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After a late night of drinking, at least for some of you, and a morning spent prepping/shopping for the excursion, you meet up with your comrades and head through the busy streets of Absalom. You arrive at Cayden's Hall in the afternoon and find that the drinking and revelry have already begun...
Cayden’s Hall is a massive, open fest hall of rough-hewn timbers. The latter have been replaced many times over the years thanks to their predecessors being burnt to cinders when the large, celebratory bonfires often burning within the wooden structure mixed badly with the very large and very inebriated crowds frequenting the establishment. You walk up the stairs to the entry hall and enter...
This antechamber serves as the Hall’s main entrance. It consists of a long hallway flanked on either side by rows of barstools facing parallel oaken bars that run the length of the hall. Massive kegs set into the walls behind the bar allow clergy members to quickly address the needs of their patrons and petitioners. About half the taproom’s stools already seat drunken revelers at the long oaken bars. The boisterous patrons hoist their tankards, raising slurred toasts and praises amid the tall tales of wild adventure. Two temple guards stand at the front door, greeting you as you enter.
"Greetings and well met, my friends! You are welcome here! What business have you at Cayden's Hall?"
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"People got way overcome darkness? Aeliah HATE that."
“Aeliah already got three oil bless weapon and cold iron dagger if fighty types want borrow fight demons.”
*GRIN* “She also got smite evil celestial crocodiles.”
⛪
“Me hear High Brewmistress Saphira good fun. Her tell ❄cool❄ sermons match her beer. Me want to buy her a foaming holy water or ten.”
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The temple guard smiles. "Well, you're in luck, she's in the Oratorium; that's just north of the main hall. I hear her jester is putting on quite the performance there..."
Just as the temple guard speaks, a two clerics of Cayden approach, speaking curtly. "The High Priestess Saphira is not accepting solicitations today, you should leave now," one of them says while nodding to the door...
You notice the curious look the temple guards give one another upon hearing this and both shrug...
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“What wrong wit you?”
Aeliah searches the faces of the purported clerics suspiciously. “Her Irreverentness not want drink with nufriends??”
The druidess then smiles as if understanding. “Ah, you make joke. Yes?”
“You drink some Dawnflower, Ketephys or Ebon Wings Lady holy water show no hard feelings, then we see Saphira. Then all make toasts with some of hers.”
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The guards look at each other, clearly confused, then look to Aeliah. "I'm sorry, ma'am, we'll try to sort this out.."
The lead temple guard then address the cleric in red. "Forgive me brother, but we weren't told of any restrictions concerning solicitations to the High Priestess before we too our post...is there some mistake?"
The red cleric bristles. "It is not your duty to question your betters, it is your duty to comply. Now show these people to the door...now!"
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Mentally he runs through the scenarios available, none seem good. Can't get kicked out OR start a fight with clerics AND guards AND probably everyone in this room. But something definitely seems off here. We also are basing this all on the word of a Chaotic Evil Outsider... so we can't justify going in weapons drawn either. Gotta get more intel, maybe we can smooth our way in but not push too hard right away. Learn a bit more and sneak around some.
Hamish steps in, "Woah woah woah now, no need to get all hasty here. We can see her later, no problem." He looks at his allies, "But let's get a drink while we are here, can't hurt to show some patronage, eh?"
He jingles a coin purse while saying the last part.
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Mivvy smiles, "Yes, perhaps High Priestess Saphira will have a small window of time later in which she can share wine with her guests? In any case, a chance to relax and enjoy the feasthall's offering sounds top notch. An excellent idea."
She strides toward the bar but addresses the 'clerics' on her way, "Will you join us and raise a toast in Cayden Cailean's honour?"
All the time, Mivvy is trying to see if anything is wrong in their observance of Cailean's worship.
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Hearing your entreaties, the guards intervene on your behalf and address the clerics. "Look sir, there are lots of drunks in here...a massive brawl could break out if it be known we're not allowing folk in. Perhaps we could allow these kind folk to just drink at the bar in this room only; we'll keep an eye on 'em here and you can keep an eye on 'em from the main hall, if you please..."
The clerics fidget, still fingering their maces. "All right...as long as they stay here and don't try to bother the High Priestess..." They move back to the entryway in the Main Hall, keeping a nervous eye on you.
The guard turns back to you. "Don't know what's got into their knickers; they're usually not like this. Please, come in, have some drinks, but, for your own good, don't leave this chamber..."
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It’s progress of a kind I suppose.
Aeliah moves towards the main bar, where she considers the Pathfinders’ options as they regroup.
“Cayden Clerics seem off. Maybe they demons in disguise?”
She pauses to touch her chin. “Saphira in northern chamber, yes? Aeliah see coupla options:
• Start brawl in here as distraction, maybe after splashing grumpy clerics with holy water -- prove them demons. And then slip into northern chamber.
• Go invisible or like and try sneak in.
“What others think?”
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Mivvy tries to detect magic upon the clerics and guards...after she concentrates for a short time, she notices not only their weapons giving off a magical aura, she notices a magical aura around the two clerics themselves...but she notices no such aura around the guards...
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Aeliah waits patiently for Mivvy to reveal the results of her arcane detection.
“If Mivvy say clerics could be disguised demons, Aeliah gonna splash them holy water to prove it.”
There is mischief in the druidess’ eyes. “This prolly start bar fight. Shame that. But cannot be helped.”
“We then can fight – or just slip through north room door while others brawl. Sound good?”
Aeliah drops three platinum sphinxes on the bar and ♫ WHISTLES ♫ “Serving man or serving lady, Aeliah want pint foaming holy water, please.”
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Mivvy whispers to the others, [smaller]"The clerics and the guards have magic weapons. That's irrelevant though, what really matters is that the clerics have a magical aura around them, they are under some kind of spell..."
[dice=spellcraft, magic weapon, guard 1]
[dice=spellcraft, magic weapon, guard 2]
[dice=spellcraft, magic weapon, cleric 1]
[dice=spellcraft, magic weapon, cleric 2]
[dice=spellcraft, aura, cleric 1]
[dice=spellcraft, aura, cleric 2]
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He nods at the Tiefling's suggestion, "If mind controlled or dominated by who we think might be here, that would give them a chance to break it. We break one, we break the hold of both over the room."
The bard makes a small motion to hold up towards the other half-elf, "That is a good plan B, Aeliah. Wait to see if our magical option works first."
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"However, if we fail to break either, the could be taken as a hostile action. We really prepared to harm the innocent as well?"
Thinking back to his scroll box, he adds "I have a parchment that could make us all unseen...if you don't mind huddling close to me. It's a spherical spell that radiates out from my person."
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Mivvy identifies the weapons as +1 rapiers and +1 maces. She can't figure out the type of aura that surrounds the clerics though. On that count though Izlin can; it appears to him that both clerics have been charmed...
As she gets her pint, Aeliah manufactures an accident, splashing some holy water on one of the clerics as they walk past...the cleric is clearly annoyed, "Hey, watch what you're doing! Are you already drunk? Make sure you stay in this area!" He continues on to the end of the entry wall to keep watch. Other than being annoyed, the holy water appears to have no other effect...
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"BAH! Aeliah not afford get drunk at prices you charge for holy water!"
"Ketephys water tastes sweeter anyway -- like from untouched wilderness river."
Aeliah grimaces, annoyed she doesn't have anything prepared to counter ✨charm spells.
"Any Pathfinder got dispel magic or something? Aeliah concerned what Jester doing in show to Lady Saphira."
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“Aeliah ‘pared to stand close Tricksy Man, be invisible and go past door guards.”
“What if double-doors locked? Break them down??”
She tilts her head to the side like a camposaurus considering whether to chase down a tasty mammal. “Maybe need distraction, like …”
Her eyes ✧sparkle✧ “Start alcohol fire other side room! Draw guards away from double-doors.”
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With little more than a nod, the small man opens his scroll box and thumbs through the parchments within. Tugging one out, he whispers "Gather close."
Once all seem ready, he glances around to make sure none are watching too closely. Sure they are safe, he mumbles the arcane words on the page. The sigils fade as he reads...then they seem to fade out as well.
"Stay within arms reach of me and we'll be fine. Stay quite and let us hurry."
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Keeping a close eye on you, both clerics jump in shock as the entire party disappears right before their eyes. Even the two guards go on alert, following suit with the clerics by drawing their weapons. A couple of drunken revelers respond as well with a "Huh? What the..." and then turn to look into their mugs as if it must be the alcohol...
The clerics keep their wits about them barring the entrance into the main hall while telling the guards, "Sweep the area while we block their way here..."
The guards nod and warily start making their way to the bar where you last disappeared...