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The whip-thin diminutive gnome looks at Anibal and Drupka with a look of surprise and a laugh.
"Did we not eat supper already on the ship? So that would be a third dinner at the Forest Bounty. Tell me Drupka, where do you put all that food anyways?"
He shrugs as his metabolic needs are clearly not the same as some of the others being so small.
"Of course do not let me stop you. I always enjoy the conversation and I am certain that Shaggy would be more than pleased to beg for scraps."
"As for where we are going to stay the night I would prefer to be outside away from the city and under the open sky. Being split up in separate rooms in an unfamiliar place does not seem safe to me."
You better like fish if you have dinner at the Gar's Last Meal! As the one-armed innkeeper brings out fish cakes, fish pie, fish stew, and more, the theme becomes clear. Having had his fill of fresh fresh from the long voyage from Kassen, Relgar spends his time getting directions to Forest Bounty and learns it's only a short distance away.
Out on the streets of Tamran, the locals seem to be enjoying the crisp autumn air. Although Nirmathas and Molthune have been ostensibly at war for decades, there's an ebb and flow even to the ongoing violence. For tonight, at least, no one seems particularly worried about whatever's happening along the rough borders between the nations.
Made from enormous timbers, the Forest Bounty is a long hall, open at both the front and back, filled with wooden tables and benches. Dozens of people gather here, eating, drinking, and laughing. One table of patrons even carries on with a bawdy song that seems to have most of the folk smiling.
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Anibal looks over the establishment, and the patrons.
"Well, here goes nothing...", he jumps up on the table, and shouts. "Well, Relgar! You should have told me it's your borthday! Happy birthday, my good fellow. HEY!", he shouts towards the center of the inn. "My friend Relgar is one year older again. I invite everyone who's name begind with an R to join our table and introduce themselves, and recieve a drink of their choice on me! Let's celebrate!"
"Huzzah!" The crowd bursts into applause, and several drinkers whose names start with an "R" (along with a few dishonest fellows whose names don't) crowd around the table that Anibal is standing on. Several pat Relgar on the back and give hearty "Congratulations little fellow!" as barmaids hurry to fulfill all the drink orders. Fortunately, unwilling to see a generous stranger taken advantage of, the bartenders make sure the orders are reasonable.
The surge of the crowd reveals a nearly-empty table near the back of the festhall. At the table sits a robust man wearing green and brown leathers and cloaked in a large bearskin. He doesn't get up, but grins at Anibal and raises his drink in a toast.
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Relgar grins at the fun if unnecessary display exhibited by Anibal. He bows gratuitously to all the well-wishers.
"Thank-you. Thank-you."
As soon as the drink orders are filled he makes his way on top of Shaggy to the robust man in the bear skin sitting near the back of the feast hall.
"Reginar I presume?"
Relgar's approach is met with a hearty, good-natured laugh. “Welcome, friend. I knew Cygar would send some visitors my way soon, but I had no idea they would be so entertaining. I am indeed Reginar Lacklan. Please gather your companions and sit--we have much to discuss.” He sweeps out his arms in an inviting gesture as a serving maid places a tray of roast boar and forest vegetables on the table before him.
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Anibal smiles at Drukpa. "No, my scaly friend. You can eat something from that list. If you are still hungry, that is."
He looks over at Relgar, waving them over from the other table. "I think we are expected with our birthday boy. Excuse us, ladies and gentlemen. You've all been woderful. Alecto, Drupka... Are you coming?", he asks as he stands up to walk over.
After arriving to the table with Relgar, he greets the new acquaintance with a quick tap on his left colarbone and a nod. "I take it you are the omelette man?"
Reginar nods at the additional Pathinders joining Relgar at his table. "You've come a long way through some dangerous waters, and deserve to hear what I have to tell. As Cygar surely told you, when he described the tomb-robbers to me, I immediately recognised them as priests of Razmir. The cult of Razmir appeared in Tamran about 2 years ago, first as a small band of missionaries. They soon raised the funds to build a temple, which was constructed over a year ago. Their power and influence in the city have grown ever since, and the local guards seem to give them no heed, even going so far as to dismiss any reports of their foul practices--thievery, blackmail, and extortion. Indeed, I suspect that the city guards help protect the temple, watching out for thieves and intruders . . ." Reginar's expression shows he doesn't think highly of the city guard.
"I've kept an eye on the cultists--it's part of my job to identify the various power players in Nirmathas. I know that a group from the temple left to head up north a few months ago and returned a month later, minus a few of their number. That was exactly in the time-frame that Cygar reports the tomb near Kassen was raided and this fancy amulet of his taken. After that group arrived back in town, they hurried to the temple. About a week ago, another group, this one led by a female cultist in blue robes, left the temple and boarded a boat. I think this might have been their leader, but I can't be sure."
"And that's the heart of the problem. There's too much we don't know about this cult, and what really goes on inside that temple. We can't risk taking any overt action until we understand who's involved it and what dangers they pose to the Pathfinder Society. We need information. And the best way I can think to get it is to have you infiltrate the cult!."
Reginar raises an arm to stave off interruption. "I know that may sound crazy. So say your piece, and I hope I'll be able to persuade you to do it anyway."
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Drukpa rubs his heads again - he had no idea that being a batfinder would involve so much thinking - "So y' want us t' inf- inf- inf- um filter eight o' these coots? I ain't know much 'bout omelette recipes but if that's how y' say ye does it I ain't gonna argue. Y' want me t' blenderize 'em first? I'm good at that."
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Relgar nods and laughs. He accustomed to these categories of mission briefs that are crazy on their face and are thus likely to get you killed.
"Alright, alright what choice do we have anyways? A job is a job."
"So tell us where do we start. Do you suggest that we visit their temple and allow ourselves to be recruited?"
"Posing as a mercenary group turned into religious enforcers should be easy enough for this group. Unless you suggest another approach?"
Reginar raises an eyebrow at Drukpa, but then shrugs, obviously thinking that Cygar must have sent the best agents he had available. He replies to Relgar's question: "They interview applicants at the Ranger’s Lament, a tavern across the street from the temple. If you want to get inside, attending one of these meetings is the best way. The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night. Don't take any needless risks at this stage. Instead, just play along and meet up with me in one week to report what you've learned."
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Relgar wonders what they will do for lodging on such a long term expedition.
"Do you have any recommendations where we might stay on such an extended adventure? An inn is fine for an overnight stay but not for weeks on end."
"I imagine that we are not too far from farmland or even open country but you would know better Reginar."
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"I propose-", Anibal raises his index finger, and leans in with a hushed voice, "- we stay here. Across the street from the temple. At least we can stake it out. See what's happening."
He leans back again. "In the lamp's shadow, and all that. Unless you. want to actually get closer. Sneak in tonight?”
Reginar says, "I think finding a place to stay if you decide to pose as novices will be the least of your worries--as far as I can tell, the cultists live in the temple. But if you go with a different plan, you'll need to find an inn--the Forest Bounty here is only a feast hall, and I'm not sure if the Ranger's Lament is anything more than a tavern." He thinks over Relgar's request, and then nods. "I could find you a safe campground outside Tamran if you brought some supplies or know how to hunt."
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Relgar nods enthusiastically about staying outside.
"A campground sounds like a much better plan long-term. It is much safer to be staying together at a camp site than divided in an inn. I doubt that with the exception of a stray animal or two we would be bothered by much. So yes if you could find us a campsite that would be great."
"Food is not really a problem. Between rations, city food and hunting we should be fine."
The gnome turns to Anibal.
"Your idea of sneaking into the temple has some merit but I feel that some of the bigger people in the party might find it difficult."
"It is probably safer and easier to wait until they know us a bit better and then sneak around once they invite us inside as novices."
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Relgar nods at Mallycorn's concerns.
"Well, let me do the talking then. I have a lot of experience dealing with religious types (Ease of Faith trait). Of course others as well may be able communicators (looking at Alecto and Anibal)."
"I suggest that we let them know that we are a group of mercenaries looking for profit. They should respect that."
The gnome shrugs.
It is also quite true for the most part."
"...Or we can pretend to be novices. That seems to be the more well travelled path. What does the group think?"
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"Well, first of all - thank you, Reginar, for your help and insight. We will see each other in a few days, I guess. Secondly...", and he lowers his voice again. "I'm not sure whether we should be discussing this here. You never know who is listening.", and he straightens up again.
"So ... a birthday camping trip, then? We can discuss the details there."
Reginar taps his nose and nods. He pays his hefty bill and leads the group out onto the streets of Tamran. After several minutes of walking, the group reaches the western gates of the city, and Nirmathas waves at a pair of guards there--it seems like he's well-known (and liked) in the city.
As evening turns to full night, the Pathfinders find themselves in a sheltered copse of trees perfect for a campsite. It's just a (long) stone's throw from the city, but effectively out of sight of anyone coming and going.
"I'll leave you to it, then." says Reginar. "Cygar's no idiot, so I'll trust you like he does. My advice is to sneak in like novices tomorrow night, but if you choose a different route, it's all the same to me. Just be careful. That temple is guarded day and night, and those Razmirites can be cruel and vicious. I once saw them stomping a storekeeper in the streets for failing to pay protection, and the guards on patrol saw the whole thing and kept walking. Like I said, we'll meet back at the festhall one week from tomorrow. Good luck." Wrapping his bear-fur cloak tightly around his shoulders, Reginar strides off into the darkness.
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Drukpa looks around at the wooded campsite and heaves a sigh at the thought of how comfy the beds surely were back in the inn.
"So, whatcha think all this razzamattazz about Lord Razza - Lord whatshisname - is all about? There's lotsa gods already, don't spose there's any reason there can't be another one? But why another cruel and vicious one, that's what I wanna know?"
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After Anibal returns from the forest with a few dead rabbits and some firewood, he sits down and sets up a roast while the party discusses the plans for the upcoming day. He looks at Alecto while he puts the wood into the flames. "I hope you don't mind. First time I see one of your kind, so I'm not sure."
He is slowly putting wood on the fire, and keeps turning the meat. "I'm inclined to say we go as mercenaries. That way, when we are asked anything, at least we don't have to lie. Not that much, at least. And if they use some form of magical means to find out whether we are speaking the truth, we can choose words carefully and be in the clear."
He pokes the fire with a stick for a moment. "On the other hand - we have no guarantee they will inducted into the inner working as mere mercenaries. I suppose we will have to chance it as actual initiates. I am honestly split between the options for approach."
He stops turning one of the rabbits, and offers the first one to Drukpa. "You seem hungry all the time. First bite?"
While the party passes the meal, Anibal takes out his notes, reads them carefully, and tears out the pages relevant to this mission. He tosses the pages into the fire.
"If they search our belongings.", he explains the act. "Speaking of which - Mallycorn..." Anibal looks at the Pharasmite's holy symbol. "Any chance we can hide that obvious giveaway? If not, mercenary route might be the-", he considers his words for amoment. "The less complicated option."
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Given time, I could maybe ask an artist to tatoo the symbol of Pharasma somewhere discreet on my body, but I'm not even sure it would work as an holy symbol, allowing me to cast some spells and to channel the power of my goddess.I'm open to suggestions. Would it be to risky to try to hide my symbol under my clothes?
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Alecto shrugs her shoulders and answers to Annibal. We did't like when humans ate fruit. But then we decided that in case of great hunger, we can also eat a human. And we calmed down.
She thinks about Malcolm's question in surprise for a while, then puts out her palm and on which a pattern is formed in the image of lips against a background of briars*. At the moment of such a transformation, it becomes especially clear that her form and figure are just the form that she (if it was her of course) chose. Maybe you can do that too, you just don't know?
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Anibal seems set aback by Alecto's response, but leaves it be for the time being.
"I know nothing of this faith, or the proselytisers.", Anibal ponders. "Being stripped of all our possessions and submitted to a check of said possessions is possible. Unlikely, but possible. If that would happen, they'd find the spiral. I suppose we could colour it and pass it as some sort of decorative brooch, if that is not against your tenets. Spirals are fairly common."
He then turns to Alecto again - "So do you actyally bear fruit? As in - yourself. I would hate to antagonise someone I might trust with my life for the next few weeks, so just let me know what to avoid?"
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Relgar moves his head back and forth following the discussion. He nods his head in appreciation at the sight of the rabbits.
"I don't think that even Drukpa can be hungry now after three full meals in a row. However smoked rabbit is delicious and should be excellent tomorrow for our morning meal. Thank you for your wonderful hunting Anibal."
The gnome looks a little surprised at Alecto's transformation and the revelation that she would eat people but decides not to comment on that point.
"Yes I agree with your analysis Anibal. They will trust us more if we pretend to want to be one of them and not mere mercenaries."
He turns to Mallycorn.
"I would definitely not bring a holy symbol into their temple even if it were hidden. The choice is up to you of course but I would leave it with Reginar or hidden here at the campsite."
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We are a plant. An apple is a part of a tree. She raises her hand and clenches it into a fist. Small sparks, like fireflies, begin to dance around the fingers. It looks beautiful and mysterious. Then she opens her palm and you see that small berries have grown there. She tears them off with her other hand and offers them to you.
Please try it. It's a gift. It's delicious, healthy and satisfying.
Anyone who tries these berries will find that they are incredibly satiating (in case you were hungry after all these dinners) and really delicious.
At the campsite, the group bonds over good food and a better understanding of what makes each member of the group unique. Having settled on a plan to infiltrate the Temple of Razmir as new initiates to the faith, everyone settles in to rest. The gentle swaying of the boat is replaced by pleasant sounds of nocturnal forest life, and soon dawn breaks.