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An Overcast Sky (Low level DnD 5e Quest)
- Thread starter Lexica
- Start date
- Fantasy
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
I am not sure our character's first reaction to murder - with a potential culprit still present and armed - should be 'examine the scene'. Her stats give me more of an 'action girl' vibe.
I am not sure our character's first reaction to murder - with a potential culprit still present and armed - should be 'examine the scene'. Her stats give me more of an 'action girl' vibe.
You probably don't kill the priest who saved your life for fun, yes, but how does the latter possibility make things better?
Last edited:
Doomed Wombat
Let's go Darling!
- Location
- Dancing on wires!
[X] Read the sigils in infernal.
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
-[X] Yell as you move toward him; hopefully that will distract aggressors or at least direct their violence toward you.
-[X] Yell as you move toward him; hopefully that will distract aggressors or at least direct their violence toward you.
Lexica
Persevere
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Vote Tally : Fantasy - An Overcast Sky (Low level DnD 5e Quest) | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.5
[X] Read the sigils in infernal.
No. of Votes: 3
SystemicHatter
Alex pears
notgreat
[X] Attack Melech. Clearly he killed Father Johnathan!
No. of Votes: 1
Mr Apollo
[X] Move to protect Amelia. If Father Johnathan was killed, she might be next.
No. of Votes: 1
veekie
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
No. of Votes: 1
Nevill
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
-[X] Yell as you move toward him; hopefully that will distract aggressors or at least direct their violence toward you.
No. of Votes: 1
silentspirals
Total No. of Voters: 7
I won't have time to write for a few hours, so let's say the vote will be closed innnnn... Four hours
##### NetTally 1.7.5
[X] Read the sigils in infernal.
No. of Votes: 3
SystemicHatter
Alex pears
notgreat
[X] Attack Melech. Clearly he killed Father Johnathan!
No. of Votes: 1
Mr Apollo
[X] Move to protect Amelia. If Father Johnathan was killed, she might be next.
No. of Votes: 1
veekie
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
No. of Votes: 1
Nevill
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
-[X] Yell as you move toward him; hopefully that will distract aggressors or at least direct their violence toward you.
No. of Votes: 1
silentspirals
Total No. of Voters: 7
I won't have time to write for a few hours, so let's say the vote will be closed innnnn... Four hours
Portents of a Storm
Lexica
Persevere
- Pronouns
- She/Her
A tie, but I'll err on the side of the vote to restrain Melech winning given the Attack Melech vote is close enough to that. Also, I don't want to wait around on a tiebreaker.
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
You act on snap judgement. Reading the sigils in infernal can wait. Much as you hate to think about it, the blood isn't going anywhere fast. Right now, the important thing is getting that dagger out of Melechs' hands and making sure he can't hurt anyone. You look at Meriele and the two of you exchange a nod, then charge him.
You expect him to fight back, but when Meriele tackles him to the ground with a yell, the dagger just clatters out of his hands and he lets out a startled yelp as you kick it out of his reach and pull a length of rope out of the pack you carry to tie him up with. Just as his hands are restrained, he finally begins to struggle and yell, his previous dazed look vanishing from his face.
"I didn't do it! I just- I had to pick up the knife! The voice told me to!" He says, yelling as he struggles, voice slightly muffled by the way his face is pressed against the ground due to Meriele holding him down. You think you're a fair judge of character and he doesn't seem to be lying but you aren't really confident enough to be sure. Regardless, before you can come to a decision one way or another as to whether or not you believe him, Amelia walks up to you and then kneels down in front of Melech, whispering what sounds like a prayer under her breath and holding her fist tightly against her chest.
"Answer me yes or no Melech. Did you kill Father Johnathan?" She asks, almost a perfect picture of serene grace, a far cry from what you saw moments ago. After a moment you can tell it's just a facade though- her knuckles are white as she clenches her fists, and though her voice is free of any tremor, you can see the hand not pressed to her chest shaking slightly. Melech though suddenly stills his struggles as he meets her gaze.
"No." He says with a whisper. After a moment Amelia nods, before catching herself and tilting her head then with a suddenness that startles all three of the rest of you speaks a single word with such forcefulness that even for you, not the focus of her attention, it feels like a divine command.
"Lie." She says.
"I mean yes! Yes I killed him!" Melech blurts out with no pause at all, before looking horrified and sick. An expression somewhere between intense sorrow and thankfulness then crosses Amelia face as she leans back on her hands, tension for the moment gone from her body.
"Thank Pelor," she says, "He didn't do it."
"Uh. What? He just confessed!" Meriele shouts back, incredulous. Amelia shakes her head quickly in response.
"I commanded him to lie about it. He had to. If he had said 'No' again that would have meant he really had done it, but since he said 'Yes' that means he didn't." Amelia says. Meriele just looks doubtfully at Amelia before glancing at you. You just shrug and gesture at Amelia, as if to say 'She would know.'
Just then, two guards burst through the front doors and all four of you have a lot of explaining to do.
[x] Restrain Melech, or at least make them drop the knife. You can sort this out later, once no one is holding sharp and possibly lethal objects.
You act on snap judgement. Reading the sigils in infernal can wait. Much as you hate to think about it, the blood isn't going anywhere fast. Right now, the important thing is getting that dagger out of Melechs' hands and making sure he can't hurt anyone. You look at Meriele and the two of you exchange a nod, then charge him.
You expect him to fight back, but when Meriele tackles him to the ground with a yell, the dagger just clatters out of his hands and he lets out a startled yelp as you kick it out of his reach and pull a length of rope out of the pack you carry to tie him up with. Just as his hands are restrained, he finally begins to struggle and yell, his previous dazed look vanishing from his face.
"I didn't do it! I just- I had to pick up the knife! The voice told me to!" He says, yelling as he struggles, voice slightly muffled by the way his face is pressed against the ground due to Meriele holding him down. You think you're a fair judge of character and he doesn't seem to be lying but you aren't really confident enough to be sure. Regardless, before you can come to a decision one way or another as to whether or not you believe him, Amelia walks up to you and then kneels down in front of Melech, whispering what sounds like a prayer under her breath and holding her fist tightly against her chest.
"Answer me yes or no Melech. Did you kill Father Johnathan?" She asks, almost a perfect picture of serene grace, a far cry from what you saw moments ago. After a moment you can tell it's just a facade though- her knuckles are white as she clenches her fists, and though her voice is free of any tremor, you can see the hand not pressed to her chest shaking slightly. Melech though suddenly stills his struggles as he meets her gaze.
"No." He says with a whisper. After a moment Amelia nods, before catching herself and tilting her head then with a suddenness that startles all three of the rest of you speaks a single word with such forcefulness that even for you, not the focus of her attention, it feels like a divine command.
"Lie." She says.
"I mean yes! Yes I killed him!" Melech blurts out with no pause at all, before looking horrified and sick. An expression somewhere between intense sorrow and thankfulness then crosses Amelia face as she leans back on her hands, tension for the moment gone from her body.
"Thank Pelor," she says, "He didn't do it."
"Uh. What? He just confessed!" Meriele shouts back, incredulous. Amelia shakes her head quickly in response.
"I commanded him to lie about it. He had to. If he had said 'No' again that would have meant he really had done it, but since he said 'Yes' that means he didn't." Amelia says. Meriele just looks doubtfully at Amelia before glancing at you. You just shrug and gesture at Amelia, as if to say 'She would know.'
Just then, two guards burst through the front doors and all four of you have a lot of explaining to do.
---
The next hour and a half is a whirlwind of dealing with the guards and shocked townspeople as word of Father Johnathan's murder spreads. Luckily for Melech, Amelia's staunch defense of his honesty (probably helped by the fact that the guards didn't see him holding the bloody dagger) carried a lot of weight, her being a cleric and well known around town for helping Father Johnathan heal broken bones and others wounds when the need arose. In the end, though rumors have spread like wildfire about his involvement, he is ultimately not in any danger of being blamed for the murder.
Which, of course, left the question as to who really did it. Melech's only descriptors for the voice he had heard were 'male' and 'impossible to disobey' which wasn't much help. All the guards really had to go on was that someone capable of using magic was the culprit. Unfortunately, there weren't exactly many people in Havenwood who fit those criteria. Old Damia the herbalist might have been able to cast a spell like that, but she was both female and cared about Melech enough that her trying to frame him seemed unlikely. A couple other people around town capable of casting minor cantrips were questioned, but ultimately nothing came of it and they were all found to have solid alibis. At the moment, it just seemed like an awful mystery.
Even the sigils written in infernal with blood hadn't turned out to be much help, frightening as they were. They were all mostly saying something about 'seals being lifted' and 'the return of our dread master' and things in that vein. Scary stuff, and you had told the milita, but not particularly helpful for determining the psychopath's next move. The militia had sent a pair of riders on horseback off to Dawngate, the nearest city, but that was a day away. The murderer could easily kill again before proper help capable of dealing with a rogue mage arrived.
The four of you are finally finished answering questions for the guard and are currently in the downstairs tavern portion of the town's singular but fair sized in, the Stalwart Ally. Kind of a weird name, but Vincent always made the joke that a tavern with good ale was the one thing anyone could really count on. You weren't really one for drinking so you weren't sure you agreed, but most people seemed to think it was a great idea. Regardless of his naming choices, Vincent had proved a good friend by letting the group of you into the tavern a bit before it's normal lunchtime opening and offering you all a meal 'on the house'. After he brings it out, he pauses a moment to offer his condolences.
"Father Jonathan was a good man," he says, looking between Amelia as she nods quietly and Melech as he stares down at the table and plays with something small and sparkling between his fingers. "We're all poorer for his loss," he continues, the rest of you giving murmurs of agreement before he goes back to his work of readying the tavern to open up properly for lunch.
You all each lunch somewhat quietly, even Meriele subdued enough to only make a few halting attempts at starting conversation, Amelia looking to be contemplating something quietly as she rubs her holy symbol with one hand absently, and Melech still looked like he was trying to avoid being sick as he ate. You, for your part just try to be respectfully quiet, shushing Meriele when she tries too hard to start conversation. You may not have known Father Johnathan as well as Amelia or Melech, but the few times you had met him, he had never so much as commented on you being a half-elf or your mother's affair, and that meant a great deal in your books.
Finally, after all four of you have finished lunch Melech suddenly slams his fist down on the wooden table and says with a voice like the crackle of embers, "We have to find whoever did this and stop them!"
You, Meriele, and Amelia all react differently to his exclamation. Meriele seems immediately eager, already agreeing. Amelia voices caution a moment later, suggesting that they consider the danger, looking to you for support as she speaks. You... you think for a moment, before saying in a quiet and deadly serious tone of voice, "Yes. We should." You raise a hand to forestall both Meriele's eager affirmation and Amelia's vehement dissent.
"Listen. Whoever did this isn't going to stop. You didn't read the writing in infernal like I did. It was something about some 'dark master' being released or revived, and from what it said about the 'first seal' being undone, I can't imagine that there won't be more murders. Yes, it will be dangerous, but so will be letting them finish whatever plan they have, and we can't assume that the authorities from Dawngate will get here fast enough. We need to do something."
Amelia and Meriele are silenced for the moment, and Melech looks to you gratefully. You're about to continue before you are interrupted by a loud clanking and then a male voice from the stairs behind you.
"I couldn't agree more," he says, and as you turn you can see a man in polished plate mail with a shield on his back and a sword and crossbow at either hip. He had his helmet tucked under one arm as he spoke and his face looked rugged and worn, with a scar down one cheek. His black hair looked like it could do with a thorough washing, and he gave off a weary but ready air. All of you look at him in surprise. He definitely wasn't anyone you knew, and glancing at Amelia and Melech you're pretty sure he wasn't someone from around here at all if those two looked just as mystified as you did about who he was.
Vincent finishes setting up chairs around a table on the other side of the room before hurrying over to interject himself into the conversation.
"Ah, this is Sir Hartland," he introduces the man. "He's a knight from Dawngate and an old friend of mine that came to visit a few days ago."
"Indeed, and a good thing too," Sir Hartland says before continuing. "I'm going to find whoever murdered that poor priest and put an end to them. You can put your faith in that. You kids should just stay safe until then." With that, the man swiftly exits the tavern, putting on his helmet as he goes.
"Sorry, he can be a little brusque," Vincent apologizes.
What is your plan for finding the Murderer?
[] Go see Damia, the Herbalist. She might have some magic way to help.
[] Ask around town if anyone has seen anything unusual. It's a longshot, but at least Amelia's reputation should make most people talkative.
[] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
[] Follow after Sir Hartland. He might not want you along, but he was probably going to be doing something useful.
[] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
[] Write-in.
Which, of course, left the question as to who really did it. Melech's only descriptors for the voice he had heard were 'male' and 'impossible to disobey' which wasn't much help. All the guards really had to go on was that someone capable of using magic was the culprit. Unfortunately, there weren't exactly many people in Havenwood who fit those criteria. Old Damia the herbalist might have been able to cast a spell like that, but she was both female and cared about Melech enough that her trying to frame him seemed unlikely. A couple other people around town capable of casting minor cantrips were questioned, but ultimately nothing came of it and they were all found to have solid alibis. At the moment, it just seemed like an awful mystery.
Even the sigils written in infernal with blood hadn't turned out to be much help, frightening as they were. They were all mostly saying something about 'seals being lifted' and 'the return of our dread master' and things in that vein. Scary stuff, and you had told the milita, but not particularly helpful for determining the psychopath's next move. The militia had sent a pair of riders on horseback off to Dawngate, the nearest city, but that was a day away. The murderer could easily kill again before proper help capable of dealing with a rogue mage arrived.
The four of you are finally finished answering questions for the guard and are currently in the downstairs tavern portion of the town's singular but fair sized in, the Stalwart Ally. Kind of a weird name, but Vincent always made the joke that a tavern with good ale was the one thing anyone could really count on. You weren't really one for drinking so you weren't sure you agreed, but most people seemed to think it was a great idea. Regardless of his naming choices, Vincent had proved a good friend by letting the group of you into the tavern a bit before it's normal lunchtime opening and offering you all a meal 'on the house'. After he brings it out, he pauses a moment to offer his condolences.
"Father Jonathan was a good man," he says, looking between Amelia as she nods quietly and Melech as he stares down at the table and plays with something small and sparkling between his fingers. "We're all poorer for his loss," he continues, the rest of you giving murmurs of agreement before he goes back to his work of readying the tavern to open up properly for lunch.
You all each lunch somewhat quietly, even Meriele subdued enough to only make a few halting attempts at starting conversation, Amelia looking to be contemplating something quietly as she rubs her holy symbol with one hand absently, and Melech still looked like he was trying to avoid being sick as he ate. You, for your part just try to be respectfully quiet, shushing Meriele when she tries too hard to start conversation. You may not have known Father Johnathan as well as Amelia or Melech, but the few times you had met him, he had never so much as commented on you being a half-elf or your mother's affair, and that meant a great deal in your books.
Finally, after all four of you have finished lunch Melech suddenly slams his fist down on the wooden table and says with a voice like the crackle of embers, "We have to find whoever did this and stop them!"
You, Meriele, and Amelia all react differently to his exclamation. Meriele seems immediately eager, already agreeing. Amelia voices caution a moment later, suggesting that they consider the danger, looking to you for support as she speaks. You... you think for a moment, before saying in a quiet and deadly serious tone of voice, "Yes. We should." You raise a hand to forestall both Meriele's eager affirmation and Amelia's vehement dissent.
"Listen. Whoever did this isn't going to stop. You didn't read the writing in infernal like I did. It was something about some 'dark master' being released or revived, and from what it said about the 'first seal' being undone, I can't imagine that there won't be more murders. Yes, it will be dangerous, but so will be letting them finish whatever plan they have, and we can't assume that the authorities from Dawngate will get here fast enough. We need to do something."
Amelia and Meriele are silenced for the moment, and Melech looks to you gratefully. You're about to continue before you are interrupted by a loud clanking and then a male voice from the stairs behind you.
"I couldn't agree more," he says, and as you turn you can see a man in polished plate mail with a shield on his back and a sword and crossbow at either hip. He had his helmet tucked under one arm as he spoke and his face looked rugged and worn, with a scar down one cheek. His black hair looked like it could do with a thorough washing, and he gave off a weary but ready air. All of you look at him in surprise. He definitely wasn't anyone you knew, and glancing at Amelia and Melech you're pretty sure he wasn't someone from around here at all if those two looked just as mystified as you did about who he was.
Vincent finishes setting up chairs around a table on the other side of the room before hurrying over to interject himself into the conversation.
"Ah, this is Sir Hartland," he introduces the man. "He's a knight from Dawngate and an old friend of mine that came to visit a few days ago."
"Indeed, and a good thing too," Sir Hartland says before continuing. "I'm going to find whoever murdered that poor priest and put an end to them. You can put your faith in that. You kids should just stay safe until then." With that, the man swiftly exits the tavern, putting on his helmet as he goes.
"Sorry, he can be a little brusque," Vincent apologizes.
What is your plan for finding the Murderer?
[] Go see Damia, the Herbalist. She might have some magic way to help.
[] Ask around town if anyone has seen anything unusual. It's a longshot, but at least Amelia's reputation should make most people talkative.
[] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
[] Follow after Sir Hartland. He might not want you along, but he was probably going to be doing something useful.
[] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
[] Write-in.
Restraining Melech was a good call. If you had gone to investigate the sigils first, he would have run off and cast disguise self, which would have caused a lot of problems. Also, you might want to check the "Current time" on the front page. It's been... Updated.
PhDEevee
Mathematician and Questgiver
- Location
- Sydney
[X] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
Infernal writing, dead demons? Probably the best lead at the moment.
As for the current time:
...Oh dear.
Infernal writing, dead demons? Probably the best lead at the moment.
As for the current time:
...Oh dear.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
I would immediately assume Damia is one of the sacrifices. A mage, a healer, and a direct connection to Melech who is part-demon and might still get blamed if more evidence of his 'involvement' arises. Were infernal runes for his sake, or is there another demon involved? This is the first thing that comes to mind when one is talking 'seals'.
We should probably visit Damia and tell her to stay safe until the guards come, for lack of information about the second murder. Also, why did we get the OOC confirmation on that one? It's more fun to find out about it as we go.
Why would the priest be on the list? A religious figure, a symbol of some sort? If there is a pattern, we'll probably learn it as more victims surface.
[x] Go see Damia, the Herbalist. She might have some magic way to help.
For now I would like to try and save someone that I think will be targeted before the day's out.
We should probably visit Damia and tell her to stay safe until the guards come, for lack of information about the second murder. Also, why did we get the OOC confirmation on that one? It's more fun to find out about it as we go.
Why would the priest be on the list? A religious figure, a symbol of some sort? If there is a pattern, we'll probably learn it as more victims surface.
[x] Go see Damia, the Herbalist. She might have some magic way to help.
For now I would like to try and save someone that I think will be targeted before the day's out.
Lexica
Persevere
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Without giving too much away, I'll say that the OOC confirmation is... At least partially for dramatic tension. To give you a sense that things are happening as time passes regardless of what the protagonist is doing, and that it's worth considering how long an option being voted for will take, and whether bad things might happen in that time.
- Location
- College Station, Texas
[X] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
[X] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
- Location
- Upon the back of the Great A'Tuin
[X] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
Time is against us, we need to search for new information not retrace our steps in the hope that we missed something. If we do revisit the scene of the crime it should be after we have new information that may provide a new way of looking at things.
Time is against us, we need to search for new information not retrace our steps in the hope that we missed something. If we do revisit the scene of the crime it should be after we have new information that may provide a new way of looking at things.
Lexica
Persevere
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Vote Tally : Fantasy - An Overcast Sky (Low level DnD 5e Quest) | Page 2 | Sufficient Velocity
##### NetTally 1.7.5
[X] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
No. of Votes: 3
veekie
silentspirals
The Name of Love
[X] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
No. of Votes: 3
SystemicHatter
Mr Apollo
Nevill
Total No. of Voters: 6
Currently the vote is tied. I plan on updating in a couple of hours, so a tiebreaker by then would be desirable.
##### NetTally 1.7.5
[X] Go back to the scene of the crime and see if you can find any more clues.
No. of Votes: 3
veekie
silentspirals
The Name of Love
[X] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
No. of Votes: 3
SystemicHatter
Mr Apollo
Nevill
Total No. of Voters: 6
Currently the vote is tied. I plan on updating in a couple of hours, so a tiebreaker by then would be desirable.
Bolt from the Blue
Lexica
Persevere
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Visit the library in the Mayor's office. It's small, but had a lot on the demon Saint Olivia killed here decades ago. Maybe you could find some connection to the writing in infernal you found?
After much argument among yourselves and the occasional worried interruption from Vincent warning you against putting yourselves in danger, the four of you decide that your best move is to head to the library and see if anything useful turned up- your fundamental problem was that you just didn't have enough to go off of at the moment. With that decided, you bid the Stalwart Ally and Vincent farewell for the moment and head for the mayor's office.
Stepping outside, you see that during your lunch the sky had let forth a brief torrent of water, leaving the streets muddy and filled with puddles. You and Meriele didn't mind that much, already being somewhat mud covered and thoroughly used to dealing with it, but Melech complained about getting it on his robes and Amelia spent a lot of time stepping carefully between drier areas and around wet spots, trailing slightly behind the rest of you as she did so. Meriele makes a few jokes at her expense about it, but they're halfhearted at best, and even Melech's complaining soon withers under the force of the stares he in particular receives from the few townsfolk still outside after the downpour. Nature, it seems, has decided to reflect the mood of the town today.
You think a brief prayer for Father Johnathan's soul as you once again pass the chapel on your way to the mayor's office and the library.
The mayor's office is perhaps an overlarge and overdecorated building for a town of the size of Havenwood. It is made of wood and stone, well built and meant to last the test of time. It resides off of the town square, which, in the same vein as the building would be considered extremely ostentatious for any other town of this size. Indeed, the fountain in the center of it, with its beautifully carved statue of Saint Olivia slaying the demon would not be out of place in a major city. Such decorations speak to Havenwood's roots as a town started in commemoration of a land made prosperous and free of the blight of the demon that once inhabited it. Today, the town square and the fountain are just as beautiful and well made as ever, but for once you find your eyes drawn not to the figure of Saint Olivia, but to the figure of the demon pinned beneath her spear. You doubt that the statue is anything more than an artist's imagination, but even so the stone figure with its jagged horns and screeching mouth filled with hideous and misshapen fangs fills you with trepidation to look at. As you walk past, you do your best not to imagine sightless eyes of stone following behind you as you go.
With no great ceremony, you enter the mayor's office and, somewhat to your surprise, find the mayor himself sitting at a small table in the entry room. The mayor, Eliot, is a somewhat young bookish man. He wears fine clothes, but always in somewhat subdued colors, and is never one for any kind of jewelry or ornamentation beyond the thin rimmed glasses he always has perched precariously on the edge of his nose. What's surprising about seeing him in the entry room to the building like this is that he has a much better appointed office in the building with a proper desk and rather nice chairs; not to mention much better lighting from the large glass window in that room. He looks up and closes his book, placing a bookmark, as the four of you enter.
"What are you doing out here?" You ask, somewhat bemused as to why he's not in his actual office. You didn't much understand the point of having an office to begin with, and if he wasn't even going to use it, you could only feel slightly validated in your point of view.
"Ah. I thought that it would perhaps... Send more of an image of... Togetherness. In these trying times that is. If I am right here for the town to engage with, that is much better than the formal setting of... my official place of office as it were." He... eventually gets around to saying. You can feel Meriele's eyes glazing over as he speaks. You hadn't really interacted with the man before, but if this is the way he always speaks you're kind of glad for it.
"Well thank you for the gesture," Amelia chimes in politely from behind you, "We just wanted to take a look at some of the books in the library if you don't mind?"
"Oh, certainly, certainly. Just remember to, ah, check in with me before you take them anywhere. I'm missing a few lately, and while I'm sure their... absence... is unintentional, I would rather avoid any more, ah, losses. To my- that is, the town's, collection."
Amelia steps up besides you at that and the two of you share a glance.
"And what books are missing?" You ask, hoping they were innocuous, but knowing that there was no way they were.
"Oh, the missing books? Hmmmm, well quite a few honestly, but the one that really has me, ah, upset, is a rare volume in celestial I had borrowed from the Dawngate library. It was written by Saint Olivia, and I was, ah, hoping that I might provide some key quotes translated for the upcoming festival. What really has me, er, confused is that I'm not sure who in town besides myself and the late Father Johnathan can actually read celestial..."
"I can," Amelia speaks up, "Father Johnathan made me learn." Eliot looks like he's going to say something to that as he shifts slightly in his chair, but you quickly interrupt.
"What was in the book?" You ask.
"Ah, well, I had not finished translating it by the time it was... misplaced... but from what I read and the description I was given, it was a bit of a, hmm, memoir from the saint herself. Telling her story from her own perspective as it were."
You and Amelia exchange another glance. Depending on what things the saint had chosen to include in that 'memoir' it being missing could be bad.
"Well, thank you for your time," You say as you continue into the next room and then to the small library, the others following after you.
"Oh yes. Good day to you. Er well..." He says.
The library itself is a medium sized room with a table and a single chair in the middle. You don't exactly have much experience with libraries yourself, but Melech and Amelia seem to know what they're doing as they quickly start looking at the spines of books and directing you and Meriele on how to best help. The smell of so much ink and parchment in one place is not something you enjoy, but you put your mild distaste aside for the moment as you quickly pull out and skim likely books.
After about 45 minutes, you've learned a few things. The first of them was that Havenwood was not in fact, built on the exact spot where Saint Olivia killed the demon, that spot was about a mile away on the edge of the forest. It was a hill you and Meriele had been to before. The second was that the demon was not dead. If Saint Olivia had killed it on the Prime Material Plane where she fought it, it would have simply eventually reformed in the Nine Hells and come back. Instead, the saint had cast an incredibly powerful spell, sealing the demon away where it could do no harm. The third thing you learn is that the day the festival is held on is not the exact date the demon was killed. Doing the math on what the actual day is relative to the current calendar is a bit beyond any of you, but you would bet a great deal of money that it was today.
That's as far as your research gets before you hear the front door slam open and Eliot lets out a loud yelp before running past the door to the library at high speed. Pursuing him is a figure in black robes. A moment later before any of you can react, another black robed figure appears at the door to the library, and you think you can hear more behind them. Your suspicions are confirmed a moment later as a voice screeches "Kill them!"
This is bad. How do you react?
[] Eliot is in trouble, send Meriele after the figure chasing him while the rest of you hold the others off.
[] Eliot is in trouble, but you can't afford to risk someone getting surrounded if they run off to help them. Amelia and Melech can try to take out the figure chasing him with magic before he's hurt.
[] You can't worry about Eliot right now, you need to focus on the figures coming after you.
[] Write-in.
For those of you who want to write in using more mechanics, I'll let you know that Melech is a sorcerer with a draconic bloodline (gold). He has disguise self and burning hands. His cantrips are Fire bolt, prestidigitation, dancing lights, and minor illusion. Amelia is a Tempest domain cleric with her domain spells (obviously) and Command, Healing Word, Guiding Bolt, and Shield of Faith prepared. Her cantrips are Sacred Flame, Thaumaturgy, and Guidance. She's a variant human with the War Caster feat. Meriele is also a variant human- she has the Lucky feat. Also, don't be afraid to write in non mechanical tactics as well!
After much argument among yourselves and the occasional worried interruption from Vincent warning you against putting yourselves in danger, the four of you decide that your best move is to head to the library and see if anything useful turned up- your fundamental problem was that you just didn't have enough to go off of at the moment. With that decided, you bid the Stalwart Ally and Vincent farewell for the moment and head for the mayor's office.
Stepping outside, you see that during your lunch the sky had let forth a brief torrent of water, leaving the streets muddy and filled with puddles. You and Meriele didn't mind that much, already being somewhat mud covered and thoroughly used to dealing with it, but Melech complained about getting it on his robes and Amelia spent a lot of time stepping carefully between drier areas and around wet spots, trailing slightly behind the rest of you as she did so. Meriele makes a few jokes at her expense about it, but they're halfhearted at best, and even Melech's complaining soon withers under the force of the stares he in particular receives from the few townsfolk still outside after the downpour. Nature, it seems, has decided to reflect the mood of the town today.
You think a brief prayer for Father Johnathan's soul as you once again pass the chapel on your way to the mayor's office and the library.
The mayor's office is perhaps an overlarge and overdecorated building for a town of the size of Havenwood. It is made of wood and stone, well built and meant to last the test of time. It resides off of the town square, which, in the same vein as the building would be considered extremely ostentatious for any other town of this size. Indeed, the fountain in the center of it, with its beautifully carved statue of Saint Olivia slaying the demon would not be out of place in a major city. Such decorations speak to Havenwood's roots as a town started in commemoration of a land made prosperous and free of the blight of the demon that once inhabited it. Today, the town square and the fountain are just as beautiful and well made as ever, but for once you find your eyes drawn not to the figure of Saint Olivia, but to the figure of the demon pinned beneath her spear. You doubt that the statue is anything more than an artist's imagination, but even so the stone figure with its jagged horns and screeching mouth filled with hideous and misshapen fangs fills you with trepidation to look at. As you walk past, you do your best not to imagine sightless eyes of stone following behind you as you go.
With no great ceremony, you enter the mayor's office and, somewhat to your surprise, find the mayor himself sitting at a small table in the entry room. The mayor, Eliot, is a somewhat young bookish man. He wears fine clothes, but always in somewhat subdued colors, and is never one for any kind of jewelry or ornamentation beyond the thin rimmed glasses he always has perched precariously on the edge of his nose. What's surprising about seeing him in the entry room to the building like this is that he has a much better appointed office in the building with a proper desk and rather nice chairs; not to mention much better lighting from the large glass window in that room. He looks up and closes his book, placing a bookmark, as the four of you enter.
"What are you doing out here?" You ask, somewhat bemused as to why he's not in his actual office. You didn't much understand the point of having an office to begin with, and if he wasn't even going to use it, you could only feel slightly validated in your point of view.
"Ah. I thought that it would perhaps... Send more of an image of... Togetherness. In these trying times that is. If I am right here for the town to engage with, that is much better than the formal setting of... my official place of office as it were." He... eventually gets around to saying. You can feel Meriele's eyes glazing over as he speaks. You hadn't really interacted with the man before, but if this is the way he always speaks you're kind of glad for it.
"Well thank you for the gesture," Amelia chimes in politely from behind you, "We just wanted to take a look at some of the books in the library if you don't mind?"
"Oh, certainly, certainly. Just remember to, ah, check in with me before you take them anywhere. I'm missing a few lately, and while I'm sure their... absence... is unintentional, I would rather avoid any more, ah, losses. To my- that is, the town's, collection."
Amelia steps up besides you at that and the two of you share a glance.
"And what books are missing?" You ask, hoping they were innocuous, but knowing that there was no way they were.
"Oh, the missing books? Hmmmm, well quite a few honestly, but the one that really has me, ah, upset, is a rare volume in celestial I had borrowed from the Dawngate library. It was written by Saint Olivia, and I was, ah, hoping that I might provide some key quotes translated for the upcoming festival. What really has me, er, confused is that I'm not sure who in town besides myself and the late Father Johnathan can actually read celestial..."
"I can," Amelia speaks up, "Father Johnathan made me learn." Eliot looks like he's going to say something to that as he shifts slightly in his chair, but you quickly interrupt.
"What was in the book?" You ask.
"Ah, well, I had not finished translating it by the time it was... misplaced... but from what I read and the description I was given, it was a bit of a, hmm, memoir from the saint herself. Telling her story from her own perspective as it were."
You and Amelia exchange another glance. Depending on what things the saint had chosen to include in that 'memoir' it being missing could be bad.
"Well, thank you for your time," You say as you continue into the next room and then to the small library, the others following after you.
"Oh yes. Good day to you. Er well..." He says.
The library itself is a medium sized room with a table and a single chair in the middle. You don't exactly have much experience with libraries yourself, but Melech and Amelia seem to know what they're doing as they quickly start looking at the spines of books and directing you and Meriele on how to best help. The smell of so much ink and parchment in one place is not something you enjoy, but you put your mild distaste aside for the moment as you quickly pull out and skim likely books.
After about 45 minutes, you've learned a few things. The first of them was that Havenwood was not in fact, built on the exact spot where Saint Olivia killed the demon, that spot was about a mile away on the edge of the forest. It was a hill you and Meriele had been to before. The second was that the demon was not dead. If Saint Olivia had killed it on the Prime Material Plane where she fought it, it would have simply eventually reformed in the Nine Hells and come back. Instead, the saint had cast an incredibly powerful spell, sealing the demon away where it could do no harm. The third thing you learn is that the day the festival is held on is not the exact date the demon was killed. Doing the math on what the actual day is relative to the current calendar is a bit beyond any of you, but you would bet a great deal of money that it was today.
That's as far as your research gets before you hear the front door slam open and Eliot lets out a loud yelp before running past the door to the library at high speed. Pursuing him is a figure in black robes. A moment later before any of you can react, another black robed figure appears at the door to the library, and you think you can hear more behind them. Your suspicions are confirmed a moment later as a voice screeches "Kill them!"
This is bad. How do you react?
[] Eliot is in trouble, send Meriele after the figure chasing him while the rest of you hold the others off.
[] Eliot is in trouble, but you can't afford to risk someone getting surrounded if they run off to help them. Amelia and Melech can try to take out the figure chasing him with magic before he's hurt.
[] You can't worry about Eliot right now, you need to focus on the figures coming after you.
[] Write-in.
For those of you who want to write in using more mechanics, I'll let you know that Melech is a sorcerer with a draconic bloodline (gold). He has disguise self and burning hands. His cantrips are Fire bolt, prestidigitation, dancing lights, and minor illusion. Amelia is a Tempest domain cleric with her domain spells (obviously) and Command, Healing Word, Guiding Bolt, and Shield of Faith prepared. Her cantrips are Sacred Flame, Thaumaturgy, and Guidance. She's a variant human with the War Caster feat. Meriele is also a variant human- she has the Lucky feat. Also, don't be afraid to write in non mechanical tactics as well!
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PhDEevee
Mathematician and Questgiver
- Location
- Sydney
Okay, in the interests of kicking off voting: We know that at least one of the cultists is a caster and they've escalated straight to deadly force. Eliot either knows something or is the next sacrifice. Additionally, he's an authority figure, so keeping him alive could be pretty useful later. So do we think that Meriele can save Eliot without getting hurt? I'd put decent chances on it.
[X] Eliot is in trouble, send Meriele after the figure chasing him while the rest of you hold the others off.
[X] Eliot is in trouble, send Meriele after the figure chasing him while the rest of you hold the others off.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[X] Eliot is in trouble, send Meriele after the figure chasing him while the rest of you hold the others off.
Did the guards not report the runes in infernal to Eliot, or is he naturally obtuse? I mean, if Sariel, who is hardly a genius, could make a guess about it possibly being connected to the latest events, why can't he?
Anyway, let's see if our fighter is worth anything.
Did the guards not report the runes in infernal to Eliot, or is he naturally obtuse? I mean, if Sariel, who is hardly a genius, could make a guess about it possibly being connected to the latest events, why can't he?
Anyway, let's see if our fighter is worth anything.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
No idea.
The ideal outcome would be Amelia using Command on the enemy chasing Eliot and disabling them for 1 round. Then the mayor could just run away by himself and we wouldn't need to split the party. But this only has a certain chance of working, and I don't want to overthink it.
The ideal outcome would be Amelia using Command on the enemy chasing Eliot and disabling them for 1 round. Then the mayor could just run away by himself and we wouldn't need to split the party. But this only has a certain chance of working, and I don't want to overthink it.
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- Location
- Should be a bit higher
Meriele is kind of clumsy and although enthusiastic, doesn't appear too bright. She's also the fighter so her kit is probably not as adaptable as the others. I think she'll work best with someone supporting her. Sending her by herself to chase down a murderous cultist might not work out? But with us backing her she might be able to pin down the rest of the cultists long enough for the ruckus to attract help.
Amelia and Melech should be able to work something out between them. Melech having a hand in saving Eliot may also earn him a little goodwill...which he really need right now. There's a danger that whatever mind control shenanigans that happened with him last time will happen again but Amelia can watch out for that. She seems the observant and resourceful sort.
[X] Eliot is in trouble, but you can't afford to risk someone getting surrounded if they run off to help them. Amelia and Melech can try to take out the figure chasing him with magic before he's hurt.
Amelia and Melech should be able to work something out between them. Melech having a hand in saving Eliot may also earn him a little goodwill...which he really need right now. There's a danger that whatever mind control shenanigans that happened with him last time will happen again but Amelia can watch out for that. She seems the observant and resourceful sort.
[X] Eliot is in trouble, but you can't afford to risk someone getting surrounded if they run off to help them. Amelia and Melech can try to take out the figure chasing him with magic before he's hurt.