Investigate the guard's barracks (low alert)

The inspection by Mertz may have been unwarranted and degrading, but it had one big advantage for you all: he'd drawn so many of his guardsmen to the front that even as overstaffed as he was, there shouldn't be many soldiers left at the barracks. Hopefully, a look around there could provide you with some hard evidence of their misdoings, or perhaps point towards the identity and whereabouts of the false saintess you were looking for. Those bastards had let you leave without concern, feeling like they had the advantage and you were out of your depth.

You came upon the barracks quickly, as it was positioned close to the checkpoint gate. It was a relic from a time where this place had a more utilitarian purpose, in terms of its placement, but its size had grown to several times what it originally was in order to house all the extra soldiers. You thought it was a wonder that no one from the royal capital had come through here and reported the gross mismanagement of resources-- the fact that they hadn't spoke again to the protection this whole operation was receiving at high levels.

The barracks ought not to expect your coming and it should be pretty clear of soldiers at this point... but not empty. There would also be locked doors aplenty to contend with. It would still behoove you to go in with some kind of plan. There was no need to march in there as strangers and risk an arrest, right? {if Amulette = True}

"Simple soldiers, simple solutions. There numbers so numerous, their numbskulls so numb, I can simply shapeshift into one of the insufferable sods. Freedom to frolic and forage as we see fit!" she boasted, grinning, with a display of her demonic fangs.{endif}{if Belit = True}

"If only you had some sort of master thief with you who was used to evading the law, picking locks, and staying undetected. Oh, that's right! You do! The great Belit Von-!"

You interrupted the girl's sudden outburst by clasping your hands over her mouth as she glared at you, indignant and momentarily cross-eyed. She was a great, notorious thief, and this was the last place she needed to be advertising that so loudly. Still, she might have a point: a place like this would be easy pickings for such a storied thief.{endif}