Bogtown: Favours

[Spearmint]

The Silvanus Embassy.

The gate guard notes the group and takes the measure of the two non-elves. While Golgarth does not talk in classical elven, more a rustic dialect, it it sufficient to pass the casual glances and greetings.

"A long trek indeed. I am sure one of the priests may be available to lead your devotions.

Your men be made welcome in the Mess Room once you make your introductions."

The guard opens the gate, bowing slightly to each of the cloaked elven guests and gesturing to the Manse building and then towards the side building which doubles as a stables, barracks and fellowship room. He waves you through, shutting the gate in the porch behind. You hurriedly pass by, aware your disguise is not fool proof though checking behind, the guard is not too interested in watching your persons. You do note that the patrolling Watchmen acknowledge you and by time you arrive at the larger building, another Chamberlain opens the main doors as you mount the steps.

"Brothers. May I take your Names? And how best may we serve?" The next guard, more formally dressed rather than obviously armoured greets you. You are in a hallway; a fine carpet over stone tiled floor, landscape pictures or tapestries detailing typical Elven scenes decorate the walls. A small hearth burns with welcoming coal fire, above is a shield and either side alcoves with sculptured statues. Benches are set against a wall and the hall has that reception area type feel. To the left and right are closed doors while the hall has a passage beyond that must lead to further chambers. The passage also has a flight of steps leading off.

To one side is a ledger upon a wooden lectern. It stands open and details names and dates of visitors. A casual glance as Golgarth 'signs you in' can note there have been few visitors recently. Certainly none in the last couple of weeks and turning a page, you can see that month on month, the number coming to worship at the Shrine has lessened.

The Chamberlain gestures each to take a bench seat.

From the typical protocol, those non-elves or not with even half Elven blood, unless a convert to Silvanism, would not go into the Silvanus Chapel, which is probably down the passage.

"Please be welcome." he says, putting another log in the fire and then suggesting, "May I take your coats?" He points to the cloakroom and you infer he also means you to take off your heavier weapons, shields, backpacks to put them in storage while you are in attendance.

As you mill about, a creature unfurls itself from a spot by the fire. It has a reptilian slim body with large leathery wings and a long tail that ends in a curved stinger. It is about the size of a large cat, looking like a miniature dragon kin. A drake of sorts. It yawns, awoken by your arrival and looks curiously at you before the Chamberlain offers it a nibble, a shelled boiled egg from his pocket which it gobbles greedily.

actions please

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Happy to make it past the gate guard, figures we don't have much time.

" Froed and Sidkrake , perhaps you can be comfortable here while we pray?" He says, indicating them to take a bench in the room here, principally because it is by the main door and one can watch the exterior while the other mooches about.

He indicates to Dalin to cosh the Chamberlain over the head as I lead him into the cloakroom, making out we will store our goods.

Hoping a 'surprise backstab' but with a blunt instrument might suffice to render him unconscious then we can explore a bit more.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin nods his head and says nothing keeping the stern look on his face. Though he wonders how wise is it to do what they are going to do is such a wise choice, being out of place he doesn't question it, he merely goes along with the tactic.

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

I can understand some hesitation not to attack the acolyte but if he insists on us taking cloaks' off that will obviously blow our illusion. He might just be saying, "please, let me take your coats" as a common gesture to make guests comfortable but I am not sure.

And coming in tooled up with shields and crossbows and flails. He might naturally prefer those set aside. But I just don't want to be caught short.

Okay let me try this instead. Golgarth will place his shield and Warhammer in the guest cloakroom. They are encumbering anyway and he has a spare mace attached to his belt. He suggests the backpacks too.



"Thank you. Our guides can keep an eye on these. But we have travelled far to pray and I am keen to do so. We can kneel and pray on our cloaks' as we did in the forest and hills as we succoured Silvanus aid. Now we shall offer thanks.

Please lead the way."

While he talks 'shop' with the acolyte is he just an admin staff or priest too? Can I tell?), you other guys should snoop a bit. What books are in the room on the shelves, try to observe any cult signs and symbols, maybe even try a thief skill to pickpocket a set of keys, stand by the other door casually but see if you can listen in to anything going on. Someone check out the little dragon. A pseudo-dragon? A drake or baby wyvern or a real dragon?

[Hvalreki]

The Silvanus Embassy

Gunter

Gunter's eyes go wide as he sees Golgarth motion Dalin to brain the chamberlain. He relaxes a bit when he sees him change his mind and begin to hang up his gear instead.

Heart hammering, Gunter follows Golgarth's lead and hangs his crossbow and backpack but secures his small shield to his back within easy reach. Axe and dagger remain on his belt and he stays alert and ready for action.

Hi Spearmint- I know Toadmother healed us (assuming she said yes to our conditions) but were we able to get any supplies from her? I was hoping to purchase some hurtloam, salves or first aid from her before we left.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin will put his pack and weapons in the indicated storage area, though he keeps his cloak on and indicates he would prefer to keep it on.

[Joey2k]

Johka tenses, ready to aid Dalin. He is almost disappointed when the plan changes, but sees the wisdom of it, and puts his sword and pack alongside those of the others, though he keeps his dagger hidden.

[Spearmint]

scripting draft, I will update here later today.

[Spearmint]

The Silvanus Embassy.

I was hoping to purchase some hurtloam, salves or first aid from her before we left.

She has no Hurtloam or healing potions but can create a single 1st Aid type kit and will take -25gp of coins or gems from you in return.

Inside the Embassy

The ruse continues and the Toadmother cloaks' still camouflage the wearers with a visual elven identity. Golgarth thinks if coshing the Chamberlain and Dalin reaches for a weapon only to shake his head and place it in the cloakroom along with a few packs of gear. His noggin safe for now, he locks the door and gestures that the travelling elves should follow him.

You go down the passage turn to the left and he opens a door into a room that extends outwards towards the rear gardens. The room is built like a stone orangery or conservatory, with stained glass paned windows in each side and in the ceiling panels that filter multiple rays if sunlight into the verdant array of flora used in this interior sacred grove.

here is the known info on Silvanus worship:

Silvanus (god of nature, freedom and balance).

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral.
Symbol: A face made up from laurel leaves or an olive branch.

Predominantly, followers of Silvanus are largely Elven. They have no ordained clergy but an eldership of appointed apostles and patriarchs and itinerant ministers. The elven racial bonus of a longbow or longsword 'to hit' proficiency stems from this worship.

Clerics of Silvanus wear decorative wreaths of laurel on their heads in lieu of traditional religious garb. They may cast the druidic spell 'Shillelagh' once per day. Acolytes of Silvanus use a quarterstaff as a favoured weapon and may attack twice with this weapon each round due to their blessed proficiency. This weapon is considered as 'silvered' in the context of enabling damage to certain creature types.

Silvanus is one of the Anganach and often communicates to his followers through speaking animals or birds. With no formal temples, the worship takes place in secluded groves.

Prohibition: Clerics are expected to root out 'unnatural abominations of nature' such as those who suffer the blood curse of lycanthropy or undead. Disciples of Silvanus are not buried but cremated.

In alcoves along its length are well sculptured statues, effigies of saints or heroes in the Silvanus theology. Decorative urns placed by their feet contain the ashes of devotees and you can note around the sheltered grove, several plaques commemorate the devout who have passed. Small trees and vines grow from landscaped troughs and a fountain runs into a pool of water. There are benches to sit and contemplate set around the hall and by the fountain a raised dias with a pulpit to one side.

The Chamberlain gestures you in and sats he will call a priest to minister to your needs while he attends to Froed & Sidkrake (which you can assume from the gate guard means escorting them to the stable-bunk room while you are engaged in worship here.

You nod and he leaves giving you a few moments to check your surrounds. Looking through the windows you can see a guard patrolling the boundary ramparts, looking bored and looking outward rather than peering into the building. Near to the benches are typical religious texts, nine of which to Golgarth's eyes appear any more than song books, poems, proverbs and common texts regarding Silvanus festivals and remembrances.

After a moment the door behind you opens and two elven priests walk in. One is older and given his bearing, probably higher in the faith's hierarchy. The younger deferring to him.

Both bear oak staves and wear wreaths of laurel or olives entwined with thorny stalks, habit type garments though the elder has a long embroidered scarf type priest's stole around his neck and draping to his knees.

He speaks in elvish, given a greeting and asking small talk about your journey. Golgarth can explain you have travelled and have come to worship with your time limited in the settlement. The younger reaches out to shake hands with each of you but after one introduction he suddenly jerks, a spasm shivering his spine. The observant (and on guard as you are I presume each are looking and listening intently), see that the acolyte's habit has a hunch between the shoulder blades that jerks or pulsates under the garb. A tick, a giant one leeching as one might upon a minion seems to detect your true intentions if not your identities. The acolytes looks up and to the elder, both seem caught off guard and confused as they come to some conclusion being empathetically communicated to them.

actions please.

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

The description gives off obvious vibes that the two priests are afflicted (voluntarily or involuntarily I don't know), but we must deal with them quickly and quietly.

Golgarth initiative: [1d6]=3 Warhammer melee [1d20]=8 damage [1d8]=6 stun chance % dam+1 per level [1d100]=41

Though he himself is neither quick or quiet.

[Hvalreki]

The Silvanus Embassy

Gunter

Seeing the shift in the priest's attitude and noticing the telltale signs of parasitic riders, Gunter springs to attack the nearest priest. In well drilled movements he grabs the small shield from his back with his left hand and pulls his axe from it's belt loop with the right. Somewhat unsure of the unwilling nature of the infestation he will try to avoid killing the priest outright (attack to subdue/knock out) but knows they must end this fight quickly and avoid the alarm being raised.

-25 Gold and 1 first aid kit bought from Toadmother

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin no weapons on his person merely tries to sneak off into the shadows to fetch his weapon. yes attempting to hide in shadows and move silently off to fetch my weapon.

[Joey2k]

Johka starts toward the priests, but then changes course and heads for the door to hold it shut in case anyone hears the noise of battle and tries to intervene. He looks around quickly to see if there are any large objects with which to help barricade it.

[Spearmint]

The Silvanus Embassy.

Orangery Grove:

Ticked off acolyte: vs Gunter or Golgarth. [1d2]=1[1d20]=15[1d4]=1

The twitching junior acolyte spasms as his leeching tick begins to assume a parasitic control over his body and features that visibly wither and shrink as if subject to a rapid atrophy. He pulls a ceremonial from under a sleeve and slashes at the cleric of Cromm, wounding Golgarth, -1hp.

The elder priest steps back in alarm at the sudden attack, warding himself Sanctuary. "This is outrageous. What manner of business is this?" he exclaims.

Dalin dashes through the door from the Orangery to the main building.

Dalin: hide & sneak [1d100]=9[1d100]=20

you cannot hide from people who you have just met but I will use the successes for you to sneak back to the foyer room and get advantage upon the Chamberlain who is shepherding Froed and Sidkrake out of the building.

The two NPC's see you sneak quickly up the passage, returning with some haste and concern on your face. They procrastinate enough to give you a moment to sneak behind the Chamberlain. No weapon in hand, you can improvise coshing the Chamberlain using something closely; a vase, the thick ledger or even the lectern itself.

Gunter closes the door after the dwarf goes through, dragging a bench across to hinder it opening.

next actions please.

[Bluetongue]

Golgarth

Swings a mace to no effect whatsoever, wondering when Cromm will bless his endeavours to root out this cult and avenge the death of Barraclough.

Golgarth initiative: [1d6]=5 Warhammer melee [1d20]=1 damage [1d8]=7 stun chance % dam+1 per level [1d100]=38

"Subdue them. Slay the ticks! Quickly before the guards are called!"

[Hvalreki]

The Silvanus Embassy

Orangery Grove

Gunter

Cursing his luck at the first swing going awry he strikes again at the nearest priest with his axe, still attempting to subdue or knock out rather than kill his opponent.

Thanks Cromm!

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin still has no interest in attacking the chamberlain he merely slips to the closet and gets his weapon then tries to slip back to where the others are.

[Spearmint]

Dalin the cloakroom door is locked and the Chamberlain has pocketed the keys.

You can try to pick pockets, open locks or cosh him. Presently you are unseen and unheard, so could wait a moment until he leaves with the pair if you don't want to action a sneak attack. You would then have a short window of opportunity to break in if you wanted to do that.

[GreyWolfVT]

Dalin will attempt to pick the lock open to grab his stuff.

OL 53% [1d100]=39

[Spearmint]

Dalin add an Open Locks skill check please.