TT puts her hand on Gothia's back, acting like she's comforting the woozy paladin. "I hope I didn't mess things up with my ad-libbing," the bard tells the others quietly. "I just thought maybe we could turn the tables if folks in the inn's common room are among the cultists. By making Gothia and whomever stays with her attractive targets while the rest of us are allegedly elsewhere in the village, we can turn the tables on the kidnappers. It might also be a good way to separate the cultists from innocent village folk just having a drink or a meal in the Golden Grain. Of course, those of us who aren't the bait wouldn't really go very far: they'd just duck behind a house or barn and be ready to swoop in if someone makes a move."
Sea Ranger frowns as he thinks on what he's heard. "It could be that this Dorian and his friend you spoke with are liars and in with the cultists themselves. Or they speak the truth, so far as they know, and that Bertram is entirely innocent. If any of the villagers are truly cultists themselves and responsible for the kidnappings, it could be that they are simply using the Golden Grain as their base, so it looks like the innkeeper is involved." Finally, the druid gives a simple shrug.
"In any case, it seems we have two choices - investigate the village itself, perhaps by offering ourselves up as bait, or exploring the swamp to find out where the cultists are hiding out. Both options have their share of dangers, though Scout could help us observe the swamp from the sky. I'd have him keep a lookout for folks like us - humanoids, that is. I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to tell if they're cultists, but he could at least alert us to folks that look like us wandering around in the swamp."
How many people are here?
30, half of them are cultists.
Bertram gives some dark beer to some of the patrons who could afford it.
Tavern Tale listens intently when Sea Ranger speaks. "I vote for investigating the village first; we shouldn't leave innocent townsfolk unguarded if there are cultists in their midst. If we're going to use ourselves as bait, I think we should do it now while Gothia is 'sick.' If no one else wants to, I'll volunteer to stay with her and be bait, too."
Some of the folks are giving you mean looks.
Some of the folks are giving you mean looks.
Gothia feels her righteous ire flare as the people glare daggers at them. She almost yells out to them, but stops as she listens to Vesica's plan.
"I am not too sure any of us should be out in this town without the others. Even two of us could be overpowered and taken. We should go to the other Inn and search...we do have the backing of the mayor! Let them try to stop us from rooting the evil from this place!"
"Lead the way, then," Tavern Tale says to Gothia. A moment later, the bard realized that she smiled as she'd said those four words--the first time she'd actually smiled at the paladin.
To think I've been afraid of her ever since we met! There's a lot to admire and respect about her that I didn't notice earlier.
Gothis looks to the others to see what they think.
Works for me, Gothia.
Tallen nods his head in agreement.
Tavern Tale helps lead the search for the village's second inn. When the party finds it, TT whispers to Gothia, "Same tactics as before, I'm assuming: I go in and blab pleasantly while you use your ability to see if the proprietor is evil."
Next the bard puts on her friendliest smile and enters the establishment. "Good day!" she greets the proprietor, moving up to them. "My friends and I have been traveling for days and are looking for accommodations for the evening." Deciding to try to get a telltale reaction, TT adds, "Oh--and some of my friends may have worked up a thirst: we just defeated three troglodytes trying to sneak through your village!"
It's not a fancy place, but people are more boisterous here. Ollwin, one of the runners of this inn, is more forthright and happy. He has the shutters open wide to let in sunlight, although the clouds have begun to gather.
"You helped defeat three troglodytes?" Ollwin asks. "That means you're heroes. I serve wine here, and I make sure it's the best you ever tasted."
You find that Ollwin is more forthright and forthcoming than his competitor.
Once again Gothia uses her god-given powers to tell good from evil within the common room.
Once again Gothia uses her god-given powers to tell good from evil within the common room.
You smell nothing bad here.
Gothia nods and smiles.
"This place seems to be perfect for us to stay safely. I suggest we move over here from the other Inn. I will go and retrieve my mount right now!"
"I'll come along--safety in numbers, after all," TT says. "Anyone else want to come with?"
”Not I,” Tallen responds as he motions to the barkeep for some wine.
Chestman devotes himself to an intense sampling of the inn's wares.
Gothia heads off to get her mount and bring it back. Vesica comes with her.
"So...," Tavern Tale begins a bit nervously seeing no else (yet) agree to accompany the two women to the stables, "are we just going to march right in like we own the place or do you want me to try to sneak in and retrieve him. Her? It? Your horse! Um, I mean, your horse didn't seem to absolutely hate me for the few days we're traveled together, right? And--no offense--I can probably move more quietly than you."
Sea Ranger had been daydreaming about having gold in his pouch and gives TT a chagrined smile. "I'll come with you. I can be quiet when need be, but with four of us I doubt we'll run into trouble." Still, the druid loosens his scimitar as he heads out the door with the bard, in the wake of the determined paladin.
Checking perception:
You see and smell that something is not right with the food. Someone has laced the food (pot pies) with a sleeping potion. You don't know if it has to do with cultists or not. The wine is not drugged, as the innkeep has gotten out his home made brew just for you.
The stage has gotten out some dancing girls to do a dance in your honor. They are wearing gaudy clothing for the dance. You don't realize that the food (pot pies) are drugged. Again you don't know if it has to do with cultists. But the home brewed wine is the best you ever tasted.
You don't notice anything out of the unusual. The dancing girls are wearing gaudy outfits. A lot of people seem to enjoy the show, as you are the guests of honor in this tavern. Plus the wine is the best you ever tasted.
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Urrrrppppp!
Yes to both questions. These spoilers happen after Gothia, Sea Ranger, and Tavern Tale returns from the stables.
Gothia didn't detect evil on the proprietor. But that doesn't mean that there are Serpent cultists are not working for him. The feel of the general place wasn't one of evil, like the Golden Grain Inn.
But the spoilers happen after you three gets her horse.
Tavern Tale is quite pleased at how easy it was to retrieve Gothia's horse from under the shadow of the nearby Golden Grain Inn. When Ollwin mentions pot pie, the young woman decides that--now that she has some money again--she deserves something more than the bread and cheese she ate earlier in the afternoon. She hands the paladin the apple she'd saved from that sparse meal and suggests that maybe she should feed it to her mount as a treat. Then she prepares to dig into the hot meal provided.
Brenfine sits with her team and enjoys the warm meal. She easily chats with everyone doing her best to include everyone. The meal is delightful and she savours ever bits, knowing that one doesn't always get to enjoy the food they get. In her mind she reflects upon her years on the street, scrounging for every meal. She will never forget the day she was adopted and give a home and a purpose.
"If we are staying here, we need to find a way to keep an eye on the other inn tonight" she whispers to her companions.
As she sits and gets ready to eat, something sets her senses off. The smell seems off and then suddenly she realizes what it is...a sleep potion.
"What evil is this! Who has tampered with my food! Reveal yourselves."
SHe once again calls upon her god and detects what evil might be within the Inn.
With a big forkful of pot pie mere inches from her mouth, Tavern Tale freezes. "Someone tampered with your food?" she asks Gothia. "How so?" Doubting that the paladin would throw out such an accusation without being certain of herself, the bard puts her fork back down and looks around to see if any trogs or other strangers have entered the inn.
Sea Ranger gives a quick nod, his eyes wide as he detects the poison as well. He winces at Gothia's reaction, but whispers to TT and the others sitting nearby. "The food is laced with a sleeping potion. It's made from the seeds of an uncommon plant, I think. Anyway, the wine seems to be okay at least, and Ollwin gave us his own personal brew. I suspect that our culprit might be working in the kitchen. A few of us should head out, make sure the cultist isn't trying to escape." He waits a moment to see if anyone reacts to the paladin's ringing accusation and to see if anyone is willing to join him.
”What about the wine”, Tallen asked as he took another gulp.
Chestman 's face twists in rage. Some blackguard is trying to poison us?! He says out loud.
He stands up and grips his club. INTO THE KITCHEN AND DRAG THEM OUT! He then storms to the kitchen
As she sits and gets ready to eat, something sets her senses off. The smell seems off and then suddenly she realizes what it is...a sleep potion.
"What evil is this! Who has tampered with my food! Reveal yourselves."
SHe once again calls upon her god and detects what evil might be within the Inn.
She detects evil coming from . . . a woman in a red robe with a hood over her head! And she came out of the kitchen!
You can't see into the kitchen, as a door blocks your sight.
During the chaos of the few seconds following Gothia's accusation, Brenfine frowns down at the delicious meal and her empty spoon following her last bite. With an audible sigh, the woman stands up and follows Gothia's gaze to the woman in red and places her hand on her sword hilt, not drawing, but simply lifting the rapier partially from its hanger, on her belt.
Tavern Tale stands up from the table and moves to the front door, both to check if her motor skills seem impaired and to guard against anyone sneaking in; she trusts that the rest of her new friends can deal with the woman Gothia's giving the stinkeye to. Once she nears the door, the bard listens and either peeks through a window in that area or cracks the door an inch of two to scan the inn's front yard for potential enemies.
Tavern Tale stands up from the table and moves to the front door, both to check if her motor skills seem impaired and to guard against anyone sneaking in; she trusts that the rest of her new friends can deal with the woman Gothia's giving the stinkeye to. Once she nears the door, the bard listens and either peeks through a window in that area or cracks the door an inch of two to scan the inn's front yard for potential enemies.
Vesica Perception Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
"PSSSSST!" Tavern Tale hisses as loudly as she dares to alert the others. "Four more trogs coming up the walk!"
"YOU..IN THE RED ROBE...STOP!"
Drawing her sword, Gothia moves towards the woman in red.
"Excuse me?" said the one in Red.
Poisoner! Chestman will swing a fist at her.
Poisoner! Chestman will swing a fist at her.
Okay, Chestman, roll to strike. Damage 1d3. Are you doing non-lethal damage?
Beat her bloody
Beat her bloody
Fist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 151d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
You hit. And ouch, that's gotta hurt!
"Master Dwarf do not kill her....she has much to answer for!", the paladin calls out as she moves towards the melee.
The dwarf seems to have the lady in red under control - or at least that's how it seems to the druid. Sea Ranger moves next to TT, drawing his scimitar. "Four trogs?" He whispers, taking a position next to the door in case they break through.
TT nods to Sea Ranger, her one eye wide in what appears to be fear and/or adrenalized anticipation for battle.
TT nods to Sea Ranger, her one eye wide in what appears to be fear and/or adrenalized anticipation for battle.
Yes, you can lock/bar the front door. You can use the bar of wood beside the door to lock the front door.
Tavern Tale bars the front door and prepares to defend it against incursion with Sea Ranger. She draws a dagger--and quickly switches to her newly looted sap--while facing the (hopefully) secured entrance, then turns her head to see how the others are faring with the Lady in Red poisoner.