Posted by Gamemaster CockRoach (GM) in Main Sim - Alien Planet - Landing Party 1 Entering Krezk
[snip]

Approaching the gatehouse the wagons ahead of them were stopped by a trio of stern looking guards like those on the farms. These though wore some kind of chain linked armor, obviously of higher standing then the farm overseers. They were armed with heavy wooden-metal bound clubs it seems. They gave the carts a bit of a passing through evidently taking their jobs seriously in looking for any threats to their village. After being waved ahead one by one, the landing party was soon taken in by the guards. “..Foot travelers huh?” One burly looking guard said chewing some kind of tobacco like weed in his mouth. “..Where you folks coming from? And whats your business here in Krezk?” he stated to no one in particular.

GM CockRoach

Rand listened carefully as the guards talked to the farmers. She was listening for nuances in speech, dialect, and accent. She didn’t want to sound exactly like them, but she wanted to pick up just enough to make the guards think they were visiting but not so perfect he thought they were from nearby. When he addressed them, Rand glanced up with a perfectly believable concern and desperate hope. “Perhaps you can help me. I’m looking for my brother. My parents and I have not heard from him in the longest time. The last we heard from him said he was coming north. I was hoping he had come here or one of the nearby villages.” She clasped her hands in a worried nervous gesture. “Is there anywhere I could ask to see if anyone has seen him?”

Yeoman Rand

Haadok caught the feigned distress in Rand’s voice and pondered whether to contribute to the act. Though she understood enough about human expressions to emulate sorrow or empathy, she didn’t trust her delivery. She wasn’t a thespian, nor a good ‘pretender’. Resigning to a bowed head, Haadok instead watched her periphery for anything that might disclose more about their culture and mannerisms.

The first burly guard chewing the tobacco like weed in his mouth spat on the ground to the side before replying to Rand, “..Your brother huh? Lots of folks come through here though. How long ago did he come through here and what does he look like?” The guard inquired.

Rand opened her mouth to answer the first guard when she was quickly cut off by a more surly guard than the one who addressed them.

The second guard nearer the gatehouse looked bored with the man’s concern. “..Oh cry me a river, Marian! You are too bloody soft hearted to folks in need. If that woman lost her brother, they can go cry their case to those saps in the Sun Cult temple four blocks down, so hurry it up. We got better things to do this morning.” He said, though the fact no one else was queued up in line behind the landing party it wasn’t like they were holding up the line or anything.

Rand nodded to the second guard, “Yes sir, thank you.” Seriously though they asked what their business was in Krezk. If they didn’t want to know they shouldn’t answer. Things like this just left Rand confused and unsure of what people actually expected.

Haadok wavered, pensive wrinkles gathering at her temples at the guard’s mention of a ‘Sun Cult’. Though belief systems pervaded many societies (especially those classified as ‘pre-warp’), they existed on a spectrum of doctrine, structure and influence. Ultimately, they enabled individuals to navigate corporeal existence. The people of Krezek appeared to value agriculture; was this Sun Cult a reflection of agrarian values? An earlier exchange between landlords and workers implied a distinct hierarchy; where did the Sun Cult fit? Were they akin to clergies in ancient Terran societies or priestesses on Vulcan? Haadok explored the possibilities while maintaining what resembled a distressed grimace… or an unquenchable urge to sneeze? It was hard to tell.

The first guard evidently called Marian and like the second guard said ‘soft hearted’ compared to the second being a more ‘cold hearted’ person just scowled, but then turned back to Rand with a slight shrug. “..Anyhow ignore my partner, what can you tell me about your brother? Though he does got a point if anyone could help you more accurately it would probably be those Sun Cultists at their temple down the street..” he added.

GM CockRoach

“Red hair, grey eyes. He’s tall, 5‘10”, but slender. And he always has something to say, no matter what the topic. The village two weeks south of here said he passed through 2 months ago. I don’t know if actually made it here.” She glanced down the road toward where they said the temple was. “Thank you for your help.” Gratitude went a long way. Once the guard cleared them, she made her way in the direction of the temple, just so the guards knew they were serious about finding her brother.

Yeoman Rand

The first guard Marian seemed to think a moment at the description give to him by Rand, “..Red hair? Haven’t seen anyone like that around Krezk for over two years. Red hair is pretty rare around these parts of Barovia. So if someone trapsies in with that on their head we usually notice. Sorry I can’t be of more help..” he replied.

Bowing, Haadok adjusted her satchel and trailed after Rand. Marian’s amicable attitude and his companion’s general distaste for the Temple offered a degree of warmth or charity. But that didn’t imply their concepts of charity aligned. Curious, Haadok chose to reserve judgement until they encountered the temple and its cultists.

Once they got waved through the gate to the village slid shut behind them on head iron railings. A few people of the native local stock gave them weary looks, though a few here and there seemed warmer by a few degrees. Still like the farms they had past it seems outsiders were something to be distrusted to some degree until proven otherwise. So in short they were given a wide berth by most.

The street ahead of them was a rough rocky cobblestone setup, about 30 feet wide give or take with a 2 inch high sidewalk on either side. Due to the rain obvious puddles were scattered about. A local guard or two in passing it was seen were going up and down the street with a large pole to put out the covered oil lamps on posts now that daylight had fully come to the village. Shopkeepers were already opening their doors, and windows, and homes were having their shuttered windows equally opened to the morning dew. “..Come see my wares! Finest vegetables in Krezk here!” Shouted one store owner as he finished setting up a stall about half a block down from the team. Most of it were root or below ground based like vegetables. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, etc of some sort or another. Ahead though off to the left by three more blocks rose a red bricked fairly well off temple like building. A ringing church bell seemed to herald services for the faith was soon to start. It probably was the ‘Sun Cultist’ temple that the guards had indicated.

GM CockRoach

The bell. Haadok recognised its dissonant ring from the hillside. It was distant then and barely discernable from nature’s din; now it was unmistakable and offensively loud. Haadok reasoned it was the soundest way to reach a community decentralised from the heart of Krezk, though she nearly pitied the person responsible for its ring.

Dismissing her thoughts, Haadok slowed as they neared the temple and observed the civilians around them. Did they stroll into the temple or gather outside? Did they engage in purification or offerings before entering? They were already running on a false narrative, the last and perhaps worst thing they could do was disrespect Krezk tradition.

— Haadok, CMO