"A spell will go off, magically calming everyone in town. I know, I know, not the most noble of solutions... But we came prepared to encounter hostility. My divine quest is to free the slaves, but I give you my word as a paladin of the Sun that I will not leave Dreorus' people without assistance."

Heidmir looks around at the rest of you, takes another sip of his tea, and then says "Alright.  Come with me."  He leads you to a locked door which he then unlocks, revealing a stairs to a dark basement.  He proceeds without any additional light and continues through winding corridors until he reaches another door.  He unlocks this one, opens it, and announces "There will be no more sacrifices.  You are all free to go.  These men here will lead you to safety."

There is some commotion.  As your eyes adjust you see that, on the other side of the door, is the cell that you had found earlier from outside, with only a narrow window in the hillside providing a bit of light.  About a dozen people are in there.  A couple of them take cautious steps to the door, toward you, while in the back there is a loudly whispered argument: "What if it's a trap, and they mean to kill us when we leave?" "Well what else are you going to do, stay in here?" "Yeah, alright, but keep an eye out at least."

Lazarus was saddened by the sight of the prisoners, but not surprised. It was a cramped and dark space, unfit for the number of prisoners it held. The wizard wasted no time ushering people out of the cell. "Alright, everyone out. Follow Istvan and Lucius out to freedom. And here, everyone take 15 coins in case we end up getting split up on our way out of town." He hoped that giving everyone some cash would help ease their worry. Because why would they be paid right before being sacrificed?

---

I am spending 180 coin to give each prisoner 15. I will take up the rear if Lucius and Istvan want to lead people outside.

"Follow me, to your freedom!" Lucius calls out. "As a paladin of the Sun, the moment I heard of slavery in these parts, I took it upon myself to stop it. My apologies that I could not save everyone from being sacrificed."

He leads the prisoners out of the jailhouse, taking a moment to look around the immediate area. Hopefully the fae magician saw this and made preparations.

He would lead the people out of Dreorus and in the direction of the recently liberated castle.

Istvan brings up the rear of the group of freed prisoners, his hand itching to go for the haft of his mace in the event of anyone trying to use force to take freedom from these people again.

Counting out coins takes a bit of time, and the prisoners are all (understandably) in a rush to leave, so only a few of them take Lazarus up on his offer as they head out the door.  The wizard is able to catch the others later though, moving up and down through the little crowd.

Everyone files through the hall, with Heidmir leading the way through the darkness back up to the entrance of the jailhouse.  When you get back outside, the scene is much the same as before, with townsfolk milling anxiously in the streets, forming up in small clusters and then scattering again, rumors flying like arrows across a battlefield.  Soon enough someone spots your group and shouts "Hey, they're taking the sacrifices!  They must have something to do with all of this!"

And now the townsfolk start gathering around you.  They're keeping a bit of a distance so far, no one is getting within a few yards of you, but there are a lot of angry faces and angry shouting.  The recently released prisoners huddle up nervously, trying to find a way that twelve of them can shelter between five of you (that number including Heidmir and Vittorio).

If that sorcerer's spell is going to work at all, it seems it will still need a bit more time to do so.  So what do you do in the meantime?

"Are the signs not clear enough? There will be no more sacrifices!" Lucius shouts, pointing to the split moon. "Those people have suffered enough! Let them go!"

Lazarus decided to add to Lucius's words. "When the moon has been wrought in twain, so shall the shackles of the moon's sacrifices!" He said it as if reciting scripture, although he was nearly certain such a scripture did not exist. The wizard began slowly ambling in the direction of the nearest gravesite as he spoke, hopefully providing a bit of distraction while the others could lead the prisoners away. That, and he had stashed emergency ritual components at gravesites around town earlier in case of emergencies.

"Vorn, it turns out, has not told you all the entire truth, it seems. And for that, he has paid the price  His silver sickle now goes without a wielder in this town's most dire hour of need. Come, listen. I will share the secrets he has kept from you. Tell you the tale of how your God has come to be cleaved. If it is direction for your future you seek, I may be able to provide some kernels of guidance if you are willing to hear a wild man's tale."

---

I think this is probably a Defy Danger +Cha?
16:46, Today: Lazarus Steel rolled 9 using 2d6+1.  Defy Danger +Cha, directing the crowd

I'll Aid Lazarus with my opening speech.

09:00, Today: Lucius rolled 11 using 2d6+2.  Aid Lazarus.

The various murmurs and grumblings from the crowd gradually coalesce into something along the lines of "Fine, let the prisoners go - we'll hear your story, and if we don't like it then we can still sacrifice you."

The prisoners collectively determine to seize the moment rather than risk a cautious delay, and they scatter in twos and threes.  The townsfolk then close in a little more.  Ready to hear you, and ready to be dissatisfied with your tale.

And then suddenly there is a change in their demeanor.  Like a wave passing through, you see one face after another shift from wary skepticism to passivity with a hint of disorientation.  And the same voices start to pipe up again, gentler than before, calling out "Well, go on then, what's this guidance you have for us?"

Istvan is pleased at first, and then realizes the people are probably just being affected by the new spell to calm them down.

Well, it's fighting fire with fire, one supposes. At least none of it was his idea.

He waits for, indeed, the story of how the moon got broken and so on, which after all he doesn't know himself.

Or waits for the official party line about it, at least...

Lucius steps forward and speaks to the crowd, every word coming from the bottom of his heart: "I know surviving off of your own labor is an arduous prospect, so the promise of quick and bountiful reward must have enticed you. But at what cost?! How did Vorn justify the atrocities you've made? No matter: the gods have made their judgement clear!" He shoots his arm out to the sky, pointing at the split moon. "Forswear the ways of the moon cult and there may yet be a chance for your souls!"

Lazarus nodded along, content to let Lucius take the reigns of the conversation. It gave Lazarus a bit of distraction to organize some of the ritual components he had stashed so that their party might make a dramatic magical exit if things turned sour.

---

I would like to use my Ritual move to ask how we can make a quick and dramatic escape. I am thinking something like turning incorporeal and floating through the crowd, sprout wings and fly away, or teleport in a flash of divine fire. Something along those lines.

quote:

Ritual
When you draw on a place of power to create a magical effect, tell the GM what you’re trying to achieve. Ritual effects are always possible, but the GM will give you one to four of the following conditions:

It’s going to take days/weeks/months.
First you must ___.
You’ll need help from ___.
It will require a lot of money.
The best you can do is a lesser version, unreliable and limited.
You and your allies will risk danger from ___.
You’ll have to disenchant ___ to do it.

Lucius does well with some of the specific phrases and gesticulations that Vittorio had coached him on earlier (indeed, the squire nods his approval as you speak, and occasionally echoes some of what you say for emphasis).

Meanwhile, Lazarus puts a quick ritual together.  It doesn't feel like a quick escape is vital right now, although on the other hand there's still value to a flashy exit.  As the wizard arranges his ingredients, he realizes that the atmospheric magic has changed since this morning.  What would have worked perfectly for this ritual yesterday feels off now - just beginning to draw power together, you realize that it's not coming together how it should.

At that moment, Lör slinks in at the back of the crowd, and Lazarus realizes what ingredient will balance out the changes - one of the sorcerer's mushrooms.

"My dear Lucius, perhaps a demonstration would help convince these people. Let's show them what is possible without the moon's tainted blessings." The wizard put a hand to the side of his head, as if thinking exceptionally hard. "Ah, yes, I believe that should suffice." He looked up and scanned the crowd, as if expecting to find something specific. "Does anyone here have a fungus I could borrow for my demonstration. A mycological marvel to modify my mysterious magic. The more unusual, the better." He tried to shoot a knowing look in Lör's direction across the crowd. "I would truly appreciate the assistance, as the direction this town's future shall take could hinge on the persuasiveness of our present performance."

Lör is definitely picking up what you're putting down, as he would probably say it.  He calls out "Ooh, ooh, I have something!"  As he starts pushing forward through the crowd, you notice that someone else, an elderly farmer by the look of him, had also started to raise his hand but now lowers it, looking a bit dejected.

There is a bit of grumbling and sighing as Lör joins you in front of the crowd, but it quickly subsides when he produces the requested material - a mushroom slightly larger than the sorcerer's meaty fist, with a golden hue in the center of the cap that fades into to a light green patina around the rim.  He moves his arm from side to side, displaying the specimen for all to see, and he asks loudly "Will this do, sir?"

Lazarus, you are 100% confident that this mushroom will allow you to complete the ritual.

Istvan and Lucius - at least one of you, and maybe both of you, have heard tales of a mushroom that looks just like this one and that has some relevance to your patron deity and/or one of their profits.  What is it that you've heard?
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 00:15, Fri 19 Aug 2022.

As Lör waves the mushroom around, it gives off a crepuscular glow that gives a sense of warmth in the night.  The crowd gasps, having never seen anything like it.  Istvan, also having never seen one in person, is at least able to recognize it right away as a Radiant Dawncap, one of Noric's legendary gifts to the world.

All eyes are on you.  Well, on the mushroom, really, but it's you guys who have it so that counts too.  Do you put it into a magical ritual, or do you think it might have some other use here?

Lucius, confused as ever, leans over to Lazarus.

"What are you trying to do?"

Surprised by the unknown mushroom, the paladin was at a loss.

It was all Lazarus could do to keep his jaw from dropping when Lör produces the Radiant Dawncap. He had never seen one in person before. It would definitely be potent enough to complete his ritual.

The wizard shook off his shock when Lucius asked his question. "What am I trying to do?" replied Lazarus, answering loudly enough that the crowd could hear. He gave his answer to the crowd as well. "I am trying to give you fine people a gift that lights your nights and shades your days. A monument to forever remind you that there are always better paths to a promising future. Behold!"

Lazarus carefully placed the magic mushroom into a soft patch of dirt among the graveyard. After placing a few other ingredients strategically, the wizard consulted the tome of Ursula Froglock that allowed his magic to work among the graves in the first place. He began to weave his magic, making the spectacle especially theatrical for the gathered crowd.

"In this place of death, in the darkest hour, all hope has drowned in dust.

But a spark of light, within the night, is brought about by trust.

This drop of dawn, shall reach beyond, and tower to the sky.

For when the town, is feeling down, you'll look up and forget why."

The mushroom rooted into the nutrient-rich grave soil and began to grow. Up, up, up until it towered over the nearest buildings and its cap spread wide over the headstones. The section of town the crowd stood in was bathed in the soft glow of the enormous Radiant Dawncap.

If Lazarus was correct, the Dawncap would only increase further in size as the years went by. Unless tainted magics were used in it's presence. Then it would start to wither and eventually die. If the town wanted to keep their newest tourist attraction, they would need to play nice and stop sacrificing people for shortcuts to prosperity.

Indeed, the people are awed by the great mushroom.  There are some gasps, and then a hush, and then a hesitant voice asking "Are... Are you our new prophets?"

If any of you glance in Lör's direction, you see him grinning in a manner that suggests he'll probably play along regardless of how you answer.

"I am no prophet, just a humble servant of the Sun. Heed my message!" Lucius steps forward. "Nothing will erase the horrible crimes that have been committed here. But there is a path to redemption for your immortal souls!" he gestures to the towering mushroom. "Take the gift you've been offered, and use it for good. Help the needy and the destitute, do not hoard it for selfish gain! In time, you may yet repent for your crimes."

Lucius' words are met with less enthusiasm than he might have hoped.  It's not a negative reaction though.  There is a lot of murmuring among the crowd, and a mix of some people gradually withdrawing, some people staying and staring in awe at the great mushroom, and a scattering of sheepish thanks and blessings.  It seems they didn't love the phrasing of "your crimes," but also recognize that they are in no position to argue against at.

Well, it wasn't a perfect conclusion to their quest, but it seemed they had more or less accomplished what they had set out to do. To his allies, Lazarus said quietly, "The prisoners are freed, the leader of the moon cult is dead, and the local citizens don't seem like they will be causing trouble in the near future. Were there any other tasks that still need addressing?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:59, Tue 06 Sept 2022.

Lucius hoped the townsfolk would accept these hard truths.

"I must say, you manage to surprise me at every turn. I believe we're finished here. Let's go back and check up on the freedmen."

The ex-prisoners have scattered.  You manage to catch up to a few here and there who talk about their plans to return to their various homelands.  There are also a few who seem to have found their way over to Lör's house, guided by his friend Degwyth.  When you get there he is unlocking the front door and telling his new guests "Nice cuppa tea for everyone once we get inside.  Best tea you've ever had.  Out of this world, you might call it."