Ok I haven’t dealt with what’s going on with the crowd recently. I’m going to rule that because of the mention of Explictica Defilus I’m going to let Xanrym roll another Persuasion check. It’s quite high DC 15 and if he fails it, these people are going to storm the guardhouse.
(OOC: Oops! That would have been a real unforced error. I didn't consider the possibility that all 17 were cultists and that he might provoke them to attack. After Avery mentioned the cult, Xanrym was really just trying to help Avery scare off any non-cultists in the crowd. He made the insulting remarks about the naga in an effort to provoke the bald man, hoping that it would trick him into revealing himself if he was a cultist. Thankfully, Xanrym finally seems to have found a convincing argument...)
At the mention of the naga, people start muttering. Perhaps they’ve heard the name before, or maybe someone finally putting a name to the towns curse has shaken them. The ones at the back of the crowd begin to quietly disperse, and Cirilli’s father and his more loyal compatriots realise they’ve lost the advantage in terms of numbers. He accepts defeat and tells the rest to return home.
He turns to you, “This can only stop this for a little while. As soon as people get over the shock of your allegations, we’ll be back to free our constable.” He then gives a wicked smile and leans closer, “And you may not have as many allies against the Queen as you think.” He walks away.
Wraven let’s out a sigh of relief, “Thanks for coming, but I don’t think this is last night we’re going to have like this. I’ll talk to Zakarius in the morning about doing something about these captives.” He goes back into the jail.
Avery watches, shaking his head, wondering how deep this thread runs through the town. He returns with the others. "I think this is far from over, we need to be here in the morning in case this rabble tries again, or more cultists appear out of the woodwork."
Avery watches, shaking his head, wondering how deep this thread runs through the town. He returns with the others. "I think this is far from over, we need to be here in the morning in case this rabble tries again, or more cultists appear out of the woodwork."
Xanrym nods in agreement and steps inside the inn to reassure Maajid, Toska, Oliver, and Cirilli. "It's OK," he says. "They're gone, hopefully until morning. Maajid, will you stay up a little longer and keep watch with Oliver? Toska, Cirilli, go ahead and try to get some sleep until it's your shift for the watch." Then he steps back out on the porch with Avery, Theldrin, and (if she has returned to the inn) Liarin and closes the front door of the inn. He wants to have a frank conversation with his companions.
Xanrym shares the words the 'leader' of the mob, the bald man who did most of the talking, said when he leaned in to Xanrym before walking away. Avery may have heard it, but Theldrin and Liarin certainly didn't. Then he emphasizes one point, "The man called the naga 'the Queen.' And I'm pretty sure that I never shared that title. Remember that Abramo called her 'the Queen of All Night.' I conclude that at least that man was a cult member."
(OOC: If Theldrin shares that the man was actually Cirilli's father, he probably does that here.)
Xanrym summarizes what they all know, "Last night, when Mishka attacked, I initially thought that she was a bad apple and was slowly building up a small band of cultists in secret. I thought that she may have been concealing her evil, quietly recruiting new members, and maybe charming those who were less willing. But now we know that the cultists took over the entire Temple of Merrika months ago. From what Cirilli told us, the naga can mesmerize her victims, and they become her thralls, forced to do her bidding. But to be charmed in that way, the cult must take people to the naga in the Rushmoors."
Xanrym classifies everyone they know into 3 groups: trusted, cultist, and everyone else. So far, he thinks that they can trust these people:
Maajid - the troglodytes attacked him, and they haven't been separated from him for long enough for him to be converted
Cirilli - Abramo kept her in a cage, and he doesn't think that a cultist would be so ready to kill Abramo.
Mayor Ormond - ever since they showed the mayor evidence of the cult, he has been doing what he could to help
Wraven Stoutheart - if he was with the cult, he would have just quietly killed Lldryk and let the constable go
Toska - the cult tied her up and gagged her before they tried to kill Maajid, probably intending to take her to the naga
Xanrym doesn't trust anyone else unless someone whom they currently trust can vouch for them and confirm that that person has definitely not "disappeared" for a few days.
Finally, Xanrym has 3 immediate concerns:
Oliver - Xanrym is still not sure whether they can trust Oliver. The man was not bound or attacked when the cult attacked the Golden Grain Inn the previous night. Oliver is not from Orlane, so he may have already been to the naga. If they're not going to lock up Oliver, then they should make sure that he's always paired with at least one person they trust. "And we should be careful not to share any important plans with Oliver."
Mayor Ormond - After the mob attacked the jail, Xanrym is worried about Mayor Ormond. He seems like a key ally, and Xanrym is worried that the mob could try to kill or kidnap him before morning. Xanrym suggests that at least a couple of them should go fetch the mayor from his home and bring him back to the inn for the rest of the night so that he's better protected. "At this point, we need to keep everyone we trust alive and safe from the cult."
Time - If the cult is willing to attack the jail with a mob this openly, Xanrym worries that they don't have much time before the cult tries to take over the town by force, killing anyone who resists. If Mayor Ormond makes them a fair offer to go after the naga and hopefully put an end the cult once and for all, they probably need to spend at most one day to rest and gather supplies and additional information before they head out for the Rushmoors. "Hopefully, if we kill the naga, the spell will be broken. But until then, the cult could cause a lot more damage. We should leave the people we trust in a secure location with a few guards, like Wraven and Lldryk. Otherwise, I fear that the cult may kill them before we get back."
Xanrym is willing to go fetch mayor now before he goes to sleep, but he'd want at least Avery or Liarin to come with in case he runs into more cultists.
(OOC: the only thing we have to decide right away is whether to fetch the mayor and, if so, who should go get him vs. who should stay and guard the inn. Of course, Liarin hasn't told us about the squirrel yet.)
Theldrin will definitely share what Cirilli said about her father.
"Hmmm, this is disconcerting," he frowns when he hears what the man said before departing. "I agree we should both make a move to protect the mayor, and to try to strike at the naga as soon as possible."
As we return to the innn, Liarin shifts back from squirrel form. "There was a squirrel watching the proceedings but I was unable to clearly communicate with them. They tries to lead me off to the elms near the town but I was afraid to go alone as tired as I am. I think we may have an ally in a druid or the like there and would like to check it out after daylight."
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off to the elms near the town but I was afraid to go alone as tired as I am. I think we may have an ally in a druid or the like there and would like to check it out after daylight."
Xanrym asks, "You mean that grove of elms at the northwest end of town? I believe that Mayor Ormond said that a crazy old man named Ramne lives there. Before we went to the temple today, we were talking about seeing 3 people: Ramne, the old man who the mayor said knows a lot about everything, the Widow Merridie, the town's longest resident who may also have a pearl to sell Theldrin, and Alan, a former ranger of the Dim Forest. We may also need to pick up a few supplies for this journey. We could spend all day doing that and then head to the Rushmoors the next morning. Or maybe we could split up in pairs tomorrow so that we meet with everyone sooner. That way, if we find a credible guide or map for the Rushmoors, we might be able to head out of town before dinner."
Xanrym asks who should fetch the mayor and who should stay to guard the inn. It's about 400' from the inn to the mayors house (location 6 to 10 on Petar Gnip's page for Orlane). Going without a light and walking quietly, Xanrym thinks that he could make it there in a couple of minutes, but he's worried that he might find the mayor's house already beset by cultists. Since everyone is awake, they could all go back to the mayor's, leaving Maajid and the others to watch over the inn for a few minutes. Or Xanrym could just take Wraven Stoneheart, leaving Lldryk to guard to jail alone for a few minutes. Wraven might have a better chance of rousing the mayor and convincing him to come back to the inn so that he's not unguarded tonight.
Avery will stay with the jail, in case the mob returns before the mayor does. He places himself outside, so he is in view of all who pass. While he keeps a friendly demeanor, his sword is out and the point is in the ground while he rests his hands on the pommel.
Avery will stay with the jail, in case the mob returns before the mayor does. He places himself outside, so he is in view of all who pass. While he keeps a friendly demeanor, his sword is out and the point is in the ground while he rests his hands on the pommel.
OK. If Wraven will go with him, Xanrym gets out his signal whistle and draws a short sword. He sneaks along the road in whatever moonlight / starlight there is. He goes a little ahead of Wraven, walking as slowly and quietly as he can, to look for cultists so that they're not surprised by anyone at or on the way to the mayor's house.
Moving quietly in the dark: Stealth18 Watching for cultists: Perception5 (rolling with disadvantage in case it's a vision check since we're in dim lighting)
OK. If Wraven will go with him, Xanrym gets out his signal whistle and draws a short sword. He sneaks along the road in whatever moonlight / starlight there is. He goes a little ahead of Wraven, walking as slowly and quietly as he can, to look for cultists so that they're not surprised by anyone at or on the way to the mayor's house.
Moving quietly in the dark: Stealth14 Watching for cultists: Perception19 (rolling with disadvantage in case it's a vision check since we're in dim lighting)
If they do encounter cultists on the way to or at the mayor's house, of course, I'll need to know what Xanrym sees / hears before I can say what he does.
If Xanrym makes it all the way to the mayor's without spotting any cultists, he'll let Wraven handle getting inside and getting the mayor. Xanrym sheathes his short sword, loads a bolt in his crossbow, and waits quietly just outside the mayor's house to keep watch for any cultists approaching while Wraven wakes up the mayor and helps him gather his things. (When they arrived at the mayor's house, Xanrym recommended that Wraven tell the mayor to take anything that he wouldn't want the cultists to steal in case they break into his house before morning.) Once they hit the main road back to the inn, they'll walk as a group (Wraven, Mayor Ormond, and then Xanrym), not trying to be stealthy. At that point, they'd basically be within range of Lldryk's longbow and Theldrin's fire bolt in case the cultists try to attack.
Theldrin tries to find a vantage point where he can keep an eye on both the jail/Avery as well as Xanrym's movement through the street en route to the mayor's house.
Ok so Avery and Liarin are at the jail with the prisoners and Lldryk. Thelrin stays at the Golden Grain with your other companions, but gets on the roof to get a better vantage point. Xanrym asks Wraven to accompany him to the mayors house to grab the mayor, which Wraven agrees to and they start over there together.
I’m going to go into a private chat with Xanrym because of a private conversation Wraven will likely have with him.
Theldrin will witness Xanrym and Wraven get over to the mayors house unobstructed.
(OOC: Oops! That would have been a real unforced error. I didn't consider the possibility that all 17 were cultists and that he might provoke them to attack. After Avery mentioned the cult, Xanrym was really just trying to help Avery scare off any non-cultists in the crowd. He made the insulting remarks about the naga in an effort to provoke the bald man, hoping that it would trick him into revealing himself if he was a cultist. Thankfully, Xanrym finally seems to have found a convincing argument...)
Persuasion 20 (in game log)
At the mention of the naga, people start muttering. Perhaps they’ve heard the name before, or maybe someone finally putting a name to the towns curse has shaken them. The ones at the back of the crowd begin to quietly disperse, and Cirilli’s father and his more loyal compatriots realise they’ve lost the advantage in terms of numbers. He accepts defeat and tells the rest to return home.
He turns to you, “This can only stop this for a little while. As soon as people get over the shock of your allegations, we’ll be back to free our constable.” He then gives a wicked smile and leans closer, “And you may not have as many allies against the Queen as you think.” He walks away.
Wraven let’s out a sigh of relief, “Thanks for coming, but I don’t think this is last night we’re going to have like this. I’ll talk to Zakarius in the morning about doing something about these captives.” He goes back into the jail.
Theldrin breathes a sigh of relief as he watches the crowd disperse, hoping everyone can get back to sleep and get some rest before dawn.
Avery watches, shaking his head, wondering how deep this thread runs through the town. He returns with the others. "I think this is far from over, we need to be here in the morning in case this rabble tries again, or more cultists appear out of the woodwork."
Xanrym nods in agreement and steps inside the inn to reassure Maajid, Toska, Oliver, and Cirilli. "It's OK," he says. "They're gone, hopefully until morning. Maajid, will you stay up a little longer and keep watch with Oliver? Toska, Cirilli, go ahead and try to get some sleep until it's your shift for the watch." Then he steps back out on the porch with Avery, Theldrin, and (if she has returned to the inn) Liarin and closes the front door of the inn. He wants to have a frank conversation with his companions.
Xanrym shares the words the 'leader' of the mob, the bald man who did most of the talking, said when he leaned in to Xanrym before walking away. Avery may have heard it, but Theldrin and Liarin certainly didn't. Then he emphasizes one point, "The man called the naga 'the Queen.' And I'm pretty sure that I never shared that title. Remember that Abramo called her 'the Queen of All Night.' I conclude that at least that man was a cult member."
(OOC: If Theldrin shares that the man was actually Cirilli's father, he probably does that here.)
Xanrym summarizes what they all know, "Last night, when Mishka attacked, I initially thought that she was a bad apple and was slowly building up a small band of cultists in secret. I thought that she may have been concealing her evil, quietly recruiting new members, and maybe charming those who were less willing. But now we know that the cultists took over the entire Temple of Merrika months ago. From what Cirilli told us, the naga can mesmerize her victims, and they become her thralls, forced to do her bidding. But to be charmed in that way, the cult must take people to the naga in the Rushmoors."
Xanrym classifies everyone they know into 3 groups: trusted, cultist, and everyone else. So far, he thinks that they can trust these people:
Xanrym doesn't trust anyone else unless someone whom they currently trust can vouch for them and confirm that that person has definitely not "disappeared" for a few days.
Finally, Xanrym has 3 immediate concerns:
Time - If the cult is willing to attack the jail with a mob this openly, Xanrym worries that they don't have much time before the cult tries to take over the town by force, killing anyone who resists. If Mayor Ormond makes them a fair offer to go after the naga and hopefully put an end the cult once and for all, they probably need to spend at most one day to rest and gather supplies and additional information before they head out for the Rushmoors. "Hopefully, if we kill the naga, the spell will be broken. But until then, the cult could cause a lot more damage. We should leave the people we trust in a secure location with a few guards, like Wraven and Lldryk. Otherwise, I fear that the cult may kill them before we get back."
Xanrym is willing to go fetch mayor now before he goes to sleep, but he'd want at least Avery or Liarin to come with in case he runs into more cultists.
I’ll let you all discuss this before moving on.
(OOC: the only thing we have to decide right away is whether to fetch the mayor and, if so, who should go get him vs. who should stay and guard the inn. Of course, Liarin hasn't told us about the squirrel yet.)
Theldrin will definitely share what Cirilli said about her father.
"Hmmm, this is disconcerting," he frowns when he hears what the man said before departing. "I agree we should both make a move to protect the mayor, and to try to strike at the naga as soon as possible."
As we return to the innn, Liarin shifts back from squirrel form. "There was a squirrel watching the proceedings but I was unable to clearly communicate with them. They tries to lead me off to the elms near the town but I was afraid to go alone as tired as I am. I think we may have an ally in a druid or the like there and would like to check it out after daylight."
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Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Xanrym asks, "You mean that grove of elms at the northwest end of town? I believe that Mayor Ormond said that a crazy old man named Ramne lives there. Before we went to the temple today, we were talking about seeing 3 people: Ramne, the old man who the mayor said knows a lot about everything, the Widow Merridie, the town's longest resident who may also have a pearl to sell Theldrin, and Alan, a former ranger of the Dim Forest. We may also need to pick up a few supplies for this journey. We could spend all day doing that and then head to the Rushmoors the next morning. Or maybe we could split up in pairs tomorrow so that we meet with everyone sooner. That way, if we find a credible guide or map for the Rushmoors, we might be able to head out of town before dinner."
Xanrym asks who should fetch the mayor and who should stay to guard the inn. It's about 400' from the inn to the mayors house (location 6 to 10 on Petar Gnip's page for Orlane). Going without a light and walking quietly, Xanrym thinks that he could make it there in a couple of minutes, but he's worried that he might find the mayor's house already beset by cultists. Since everyone is awake, they could all go back to the mayor's, leaving Maajid and the others to watch over the inn for a few minutes. Or Xanrym could just take Wraven Stoneheart, leaving Lldryk to guard to jail alone for a few minutes. Wraven might have a better chance of rousing the mayor and convincing him to come back to the inn so that he's not unguarded tonight.
"Leave me back here while you go to the mayor. Splitting up in the morning sounds like a good plan."
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DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin offers to help Lldryk keep an eye on the jail while Wraven goes with Xanrym to the mayor's, if Wraven is willing.
Avery will stay with the jail, in case the mob returns before the mayor does. He places himself outside, so he is in view of all who pass. While he keeps a friendly demeanor, his sword is out and the point is in the ground while he rests his hands on the pommel.
OK. If Wraven will go with him, Xanrym gets out his signal whistle and draws a short sword. He sneaks along the road in whatever moonlight / starlight there is. He goes a little ahead of Wraven, walking as slowly and quietly as he can, to look for cultists so that they're not surprised by anyone at or on the way to the mayor's house.
Moving quietly in the dark: Stealth 18
Watching for cultists: Perception 5 (rolling with disadvantage in case it's a vision check since we're in dim lighting)
If they do encounter cultists on the way to or at the mayor's house, of course, I'll need to know what Xanrym sees / hears before I can say what he does.
If Xanrym makes it all the way to the mayor's without spotting any cultists, he'll let Wraven handle getting inside and getting the mayor. Xanrym sheathes his short sword, loads a bolt in his crossbow, and waits quietly just outside the mayor's house to keep watch for any cultists approaching while Wraven wakes up the mayor and helps him gather his things. (When they arrived at the mayor's house, Xanrym recommended that Wraven tell the mayor to take anything that he wouldn't want the cultists to steal in case they break into his house before morning.) Once they hit the main road back to the inn, they'll walk as a group (Wraven, Mayor Ormond, and then Xanrym), not trying to be stealthy. At that point, they'd basically be within range of Lldryk's longbow and Theldrin's fire bolt in case the cultists try to attack.
Theldrin tries to find a vantage point where he can keep an eye on both the jail/Avery as well as Xanrym's movement through the street en route to the mayor's house.
Ok so Avery and Liarin are at the jail with the prisoners and Lldryk. Thelrin stays at the Golden Grain with your other companions, but gets on the roof to get a better vantage point. Xanrym asks Wraven to accompany him to the mayors house to grab the mayor, which Wraven agrees to and they start over there together.
I’m going to go into a private chat with Xanrym because of a private conversation Wraven will likely have with him.
Theldrin will witness Xanrym and Wraven get over to the mayors house unobstructed.
(OOC: Good to hear! 👍 But now I'm worried that the DM didn't just say that we made it safely back to the Inn with the mayor. 😬)
Liarin is at the inn. She did not go to the jail. She would be with those we left at the inn rather than leaving them to their own devices.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep