"Law and order were maintained. We took extra steps to ensure as much."
Penance's hand held the elbow of his other arm as he stroked his chin.
"Still, it is obvious that this Glorious Reclamation has plans of their own. A demonstration of a possible artifact can have a profound effect on the simple-minded. Why just holding up a small blade before an interrogation begins can have some sharing their most intimate secrets before the fun even starts. I digress. This priestess, and this "Lencia Visserene"; they should be watched in the least. Perhaps we should take this on ourselves, unless you should set us upon a different task, my good sir."
"Oh this simply won't do" Penance muttered to himself.
Casting enhanced diplomacy on himself.
Penance approaches the nearest citizen and strikes up a conversation.
"Why hello there. It's been ages, hasn't it? So good to see you. Can you believe all of this excitement? Extraordinary isn't it? I mean, an angel knight, here, of all places? It's almost unbelievable I tell you."
"I mean honestly, I'm no fan of our grand lord myself, but he seems to be quite the powerful man. Are we willing to risk our lives for this...angel knight, that seems to have lost their helmet? Is this really all it takes to spur us into some kind of violent upheaval? To face the stocks...or worse, god forbid? I mean, wouldn't it be more prudent to, you know, form some kind of organized resistance rather than just start rioting? I mean what if the Lord is behind all of this? What if it's just some ploy to distract us from what's really going on around us? What if it's a trap, to lure us into doing something illegal? I don't know about you but I don't want to end up in a cell over all of this? Do you?"
Diplomacy:1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 = 29
Casting ghost sound to emulate people screaming for help from the other end of the alley.
Penance then runs from the alley into the crowd and begins shouting. "SOMEONE HELP! THOSE PEOPLE NEED HELP!' and begins pointing to the alley.
If the crowd reacts or begins to panic:
Using charm person spell-like ability on a random citizen. DC 16 Will save
Standing at the edge of the Church Square, Penance surveyed the scene in front of him. His eyes searched high and low, from person to person and building to building. Finally, he saw what he was looking for.
Perception:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
A nice, quiet, dark place to disappear in. He adjusted the red sash and let it hang across his clothes as he leaned up against the wall and simply listened.
"It would most likely be preferable to avoid killing anyone outright, even in self defense. Dead citizens don't pay taxes, after all" the gnome said with a mischievous smile.
A little rough around the edges, but efficient none the less Penanace thought to himself as they made their way up to the stairs.
and I suppose so it this domicile. He tried to maintain his composure and hide his displeasure at having to tromp though such a large outhouse in such disrefute. His superiors at the church never had to resort to such a charade, but it became all too apparent that he was no longer in the church. A scowl crept over his face, but was quickly replaced as they crested the stairs and a voice called out to Cimri.
He stood silent as the conversation proceeded and once concluded became rather excited at the prospect of a "gift". The payment was certainly welcome since their first endeavor had been concluded, but a bonus, that was unexpected and had the little gnome's mind racing through possibilities.
Penance had wanted to remain silent, even when the others expressed their own gratitude, but he decided it would have been rude not to participate in the engagement.
"Your generosity is most appreciated good sir."
He gave a slight bow and turned to follow the others back down stairs, barely containing his own anticipation.
"A krenshar huh? How splendid, and rare. Truly our confidential employer has the resources for a lucrative operation. Splendid."
"Now now, there's no need for that. We left your establishment intact, and one of your dogs alive..." Penance looked over at the dead dog. "...sorry about that. He gets, temperamental, when threatened. And as I'm sure you've figured out by now, you really should pay your taxes on time. Late fees can be a killer."
The gnome turned and headed for the crack in the wall.
"Oh I imagine everything has a value to someone. One would just need to find the right buyer. Why I'd imagine our good host may even pay to retain them..." Penance said as he glanced at the tapestries.
Appraise:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
"...although I do wonder if he would have any coin left to retain them with after his fines have been levied."
"Hmm. I must admit I've not as adept at the fine art of bypassing locks as I should be. Perhaps with time. Regardless, we should check with Mr. Lousik to see about the key."
"Oh right, the vines. I suppose I should let them return to their sleep. They've been very helpful."
Once outside again, lockbox in hand, Penance will dismiss the entangle.
With the situation appearing to be well in hand and remembering their task, Penance made his way to the entryway of the smaller structure and set about opening the door.
Penance surveyed the scene in front of him. He focused his mind and imaged the grass and weeds coming to life and even the palisade wood growing branches and grappling anything that came near them until it eventually all happened.
Using entangle spell-like ability, DC 15 Reflex save
"Oh please. Forgive me. I meant no offense. I was wandering through the woods looking for some mushrooms when I came upon your establishment here. I noticed a crack in the wall just there and thought I would take a look. I admit that the aroma has seemed to overcome me at a rather inopportune time."
Bluff to appear harmless:1d20 + 12 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 5 = 22+2 if concealed
Feign Harmlessness:
It’s often useful to attempt to convince your enemies you are no threat to them.
Check: You attempt to convince your target you are harmless through your actions and posture. If you are at least one size category smaller than your target and have taken no effective offensive actions that your target has seen, you gain a +5 circumstance bonus on this check. Even if you have proven yourself capable of dealing damage, an effort to present your previous success as a one-time fluke takes only a –10 penalty on the check.
Action: Taking steps to appear harmless requires a full-round action, though a GM may require more involved Bluff attempts to take longer.
Penance wiped his mouth with his shirt cuff, silently cursing the cost he was going to have to expend to get a new one. The smell wasn't likely to come out of the old one. He stood upright, but was uneasy on his feet. He swayed backward and braced himself against the palisade wall. Hearing the voices of the new comers, he tried to hide in the shadows but the stench in the area made it difficult to even breathe.
Stealth, sickened:1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 2 = 12+2 with concealment in dim light
Penance was unprepared for the sudden odor assaulting his senses. His nose burned and his eyes watered as his stomach churned. It's contents strained against his throat and even his ears started to ring as he stumbled back against the palisade and tried to catch his breath. While the wall helped to keep him on his feet, it did not serve to keep his dinner in his stomach where it belonged.
"I will certainly take advantage of the cracked palisade. There's also a lever there, locked behind a small cage" Penance said, pointing towards a small box near the gate.
"Perhaps one of you could open the cage while I slip through the gap in the wall."
Penance will make his way slowly and quietly towards the opening.
Penance made a mental note about Mr. Ingoe. That would definitely require some further investigation at another time. For now, he needed to focus on the job before him.
A connection huh. I wonder who is supporting Ms. Cimri in her rise to power. I will have to meet this mysterious benefactor.
Penance continued his walk about town before returning to his room. He stopped for a bite to eat before retiring for the evening. In the morning, he resumed his hunt for information, mainly focusing on Mr. Ingoe.
Somewhat satisfied with what he had learned, he moved on to focus on his upcoming assignment and started asking around about the tannery and it's proprietor.
Penance's feet hurt. He felt like he had been walking for days. In truth, it had only been for a few hours. He walked almost every street in town. It hadn't taken that long all things considered, and at least now he felt like he had some idea of where he was going. He knew where the taverns were, and had even spent some time in each, getting a feel for the people that frequented them.
Gather Information (diplomacy):1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15Trying to find out who runs Long Acre. Time:1d4 ⇒ 2
Gather Information (diplomacy):1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24Trying to find information about Cimri. Time:1d4 ⇒ 4
Greetings all. I've had the pleasure of playing with most of you before; Vokrin and I have already dangled our feet in the icy waters of Hell's Vengeance, although it moved slowly and didn't progress too far. It was a lot of fun though and I can't wait to get started this time.
KingHotTrash and I battled the encroaching chill and snow of Reign of Winter as Baradim Walks-The-Earth and Alec Fuornkiln for a time. Always a pleasure.
And Phntm888 and I were blessed to begin our expedition to Myth Drannor under DragonsofAshandFlame as Henris Flynn and Sarrissa, until our GM's unfortunate departure.
I don't believe I've yet had the opportunity to banter and battle alongside Joerice, but I have to admit Servius intrigues me.
As for Penance, he's a social face character with a little mind control magic. As he develops, I plan on summoning creatures, but other than that I'm undecided. Damaging spells, battlefield control, buff ups or debuffs, whatever benefits us the most.
And at first glance, I think our only real problem is going to be weight encumbrance.
There just ain't enough opportunities to play some of the cooler concepts. Sometimes you just gotta step on some toes. I mean it is an evil-based campaign...
"Good evening my dear. You must be Cimri. Our mutual associate has suggested I speak with you about potential work. I understand it that you have an opportunity available and could use some assistance" the little gnome said, sitting at a table in the corner while sipping a tea of some kind.
His plain clothes and lack of obvious wealth meant he was rather nondescript, which meant he didn't stand out among the other patrons of the establishment. The human woman took up a seat opposite from his with a rather unimpressed look on her face.
"You don't look like much" was all she muttered.
He smiled. "Quite right, but you see, looks can be deceiving. Why, you'd be amazed at some of the stories one can hear when one doesn't draw any attention to one's self, but I can assure you, I can be of use to you. I can be...quite persuasive, when needed. And if the rumors are true, you've already hired enough muscle to ensure your job goes...well enough, but sometimes well isn't enough, is it? Sometimes, a few choice words can go a long way towards swaying someone to do what's needed, wouldn't you agree?"
Before she could answer, he continued. "If I were a betting man, I'd wager that you're looking to recoup some expenses and deliver a message while ensuring that business continued. I mean it would be counter productive to go through all this trouble just for a few coins at the expense of future profits, I'm sure."
"Now, if you wouldn't mind recanting some of the finer points of this opportunity, perhaps we could discuss the best manner in which to ensure a positive outcome for all involved."
Her facial expression was enough to let the gnome know that she was somewhat perplexed, but she quickly shook away any confusion and started to lay out the specifics of the work that he had been inquiring about.
His little legs pumping along, Penance ignored the sleeping brothers and hustled after the remaining criminal. As he closed in on the trio, he skidded to a stop.
At Trevor's shouting, Penance bolted upright. His eyes adjusted to the darkness instantly and he grabbed his crossbow as he made his way to the cells. "Well, I guess they took the bait. Time to go reel them in."
As the prisoners fled, Penance gave chase but quickly realized he could not catch them. Rather than pursue a lost cause, he prayed for someone that could.
"My lord Asmodeus, I am in need of one of your fiendish servants." A flash of fire and brimstone erupted 25 feet in front of him. Speeding through the air on blood-red wings flew a fiendish eagle. It reached the traitors in an instant and sliced out at the nearest one with a crimson talon.
As much as he wanted to stay awake and continue his alchemy work, Penance was simply too tired to do so. He found a mostly clean pile of straw to throw a blanket over and laid down, his big hat pulled down to cover his face and muffle his own snoring.
"This would seem like a good job for our guests. I think it's about time those youngsters lend us a hand in cleaning up this town. And let's speak with the deputies. Maybe they saw something. I wonder where they got all of it anyway. Most residents can't afford one horse."
"Oh come now Ms. Tileavia. You let your emotions get the better of you. I truly did care about Caggan's death. I welcomed it, you see. We are all monsters. Caggan just couldn't control his emotions. That is not a path I would advise. I mean, it didn't end well for Caggan, after all."
"We will be confiscating this document. You should know that I believe you, but I suspect that you are not telling us everything. You should know that we have several suspects in custody. We have not yet taken the time to ascertain their official statements. I suppose on how much that is needed now depends somewhat on you. I really don't want to waist their time and ours."
"I offer you this one chance, here and now. Tell us everything. Save everyone the time, and hassle, and pain...of this investigation. I can promise you two things. One, the longer this takes, the more these good people of Longacre will be effected. And two, the longer this takes, the more...thorough, my extraction of information will need to be, and I'm sure I don't have to tell you how hard it is to get blood out of clothing. I mean once something is stained with it, you almost have to discard it."
"My apologies. We've been inquiring lately into this Inglorious Reclamation. You see there are a lot of rumors flying around the town and our most recent information has pointed us towards your office. We were hoping you could shed some light on the situation. I would remind you, of which I'm sure you hadn't forgotten...as a fateful follow of Iomedae, that lying to a lawful official, or interfering with an official investigation would be a dishonest, and outright disrespectful act towards our generous Lord. Any information you volunteer now would be most appreciated. You see, we're just trying to stop the violence that seems to be gripping our fair town of Longacre. These impetuous youths these days, why they just seem so easily...corruptible. It would seem someone has been whispering falsehoods into their eager young ears. Such a cowardly act, I must admit and one I'm sure an ordained leader such as yourself would have no part it, but I'm afraid we must investigate all leads fairly you see. It is the just thing to do."
"Oh come now Vokrin. You are the only thing these bloody heathens are afraid of. Your arcane power gives even the most faithful cause for concern, and you are Vokrin, the mightiest of mighty, the most powerful of powers, the most feared wizard within Longacre. If that makes these rubes uncomfortable, than so be it."
Penance did not wait for a response. Instead he continued on towards Tileavia's office. He thought about sneaking up and peering in quietly or trying to eavesdrop from the doorway but assumed that their conversations had probably already alerted anyone within. He simply walked up and knocked as he politely called out.
"Hello? Ms. Tileavia? I hope we're not disturbing you..."
"It is as I've said. He has been arrested for striking an officer of our Lord Baron. Unfortunately this altercation has lead to him being restrained and imprisoned. I would have expected someone with your...insight, to have more of a guiding hand with him. It is true though that youths can be impetuous. Why don't you come to the jail at dusk tonight. I will see about arranging his release, provided he signs a full confession and acknowledges his wrongdoing in this ordeal. I'm sure you would agree that the sooner we put all of this nasty business behind us, the better off Longacre and its citizens will be."
Penance turned and walked out. He had heard enough and spared more than enough words for this woman. It was time to investigate more serious and direct leads.
Thank you Trevor but I don't think that will be necessary." Penance's demeanor had shifted significantly.
"Cimri's right. The lumber camps are too far away. If the rebellion is here, they'll be closer to town, if not already in it. It would be nearly impossible to recruit from weeks away. No, they're here somewhere."
"I think it's time to go to church. It's getting close to confession time. After that we can talk more with our guests."
"Ah, so you are interested in current affairs. Excellent. Tell me about this Glorious Reclamation, and this Tilevia. Come, you can tell us about it as we walk to the Darkwood lumber camp. Something tells me you're just dying to see it. I know I would kill for a chance to see it. Wouldn't you Jerax?"
"So who occupies the Darkwood camp now? Or must I pry the information from you descendants? I grow weary my dear. Answer swiftly, or I shall have to inquire of another of your blood."
Penance was obviously becoming frustrated with the woman. The more she spoke the calmer she became and that seemed to infuriate the little gnome more than anything else. This scatter-brained historian was gaining courage, and that was not going to stand.
"Oh...I know. Maybe we should just visit this camp ourselves? Perhaps you could give us a recounting in person, a guided tour, if you would."
"Oh indubitably. If you wouldn't mind inviting us in, we'd simply love the opportunity to sit down and discuss Longacre's past, present, and future."
Diplomacy:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Once inside...
"We'd like to learn about the Darkwood Lumber camp, if you have any details on it. It seems fascinating, to me, the working of darkwood, or is it all just a name? Do you know why it closed down?"
Penance approached a little closer to the woman, his smile seeming to turn slightly.
"And we'd also like to talk about your descendants. The one walking very close to sedition, in particular. He's assaulted one of Lord Fex's declared constables, and is currently under arrest. How long he remains imprisoned depends partly on how cooperative you are, but please, start with the lumber yard. I am a student of history, you know."
"Oh goodie. I have a few brews to check on and I do look forward to conversing with our guest. I just know they're going to be so helpful. I mean, it is their patriotic duty to assist us in uncovering this fretful cult of usurpers" Penance said as his hands rubbed together in anticipation.
Penance's head tilted to the side as he watched the heated exchange between the two outsiders. Things were about to get a whole lot more interesting in the little town of Longacre. One advantage the town had was that Rurisa was a local, unwilling to harm or scorn those she grew up with unless it was needed. She was definitely stern, even harsh if need be, but those were tools in her bag, that was not her, not deep down.
"Greetings my faithful warrior. Are you ready to do what must be done? These criminals won't flog themselves, you know" Penance asked as a malicious grin crept onto his face.
"Yes, Yes. Perhaps he could share some tips on this trade. Maybe we should set our own little pigeon loose? Events like this never go unshared. It may be of use to know who these words spread to. It would only cost a few more coins and who knows what details may turn up. Certainly a worthy investment..."
The fiendish dog continues to snap at the vine but struggles against the carnivorous plant.
Dog bite:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Penance squeezes another few drops of blood out of his hand. Again the barbed chain erupts from the ground, this time near the vine. It lashes out at the vine but can find no leafy flesh to puncture.
