No the group didn't hear the woman yell. I was just putting some flavor into the posting. There are many sounds and sights going on and a light rain. The woman didn't necissarily scream, but did yell for her husband loudly.

First, if we did hear the scream I can't imagine that we would not all head down the road. It is a great way to look like an invading army....but still what we would probably do.

Second, once we deal with the scream (if heard) it would likely be a logical time to split into the groups Darque set up earlier. Or right away if we did not hear the scream.

Third, the groups ought to...
1. Go get Deathstalker (if no scream was heard)
2. Talk to the mayor
3. Try the temple
4. Check out a store or wander the town
5. We meet back at one of the inns later - a logical time to investigate those places.

Also, if we got to town in the early morning and all we have done is chat with a local farmer and have tea, I can't imagine it is even after noon yet! At least not by much.

I'd stick with the earlier established groupings - I think that leaves Oriel with Gunther.

Since no scream was heard, I would suggest we split up now - whichever group Deathstalker was supposed to be in gets the job of rounding him up before moving on to their assigned task.

... so what Nomad/Oriel submitted makes sense to me!

... so logically Oriel, Sentinel and Fandil accompany Gunther to pay a call on the mayor!

It may also be logical for group #1 to head to The Golden Grain Inn which is a bit more expensive and uppity for the farmer's tastes!

Sentinel the Small may be a bit tight with his own purse, but his abilities may be best suited for hob nobbing with the more affluent culture of The Golden Grain Inn!

Just a small thought [grin!]

the more i think about it, the more i believe visiting the alleged temple makes sense for someone, and i would think hammer the holy would want to do that rather than the mayor - it seems more in character

we little guys are somewhat worried that the group allowed deathstalker to go off on his own - he may be a mean looking character, but he should not have travelled alone, so having heard that he did, sentinel is considering grabbing him friend the gnome and seeing if another big guy - like our ranger friend - would go with us to find Deathstalker

It is true that the Paladin would likely seem to gravitate towards other holy shrines, but we know that the goddess of Agriculture is the one worshipped by most of the people in Orlane, which logically to me makes it the Druid [a man tied to the earth and nature!] who would be more inclined to visit such a temple, if indeed such a one exists!

On the other hand, Gunther serves the True and Living God and understands with his beliefs that God is the one who sets men in authority.

The mayor is the one who is in authority over the town of Orlane and thus the logical choice for Gunther to go speak to in regards to what is happening to the people that authority is governing!

Especially since something that Norwell Graven the farmer mentioned in passing conversation [that Gunther purposely did not mention to the rest of the group when relating what transpired with the farmer!] makes it only more logical for the Paladin to enquire of the town authority/mayor for clarification before sharing what was mentioned in passing to the entire party of adventurers!

Gnome - Ranger, are you with me? Let's go find Deathstalker.

As already suggsted, when getting back to the group, Oriel suggests that they split up. As long as there is a group assigned to go find Deathstalker, Oriel will let them do their job.

However, if too much time is lost in talking or a group is not assigned to "Stalker Duty"...Oriel will accompany Sentinel (And perhaps Fandil?) on his quest for the big warrior.

I guess what I am asking is . . . will I need to go with Sentinel or will a decision have been made quickly? It seems to me that the group is likely to have decided by the time Sentinel asks for company - at which point an answer might be moot.

Gunther views authority as a God given position, no matter who or what belief the position holder maintains.

He may not always agree with the person in authority, but does respect that position of authority!

Gunther did not mention the castle sequence because that is something personal he used to get the farmer to open up regarding the need for protection and the disappearances!

The other phrase that Norwell Graven used in passing is something that Gunther did not repeat to the group upon returning to share the obtained information.

His purpose in not sharing the phrase at the moment was in line with not sharing every little detail of each conversation as some of the group may be bored with every minute detail and just want an overview of what transpired.

Gunther believes strongly in each individual exercising his or her own free will for the common good of society.

What is happening here is that small phrase in passing that the farmer used is gnawing at Gunther's memory to the point that he realizes that he must go talk to Mayor Ormond before any more time is wasted and before the sun sets and night falls!

Therefore Gunther will proceed to meet with Mayor Ormond either by himself or with anyone else who chooses to go with him!

It is broad daylight and probably still around midday at the latest. This is a good opportunity for some walking solitude for the young Paladin to do some praying and communing with his God on the way to Mayor Ormond's house if no one else chooses to accompany him.

If it were night time then Gunther would only proceed with the company of other adventurers, but since it is broad daylight, his Charisma is 18 and he has a 10' field of protection surrounding him, the young Paladin will proceed by himself if no one else chooses to accompany him!

OK - Oriel, Sentinel, and Fandil will head off to in the tracks of Deathstalker. (I think Fandil agreed - off site.) Perhaps will will ask whomever he last talked to to accompany us as he did probably provide that person some of his anticipated whereabouts.

That would be Doogan the Dwarf you would be asking!

Just write it up in An Evil in Orlane thread for Trip to incorporate in his updated post for the game as he should be doing that either tonight or in the next couple of days!

I'm good with the previously mentioned groups going in the direction of the inn and temple, plus having whoever grab the straggler.

The original plan was:
Group 1: Gunther, along with Sentinal, Oriel, and Fandil will attempt to speak with the worried looking farmer.

Group 2: Aelbric, Garrus, Doogan, Katai, and Elkin will head towards the Temple and see if there is any type of command structure in this town, and perhaps procure us lodgings for the evening.

Group 3: Kyuss, Haiden, Stings, and Valerus will wander through town taking note of the abandoned houses and looking for anything else out of the ordinary. Kyuss can in turn look for any tracks or signs that may seem out of the ordinary for such a small farming village.

We should stick the the plan and have group 1 now that they are finshed, head to the mayor. The other groups should continue as planned. Remember none of us know about Deathstalker's encounter.

Deathstalker told me that he was going to meet back up with group 2.

I think we should stay in the 3 groups for now and meet up later in the day. Staying at both inns is probably a good idea also.

I feel like people are reacting to the situation by what they have read and not by what their characters would actually do.

I think we should stick to the original plan with a few changes.

Group 1 go to the mayor's home and seek out what he knows.

Group 2 do what was originally posted for group 3 by looking over houses and looking for clues (and in the process try and find Deathstalker-which you would do because he is in your group).

Group 3 will head over to the temple. If Gunther told us they worshipped Merikka in this town, Valerus is the more likely candidate to go than Elkin because she is a nature goddess, unrelated but akin to Beory (my druid's patron goddess).

I will wait for reactions/rejections before I post anything.