Aura noticed a suspicious thing on Janice earlier, and so, even if she retreated from her confident demeanor, she kept a quiet watchful eye on the barmaid. This time, with a bit more skill in deducing based on her body language, Aura tried again to ascertain Janice's intentions.
The guard responds by waving back and giving a understanding nod, and though he remains for a moment he slowly starts walking back through the street, still keeping an eye on the group outside the inns shed.
Aura noticed a suspicious thing on Janice earlier, and so, even if she retreated from her confident demeanor, she kept a quiet watchful eye on the barmaid. This time, with a bit more skill in deducing based on her body language, Aura tried again to ascertain Janice's intentions.
(You now get the feeling that you were very right with youre original mistrust of this woman as she is definetly lying at the moment. You get the feeling that she has never been to the North of the Empire, nor knows any towns there. She is definetly not who she seems to be as far as you can discern.)
"Huh..." Aura got what she needed to know that Janice was lying, but now to come up with an idea to expose her was where the Genasi struggled. She decides to see and ask more about Janice's backstory. "Hm, actually, I may not have come from up north, but I read a lot of books. So, I'm familiar with that region. You were born somewhere, right? Would you mind telling us? Everyone here is curious to know."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Manfred studies Janice's face after her response, understanding the impulse to be vague, but also still suspicious... and absolutely unwilling to admit he was wrong.
"Gods, I certainly misjudged this situation, and probably terrified this poor woman. I wish you were here Keerla, to tell me what to do."
Manfred thinks to himself, touching the ringer finger on his right hand unconsciously.
"Yeah, if Tom's brother is back, then I should like to have a word with him before retiring. Better use of our time than freezing our bits and bobs out here. Vulgrom and Survivor had the right idea. Good night."
Embarrassed and not willing to extend his mortification by being party to any further questioning of Janice, Manfred will head back into the inn and look for Vulgrom and Survivor.
((You guys are just staring at this poor suspicious woman! 😂 ))
Vulgrom's isn't subtle about being locked Tom's brother's movements. As he approaches, he exclaims, "Finally, some service. Yer brother suddenly sent to bed and left gasping! Lad, serve us a pint first, and then check if he's ok, will ye!"
Aura holds on to Manfred's arm as he tries to leave and whisper to him. "Hold on. There's something wrong here... Just wait for a second, okay?"
((I hope I can try to do that... On another note, yeah, I'm trying to play my character the best I can, and it turned into this game of suspecting every word Janice says... I can't help it, I gave Aura proficiency in Insight for a reason...))
"Huh..." Aura got what she needed to know that Janice was lying, but now to come up with an idea to expose her was where the Genasi struggled. She decides to see and ask more about Janice's backstory. "Hm, actually, I may not have come from up north, but I read a lot of books. So, I'm familiar with that region. You were born somewhere, right? Would you mind telling us? Everyone here is curious to know."
Janice again seems to stop short as Aura speaks. She doeant turn back to the group and instead contiues to walk towarss the inn as well (as long as no one stops her) but gives a quick I dont think its any of your buisness where im from to be frank. I think ive been more than cordial, now if you wouldnt mind, I'd like to clock out and get out of the cold.
Dain casts Guidance again as he tries to figure out what the item he spotted is...
Arcana: 16
Dain then casts detect magic as he moves closer to the item.
(You are able to ascertain that it is a magical item, its school of magic is Divination, and it doesnt look like a particularly well made item, sort of flimsy and cheap looking.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Hm, I thought I made a very simple question... You can't even name a single town from where you came from, can you?" Aura tries to apply a little more pressure, not exactly sure of what she was doing thanks to her lack of experience in questioning other people. "I'm almost sure that you're lying, but it's so easy for you to prove to everyone here that I'm wrong. I'm sure you can do that, right?"
Charisma Check (?):6 (I feel like I'm pushing my luck here. So, maybe you could consider this a Persuasion check against the party to see if Aura can convince them to stay?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Manfred will speak to Aura quietly. "You may see something I and the others do not, monk. But be careful -- as a skilled liar, I can spot another master of the form, and she is VERY practiced at dissembling. I just can't tell if she's involved, or hiding something totally unrelated. That frightens me." He stares at Janice a second then turns back, continuing to speak in a barely audible tone. to Aura all the while.
"She's a pretty woman who brings beer and victuals to the townfolk. If she chooses to, she could make our assigned task very difficult, and turn everyone against us. If you are sure she's not what she seems, it should be easy enough to keep tabs on her and to keep her in mind in the midst of our investigation. For now, we've ensured that Albanus is safe and the inn will be well stocked in ale for our friend Dain. That may be all we can do tonight."
His piece said, Manfred marchs into the inn and immediately order something strong and sit with Vulgrom and Survivor, sullenly and still nursing some embarrassment.
Dain picks up the magical item and stows it away in a pouch. He then makes sure there is nothing more magical inside the shed, or outside of it, by glancing around with his spell still up.
"Hm, I thought I made a very simple question... You can't even name a single town from where you came from, can you?" Aura tries to apply a little more pressure, not exactly sure of what she was doing thanks to her lack of experience in questioning other people. "I'm almost sure that you're lying, but it's so easy for you to prove to everyone here that I'm wrong. I'm sure you can do that, right?"
Charisma Check (?):6 (I feel like I'm pushing my luck here. So, maybe you could consider this a Persuasion check against the party to see if Aura can convince them to stay?)
Janice continues to make her way into the inn, mumbling something under her breath about I dont have to put up with this. Before encountering John having nlw arrived, she takes the key out of her pocket and sets in on the bar, telling the halfling that she was leaving for the evening.
((You guys are just staring at this poor suspicious woman! 😂 ))
Vulgrom's isn't subtle about being locked Tom's brother's movements. As he approaches, he exclaims, "Finally, some service. Yer brother suddenly sent to bed and left gasping! Lad, serve us a pint first, and then check if he's ok, will ye!"
The dwarf nudges and winks at the Goliath
Whats that? Hang on a tick then lemme just check on him.. The halfling says as he moves towards the other door behind the bar and has a quick chat to catch up with a half asleep Tom which you hear complain loudly about just wanting to rest. After a few moments they seem to have cleared things up and John returns. He pours a quick pint before he pulls out a ledger and a quill and ink and starts writing a bit before retrieving a ring of keys from behind the bar as well and heads over to the table. Right then! Toms got me up go speed, here's your keys for your rooms, there you are.. He says pulling keys off the key ring and distributing them to those present.
Dain picks up the magical item and stows it away in a pouch. He then makes sure there is nothing more magical inside the shed, or outside of it, by glancing around with his spell still up.
(You dont see anything else that catches you eye, doesn't look like there any other magical elements around this location.)
Aura gives up, both with Manfred nudging her into that direction, along with Janice apparently disregarding her question. The Genasi's confident act just wasn't enough for her to keep fighting through the web of lies stringed by the barmaid. "I'm sorry... She isn't telling the truth about where she came from, and I wanted to know what the truth is..." Aura explains to the bard as she follows along, quiet and defeated.
"Where da lass get off ta?" Dain asks as he comes out of the shed. "Do we still carry in da kegs or no?" He looks to the others. With a shrug he moves back to the inn and up to the bar where he was sitting next to the giant-kin before. "Do ye be needin kegs carried in here?" He asks the new man behind the bar. "Da serving lass asked us ta do so, but then she up en disappeared on us."
Now seated and drinking his ale slowly, Manfred nods as the Genasi explains her reasoning. "I trust your instincts. There is definitely something ... off about that woman. She made me feel very uneasy from the moment she spoke to me, but I just cannot pin down any one thing.. She bears watching over the net few days of our investigation, though. She's either involved in the disappearances, or, she has some other scheme that she to hide from us. She asked me for 'voice lessons' when we first arrived. It would be jolly well brazen of her to follow up on that, but that may give us our opening."
Louder then, he turns to Vulgrom and Survivor. "My instincts led to nothing more than some kegs of ale and wasted time, I'm afraid. What have you gents been up to?"
"Still waiting on that food order, I think you all frightened her away before she could send it to the kitchen," Survivor will try to politely get the halfings attention, "Excuse me sir, could we get some food please?" Turning back to the others, "Well, seems she didn't appreciate having an audience while she tried to make a man of our scaly friend here. What were you all doing out there?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Albanus opens the door and doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. He watches - as if from afar - as the dwarf finds and pockets some item that he found. This 'out-of-body' feeling continues for some time as Albanus tries to process events. When he thinks of the serving girl, Janice, he feels a tickle in his head; at the very thought of the woman, Albanus feels a tremor in his mind that, from past experience, could only come from the draconic passenger that sometimes makes itself known. This isn't right, Albanus thinks to himself. Why do I want to help her? he questions further. And again, at the mere suggestion of the woman, Albanus' mind softens towards her: Because she is nice and a friend who wants to help.
As he sees Manfred and Aura interacting with Janice, the rumbling voice seems to reverberate louder. A voice growls: "Yesssss. Lissssten..." Shaking his head and noticing some of the others have gone, Albanus will take one more look around (Investigation: 3)
After this (if nothing else if found), Albanus will slowly walk back to the inn, making a mental note to talk with Manfred, Aura, and Ashtear.
(OOC question: As Dain has cast detect magic, did he happen to see anything emanating from Janice?)
"Where da lass get off ta?" Dain asks as he comes out of the shed. "Do we still carry in da kegs or no?" He looks to the others. With a shrug he moves back to the inn and up to the bar where he was sitting next to the giant-kin before. "Do ye be needin kegs carried in here?" He asks the new man behind the bar. "Da serving lass asked us ta do so, but then she up en disappeared on us."
The halfling looks inquisitively from behind the bar as he starts putting some beer glasses and such away. Well thats odd, still got a full one right here. He says giving a swift kick to something behind the bar, followed by a wooden thump and the sound of liquid sloshing inside a container. Once i finish closing things up I'll get you all some soup, still hot ya know. Aftsr that the tavern be closed, but feel free to continue on, dont mind me. You two though, why dont ya do ol john a favor and walk Janice home. He says to the two other men drinking off in the corner. With some grumbling they oblige and head after Janice out the door.
Albanus opens the door and doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. He watches - as if from afar - as the dwarf finds and pockets some item that he found. This 'out-of-body' feeling continues for some time as Albanus tries to process events. When he thinks of the serving girl, Janice, he feels a tickle in his head; at the very thought of the woman, Albanus feels a tremor in his mind that, from past experience, could only come from the draconic passenger that sometimes makes itself known. This isn't right, Albanus thinks to himself. Why do I want to help her? he questions further. And again, at the mere suggestion of the woman, Albanus' mind softens towards her: Because she is nice and a friend who wants to help.
As he sees Manfred and Aura interacting with Janice, the rumbling voice seems to reverberate louder. A voice growls: "Yesssss. Lissssten..." Shaking his head and noticing some of the others have gone, Albanus will take one more look around (Investigation: 12)
After this, Albanus will slowly walk back to the inn, making a mental note to talk with Manfred, Aura, and Ashtear.
(OOC question: As Dain has cast detect magic, did he happen to see anything emanating from Janice?)
(Looking around once again, you dont really see anything of particular interest, but you do see what appears to be tiny footprints, too small to belong to any party member or even a halfling. Although really hard to make out with all the foot traffic in the area recently but it looks like a tiny humanoid was standing here approximately at the same time the conversation was happening with Janice outside.)
Or any of his companions currently under some sort of magical spell or affect? I know you said he detected nothing outside the shed...
((This one is sort of difficult to call just based on the wording of the spell, but I will say that yes, you do get a very faint magical pulse from Albanus now, not the same as a spell or a magical item would give though.
Edit: asked for some second opinons and dexided that yea, it would work the same, you you learn that Albanus is under a powerful charm spell, and the school of magic is Enchantment))
Aura noticed a suspicious thing on Janice earlier, and so, even if she retreated from her confident demeanor, she kept a quiet watchful eye on the barmaid. This time, with a bit more skill in deducing based on her body language, Aura tried again to ascertain Janice's intentions.
Aura's Insight Check: 24
(She/Her)
Velmine - Tiefling, Rogue (9), Swashbuckler - Dead in Thay
Riris Swiftwhistle - Halfling, Bard (4), College of Swords - Lost Mines of Phandelver
Rellahne Vanderboren - Half-Elf, Wizard (4), School of Abjuration - The Shackled City
Ann Hidrizo - Human, Fighter (2) - Amphail Adventures
Sha - Firbolg, Cleric (3), Twilight Domain - Hunt for the Wish Dragon
The guard responds by waving back and giving a understanding nod, and though he remains for a moment he slowly starts walking back through the street, still keeping an eye on the group outside the inns shed.
(You now get the feeling that you were very right with youre original mistrust of this woman as she is definetly lying at the moment. You get the feeling that she has never been to the North of the Empire, nor knows any towns there. She is definetly not who she seems to be as far as you can discern.)
"Huh..." Aura got what she needed to know that Janice was lying, but now to come up with an idea to expose her was where the Genasi struggled. She decides to see and ask more about Janice's backstory. "Hm, actually, I may not have come from up north, but I read a lot of books. So, I'm familiar with that region. You were born somewhere, right? Would you mind telling us? Everyone here is curious to know."
(She/Her)
Velmine - Tiefling, Rogue (9), Swashbuckler - Dead in Thay
Riris Swiftwhistle - Halfling, Bard (4), College of Swords - Lost Mines of Phandelver
Rellahne Vanderboren - Half-Elf, Wizard (4), School of Abjuration - The Shackled City
Ann Hidrizo - Human, Fighter (2) - Amphail Adventures
Sha - Firbolg, Cleric (3), Twilight Domain - Hunt for the Wish Dragon
Manfred studies Janice's face after her response, understanding the impulse to be vague, but also still suspicious... and absolutely unwilling to admit he was wrong.
Insight check: 21
"Gods, I certainly misjudged this situation, and probably terrified this poor woman. I wish you were here Keerla, to tell me what to do."
Manfred thinks to himself, touching the ringer finger on his right hand unconsciously.
"Yeah, if Tom's brother is back, then I should like to have a word with him before retiring. Better use of our time than freezing our bits and bobs out here. Vulgrom and Survivor had the right idea. Good night."
Embarrassed and not willing to extend his mortification by being party to any further questioning of Janice, Manfred will head back into the inn and look for Vulgrom and Survivor.
((You guys are just staring at this poor suspicious woman! 😂 ))
Vulgrom's isn't subtle about being locked Tom's brother's movements. As he approaches, he exclaims, "Finally, some service. Yer brother suddenly sent to bed and left gasping! Lad, serve us a pint first, and then check if he's ok, will ye!"
The dwarf nudges and winks at the goliath.
Aura holds on to Manfred's arm as he tries to leave and whisper to him. "Hold on. There's something wrong here... Just wait for a second, okay?"
((I hope I can try to do that... On another note, yeah, I'm trying to play my character the best I can, and it turned into this game of suspecting every word Janice says... I can't help it, I gave Aura proficiency in Insight for a reason...))
(She/Her)
Velmine - Tiefling, Rogue (9), Swashbuckler - Dead in Thay
Riris Swiftwhistle - Halfling, Bard (4), College of Swords - Lost Mines of Phandelver
Rellahne Vanderboren - Half-Elf, Wizard (4), School of Abjuration - The Shackled City
Ann Hidrizo - Human, Fighter (2) - Amphail Adventures
Sha - Firbolg, Cleric (3), Twilight Domain - Hunt for the Wish Dragon
Dain casts Guidance again as he tries to figure out what the item he spotted is...
Arcana: 16
Dain then casts detect magic as he moves closer to the item.
Janice again seems to stop short as Aura speaks. She doeant turn back to the group and instead contiues to walk towarss the inn as well (as long as no one stops her) but gives a quick I dont think its any of your buisness where im from to be frank. I think ive been more than cordial, now if you wouldnt mind, I'd like to clock out and get out of the cold.
(You are able to ascertain that it is a magical item, its school of magic is Divination, and it doesnt look like a particularly well made item, sort of flimsy and cheap looking.)
((I'm greatly enjoying an insight deficient character. Its making the sitaution kind of hilarious. ))
"Hm, I thought I made a very simple question... You can't even name a single town from where you came from, can you?" Aura tries to apply a little more pressure, not exactly sure of what she was doing thanks to her lack of experience in questioning other people. "I'm almost sure that you're lying, but it's so easy for you to prove to everyone here that I'm wrong. I'm sure you can do that, right?"
Charisma Check (?): 6 (I feel like I'm pushing my luck here. So, maybe you could consider this a Persuasion check against the party to see if Aura can convince them to stay?)
(She/Her)
Velmine - Tiefling, Rogue (9), Swashbuckler - Dead in Thay
Riris Swiftwhistle - Halfling, Bard (4), College of Swords - Lost Mines of Phandelver
Rellahne Vanderboren - Half-Elf, Wizard (4), School of Abjuration - The Shackled City
Ann Hidrizo - Human, Fighter (2) - Amphail Adventures
Sha - Firbolg, Cleric (3), Twilight Domain - Hunt for the Wish Dragon
Manfred will speak to Aura quietly. "You may see something I and the others do not, monk. But be careful -- as a skilled liar, I can spot another master of the form, and she is VERY practiced at dissembling. I just can't tell if she's involved, or hiding something totally unrelated. That frightens me." He stares at Janice a second then turns back, continuing to speak in a barely audible tone. to Aura all the while.
"She's a pretty woman who brings beer and victuals to the townfolk. If she chooses to, she could make our assigned task very difficult, and turn everyone against us. If you are sure she's not what she seems, it should be easy enough to keep tabs on her and to keep her in mind in the midst of our investigation. For now, we've ensured that Albanus is safe and the inn will be well stocked in ale for our friend Dain. That may be all we can do tonight."
Persuasion Check (if that is needed): 8
His piece said, Manfred marchs into the inn and immediately order something strong and sit with Vulgrom and Survivor, sullenly and still nursing some embarrassment.
Dain picks up the magical item and stows it away in a pouch. He then makes sure there is nothing more magical inside the shed, or outside of it, by glancing around with his spell still up.
Janice continues to make her way into the inn, mumbling something under her breath about I dont have to put up with this. Before encountering John having nlw arrived, she takes the key out of her pocket and sets in on the bar, telling the halfling that she was leaving for the evening.
Whats that? Hang on a tick then lemme just check on him.. The halfling says as he moves towards the other door behind the bar and has a quick chat to catch up with a half asleep Tom which you hear complain loudly about just wanting to rest. After a few moments they seem to have cleared things up and John returns. He pours a quick pint before he pulls out a ledger and a quill and ink and starts writing a bit before retrieving a ring of keys from behind the bar as well and heads over to the table. Right then! Toms got me up go speed, here's your keys for your rooms, there you are.. He says pulling keys off the key ring and distributing them to those present.
(You dont see anything else that catches you eye, doesn't look like there any other magical elements around this location.)
Aura gives up, both with Manfred nudging her into that direction, along with Janice apparently disregarding her question. The Genasi's confident act just wasn't enough for her to keep fighting through the web of lies stringed by the barmaid. "I'm sorry... She isn't telling the truth about where she came from, and I wanted to know what the truth is..." Aura explains to the bard as she follows along, quiet and defeated.
(She/Her)
Velmine - Tiefling, Rogue (9), Swashbuckler - Dead in Thay
Riris Swiftwhistle - Halfling, Bard (4), College of Swords - Lost Mines of Phandelver
Rellahne Vanderboren - Half-Elf, Wizard (4), School of Abjuration - The Shackled City
Ann Hidrizo - Human, Fighter (2) - Amphail Adventures
Sha - Firbolg, Cleric (3), Twilight Domain - Hunt for the Wish Dragon
"Where da lass get off ta?" Dain asks as he comes out of the shed. "Do we still carry in da kegs or no?" He looks to the others. With a shrug he moves back to the inn and up to the bar where he was sitting next to the giant-kin before. "Do ye be needin kegs carried in here?" He asks the new man behind the bar. "Da serving lass asked us ta do so, but then she up en disappeared on us."
Now seated and drinking his ale slowly, Manfred nods as the Genasi explains her reasoning. "I trust your instincts. There is definitely something ... off about that woman. She made me feel very uneasy from the moment she spoke to me, but I just cannot pin down any one thing.. She bears watching over the net few days of our investigation, though. She's either involved in the disappearances, or, she has some other scheme that she to hide from us. She asked me for 'voice lessons' when we first arrived. It would be jolly well brazen of her to follow up on that, but that may give us our opening."
Louder then, he turns to Vulgrom and Survivor. "My instincts led to nothing more than some kegs of ale and wasted time, I'm afraid. What have you gents been up to?"
"Still waiting on that food order, I think you all frightened her away before she could send it to the kitchen," Survivor will try to politely get the halfings attention, "Excuse me sir, could we get some food please?" Turning back to the others, "Well, seems she didn't appreciate having an audience while she tried to make a man of our scaly friend here. What were you all doing out there?"
Albanus opens the door and doesn't see anything out of the ordinary. He watches - as if from afar - as the dwarf finds and pockets some item that he found. This 'out-of-body' feeling continues for some time as Albanus tries to process events. When he thinks of the serving girl, Janice, he feels a tickle in his head; at the very thought of the woman, Albanus feels a tremor in his mind that, from past experience, could only come from the draconic passenger that sometimes makes itself known. This isn't right, Albanus thinks to himself. Why do I want to help her? he questions further. And again, at the mere suggestion of the woman, Albanus' mind softens towards her: Because she is nice and a friend who wants to help.
As he sees Manfred and Aura interacting with Janice, the rumbling voice seems to reverberate louder. A voice growls: "Yesssss. Lissssten..." Shaking his head and noticing some of the others have gone, Albanus will take one more look around (Investigation: 3)
After this (if nothing else if found), Albanus will slowly walk back to the inn, making a mental note to talk with Manfred, Aura, and Ashtear.
(OOC question: As Dain has cast detect magic, did he happen to see anything emanating from Janice?)
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Or any of his companions currently under some sort of magical spell or affect? I know you said he detected nothing outside the shed...
The halfling looks inquisitively from behind the bar as he starts putting some beer glasses and such away. Well thats odd, still got a full one right here. He says giving a swift kick to something behind the bar, followed by a wooden thump and the sound of liquid sloshing inside a container. Once i finish closing things up I'll get you all some soup, still hot ya know. Aftsr that the tavern be closed, but feel free to continue on, dont mind me. You two though, why dont ya do ol john a favor and walk Janice home. He says to the two other men drinking off in the corner. With some grumbling they oblige and head after Janice out the door.
(Looking around once again, you dont really see anything of particular interest, but you do see what appears to be tiny footprints, too small to belong to any party member or even a halfling. Although really hard to make out with all the foot traffic in the area recently but it looks like a tiny humanoid was standing here approximately at the same time the conversation was happening with Janice outside.)
((This one is sort of difficult to call just based on the wording of the spell, but I will say that yes, you do get a very faint magical pulse from Albanus now, not the same as a spell or a magical item would give though.
Edit: asked for some second opinons and dexided that yea, it would work the same, you you learn that Albanus is under a powerful charm spell, and the school of magic is Enchantment))