sure you'll enjoy the challenge of whatever we may end up facing.' He finishes, his eyes twinkling.
Manny then blinks, looks around as if he lost something, then frowns at his plate.
"Heeeey,... Who ate my last piece of bread?!?" He whines.
Akahale calmly retrieves Manny's missing bun and places it gently in the mage's hand. "This is yours Manfr-drag-drake.... Manny."
He gives up on remembering the correct name and adopts the common diminutive.
"But while Deities do accumulate things, mostly power, usually gained by increasing the number of followers,... the accumulation of material wealth or it's equivalent seems to be the bailiwick of lesser beings, us mere mortals, if you will."
"Wizard Mandrake, It has observed many mortals collecting material wealth on behalf of their gods. If wizard Mandrake is not implying purchase of enslaved potential followers then It concludes that either deities do accumulate wealth or deities' followers are deluded."
After a brief pause. "It offers no opinion."
Mandrake blinks at the roll in his hand. "Oooo, bread! Thanks. How'd you know I was hungry?" He asks Akahale wide-eyed as he takes a big bite.
"Wizard Mandrake, It has observed many mortals collecting material wealth on behalf of their gods. If wizard Mandrake is not implying purchase of enslaved potential followers then It concludes that either deities do accumulate wealth or deities' followers are deluded."
After a brief pause. "It offers no opinion."
Mandrake looks annoyed at IT's interruption, then chews his bite thoughtfully.
"Well, I suppose that a deities followers DO tend collect wealth, but I would surmise that is more for the personal benefit of the followers than the deity itself. Although I suppose that if a church isn't run by a completely corrupt group of elders, that the accumulated wealth could be used to enlarge and enhance the number of followers, which would directly benefit the deity."
Manny takes another big bite of bread. "Other than that, of COURSE a deities followers are deluded!" He continues without chewing. "Given how easily and often I'm let down by my fellow humanoids, I'm fairly certain that no church would long stand if it's followers knew of all their god's little idiosynchrocies or personal faults!"
Mandrake beams, chewing happily, then looks at Grafire, and Rowan, and shrinks back in on himself nervously.
"Other wizard's get familiars. A bird, or a cat, or even a psuedodragon. What do I get? A tin man with delusions of philosophy!" He grumbles under his breath.
"Like I need help to get in trouble? I can manage that all by myself, thankyouverymuch."
As the evening wears on, people start to leave the common room for their homes, in the case of the locals, and for their rooms, in the case of the visitors.
Yep