[IC] The Cult of Brannulv

[Xihirli]

“I thought you could handle it!” Lana mentioned.

[Zergrinch]

"Look, I appreciate the help, and I'm not going to say no to more backup, especially healers. It's just that this can get dicey and I don't want anyone getting hurt or even killed. These are some bad guys we're dealing with," Zanza raises her hands with the palm open, attempting to defuse what might become a round of recriminations between these curiously helpful strangers.

[Valmark]

"Worst then the cultists that profaned a lake poisoning and almost killing all of Talmor?" Ghiso asked "We'll manage"

[Zergrinch]

"Okay then, welcome to my world. Would you all like to get changed first? It would be a shame if something were to happen to that pretty dress," she points at Lana.

[Gluteus_Maximus]

Taara remained silent throughout the discussion. She shrunk when Ghiso mentioned the arms, muttering something about still needing to talk about that, and went wide eyed and embarrassed when Ghiso said she flirted with Lana. To take her mind off it she pet a cat or three.

When Zanza mentioned changing, Taara shook her head and stood. "Dresses can be fixed. It's fine to fight in, too." suddenly she realized she had been sitting and resting and relaxing and dancing for a bit too long. So she got into a fighting stance and started practicing punching the air. Occasionally one of the ghostly hands Ghiso mentioned would appear, and then immediately disappear after copying the strike she made.

[Xihirli]

"I should change, though!" Lana said, remembering her acid experience. She ran off to put on her armor.

[Fay]

Rose, still petting cats, also chimed in.

"Yeah, I'm in."

[Izzarra]

The friar in the kitchen does not know any details of the investigation, but Zanza is able to find out from someone else that Locate Object was cast along the docks with no results.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Where would you like to do first?
- Check out seedy bars
- Look for a fence
- Find a big crime boss and kick in the front door
- Sneak into warehouses
- Something else, you are not restrained to these options.

[Zergrinch]

"Okay, then, let's go off to some seedy taverns near the docks for some good old fashioned interrogation. Make sure you protect us three innocent girls, big boy!" Zanza teases Ghiso as she gets her gear ready.

[Valmark]

"I will- although I trust in your apparent expertise with this" Ghiso nodded completely serious, and double checked his shield and armor were donned correctly.

[Xihirli]

Lana ran back in her armor, tripping a bit.
“Where is the cute little goblin leading us?”

[Valmark]

"To a local tavern of the kind where you shouldn't approach strangers carelessly and not talk too loud" Ghiso said "That's right Zanza?"

[Zergrinch]

"We're going to places where we think the bad people who stole the statue might go to. We will ask questions, and if they don't answer or we don't like their answers, we beat them up! And since they're bad people, they might not like us asking questions and might attack us, so we beat them up too!" Zanza answers quite honestly.

[Izzarra]

After scouting the docks you determine that the three shadiest places are The Rusty Anchor, The Black Barnacle, and The Bosun's Rest,

The Rusty Anchor and The Black Barnacle are both taverns. The Bosun's Rest is an inn.

The Rusty Anchor and The Bosun's Rest have conversation between patrons in hushed tones over mugs of cheep booze while forlorn music drones through the establishments.

The Black Barnacle is the the most depressing of them all, walking past it you almost feel silence emanating out from the building as light is absorbed.

[Zergrinch]

The goblin enters: (1d3)[2]:

1: The Rusty Anchor
2: The Black Barnacle
3: The Bosun's Rest

[Gluteus_Maximus]

Taara meekly followed after Zanza. It was a weird place to be, but she didn't want to wander off anywhere and get separated from Lana or Ghiso or Rose. "Good afternoon," she said to whoever was there.

[Xihirli]

"Hi, everyone!" Lana said, waving.

[Fay]

This place felt creepy. Rose walked in carefully, halberd ready but not held menacingly and eyes scanning the room.

[Zergrinch]

Zanza coolly scans the room, looking for someone with known affiliations to the criminal underworld.

[Izzarra]

The interior of the Black Barnacle is ... black. The wood has been scorched by fire, be it intentional or not is hard to tell. The floor is sticky and there is almost no lighting. Even though it is sunny outside almost none of it makes it through the windows.

As you enter the only sounds you hear is the creaking of furniture as the four patrons look up from their mugs. Their gaze is unsettling, you are not sure if it is anger, hunger, lust, or something else in their eyes but it sends chills down your spines. All of them have seen far better times, they are old, washed up, and look like they have nothing left to live for, yet carry on because they are afraid to die. The man behind the bar rubs a mug with a rag, more out of habit then to polish the vessel as it looks like he is merely pushing filth back and forth.

It looks like all of them have probably committed crimes at some point in their lives, but also like they currently do not have a single care in this world beyond the contents of their mugs.

Nobody says anything in response to your greetings.

[Xihirli]

Lana sat down next to one of them. "I'm Lana!" She held out her hand. "Who are you?"

[Gluteus_Maximus]

Taara was apprehensive at first, looking around nervously. She wanted to just find the artifact and get it over with so they could go take care of the cultists in the valley. But for now, all she could do is stick around and try to keep Lana from getting into trouble, so she stayed near her while she made attempts to converse.

[Valmark]

Ghiso really didn't want to be there.
He was also pretty scared that Lanitfat's personality was going to get her into trouble, but decided that approaching armored and armed was too menacing, so he stayed back waiting for Zanza to identify to talk to.

"May I suggest we talk to the bartender?" he whispered to the goblin.

[Fay]

Rose still stood near the entrance and suspiciously looked around the room, checking for anything from ambushes to shady black market dealers.

Perception check: (1d20+1)[4]

[Zergrinch]

Zanza strides to the bartender. "What's the house special?"

== OOC ==
Making dice rolls on the patrons on whether they present a threat, are doing anything that might harm the party, or are acting suspiciously.
Perception: (1d20+6)[15]
Insight: (1d20+4)[8]

[Izzarra]

The man that Lana sits next to just stares towards her, and yet not at her, it is more like he is looking strait into the depths of her soul. He does not move or say anything.

The bartender pours a glass of something that might be strong enough to dissolve dwarven industrial clockwork lubricant for Zanza.

Spoiler: Perception 15

Show

It takes a little while for you to put your finger on it, but none of the people in the bar are blinking. In fact they might not be breathing, it is hard to tell.

[Gluteus_Maximus]

Taara takes Lana by the arm. "I think this is probably the wrong place." and she pulls to try to take her away from these people.

[Zergrinch]

"So," Zanza takes a bar stool as she raises the mug and drops the payment on the counter, "Is it always like this? Aren't bars supposed to be, you know, more lively?"

[Xihirli]

Lana looked up at Taara sadly. "People get like this when nobody's ever given them a chance to be anything else." She left a goodberry on the table. "You are a worthwhile person. When I look at you, I get a happy feeling. Your life isn't over. You can do anything you're willing to try." Lana gave him one last smile and followed Taara.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

BAM
16 Wisdom right there!
Anyway, casting okayberry.

[Valmark]

ºSo, this is where dreams go to dieº Ghiso thought to himself, writing into his book.
"I think this is the wrong place too"