Religion 6

Deception 12 (I used the wrong character skills minus 6 for a 20)

Wallis looks curiously at the faces of the congregation trying to judge how devoted the crowd really is but focusing on those right beside her: insight 19

OOC You have all been kneeling heads bowed as is customary in a service to Pholtus.  People now seem to be preparing to leave. Valen does not know of any reason that casting spells here would be any different than elsewhere but he would have realised that he is in the company of a good number of powerful members of the church who would by their nature be able to access the divine magic associated with clerics (although as an aside please remember I'm shooting for a low magic campaign so a prominent member of the church might not be a level 10 cleric with all the spells and abilities, just saying)

OOC Wallis sees people praying, they seem to be committed to what they are doing.)

Despite a general lack of religious knowledge on many of their parts the group manage to bluff their way through, mostly aided by Valen's knowledge, a product of an upper class upbringing, no doubt.  As the service comes to an end people join in with a short prayer and then slowly rise and begin the fairly lengthy process of filtering out, being near the front both the party and the group containing Mrancsi will have a wait of a minute or so before they can begin to leave. A little background noise starts up as people have quiet conversations with each other whilst they wait to depart. 

As the party wait do they wish to do anything (make any rolls, cast any spells, tell a joke, pick a pocket, Brock punches someone and starts a mass brawl etc etc...)

(The thought of starting a fight has occurred to me... I also considered making a comment about him preaching compassion but his guards in the cracks are abusive and vicious... but brock but I don't think it would be received well..)

Kit rises slowly, as if she were highly concerned with the dignity of her appearance. She folds her hands as if she was waiting patiently for the people to clear, continuing to keep an eye on Mransci and trying to pick up his mannerisms when he's off the pulpit as well.

Wallis flanks the 'couple' and keeps am eye out for anyone paying the party too much attention.

     As the prayers are coming to an end, Valen takes advantage of the position of the other parishioners and quietly recasts his disguise, turning away from his unknown neighbor and towards Kit. He rises as the service concludes and looks around to his fellow worships, offering a friendly "Peace be with you" to those nearby. As they exit the nobleman lingers behind, near Mransci's group, to see if he can overhear any useful tidbit. 

Perception 3

Mrancsi and the other group begin the process of leaving the temple, they file out very close to the group but as Valen attempts to hear what is going on a large woman imposes herself between them saying "My, wasn't that something I never thought I would have the chance to see it" before turning off an defiling out after the clergymen and women.  Valen learns nothing.

The group have no choice but to begin to leave unless they want to cause a scene, they proceed after Mrancsi, about fifteen feet behind him.  They will soon exxit the temple.  What do they wish to do?

Kit carefully keeps her distance regular behind Mransci's group, not getting to close or too far back, and engages in twittering conversation with Valen about the beauty and utter magnificence of the service. As they near the gates, she angles slightly towards the carriage that brought them here, but not too much, continuing to keep an eye on Mransci to try and get an idea of his movement and speech patterns (let me know if I actually have to roll for that, wasn't sure).

Brock would stand slowly, his knees wobbling as though they were in pain. "My word these knees cannot handle kneeling for that long..." He would mumble as he supported his weight heavily upon the walking stick. 

OOC: you look middle aged in your Edwardian photo, you a geezer now?

Wallis is keeping her cool but being around all the fancy folk in this foreign temple is weighing on the half-elf.

"What have we gathered exactly," Wallis whispers to Kit who's studying their mark. 

Wallis is keeping an eye out for anyone she recognizes from the Cracks.

Perception 18

"Information about how he moves through the world," Kit murmurs back, her body language as if she's drawing her employee into the twittering conversation. "How he talks, walks, interacts with others. The way he's regarded by this community, based off of their reaction to him. How he acts in front of them." She smiles. "Something we can compare to how he acts with the Watch to find out what might be driving him, or which face he prefers."

(These rich knees arn't made for kneeling! He isn't old.. and doesn't look old.. but every rich person he has ever encountered has been old :P)

"We discovered that either he is a liar and his actions don't match his words... or perhaps he doesn't know about about how his men are acting like giant ***** down in the cracks.." He would say while twirling his mustache. 

Having learnt relatively little about Mrancsi during the service the group are pondering what to do next.  As they are positioned near their own carriage they see two other carriages, very ornate in their design both pulled by a pair of white horses.  The coaches stop and both have a driver perched outside on the driving box, from the first carriage a small man wearing a dark cloak but neutral clothes bearing the mark of Pholtus moves towards them.  Moving towards Mrancsi he bows and stands as if waiting instruction,  The second carriage appears to be about to take the three other Prelates away when there is a noise from the side.  A man moves towards them calling out to the group by the honorific of "Most Holy", which you know is the appropriate form of address.

"Most Holy, I beg you, please listen to me, the Cracks are falling into chaos, the Watch are running riot in your name.  There must be some misunderstanding, we do not believe that your will is being enacted, we need your help."

Mrancsi, turns to the man making the sign of Pholtus, a circle representing the sun drawn in the air in front of his own face, bowing his head slightly to the man, who looks very much a native of the Cracks, and therefore very out of place in the Valias, especially with the assembled clergyfolk about.  Mrancsi looks grave, his face the picture of piety and sympathy. "My child, this news pains me, of course it it not the will of Pholtus to sow chaos anywhere, you say the Watch are running riot.  I will of course look into it, it is very disturbing and you have done the right thing in coming to me.  Fear not I will attend the Watch tomorrow for a planned review, during that time I am sure I will get to the heart of this.  Let my aide here return you to your home, take my carriage.  I will walk, and whilst doing so I will meditate on the problem you have presented.  May the law and the light shine brightly upon you, child." With a nod to his aide Mrancsi moves away from the man, as the other three Prelate's all nod encouragingly at his offer and the temporary sacrifice of the carriage.  Wishing him well they leave the area.  The man seems taken aback and nods dumbly before getting into the carriage followed by the man in the dark cloak.  The aide gives instructions to the driver and the carriage pulls away in the direction of the Cracks.

How do you wish to proceed?  Mrancsi is leaving on foot, apparently heading to another area presumably in the Valias.  The aide is taking the man away in the carriage, and the other Pholtans are leaving in their carriage.  You have a carriage of your own, Kyve is with you and it is approaching late afternoon.  It will be dark in about three hours. 

"I think one person should follow that carriage... see if they actually return him home safely... the rest of us perhaps should follow Mrancsi" He would say as he adjusts his monocle. 

Kit's eyes narrow slightly, but she carefully maintains her character, giving an airy laugh. "Oh, an afternoon constitutional sounds like a wonderful idea!" In a lower voice, she says quietly "Kyve and Brock should follow the carriage in our own, that way in case there's trouble there's a better chance of us finding out. Vincze and I, and of course my loyal bodyguard, can take a nice walk that just so happens to coincide with the Most Holy's path."

Kyve nods in assent to the suggestion, "Happily, my Lady, as you wish." the smirk creeping onto his beautiful face balances against the honeyed words.

"Splendedid! Let's go old chap!" Brock would say with a smile as he gives Kyve a slap on the shoulder. before making his way into their cart.

"As you instruct my lady," Wallis says with a nod of her head then smirking at Kit. 

Wallis then stands at attention looking in the direction of Mrancsi as not to lose sight of the man. 

"Excellent." Kit tosses Wallis a wink and sails off after Mransci, Valen in tow.

     "Agreed..! But didn't you hear how shocked he was," Vincze adds in low voice but the eye roll can still be heard in the statement. He watches as the carriage takes the bearer of bad news away. "I don't have a good feeling about that one's fate," he remarks as they begin their stroll. 

(DM: Does it appear others are following the same path?)