TUW: The Outpost

[MacConnell]

... Raven Elk cases...

Astarte... closer... priest... old lady... greet...

Taylar... play... dumb...

Adisakti... seat... ask...

Spoiler: Enhancements

Raven Elk: 41(smell)
Astarte: 30(soullessness), 43(hearing)

Raven Elk moves one direction upon entering the oratory, Taylar moves the other, both looking at the various decorations and things more pertinent to the mission at hand and the safety of the party. Instinctively enhancing his sense of smell Raven Elk immediately detects cedar oil incense, which is at the entrance and at various other places around the room. Cedar oil tends to have a calming effect. Walking by the memorial of passed lives he can smell the wax and the pitch of the few burning candles, and then the scent of lavender draws his attention toward the the corner of the room to the far right of the entrance. A youngish Markidian girl is standing in an exit way, there, apparently having been watching him with seeming curiosity. When she is notices, she reacts as if embarrassed and gives a slight bow before turning away and going about whatever business she should have been doing.

On the other side, Taylar walks by decorative tapestries and wooden art all designed specifically for the Religion of Light. He finds nothing at all that could be deemed nefarious. Coming to the far left corner from the entrance, he sees no one but can hear the faint voices of people. The voices seem to belong to adolescents of both genders, but nothing of the tones indicates any distress. While standing there, pretending to be interested in a wooden homage piece, a teen boy comes toward him through the egress point where he is listening. The boy is Markidian and dressed in a simple manner indicative of a clergy in training. He politely excuses himself to walk by and begins wiping the benches with a cloth.

Astarte instinctively obscures her presence before she encroaches, enhancing her hearing as she takes a seat, seemingly unnoticed. The conversation is in Markidian but, while her proficiency has increased, she is far from fluent. As best she can determine, the elderly woman as recently lost her heartmate and the priest is genuinely comforting her in her loss. The woman thanks the priest and exits the building, nodding at Adisakti as she goes but not noticing Astarte.

The priest turns to address Adisakti and startles momentarily as he glimpses Astarte sitting nearer him for the first time. It is a typical, reflex reaction. Speaking Markidian, of course,the youngish priest introduces himself as Bishop Roquier. His eyes go wide in genuine surprise at the blunt query from Adisakti. "Are you absolutely certain? We did not have the symbol made locally, although I am sure one of the locals could have easily constructed it. It was sent with me from the Cathedral when I received my commission."

With the assuring, the priest thumbs his vesture and scratches his head. "I thank you most graciously for bringing this to my attention. As my duty is here, I will send one of the clergy to see Bishop Plascimon in Outpost to confirm what you have said and see about getting this error corrected. I just cannot see how such a mistake could have been made, coming from the Cathedral. This is very troubling."

Neither Taylar nor Astarte detect any duplicitousness in the man's tone as he speaks. Raven Elk does not sense any change in the man's body chemistry, indicating that he is not under stress.

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar: full wellness
Bracers: 16
Spaulders: 18 - 2 - 1 = 15
Tunic: 57 - 2 - 6 - 2 - 6 - 6 = 35 - 2 = 33
Raven Elk: full wellness
Buckler: 19
tunic: 53
Adisakti: full wellness
tunic: 47
Bracers: 18
Astarte: full wellness

Spoiler: Inventory

OOC: Current Inventory: harnin short swords: 22 (14 in Refuge) bronze colored Dancer's Spike harnin Longsword Coins: marks: 111 Animal Parts: Feline Leg Bone: 1. ?? Minerals: Coal: 1: {Heat x3} dark green opaque: 1: ?? Slate: 62: {Thump x2} Flint: 4 {Heat x2} Sunstone: 7: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Heartstone: 4: {Confluence +1} Lodestone: 1 {shock x2} Ores: Zinc Ingots: 1: {Health +1, Mend x2} Tin Ingot: 1: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Lead Ingot: 10: {- Body x2} Iron Ingot: 1 {Confluence +1, Mend x2} Calcium Ingot: 1: {Cohesion +1, Restore x2} Plants: Lighter Pine: 7 measures {heat x2} Unknown Items: Angry Spirit Dust: ??

Spoiler: Party Discoveries

Acolyte Avery's Ledger (In Refuge)
DoD Training Ledger (In Refuge)

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. Astarte improves in Markidian by 2%. State nominal actions and intentions. Provide a random roll.

 

[astarte]

When the conversation between Adisakti and Roquier is done, Astarte excuses herself and stays in the homage a bit longer to pray to The Lord of The Day for the poor old woman and the soul of her man, as she feels ashamed because of her nosiness.

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar continues to observe more than speak.

I will send one of the clergy to see Bishop Plascimon in Outpost to confirm what you have said and see about getting this error corrected

After the group has departed the church and they are alone Taylar says, "I think we should be in Outpost when this clergy visits Plascimon. Is there any other concerns we have in Westford?"

Spoiler: Rolls

85

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

... Taylar says, "I think we should be in Outpost when this clergy visits Plascimon. Is there any other concerns we have in Westford?"

Adisakti has no objections to that idea. "This was the only business, here, to my recollection. We can leave now to be ahead of said clergy. We can travel slower to see who follows behind. It is seven days back to Outpost, on foot."

OOC: 78

 

[MacConnell]

... Astarte... stays... to pray...

Taylar... says...

Adisakti has no objections...

Taylar and Adisakti walk outside, conversing with one another as they wait for the other two to join them. Upon seeing the show of respect from his newly found friend, Raven Elk demonstrates for Astarte the correct gestures to make to honor her intentions. Once outside, the four leisurely cross the river and begin the return journey along the road to Outpost. When camping the fourth day, Adisakti revisits his previous inquiry with the others as it is more pertinent, then.

GM: Does the party want to delay their journey to see who all might be following or complete the trip to wait in Outpost?

Spoiler: Character Data

Taylar: full wellness
Bracers: 16
Spaulders: 18 - 2 - 1 = 15
Tunic: 57 - 2 - 6 - 2 - 6 - 6 = 35 - 2 = 33
Raven Elk: full wellness
Buckler: 19
tunic: 53
Adisakti: full wellness
tunic: 47
Bracers: 18
Astarte: full wellness

Spoiler: Inventory

OOC: Current Inventory: harnin short swords: 22 (14 in Refuge) bronze colored Dancer's Spike harnin Longsword Coins: marks: 111 Animal Parts: Feline Leg Bone: 1. ?? Minerals: Coal: 1: {Heat x3} dark green opaque: 1: ?? Slate: 62: {Thump x2} Flint: 4 {Heat x2} Sunstone: 7: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Heartstone: 4: {Confluence +1} Lodestone: 1 {shock x2} Ores: Zinc Ingots: 1: {Health +1, Mend x2} Tin Ingot: 1: {Persona +1, Muddle x2} Lead Ingot: 10: {- Body x2} Iron Ingot: 1 {Confluence +1, Mend x2} Calcium Ingot: 1: {Cohesion +1, Restore x2} Plants: Lighter Pine: 7 measures {heat x2} Unknown Items: Angry Spirit Dust: ??

Spoiler: Party Discoveries

Acolyte Avery's Ledger (In Refuge)
DoD Training Ledger (In Refuge)

OOC: Each character receives 5 DP. Astarte improves in Markidian by 2%. State nominal actions and intentions. Provide a random roll.

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar replies in Maldrog, "Let us wait and see who it is so we will know who to watch in Outpost. Those of you may choose if you wish to hide or not. I will stand out in the open and speak with this person."

Spoiler: Rolls

65

 

[astarte]

Astarte asks Taylar: "Was ist das, sie wanna sprechen with this mann?"

Spoiler: Maldrog

What is it, you wanna speak with this man [about]?

 

[Kwargrow]

Taylar replies in Maldrog, "To determine the intentions of this clergy. The priest claimed the altered symbol was a mistake, but I want to know if they have any ill will towards those in Outpost. No matter what they say we should still follow them because I don't trust them."

 

[astarte]

Spoiler: Maldrog

I don't think the Priest have any ill will. I watched him carefully when he did speak with an old lady, then with Adisakti, and he seemed to be an honest man. But i afraid, that he is naive to the point, he have no idea, that he is installed at Westford as an unknowing puppet of some from power, maybe even The Crazy Hand of Justice himself.

And the clergy might be also an unknowing puppet, but what if he is an agent? I totally agree, we should no trust them and follow the clergy and observe him all the time he will spend in Outpost or even after, but we should do this secretly and discretely. And when he finish speak with Plascimon and leaves, one of us can speak with the old gentleman, to determine the intentions of this clergy.

Astarte replies:"Ich nicht think Der Priester bösen Willen haben. Ich watched him carefully when he did sprechen with eine old Frau, then with Adisakti und he seemed um be ein honest Mann. But ich afraid, that he ist naive zu the point, he haben nicht idea, that he ist installed at Westford as an unknowing puppet zu some von power, maybe even The Crazy Hand of Justice himself.

Und der Klerus might be also an unknowing puppet, but was if he ist an agent? Ich totally agree, wir sollten es nicht tue vertraue ihnen und folgen der Klerus und observe him alles the time he will spend in Outpost or even after, but wir solltendo this secretly und discretely. Und when he finish sprechen with Plascimon und leaves, ein von wir can sprechen with der old Herr, um die Absichten dieses Klerus zu bestimmen."

 

[Eric Zephlaer]

Adisakti merely gestures his acknowledgment of the conversation without vocalizing a response, until he thinks about the last comment. He answers Astarte in Markidian, "We will definitely discus the matter with Vittero's father after this other clergy leaves. He may even want us to be part of the conversation, but that I do not know."

He then begins to make a cookfire on the edge of the roadway, in deliberate view of any travelers who might happen by. After the fire is constructed but before igniting it, he will go set some snares for game.

OOC: 75