Quote from AlaricBrand >>

"Thisbwas many months ago. I'm not sure where they were from, nor where they were going, though I suspect that they were heading north to escape persecution. But we were lucky that that came by when they did. My point is that they are an example of what I was talking about: people who followed other ways, yet  did great good for the people as they passed through."

Brand looks around the restaurant, perhaps delaying his words if others are listening, then lowers his voice. "Have you asked yourself to what extent the current purge us driven by someone's desire to increase their power, rather than the desire to help the people?"

---

[[How would Brand know? The 'priests' would have used magic or performed miracles to do what they did, but Brand would have no idea as to where this power was coming from.]]

[[ It is i suppose a question about rules as much as anything else, IIRC warlocks are about pacts with extra planar beings. Could that include humans? Given what he knows about planes etc and what he has learnt from Nathaniel, would an extra planar human count? ]]

[[Regarding the rules question, here is an answer you probably won't like: it is unlikely that a human could be a warlock patron, but I won't say it is impossible. What I will tell you is that the gods of this campaign setting have many different origins.]]

Minton is silent for a moment before saying, "This 'purge' as you call it, is in direct response to attacks on both the Crown and the Temple by unbelievers. Seeker Harlan was killed by an Arion worshipper. And, whoever caused the death of Greft Tarantine used an ancient magic from the days of the monstrous Set worshippers. I feel the response by the Temple was a necessary step to guarantee the safety of the city."

[[Regarding the rules question, here is an answer you probably won't like: it is unlikely that a human could be a warlock patron, but I won't say it is impossible. What I will tell you is that the gods of this campaign setting have many different origins.]]

[[ Yeah, I really didn't expect a human to work; but it would have been interesting. ]]

Minton is silent for a moment before saying, "This 'purge' as you call it, is in direct response to attacks on both the Crown and the Temple by unbelievers. Seeker Harlan was killed by an Arion worshipper. And, whoever caused the death of Greft Tarantine used an ancient magic from the days of the monstrous Set worshippers. I feel the response by the Temple was a necessary step to guarantee the safety of the city."

Brand raises his eyebrows, "Really....I had no idea Set worshippers might be involved in Tarrantine's death. That does change the complexion. I've glimpsed their handiwork and it is not pleasant."

"But if my history serves me correctly, the old empire was overthrown by their own people. The Stemmians...and by hounding out anyone who has a local faith -- those same faiths that probably were part of ousting the old empire -- we lose some valuable natural allies in finding any source of the resurgent evil, if that it what it is."

"In my work I prefer to isolate my enemies and use precisely targeted attacks, not this overreaction that ultimately seems more likely to make finding set worshippers harder, and push more people into their camp."

[[ Does Brand know where Arion worship came from? Or at least if it is local, Sorendenes, or more widespread? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Regarding the rules question, here is an answer you probably won't like: it is unlikely that a human could be a warlock patron, but I won't say it is impossible. What I will tell you is that the gods of this campaign setting have many different origins.]]

[[ Yeah, I really didn't expect a human to work; but it would have been interesting. ]]

---

Minton is silent for a moment before saying, "This 'purge' as you call it, is in direct response to attacks on both the Crown and the Temple by unbelievers. Seeker Harlan was killed by an Arion worshipper. And, whoever caused the death of Greft Tarantine used an ancient magic from the days of the monstrous Set worshippers. I feel the response by the Temple was a necessary step to guarantee the safety of the city."

Brand raises his eyebrows, "Really....I had no idea Set worshippers might be involved in Tarrantine's death. That does change the complexion. I've glimpsed their handiwork and it is not pleasant."

"But if my history serves me correctly, the old empire was overthrown by their own people. The Stemmians...and by hounding out anyone who has a local faith -- those same faiths that probably were part of ousting the old empire -- we lose some valuable natural allies in finding any source of the resurgent evil, if that it what it is."

"In my work I prefer to isolate my enemies and use precisely targeted attacks, not this overreaction that ultimately seems more likely to make finding set worshippers harder, and push more people into their camp."

---

[[ Does Brand know where Arion worship came from? Or at least if it is local, Sorendenes, or more widespread? ]]

[[This time I want you to make an Arcana check.]]

"I don't know anything about the history of which you speak," says Minton. "But what I do know is that: what the king has decreed has worked well in other places in the Empire... And, it's not like he has declared the pagan gods anathema in the whole country—just this city." 

At this point some servitors arrive with the next course of the meal.

 Isn't it a history or religion question? At least in terms of, say, having Arion problems in NN 2 centuries ago or something.

Arcana: 13

"I don't know anything about the history of which you speak," says Minton. "But what I do know is that: what the king has decreed has worked well in other places in the Empire... And, it's not like he has declared the pagan gods anathema in the whole country—just this city." 

At this point some servitors arrive with the next course of the meal.

Brand eyes the food hungrily, and waits for the servitor to leave.

"I don't like seeing good citizens being forced from their homes when they have committed no crimes, while murderers and criminals hide in the ... hide in plain sight. It makes us hypocrites and turns good men and women against us."

Brand takes a long slow drink of his water, and puts his wine a little farther away. "Well, I guess time will tell."

As he starts eating the next course,. he looks up at Minton and says "Fascinating about Tarrantine. Is that common knowledge?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

 Isn't it a history or religion question? At least in terms of, say, having Arion problems in NN 2 centuries ago or something.

Arcana: 13

[[Nope. Definitely an Arcana check, which Brand failed, so you can roll for XP.]]

---

"I don't know anything about the history of which you speak," says Minton. "But what I do know is that: what the king has decreed has worked well in other places in the Empire... And, it's not like he has declared the pagan gods anathema in the whole country—just this city." 

At this point some servitors arrive with the next course of the meal.

Brand eyes the food hungrily, and waits for the servitor to leave.

"I don't like seeing good citizens being forced from their homes when they have committed no crimes, while murderers and criminals hide in the ... hide in plain sight. It makes us hypocrites and turns good men and women against us."

Brand takes a long slow drink of his water, and puts his wine a little farther away. "Well, I guess time will tell."

As he starts eating the next course,. he looks up at Minton and says "Fascinating about Tarrantine. Is that common knowledge?"

Hareld stops his eating long enough to say, "No. There have been rumours going around for a long time that magic was involved, but I was told by someone from the Donai sect—it was they who took the carcass of the turtle from the accident site—that the magick had something to do with the ancient Set worshippers. But how they determined this, I have no idea. You would have to ask them."

[[And that's me for the night. Ciao.]]

Arcana XP: 5

Brand tilts his head to one side, lifts his glass and smiles, "Carcass? Turtle? There is definitely a story here!"

[[ Buonanotte ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Arcana XP: 15

[[That would have succeeded, so gain 5 XP]]

---

Brand tilts his head to one side, lifts his glass and smiles, "Carcass? Turtle? There is definitely a story here!"

[[ Buonanotte ]]

"The carcass of the turtle," says Hareld before taking a bite. Having swallowed his morsel, he then goes on to say, "The magic that frightened the horse was a rune inscribed on the back of a turtle that somehow happened to be on the racecourse. Tarantine was in the lead and so it was his horse that was affected, but as that was likely, it is assumed he was the target. As to why such an unlikely method was used... no one has a clue, but it was certainly an unexpected form of attack."

[[ Damned Greenie animal activist terrorists. ]]

"Did the magic also kill him? People fall of horses all the time, relying on him being first, and dying from the fall seems optimistic unless there was something else in play?"

"In a way," says Hareld. "He was thrown and then trampled on, which seems an unlikely turn of events considering how well trained Tarantine's horses are."

"Indeed. So...perhaps something was controlling his horse; the turtle may not have frightened it, so much as carried the means to possess it. That would also mean it was waiting for him, rather than just attacking the first horse that came by."

Minton just shrugs and says, "You'd have to ask the investigators from the Temple of Donai, I am not a mage."

"That's probably beyond my paygrade, but do you know who I might ask?"

[[ At this point I'm happy to macro ... ]]

Once again Minton just shrugs, but then he says, "I am sure one of the Seekers would know, or at least be able to tell you who to talk to."

Then, after a pause, he says, "But surely your father must know about this?"

"I'm sure he does; but -- you may not have met him -- he's not as friendly and approachable as I" Brand says with a lopsided smile. "I was hoping I might get a different, perhaps less official, perspective."

Brand and Minton finish their meal and the bill comes to 14 Constantines [[I presume Brand is paying and so please pay deduct this from your character sheet.]]

Minton seems a little unsteady on his feet from all the wine, but still wants to go to Portside to see if he can find a berth on a ship.

[[ Finances updated;
XP updated: was 1255, now 1260 ]]

Brand pays the money and thanks the staff/proprietor, and leaves a tip of that's what's done, then starts toward portside with Minton. He checks on Minton's state (and his own), and if he thinks it's better to delay, he says so.

[[ Edit: Go on a route that goes via Smith & Sons, to see if they are still there and as he remembers them. Also keep an eye out for cheaper Stink of Life, but he may need to go to Westen End for that ]]

Brand drank some water during lunch, but Hareld didn't. Brand feels okay, but Hareld seems to be a bit lightheaded. He is still eager to go to Portside.

Brand takes Minton on a route that goes via Smith & Sons, to see if they are still there and as he remembers them. AS he walks, he also keep an eye out for cheaper Stink of Life, but he suspects that he may need to go to Westen End for that.

Once they are on their way, Brand remains vigilant, but continues chatting with Minton. "You have family down south, will you stay in the capital, or go to your old villiage?"

[[ If you still haven't done portside, I'm happy for a hiatus or to delay the visit. Rain storm? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ If you still haven't done portside, I'm happy for a hiatus or to delay the visit. Rain storm? ]]

[[Adding stuff to the world site as I go, that's one of the main things about this whole exercise for me.]]