Keep on the Shadowfell IC

[Dimers]

"Sooo, back to the village, then the fort?" Brina asks with a slightly hoarse voice, rocking back and forth on her feet, her upset stomach grumbling something fierce.

"It looks like time may be crucial. Do we need to go back to town, or could we just head to the fort directly?" Gagan looks around at everyone as he speaks quietly. With his uniform and his unruffled appearance, it feels like an officer assessing his troops' readiness.

[Phantom Genius]

Wasn't the original plan to do this tonight and the fort tomorrow?

[TurboGhast]

Wasn't the original plan to do this tonight and the fort tomorrow?

Looking back in the OOC thread, that seems to be the case. At least, Wafflelord suggested that plan and nobody disagreed at the time. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to stick to it now, especially in light of the new information you've received.

[Ridai]

"Fort it is then," Brina croaks her answer, beginning the trot out of the cave and towards the cult base.

Spoiler: Actions

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Saw no other characters chime in, so moving things along, I guess?

Also, what are my options for Brina? Anyone know how to make Druid feel less terrible?

[WaffleLord]

Melhved Brombriar

Feeling battle worn, Melhved cleans her sword as passes over the treasure half-heartedly. Nothing catches her eye until the message signed with that name: Kalarel. Her weakness and fatigue fade away. Here, progress, proof of the fiend's devilish plans! Days! From when! This must be dealt with immediately! Looking over her brave associates, "Is this something I can decide for them? I know I can face the trials ahead, but they have fought for and supported my quest, each in their ways. Their hearts are worthy but are their backs?"

She shuffles closer, declining the brave dwarf's offer of healing. "Yeah, fort. Hmm?"

[Phantom Genius]

"I need at least a short rest, first."

He tries on the armor and swings his axe a few times.

[TurboGhast]

You're able to take a short rest without interruption.

What route are you going to take towards the keep? You've got plenty of sunlight remaining today, so you could take the road there and back with little risk of getting caught in the dark. In fact, stopping in Winterhaven to eat a meal and report your success to Padraig wouldn't increase the time pressure from nightfall that much.

Alternatively, you could try to cut straight from here to there to possibly save time or avoid another ambush at a greater risk of trouble from the terrain.

[Dimers]

"Yes, rest," Gagan agrees. "Brina, I know you can run like an elk all day, but my old bones need more recuperation. I'll be good to go after a few minutes of deep breathing exercises, I think."

[Ridai]

"Oh." Brina stops awkwardly in the middle of the cave, and just in time, her stomach growls reverberate through the place, wishing to be fed, and fed now! The elf grimaces at the prospect, clearly not happy with this particular turn of events, and excuses herself for a moment. From a more distant part of the cave, there are cutting and ripping sounds, along with pauses that suspiciously sound like someone being miserable and possibly dry heaving.

[WaffleLord]

Melhved Brombriar

The goliath collects herself and forces herself to stop moving for a while.

She tries to focus beyond the task at hand and feel to peace that Mother can provide. The constant clapping of the waterfall. The moist breeze that flows by. The smell of the rot of the cave mingling with the outside air. All parts of Mother.

She resumes her pacing with a calmer step and a greater control.

[TurboGhast]

The six of you successfully take a short rest.

Spoiler: OOC

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Just realized that my previous post could read as saying "you're able to but haven't done so yet" instead of the intended "you've taken a short rest successfully". Since everyone else seems to have gone with that interpretation, there's no reason for me not to go with it too. Interrupted short rests will be quite rare because of the system's assumption a short rest will come between every battle. I might need to start specifically checking whether my posts with mechanical effect can be misinterpreted.

If nobody posts in favor of cutting straight to the fort, I'm going to assume that you take the roads because they're the literal path of least resistance.

Your trip back to Winterhaven remains relatively uneventful until you reach the fields surrounding the town. They seem strangely empty, and the few people you do see look incredibly nervous. This experience extends to town itself, as the people you see there only pause to give a furtive glance before darting away instead of giving the cheerful glances you got before.

[Ridai]

"Hello, the kobolds are... gone... now?" Brina's voice petering out as she sees people looking all scared. Feeling the tension in the air, she stress-nibbles on a gnarly-looking root. "Hey, um, I will... go check if someone here has tools. I'll join you at the inn or wherever, alright?" With that, the elf scurries away in her usual step (which is a bit too fast than what normal people move like), trying to find a merchant who may carry lockpicks and related tools.

Spoiler: OOC

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Trying to buy Thieves' Tools.

[Phantom Genius]

"Wrafton's Inn, then? Salvana might know why the people are wary of us."

[Dimers]

"A good idea, my brother in arms. An innkeeper in these parts sees her share of armed strangers and might be more inclined to share news than someone of another profession." Gagan nods and makes his way to Wrafton's.

[TurboGhast]

Spoiler: For Brina, and anybody who follows her on her search for a tool store.

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The search doesn't last long, as you quickly find a building labeled "Bairwin's Grand Shoppe". The person running the shop seems more cagey than you'd expect based on his grand descriptions of himself, but you're able to purchase the thieves' tools without much difficulty.

Spoiler: For Drang, Gagan, and anybody else who follows them into the inn.

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When you enter the tavern, it seems strangely empty. This makes asking Wrafton the question on your mind trivial.

"Who knows? I'm just a simple innkeeper, not a psychic. I don't think they're nervous about you, at least, since nobody was acting like this yesterday.

If you've returned, perhaps you have news of your own?"

[Ridai]

Leaving the shop quickly again, Brina doesn't feel very comfortable out in the town, what with the general atmosphere. Quick steps take her over to the inn, which doesn't seem to be doing much better.

[Phantom Genius]

Spoiler: For Drang, Gagan, and anybody else who follows them into the inn.

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When you enter the tavern, it seems strangely empty. This makes asking Wrafton the question on your mind trivial.

"Who knows? I'm just a simple innkeeper, not a psychic. I don't think they're nervous about you, at least, since nobody was acting like this yesterday.

If you've returned, perhaps you have news of your own?"

"Do you mean that Irontooth is dead and Kalarel has a spy in town? Or that the lilacs are blooming early this year?"

[WaffleLord]

Melhved Brombriar

Following the group into the inn, Melhved is also eager to find the reasons of the villagers' scarcity. While inwardly disappointed at the barkeep's reply, she outwardly bristles at Drang's directness about the spy in town. "Spies are best spied for, not broadcasting for volunteers," she thinks to herself. "When diagnosing disease, seek the path shown by the symptoms."

"What changed last night? Trouble, news, new faces?" she asks aloud.

[TurboGhast]

"Nothing obvious - if there was I would have told you a question earlier. Some people had a dream about a door leading into a dark place opening, but that's it. Padraig may have heard something I haven't, though."

[Phantom Genius]

Clearly the sharpest axe in the clan, Drang says, "We should go see Padraig, then! Any guess on who Kalarel's spy might be?"

[TurboGhast]

"Ninaran seems just as calm as usual, and she clearly knows more about Kalarel than anybody else in town. Maybe talking to her would help you find the spy. I think she's at the smithy right now."

Spoiler: OOC

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Since the guards to the inner gate know you have business with Padraig and he's currently at home, nothing's stopping you from walking to his manor to talk to him. In addition, Wrafton's correct about Ninaran's position.

I'm telling you this so you can walk somewhere and say something to the person there in a single post.

[Ridai]

"Well, smithy it is?" And Brina, feeling about lost about all this spy business, just heads to the smithy, looking for someone called Ninaran, and when she finds her, she goes "Heeey, sooo... do you know who Kalarel's spy is?"

Well done, Brina. Well done. She snacks on odd looking nuts in the meantime that make her eye twitch, so she doesn't fidget instead.

[Phantom Genius]

"Well, smithy it is?" And Brina, feeling about lost about all this spy business, just heads to the smithy, looking for someone called Ninaran, and when she finds her, she goes "Heeey, sooo... do you know who Kalarel's spy is?"

I guess we all follow and await the response?

[Phantom Genius]

I guess we all follow and await the response?

"Hey...remember that elf that was really bad at eavesdropping? Maybe she knows who Kalarel's spy is..."

Smartest dwarf in the party

[TurboGhast]

When Ninaran sees you enter, she says "Oh, you're back! I'm lucky to have meet such capable adventurers."

Her usual calm, tone breaks into surprise during her reply to your questions. "What do you mean 'spy'? To my knowledge, Kalarel prefers to rely on brute force."

Spoiler: For those who make a DC 16 Insight check

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This reply sounds rehearsed. Her tone is controlled in a way that hides how worried she is.

In addition, she's surprised that you're asking her about the presence of a spy, not at the idea there is a spy in town.

[Ridai]

Noticing something, Brina lowers her voice, sounding sympathetic. "Hey uh, it's alright to feel worried. You know, crazy things happening, town being all weird. You can talk to me, though. Not just going to, you know, start gossiping to people or something."

Spoiler: OOC

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Made the Insight check

[WaffleLord]

Melhved Brombriar

The goliath frowns at the response. "So there is knowledge to be had of Kalarel. Whether we have heard all that is available is the question."

Playing the heavy to Briana's gentle, Melhved puffs herself up and says, "Sometimes, brute force gets information." She postures awkwardly, not sure where to put her hands.

Spoiler: Actions

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Insight - (1d20+3)[22]
Intimidate from Rolls - 10. meh.

[Dimers]

"If the brute force user asks, at least. Irontooth was the brute-force sort too, and he didn't bother trading words with us before we killed him and his guards." On the surface Gagan's words are for Melhved, but his eye stays steady on Ninaran.

Spoiler: intimidating?

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When you hear someone casually describing slaughtering your allies, that can be pretty intimidating. And if Ninaran isn't part of Kalarel & Co., well, this still represents Gagan's rather intense way of speaking. Intimidate: (d20+12)[18]

[TurboGhast]

Ninaran's calm facade shatters into nervous stammering.

"A-all I have to say is spies aren't real. They're fictional beings meant to spice up mystery stories. Why do you even think they exist?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Gagan's intimidation was successful.

[Ridai]

"Aw, I understand it's a scary situation with everything that's happening. Cults are scary, spies are scary. It's okay, we're here, you can tell us."