“Yes, yes we are indeed. “ says the half-elf stepping forward. “We were hoping that you could help us. We need information on the miising persons, anything that you can recall of them could help us. “ he motion to one of the wooden benchs “Do you want to seat? Let’s get comfortable shall we?” After they sit he smiles and starts
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ullingtin stands quietly with his compatriots. He knows he doesn’t always make the best first impressions and let’s those with more charm break the ice.
Being in a house of worship, he takes off his mushroomcap hat, and it hangs on his back suspended on a leathery thong. His hair is somewhat long but slicked back and matted to his head with sweat and grime. With his bulky robes, shell-like mushroomcap on his back, and relatively tiny head he has an odd resemblance to a turtle.
Standing still as the half-elf speaks, Ullingtin scans the church. While not an expert in religion, he is well versed in Chauntea’s domain of nature and looks for anything odd or unexpected.
Perception to look around: 7
Nature roll (if applicable) to interpret? With guidance: 13
"Yes, please, do have a seat. I assure you, I will help in any way that I can. ", the priest says as he nervously wrings his hands. "Torick Vorg was the local blacksmith, he was the first to go missing. The last time I saw him was during a confession. On Chauntea's honor I cannot divulge the details of the confessed incident, but he was a rather...violent man. I was frustrated with him, and disgusted...I had been working with him for weeks on his temper to no avail. I sent him to the cleansing house, hoping that its power would help where I could not. I assumed he has simply preferred to run away from his problems."
"The next...Jacob Kaster, I saw him two weeks ago at the stream. I was washing some garments when he came, to 'clear his head', he said. He was very deep into his drink, another man I had been helping for some time. I begged him to give the cleansing room a chance. He scoffed at first, but after some appealing, he entered. I left him there with his thoughts, not wanting to intrude on a private moment."
"The last, this foreigner, I wish I could say. I never had a chance to meet the man."
Ullington and Dearg see nothing out of sorts within this room. The walls are lined with symbols of nature and agriculture, typical of a farming village temple. There are only two doors to be seen, one leading to the small room in the corner, and the other leading in the direction of the back section of the house.
“So both men were violent, and last time you saw them was, one on the way to this cleanising house, and the other one inside it.”
He turns towards the rest of the group.
”seems that our next stop is that place. The only rogue element here is the wanted criminal that was on the village. The most probable scenario is that someone recognized him and he ran away, but we will see as more pieces of this puzzle unfolds. Don’t we?”
He talks back to the priest.
”Would you mind to guide us to this cleansing house? Unless you have another idea?” He looks to his companions. Once they are going to the house he asks to the priest
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sorry guys! I didn't realize it was mothers day yesterday so I got tied up all day.
"Father, how does the cleansing house work? Do villagers frequent it, or is it rarely used? It seems to me that you were the last person to see both of these men before they went missing. I'm not trying to imply anything father but our task is to discover the cause of their disappearance, and to ensure the safety of the townspeople. We need as much information from you as possible to help these people, im sure your god would understand that." Grady stands and walks over to the father.
"When was the last time you used the cleansing house yourself? If that's truly the last time you saw these people there may be a clue there. I'm curious why these two went missing if others have used it with no issue however." He stops and stares at the priest.
His nervousness seems to be related to the awkwardness of the situation and the obvious implications. His words are genuine to you.
"The cleansing house and the room within was created over a hundred years ago, as a mechanism for those to clear their hearts of darkness. The custom is simple...a person should enter the room naked, take a seat on the chair within and with remorse in their heart wash themselves with the cold water. Some would say it is only a meditation, but I truly believe there is a cleansing power there. I use it myself regularly," Ertis answers.
He rubs his temples upon Grady's persuasion. Convinced by the paladin, he painfully responds "Yes, of course. You know the value of confession as well as I, and how much this pains me, but I suppose withholding information given to me in privacy is meaningless to missing men if it can help the lost become found. They both were...trouble sorts. Torick lost his wife at childbirth and gave in to drinking. I had been trying to help him through his pain, mostly for his son Will's sake. One day, however, he almost beat Will to death with an iron bucket. It was the day after that I lost my patience with him and demanded that he attend the cleansing room.
Jacob was no kinder. His father and grandfather were equally cruel to their wives, and Jacob grew up no different. When his wife confided this to me, I tried guiding him through faith, but he would always choose the bottle instead...just like his old man."
Shek’lok ponders Erits words while they are heading towards the House
“With remorse in their hearts... what if they enter the house without remorse? What if they were angry when entered? How do you feel aftre udsing it? You see Father, the effects of the House could be just the good effects of meditating as you said, but it could be some magical effect on it. Who created it? “
"Beyond the forces of the divine, it is easiest to overpower someone when you can choose to strike where they have stripped their own defenses and cannot escape. Father, does this building have anything in place to keep everything out except the water of the river? I would find my mediation broken if I was suddenly struck by a fish or similar creature."
Ullingtin breaks his silence, “Perhaps it would be best if Father Ertis showed us to this bath house. We could begin to inspect it as he told us of its history.”
Along the way, Ertis answers the questions asked to him.
“With remorse in their hearts... what if they enter the house without remorse? What if they were angry when entered? How do you feel aftre udsing it? You see Father, the effects of the House could be just the good effects of meditating as you said, but it could be some magical effect on it. Who created it? “
"Well, one cannot accept a blessing that is not wanted. I imagine that it functions as a chair and a stream in those cases. As for myself, I feel at peace after the ritual, as if my mind and my body have become a blank slate for the day. The room was created by Father Merris as I understand it, the first priest of Dormay. I knew neither he nor Father Cassius, who came before me. Cassius was on his last days when I was summoned, and passed before I arrived."
"Beyond the forces of the divine, it is easiest to overpower someone when you can choose to strike where they have stripped their own defenses and cannot escape. Father, does this building have anything in place to keep everything out except the water of the river? I would find my mediation broken if I was suddenly struck by a fish or similar creature."
"No, I cannot imagine that scenario. The stream does form a pool within the room, as you'll see, but quickly flows back out the other side. Any creatures living inside the stream are not big enough to be a bother."
Before long, you reach the small house that sits over the stream, a short distance outside of the village. It is 15 feet wide and long, and the outer walls are coated by a thick white paste. A single plain wooden door provides an entrance, and the stream flows into one side of the building, and out the other end.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Can I see any sort of grating where the stream flows under the shed and to estimate the size of hole that is allowing the river to pass into the shed. Perception: 16
Grady will inspect the building outside and in, looking for anything out of place.
"This is an old ritual, and it's very possible that one of the other priests left a magical mark here. You said you never knew them, have the townspeople told you of your predecessor? How many other villagers use this room on a weekly or monthly basis?"
Grady will use "Divine Sense" to try and discern any evil or good in the area.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Grady Perception (at disadvantage for dim light): 20
The walls inside the room are made of bricks and well protected from moisture. There is no light source inside the room, and it is designed in a way to provide darkness for the ritual, so the dim light provided by the doorway reveals only that the bottom of the room is on a lower level than the terrain, creating a knee deep pool in the center of the room. There is a single chair in the center of the room, creating an eerie scene with the dark backdrop.
Ertis answers Grady's questions as he takes a look inside. "From all I've heard, Father Cassius was a good man, though many of the drinkers in town resented his attempts to bring them to sobriety, much like myself I suppose. I know nothing of Father Merris aside from the building of the cleansing house. Many in the village use the room, as its cleansing abilities are well known here."
Suddenly, a sinister presence registers itself inside the cleansing room to Grady, tugging at his divine senses like a sickness. Whatever the presence is, Grady is unable to determine exactly what or where it is.
"I feel something unholy in this room. Something dark.. evil. I can't put my finger on it yet but I must ask that nobody else use this cleansing room until we have found the source. It's possible that it feeds on the darkness inside a person, which is why you, father, and some of the other townspeople have been able to use it without problems. I feel it, I know it's here. Be careful friends."
Grady begins a low divine chant under his breath, trying to lure out what lurks there.
“Yes, yes we are indeed. “ says the half-elf stepping forward. “We were hoping that you could help us. We need information on the miising persons, anything that you can recall of them could help us. “ he motion to one of the wooden benchs “Do you want to seat? Let’s get comfortable shall we?” After they sit he smiles and starts
“When was the last time you saw both of them?”
PbP Character: A few ;)
Ullingtin stands quietly with his compatriots. He knows he doesn’t always make the best first impressions and let’s those with more charm break the ice.
Being in a house of worship, he takes off his mushroomcap hat, and it hangs on his back suspended on a leathery thong. His hair is somewhat long but slicked back and matted to his head with sweat and grime. With his bulky robes, shell-like mushroomcap on his back, and relatively tiny head he has an odd resemblance to a turtle.
Standing still as the half-elf speaks, Ullingtin scans the church. While not an expert in religion, he is well versed in Chauntea’s domain of nature and looks for anything odd or unexpected.
Perception to look around: 7
Nature roll (if applicable) to interpret? With guidance: 13
Dearg is far from religious, however he is well versed in secrets. He studies the building looking for any hidden or concealed doors and entrances.
Perception: 9
"Yes, please, do have a seat. I assure you, I will help in any way that I can. ", the priest says as he nervously wrings his hands. "Torick Vorg was the local blacksmith, he was the first to go missing. The last time I saw him was during a confession. On Chauntea's honor I cannot divulge the details of the confessed incident, but he was a rather...violent man. I was frustrated with him, and disgusted...I had been working with him for weeks on his temper to no avail. I sent him to the cleansing house, hoping that its power would help where I could not. I assumed he has simply preferred to run away from his problems."
"The next...Jacob Kaster, I saw him two weeks ago at the stream. I was washing some garments when he came, to 'clear his head', he said. He was very deep into his drink, another man I had been helping for some time. I begged him to give the cleansing room a chance. He scoffed at first, but after some appealing, he entered. I left him there with his thoughts, not wanting to intrude on a private moment."
"The last, this foreigner, I wish I could say. I never had a chance to meet the man."
Ullington and Dearg see nothing out of sorts within this room. The walls are lined with symbols of nature and agriculture, typical of a farming village temple. There are only two doors to be seen, one leading to the small room in the corner, and the other leading in the direction of the back section of the house.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Insight: 13.
To see if he’s liying and why he is so nervous
“So both men were violent, and last time you saw them was, one on the way to this cleanising house, and the other one inside it.”
He turns towards the rest of the group.
”seems that our next stop is that place. The only rogue element here is the wanted criminal that was on the village. The most probable scenario is that someone recognized him and he ran away, but we will see as more pieces of this puzzle unfolds. Don’t we?”
He talks back to the priest.
”Would you mind to guide us to this cleansing house? Unless you have another idea?” He looks to his companions. Once they are going to the house he asks to the priest
”So, what’s the story of this place?”
PbP Character: A few ;)
Sorry guys! I didn't realize it was mothers day yesterday so I got tied up all day.
"Father, how does the cleansing house work? Do villagers frequent it, or is it rarely used? It seems to me that you were the last person to see both of these men before they went missing. I'm not trying to imply anything father but our task is to discover the cause of their disappearance, and to ensure the safety of the townspeople. We need as much information from you as possible to help these people, im sure your god would understand that." Grady stands and walks over to the father.
"When was the last time you used the cleansing house yourself? If that's truly the last time you saw these people there may be a clue there. I'm curious why these two went missing if others have used it with no issue however." He stops and stares at the priest.
Persuasion: 18
Sheklok:
His nervousness seems to be related to the awkwardness of the situation and the obvious implications. His words are genuine to you.
"The cleansing house and the room within was created over a hundred years ago, as a mechanism for those to clear their hearts of darkness. The custom is simple...a person should enter the room naked, take a seat on the chair within and with remorse in their heart wash themselves with the cold water. Some would say it is only a meditation, but I truly believe there is a cleansing power there. I use it myself regularly," Ertis answers.
He rubs his temples upon Grady's persuasion. Convinced by the paladin, he painfully responds "Yes, of course. You know the value of confession as well as I, and how much this pains me, but I suppose withholding information given to me in privacy is meaningless to missing men if it can help the lost become found. They both were...trouble sorts. Torick lost his wife at childbirth and gave in to drinking. I had been trying to help him through his pain, mostly for his son Will's sake. One day, however, he almost beat Will to death with an iron bucket. It was the day after that I lost my patience with him and demanded that he attend the cleansing room.
Jacob was no kinder. His father and grandfather were equally cruel to their wives, and Jacob grew up no different. When his wife confided this to me, I tried guiding him through faith, but he would always choose the bottle instead...just like his old man."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"I can take you to the cleansing room, of course, when you are ready, though there is not much there to see", he explains.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Shek’lok ponders Erits words while they are heading towards the House
“With remorse in their hearts... what if they enter the house without remorse? What if they were angry when entered? How do you feel aftre udsing it? You see Father, the effects of the House could be just the good effects of meditating as you said, but it could be some magical effect on it. Who created it? “
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Beyond the forces of the divine, it is easiest to overpower someone when you can choose to strike where they have stripped their own defenses and cannot escape. Father, does this building have anything in place to keep everything out except the water of the river? I would find my mediation broken if I was suddenly struck by a fish or similar creature."
Ullingtin breaks his silence, “Perhaps it would be best if Father Ertis showed us to this bath house. We could begin to inspect it as he told us of its history.”
I assumed that we are heading towards it as we ask him more questions...so I agree we should get moving.. :)
PbP Character: A few ;)
Along the way, Ertis answers the questions asked to him.
"Well, one cannot accept a blessing that is not wanted. I imagine that it functions as a chair and a stream in those cases. As for myself, I feel at peace after the ritual, as if my mind and my body have become a blank slate for the day. The room was created by Father Merris as I understand it, the first priest of Dormay. I knew neither he nor Father Cassius, who came before me. Cassius was on his last days when I was summoned, and passed before I arrived."
"No, I cannot imagine that scenario. The stream does form a pool within the room, as you'll see, but quickly flows back out the other side. Any creatures living inside the stream are not big enough to be a bother."
Before long, you reach the small house that sits over the stream, a short distance outside of the village. It is 15 feet wide and long, and the outer walls are coated by a thick white paste. A single plain wooden door provides an entrance, and the stream flows into one side of the building, and out the other end.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Can I see any sort of grating where the stream flows under the shed and to estimate the size of hole that is allowing the river to pass into the shed.
Perception: 16
The walls are raised in such a way that they do not obstruct the water.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Grady will inspect the building outside and in, looking for anything out of place.
"This is an old ritual, and it's very possible that one of the other priests left a magical mark here. You said you never knew them, have the townspeople told you of your predecessor? How many other villagers use this room on a weekly or monthly basis?"
Grady will use "Divine Sense" to try and discern any evil or good in the area.
Grady Perception (at disadvantage for dim light): 20
The walls inside the room are made of bricks and well protected from moisture. There is no light source inside the room, and it is designed in a way to provide darkness for the ritual, so the dim light provided by the doorway reveals only that the bottom of the room is on a lower level than the terrain, creating a knee deep pool in the center of the room. There is a single chair in the center of the room, creating an eerie scene with the dark backdrop.
Ertis answers Grady's questions as he takes a look inside. "From all I've heard, Father Cassius was a good man, though many of the drinkers in town resented his attempts to bring them to sobriety, much like myself I suppose. I know nothing of Father Merris aside from the building of the cleansing house. Many in the village use the room, as its cleansing abilities are well known here."
Suddenly, a sinister presence registers itself inside the cleansing room to Grady, tugging at his divine senses like a sickness. Whatever the presence is, Grady is unable to determine exactly what or where it is.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
And in all this years since the creation of the village or the House, there aren’t any report of missing people before? At least that you know of”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"I feel something unholy in this room. Something dark.. evil. I can't put my finger on it yet but I must ask that nobody else use this cleansing room until we have found the source. It's possible that it feeds on the darkness inside a person, which is why you, father, and some of the other townspeople have been able to use it without problems. I feel it, I know it's here. Be careful friends."
Grady begins a low divine chant under his breath, trying to lure out what lurks there.
Shek’lok tenses looking around in search for any clue that could be hidden.
(Bonus Action: Eye for detail. Investigation: 12 )
PbP Character: A few ;)