Dies the Fire

'The PPA doesn't go in for desecration of corpses like that.  They are nominally Catholic - but think Spanish Inquistion-era Catholicism.  No, simply attacking them in PPA gear and letting one escape should be enough.  We'll need to yell things like 'Ho Portland' and 'For the Lord Protector' during battle to make sure it's completely clear who we are.'

Turning to the Nez Perz 'Actually, if you went a bit ahead of us and told the tale of your ambush of the PPA soldiers and made sure the CUT heard about it, that would be good.  Ideally, this should look like retribution.'

Quote from Krivoi_Rog >>

"So, as to the denouement of our attack, we need to think of the sort of sign we leave behind.  Do we want a wounded survivor carrying tails of PPA hostility back to the bosom of their fellow brainwashees?  Or perhaps just some broken armour and weapons that say 'Made by the Portland Protective Association Amourer Slavers' or what have you?"  Aleister queries.  "Maybe if we carved a lidless eye on the forehead of each corpse?"

Any help from the Lady boosting the potency of Aleister's Oleander bombs?

 She gives you a look "Bombs? I don't think so."

Quote from DirePilgrim >>

'The PPA doesn't go in for desecration of corpses like that.  They are nominally Catholic - but think Spanish Inquistion-era Catholicism.  No, simply attacking them in PPA gear and letting one escape should be enough.  We'll need to yell things like 'Ho Portland' and 'For the Lord Protector' during battle to make sure it's completely clear who we are.'

Turning to the Nez Perz 'Actually, if you went a bit ahead of us and told the tale of your ambush of the PPA soldiers and made sure the CUT heard about it, that would be good.  Ideally, this should look like retribution.'

 The Lady gets an evil grin (and that isn't just turn of phrase in her case) "The PPA is looking for someone to punish for their dead...I can be very persuasive."  18 Indeed she can, you'd have to be 10th level with 18 wisdom and proficient to have a chance to catch that lie.

"I think the retribution idea is best.  If we push it too hard it will end up looking fake.  A few survivors who see the heraldry and hear a few war cries will tell the story well enough.  I wouldn't mind keeping a missionary for interrogation.  I really want to know more about their numbers.  Lady, can you tell us anything about that?"

Quote from TheManyNamed >>

"I think the retribution idea is best.  If we push it too hard it will end up looking fake.  A few survivors who see the heraldry and hear a few war cries will tell the story well enough.  I wouldn't mind keeping a missionary for interrogation.  I really want to know more about their numbers.  Lady, can you tell us anything about that?"

 "The numbers of a missionary group or the numbers of the CUT homeland? If the first it usually consists of a Priest (they call them Seekers) plus 8 to 10 support and security staff. If you mean their homeland we've never managed to get a scout in and out with a report."

"Why haven't you been able to get a scout in?  Are their borders fortified or do they use magic?"

Quote from TheManyNamed >>

"Why haven't you been able to get a scout in?  Are their borders fortified or do they use magic?"

 "In and out. They go in and never come back if they go into a town."

"Thank you for explaining.  I think we're ready?" Sarah says and looks at her companions.

OoC: Em is fixing for a fight.

The Lady asks for a day’s head start so that she can plant the seeds with the CUT missionaries.

once you start you’ve got three days travel to where they where last seen.

Day 1 7 11 1 

Day 2 17 6 14 

Day 3 15 16 19 

It is getting near dark and up ahead you hear music. A group of wandering minstrels 

"We should skirt around unless we can keep up our deception for the whole night."

Em takes a good* look at the minstrels.

Perception: 8 Investigation: 12

*pending these rolls

Thomas will tell the group "let me get a closer look. A band is rather incongruous out here. " he then goes invisible and sneaks  nearby, checking them out.

Stealth:21

Investigation :23

Perception :19

 OOC - staying outside 50', ideally.

What is wrong with you people - The Decemberists! Really?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decemberists

OOC - We just encountered a devil. Ya think wandering minstrels would survive more than a day out here? :D

OOC:  Never said I didn't like it.  Had a chuckle- you can't beat a good murder ballad.  If you want a recommendation back try the Steeldrivers.  Preferably with their original singer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsjl0Duim0

Quote from GKnightBC >>

OOC - We just encountered a devil. Ya think wandering minstrels would survive more than a day out here? :D

No.  Sometimes, though, you just have to ignore the meta on the wall :).

"What the heck!"  Aleister expostulates. He steps forward and greets the troupe, "Hale and well met, pluckers and thumpers, any news of the road?"

Perception  4  What can he discern about these folks?

 He spreads his arms wide, showing no weapons, "T'isn't it grand t' be alive on a foin day like this!"

"Aleister!  Not yet," Sarah says in vain in the shadows away from the 'minstrels'.

Face to palm she hopes for the best.  It would have been nice if he's waited for the scouting report.  Hopefully, Thomas could help if he needed it.