The Church of Alvis

"I'm Larry and this is my half-brother Darryl."

Tony says motioning to Syric

@Stavis I have not forgotten about you I just don't want to get too out of synch time wise.

"Okay Larry, Darryl, Karl and Miss Jounville, please follow me." the clerk says. He leads you two a few guards in the group "Corporal, we have a couple volunteers, take them and a half squad, report the Baroness for the oath then cover the southern track along Fincer Hill."[/b}

"Yes Sir." The corporal says. The clerk walks off. The corporal looks you over."Name is Sluggs, we'll have Richard, Franklin, and Arthur with us on patrol. I see you have your gear already. Ready to go?"

[OOC of course no problem just like when I needed to wait for morning, half tempted to intercede on how they get away from the guards but will table that for now.]

Coporal Sluggs motions you and the rest of the squad to follow him inside the Cathedral. Inside on a chair on the raised area of the transept there is a stunning young woman (around 17 to 19 years old) with blonde hair. A long red, black, white, and gold designed dress. She is smiling, radiating an air of confidence, and gentleness. She sees the group coming in and summons them.

"Greetings Corporal...Sluggs was it?" She says with a smile.

"Yes ma'am." He says with a smile. "We are here to pledge loyalty before we embark on the search mission for the heretic bishop."

"I see. And you have some volunteers here?" She says looking at you smiling. "I'm very happy you have decided to help us with out little problem." She says in the warmest and most pleasant tone. "Is there anything I can do to help you before you go out into the cold?"

Trinal bows as appropriate to her station.

"Thank you for your kind offer, my lady. We are well-equipped for the conditions and in need of nothing more than your blessing."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18:12+18=30

"Okay I need a small clip of everyone's hair to make an offering, and then we'll say the prayer, and off you'll go!" she says a bit bubbly as she takes out some scissors.

Trinal uses Legend Lore- what kind of offering and prayer are we talking about here- ceremonial or does it have some other purpose that we can't allow?

d20+9 : [dice]0[/dice] (can't find my own dice on my desk)

The northern cities (of which Brackton qualifies) for the realm often used prayers and loyalty oaths as ceremonial function. The culture also would have those offering loyalty to leave a part of themselves, (hair, blood, jewelry, or child's hair) as a symbol of loyalty. Her request doesn't seem out of character. You do expect that she will ask Bha'al to watch over you in the prayer though.

OOC: Forgive me for being ignorant, but we're now at a point where I the player don't know the subtleties of the in-game world. Would this offering alert Bha'al, or in some way compromise us, or add any kind of compulsion? Or can we just smile and lie, go through the motions, knowing that it has no more meaning to a non-believer as any other religious ceremony of a religion they don't follow? Since we know Bha'al exists, it's not so much a question of "belief" as it is "adherence", I guess- but the point stands.

In short, I'm trying to figure out if we grin and bear it or get our murder on.

Tony will step forward.

"Thank you m'lady, it was getting a little shaggy anyway."

Tony says with a chuckle and a wink

With a microscopic shrug, Trinal steps forward also. "Of course, my lady."

Probably the best thing to do if you are having reservations is to make an insight check on her motives. There is no known magic you are aware of that could make you compelled to become an agent of Bha'al as she currently presents, and there is a good chance this is simply theater to ritualize loyalty to the city. As the Baroness she is keen on keeping people loyal to her.

I'm always down with a little insight. Probably won't change what we do, but it's nice to be prepared.

Insight: d20+11: 19+11 =30 (found my dice, they were under my received stamp)

Judging the Baroness you gather she is more crafty and ambitious than her sugary sweet demeanor indicates. While this is clearly a ritual for the locals she is inserting herself in it to get to know those under her command and build loyalty among the men.

Victae takes a blade and cuts a small bit of her hair off, and says looking at Trinal in elvish "e' ilya quel coiasira, lye will caela justice. "

Translation:

Trinal draws his dagger and cuts a small lock of hair. He smiles at Victae as though she said something sweet, then hands the lock to the baroness.

Syric follows Trinal and snips a bit of hair off for the Baroness.

The guards cut off hair from their head or beards and hand it over leaving Tony.

Tony will follow suit.

[Ooc]her picking up a scissors gave me the impression she was going to do the cutting, hence why I hadn't already[/ooc]

The scissors was an offering to do so in case you wanted to.

She takes all the cuttings and lays it on a brass plate to the side of her table. She spreads some herbs and a little vinegar on it. She asks everyone to hold hands and bow their heads. She lifts the plate up and says.

"Bha'al, the autumn of life, provide strength and and keen perception to your followers as they seek the heretic bishop. Provide them protection against harm, and grant them rewards in this life and the next. amen."

She lowers the plate and says, "Corporal Sluggs, you have my permission to search the surrounding lands for the heretic bishop. May Bha'al be with you."

Assuming no one wants to do something else with the Baroness, Corporal Sluggs leads you from the Cathedral to the southern gate presents the city gate guard with papers allowing you to leave. He takes you about 3 miles south of the city.

"Okay we have been assigned Fincer Hill. I'd like to spread out. Franklin you go with Larry, Arthur you go with Darryl. Karl you go with me. And Jounville you and Richard. Spread out in your pairs and if you see soemthing shout 'Sluggs' loudly and we will all go on your position. Is that understood?"

Is there anyone else around, and did we see any other patrols or people on our way out here?

You haven't seen anyone for probably a mile and a half.

Trinal gives a look at the rest of the group to make sure everyone's ready, then says...

"I'm sorry, Sluggs, but I'm afraid we can't do that. Now, we have a couple of options. First, you let us bind and gag you, and we leave you here where you will hopefully be found and freed, long after we're gone, of course."

Trinal looks at Sluggs seriously. "I can tell you right now that you don't want option two. So, drop your weapons and do as you're told, please."