[LPF] Distant Relations

[Qik]

OOC: That'll learn me, indeed.

Quioan's eyebrows arch at Anna's revelation about the potion. "Well then - that sure makes life easier."

"So the plan is - you two delay the cultists who will be out whilst we move to inspect the restricted portion of the temple?"

"As far as plans go, I could think of better, but I could also think of much worse. I suppose that that will have to do."

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

"Welcome aboard, Audra."

Audra gives a polite bow to Elenka.

I will do my best to earn all of your trust. But of utmost importance is putting an end to this recruiting drive. I will remain as out of attention as I am able, so that your plans are not upset. Along the way, it might be good if you bring me up to date on what you have been taught of how one should act within the cults walls, so that I don't draw attention to myself or us. I simply need to stop by the Fallen Bluff to retrieve my things. As Inar has noted it is between here and our destination. If anyone has room in their backpack to keep this until I can get to my own? Might be awkward walking through the alleys and streets carrying this thing.

As Quioan speaks she gets a slight smile on her face.

I suggest you keep those alternatives in mind. From my experience, no matter how intricately a pattern may be laid out or how carefully woven, there is always a knot in the yarn that attempts to force you to unweave the entire loom.

She shakes her head.

In Sapo's name, I'm starting to sound more like Master Halaran by the day.

She then shrugs and steps in among the party.

 

[jkason]

Inar raises and eyebrow.

"Well, that explains why they stick to the Tears, I suppose. Hard to spike the whole menu anywhere with actual customers. But I'd have thought some of my men would have caught sight of folks carrying bodies at some point..."

The ranger waves it off for now.

"I'll see what I can do about getting one of my clerical friends to part with some potions for neutralizing poisons. You're right, if we can slip those to the recruits, ought to confuse the cultists for a bit and buy you more time."

He gets a bit of a gleam and slaps Gratis on the shoulder.

"In fact, seems to me the Tears never has very good bread. Maybe our friend here can donate a special batch to the cult to make up for his previously-late payment, yeah?"

The plump halfling goes ashen and wide-eyed at the thought of more subversive actions, but another assuring nod from Anna seems to bolster him. He bites his lip and nods.

"I won't be able to delay 'em forever, though," Inar continues, "So find what you can during the lull and get the hells out of there. I'll have men here to meet you if I'm not here myself."

GM: Inar has nothing new for you guys past this unless you have specific questions / requests, so just let me know if / when you're ready to head back and I'll hop skip and jump us along.

 

[Qik]

Quioan nods an agreement to Audra, returning her slight smile. "Agreed. Here's to improvising."

OOC: Ready to move on, myself.

 

[Qik]

OOC: Also wanted to add that I'm not planning on bumping Quioan: I'm feeling fairly torn about him as a character right now, and whether or not I want to keep him in play after this adventure, so no DMC for him at the moment.

 

[jkason]

OOC: Also wanted to add that I'm not planning on bumping Quioan: I'm feeling fairly torn about him as a character right now, and whether or not I want to keep him in play after this adventure, so no DMC for him at the moment.

GM: No worries. Sorry to hear you're not enjoying Quioan as much; hopefully the infiltration slog hasn't put too much of a damper on him for you. In any case, I had just wanted to give you a heads up that this was the last hurrah for potential leveling until the last of the dust settles. Wasn't sure if you were going 3rd level ranger next and might be itching to use the favored terrain option before the Grand Guignol.

 

[Qik]

[sblock=Off-topic OOC]Nah - he's just seeming a bit one-dimensional to me right now. Sort of like, "Hey, I'm an elf, I shoot arrows really good." I like aspects of his personality, but I'm not sure if that general personality template wouldn't better be applied to, say, a magus, which would have more options in combat, and potentially more options fluff and crunch wise out of combat. I just feel like I painted myself into a corner with his build, and now I might be losing interest.

I've also become aware of other, more diverse/interesting directions that an archer/ranged character could go in (zen archer monk, myrmidarch magus, switchhitter alchemist), which is contributing to making Quioan feel a bit dry.

But we'll see. Part of me feels I should work my way up to Arcane Archer with him, which was the original plan, and see how I enjoy that.

So anyways, all this is to say, this adventure, which has been lots of fun, has nothing to do with it. [/sblock]

 

[GlassEye]

Elenka looks determined to see through to the end of this.

"We should be getting back. If we're gone too long..."

She shrugs uncertain of the ending of that sentence.



[sblock=Actions/OOC]Still haven't got her level 4 worked out yet... but ready to move back into the cult.
Move --
Standard --[/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Elenka[/size] Human Summoner 3
Initiative: +2 Perception: +5

AC: 15 (12 touch; 13 flat-footed)
HP: 23 Current: 23
CMB: +3 CMD: 15 Fort: +1 Ref: +3 Will: +5

In Hand:
Spells:
1st level: 4/4 remaining.
Special: Summon Monster 2 4/6

[size=+1]Drevezh'Korol[/size] Eidolon
Initiative: +1 Perception: +0; Darkvision 60 ft.

AC: 15 (11 touch; 14 flat-footed)
HP: 29 Current: 28
CMB: +7 CMD: 18 Fort: +4 Ref: +2 Will: +3

In Hand:
Conditions: In the Other World[/sblock]

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

It won't take me but a moment to gather my gear. I left it ready for a quick grab if necessary when Inar's message came to meet here. I'll follow the lead of you all who know more of the inner workings of what we're getting into.

OOC: Aside from retrieving her gear, that's Audra has, so I'm ready to roll forward

 

[jkason]

[sblock=GlassEye]No worries, GE. We're heading into a weekend, so I expect it'll probably be Monday-Tuesday before I've got you all tucked in for the night and up the next morning. [/sblock]

"I've got a friend can help make ya up, girl," he says to Anna. "And I'll be by your bakery with potions when I've done with this one," he adds to Gratis. Though nervous, the halfling nods.

Inar nods, as well, and turns back to the party.

"Good hunting, then, and tomorrow night will tell the tale, eh?" Inar says.

Anna makes her hasty goodbyes and good lucks, then heads off with the ranger, while Gratis heads back into the feast hall.

"I think I'm going to need at least two more ales before I'm ready for this," he mutters to himself as he leaves.

Audra leads the way to the Fallen Bluff. As the other three stick to the shadows outside, she rushes in and retrieves her gear, so quickly and quietly that she doesn't even wake the innkeeper asleep at his post.

When she returns, the rest of the party fills her in about the secret tunnel to the temple at the back of The River's Tears tavern. The establishment is still dead quiet, making it fairly clear the owner must be getting some kind of hefty subsidy from the cult. How else is he still in business in this, the more upscale area of Martna?

There's little time to mull over the nature of the bar owner's particular bribery, though, as the quartet are eager to get themselves back into the temple. They slip through the door in the storeroom, and back down the dank, muddy tunnel. The scent of burnt spider is still fairly fresh, but whatever insects may yet remain seem to have learned their lesson.

Soon enough, then, four faux-acolytes emerge into the storage closet in the basement of the temple. Having kept your robes in your packs, the hems are clean, but as Anna pointed out on your way to your meeting, the puddles and muck of the tunnel have once again dirtied your feet, and thus the storage closet floor. Anyone coming in with the floor in its current state would be hard-pressed not to realize someone used the tunnel recently.