A line of strong wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts from the gnome cleric in direction of the cultist (OOC: she must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away).
"If you don't surrender, you'll force me to increase the force of the wind..." explains the ex-Preceptor calmly "probably sending your fragile bones crashing into the first tree. Either way, we'll have you. The choice is yours, honey..."
Yasmina's blast of eldritch power hits home, knocking the wind out of the cultist. Then she is hit with a gust of wind. She manages to whether the howling gale, but between the apparently extremely frightening gnome and the unseen assailant, she is convinced that her only hope of survival at this point is to surrender... perhaps she realized that this gnome is one of those who somehow survived a fight against her master the previous day?
"What... wait... please, stop!" she exclaims, dropping the sack and holding her hands up to protect her face. "I... I yield! What do you want from me?"
(Well, congrats... apparently Milly is a very frightening gnome lol)
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The red-haired half-elf pulls back her hood and swoops down to grab the sack, taking a quick peek inside to see what the cultist put there, then turning to the cultist herself. "That was a good decision you made, let's see if more good decisions will keep you alive." She says with a cold glare, staring down the cultist. "We know you serve Firion but what are you doing here, hoping to waylay people with powerful artefacts travelling from the temple of Ilmater? Tell us all about you master and you will live to see another day."
Intimidation: 11 Another roll if help action is provided: 15 (Note that Hex spell gives disadvantage on wis saves at the moment)
"Good kid!" the gnome cleric lets the wind stop, but continues to keep her wand pointed menacingly "Life is the best teacher... And the lesson you just learned... that of don't mess with Xana 'Stormbringer' and who she cares for... is a very valuable one. Now, answer my friend here, will you? I would hate to give you a bad rating in 'willingness to stay unharmed'..."
(I don't think I need to bother having her roll more Wis checks... she knows she's been beaten).
"So... you're the group from the temple, then," she says defeatedly. "Yes... our master brought many of us here to help him track down items of great power... and has offered many bandit gangs a great deal of gold to turn over any magic items that they find to us. The Exalted of the Dragon... or, I suppose you would call him by his mere mortal name of 'Firion,' has foreseen that One Who Sleeps shall soon awaken. We, the mere servants that we are, are not privy to all The Exalted's knowledge... only that there are items of great power which shall facilitate the Great Wyrm's return, and that we the faithful shall be rewarded for our efforts to bring forth the One who Sleeps."
She sighs...
"I... I was weak..." she whispers as it dawns on her that she just betrayed both her master and 'The One Who Sleeps' by telling you everything she knows... still... it would do her little good to be one of 'the faithful' if she isn't alive to collect whatever reward this 'Great Wyrm' might offer.
If you question her further, you are able to put together that Firion and his cultists are looking for specific items... items of great power... that are tied to this 'One Who Sleeps,' but that they do not know for sure exactly what items those are which will act as keys to this entity's prison. That is why they are seeking out the most powerful, and dangerous, items in the land...
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This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Seeing the gnome taking over questioning, Yasmina again peeks into the bag to see what's in there. She then continues to the table and the charred corpses, picking up anything of interest, putting it in the bag too.
"If I can give you one piece of advice, honey," Xana sighs, speaking to the defeated cultist "you shouldn't believe everything they tell you without bothering to think about it... You know? There was also a Red Dragon who wanted to hire me... but I didn't accept! Red Dragon bosses are horrible! They're notorious for firing employees!"
"This was a joke," the ex-Preceptor smiles "but, like all jokes, it makes you laugh because it has a connection with reality; often the 'reward' of someone who helps a 'Great Wyrm' is to become its next meal! Maybe Frinion could have the power to avoid this fate for himself... but you can be sure that he would not have used his precious power to spare you such a fate! You was not 'weak', you was smart. Smart enough to do the right thing, both in giving in and in telling us everything. Now, just keep the habit of doing the right things, and change your life! Find an honest job... one in which you can contribute to the well-being of society without asking for trouble".
"You could work for a temple of Garl Glittergold..." the gnome cleric suggests "Not necessarily preaching, if you don't feel like - there is lot of other work to do and I'd be willing to put in a good word, if you want. Or look for something else on your own, as you prefer, but change your life. When you're a satisfied, busy old grandmother playing with your grandchildren, you will probably realize that it went better for you than for all the other unfortunates who are following the exalted - and who will either die serving him... or will be betrayed by him after having served their purpose!"
On the charred remains of the bandits, Yasmina finds a coin purse on each, both of which contain 5 silver pieces.
However, on one of the two corpses she finds something a little bit more interesting:
The second bandit has a strange lantern, which he presumably either hadn't handed over yet or which the cultist had already determined to be useless to her master's goals.
Delvindra:
You vaguely remember a story that you heard long ago of a powerful dragon who's greed grew so great that she attempted to conquer the entire world and add all things to her horde. Her power and madness were so great that the gods themselves intervened, locking her away in a prison that she could never escape from... but... you don't remember very many details from story.
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Delvindra listens to the Preceptor's words. Repentance, forgiveness, absolution, and a new chance...beliefs very much in keeping with the teachings of the Ilmateri.
And yet...somewhere in the back of her mind, the shadow of an echo of a whisper rails against the idea.
She looks at Yasmina searchingly for some kind of guidance...
After collecting the items of interest, the red-haired half-elf walks over to the handsome nobleman to speak with him in private for a moment.
Private conversation
"I think I might have found your items." The half-elf says, showing the nobleman the brooch and the bag she found. "I assume you recognize these." She adds, ready to hand them over unless the nobleman acts suspiciously about it. "Now, in return for trusting you about these items being yours I would ask you to not add to the distraction you already caused our mission." She says in a quite serious tone, looking the nobleman in the eyes and then briefly over at the gnome. "I'm aware that you have done nothing to lead Milly on, yet, but you are safe now while we are heading to a place we might never return from. While I didn't catch the part where you actually invited anyone to a fox hunt myself I'm sure it is abundantly clear to you by now that Milly would love that. What she really needs though in order to survive to see any fox hunting at all is help with finding a ship that can take us to our destination as safely and swiftly as possible, because the very powerful master of the woman over there will soon find us and kill us all if we don't make haste. I'm sure you wouldn't want your precious home being attacked in the middle of the night by that evil archmage and his minions?" Yasmina says, looking the nobleman intently in the eyes to make sure he gets every word of what she's saying.
"Now, unless you have any objections to what I've said, can you also tell me what we lawfully would do with that woman who has led attacks on travellers to steal their magical items?"She asks after a brief pause with a polite smile now.
Should the gnome approach them, Yasmina would hold up her hand to show she is not invited to interject herself into this conversation.
While she is talking to the Cultist, Duwamilly notices out of the corner of her eye Yasmina going to deliver the stolen goods to Charlie... and, after a while, she realizes that the redhead half-elf is lingering around for a while much longer than a simple delivery would take...
'...Oh, here we are! And she claims she didn't behave in that absurd way out of jealousy, right?' the ex-Preceptor thinks good-naturedly... 'Kids... Don't they understand that it's as if they were made of glass? They can't hide what they really feel... anyone with a little experience sees through them without difficulty. Ah! I'll let her have her way with him... Anyway, if by some miracle I had managed to arouse some interest in Charlie, I would have had to constantly carry a ladder with me, for when I felt like kissing him... The two of them, on the other hand, could well be a nice couple. He is truly handsome, noble and gallant... granted... it would have been soooo d4rn interesting, to know him better... but there must also be a gnomic version of Charlie, somewhere in this world, right? But one thing is certain... If this time the girl is interested in this man, fine... I wish the best to both... But the next time she dares to meddle in my private affairs like this, it will be the last - at the cost of continuing the search for Lord Akkron alone', if needs to be and she keep focusing on the girl whose life she is trying to save (and change)…
The nobleman gives you a grateful smile as you return his stolen items.
"I suppose that's twice I owe you," he says.
He nods at the half-elf's speech. A look of worry crosses his face at the thought of a dark wizard appearing on his doorstep.
"I see... I don't know much about this evil archmage, but I take your point. I swear I will do my absolute best to find a ship to take you to the island as soon as humanly possible... I can probably find one within a day, maybe two."
He pauses a moment. He glances at the captured cultist uncertainly, before he answers Yasmina's final question.
"Legally speaking... by associating with bandits, and presumably with this cult as well, she has made herself an outlaw. She has no protection under the law and you would be within your rights to execute her on the spot. That being said... if Esterwll wants to save her life, which it seems she does, you could probably hand the woman over to a some religious organization such as the church of Garl Glittergold or Ilmater. The Clerics tend to be more merciful than our secular authorities when it comes to criminals who seem truly willing to repent. Your flirtatious friend is clearly a sweet girl with a good heart... but... I don't think it would be a wise decision to release a zealot who has already proven willing to engage in robbery and murder to advance this cult she has pledged herself to."
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As he finishes speaking, the red-haired half-elf gives the gentleman a nod and a polite smile for his sensible words, then turning to walk over to the others. "It seems it would be okay with the law of this land to hand this woman over to a temple of Garl Glittergold or Ilmater, but we would need to make sure she gets there, just setting her free is not advisable." She explains to Milly and Delvindra. "Do you know of any such temples around here?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Delvindra isn't very well traveled, so I'm going to attempt a Religion check to see if she's heard of one (assuming that's okay with the DM). If it would be a straight Int check, subtract 3. If it's something else, please let me know!
10
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Rolling Wand of Wonder's d100: 19
(OOC: Oh, so it's 16-20 You cast gust of wind.)
A line of strong wind 60 feet long and 10 feet wide blasts from the gnome cleric in direction of the cultist (OOC: she must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away).
"If you don't surrender, you'll force me to increase the force of the wind..." explains the ex-Preceptor calmly "probably sending your fragile bones crashing into the first tree. Either way, we'll have you. The choice is yours, honey..."
Duwamilly's Deception, if needed (subtract 2 from the result if you think Intimidation is more appropriate): 23
Death Cultist Strength save: 16
Death Cultist's... um... Insight, I guess?: 5
(And yes, I do think Intimidation makes more sense here, so she's rolling against 21 instead of 23)
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Yasmina's blast of eldritch power hits home, knocking the wind out of the cultist. Then she is hit with a gust of wind. She manages to whether the howling gale, but between the apparently extremely frightening gnome and the unseen assailant, she is convinced that her only hope of survival at this point is to surrender... perhaps she realized that this gnome is one of those who somehow survived a fight against her master the previous day?
"What... wait... please, stop!" she exclaims, dropping the sack and holding her hands up to protect her face. "I... I yield! What do you want from me?"
(Well, congrats... apparently Milly is a very frightening gnome lol)
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Delvindra tries to ignore the voices' eager suggestions for the cultist as she forces the Ring of Mind Shielding back on her finger...
The red-haired half-elf pulls back her hood and swoops down to grab the sack, taking a quick peek inside to see what the cultist put there, then turning to the cultist herself. "That was a good decision you made, let's see if more good decisions will keep you alive." She says with a cold glare, staring down the cultist. "We know you serve Firion but what are you doing here, hoping to waylay people with powerful artefacts travelling from the temple of Ilmater? Tell us all about you master and you will live to see another day."
Intimidation: 11 Another roll if help action is provided: 15
(Note that Hex spell gives disadvantage on wis saves at the moment)
(Lol! Beware Duwamilly Krueger!)
"Good kid!" the gnome cleric lets the wind stop, but continues to keep her wand pointed menacingly "Life is the best teacher... And the lesson you just learned... that of don't mess with Xana 'Stormbringer' and who she cares for... is a very valuable one. Now, answer my friend here, will you? I would hate to give you a bad rating in 'willingness to stay unharmed'..."
(I don't think I need to bother having her roll more Wis checks... she knows she's been beaten).
"So... you're the group from the temple, then," she says defeatedly. "Yes... our master brought many of us here to help him track down items of great power... and has offered many bandit gangs a great deal of gold to turn over any magic items that they find to us. The Exalted of the Dragon... or, I suppose you would call him by his mere mortal name of 'Firion,' has foreseen that One Who Sleeps shall soon awaken. We, the mere servants that we are, are not privy to all The Exalted's knowledge... only that there are items of great power which shall facilitate the Great Wyrm's return, and that we the faithful shall be rewarded for our efforts to bring forth the One who Sleeps."
She sighs...
"I... I was weak..." she whispers as it dawns on her that she just betrayed both her master and 'The One Who Sleeps' by telling you everything she knows... still... it would do her little good to be one of 'the faithful' if she isn't alive to collect whatever reward this 'Great Wyrm' might offer.
If you question her further, you are able to put together that Firion and his cultists are looking for specific items... items of great power... that are tied to this 'One Who Sleeps,' but that they do not know for sure exactly what items those are which will act as keys to this entity's prison. That is why they are seeking out the most powerful, and dangerous, items in the land...
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Seeing the gnome taking over questioning, Yasmina again peeks into the bag to see what's in there. She then continues to the table and the charred corpses, picking up anything of interest, putting it in the bag too.
Investigation if needed: 10
(Can Delvindra attempt a religion check to see if, "the One Who Sleeps", "the Great Wyrm", or "the Exalted of the Dragon" jog any memories?)
If so, Religion 7
"If I can give you one piece of advice, honey," Xana sighs, speaking to the defeated cultist "you shouldn't believe everything they tell you without bothering to think about it... You know? There was also a Red Dragon who wanted to hire me... but I didn't accept! Red Dragon bosses are horrible! They're notorious for firing employees!"
"This was a joke," the ex-Preceptor smiles "but, like all jokes, it makes you laugh because it has a connection with reality; often the 'reward' of someone who helps a 'Great Wyrm' is to become its next meal! Maybe Frinion could have the power to avoid this fate for himself... but you can be sure that he would not have used his precious power to spare you such a fate! You was not 'weak', you was smart. Smart enough to do the right thing, both in giving in and in telling us everything. Now, just keep the habit of doing the right things, and change your life! Find an honest job... one in which you can contribute to the well-being of society without asking for trouble".
"You could work for a temple of Garl Glittergold..." the gnome cleric suggests "Not necessarily preaching, if you don't feel like - there is lot of other work to do and I'd be willing to put in a good word, if you want. Or look for something else on your own, as you prefer, but change your life. When you're a satisfied, busy old grandmother playing with your grandchildren, you will probably realize that it went better for you than for all the other unfortunates who are following the exalted - and who will either die serving him... or will be betrayed by him after having served their purpose!"
Yasmina:
Inside the sack, Yasmina finds a large number of items which she would guess are probably magical trinkets that the bandits were able to pick up...
These include:
a pair of boots
a coffee pot
a brooch (likely the one taken from Charlie)
a candle
a bag (probably the other item stolen from Charlie)
a gold headband
a strange-looking stone
a gemstone
On the charred remains of the bandits, Yasmina finds a coin purse on each, both of which contain 5 silver pieces.
However, on one of the two corpses she finds something a little bit more interesting:
The second bandit has a strange lantern, which he presumably either hadn't handed over yet or which the cultist had already determined to be useless to her master's goals.
Delvindra:
You vaguely remember a story that you heard long ago of a powerful dragon who's greed grew so great that she attempted to conquer the entire world and add all things to her horde. Her power and madness were so great that the gods themselves intervened, locking her away in a prison that she could never escape from... but... you don't remember very many details from story.
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Delvindra listens to the Preceptor's words. Repentance, forgiveness, absolution, and a new chance...beliefs very much in keeping with the teachings of the Ilmateri.
And yet...somewhere in the back of her mind, the shadow of an echo of a whisper rails against the idea.
She looks at Yasmina searchingly for some kind of guidance...
After collecting the items of interest, the red-haired half-elf walks over to the handsome nobleman to speak with him in private for a moment.
Private conversation
"I think I might have found your items." The half-elf says, showing the nobleman the brooch and the bag she found. "I assume you recognize these." She adds, ready to hand them over unless the nobleman acts suspiciously about it. "Now, in return for trusting you about these items being yours I would ask you to not add to the distraction you already caused our mission." She says in a quite serious tone, looking the nobleman in the eyes and then briefly over at the gnome. "I'm aware that you have done nothing to lead Milly on, yet, but you are safe now while we are heading to a place we might never return from. While I didn't catch the part where you actually invited anyone to a fox hunt myself I'm sure it is abundantly clear to you by now that Milly would love that. What she really needs though in order to survive to see any fox hunting at all is help with finding a ship that can take us to our destination as safely and swiftly as possible, because the very powerful master of the woman over there will soon find us and kill us all if we don't make haste. I'm sure you wouldn't want your precious home being attacked in the middle of the night by that evil archmage and his minions?" Yasmina says, looking the nobleman intently in the eyes to make sure he gets every word of what she's saying.
"Now, unless you have any objections to what I've said, can you also tell me what we lawfully would do with that woman who has led attacks on travellers to steal their magical items?" She asks after a brief pause with a polite smile now.
Should the gnome approach them, Yasmina would hold up her hand to show she is not invited to interject herself into this conversation.
Yasmina rolls if needed
Persuasion: 11
Insight: 14
While she is talking to the Cultist, Duwamilly notices out of the corner of her eye Yasmina going to deliver the stolen goods to Charlie... and, after a while, she realizes that the redhead half-elf is lingering around for a while much longer than a simple delivery would take...
'...Oh, here we are! And she claims she didn't behave in that absurd way out of jealousy, right?' the ex-Preceptor thinks good-naturedly... 'Kids... Don't they understand that it's as if they were made of glass? They can't hide what they really feel... anyone with a little experience sees through them without difficulty. Ah! I'll let her have her way with him... Anyway, if by some miracle I had managed to arouse some interest in Charlie, I would have had to constantly carry a ladder with me, for when I felt like kissing him... The two of them, on the other hand, could well be a nice couple. He is truly handsome, noble and gallant... granted... it would have been soooo d4rn interesting, to know him better... but there must also be a gnomic version of Charlie, somewhere in this world, right? But one thing is certain... If this time the girl is interested in this man, fine... I wish the best to both... But the next time she dares to meddle in my private affairs like this, it will be the last - at the cost of continuing the search for Lord Akkron alone', if needs to be and she keep focusing on the girl whose life she is trying to save (and change)…
Yasmina:
The nobleman gives you a grateful smile as you return his stolen items.
"I suppose that's twice I owe you," he says.
He nods at the half-elf's speech. A look of worry crosses his face at the thought of a dark wizard appearing on his doorstep.
"I see... I don't know much about this evil archmage, but I take your point. I swear I will do my absolute best to find a ship to take you to the island as soon as humanly possible... I can probably find one within a day, maybe two."
He pauses a moment. He glances at the captured cultist uncertainly, before he answers Yasmina's final question.
"Legally speaking... by associating with bandits, and presumably with this cult as well, she has made herself an outlaw. She has no protection under the law and you would be within your rights to execute her on the spot. That being said... if Esterwll wants to save her life, which it seems she does, you could probably hand the woman over to a some religious organization such as the church of Garl Glittergold or Ilmater. The Clerics tend to be more merciful than our secular authorities when it comes to criminals who seem truly willing to repent. Your flirtatious friend is clearly a sweet girl with a good heart... but... I don't think it would be a wise decision to release a zealot who has already proven willing to engage in robbery and murder to advance this cult she has pledged herself to."
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As he finishes speaking, the red-haired half-elf gives the gentleman a nod and a polite smile for his sensible words, then turning to walk over to the others. "It seems it would be okay with the law of this land to hand this woman over to a temple of Garl Glittergold or Ilmater, but we would need to make sure she gets there, just setting her free is not advisable." She explains to Milly and Delvindra. "Do you know of any such temples around here?"
Delvindra isn't very well traveled, so I'm going to attempt a Religion check to see if she's heard of one (assuming that's okay with the DM). If it would be a straight Int check, subtract 3. If it's something else, please let me know!
10