Rohuzar will lead them out and back to the ship, slow and quiet. He's nervous they'll be distracted with thoughts of wererats instead of being mindful of the many other horrid monstrosities that stalk the city. 

(Two part question:

Given Leelan’s familiarity with wererats, would he be able to insight what it meant when the wererat smelled Raqisat?

Second part question: Would he be able to tell when the next full moon is?)

((I think the night we rescued Malia was a full moon, right? That was May 11 So we had one in early-mid June, and now we're not due for another 3 weeks or so... assuming the moon works the same way here as it does in the real world.))

“Could probably use a shower b’fore any bonding.” Cosette quips before continuing. “Thinkin’ Elton was confirming the truth that their blood runs through yer veins, an’/or setting yer scent teh memory.” She shrugs. “We’ll see how Bruno takes teh yer new smell.”

Cos shared the same sentiments as Grugga. At this point her sights were set on their path ahead, returning to the ship and to her loyal mastiff. She sees comfortably with her dark vision, willing to support others who don’t see as well during the night. Her efforts go more towards reducing the sound of her own steps and weaving herself through the shadows to keep herself nimble and alert.

Stealth: 22 

[Inspiration to Grugga for doing my lunar calendar research for me.]

You make your way northeast along the river heading back toward the upper bridge and the rendezvous point with the Golden Empress.  You aren't quite sure what to expect when you arrive... you had told Captain Neck to anchor in the bay and the return at nightfall to pick you up.  It is long past nightfall now.  Is the ship waiting for you at the upper bridge?  Have they moved on for the night?  Initial returns aren't promising, as Furvus reports to Aubrey that he can't find the ship.

The city seems bigger somehow at night.  The vista of empty streets and lonely towers is disconcerting during the day... but it is terrifying at night.  Just as there is a noticeable absence of birds during the daytime, the night is quiet.  There are no chirping crickets or buzzing mosquitoes.  In the dark, the looming shapes of the tall buildings lining the river become giants of shadow, quietly watching.

The absence of sound seems to magnify your own.  Shuffling feet and creaking leather armor feels as though it must be echoing, audible for all that might hunt you in all directions.  Yet despite the tension, you are unmolested as you return to the upper bridge.

Just as you arrive, a shadow passes overhead.  It travels perpendicular to the river, crossing south to north, flying fast.  From the glimpse, it looked somewhat like the outline of a great bird, backlit against the night sky, as large as a horse.  It is gone quickly, with no sign that it noticed you.  But after it passes, you all detect a foulness in the air... a stinging pungent odor that burns your noses and turns your stomachs.  

Reaching the bridge, you confirm Furvus' prior report.  The boat is not here.

As his familiar reports that the Empress is not to be seen, the young noble immediately calls upon the powers of his talisman, reaching out with his mind to Captain Neck. "Captain, apologies for being late, we are now at the bridge. Where are you? Can you collect us now? Please respond with twenty-five words or...." 

Aubrey, almost immediately you receive the following response.

"Ah.  Master Goldentide... what a welcome relief.  When you, Grugga and the others did not show, we retreated back to the bay.  We shall return...".

"The Empress will be here shortly. Make yourselves comfortable but stay wary for threats." The young noble turns and explains to the team with a somewhat relieved smile. He then sends Furvus up to spot the Empress' approach while staying vigilant for threats approaching the bridge, using his superior darkvision to scan the surroundings.

Furvus perception: 12
Perception: 22

     Raqisat digs around in his gear a bit as the group waits.  Turning up empty he asks “Anyone got any cheese?”

     “Too soon?”

     Lame humor aside, Raq more or less looks for a comfortable spot to sit and wait and watch for intruders…

Cosette makes a face as pungent odours invade her senses. First she leans over to sniff at Raqisat. Then herself. With the first two on their own ‘missions’, the redhead turns to the brains. “Grugga, Leelan, isit jus me, or did somethin’ just ‘pee’ on us?” She blinks.

Cos couldn’t be the only one who noticed it right? She eyes the air suspiciously, then finds the closet leaf and/or boulder to swipe her finger on. “Claimin’ territory? Purifyin’ it? Pest control?” She rhymes off random thoughts as she investigates. “What could it be? An’ is it a threat teh the ship?” She continues to think out loud. Aubrey just had them turn around to come back, and that horse sized bird being thing is flying perpendicular to the river. Was it going away from the ship, or towards? “Might wanna caution Captain Neck as a heads up.” She suggests.

(Looking to provide help actions and inspiration to the more skilled/adept in this kind of check. Investigation? Arcana?)

((Ha!  I missed that pungent odor bit... It would have worked well with the cheese joke, perhaps someone was cutting it...))

     Raqisat sniffs in response to Cosette sniffing.  "It isn't me!" he assures her, then sniffs around a bit more.  "Fact you smelt it first is surely a strike against me being rat infected, I'd think... So that's good?"

     "Captain familiar enough with the waters to run without lights?" Raqisat asks.  "Could help to keep the ship from being a target..."

The young noble smiles wryly as Raqisat tries to ease up the tension regarding his infection. "I believe it is simply the foul stench of the breach Ms. Cosette, spread by the aberration that just passed over the river. It flew north, and fast, so hopefully it will not return before the Empress arrives to collects us." He says with a firm voice, then messaging Furvus to be wary and report if there are any more sightings of the foul shadow in the sky.

 for DM

[Leelan, you can use Cosette's help.  Additionally, if she wants to spend a bardic inspiration you can use that as well.  It should be an Arcana check.  Nature check could also be used, but there is an upper limit to what you can learn on a nature check as these are highly unnatural creatures.]

((Cheers for the inspiration))

Grugga puts on a brave face walking through the deserted city at night, but he has the same look in his eye as he did when he was being haunted by the sea hag. He turns his attention to every shadow in every alley and every window as they walk through toward the rendezvous point. Zap hums like an electric cicada down the ancient cobblestones.

When they reach the bridge and confirm that the boat isn't there, Grugga looks around, slightly panicked, for an idea of what to do. He wipes his brow when Aubrey says the Empress will be here soon. "I'm glad you can keep your head straight, Aubrey. I was beginning to worry about them - and us - for a second."

Grugga seemed heartened by Cosette's humor. He manages a chuckle. "Haha, yeah. Smells like it." He holds his hand out as if checking for rain. "Must be those bird's from the Mastieri Gardens. The sailors said they only came out at night. It didn't seem to notice us."

Arcana check: 13

Plus inspiration if Cosette agrees to use one: 8

[Leelan/Cosette, since the prior Cosette post mentioned willingness to provide inspiration, I will assume this was done and give Leelan the 19.]

Leelan:

 30 minutes pass as the party waits for the Golden Empress to return.  Those keeping watch do not see any signs of danger, though at one point there is a terrible, screeching cry from somewhere nearby, to the north.  It lingers, long and loud, echoing through the city streets.  It starts out high and sharp, then grows lower and deeper, eventually ending as something that sounds like a shout or a growl.  When it ends, the silence returns.

Then down river, a glow appears.  Soon the Golden Empress comes into view in the distance.  On the prow, a figure shines a narrow lantern light into the water ahead as the boat proceeds forward, far slower than you are used to seeing it.  It should reach the upper bridge where you wait in a couple more minutes.

"Be ready to embark team, we don't want to stay here at night longer than necessary. Also, please stay vigilant until we exit the channel again." Aubrey says quietly to the others as they see the Empress' approach. He then lights his own lantern, signaling the team's location to the Empress. He also checks in with Furvus again for his perspective of things, making sure no aberrations are closeby, just to make sure. He could already see himself relaxing with a glass of wine back on the Empress, surely nothing more could happen tonight...

Grugga remains in a place where he can keep watch of the streets and the skies until the Golden Empress arrives, but he gets ready to hurry on board once it pulls close to the bridge. Zap is ordered to a position where it can quickly board as well. He hopes that they will be able to return to the bay without being seen by whatever those bird things are.