Forge of Fury IC

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Before his questions could be answered by the villager, Feagon's spell washes over him and his ailment instantly subsides. Eyes wide, the hobgoblin seems to do a quick mental inventory, then claps Feagon on the shoulder, "It worked....so it was, or rather IS a disease not a curse."

Spoiler: Spellcraft

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Auto-success vs a DC 17

Looking out over the dismal village, "The dead are likely fallen villagers spreading the disease that also claimed them."

Titling his head and studying his large orcish friend, "Ashlyn says the wise woman lives hours away....hours, Suga. I'm the last person to turn my nose up at getting as much information as possible, but we just learned something critical right here with Feagon's spell....I'm reluctant to leave off now."

Scratching the shaggy orange-red hair atop his head for a moment, "I still believe this....this, disease will likely lead back to the village cemetery, but this wise woman might know more about this unusual place than us."

"Ashlyn are there any about that know this wise woman first hand, so that me might query them as to her....uh.....expertise, you might say?"

[razorback]

"Its a gift from Ehlonna. Its magic washes away diseases but it is something I've never used before. I have no idea if what is effecting us is natural or not... or if the magic I can conjure would be powerful enough, but Ehlonna recongizes that we and are cause are worthy." Feagon says with a smile.

[Cavir]

"Good news that Iron Heart allows me to cure myself, you have a spell for the others, and my axe really likes to chop undead. Bad news is not so many spells right? Pick a place and let's go."

[Kish]

Ashlyn shakes her head, then looks at Tarak. "The group...over there, stays with her normally apparently."

The group of three men and one woman she gestures to are sleeping. You remember that last night, they were playing cards, except when two of the men came out to help repair the barricade after the fight in the square outside the inn.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Nodding to Ashlyn, Tarak takes note of the sleeping men, then turns back to the closest villager and repeats his questions, "Who's the local priest? Does he speak holy words over the dead? I can't believe I'm asking this, but do the dead....um.....tend to stay dead? When was the last time you saw the local priest?"

Approaching the sleeping men, the hobgoblin clears his throat loudly, "Ahem...gentlemen, though I'm loathed to interrupt your rest, I would know more of Madame Eva. Who is she? Why do people seek her out? What wisdom does she have to offer? Why does she live apart from everyone else?"

[Kish]

The villager blinks at the hobgoblin, and then she replies, "They've been getting up. I saw you come in last night, I know you fought some of them. I haven't seen Father Danovich since a long time before this happened. I haven't gone anywhere outside this inn since I last left this inn." Whether she's aware of the tautology and being sarcastic is less than clear.

The sleeping man wakes up at Tarak's questioning and blinks up at him. "Eh?" he says, then, after a few minutes and Tarak repeating his questions, "She knows everything you'd need to know. Whether she'll tell you, only she can tell you." He chuckles. "She lives outside because she's not a villager. Fewer shambling corpses near our camp probably doesn't hurt, either," he muses.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

The hobgoblin walks away from the village woman shaking his head.....if you know we 'fought them' while you hid, maybe you should try being helpful....he thinks to himself. Growling in frustration he focuses on the sleepy pair in front of him.

"Our camp?"

Tilting his head quizzically, "what do you mean 'our camp'?"

[Kish]

"We have a camp. That way." He gestures vaguely. "We--" he gestures to his three companions, all of whom are yawning awake at the conversation-- "come into town sometimes to get supplies, but we don't live here."

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

"Are you farmers then?"

Spoiler: oops

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sorry Kish, I was editing while you were responding, I had no idea you would respond so quickly

[razorback]

"Well, if your interested in going back to camp and can lead us to Father Danovich or Madame Eva, we can guard you on your way back perhaps? Strength in numbers and all that, eh?""

[Kish]

The man chuckles, at which question it's hard to tell. "No more than you are. If you want to go see Madam Eva, I suppose we can--" at that point one of his companions clears his throat meaningfully. The speaker pauses, then shakes his head and says, "If you follow the road, you'll come to her. Unless you turn the wrong way and go to the castle, of course." He chuckles again. "And if you want to go to the church and look for the priest...you're really not going to find anyone to accompany you there."

[razorback]

"Is it that way or that way to Madame Eva? I take it the other leads to the castle?" Feagon asks as he points in the two directions of the main road as he watches the interaction between the speaker and the one who cleared is throat.
"Well, though you don't join us, your help is appreciated. Tell me, though, why do you fear to see the priest?"

Spoiler

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Hey Kish... page 50!

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

After listening to men, the hobgoblin turns to Suga, "This. This is precisely why I don't want to invest hours in visiting this 'Madame Eva'." Motioning to the three men, "These three speak cryptically, obfuscate, and obviously withhold information. What do you expect this 'wise woman' will do? Is it your experience that people claiming to have secret knowledge are forthright and forthcoming?"

Growling in frustration, "Nah....you'll get more of this. Not that the villagers are any better mind you. We would be better off having you toss your ax in the air and following whichever way it lands."

[Cavir]

Suga answers in a voice that all those awake would be sure to hear. "Hiding something, plain cowards, or gaining something by the villagers being killed off." He turns to the group being questioned. "Which is it? Or all of the above? You know something that can help the rest of these folks, but you keep silent." Suga turns to the crowd. "Seems this bunch doesn't care about you all. They won't help us help you, so why help by giving them a safe place to sleep? Ask them why they won't help. If they refuse and you want them out of here I'll help escort them out."

The orc looks to his friends. "If they won't help more then let's go and choose along the way."

Suga's shield and axe are both slung. The Sublime Way and his size would see him through if things become far less friendly.

[Kish]

No one seems incited to violence by Suga's words. No one seems to react very strongly at all, in fact; a couple awake villagers look in Suga's direction apprehensively, but no one shows signs of seriously considering his argument, for good or ill. The man who spoke earlier looks at the villagers, and then back at Suga, but doesn't say anything.

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

The hobgoblin was a bit taken aback by his companion's words. To hear his own frustrations put forth so bluntly actually made him feel a bit ashamed....something has beaten these people...there is no spirit nor fight left in any of 'em....they don't trust us or have any hope that we can do anything to help them.

Sighing, Tarak does his best to tamp down his frustration.

With a firm nod in Suga's direction, he makes eye contact with everyone assembled, Ashlyn, Celesta, Feagon, and settling on Suga once again, "Right. Let's be about it then. We go to the church.....BUT, we do so smartly! We stay together, and we move quickly. We secure a safe space from which we can observe the church and the cemetery first. If we encounter overwhelming resistance between here and there, we break off and find an alternate route, we don't need to try to put down every zombie. I very much want to find this Father Danovich, but only on our terms. If you've long term buffs and protections, now is the time, but conserve your strength for our real destination."

"Let's go."

Spoiler

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Cast Mage Armor
Marching Order?????? Tarak, Suga, Feagon, Ashlyn, Celesta????

[razorback]

Feagon, looking at the others for a long moment considering, then touches Celesta lightly on her shoulder as he says a prayer.
"Ready. Sound like its the church, then." He touches his morning star at his belt to make sure its there before plucking at his bow string.

Spoiler

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Feagon would prefer somewhere in the middle, protected by all you burly warriors.

Celesta has Tyche's Touch, 24 hours.

Spoiler

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Protection: The subject gains a +4 sacred bonus on the first saving throw made after the spell is cast, a +3 sacred bonus
on the second saving throw, a +2 sacred bonus on the third, and a +1 sacred bonus on the fourth.

[Cavir]

Suga's eyes focus on the man holding secrets then turns to his own group. Back in the slave pits before being trained in the Sublime Way the man would have had the information beaten out of him, or volunteered to face the danger right up front. In this case it would have been for the benefit of others. Suga waits until they are outside to say any more.

"Bastard knows something and won't tell. Should drag him along with us."

"Church it is then. Tarak, seems you want to take lead to get there. Fine but if there's a fight let me take the brunt. I can get rid of that disease for myself. I'd guess Feagon can't keep casting that spell all day. Better to let them focus on me." He readies his dire axe then tosses it upward. It flips twice and is caught cleanly. "Let's go."

[RolandDeschain]

Tarak

Throwing a wink at Suga, "You've got it my large friend, but remember we're not looking for a major dust up in the streets....none-the-less I'll steer you and that ax of yours in the direction of most need."

With that the hobgoblin disappears into the shadows of a nearby building and presses forward so he's a little more than half a block in front of the main group.

[Kish]

Spoiler

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New IC thread.