Quietly alerting the rest of the invisible/non-invisible group, he uses the key to open the door.
You have already searched the place using clairvoyance and found something odd about the bookcase. Do you all want to toss this place the old fashion way? If so is it quick and obvious or slow and careful putting everything back where it was?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thomas's vote is to get everyone inside, do a Detect Magic (dropping invis) first, then checking the bookcase door for traps. After the results of that, then toss the place carefully and quietly. He'll also bring Gamliel out to help search.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sarah agrees on the cautious approach. She joins the careful search once that is done.
Perception: 7
Alas she gets distracted by the priestess' shoe collection. What evil would-be overlord would be without the perfect pair of pumps for the occasion. Still... excessive.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Aleister will, without touching anything, examine the bookcase to see if the might be any ‘odd’ things near it; like a candelabra placed weirdly, a strange decoration on the wall, or the bookcase for that matter, things of that nature.
Investigation. 17 Perception. 16. He glances briefly in Sarah’s direction, “Pretty nice pumps, I’d say”. Then returns to scrutinizing the bookcase and the area around it.
Fire bolt- Shoot a streaking ball of fire towards a foe and deal a measly 1d10 fire damage. Use eldritch blast instead.
Fireball - Drawing magic from your inner reserves, you unleash a devastating nuke that explodes in a circle, hitting multiple enemies, and burning them to a crisp with a godly amount of 8d6 fire damage. Make your DM’s fights look like garbage. It’s also a nice way of TPK your entire party and have them triggered at you for the rest of the week.
Blaize and Sarah wander around being distracted by the shoe closet but Aleister and Thomas find a large cache of PPA coinage and gems plus behind the aforementioned bookcase they find where the lady keeps her home shrine. In there is a book listing about 30 names and addresses with notations like 'initiate', 'deacon' and 'novice' each with a notation showing how many 'sacrifices' they have made.
The sight of the note makes Sarah's stomach sink. So many people and what were they to do about it? How much of a threat were they? Enough that they had killed to preserve their own skin but perhaps also for power. They couldn't let this repeat, but what to do?
"That's not a good sign. How many are there... 30? Gods. Are they all PPA? Please tell me they haven't infested our town or our allies."
"Ooooh!" Aleister expostulates, "Do I scent a whiff of blackmail? I don't imaging these folk," he waves the book slightly. "Will be eager to have the pee pee's get a gander at this." He grins, "I think we may have just discovered a ready made spy ring. Or at least really good chance at establishing one if we take care in the initial approach to our 'agents'."
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Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
"Actually, now that I think about it," Aleister continues in a rather gleeful tone of voice, "many of the people who come in contact with these thirty might be 'recruitable' into a network." He rubs his hands together. "And we can pay them with 'her' own coin!" He chuckles at the thought.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
"Would you really want to deal with people who have gained power through murder? I know I wouldn't. My first inclination is to copy it and send this list with details about what it means, and get it delivered to the PPA head, as long as they aren't on it. Let THEM deal with their own messes. Not only does it distract the PPA org from making progress, but considering their neo-Christian religion, they'll be far more diligent and able to wipe it out than we can be. We leave this bookcase wide open so they can see what is going on. Love from a concerned, faithful Christian."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
“They will find this place eventually,” Aleister says. “But do we really want to throw away the possibility of an inside line into the pee pees? I think the least we can do is turn this stuff over to the folks in Yachats and let them decide. I mean we, the good guys, are at war with these bast’rds and one of the first rules in war is ‘know thy enemy’. So what if there is a death cult, is that much worse than a slave cult that works people to death slowly? We need to know what the high mucky mucks of this place are thinking, as as soon as we can. Just sayin’.”
The sight of the note makes Sarah's stomach sink. So many people and what were they to do about it? How much of a threat were they? Enough that they had killed to preserve their own skin but perhaps also for power. They couldn't let this repeat, but what to do?
"That's not a good sign. How many are there... 30? Gods. Are they all PPA? Please tell me they haven't infested our town or our allies."
"Would you really want to deal with people who have gained power through murder? I know I wouldn't. My first inclination is to copy it and send this list with details about what it means, and get it delivered to the PPA head, as long as they aren't on it. Let THEM deal with their own messes. Not only does it distract the PPA org from making progress, but considering their neo-Christian religion, they'll be far more diligent and able to wipe it out than we can be. We leave this bookcase wide open so they can see what is going on. Love from a concerned, faithful Christian."
You don't recognise any of these names so they probably aren't part of senior PPA leadership.
Max "We just have to make sure that whoever finds this information isn't part of the cult. We have a diplomatic mission here (you may be at war with the PPA but its not a hot war), we could get them to pass this on to someone senior in the PPA government."
Thomas nods to Max "Yeah, I think that'd be the best way to handle this, after we get our own copy."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Spies would be nice but they have to be loyal first. These people were swayed once with the promise of power. Who is to say they won't turn their coats and become double agents? To say nothing of the risk of another cult rise. That said... can we really be sure that some of these people weren't coerced? The PPA's inquisition would be less inclined to look for truth and more interested in making an 'example'. They are fanatics too."
If no magic was detected otherwise, Thomas will wrap up his searches and say "We can stand here debating this, or get out of this place and talk to our leadership for guidance. Either way, let's take this book and skedaddle. " He will then use Invisibility as before so the group can leave, once everyone is ready.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
“Well, no matter what we do,” Aleister says, “the authorities will find out about this, I don’t think this room can remain unused for too long before someone checks into why and when they find the alter, unless we wreck it, anyone who was associated with the ‘dearly departed’ is going to come in for scrutiny. Leastways that is something any well run intelligence service would do.” He looks around just to make sure nothing was missed.
“We’d best get going, drop off the book and loot with the embassy, or consulate, whatever is here.” He shrugs his shoulders, “So, what’s next after that?”
You finish with the room and exit the hotel and make your way to the consulate. The consul hears you out and calls in the local Chief of Station. "We either have to keep all the names secret or give them all up. We could try to keep some names back but when the Inquisition starts questioning you can expect the cultist to quickly give up any names they can."
You have already searched the place using clairvoyance and found something odd about the bookcase. Do you all want to toss this place the old fashion way? If so is it quick and obvious or slow and careful putting everything back where it was?
Thomas's vote is to get everyone inside, do a Detect Magic (dropping invis) first, then checking the bookcase door for traps. After the results of that, then toss the place carefully and quietly. He'll also bring Gamliel out to help search.
Perception Thomas/Gamliel 15 , 22
Edited to include Perceptions
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Sarah agrees on the cautious approach. She joins the careful search once that is done.
Perception: 7
Alas she gets distracted by the priestess' shoe collection. What evil would-be overlord would be without the perfect pair of pumps for the occasion. Still... excessive.
Aleister will, without touching anything, examine the bookcase to see if the might be any ‘odd’ things near it; like a candelabra placed weirdly, a strange decoration on the wall, or the bookcase for that matter, things of that nature.
Investigation. 17 Perception. 16. He glances briefly in Sarah’s direction, “Pretty nice pumps, I’d say”. Then returns to scrutinizing the bookcase and the area around it.
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Blaize knowing that he joined in late, starts searching around for any clues to this evil cmastermind.
Investigation: 16
Perception: 15
Alas, the toll of waking up early has came to strike as everything he see is in a blurry state, unable to identify anything.
Blaize and Sarah wander around being distracted by the shoe closet but Aleister and Thomas find a large cache of PPA coinage and gems plus behind the aforementioned bookcase they find where the lady keeps her home shrine. In there is a book listing about 30 names and addresses with notations like 'initiate', 'deacon' and 'novice' each with a notation showing how many 'sacrifices' they have made.
The sight of the note makes Sarah's stomach sink. So many people and what were they to do about it? How much of a threat were they? Enough that they had killed to preserve their own skin but perhaps also for power. They couldn't let this repeat, but what to do?
"That's not a good sign. How many are there... 30? Gods. Are they all PPA? Please tell me they haven't infested our town or our allies."
"Ooooh!" Aleister expostulates, "Do I scent a whiff of blackmail? I don't imaging these folk," he waves the book slightly. "Will be eager to have the pee pee's get a gander at this." He grins, "I think we may have just discovered a ready made spy ring. Or at least really good chance at establishing one if we take care in the initial approach to our 'agents'."
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
"Actually, now that I think about it," Aleister continues in a rather gleeful tone of voice, "many of the people who come in contact with these thirty might be 'recruitable' into a network." He rubs his hands together. "And we can pay them with 'her' own coin!" He chuckles at the thought.
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
"Depends on how fanatical they were. If they are faithful to Hella, they could end up creating their own cults."
"Would you really want to deal with people who have gained power through murder? I know I wouldn't. My first inclination is to copy it and send this list with details about what it means, and get it delivered to the PPA head, as long as they aren't on it. Let THEM deal with their own messes. Not only does it distract the PPA org from making progress, but considering their neo-Christian religion, they'll be far more diligent and able to wipe it out than we can be. We leave this bookcase wide open so they can see what is going on. Love from a concerned, faithful Christian."
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
“They will find this place eventually,” Aleister says. “But do we really want to throw away the possibility of an inside line into the pee pees? I think the least we can do is turn this stuff over to the folks in Yachats and let them decide. I mean we, the good guys, are at war with these bast’rds and one of the first rules in war is ‘know thy enemy’. So what if there is a death cult, is that much worse than a slave cult that works people to death slowly? We need to know what the high mucky mucks of this place are thinking, as as soon as we can. Just sayin’.”
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
All the addresses are in PPA territory.
You don't recognise any of these names so they probably aren't part of senior PPA leadership.
Max "We just have to make sure that whoever finds this information isn't part of the cult. We have a diplomatic mission here (you may be at war with the PPA but its not a hot war), we could get them to pass this on to someone senior in the PPA government."
Thomas nods to Max "Yeah, I think that'd be the best way to handle this, after we get our own copy."
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
"Spies would be nice but they have to be loyal first. These people were swayed once with the promise of power. Who is to say they won't turn their coats and become double agents? To say nothing of the risk of another cult rise. That said... can we really be sure that some of these people weren't coerced? The PPA's inquisition would be less inclined to look for truth and more interested in making an 'example'. They are fanatics too."
If no magic was detected otherwise, Thomas will wrap up his searches and say "We can stand here debating this, or get out of this place and talk to our leadership for guidance. Either way, let's take this book and skedaddle. " He will then use Invisibility as before so the group can leave, once everyone is ready.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
“Well, no matter what we do,” Aleister says, “the authorities will find out about this, I don’t think this room can remain unused for too long before someone checks into why and when they find the alter, unless we wreck it, anyone who was associated with the ‘dearly departed’ is going to come in for scrutiny. Leastways that is something any well run intelligence service would do.” He looks around just to make sure nothing was missed.
“We’d best get going, drop off the book and loot with the embassy, or consulate, whatever is here.” He shrugs his shoulders, “So, what’s next after that?”
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
You finish with the room and exit the hotel and make your way to the consulate. The consul hears you out and calls in the local Chief of Station. "We either have to keep all the names secret or give them all up. We could try to keep some names back but when the Inquisition starts questioning you can expect the cultist to quickly give up any names they can."
"I think we should give them all, then. The ex-cultists wouldn't be all that reliable anyway," Sarah suggests.