Nub suggests "If we can find lodging for the night, we would be able to approach the challenge fully rested and would possibly be less suspicious than a party approaching at night."
[Nub used Arcane Recovery on short rest, so is actually fairly good to go if the others do decide to approach at night. I wouldn't mind finding out what (if any) supplies Parnast stocks as well.]
Soar nods and agrees to do a leisurely and casual perusal of the town, looking for an inn or somewhere someone has a hayloft to rent out for the night. She’s also happy camping in the woods, if the town isn’t friendly.
You walk towards the village; you approach coming down from the mountain so you get a good clear view of the layout and size of the place as you walk. It's pretty small, but there are a few larger buildings that might be an inn and a small temple. There is also a large central square.
As you approach the village, there are not many people on the streets, and the one or two who see you seem to shy away from speaking to you. You are approach the town from the north, so you are at the very top of the map and coming down towards the main square. Ahead you now see more clearly the square, with several stalls and merchants, woodsfolk and villagers discussing and haggling. A well stands in the centre of the square, and you see an inn, a stable, a wheelwright's shop and a small shrine that appears abandoned.
Before entering the town, Soar casts detect evil and good to look around for anything notable as she explores, talks to people, and eventually gets to the inn.
Soar finds someone who seems friendly or at least not unfriendly, perhaps a merchant or a bored-looking woodsfolk asking about the weather, recent game, what's for sale. Trying to charm them into being friendly and helpful and trusting. (Persuasion: 10)
"We just arrived, and what a nice place to arrive at!" Soar says amiably. "I'm sure there's a fine inn around here, if you can point it out to me. Also, what's the deal with that castle over there?"
Soar, so far, as you enter the village and head towards the centre, you don't pick up anything from your spell.
No-one seems particularly friendly, but you approach a halfling who is selling groceries at the market; it looks as though she is about to pack up. She bows slightly as you approach, and answers your questions, calling you Milady. She seems a little nervous.
Oh, milady, the inn is the Golden Tankard; it's just there, she says, pointing to a building that looks very much like an inn or tavern. Why, you would know more about the castle than me, milady. She bows again. I hear tell it will be flying away tomorrow at noon, if you've business there.
Soar bends down and finds some groceries that seem fresh and appetizing, filling a small bag with some produce and baked goods and smoked meats. "We've not had a real meal in a while, so fresh food is always welcome. If this is okay and you weren't packing up too quickly," she says, palming a handful of silver coin and ready to overpay. "We're just arriving, so anything you can tell us about what's been happening in Parnast would be very useful, and certainly confidential."
Nub's eyes light up as he takes in any local herbs, vegetables and fruit he has not seen before, though (not known for his tact) he asks a totally unrelated blunt and to the point question "do you know anywhere that would sell fine inks and paper or know anyone that would have personal stock? I will pay you a 75 gold finders fee if you can get me what I need."
No, mister... turtle We don't have anything like that here. She's staring at Nub and has clearly never seen a tortle before.
Soar, the bag of goodies costs you five silver. Oh, I don't knowmuch milady, the vendor says. You should meet with Captain Othelstan if you want to know about... you know, official business. She leans in and smiles, and in a low voice, not quite a whisper, she says: Praise Tiamat.
Nate would've followed Soar and the others into town. He wouldn't have said anything to the halfling grocer, and was keeping his head down for the most part, preoccupied with the ice castle in the background and happy to get the location of an inn. Until her last statement.
Nate raises his head and looks down at her with a not so nice gaze, and says "What did you just say?"
She shrugs. Some of the merchants are... well, you understand. Still in the same low voice as before. Have no doubts about the villagers; many have joined our cause, and the others know better than to speak up.
The merchants nearby are not paying you any attention; they are all busy haggling or otherwise conducting business. But you can tell from their dress that some appear to be from the same region or culture as the villagers, but one or two are wearing more unusual attire - nothing you immediately recognise, but it marks them as likely foreigners.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Where is Parnast in relation to, say, Neverwinter? Nate is curious now where the heck the teleport actually took us, as he semi-listens to Soar and the halfling discuss something he can't make out.
He'd also now start looking around for cultist insignia anywhere in sight on anyone around us. Including the grocer. Just for curiosity's sake...
You have no idea where Parnast is. It's a small village, not at all famous, and it's unlikely any of you would have heard of it. You could ask someone if you wish.
Nate, you don't see any sign of cultist insignia anywhere.
Soar thanks the vendor and takes her bag of food, turning away to rejoin the party and slowly approach the Inn. She draws them close and very quietly explains that there is an inn called the Golden Tankard, that she guesses most of the village is at least in thrall to, if not supportive of, the cult. She suggests that they keep a low profile if possible, since a dragonborn, a tortle, a human, and a half-elf stick out and will be remembered. Instead of the Inn, she proposes perhaps resting for the night in Nub’s rope trick hideaway just outside of town. She worries that word of their extended stay might filter up to the Rezmirs of the world, or that someone in the Inn will sniff them out and then they’re fighting a whole village when the main goal is to take down the ringleaders. Perhaps one or two people could scope out the Inn (maybe even Nate in wildshape form) but not likely the whole recognizable party at once. She does give some sympathy to Nub who really wants some paper and ink, wondering if someone learned in the town has some stashed away they could barter for.
Soar quickly adds, nearly forgetting, that the woman told her to talk to Captain Othelstan, who seems to be the official in charge of cult activities in town. “We could find his house and snoop around, mess with his life a bit, disrupt things, before resting in our hideaway, if we think it came be done without tipping off the flying castle...”
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Nub suggests "If we can find lodging for the night, we would be able to approach the challenge fully rested and would possibly be less suspicious than a party approaching at night."
[Nub used Arcane Recovery on short rest, so is actually fairly good to go if the others do decide to approach at night. I wouldn't mind finding out what (if any) supplies Parnast stocks as well.]
Soar nods and agrees to do a leisurely and casual perusal of the town, looking for an inn or somewhere someone has a hayloft to rent out for the night. She’s also happy camping in the woods, if the town isn’t friendly.
You walk towards the village; you approach coming down from the mountain so you get a good clear view of the layout and size of the place as you walk. It's pretty small, but there are a few larger buildings that might be an inn and a small temple. There is also a large central square.
As you approach the village, there are not many people on the streets, and the one or two who see you seem to shy away from speaking to you. You are approach the town from the north, so you are at the very top of the map and coming down towards the main square. Ahead you now see more clearly the square, with several stalls and merchants, woodsfolk and villagers discussing and haggling. A well stands in the centre of the square, and you see an inn, a stable, a wheelwright's shop and a small shrine that appears abandoned.
Before entering the town, Soar casts detect evil and good to look around for anything notable as she explores, talks to people, and eventually gets to the inn.
Soar finds someone who seems friendly or at least not unfriendly, perhaps a merchant or a bored-looking woodsfolk asking about the weather, recent game, what's for sale. Trying to charm them into being friendly and helpful and trusting. (Persuasion: 10)
"We just arrived, and what a nice place to arrive at!" Soar says amiably. "I'm sure there's a fine inn around here, if you can point it out to me. Also, what's the deal with that castle over there?"
Soar, so far, as you enter the village and head towards the centre, you don't pick up anything from your spell.
No-one seems particularly friendly, but you approach a halfling who is selling groceries at the market; it looks as though she is about to pack up. She bows slightly as you approach, and answers your questions, calling you Milady. She seems a little nervous.
Oh, milady, the inn is the Golden Tankard; it's just there, she says, pointing to a building that looks very much like an inn or tavern. Why, you would know more about the castle than me, milady. She bows again. I hear tell it will be flying away tomorrow at noon, if you've business there.
Soar bends down and finds some groceries that seem fresh and appetizing, filling a small bag with some produce and baked goods and smoked meats. "We've not had a real meal in a while, so fresh food is always welcome. If this is okay and you weren't packing up too quickly," she says, palming a handful of silver coin and ready to overpay. "We're just arriving, so anything you can tell us about what's been happening in Parnast would be very useful, and certainly confidential."
Nub's eyes light up as he takes in any local herbs, vegetables and fruit he has not seen before, though (not known for his tact) he asks a totally unrelated blunt and to the point question "do you know anywhere that would sell fine inks and paper or know anyone that would have personal stock? I will pay you a 75 gold finders fee if you can get me what I need."
No, mister... turtle We don't have anything like that here. She's staring at Nub and has clearly never seen a tortle before.
Soar, the bag of goodies costs you five silver. Oh, I don't know much milady, the vendor says. You should meet with Captain Othelstan if you want to know about... you know, official business. She leans in and smiles, and in a low voice, not quite a whisper, she says: Praise Tiamat.
Nate would've followed Soar and the others into town. He wouldn't have said anything to the halfling grocer, and was keeping his head down for the most part, preoccupied with the ice castle in the background and happy to get the location of an inn. Until her last statement.
Nate raises his head and looks down at her with a not so nice gaze, and says "What did you just say?"
I think Nate might not have heard it though; make a Perception check.
(I was wondering that actually)
10
Nate, you only see that the vendor says something; you don't hear the words.
Then ignore Nate's statement.
He just stands quietly, looking forward to getting to the inn for a meal and rest.
Soar responds with a quick thanks and then, at the last statement, turns and whispers, “is there cause for quiet, even here?”
She shrugs. Some of the merchants are... well, you understand. Still in the same low voice as before. Have no doubts about the villagers; many have joined our cause, and the others know better than to speak up.
The merchants nearby are not paying you any attention; they are all busy haggling or otherwise conducting business. But you can tell from their dress that some appear to be from the same region or culture as the villagers, but one or two are wearing more unusual attire - nothing you immediately recognise, but it marks them as likely foreigners.
Where is Parnast in relation to, say, Neverwinter? Nate is curious now where the heck the teleport actually took us, as he semi-listens to Soar and the halfling discuss something he can't make out.
He'd also now start looking around for cultist insignia anywhere in sight on anyone around us. Including the grocer. Just for curiosity's sake...
Perception: 13
You have no idea where Parnast is. It's a small village, not at all famous, and it's unlikely any of you would have heard of it. You could ask someone if you wish.
Nate, you don't see any sign of cultist insignia anywhere.
Soar thanks the vendor and takes her bag of food, turning away to rejoin the party and slowly approach the Inn. She draws them close and very quietly explains that there is an inn called the Golden Tankard, that she guesses most of the village is at least in thrall to, if not supportive of, the cult. She suggests that they keep a low profile if possible, since a dragonborn, a tortle, a human, and a half-elf stick out and will be remembered. Instead of the Inn, she proposes perhaps resting for the night in Nub’s rope trick hideaway just outside of town. She worries that word of their extended stay might filter up to the Rezmirs of the world, or that someone in the Inn will sniff them out and then they’re fighting a whole village when the main goal is to take down the ringleaders. Perhaps one or two people could scope out the Inn (maybe even Nate in wildshape form) but not likely the whole recognizable party at once. She does give some sympathy to Nub who really wants some paper and ink, wondering if someone learned in the town has some stashed away they could barter for.
Soar quickly adds, nearly forgetting, that the woman told her to talk to Captain Othelstan, who seems to be the official in charge of cult activities in town. “We could find his house and snoop around, mess with his life a bit, disrupt things, before resting in our hideaway, if we think it came be done without tipping off the flying castle...”