Atop the parapet you see four figures wearing fur hats and clutching spears. They watch you nervously as you walk toward the gate.
"State your purpose," calls one of the sentries.
You stand tall as you reply. "I am Aranuel," you say. "I am here looking for somebody who I was told may be staying in the Abbey. May I enter?"
"Who might that be, girl?" asks another guard. His voice sounds like he is trying to swallow something.
"Her name is Joannus."
There's silence between the two guardsmen. The third seems to relax and turns his head. You can hear him chuckle quietly. After a few seconds, the first guard nods. The fourth steps away from his post, disappearing behind the gate.
"Wait there for a few minutes," the first guard calls.
And so you stand by the wall. While you are waiting, snow begins to fall. Eventually, the guard returns, and with him is someone new: a plump man in fine clothes, who looks down at you from the wall the way a farmer might look at a beast who has wandered into his yard.
"You wish to access the Abbey?" he asks.
"Yes," you reply.
"Well, I'm afraid I can't help you. Krezk is closed to visitors. Nobody has come here without official business in years."
Your stomach sinks. "But I must enter," you say. "Is there no one who I might be able to persuade?"
"I'm afraid not. I am the man in charge here. Dmitri Krezkov."
You think for a moment. If you cannot enter Krezk, you have nowhere else you can go on foot; you are stranded here, on the far east of the valley, days away from Vallaki. "For what reason do you have to deny me entry?" you ask, with a hint of desperation.
"Understand that this is a small community!" he shouts. "The safety of which I place above all" he says. "If you want shelter, you must go to Vallaki. If you are looking for somebody, we cannot help you - they likely did not enter Krezk at all, in fact, and you are mistaken."
"You mentioned official business," you say. "Who is allowed to visit?"
"We receive wagonloads of wine from the winery, which is just a ways south," he says, a mild apprehension creeping into his voice as he mentions the winery - another victim of late shipments?
"Other than that..." he continues, "Nobody enters or exits this community. I can give you directions, but if you're not hear on official business, I'm afraid you must leave."
This obstacle will not stop you. You MUST enter Krezk, you see no other option. But how? Will this be a repeat of Vallaki, or will you be able to find a cleaner way in this time? For your sister?
Suggestions:
>Ask questions. (specify)>Try to charm your way in. (Persuasion, Intimidation, or Deception; DC 20)>Agree with the terms, and leave, defeated. You will wander until you find somewhere to go. (alternatively, specify a direction to go.)>Attack the guards.>Cast a spell or use an item. (list: https://pastebin.com/chuTtwgW)>Other (speciy) 