A new day for The Outriders (dnd ttrpg PM Siobhan before joining to see if she can handle another)

[Btq97]

Nuada finds them both and pulls up a chair and sits. "We are heading off to the temples now. If you do not feel up to it we can take you back to inn and then head back out" he pauses waiting for Bubbles to answer?

 

[siobhancan99]

Aisha seems mildly concerned that the party seems to be both inebriated early in the day and also lost, but she has the resigned look of a woman who has come to the realization that beggars can indeed not be choosers. "If you descrive the Inn I can get you there" Her voice is weary and resigned, but she gestures at the door. "Perhaps you should let your friend sober up before you go talk to the priests."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan cocks his head. “Oh, well if that’s the concern I believe I remember the way.” He turns to Bubbles. “What do you want, Bubbles? Shall we escort you to the tavern first?” He holds his arm out in a jaunty tease, trying to put a smile on the poor gnome’s face.

 

[Btq97]

Nuada snaps his fingers and grins "The Slaughtered Lamb Inn or was that in the last town we stayed in" He looks at Bubbles " It seems Trilan has come to our rescue lets head back the inn and get coffee and perhaps some cake mmmm cake fuck I want cake now" the filter between he brain and his mouth seems a bit broken wine can that "are you going to be ok to walk " he asks in more serious tone a concerned look crossing his face

 

[siobhancan99]

The trio made it back to the Inn in one piece, and after a period of time Bubbles seemed to improve. In the meantime, Greta returned with a few friends. A trio of musicians for whom she was liberally buying drinks and flirting outrageously. The group welcomed the returning trio, and Greta made introductions. After a few minutes, she pulled Trilan, Nuada and Bubbles aside "So, how did it go at the Temple?"

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan looked chagrined. “Well, Greta, we didn’t actually make it to the temple yet. It’s our next stop, though. The three of us just needed a bit of a rest.”

He smiled. “We did get one potential lead, though. A missing woman. If her disappearance is connected to the cult, that could give us another avenue to track them down!”

 

[Btq97]

Nuada said "We enquired at the guild about the sex cult. The guild master had these amazing biscuits" he checked his pockets and shrugged. "He said he new nothing of people being lured in to forest by a sex cult. So either he was lying as his favourites are looking or they do not know which calls into question the statement by the magistrate or the guild information network is shit. A couple of jugs of coffee and perhaps some cake and we can hit up the temples." He face palms " should have asked the guild master what the know about the magistrate and his wayward son." His voice trails off as he starts to swear at himself in elvish. "How did you make out with your new friends?"

 

[Minxee]

Bubbles rubs her temples and groans as she nibbles on some bread.
"I guess logically the temple is the next step for where we need to go and hopefully we will get some answers."
She nervously fidgets not liking the next step of this endeavour

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan starts rubbing Bubbles’ back, misinterpreting the source of her unease. “It’s alright; taking a little rest won’t hurt anything. We’ll wait until you’re feeling better.”

 

[Minxee]

Bubbles jumps a little at the contact - clearly not use to it.
“No it’s okay…. This is important. There are girls who are missing and there is a cult that we need to stop before more people get hurt. I’ll be fine… with any luck we can get to the temple, get the information and be back in time for happy hour…. You know I never really drank until now and I am starting to see the appeal of it…”

 

[Btq97]

Nuada "Well Bubbles , work hard and play harder. Now we work but I think we have time for some coffees at least"

 

[Minxee]

Bubbles let’s out a soft sigh…
“Fine…. Coffee and cake first… question though… do we even know what god this temple is associated with?”
She fidgets some more clearly not comfortable with the idea of going to the temple.

 

[Btq97]

Nuada sips at his coffee, "Gretta said something about a temple for Kishmekili who sell salvation thru fucking a priestess or sum such. So that would be the place to start. This is good coffee" he drains his cup and pours another one "Best to reasonably clear headed I think. Then when we are done for the day we can teach you all about the evils of drinking" he laughs and winks at Bubbles.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan gives both of them a stern look. "That goes for getting some *salvation* at the temple, too. We need to save that for *after* we're done with our mission. Right?"

 

[Btq97]

Nuada turns to Trilan his a pious look on his face and in a voice that oozed sincerity "You wound me old friend, I am shocked that you would even have to ask."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan laughs and claps Nuada on the back (of the knee). "Oh, I assure you I'm admonishing myself as much as either of you. You know I'll be the first to 'find religion' once we have the time." He turns to the gnome. "What about you, Bubbles?"

 

[Btq97]

Nuada looks at Bubbles waiting for an answer.

 

[siobhancan99]

Greta looked between the three of them "So. I sent you to the temple district and... nothing. Because you didn't go." She rolled her eyes "as for the guild not knowing that there's a secret evil sex cult, I'm guessing that the first rule of 'secret evil sex cult' is that you don't talk about 'secret evil sex cult' you know?" She smirked and sipped at her water. "yes. Start at the temple of Keshmikilli I said. and here we are, at lunchtime, without that having happened." She shook her head "There's a few missing persons. Actors, musicians. Generally attractive people that might be the victims of a horrible sex cult. Is your missing person, by any chance, both virtuous and attractive? That seems to be the pattern among the missing in my circles. I'm chasing down a lead about some folks at a party that all went missing, though after the party. Maybe see what the priestesses have to say and then lets get together at dinner time? "

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Trilan raises his palms in defeat. "Alright, fair enough. You could come with us, though, you know. It might keep us troublemakers in line..."

 

[Minxee]

Bubbles looks at them all confused.
"can we just get this over and done with... I am not sure I like the idea of people who are selling the whole 'salvation through fucking a priestess' thing... It just feels all wrong to me. Lets go in and question them and get out. I just hope you dont expect me to do much talking as I am not exactly impressed with what they are preaching and I may not say the right thing..."

 

[Btq97]

Nuada swigs his coffee , "Ok sooner we get there the sooner we can find out if they can be on any help. Its ok Bubbles we all do what we can so if you want to stay quiet then fair enough. Any one got any shiny baubles we can trade for information?"

 

[Minxee]

Bubbles swigs her coffee and thinks deeply.
“Ummm shiny baubles… not so much. I could probably help heal some people or something I guess….?”

 

[Btq97]

Nuada rummages in his pack "I got some baubles and a bit of gold, we are not looking to buy salvation just information on potential rivals taking customers sorry converts away, I guess salvation will be very pricey depending on how much salvation a person needs. A few coins for the collection plate never goes amiss in these places. "

 

[Minxee]

“I probably have a few gold I can spare… hopefully we can just charm our way into getting the information. Or… I’m not sure if this is the booze talking but could we send someone in as bait? We may need to get more info first though… like if we were to send someone in are they looking for virgins? Willing people or are the unwilling and being given to the church fir other reasons? There is nothing to say that people aren’t getting kidnapped and then sold or given to this cult…? There is do much unknown… but I do know it needs to stop one way or another….”

Bubbles drinks deeply from her coffee and you can almost see her shake from too much caffeine….

 

[siobhancan99]

An hour or so later, the trio were in the center of the Temple Square. As told, there was a temple to the elements at each cardinal point. The god of Kings dominated the square, as the current patron of the Sultan. Dotted around were gods of ar and commerce, and tucked into a small corner was the temple they sought. The temple itself was simple, practically unadorned. It looked very much like a large townhouse. Rather than a tawdry brothel, the interior spoke to the goddess' position as the ruler of hearth and home. Simply but tastefully furnished, with pastoral scenes dominating the decorative mosaic walls and floor. On the ground floor was a lone priestess, dressed in the garb of a local woman. Nothing terribly sexual or forward about her bearing or demeanor. She nodded when the trio entered, taking them in. She set on some tea, and then gave what seemed to be a ritual greeting before gesturing for the trio to sit.

"what can I do for you?"

She exhibited none of the hostility or suspicion they'd encountered as outsiders thus far.