Against the Cult: Entering Orlane (1.7)

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Aug 13, 2024 12:45 am
OOC:
Chase would have kept his pack with him. He has mostly worked alone so always keeps his stuff with him.
Aug 13, 2024 3:23 am
"It does not appear anyone picked up my ruck or my staff, so it is -- hopefully -- still at the inn," Theran replies.
Aug 13, 2024 6:03 am
Aanbo considers the situation. "I only have a quarterstaff and some small darts if someone needs weapons," he says. "Beyond those, I have my healer and herbalism kits, and a crowbar. If you have need, you may use any of what I have.

"If that is not satisfactory, I am willing to attempt to secure your belongings from the tavern,"
he continues. "Assuming they haven't confiscated it."
Aug 13, 2024 9:56 am
Chase listening to others asks By stealth in the wee hours of the morning or confrontation? We are free of the effects of the poison now and they didn't seem like very savvy fighters or very keen to following three weakened fighters carrying people. I for one am surely not scared of these people. I believe they are living under the shadow of threat from whoever "her" is.
Aug 13, 2024 10:18 am
"Thank you for your offer, Big man," Myrtha said, looking at the shield and considering it’s shape and weight for a few seconds.

"How many men were there at the inn?" Myrtha asked, wondering what kind of opposition could be expected if stealth didn’t work.
Aug 13, 2024 10:34 am
"I’d favor investigating the temple while we still have these folk confused and wondering where we’ve gone. The inn will still be there when we’ve looked at the temple. But if you want to go to the Inn first, I say we try the stealthy way… maybe they’re no great warriors, but we have no authority here. Can’t just go in and take down the locals — maybe killing some of them — unless we’re defending ourselves. We can probably do without some of our things for now…"
OOC:
Do the dungeon busters have authority in these parts? Are they deputized by the local reeve or some other arrangement? I understood our mission as mostly reconnaissance and investigation, but maybe I misread things…
Last edited August 13, 2024 10:34 am
Aug 13, 2024 12:26 pm
Theran shakes his head. "If the temple is the source of whatever is going on, we will likely all need whatever resources we can bring to bear. So... let me go into the inn to find our things. Once we know if they still have it all, we can figure out if we can get it back without being seen or if we would need to attack them," Theran reiterates.
Last edited August 13, 2024 12:27 pm
Aug 13, 2024 1:11 pm
Helpful Reptile simply says in added support, "I can go with you for an axe." (+3 Steath)
Aug 13, 2024 1:22 pm
"No." Theran says, irritation in his voice. "Here, let me rephrase this... who else can turn into something those people won't pay any attention to if they even see you? Anyone?"
Aug 13, 2024 4:39 pm
"I can turn into a dwarf," says Aanbo, before he coughs politely. "Sorry, bad time for humor, I guess. Um, could you explain your idea, Theran? Are you talking about disguising ourselves as farmers, or people that live here?"
Aug 13, 2024 4:46 pm
Theran actually chuckles at Aanbo's joke. "My plan is, I turn into a cat, or a spider, or... something they likely won't care in the least about when I wander in and amble around a bit. That's why I was going alone. You all draw attention -- I shouldn't."
Last edited August 13, 2024 4:47 pm
Aug 13, 2024 4:52 pm
Aanbo nods slowly. "That's... pretty convenient. Well, I think that greatly diminishes the risk. Does that mean you can change back into yourself and retrieve everyone's equipment, before becoming an animal again and leaving?"
Aug 13, 2024 5:04 pm
"Possibly, yes." Theran nods. "And even if I can't carry everything, the information is valuable. We can head right to it and then scatter with minimal conflict. I may even wait around and see if they say anything incriminating?"
Aug 13, 2024 6:57 pm
"Oh."

That was all Myrtha said when she realized what Theran was proposing. She had not realized that such a power could be called upon, as she thought this sort of shapeshifting was the preserve of heroic tales and folk legends. She had forgotten that as a member of the dungeon busters she would be exposed to highly talented individuals with some very unusual skills.
Aug 13, 2024 7:14 pm
"I think at least one of us should be nearby, in case you run into trouble," says Aanbo. "We wouldn't need to be right across the street, of course, but at least in proximity so that you have some support should you need to escape."

He uses his crowbar to draw a crude map of Orlane in the dirt. "We're here," he says, indicating the barn serving as a shelter. He then taps another poorly-drawn square. "And the Golden Inn is here. What's the best path for you to get there?" Aanbo looks to Theran and the others for their suggestions.
OOC:
Golden Grain Inn is the large green rectangle in the southwest of the larger map, south of our position.
Last edited August 13, 2024 7:19 pm
Aug 13, 2024 8:45 pm
Chase is dumbfounded. Shapeshifting, he had never heard of such a thing.
Aug 14, 2024 6:52 am
matmaisan says:
Do the dungeon busters have authority in these parts? Are they deputized by the local reeve or some other arrangement? I understood our mission as mostly reconnaissance and investigation, but maybe I misread things…
OOC:
Dungeon Busters are here to solve problems and get paid. They - you all - are a mercenary company that goes around solving problems and eliminating threats in order to get regular contract work from patrons that can scrape together the cash and/or regional authorities. This branch of Dungeon Busters does not have such a contract yet, though you might once the Reeve returns to Hochoch. The current mission is to figure out what's going on: why has trade (such as the food shipments) from Orlane stopped, and what was going to happen to the people that would have been abducted to Orlane if the party hadn't stopped them?
Aug 14, 2024 1:06 pm
"The path should be left to whomever is accompanying me. They need to be comfortable with it. As a spider, I can simply ride on them and go to the Inn once they are well hidden," Theran suggests.
Last edited August 14, 2024 1:06 pm
Aug 14, 2024 2:58 pm
Reptlle mentions, "I can stealthily some of the way outside the building to cover your retreat or aid if you need."
Aug 14, 2024 5:17 pm
"Good, looks like we’re settled then," Myrtha said. The scouting mission, under these conditions, had less risk of turning into a further skirmish with the locals.

"There are a few things I’d like to know, now that we are safe here, at least to a degree: first," she enumerated, pointing at one of her fingers, "whether our belongings are still in there, and where." She added a second finger, and pointed at that one in succession, "second, whether Bertram is still there, and what strength they might have in reserve in that place." She stretched a third digit, "and third, whether they’ve been drugging and taking all travellers coming this way, or only certain types, like us adventurers.".

Folding her fingers, and lowering her hand, she added "If all travellers are taken to her no wonder all the trade has died down in these parts and farmland is being left untended. But I find it hard to believe that all the village folk are part of this weird cult. Maybe there are people out there that could help us, if we knew who to approach. The folks hiding when we first entered town, for instance…".

"Once you’ve investigated the Inn, we might have to figure out how to scout the temple, staying unseen. Maybe observe who comes in and out of the place, if we can keep hidden somewhere near the entrance to the compound," she suddenly realized she’d been carried away by a torrent of ideas, and felt she had overstepped some social bounds. She stopped talking and observed the others, hoping they’d share their own ideas. If for nothing else, it would stop her feeling so awkward.
Last edited August 14, 2024 5:20 pm
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