Darvin smiles at the Sergeant of Arvandor and replies ready: "To tell the truth, the only thing that those two places have in common - the Stump Boh and the Rassalantar's Keep - is to be infested with monsters. Or at least so it is said. But there has never been evidence that it is the same monsters".
"What's more, we guards limit ourselves to the defense of the village... And to date neither from the swamps nor from the ruins has ever come a direct attack from monsters to the village. So, I personally have never seen those monsters (nor from the swamps neither from the ruins). Perhaps the populations in fact resemble each other. Or maybe not" he shrugs. "Who can know?"
"As for a connection between the two places, it seems unlikely to me..." The ex-sergeant of the guards considers "the swamps are found to the south-east of Rassalantar. The ruins, on the other hand, to the north-west. A possible underground passage that communicates these two places would need to be long enough to pass under the entire village... plus, why connect the keep to the swamps? No, it doesn't seem likely at all to me".
[[ OOC: In the meantime, Spira has unfortunately not managed to remember much of the local lore ]]
Roxana gives Gaer a small smile as he of course gives support to her opinion. With Davis expressing his thoughts on the area it seems unlikely that there is any connection between swamp and ruins, but she's not clear what Spira's stance is on talking to that preacher. "Rash, I certainly think that a young man of Mival's age suddenly heading off to do something unexpected is perhaps one of the most common things in the world! There could be many non-hag related causes. Maybe a love interest? Or simply a dare from friends? I guess we could investigate all those possibilities, but I figured it was likely more important to just find the lad."
She takes a breath, "But in the interest of taking the safe route, let's go talk with the preacher. If we make haste I think we can still get a look at the ruins before dusk."
[[ OOC: OK... to keep things moving, I'll assume that at least Rash, Anita, Roxana and Gaer go talk with the preacher. The others are free to declare whether they go with them or wait directly here (where the party will have to pass through anyway on the way to the ruins). ]]
The return to Rassalantar is quick... but while the party was busy questioning witnesses, the preacher must have run out of voice or arguments, because he is no longer where he was before haranguing the crowd.
"Maybe he's at the church now?" Anita suggests. "I noticed a small Torm church, behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn..."
"He could be..." Gaer concedes, then looks at the others. "What do we do? Go look for him there?"
The party has no trouble reaching the nearby small Temple of Torm. It's a modest structure, built of sturdy, grey stone. It is a single-story building, its roof capped with a simple, unadorned spire. There is a small open-air cemetery at the back, where a few rose bushes (probably white roses, Torm's sacred flowers) have not yet bloomed, but will probably make for a pleasant spectacle later in the season.
The entrance is a simple, heavy wooden door, polished and free of rot, bearing a small, iron symbol of Torm's gauntlet. The stone around the door is worn smooth in places, suggesting years of faithful hands touching it. Inside, the air is cool and still, carrying a faint scent of beeswax and polished wood. Sunlight filters through the narrow windows, illuminating simple frescoes showing scenes of Torm's valor and protection. A simple altar, draped in clean, white cloth, sits at the far end of the hall, bearing a few lit candles and a worn, leather-bound holy text.
The preacher is the only one present at the moment and smiles at the sight of the visitors: "Oh, ready for the crusade, then?" he approaches, with a light of hope in his gaze.
"I don't think we're planning a crusade quite yet," Roxana responds. "We did intend to investigate the swamp soon but wanted to speak with you first. About another matter."She approaches the man, "By the way, I am Roxana Raincrest. A pleasure to meet you. And I presume you are a servant of Torm?'
"You hit the mark!" the preacer smiles, glad to have reason to speak of his god "Brother Malark, at the service of Torm - and of you, of course. Come sit on one of this planks, let's raise a quick prayer to our Lord, then spek me about this other matter".
If the party accepts, the man leads them in a quick psalmody - then he seems ready to listen.
Spira nods politely to the priest of Torm and follows his lead in the chant with practiced smoothness, though slight hesitations betray that the chant is one she is not as personally familiar with as if she too worshipped the god of duty. Although she is disappointed the group did not decide to immediately follow Mival's trail, she sees no point in splitting their forces up ... especially as she has no positive evidence there ISN'T a connection with the swamp monsters somehow. After the psalm to Torm is over, she settles back comfortably on the plank and smiles, but waits for the two who met Malark before to speak first.
Darvin, who has been trying to sharpen his religious side since joining Spira, imitates her in prayer.
But while the Sergeant of Arvandor waits for the two who met Malark before to speak first, Aedion's telepathic voice reaches her, all excited:
"Mom! Mom! Do you want to know a secret? This man, like the one who was at the Harpells, I see him as in two forms together... I think that, like that man who was fooling the Harpells, this one is not in his true form now! He must have changed his form with magic! His true form is still that of a man, but waaaaaaaaaaaaay uglier, mommy!"
[[ OOC: This obviously does not stop all the others, who have not heard Aedion's telepathic voice, from continuing to speak... ]]
Roxana is willing to indulge Brother Malark and join him in prayer. "I would be glad to honor your lord before we begin our discussion." She follows along, clearly not familiar with the prayer, but doing her best show her respects to this devotion and to Torm.
When completed, she takes a look at the others who had evidently already met this preacher. But she begins with her question. "Sir, you seem to be very knowledgeable of the dangerous creatures of the swamps. We would like to know more about them ourselves. And we're curious if you know whether there could be a connection between the swamp monsters and those rumored to be about the ruins to the northeast." She takes a breath, creating a very brief pause before she continues. "We intend to head for the ruins you see, to find a young man that seems to have disappeared after heading that direction. Mival? Perhaps you have met him?"
"Oh, Mival, Tarsakh Flower's son..." Brother Malark looks saddened. "I heard of his disappearance, and I'm sorry. But that was days ago... And the ruins, they say, are infested with monsters, too... though certainly not as many as in the swamps, still monster there should be. I... I frankly think the worst already happened to that boy. How could he have survived there so long?"
"As for my knowledge of the monster threats of the swamps or ruins, however, you give me too much credit," the preacher admits. "I've only heard what people say... What everyone knows... And I've drawn the appropriate conclusions - interpreting them in the light of what Torm teaches. I've never ventured there myself... I don't know exactly what monsters live there. But that dangerous monsters live there, everyone knows."
Roxana slowly nods, starting to say something but then closing her mouth before anything is said. She gives Rash a very brief glance then looks back to Brother Malark. "Why then are you so much more interested in seeing the monsters in the swamp dealt with than the ones at the ruins?" she finally says, truly curious as to what is motivating this man. "Are you saying there's no immediate threat from the swamp? At least that you know of I guess."
She takes a step back, trying hard to not just shake her head at this response. She is more than happy to let others take up the conversation.
"Oh, perhaps my mind is less practical than yours, expert heroine" Brother Malark admits, looking a little embarrassed. "Anyway, my priority on the swamps is mainly due to the relative size factor. The ruins are very small in size. Yes, there will be monsters... but how many? Not an entire population. The swamps, on the other hand, are very large..." he seems to gain more courage as he explains his point of view "that's why they scare me more. The monsters there, if left free to... grow in number, could one day become a small army - if they haven't already!"
[[ OOC: Roxana seems ready to go on... What about you, guys? Does anyone else have anything else to ask the preacher? Or anything else to do here? If not, I assume the party will be marching on toward the Keep Woods - and the ruins that await beyond it. ]]
Listening to the exchange. Aidwyn feels again uncomfortable in the presence of Malark. His constant insistence on dealing with the monsters of the swamp, and yet not clearly stating the true nature of the danger, and the quick folding to the words of anyone who confronts his logic, even if slightly as she did before and Roxana just did, but still repeating his point... she keeps in silence, really wanting to go towards the ruins and search for the poor lad that had disappeared on them but still she dares to ask one question.
"Once we head to the swamp to look for your monsters. Is there a particular spot that you know, or think, is more dangerous than the others? or should we look for any special kind of creature? "
"No, nothing specific..." Malark admits "What I would suggest is to defeat the first bands of dangerous monsters - which will certainly be easy to encounter simply by wandering around that place - then follow the tracks of the survivors... until you find their lairs or camps. In order to reduce their numbers".
Sensing that AIdwyn does not seem entirely satisfied, he adds: "I am a man of faith, not of war... In this case, reasons of faith convince me that a crusade is needed - but this does not mean that I am a general suitable to lead it. Also for this reason," he smiles shyly at the heroine "I consider it a sign of Torm that he has sent me instead people who are more familiar with war".
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
DM; Aidwyn; Roxana:
As soon as she 'hears' Aedion's voice in her mind, Spira is instantly wide awake and on her guard. She carefully takes note of what expression is on her face and what position her body is in; and concentrates on keeping those absolutely unchanged as she mentally 'whispers back, "Good job, Aedion! Usually beings who can do that are very smart and magical, so we'll have to be careful not to let him know we suspect him. And we'll have to learn more about him before we decide what to do, without letting him know we know it. Just keep an eye on him for now dear. If it's you, then even if he does notice he'll probably think you're just being curious. But see if you can 'send' me a mind-picture of the way this man really looks; and tell Aidwyn and Roxana what you told me. It sounds like they're already getting suspicious of him, but this will confirm it and put them even more on their guard." (Painted_Beyond: "
But while the Sergeant of Arvandor waits for the two who met Malark before to speak first, Aedion's telepathic voice reaches her, all excited:
"Mom! Mom! Do you want to know a secret? This man, like the one who was at the Harpells, I see him as in two forms together... I think that, like that man who was fooling the Harpells, this one is not in his true form now! He must have changed his form with magic! His true form is still that of a man, but waaaaaaaaaaaaay uglier, mommy!"
"
Spira nods ... seemingly with complete understanding and compassion ... when the priest of Torm speaks of his lack of direct knowledge of the problems in the swamp. Those that know her, however, feel a twinge of pity for the fellow as they notice the thin-lipped smile and slight glitter in the eye which accompany her nod. "I quite understand. It is so very difficult to get current information about a threat in such terrain as that ... particularly when one is not blessed by one's god with as much fortitude for DIRECT action as one could perhaps have wished. At the same time, we are familiar enough with your faith to know that the Hand Resolute calls you to pause and consider the actions you plan before you call a crusade to ensure it is a just one. So we'd hoped you might have had time to analyze what information you do have, even though you haven't been able to learn any more. For instance, for 'everyone to know' that there are monsters in the swamp ... there must have been someone originally who SAW some monsters there. Some description that got back to the townsfolk besides just the word 'monsters'. And there must be some reason you think the danger from the swamp is so immediate that we need to go there first. Otherwise, I'd think it would make more sense to deal with a contained threat like the Keep before we go out on a field campaign that might take months or even years."
=========
Insight (how is Malark reacting to Spira's gentle contradiction/questioning?) 16
[[ OOC: I don't think Telepathy can be used to show actual images... I think of it as a form of communication similar to language, but simply through thought ]]
Darvin immediately notices the thin-lipped smile and slight glitter in the eye which accompany Spira's nod... and smiles, preparing to enjoy the show.
Brother Malark does not quite manage to fully hide the fact that he is embarrassed by the Sergeant of Arvandor's merciless analysis. He reports: "Oh, but if some poor civilian had had a close encounter with a monster I doubt he would have lived to tell the tale! Those who speak of monsters have heard horrible cries coming from the mists... Or seen the corpses of victims floating in the waters of the marshes... Or seen dim lights moving through the mists - and those who have followed those lights have been known to never be seen again... Does this by any chance remind you of anything? You certainly know so much more about monsters..."
"As for the priority I would give to the swamps over the Keep," the preacher repeats the same reasoning he had given Roxana, "is that the ruins are very small in size. Yes, there will be monsters... but they can't be too many. The swamps, on the other hand, are very large... that's why they scare me more. The monsters there, if left free to grow in number, could one day become a small army - if they haven't already!"
The tiefling cleric notes that 'Brother Malark' does not seem to have any really deciding reasons for giving priority to the swamps. If his argument about size is valid, Spira's argument about required time is equally valid. Spira therefore gets the idea that the preacher has ulterior motives for preferring the swamps.
"In that case," Spira concludes with a satisfied smile, "you won't mind if we use our own discretion about which crusade to take on first?" She watches him even more carefully, waiting to see if there is any crack in his assumed persona at this deft parry.
=========
(that's what I was wondering. I guess what Spira was asking about falls more under the heading of clairvoyance then, but a version that would transmit the image from mind to mind rather than detecting it?)
(also, would an Intimidation roll apply for "gorcha" games like this? I checked Persuasion, but it said it had to be "'honestly and graciously" LOL)
Darvin smiles at the Sergeant of Arvandor and replies ready: "To tell the truth, the only thing that those two places have in common - the Stump Boh and the Rassalantar's Keep - is to be infested with monsters. Or at least so it is said. But there has never been evidence that it is the same monsters".
"What's more, we guards limit ourselves to the defense of the village... And to date neither from the swamps nor from the ruins has ever come a direct attack from monsters to the village. So, I personally have never seen those monsters (nor from the swamps neither from the ruins). Perhaps the populations in fact resemble each other. Or maybe not" he shrugs. "Who can know?"
"As for a connection between the two places, it seems unlikely to me..." The ex-sergeant of the guards considers "the swamps are found to the south-east of Rassalantar. The ruins, on the other hand, to the north-west. A possible underground passage that communicates these two places would need to be long enough to pass under the entire village... plus, why connect the keep to the swamps? No, it doesn't seem likely at all to me".
[[ OOC: In the meantime, Spira has unfortunately not managed to remember much of the local lore ]]
Roxana gives Gaer a small smile as he of course gives support to her opinion. With Davis expressing his thoughts on the area it seems unlikely that there is any connection between swamp and ruins, but she's not clear what Spira's stance is on talking to that preacher. "Rash, I certainly think that a young man of Mival's age suddenly heading off to do something unexpected is perhaps one of the most common things in the world! There could be many non-hag related causes. Maybe a love interest? Or simply a dare from friends? I guess we could investigate all those possibilities, but I figured it was likely more important to just find the lad."
She takes a breath, "But in the interest of taking the safe route, let's go talk with the preacher. If we make haste I think we can still get a look at the ruins before dusk."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
42
[[ OOC: OK... to keep things moving, I'll assume that at least Rash, Anita, Roxana and Gaer go talk with the preacher. The others are free to declare whether they go with them or wait directly here (where the party will have to pass through anyway on the way to the ruins). ]]
The return to Rassalantar is quick... but while the party was busy questioning witnesses, the preacher must have run out of voice or arguments, because he is no longer where he was before haranguing the crowd.
"Maybe he's at the church now?" Anita suggests. "I noticed a small Torm church, behind the Sleeping Dragon Inn..."
"He could be..." Gaer concedes, then looks at the others. "What do we do? Go look for him there?"
Aidwyn nods "yeah perhaps he is in there let's go check"
PbP Character: A few ;)
The party has no trouble reaching the nearby small Temple of Torm. It's a modest structure, built of sturdy, grey stone. It is a single-story building, its roof capped with a simple, unadorned spire. There is a small open-air cemetery at the back, where a few rose bushes (probably white roses, Torm's sacred flowers) have not yet bloomed, but will probably make for a pleasant spectacle later in the season.
The entrance is a simple, heavy wooden door, polished and free of rot, bearing a small, iron symbol of Torm's gauntlet. The stone around the door is worn smooth in places, suggesting years of faithful hands touching it. Inside, the air is cool and still, carrying a faint scent of beeswax and polished wood. Sunlight filters through the narrow windows, illuminating simple frescoes showing scenes of Torm's valor and protection. A simple altar, draped in clean, white cloth, sits at the far end of the hall, bearing a few lit candles and a worn, leather-bound holy text.
The preacher is the only one present at the moment and smiles at the sight of the visitors: "Oh, ready for the crusade, then?" he approaches, with a light of hope in his gaze.
"I don't think we're planning a crusade quite yet," Roxana responds. "We did intend to investigate the swamp soon but wanted to speak with you first. About another matter." She approaches the man, "By the way, I am Roxana Raincrest. A pleasure to meet you. And I presume you are a servant of Torm?'
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
"You hit the mark!" the preacer smiles, glad to have reason to speak of his god "Brother Malark, at the service of Torm - and of you, of course. Come sit on one of this planks, let's raise a quick prayer to our Lord, then spek me about this other matter".
If the party accepts, the man leads them in a quick psalmody - then he seems ready to listen.
Spira nods politely to the priest of Torm and follows his lead in the chant with practiced smoothness, though slight hesitations betray that the chant is one she is not as personally familiar with as if she too worshipped the god of duty. Although she is disappointed the group did not decide to immediately follow Mival's trail, she sees no point in splitting their forces up ... especially as she has no positive evidence there ISN'T a connection with the swamp monsters somehow. After the psalm to Torm is over, she settles back comfortably on the plank and smiles, but waits for the two who met Malark before to speak first.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Darvin, who has been trying to sharpen his religious side since joining Spira, imitates her in prayer.
But while the Sergeant of Arvandor waits for the two who met Malark before to speak first, Aedion's telepathic voice reaches her, all excited:
"Mom! Mom! Do you want to know a secret? This man, like the one who was at the Harpells, I see him as in two forms together... I think that, like that man who was fooling the Harpells, this one is not in his true form now! He must have changed his form with magic! His true form is still that of a man, but waaaaaaaaaaaaay uglier, mommy!"
[[ OOC: This obviously does not stop all the others, who have not heard Aedion's telepathic voice, from continuing to speak... ]]
Roxana is willing to indulge Brother Malark and join him in prayer. "I would be glad to honor your lord before we begin our discussion." She follows along, clearly not familiar with the prayer, but doing her best show her respects to this devotion and to Torm.
When completed, she takes a look at the others who had evidently already met this preacher. But she begins with her question. "Sir, you seem to be very knowledgeable of the dangerous creatures of the swamps. We would like to know more about them ourselves. And we're curious if you know whether there could be a connection between the swamp monsters and those rumored to be about the ruins to the northeast." She takes a breath, creating a very brief pause before she continues. "We intend to head for the ruins you see, to find a young man that seems to have disappeared after heading that direction. Mival? Perhaps you have met him?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
"Oh, Mival, Tarsakh Flower's son..." Brother Malark looks saddened. "I heard of his disappearance, and I'm sorry. But that was days ago... And the ruins, they say, are infested with monsters, too... though certainly not as many as in the swamps, still monster there should be. I... I frankly think the worst already happened to that boy. How could he have survived there so long?"
"As for my knowledge of the monster threats of the swamps or ruins, however, you give me too much credit," the preacher admits. "I've only heard what people say... What everyone knows... And I've drawn the appropriate conclusions - interpreting them in the light of what Torm teaches. I've never ventured there myself... I don't know exactly what monsters live there. But that dangerous monsters live there, everyone knows."
Roxana slowly nods, starting to say something but then closing her mouth before anything is said. She gives Rash a very brief glance then looks back to Brother Malark. "Why then are you so much more interested in seeing the monsters in the swamp dealt with than the ones at the ruins?" she finally says, truly curious as to what is motivating this man. "Are you saying there's no immediate threat from the swamp? At least that you know of I guess."
She takes a step back, trying hard to not just shake her head at this response. She is more than happy to let others take up the conversation.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
"Oh, perhaps my mind is less practical than yours, expert heroine" Brother Malark admits, looking a little embarrassed. "Anyway, my priority on the swamps is mainly due to the relative size factor. The ruins are very small in size. Yes, there will be monsters... but how many? Not an entire population. The swamps, on the other hand, are very large..." he seems to gain more courage as he explains his point of view "that's why they scare me more. The monsters there, if left free to... grow in number, could one day become a small army - if they haven't already!"
[[ OOC: Roxana seems ready to go on... What about you, guys? Does anyone else have anything else to ask the preacher? Or anything else to do here? If not, I assume the party will be marching on toward the Keep Woods - and the ruins that await beyond it. ]]
Listening to the exchange. Aidwyn feels again uncomfortable in the presence of Malark.
His constant insistence on dealing with the monsters of the swamp, and yet not clearly stating the true nature of the danger, and the quick folding to the words of anyone who confronts his logic, even if slightly as she did before and Roxana just did, but still repeating his point... she keeps in silence, really wanting to go towards the ruins and search for the poor lad that had disappeared on them but still she dares to ask one question.
"Once we head to the swamp to look for your monsters. Is there a particular spot that you know, or think, is more dangerous than the others? or should we look for any special kind of creature? "
PbP Character: A few ;)
"No, nothing specific..." Malark admits "What I would suggest is to defeat the first bands of dangerous monsters - which will certainly be easy to encounter simply by wandering around that place - then follow the tracks of the survivors... until you find their lairs or camps. In order to reduce their numbers".
Sensing that AIdwyn does not seem entirely satisfied, he adds: "I am a man of faith, not of war... In this case, reasons of faith convince me that a crusade is needed - but this does not mean that I am a general suitable to lead it. Also for this reason," he smiles shyly at the heroine "I consider it a sign of Torm that he has sent me instead people who are more familiar with war".
Spira nods ... seemingly with complete understanding and compassion ... when the priest of Torm speaks of his lack of direct knowledge of the problems in the swamp. Those that know her, however, feel a twinge of pity for the fellow as they notice the thin-lipped smile and slight glitter in the eye which accompany her nod. "I quite understand. It is so very difficult to get current information about a threat in such terrain as that ... particularly when one is not blessed by one's god with as much fortitude for DIRECT action as one could perhaps have wished. At the same time, we are familiar enough with your faith to know that the Hand Resolute calls you to pause and consider the actions you plan before you call a crusade to ensure it is a just one. So we'd hoped you might have had time to analyze what information you do have, even though you haven't been able to learn any more. For instance, for 'everyone to know' that there are monsters in the swamp ... there must have been someone originally who SAW some monsters there. Some description that got back to the townsfolk besides just the word 'monsters'. And there must be some reason you think the danger from the swamp is so immediate that we need to go there first. Otherwise, I'd think it would make more sense to deal with a contained threat like the Keep before we go out on a field campaign that might take months or even years."
=========
Insight (how is Malark reacting to Spira's gentle contradiction/questioning?) 16
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
[[ OOC: I don't think Telepathy can be used to show actual images... I think of it as a form of communication similar to language, but simply through thought ]]
Darvin immediately notices the thin-lipped smile and slight glitter in the eye which accompany Spira's nod... and smiles, preparing to enjoy the show.
Brother Malark does not quite manage to fully hide the fact that he is embarrassed by the Sergeant of Arvandor's merciless analysis. He reports: "Oh, but if some poor civilian had had a close encounter with a monster I doubt he would have lived to tell the tale! Those who speak of monsters have heard horrible cries coming from the mists... Or seen the corpses of victims floating in the waters of the marshes... Or seen dim lights moving through the mists - and those who have followed those lights have been known to never be seen again... Does this by any chance remind you of anything? You certainly know so much more about monsters..."
"As for the priority I would give to the swamps over the Keep," the preacher repeats the same reasoning he had given Roxana, "is that the ruins are very small in size. Yes, there will be monsters... but they can't be too many. The swamps, on the other hand, are very large... that's why they scare me more. The monsters there, if left free to grow in number, could one day become a small army - if they haven't already!"
The tiefling cleric notes that 'Brother Malark' does not seem to have any really deciding reasons for giving priority to the swamps. If his argument about size is valid, Spira's argument about required time is equally valid. Spira therefore gets the idea that the preacher has ulterior motives for preferring the swamps.
"In that case," Spira concludes with a satisfied smile, "you won't mind if we use our own discretion about which crusade to take on first?" She watches him even more carefully, waiting to see if there is any crack in his assumed persona at this deft parry.
=========
(that's what I was wondering. I guess what Spira was asking about falls more under the heading of clairvoyance then, but a version that would transmit the image from mind to mind rather than detecting it?)
(also, would an Intimidation roll apply for "gorcha" games like this? I checked Persuasion, but it said it had to be "'honestly and graciously" LOL)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1