After hearing about the cult Reginald speaks up, "We should have a meeting with the town, forget talking to the mayor, as he is worthless an probably a member of this cult as well, but we need to warn our friends and with this new knowledge see if anyone knows anything else that might help us track down the location of this cult so we can get rid of them."
With Bella's religion check you would know the below in regard to Talos. Stormlord, the Destroyer Talos is the dark side of nature, the uncaring and destructive force that might strike at any time. He is the god of storms, forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and general destruction. He counts the ravager, the raider, the looter, and the brigand among his followers. Those who favor him see life as a succession of random effects in a sea of chaos, so the devout should grab what they can, when they can — for who can say when Talos will strike and send them into the afterlife? Talos is portrayed as a broad-shouldered, bearded young man with a single good eye, the other covered by a dark patch. He is said to carry a collection of three staffs, made from the first tree cut down in the world, the first silver smelted, and the first iron forged. He uses these staffs to raise destructive winds, cause terrible storms, and split the land in acts of rage. The three lightning bolts of his holy symbol represent these staffs, and when he vents his wrath on the world, he is thought to hurl them down from the sky as lightning strikes. Although Talos is a popular deity, his name is invoked more often out of fear than out of reverence. He does have priests, mostly traveling doomsayers, who warn of disasters to come and accept charity in exchange for blessings of protection. Many of his faithful wear a black eyepatch, even if both eyes are intact.
As far as the Cult of Talos goes. You likely have only heard of them as pirates and shadows working to gain control of sections of the Sword Coast.
As far as the Cult of Talos goes. You likely have only heard of them as pirates and shadows working to gain control of sections of the Sword Coast.
ooc: Thanks
Bella shrugs at Reginald's suggestion, wondering the point of it all. She'd go along with what the others wanted...as long as it didn't cause her too much trouble.
Seruk nods his agreement, "It's worth talking to them about. Maybe they can point us in the right direction. It's also good for the brand for everyone to know that we will help allies and punish anyone who attacks them."
It is still fairly early in the day, likely only ten am or so. How do you go about getting a town meeting in place? Also, what other things were on your todo list for today? You still need to get wagons, horses, and holy water for Leilon after all.
Reginald would make a point of visiting the tavern and then the main businesses of the town. Then would ask any of the local children if they wanted to help out and spread the word that an important meeting concerning the safety of the town is being held that evening at the local tavern for those wishing to attend. He would offer 1 SP to the first ten children he can find to help spread the word. Then he would go about helping his companions make arrangements for the wagons, horses and holy water to be ready to go the next day. Suggesting to the group about what to talk about at the meeting and that we need to finish with out delivery first and then we would be back to help out the town.
Looking for other suggestions of the group, but he would like to inform the town of what has been going on, the Cult of Talos and the kobolds that were working in town. How they are probably the one responsible for the shrine desecration and more than likely the missing people about town. Suggesting that the townsfolk walk around town in groups especially at night and definitely on the outskirts of town as it might not be safe. They might want to look into forming some type of militia or raises funds for a mercenary group to be stationed in town, our company might be able to help with that, and I would ask Kass to look into it. Also to remind the town that just because we are not around as much as normal, we are still invested in seeing this town flourish and thrive.
"Well, if we can't be buyin' the holy water, I can make some, but I'll need powdered silver. Any idea where I can get some? Also, who wants to get the horses and wagon?" Bella asks.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Once things are settled down, Seruk pulls out his whisper jar and attempts to learn more about the Cult of Talos through it.
History: 24
Whispered Encyclopedia
At rank 2, your whisper jar becomes an uncommon magic item that can tap into the broader lore of Acquisitions Incorporated. As a bonus action, you ask the jar for information on a specific subject and make a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check. On a success, the jar plays back a recording on that subject, made somewhere, sometime by another Acq Inc loremonger. This property of the whisper jar can’t be used again until the next dawn.
Seruk A lecturing voice speaks from the whisper jar.... "Two forces of evil rise nearby, eager to control the region around Leilon and eventually the Sword Coast. The first is a cult of Talos, god of storms, led by the priestess Fheralai Stormsworn. The cult’s headquarters are inside a death knight-dreadnaught, an undead battleship beached near a temple of Talos called the Tower of Storms." There is a slight pause, but the lecture continues... "At the same time, Ularan Mortus, a priest of the god of death Myrkul, and his followers are raising an army of undead to lay siege to the city of Neverwinter. The spirit of the dead black dragon Chardansearavitriol, also known as Ebondeath, aids Ularan Mortus in exchange for help finding and seizing the body of a living dragon to inhabit."
The voice fades into whispers then, onses that cannot be understood.
Reginald You are able to gather the majority of the town, including the townmaster, in the green outside of the Town Hall.
Everyone Please introduce your characters as you come to this town meeting called by Reginald.
In the crowd of the town meeting, you see a bright red skinned tiefling. She has shoulder length black hair and long curled horns with words written on them in primordial. (If any of you understand that, it seems to be some ancient poem.) She wears the distinct robes of the candlekeep library, and sits in the grass a little ways off from the crowd studying a book. If you look closely, you realize she is actually casting augury to determine if it is a good idea to stay at this meaning. (DM, this is a low level future sight spell, so if you could give me the result for that, that'd be great.) Sitting on her shoulder is a small barn owl surveying the crowd with its empty eyes. The tiefling is Silence, and her owl is named Lamentation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I will protect those I hate. Even ... even if the one I hate most ... is ... myself.
Prior to the meeting, Seruk would have passed on the information he'd received about the cults to his companions.
(For the newcomers) Seruk is a tall, well-built githyanki with yellowish skin and close-cropped red hair. He stands like a warrior and wears half-plate armor with a greatsword over his shoulder, however, he also carries a heavy, leather-bound tomb on a strap at his side and has a tressym perched on his shoulder surveilling the townsfolk. (And wishing he'd remembered that he had a companion that could see invisible creatures earlier...)
Bella studies the newcomers, not really listening to Reginald. He'd already told them what he was going to say, at the same meeting where they'd met the newbies and where she'd shared her knowledge of The Cult of Talos, as had Seruk. Now...where did he learn all that. She focuses again on the new members. A tiefling and a dwarf and a satyr. They'll bear watching, oh, yes, watching indeed.
The halfing looks bored, though very presentable on this occasion. Bella's of average height for halfling, a little over 3 feet tall, with red hair, well coiffed today, tan complexion and shining leather...shining from a good polishing. Across her back is a rapier, though she wears it like a greatsword.
Near the front of the crowd is a satyr sitting in a chair with excellent posture. He sits like he’s in a nobleman’s parlor, and is dressed for such. He has dark, swarthy skin and a bushy black beard. His clothes are expensive to the point of ostentatious, even wearing a top hat and some borderline fashionable pince-nez glasses, along with an orange ascot speckled with blue. He is entertaining himself with a coin that he rolls back and forth across his knuckles with impressive speed.
His voice is deep and accented, one that carries even when speaking quietly.
”If you have a plan for dealing with this more directly, I have many skills that I am happy to put at your disposal.” He dips his head nearly imperceptibly.
Broufen Bronzefoot sits quietly near the front of the crowd. He is a stocky, muscular dwarf with long golden hair and a bushy beard that obscures most of his face. He has a rugged adventuring coat and rough traveling gear, with a greataxe strapped to his back.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Reginald will look out at the crowd to see if the Mayor has decided to show up or not, not really expecting the fool to be hear and will nod at the newcomers he sees. "You three after this meeting come see me and we can see about getting you into the employ of our HQ, we could use the help, especially if the knowledge of Seruk is true, which I have no reason not to believe.
Then Reginald will warn the town as well of what is going on and how The Company will be handling the situation, or at least how he plans on dealing with the grim news. With the approval form the rest of the group and HQ, they will have a need to finish delivering the supplies that they are currently working on. But before traveling he will send word through Kass back to their main HQ's about getting some Mercenary's to come and protect the town in their absence. The delivery should only take a few days and then they will return, after also warning the other town as well and hoping a contingent of Mercenary's can go to that town as well. In the mean time if any of the townsfolk can discuses the locations of where most of the others have disappeared we can start searching in that region and hopefully move out to rescue them. In the mean time just try to be as safe as possible and if anything of importance turns up and threatens the town in their absence to let Kass know. He will thank everyone for coming and look around at his companions to see if they want to say anything and if not, he will wait for the barrage of questions from the townsfolk and try and answer as best he can.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Bella nods along as Reginald talks, not really paying attention. She'd heard it already anyway. She studies the crowd, knowing that when people involved in stuff hear someone else discussing their plans, well, those fools often betray themselves. She does not neglect to scan the surrounding area as well, though.
Reginald's news is taken with clear fear and worry. The townsfolk begin talking with each other, clearly worried that each of them might be next. "Please don't leave us, not while such people are around." Several of them call out, looking to the heros that defeated the dragon to aid them against this new threat.
On another note, you were able to get the wagons and horses for Leilon. The Holy Water was not to be found, likely destroyed or stolen when the Shrine of Luck was looted. The three newcomers are already part of the franchise, they have been hired and whatnot by Kass already. She would have introduced them to you soon, but this happened before she could.
Summary of Situation
The main group saved Phandalin from the White Dragon (Dragon of Icespire Keep.) They were gifted a bit of land in the nearby village of Leilon. The group traveled there, and have spent some time building a franchise office there over the past bit. They were asked to travel back to Phandalin to get some supplies and to bring a herd of giant goats to Phandalin for sale. Seruk also was charged with finishing the ritual that would link the Phandalin franchise to the Leilon franchise, so that a door could be made to allow you to instantlly teleport between the two offices. While getting the supplies in Phandalin, the group learned that some people have gone missing recently, and that some have been hit by lightning out of clear skies. They also ran into a strange woman, who was working at one of the shops in town. When they confronted that stranger, she fought them, and had several kobold goons that helped her. She ended up escaping, with several of her kobolds. Returning to the Shrine of Luck, Seruk was able to find a small broach that clearly links the issues Phandalin is having to the Cult of Talos. After the battle Reginald decided to call the above town meeting. The group still has to get the required supplies to Leilon, though holy water is unavailable - so they will have to return without that.
After hearing about the cult Reginald speaks up, "We should have a meeting with the town, forget talking to the mayor, as he is worthless an probably a member of this cult as well, but we need to warn our friends and with this new knowledge see if anyone knows anything else that might help us track down the location of this cult so we can get rid of them."
OOC What does Bella know about the Cult of Talos?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
With Bella's religion check you would know the below in regard to Talos.
Stormlord, the Destroyer
Talos is the dark side of nature, the uncaring and destructive force that might strike at any time. He is the god of storms, forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and general destruction. He counts the ravager, the raider, the looter, and the brigand among his followers. Those who favor him see life as a succession of random effects in a sea of chaos, so the devout should grab what they can, when they can — for who can say when Talos will strike and send them into the afterlife?
Talos is portrayed as a broad-shouldered, bearded young man with a single good eye, the other covered by a dark patch. He is said to carry a collection of three staffs, made from the first tree cut down in the world, the first silver smelted, and the first iron forged. He uses these staffs to raise destructive winds, cause terrible storms, and split the land in acts of rage. The three lightning bolts of his holy symbol represent these staffs, and when he vents his wrath on the world, he is thought to hurl them down from the sky as lightning strikes.
Although Talos is a popular deity, his name is invoked more often out of fear than out of reverence. He does have priests, mostly traveling doomsayers, who warn of disasters to come and accept charity in exchange for blessings of protection. Many of his faithful wear a black eyepatch, even if both eyes are intact.
As far as the Cult of Talos goes. You likely have only heard of them as pirates and shadows working to gain control of sections of the Sword Coast.
ooc: Thanks
Bella shrugs at Reginald's suggestion, wondering the point of it all. She'd go along with what the others wanted...as long as it didn't cause her too much trouble.
ooc: thanks
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
(Reginald's suggestion.)
Seruk nods his agreement, "It's worth talking to them about. Maybe they can point us in the right direction. It's also good for the brand for everyone to know that we will help allies and punish anyone who attacks them."
It is still fairly early in the day, likely only ten am or so. How do you go about getting a town meeting in place? Also, what other things were on your todo list for today? You still need to get wagons, horses, and holy water for Leilon after all.
Reginald would make a point of visiting the tavern and then the main businesses of the town. Then would ask any of the local children if they wanted to help out and spread the word that an important meeting concerning the safety of the town is being held that evening at the local tavern for those wishing to attend. He would offer 1 SP to the first ten children he can find to help spread the word. Then he would go about helping his companions make arrangements for the wagons, horses and holy water to be ready to go the next day. Suggesting to the group about what to talk about at the meeting and that we need to finish with out delivery first and then we would be back to help out the town.
Looking for other suggestions of the group, but he would like to inform the town of what has been going on, the Cult of Talos and the kobolds that were working in town. How they are probably the one responsible for the shrine desecration and more than likely the missing people about town. Suggesting that the townsfolk walk around town in groups especially at night and definitely on the outskirts of town as it might not be safe. They might want to look into forming some type of militia or raises funds for a mercenary group to be stationed in town, our company might be able to help with that, and I would ask Kass to look into it. Also to remind the town that just because we are not around as much as normal, we are still invested in seeing this town flourish and thrive.
"Well, if we can't be buyin' the holy water, I can make some, but I'll need powdered silver. Any idea where I can get some? Also, who wants to get the horses and wagon?" Bella asks.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Once things are settled down, Seruk pulls out his whisper jar and attempts to learn more about the Cult of Talos through it.
History: 24
Whispered Encyclopedia
At rank 2, your whisper jar becomes an uncommon magic item that can tap into the broader lore of Acquisitions Incorporated. As a bonus action, you ask the jar for information on a specific subject and make a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check. On a success, the jar plays back a recording on that subject, made somewhere, sometime by another Acq Inc loremonger. This property of the whisper jar can’t be used again until the next dawn.
Seruk
A lecturing voice speaks from the whisper jar.... "Two forces of evil rise nearby, eager to control the region around Leilon and eventually the Sword Coast. The first is a cult of Talos, god of storms, led by the priestess Fheralai Stormsworn. The cult’s headquarters are inside a death knight-dreadnaught, an undead battleship beached near a temple of Talos called the Tower of Storms."
There is a slight pause, but the lecture continues...
"At the same time, Ularan Mortus, a priest of the god of death Myrkul, and his followers are raising an army of undead to lay siege to the city of Neverwinter. The spirit of the dead black dragon Chardansearavitriol, also known as Ebondeath, aids Ularan Mortus in exchange for help finding and seizing the body of a living dragon to inhabit."
The voice fades into whispers then, onses that cannot be understood.
Reginald
You are able to gather the majority of the town, including the townmaster, in the green outside of the Town Hall.
Everyone
Please introduce your characters as you come to this town meeting called by Reginald.
In the crowd of the town meeting, you see a bright red skinned tiefling. She has shoulder length black hair and long curled horns with words written on them in primordial. (If any of you understand that, it seems to be some ancient poem.) She wears the distinct robes of the candlekeep library, and sits in the grass a little ways off from the crowd studying a book. If you look closely, you realize she is actually casting augury to determine if it is a good idea to stay at this meaning. (DM, this is a low level future sight spell, so if you could give me the result for that, that'd be great.) Sitting on her shoulder is a small barn owl surveying the crowd with its empty eyes. The tiefling is Silence, and her owl is named Lamentation.
I will protect those I hate. Even ... even if the one I hate most ... is ... myself.
Prior to the meeting, Seruk would have passed on the information he'd received about the cults to his companions.
(For the newcomers)
Seruk is a tall, well-built githyanki with yellowish skin and close-cropped red hair. He stands like a warrior and wears half-plate armor with a greatsword over his shoulder, however, he also carries a heavy, leather-bound tomb on a strap at his side and has a tressym perched on his shoulder surveilling the townsfolk. (And wishing he'd remembered that he had a companion that could see invisible creatures earlier...)
Bella studies the newcomers, not really listening to Reginald. He'd already told them what he was going to say, at the same meeting where they'd met the newbies and where she'd shared her knowledge of The Cult of Talos, as had Seruk. Now...where did he learn all that. She focuses again on the new members. A tiefling and a dwarf and a satyr. They'll bear watching, oh, yes, watching indeed.
The halfing looks bored, though very presentable on this occasion. Bella's of average height for halfling, a little over 3 feet tall, with red hair, well coiffed today, tan complexion and shining leather...shining from a good polishing. Across her back is a rapier, though she wears it like a greatsword.
ooc: Tarmogoyf, how did Silence get a familiar?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Near the front of the crowd is a satyr sitting in a chair with excellent posture. He sits like he’s in a nobleman’s parlor, and is dressed for such. He has dark, swarthy skin and a bushy black beard. His clothes are expensive to the point of ostentatious, even wearing a top hat and some borderline fashionable pince-nez glasses, along with an orange ascot speckled with blue. He is entertaining himself with a coin that he rolls back and forth across his knuckles with impressive speed.
His voice is deep and accented, one that carries even when speaking quietly.
”If you have a plan for dealing with this more directly, I have many skills that I am happy to put at your disposal.” He dips his head nearly imperceptibly.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Broufen Bronzefoot sits quietly near the front of the crowd. He is a stocky, muscular dwarf with long golden hair and a bushy beard that obscures most of his face. He has a rugged adventuring coat and rough traveling gear, with a greataxe strapped to his back.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
- Litany Against Fear, Frank Herbert
Waiting on Reginald... Will give them a bit longer as I know they have a busy schedule in RL right now.
Reginald will look out at the crowd to see if the Mayor has decided to show up or not, not really expecting the fool to be hear and will nod at the newcomers he sees. "You three after this meeting come see me and we can see about getting you into the employ of our HQ, we could use the help, especially if the knowledge of Seruk is true, which I have no reason not to believe.
Then Reginald will warn the town as well of what is going on and how The Company will be handling the situation, or at least how he plans on dealing with the grim news. With the approval form the rest of the group and HQ, they will have a need to finish delivering the supplies that they are currently working on. But before traveling he will send word through Kass back to their main HQ's about getting some Mercenary's to come and protect the town in their absence. The delivery should only take a few days and then they will return, after also warning the other town as well and hoping a contingent of Mercenary's can go to that town as well. In the mean time if any of the townsfolk can discuses the locations of where most of the others have disappeared we can start searching in that region and hopefully move out to rescue them. In the mean time just try to be as safe as possible and if anything of importance turns up and threatens the town in their absence to let Kass know. He will thank everyone for coming and look around at his companions to see if they want to say anything and if not, he will wait for the barrage of questions from the townsfolk and try and answer as best he can.
Bella nods along as Reginald talks, not really paying attention. She'd heard it already anyway. She studies the crowd, knowing that when people involved in stuff hear someone else discussing their plans, well, those fools often betray themselves. She does not neglect to scan the surrounding area as well, though.
Perception 20
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Town Meeting
Reginald's news is taken with clear fear and worry. The townsfolk begin talking with each other, clearly worried that each of them might be next.
"Please don't leave us, not while such people are around." Several of them call out, looking to the heros that defeated the dragon to aid them against this new threat.
On another note, you were able to get the wagons and horses for Leilon. The Holy Water was not to be found, likely destroyed or stolen when the Shrine of Luck was looted. The three newcomers are already part of the franchise, they have been hired and whatnot by Kass already. She would have introduced them to you soon, but this happened before she could.
Summary of Situation
The main group saved Phandalin from the White Dragon (Dragon of Icespire Keep.) They were gifted a bit of land in the nearby village of Leilon. The group traveled there, and have spent some time building a franchise office there over the past bit. They were asked to travel back to Phandalin to get some supplies and to bring a herd of giant goats to Phandalin for sale. Seruk also was charged with finishing the ritual that would link the Phandalin franchise to the Leilon franchise, so that a door could be made to allow you to instantlly teleport between the two offices. While getting the supplies in Phandalin, the group learned that some people have gone missing recently, and that some have been hit by lightning out of clear skies. They also ran into a strange woman, who was working at one of the shops in town. When they confronted that stranger, she fought them, and had several kobold goons that helped her. She ended up escaping, with several of her kobolds. Returning to the Shrine of Luck, Seruk was able to find a small broach that clearly links the issues Phandalin is having to the Cult of Talos. After the battle Reginald decided to call the above town meeting.
The group still has to get the required supplies to Leilon, though holy water is unavailable - so they will have to return without that.
ooc: Bella offered to make this if the powdered silver can be obtained. I don't think anyone responded on that.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric