Quote from: Akrasia;402537Any chance for some setting information on this?  It's not clear to me why or how the father might help us with possible witches.

That said, Bryce is a pretty cautious fellow, and likely would be willing to consult with the father for any potential information or aid.

Sure. "Father" is the honorific for a priest, and almost all priests have divine magic (though the local priest, Fr. Walter, is a chubby guy without a violent bone in his body). He'd also be the village expert on things like demons, witches and such.

"Well, it's morning now," Norel says as he strokes his beard absently, "let's go speak to Father Walter now, and then be on our way after lunch.  How does that sound?"

Amra turns his (somewhat dubious) attention frome Dewin/Bryce saying...

"Hiya Norel,seems wise action to gain knowledge before going to face demon- witch magick.Would take but a moment to gather gear and be on way to priest and if this weather holds a fine day to trek!."

throwing the dregs of shandy to the ground away from the fire,He rises from his squat with an expansive stretch as he surveys the sky.

"As you say Norel" Sighard says as he levers himself to his full height, "I'm ready to leave after we speak to the Father".

Sighard ambles off in the direction of the local church and Father.

Bryce nods at the others' decision and accompanies them to see Father Walter.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;402575Sure. "Father" is the honorific for a priest, and almost all priests have divine magic (though the local priest, Fr. Walter, is a chubby guy without a violent bone in his body). He'd also be the village expert on things like demons, witches and such.

Thanks, that's more or less what I thought.  I was curious whether there was something more specific about the 'witches' in this setting or region (and their antagonism to the Church of the Hidden God), knowledge of which either Bryce or one of the other PCs might possess.  But that's fine.

On a somewhat different matter, I probably will not be able to post again until Monday.

In the meantime:

Bryce will try to use his familiar 'Dewin' to scout ahead from on high as the party travels.  However, he will avoid putting Dewin in any danger, and instruct him to flee anything that might harm him right away.

If Bryce notices any unusual plants, birds, animals, etc., he will attempt to use his 'Nature Lore' skill in order to identify them.

Bryce is happy to help others with wounds, either using his heal skill or magic, as appropriate.

If in combat, Bryce will try to avoid melee combat as much as possible (dodging blows if necessary, while retreating).  Instead, he will try to keep his distance and use either his crossbow or throwing knives, as appropriate.

You can safely assume that Adalbert and the lumberjacks use "witch" to mean "scary, evil woman" regardless of her magical powers. The church does use a narrower definition than that theologically - there is an extremely low chance you would be burnt as a witch, for example.

Father Walter has come down from Mizzenhall to deal with the beadle already, though Adalbert seems unaware of this. As you head in the direction of Mizzenhall, you see him and his two assistants dealing with the body of Edmund Ross at the edge of the village graveyard, preparing him for burial. He is being helped by Big Wylie Stedman, chief of the lumberjacks, and Rowe Tate, Fr. Walter's assistant.

They have a canvas sheet on the ground with the charred remains of Edmund Ross laid out on it. Big Wylie is planing spruce and pine logs into planks, while Rowe is boiling the chips to make a pungent, pleasant-smelling pitch for treating the body. Rowe, clearly used to this sort of thing, is whistling quietly but off-key as he watches the fire.

Fr. Walter, a chubby, normally cheerful fellow, has a somber air about him now. He has his hands upraised, and he is quietly praying over the body while Big Wylie and Rowe go to work.

Fr. Walter's in the edge of the village graveyard prepping. You have met him, at least in passing, over the winter. He's busy, but the prayers are more make-work than religiously obligated, and you can interrupt them if you wish, of course;

Amra waits at a respectful distance for Fr. Walter to finish...head bowed and hands clasped in front of abdomen.

After perhaps a quarter of an hour, Father Walter lowers his arms and bows his head in a moment of silence. Even Rowe and Big Wylie cease for a few moments, though they go back to their tasks once Walter opens his eyes. He turns, sees you and waves.

"Hail! We're ill met this morning. Poor Edmund is dead."

Father Walter, ever the chatterbox, comes wandering over, leaving his assistants to work.

Sighard face takes a dour expression as the priest he approaches, "Ah good Father, we were quite moved by the tragedy that besets this village, " Now Sighard smiles; "We go out to seek lost treasure to help the villagers buy grain. However we must explore the ruins of an ancient pagan temple, said to be the domain of foul witches. Perhaps you could lend as whatever aid you can spare".

Influence roll link http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2676173/, I'm assuming that I can use Influence as a  kind of persuasion roll, see'ing as there is no direct Persuasion skill. And Deception doesn't apply because everything Sighard said is true.

"Pagan temple? Treasure? Witches?" Father Walter repeats back to you in surprise.

"Are you sure this isn't some wild story going around? The villagers are prone to blame any misfortune on witches and bogeys. I wouldn't want you outsiders to go chasing snipes."

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;403050"Pagan temple? Treasure? Witches?" Father Walter repeats back to you in surprise.

"Are you sure this isn't some wild story going around? The villagers are prone to blame any misfortune on witches and bogeys. I wouldn't want you outsiders to go chasing snipes."

Amra steps forward..."Ahh kind father,heart is touched by simple words for villagers soul." as I bow my head and touch my heart..."We are wondering if you have knowledge of Monks of Rondag?" I watch his initial reaction closely.

Quote from: Llum;402971Influence roll link http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2676173/, I'm assuming that I can use Influence as a  kind of persuasion roll, see'ing as there is no direct Persuasion skill. And Deception doesn't apply because everything Sighard said is true.

Yeap, you can use influence to persuade people, though it always need to be attached to an IC proposition or statement or question of some sort.

"Ah, the 'Mad Monks', you mean? Now I know why you're talking about pagan temples," Fr. Walter realises.

"It's true, some wicked fate befell the monks, though the story about a demon is... unlikely. The monks would have been well-prepared to fend one off, no matter how subtle it was.

The story I was told by Fr. Bevin when I took over this parish was that the monks were weakened by illness. A great plague swept through Axrew a century ago as you can see," he gestures back at the grave markers.

"One of the monks became fever-maddened, and slew the rest. What happened the murderer, I don't know. I imagine he would have died shortly after the rest, his soul stained with the sin." Walter shudders.