Wayward kings reboot 2

Game Master HarbinNick

Genisen will proudly walk with the other, strutting his stuff. A man like him needs to be seen and heard!

I was not aware that "at dawn" was "high noon". Furthermore, no one is looking for specifically us: the guards we met and talked down at the liberated brothel fled town. The assumes those guards were not intercepted and questioned, however.

Fearghus disdains to hide behind the uniform of a disgraceful city guard, and will wear his own colors as a champion of a god of good with pride. He will walk in front of Genisen, hoping to conceal his less-than-reputability.

Krol and Ava, being rarther Chaotic would love to see the guard try and stop us :D Of course Ava is more interested in making a beeline for the man in charge than Krol is.

Arriving at first light at the temple, traveling before dawn, and bearing a load of freshly baked bread! Given the official breakfast for Team 2 was bacon, I would assume we would be munching on bacon sandwiches.

"Aww, Luther, did ye haf to mention bacon? Now I'm right 'ungry!"

"I bet the evil guys in charge hate bacon. Between that and kicking puppies, there is no clearer sign of evil."

"Perhaps you should at least attempt to hide your weapons on your persons, and possibly baggy clothes to hide any armor. Less suspicious that way. We also must consider some of the townsfolk may have betrayed you. Well us I would say."

"Perhaps you should at least attempt to hide your weapons on your persons, and possibly baggy clothes to hide any armor. Less suspicious that way. We also must consider some of the townsfolk may have betrayed you. Well us I would say."

Krol thinks this over and nods at her point.

"Perhaps a hood for you as well, to appear as mother and child?"

"Perhaps a hood for you as well, to appear as mother and child?"

There is a feat or trait for that one.

Luther is rather stubborn--carrying some loaves of bread and not prominently displaying his holy symbol is about as discreet as he gets. After a little consideration, he decides to wear the big flowing cloak as it makes him look almost as cool as Genisen.

Almost

Durnak still looks like someone who just crawled out from under a rock, a very dirty rock.

Durnak looks like a scruffy-looking nirf herder!

Very well; Fearghus shall wear a holocaust cloak. And leave the polearm he never uses anyways behind. Any further disguise shall be to speak in a deep-voiced French accent.

Feargus can be brave Sir Robin, and Durnak can be the attendant who follows with the coconuts.

Brave Sir Robin

Well if Durnak is going as brave sir robin, I guess I can go as mrs. blackitt.

No, I am the guy with the coconuts, Fearghus is brave Sir Robin. And the more that I think about this, the more I realize that our party really seems like King Arthur and his team from the Holy Grail.

Perhaps we can be called the Incompetents. That way the powers that be will think we are a joke until they suddenly find themselves on the ground trying to figure out how they got that lump on their heads.

--Lucky for you, nobody has had the time to put together a distcint portrait of the group of misfits, the happy few heroes, the righter of wrongs, the killers of killers.
--You cross the city, to the temple area. The temple of Shelyn is a single building. It stands in the middle of a plazza. The temple itself is a squre building with three story round domed roof in the middle. (think of a square basilica, which I know is an non-sequitar)
--15 guards in total parade the temple area, of which only 3 seem to be near the Temple of Shelyn. The temple is built of brick, which has been painted white. In addition, the temple has very nice stained glass windows, with abstract designs. Colourful, almost garish.
--The interior of the temple is spacious, a single large room, with a mezzanine running along the interior. The building is well lit by natural light. A fountain and altar are in the center of the buliding, underneath the dome.
--Oddly nobody approaches you at all. It would seem the clergy are all above you in the Mezzanine, if there are any at all.

Durnak walks in and pauses appreciating the the quietness and the cleanliness after the filth of the city without. Then, once he reaches the fountain, he again stops and smiles listening to the sounds so much closer to his beloved nature than the creaking and yelling and hawking of goods that is so much more prevalent outside the temple.

Someday perhaps we can make the city without more in the image that Shelyn would appreciate. Quiet, peaceful and beautiful for all to behold.

Quiet, like in a Western?!
Luther boldly walks into the temple and prominently displays his holy symbol. "We brought breakfast!!" Luther says to the first person he meets as he enters the temple proper with an armfull of fresh baked goods.

-A human woman, dressed in long purple robes comes down the stairs and greets you. I am Hilda, a priestess of Shelyn, and at your service. What can we do for you this day?
-Hilda is about 5'6" and has long red hair, worn in two braids. She is an attractive woman, about 30. She smiles at you, especially the cute little Krolmnite.
-What a handsome child, whose is he?

Durnak looks from the woman to the gnome and back:

He ain't no kid. He done be old'r 'n you. He be one a dem g'nome folk. 'n a mighty fine 'n good g'nome he done be too.

Now den. We gots a problem 'n wees hope'n y'all kin help us. Kin we talk wit yer head priest iffn we kin?

-A human woman, dressed in long purple robes comes down the stairs and greets you. I am Hilda, a priestess of Shelyn, and at your service. What can we do for you this day?

-Hilda is about 5'6" and has long red hair, worn in two braids. She is an attractive woman, about 30. She smiles at you, especially the cute little Krolmnite.
-What a handsome child, whose is he?

Krol gives a glare whilst Ava laughs and overs her mouth lightly, finding this to be amusing.

I thought 'bold' and 'prominent' are Genisen's jobs?

Fearghus grins at Krol's consternation.

In a more somber manner, though, he expands on Durnak's statement, "We're after hopin' as ye could take in some women as we rescued from a right nasty brothel, an' all. There's more, but we brought th' worst a'em as're after needin' care an' treatment."

I thought that the women were being cared for and we were here trying to set up fellow supporters of the "Take Down the Regime" club.

That's what I thought as well.

As the conversation continues, Anna bends down and whispers something into Krol's ear, then flashes him a smile.

At first Genisen has a twinge of jealousy as Luther tries to grab the spotlight from him, but then he smiles and realizes that everyone has a little swashbuckler in them. The he suddenly has a feeling that can only be described as fatherly pride.

Er, you think that Durnak has some swashbuckler in him? You are a very bad judge of people.

Of course with your 10 Wisdom, you probably are a very bad judge of people, lol.

Dotting. I like it so far, and it looks like it's only going to get better from here.

I thought we were bringing the 5-7 worst-almost-dead with us for healing as well.

That's what I thought as well.

As the conversation continues, Anna bends down and whispers something into Krol's ear, then flashes him a smile.

** spoiler omitted **

Krol blushes and stammers on his words for a moment.

Durnak, I like to think of it not as a bad judge of people, just doesn't put a lot of thought into it. I'm sure he would be great if he only applied himself

"Hilda, we have many sick women we rescued from a slaving ring run with the knowledge and tacit approval of the city guard. As a servant of Iomedae I am more suited to the divine retribution business rather than the healing of the sick. Would you be able to make sure some really sick women get medical attention?"

Luther continues, "We also want to rally the forces of good to oppose this horrible business of exploiting women for evil and profit. The Asmodeus underlings seem to be highly involved in this business. I have found I do not like these Asmodeus worshippers at all."

Luther points to the group, "This group here is a collection of just the different talents and abilities to pull of great things." Luther introduces everyone by name but Genisen, who he dramatically saves for last, just mentioning him as a man of many talents and abilities who can get things done.

Luther adds about the rogue, "By carefully looking through one eye at a time, this man is honing his eye sight to incredible levels of acuity."

Genisen bows low, "Hilda I am Genisen Larkova, someone to all, but not yet all to someone." After his bow he says to Hilda in a lower voice "I'm so glad it was you who greeted us today and not the other one, if you know what I mean"

Hilda smiles at everyone, to the gnome she adds
--I'm sorry I have never seen a gnome before, they are not to common in these parts. In fact except for elves and dwarves I don't think I've seen anything worth talking about.
--About the women, I'm glad to help with their wounds or illness as we can. Think nothing of it. But let's move on the the practical side. I think some of you don't seem to understand. I don't know how to say this except...well
She pauses and continues nervously
--Lord Redwall is of devil taint and hell-spawn. He considers Asmodeus as his foster father. His devotion to the Prince of Devils is not typical, bored, power seeking but it's genuine, almost fanatical devotion. Considering he has actually spent money, and sacrificed the lives of his men to 'rescue' Devil worshipping cultists, you are not likely to last long going at him directly. He is powerful enough to blind a cleric like myself just by being near him.
--Also I'm from the city. How do I know you aren't just going to get some innocents, or perhaps yourself killed. Lord Redwall let's us worship, and create things of beauty, and even pays for this temple. Why should we go against him?

"Huh, well, ain't that a great big ol' pile a' steamin' horse pucky?" rhetorically asks Fearghus, forgetting his manners in astonishment. "If he's powerful 'nough t'blind ye, who's t'say he ain't a full-on devil 'sguised as a man 'stead a' a man as is 'merely' tainted?"

Actually I think his Father was a devil...not sure of the details...

"Y'r pardon, Hilda, but I'm thinkin' as there's some details as I ain't wanna know in a' first place."

Fearghus thinks for a minute, pondering the priestess' question.

"Now, ye say he lets ye worship, but seems t'me as t'ain't right f'r ye t'have t' practice y'r worship on someone's suff'rance - if'n ye know what I'm sayin'."

"An' as f'r gettin' others 'r 'rselves kilt, it's right foolish one'd be t'think as puttin' things t'right without havin' to pay f'r it - aye, like 'nough in blood. I'm after thinkin', though, as it weren't our intention t' march on his palace an' call 'im out."

Fer now, I ain't not int'stred in die'n. Iffn we kin, wes hope'n y'all in dis good temple a Shel'n kin help us wit some heal'n 'n help find'n a place ta hide. I done be pretty good at not bee'n seen. But, da k'nig'it a Iomee'd, iffn he tries ta hide, it'd be like try'n ta hide a dragon in yer doghouse.

First, wees gonna find where dis lord done gets 'is support. Iffn ya takes out da legs, even da biggest a beasts 'll fall. 'n as ya learn real quick like when yas fight'n giants. Da bigger dey be, da harder dey falls.

T'day, we done saved a'most fif'y gals dats was gonna be sold inta slav'ry. I hopes y'all in da church a Shel'n don't c'ndone dis slav'ry. Hopefully 'morrow, we kin stop more a dis slav'ry, or stop dem drugs da dev'l worship'rs done like, or sumpthin likes dat. Iffn we takes litt'l bite a da beast, 'ventually it done gonna bleed ta death. 'n dats all dis half-devil lord done be. A beast dat needs ta be done 'way wit.

"What he said." Serendipity spent several moments working through the not-quite-common common tongue of the two humans.

"Are you not concerned that his support may provide an opening to corrupt your followers? It is a hard thing to wash blood money for a greater good."

Serendipity takes a moment to look about the temple, looking at any placards or inscriptions. "Do you fear that assisting us will cut off your support from 'Lord' Redwall? How did he end up in his present position?"

Bah - Redwall. Durnak spits on the ground. Red done be da color a da devil 'imself. Dis city always been call'd Redwall? 'r did it have a'nudder name 'fore dis devil spawn done taked over?

"What he said." Serendipity spent several moments working through the not-quite-common common tongue of the two humans.

"Are you not concerned that his support may provide an opening to corrupt your followers? It is a hard thing to wash blood money for a greater good."

Serendipity takes a moment to look about the temple, looking at any placards or inscriptions. "Do you fear that assisting us will cut off your support from 'Lord' Redwall? How did he end up in his present position?"

Krol giggles noticing that she, like him, has trouble understanding what these simple folk appear to say. For all he knows, they would be discussing how to properly salt pork.

Hilda smiles at everyone, to the gnome she adds

--I'm sorry I have never seen a gnome before, they are not to common in these parts. In fact except for elves and dwarves I don't think I've seen anything worth talking about.
--About the women, I'm glad to help with their wounds or illness as we can. Think nothing of it. But let's move on the the practical side. I think some of you don't seem to understand. I don't know how to say this except...well
She pauses and continues nervously
--Lord Redwall is of devil taint and hell-spawn. He considers Asmodeus as his foster father. His devotion to the Prince of Devils is not typical, bored, power seeking but it's genuine, almost fanatical devotion. Considering he has actually spent money, and sacrificed the lives of his men to 'rescue' Devil worshipping cultists, you are not likely to last long going at him directly. He is powerful enough to blind a cleric like myself just by being near him.
--Also I'm from the city. How do I know you aren't just going to get some innocents, or perhaps yourself killed. Lord Redwall let's us worship, and create things of beauty, and even pays for this temple. Why should we go against him?

"Enough of this!" Ava growls and then slams a fist into a open hand before cracking her knuckles threatening. "Point me in the direction and I'll tear his throat out and stick his head on the end of a spear to decorate his manor home, a threat to those who kill innocents!" Krol still looks surprised at Ava's rage, but clearly the idea that someone so evil could sit around unmolested by his towns folk has clearly gotten to her.

Female NPC wrote:

Hilda smiles at everyone, to the gnome she adds

--I'm sorry I have never seen a gnome before, they are not to common in these parts. In fact except for elves and dwarves I don't think I've seen anything worth talking about.
--About the women, I'm glad to help with their wounds or illness as we can. Think nothing of it. But let's move on the the practical side. I think some of you don't seem to understand. I don't know how to say this except...well
She pauses and continues nervously
--Lord Redwall is of devil taint and hell-spawn. He considers Asmodeus as his foster father. His devotion to the Prince of Devils is not typical, bored, power seeking but it's genuine, almost fanatical devotion. Considering he has actually spent money, and sacrificed the lives of his men to 'rescue' Devil worshipping cultists, you are not likely to last long going at him directly. He is powerful enough to blind a cleric like myself just by being near him.
--Also I'm from the city. How do I know you aren't just going to get some innocents, or perhaps yourself killed. Lord Redwall let's us worship, and create things of beauty, and even pays for this temple. Why should we go against him?

"Enough of this!" Ava growls and then slams a fist into a open hand before cracking her knuckles threatening. "Point me in the direction and I'll tear his throat out and stick his head on the end of a spear to decorate his manor home, a threat to those who kill innocents!" Krol still looks surprised at Ava's rage, but clearly the idea that someone so evil could sit around unmolested by his towns folk has clearly gotten to her.

Krol turns to the woman and bows.

Durnak looks over at Ava:

In time m'lady, in time. Iffn we goes now, den wees all gonna be dead. Dis lord a hell ain't gonna roll over 'n let us just gut 'im like a fish. Wees gonna have ta widd'l away at 'im til he be's weak. Dat be when we kin spit 'im on a pike fer all da utter devil whoreshippers ta take note a.

Luther adds, "We came hoping for Shelyn's answer, not your own."

--Let's make it simple. The temples helps you, Lord Redwall finds out, 15 men come riding up, take us priests as hostages, and burn the temple to the ground. You really think you can defend us against the whole city?
--Secondly, if we do aid you don't you think it would be better to try to keep things secret? I'm a priest of Shelyn,after all, we prefer to try to redeem evil, rather than destory it by force. Surely one of you must have a system, an approach that uses some guile and charm and wit, and not just a bunch of blades
--Third you must win the support of the city, the poor and the powerful, before you think of overthrowing the Lord. Afterall, do you want to bring anarchy and civil war to this place?

Fearghus frowns, and responds querulously, "Ye say we're s'pose t' win th' support a' th'city. Well what'n blazes ye think we're doin' here! Figured at least someone as is called t' service weren't yella' 'nough t'turn us out on 'r ears. So tell us who's one a' th' "powerful" an' ain't a'feared a' doin' th' right thing when it chances by, an' we'll leave ye t' y'r coward stink."

Intimidate (1 minute conversation to improve attitude): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"If we can't get Shelyn's support, there is no way we can get the support of the city. Anyway, we are seeking multiple areas of support. The less you know, the less you can reveal."

Luther thinks a bit, "Unless you have any recommendations to add to our list. You were our first stop because we thought Shelyn would be the most likely source of support. Can we count on your unofficial support for now and active support for later?"

Diplomacy1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Nice translation, Luther! lol