Can I tell anything about his affliction?
[dice=KnowNature]1d20 + 16
Greetings Mayor Greedle. My name is Randtam and these are my companions, Alamin and Uuranx. I sincerely apologize for not paying our respects to you when we first entered Illmarsh. We have been following a very evil force who is affiliated with an ancient cabal. Everywhere this individual or group has been, evil and dire things have happened. I am concerned this may be happening here. We tried to gather as much information as possible without causing any disturbance in your town. Apparently we have interrupted the flow of Illmarsh.
Has a rider cloaked in black passed through or yet remains here in your town? Has anything seemed different in the past few days?
[dice=diplomacy]1d20 + 18
You think it's probably just bad skin, but given the wet, boggy, environment rashes and boils would not be unlikely.
No sir, no one like that has come to town lately. In fact, you're the first foreigners we've had through here in some time. I make sure the Sheriff keeps eyes and ears out everywhere so I would certainly know. We will be extra alert moving forward for just such an individual. Wouldn't want an ancient cabals here. No sir!
Using Alamin do I trust what he is saying.
Thank you for your understanding. Is there anything we can help you with here in Illmarsh. Do we have your permission to move throughout your town to make sure things are safe?
Do I need another diplomacy roll....
[spoiler= /spoiler]
ooc: Randtam rocks his rolls again!
[dice=perception]1d20+18
Do I see any windows or doors where I might sneak into the building undetected?
Or at least get close enough to possibly see into the building or overhear what is going on inside? If so, sneak into building or at least into range to see/hear.[dice=stealth]1d20+21
There are windows throughout but you think the odds of sneaking in pretty slim (figure 17+ on D20); the area is busy (on the central square) and the building is occupied and currently guarded.
You do think it's possible to get close enough to try and listen without being observed, however (<5 stealth on D20). The windows are entirely to high to see in for one of your stature.
Using Alamin do I trust what he is saying.
[dice=sensemotive]1d20 + 13
Thank you for your understanding. Is there anything we can help you with here in Illmarsh. Do we have your permission to move throughout your town to make sure things are safe?
Do I need another diplomacy roll....
[spoiler=[dice=diplomacy]1d20 + 18/spoiler]
Un...B...lievable diplomacy skillz!
The Mayor sits and looks at you for a few moments, licking his lips nervously. A think sheen of sweat even starts to bead on his forehead.
Finally his face twitches and he clears his throat All right, I’m going to come clean with you. Something’s going on in this town, and I can’t sit by any longer and watch it slowly die. You’ve probably heard of the Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea—it’s our local temple, and most of the townsfolk are loyal churchgoers. It’s no secret that the Order pretty much runs this town. Oh sure, I’m the duly appointed mayor, but it’s the vizier who pulls the strings. And I think he—or someone else in the Order—
may be behind these disappearances. I don’t have any proof, only suspicions, but I can tell you that temple is not all that it seems to be. Like I said, practically everyone in town is a loyal follower of Father Voltiaro, including the sheriff, so there’s no one else I can trust.
I need your help. Normally you would be suspects as strangers in town, but I’ve had you watched since you arrived—don’t look at me like that! You can never be too careful with strange folk hereabouts! Anyway, I’m pretty sure you’re not involved, and in these troubled times, that’s my only certainty. You look like professional sorts who know your way around the business end of a blade, and I need someone from outside to look into this for me. Therefore, against my better judgment, I’m willing to deputize you to solve these disappearances and bring whoever’s responsible to justice.
I’m beseeching you on behalf of the good people of Illmarsh to go to the Order’s hall and take a look around. I’m sure you’ll find the priests are hiding something. If they’re behind this, you’ll be removing a blight from this town, and earning the gratitude of its humble citizens. I assure you, you will be well rewarded from the town’s treasury. Fish isn’t the only bounty we take from the sea. There’ve been enough shipwrecks and whatnot over the years that we’ve got some gold amassed—surely enough to gain your services for a short while. Plus I know you’ve been poking about, looking for someone—a rider from the north. Well, I may know a little more about him than I let on earlier. If you help me, I’ll tell you everything.”
Listen in on the conversation.
I felt something was wrong here. Mayor, what disappearances are you describing?
What do I know about the Recondite Order of the Indomitable Sea? Have I heard of Father Voltiaro?
Will of course listen to Alamin for more formation about the Order.
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The Mayor looks a little startled at Randtam's response, You...you aren't here about the disappearances? I thought your talk of this horseman was just a ruse... Desna's blind eyes...ahem....Well in for a fish in for the school as we say.
In addition to the catch being meager as of late, recently we have also had a string of villagers go missing. Usually the Sheriff is quite reliable in putting these types of situations to rest. The fact that he has not been able to do anything about it leads me to suspect that he is somehow involved, and if he's involved it means the temple probably is as well.
Look, I like my job. The pay is good and it doesn't require much from me, but if people continue to go missing it won't be long until the villagers want ME to go missing! Something has to be done, and I'm hoping you lot are the ones to do it. I can offer you 3,000 GP each if you will put an end to the disappearances. Really I don't even need to know HOW you do it, if you catch my drift, just that people stop vanishing. OK?
Randtam has heard of the Order. It is supposed to be a minor branch of the Gozreh faith-god of the wind and waves.
Look to Uuranx and Alamin...What say you?
"It sounds like a worthy endeavor."
Guess we are moving forward unless anyone has any objections. Randtam knows he diplomisized the mayor completely and believes every word he has been told. I believe we are thinking we will continue to work with the mayor.
You did say earlier that you knew about a horseman...? If you deputize us, will that cause an issue with the Sheriff? I also was rebuffed when I went to search the Illmarsh historical chronicles in the Town Hall. I assume now I will be able to do some research.
if allowed to access Town Hall....Any other additional information I pick up about the town or the formation of the church/order?
The Mayor tells you that the rider was seen headed towards the Undiomede house which has been abandoned for many years.
The TH records are opened to you but they do not reveal much more about the Order outside of it playing a very prominent role in the town since the end of the Undiomede's rule. You gather that it is the true power in this village.
We have agreed to the deal and I think we should move out to the Undiomede house.
Unless we need to talk or diplomisize others we should direct our attentions to the Undiomede House. Friends, what do you think?
I feel very confident in my oratory and persuasive skills today. I was the most eloquent convincing and interesting man in the world.
Unless I'm mistaken, I think we agreed to help the Mayor at the Temple first?
Sure, thanks Alamin.
Meet back up with the group when they come outside.
"Guess I didn't need to run off after all."
Whispering to Vraxel ..yes, you were right to secret yourself from us. You are our eyes and ears.
Let's try to make 3,000
After being deputized and leaving the town hall without the knowledge he thought would be in the files. he knows we need to approach the Temple. Randtam assumes the religious and knowledgeable Paladins go first.
Or Randtam will use diplomacy on the building and win!
The party approaches the Temple which is surprisingly well constructed and plush for such a small village.
The grand entrance is an open colonnaded protico facing the dark waters of Lake Encarthan. A stone statue of a mermaid with long, flowing green hair holding a tridents and a conch shell stans in the middle of the protico, also looking out to sea. An open archway to the East leads insdie.
This statue is some obscure depiction of Gozreh used by some coastal communities on Lake Encarthan. I wonder if they adhere to the exact followings of their deity. Have they possibly distorted the primary teaching?
Paladins what do you know of this religion? I am rather unhappy to admit this but, my knowledge is rather limited on this religion.
"I was not one to study other religions, uh, Iomadae is enough for me."
"Quite right Randtam, the statue is an obscure depiction of Gozreh used by some coastal communities on Lake Encarthan."
Vraxel, I have no plan for what we are attempting to do. The Aaimier is always silent now a days. I assume you were watching from outside, I think we need to regroup before the full frontal assault this might be.
Before we reach the Temple, Randtam moves in a different direction. Quick look but keep moving.
I am humbled to say that you know as much about religion, if not more, as any of us. I know Gozreh is supposed to be fickle like a storm on the sea and is neutral on most matters of the celestial sphere. Most sailors pray to him for favor and protection. As for what we are to do, let us enter this place and see if anything is in fact amiss.
She strides confidently forward into the next section of the building.
I'm going to cast Bull Strength and Shield on myself
Two leaded stained-glass windows to the north and south display images of the same mermaid depicted by the statue outside. Two doors flank an open archway leading to the east.
You see almost a dozen pairs of shoes neatly lined up against the north and south walls.
Anything else I notice?
Detect magic on the shoes, anyone leave me some magical boots?
Cast mage armor
If we enter we should possibly remove our shoes? This Temple should be neutral.
Is there some sort of way to announce our precense and meet with Father Voltiaro to get a feeling about him. If he is bad, Alamin auto detect evil, and I would think he already knows we are in Illmarsh, and I am fairly positive he will know we spoke with the Mayor.
Look around and listen...what are the size of the shoes. Childlike or adult. Any particular make?
Vraxel discovers no magical footwear but does sense some underlying magics about the temple.
Randtam hears nothing but quiet. The shoes appear to be various sizes of normal men's footwear.
I don't see any posted signs to take off your shoes so I guess we'll just have to ask a priest. I'm sure if we transgress a small donation to the Lord of Surf will earn our forgiveness. I must say I'm a little surprised that there is no attendant here; maybe the village is to small and intimate to support such a position. Let's find a priest and get some answers; doors or archway Vraxel?
"Archway is open, let's take a look."
Warped wooden pews stand within this central meeting hall, decorated with a decidedly nautical theme. A wooden statue of the same mermaid depicted elsewhere in the temple stands at the front of the hall, though she holds a strange octopoid creature in one hand rather than a conch shell.
Four men stand in a semi-circle around the statue in apparent meditation.
Hearing you enter they turn and one says firmly, Unbelievers have no place here, I am afraid I will have to ask you lot to leave.
Do I recognize the octopoid creature?
Is this a serious change of religious belief. Conch to octopoid.
Why am I an unbeliever? I wish to learn more about the Lord of the Surf. I apologize for walking in during your meditation. There was no one at the entrance for us to introduce ourselves for an audience with the Head of this Church.
Randtam thinks it is just an octopus but knows that it is indeed quite strange and irregular to have such difference in deific depictions in the same temple. He also notices that the flowing locks of hair on the statue almost look like writhing tentacles, and the face of the mermaid has a decidedly more ichthyic cast.
The priest's initial hostility seems to reduce somewhat after hearing Randtam's words-Well then that is good. Newcomers to the village already looking to find the wisdom of the waves is an auspicious event. Why don't you give me your information and I'll have the high priest set an appointment for you?
His words are cut short as Randtam hears Alamin's scimitar slide from it's sheath and she growls out, You are no priest of Gozreh; what have you done in this temple filth?
The man responds, Oh lovely, a holy warrior. Well no more need for this ruse. At them!
Feather the guy doing the talking
One of Vraxel's arrows hammers into the man, causing him to cry out in pain.
A bank of fog billows about the 'priests' obscuring them from sight (total concealment (50% miss chance, and an attacker can't use sight to locate the target). At the same time three tridents made up of divine force appear and attack the party.
Vraxel
Alamin
Uuranx
Party action.
Randtam summon 2 or summon 4 air elemental. Take lower if I ca
Cyclone mist fog out away from us...
Looks like summon 4 air elemental medium
Will update when Uuranx returns from London and posts.
I cast Haste on the party, +1tohit/+1ac/+1refsave
As the fog clears, a hastened Alamin steps up and unleashes a trio of blade strokes on the nearest priest:
Randtam's elementals whirl away the fog bank as Uuranx speeds up the party's actions and Alamin uses the clear line of sight to slice through one of the four men.
Vraxel then foes.
A second man falls to Vraxel's feathery fury.
Magical force weapons continue their assault as the two remaining men launch deadly icicles from their fingers.
Man one:
Vraxel
Man two:
Alamin
Alamin and Vraxel are struck by deadly spears of ice.
Randtam, Uuranx, Alamin go!
A second man falls to Vraxel's feathery fury.
Magical force weapons continue their assault as the two remaining men launch deadly icicles from their fingers.
Man one:
[dice=on]1d4 Vraxel
[dice=FW]1d20+10
[dice=]1d8+3
[dice=icicle touch attack]1d20+9
[dice=]1d6+1Alamin and Vraxel are struck by deadly spears of ice.
Randtam, Uuranx, Alamin go!
What is FW? Is that a touch attack too? If not, it should miss.
Move forward and strike with Falchion
What is FW? Is that a touch attack too? If not, it should miss.A second man falls to Vraxel's feathery fury.
Magical force weapons continue their assault as the two remaining men launch deadly icicles from their fingers.
Man one:
[dice=on]1d4 Vraxel
[dice=FW]1d20+10
[dice=]1d8+3
[dice=icicle touch attack]1d20+9
[dice=]1d6+1Alamin and Vraxel are struck by deadly spears of ice.
Randtam, Uuranx, Alamin go!
FW= Force Weapon (aka spiritual weapon)
Confronting one of the two remaining foes:
Alamin and Uuranx quickly cut down the last two men.
***end of combat***
Search the men and area.
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There is a door on the NE wall and the SE wall.
Each man had a CMW pot, MW chain shirt, MW light x-bow, MW sickle, amulet of natural armor +1, and 59 GP.
Vraxel, you want to take point?
Suggest each of us takes a CMW pot. Can I wear an amulet of natural armor if I wear a ring of protection. Do they stack? If so I put one on. Weapons should not have to be spellcrafted.
I find it very interesting that each individual was armed with exactly the same magicand masterwork items.This may be a very well organized and funded group.
I also use my perception skills to see if Vraxel missed anything.