The jar/vial is just some rancid cashew milk.
Magic items discovered:
- scroll of speak with plants
- 1 tracer bullet
- 1 burrowing bullet
Also discovered three more bullets you missed before and one elusive parchment is still unidentified. It does have writing on it. Any of you have read magic prepped?
The bullets are all the same and neither of you were able to figure out the enchantment. The scroll reveals itself to be a scroll of mount (CL 5th) once read magic is cast.
I missed one thing. Quite the list. There is also an oil of silence which the alchemist is able to identify. So, to summarize:
a tooth collection
jar of rancid cashew milk
wooden dolls
wooden staff with Nethys runes
Spell component pouch
scroll of speak with plants
scroll of mount (CL 5th)
oil of silence
tracer bullet
lesser burrowing bullet
three magical bullets (unidentified)
We'll assume someone carries whatever is not claimed, but go ahead and claim anything you might be able to use.
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Ezekial helps pick up the gear and load it on the horses, The Nephys staff intrigues me, what is its story, how did it wind up in the possession of gnolls worshipping an eldritch horror from beyond the stars? Alas we may never know. Come friends, let us continue onward toward Mercy and see what mysteries await us there. Something tells me the Light of the Dawnflower will help us uncover many things, but even this staff will continue to be strange to us. he smiles and mounts up.
Still no results on those elusive bullets. You approach the town of Mercy about an hour before sunset. The town rests a mile south of the banks of the Ustradi River. A wooden palisade encircles a collection of its approximately one hundred wooden buildings. Hardy trees laden with red and yellow fruit dot the surrounding landscape. The road leads to a wide gate, which bears a prominent sign with orange-painted letters. The sign attached to the gate reads, “Mercy does not allow dishonesty, firearms, or large weapons within town limits. Respect the curfew.”
As the PCs approach, Sheriff Molume (see slide) opens the gate. He greets the PCs with a neutral but polite, “Welcome to Mercy. I’m Sheriff Molume, and I keep the peace around here. As you can see from the sign, we don’t allow people to walk around with large weapons around here. Before I let you inside, I need to ask you to hand them over.”
Which seems a tad bit ironic since he sports a rather lethal looking sword. Do any of you have items of interest to hand over or try to hide any?
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Grilgoth smirks at the question as she is no larger than a young human child and a very skinny one at that.
"Nothing to declare here. Frankly I think that I would tip over if I tried to pick up something as heavy as your sword anyways."
The wayang's voice is tinged with a bit of excitement as she continues. The thought of discovery academic or alchemical is compelling to her.
"I am very interested in the mana storms and how they seem to miss your town completely? Do you know how this is possible or could suggest someone we may speak with about this?"
"All I have is rumours for now but it would make an interesting paper if it were true."
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The monk narrows his eyebrows, trying to recall some - currently very evasive - facts about these trees. He sighs and uses some divine power before trying to access his brain again.
"Ah, cashew trees - that at least partially explains the rancid cashew milk we found..."
Baldrum presents his weapons and states matter-of-factly: "I believe my sansetsukon and my sword fall into that category."
He waits for confirmation before handing them over.
"How does this curfew work, exactly? Wouldn’t want to break it accidently..."
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Ezekial nods, tapping the scimitar at his belt, Sheriff Molume, I am Ezekial, called the Sun-Blessed, Champion of Sarenrae, does this blade offend your town's bylaws? I wish to respect them, and I as you to consider my faith in your answer. I swear as an agent of the Dawnflower that I would only use this blade in self-defense, and I have sworn not to harm lawful humanoids with it, only creatures from beyond this realm. he asks politely, but firmly.
The sherrif takes the weapons offered, but very firmly responds to Ezekial, "and I swear to return your blade to you when you leave the town, but to enter you must put it in my custody."
He pointedly does not answer Grilgoth as he waits for the weapons to be handed over, making steady eye contact with Ezekial in particular.
What do you call a "large weapon"? Anything bigger than a dagger?
"Pretty much. Yes. Like your hammer and your axe. Much bigger than the ones we use for farming. Looks like they were made to be used in a fight. Looks like it is more suited to hunting game than killing folks."
Ezekial nods, I accept your oath Sherrif. unhooking the ornate scimitar from his belt and passing it reverently to the man.
"Your cooperation in appreciated. We have some history that makes some folks very uneasy around strangers carrying weapons like that. Whatever your business in this town is, it will go far better if you are not toting weapons of war."
I believe Eredur is the only one still holding on to any weapons. Once he has decided, do you have any questions for him or want to try to make an impression on him?
GM Hint: This next part of the adventure is about gathering information in town. The better you get along, the more information you can gather.
The sheriff is not as amused as Grilgoth and takes the request in stride.
"If it will make you more comfortable, though I'm not likely to forget they are yours."
"Follow me. We have a place for guests. We pray and attend temple twice daily, once at sunrise and once just after sundown. We ask that you stay inside the guesthouse from 1 hour before sunset until 1 hour after sunrise. That gives
you 10 hours each day to wander around. When you hear the triple bell you can leave the guesthouse, and when the triple bells ring again, return to the guesthouse and draw the curtains. Curfew begins shortly."
The guesthouse is a large building at the north edge of town (see slide 7) that the people of Mercy leave open for visitors. No one else is currently visiting Mercy, so the PCs have the building to themselves. There is an open large box near the guesthouse’s front door with an orange flag resting inside of it.
The sheriff answers both of your questions with a single answer. “The people of Mercy are a private sort and don’t we want outsiders meddling in our ceremonies, which happen just before and after your curfew.”
Anyone want to try to improve his attitude using diplomacy?
Seeming impressed by her statements he asks, "And you will respect our traditions and rules?"
Sheriff Mulume points at the large box near the guesthouse’s front door and
explains, "That is your message box. If you need anything outside of curfew, you should place the orange flag on the box to signal someone to come over; in addition, someone will deliver food to the box three times a day. As for rules, just use your common sense, like don't throw food at people."
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"Excellent, I am hungry. I do make allowances for the . . . rustic nature of this location. A simple steak au poivre with red wine pan sauce will do nicely. I trust you'll choose other dishes to suit along with a proper vintage."
Assuming someone else will take care of the horses, he heads inside the guesthouse.
The lot of you get settled into your new abode, having made nice with the sheriff. If is not up to Master Cirek's standards, but there is plenty of space to spread out - no sharing beds :) Shortly after you get inside the building, around sunset, food arrives in the box. Again, not up to to Master Cirek's standards, but hearty and filling. There is water, but no wine. Blasphemy, I know!
Is anyone interested in sneaking out past curfew? At the moment, it is still pretty active out there. A lot of the farmers are decompressing after a hard day's work. It does quiet down considerably when sunset arrives, but there are still folks wandering about outside. As instructed the curtains are drawn, but you could sneak a peek.
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Hm... that's quite a nice place compared to the other cottages.
Also, the food looks very nice - and I doubt that the people here want to poison us...
Baldrum suppresses the urge to strangle Nistivo for his display of arrogance sits down and helps himself to some of the food.
Indeed, no beer. Though you could put in a request using the box. Patchouli's worries seem unfounded as the others suffer no ill effects consuming the food or drinking the water, which looks crystal clear.