Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

[Lycar]

Grigor human cleric

Grigor tries to get some privacy with Tell and Megiddo to tell them about his own thoughts on the matter.

"Look, I don't want any dead militiamen on my conscience too, but we really should be grateful for the help offered. Besides, maybe I can do more good supporting people then trying to hack up stuff myself. A good blessing never hurt and can boost morale somewhat."

Lycar

[Another_Poet]

((Ah, sorry. 194 gp 1 sp 6 cp for everyone. Shield is sold.))

edit: Actually, Tell will run some errands.

He'll stop by Spugnoir's and inquire about some potions of Hide from Undead. Tell has 194 gp which would normally be just shy of the price for 4 such potions (50 gp apiece). He'll ask if Spugnopir would be willing to give them a discount, however, letting 5 potions go for 190 gp. He explains that the potions will help the militia in the upcoming combat.

((Let me know how many he'll part with for 190 gp.))

He also stops by the temple of Ehlonna and donates 4 gp. he asks the priestess there if he can leave the enchanted armour they found with her.

Then Tell agrees with Lycar and will go to the meeting place.

[Skjaldbakka]

Megiddo will head to the meeting place and wait there patiently.

[Frosty]

After Lor gets back from observation, she listens to the plan presented. "Well, it's worth a try to leak information. Perhaps we even leave a small campfire inside the cave so smoke will come out of it? When do you want to do it?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 8, Early Morning

"Unfortunately, I don't have any potions with that effect in stock," Spugnoir tells Tell. "I never had much call for that before. What I have that would be most useful for your situation are healing potions, a strength enhancer, and one that would let you see in the dark. If you want to be stealthy, I also have one that improves grace of movement, too."

(( Upon further questioning, Spugnoir will reveal the following potions. He is willing to offer a discount for the purposes of use in investigating the moathouse. Unrelated purchases are at normal market price (+10% for divine spells, as he can't make those on his own.)

• 1 spider climb 35 gp
• 2 cure light wounds 37 gp
• 1 cat's grace 210 gp
• 1 blur 210 gp
• 1 bull's strength 210 gp
• 1 darkvision 210 gp
• 1 levitate 210 gp
• 1 cure moderate wounds 231 gp
• 2 water breathing 525 gp

))

[Another_Poet]

Tell purchases the two Cure Light Wounds and the Spider Climb, thanks Spugnoir for the extra discount and meets up with Megiddo and the others.

ap

[Entertainer13]

"Immediately after Xaod is done with his rest, if possible. After our shifts are complete, in other words."

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 8, Morning

Tell, Grigor, and Megiddo meet Elmo and his men at the appointed place and time. Aside from Elmo, there are five militia men ready to go. One is a dwarf, another looks like he may be a half-elf. The other three are human. There is no uniform to the group. Each wears his own style of armor and carries his own weapon.

"All right," Elmo says, "I've let them know what you saw at the moathouse, so they know what's going on. Haunor here is in charge." The captain indicates the dwarf. "I'll be making a few inquiries here in town. If I don't hear back from you by the tenth, I'll send some reinforcements. Any questions?"

[Another_Poet]

Spoiler

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"Yeah, how do I get out of this chickensh-t outfit?"

"Inquiries in town? Aww come on captain, don't tell me that can't wait. We need your help out there."

((At this point Tell is 90% sure the captain is on the cultists' side.))

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 8, Morning

(( You secure that $#!7, Hudson! ))

"No, you don't. Haunor is more than capable of overseeing this mission. That journal you gave me indicated activity around the town, and I'm not about to let any of those leads go cold. I haven't kept Hommlet safe by growing complacent and distracting myself with only the obvious threats."

[Skjaldbakka]

"Lead on, Haunor"

[Another_Poet]

((I won't look in the box below... Shhalahr only.))

Spoiler

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sense motive on the cap'n (1d20+3)[16]

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 8, Morning

(( There is nothing in Elmo's voice or actions, nor those of his men, that confirm or deny Tell's suspicions. The druid will have to play this one out some more. ))

"C'mon, son. Y'ain't feelin' timid all o' a sudden, now, are ya?" the dwarf grins at Tell.

[Another_Poet]

In the face of uncertainty, Tell has always found blunt honesty to work well. Or at least to make him feel better.

"Yes I am," he says to the dwarf. And addressing all in the little company, but Elmo in particular:

"You yourself said that we have evidence of activity around town. May I remind you that we have no idea who might be working on their behalf. However certain you may be of your own intentions, all I know is that you stay behind while we go to fight the cultists. How do I know you aren't sending us to a trap? What evidence can you give of your own faithfulness?

((And pretty much no matter what the man says...))

"Would you be willing to swear to it under Megiddo's truth-detecting spell?

((Skjald I hope you can do a better bluff check than myself, 'cuz I'm asking you to fake a spell.))

[Skjaldbakka]

Megiddo raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

[Frosty]

Pyro has nothing to add at this point and will wait until her shift is finished.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Temple of Elemental Evil: Planting 8, Late Afternoon

(( With Lor's arrival, Pyro's shift is pretty well over. Will Lor stay for a shift of recon, or will she head back with Pyro so they can just get right to work on implementing the info leak? ))

[hr]
Hommlet: Planting 8, Morning

"Why, you ungrateful worm!" One of the humans steps forward, drawing a large sword.

"Stand down, Mair!" Elmo yells in reply as the others move to restrain the man. The captain turns to Tell. "If you feel that accompanying these men would place you at unacceptable risk, you are under no obligation to do so. I can send more of my own men if I have to. And, of course, now I will have to add a discussion with Spugnoir on his judgement of others' character to my list of things to do.

"Haunor, you and your men have a free hour while I gather some replacements. Meet me back here in that time."

The dwarf nods. "All right, boys, let's not make a scene. Mair, settle down. He's not worth getting excited over."

The assembled militia members start heading back to town.

(( If Tell still insists on the magical interrogation… ))

"Strangely suspicious even though you so willingly and boldly offered up this affair to me. I've got nothing to prove to an outsider."

[Another_Poet]

"Whoa, whoa!" Tell cries as people begin to disperse. "I'll take the fight to the moathouse. You need not replace me. Give us 10 seconds of your time and not only will your word be proven, but you'll have our three able bodies as well. I may be rude but I'm handy in a fight."

Tell stares at the captain expectantly. Surely the man sees that refusing the test is as good as admitting guilt.

((Man I wish we had a charm specialist right now.))

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Hommlet: Planting 8, Morning

"I've got nothing to prove. You do. You're the one making accusations. So either shape up, or stop wasting my time."

[Another_Poet]

((Shhalahr, I don't recall ever changing shape in this game and Wildshape isn't on my sheet. Refresh me, are we using the nerfed Shapeshift variant, normal Wildshape, or no animal forms for druids at all?))

[Shhalahr Windrider]

(( PH2 Shapeshift. And you used it just before the dragon fight to gain a bit of mobility.

You aren't about to try and intimidate a local authority figure, are you? ))

[Another_Poet]

((Intimidate? No, no, that would be wrong. I just think that maybe switching to grizzly bear form and grappling the guy so Meg can hit him with detect evil would be a good move. The kind of thing that says, "We're edgy, but not too edgy." Really raise our reputation with these country militia types, you know, because we need their respect and nothing gets respect like a bear that knows how to wrestle.

Oh my gods I hope Skjald steps in with one of his highly reasonable solutions that makes everything alright. He usually posts about 2 in the afternoon so I'll wait an hour before doing anything drastic.))

[Skjaldbakka]

"This is foolishness!" Megiddo exclaims, his eyes blazing with silver flame. "I do not care whether or not these men accompany us. We fled only because fighting the dragon depleted our resources. Fully recharged as I am now, we are going to the moathouse to defeat this evil. If these men wish to take part in defending their homes, they may. If they wish to betray us, they may try. It will make no difference either way, except to their own pride."

He pauses for a moment, looking the crowd in the eyes.

"I am going. Follow or stay. I care not."

He smiles slightly as he walks away, as if to some bit of personal humor.

OOC: Manifesting Inertial Armor for dramatic effect, augmented for mechanical benefit. Also, by walking away, I meant in the direction of the moathouse.

[Another_Poet]

Tell looks back and forth betwen the angry elf, the various militiamen and their captain. Finally, with nothing else to say he yells a childish, "YEAH!" at the captain, and follows his friend away.

He hopes that the militamen come along, but leaves either way.

[Lycar]

Grigor human cleric

Grigor marches to the meeting point with Tell and Megiddo. He seems to be lost in thoughts for most of the way and even keeps quiet during the exchange between Tell and Elmo.

When Tell tries to trick the militia men however, he chuckles and speaks up.

"Hehe, my dear Tell, I think you are getting something confused here: Arcanists concern themselves with breaking the natural order. Truth and beauty are the realm of the divine. And as it so happens, Olidamarra knows a bit about that, soo... if you want me to pray for a bit of thruthful divination, I would be happy to comply."

Spoiler

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If you want, Grigor rolls for Bluff: (1d20+8)[10]

Lycar

EDIT: Damn, when the page loaded, I only saw up to post# 1306
I suppose this post is superfluous now?

[Another_Poet]

((Heck, you might as well act like you're casting it. If he thinks he's about to be found otu he might attack and save us the trouble of being betrayed later.

I have to say, his actions have done nothing to help my trust toward him.))

[Entertainer13]

I say... head back!

[Lycar]

Grigor human cleric

Grigor shrugs.

"A bit of paranoia may be helathy, but if it screws with your happyness, it is too much. Let us go. Those who are of faith shall follow."

So he turns and begins his march to the moathouse.

"Oh that reminds me... did I ever tell you the story of the Mage and the Merchant? No? Well, then this as good a time as ever..."

Lycar

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Xaod's Cave: Planting 8, Evening

Pyro an Lor find Xaod sitting outside the cave, stroking his beard, apparently lost in thought. But before they can startle him, he notices his comrades. "Ah, both of you? What's happening?"

(( I'm pretty sure you'll tell Xaod of your decision to go with his idea, so… ))

After filling Xaod in, he asks, "Okay. If we're gonna lead 'em back to the cave, any idea where we should make our new base of operations?"

[hr]
Moathouse: Planting 8, Evening

The last Tell, Megiddo and Grigor hear from Elmo before setting out is the captain advising his men, "Let 'em go. We'll worry about them if and when they start making real trouble."

The sojourn back to the moathouse could be quite plesant with a cool breeze striking the right temperature under the early summer sun. And the trip is quite peaceful, too, with no strangers on the road or any other obstructions.

As the sun descends, the peacefulness returns to that uneasy quiet that surrounds the vicinity of the moathouse, until the group reaches the marshy grounds. There is yet to be any sign of Captain Elmo and his militia or the cultists from within the moathouse.

[Another_Poet]

Tell

"Maybe we should hide off the road and see what kind of patrols they have."

In his mind he finishes the thought: And if Elmo or his militia are working with the cultists, maybe we'll see 'em show up for a communique.

((Suggest we all take 20 in hiding and then stay put till midnight, unless we see something interesting first.))