5

((Using K's +1 instead of her +3))

Not waiting for anything else, Avaria takes chase after the other Hammerdasher once Ethel drops her concentration and the shifter is free.  Pissed that this happened right outside her room and not being able to tell the difference... sends her into a rage

Running right through the room, she jumps out the window...

Athletics (w/adv due to rage): 21

Then looks around, sniffing the air for the same scent she smelled from him earlier..

Perception (w/adv due to wildhunt):  21

"Avaria, wait!" Ethel hurries to the window and calls out.  "The false one carries a poisoned blade!  Don't face them alone!"

Then she whirls and looks down at Hammerdasher.  "Quickly!  On your feet and search your room.  See if anything was stolen before they tried to end you."

Then she moves toward the stairs and hurries down to try to catch up with Avaria outside, as fast as she can hobble.

"I don't have anything, that they could steal" Hammerdasher says. But he still gets up and goes into his room to take a look around.

Maisie and Olek arrive and Ula fills them in on what has happened. A mix of surprise and anger shapes their faces. Olek goes to make sure the rest of the inn is secured. Maisie double checks on Hammerdasher's wounds, the latter trying to shoo her away as he checks the room.

Ula keeps an eye on Jan, not quite sure what she's doing.

------------------------------

Jan doesn't manage to catch sight of too much. The novelty of the experience of being connected to K'oshash overwhelming her senses, at least for now.

Avaria lands solidly but safely on the cobblestone courtyard and takes off at a good pace. She does need to pause to make full use of her sense of smell but she's sure she's picked something up. It leads her around the stables and down a narrow street. She sets off again, stopping when she needs to.

Ethel makes it down the stairs as quickly as she can and then the looks around for the doorway that will lead to the rear of the inn. It takes a few moments to realize it's through the kitchen and by the time she makes it out, there's no sign of Avaria.

-------------------------------

Avaria makes it to a larger street, heading towards the western parts of the town. A few drunks stagger their way home up ahead. Sniffing them elicits drunken cries of outrage but no real menace. None smell like what she's looking for.

Eventually her nose leads her to a large barrel below a rain downspout. The smell is strong from the barrel.

Does K'oshash spot Avaria hot on the trail?

Yes, K'oshash notices Avaria - the only person running, stopping, and looking out of place.

<We've lost him, follow her, I'm on my way, let me know where to go!>

Jan's eyes roll back into focus, looking up at Ula and any others that are still about.

"Ava may have spotted him, in any event, she's running hard through town. I'm going after her, but probably want to keep a few here in case Shammerdasher circles back to the inn."

She stands up and a brief shimmer of glittering dust swirls around her before settling on her and vanishing. She heads for the stairs, hurrying in the direction she last saw Ava, changing course as dictated by K'oshash.

Ava wis save 15

As Avaria's rage subsides while chasing her nose, she finds herself at a large barrel.  Large enough for the bastard to hide in.

Stopping herself from ripping the lid open, she pulls the rope out of her pack and secures the lid onto the barrel.

Ula nods at Jan's suggestion. 

"I'll stay here with mum and dad just in case," Ula says.

When Jan gets outside, she finds Ethel contemplating which way to go. The pair join up and head down the street Jan saw Avaria running down. A few blocks further along, Jan and Ethel spot Avaria down a side alley trying to tie some rope to a barrel.

K'oshash confirms it's Avaria and seems to indicate they're nearby looking down from a rooftop.

(Survival role from Avaria to decide how good a knot has been tied).

Ethel places a hand on Jan's shoulder, and then advances down the alleyway, walking stick raised high.  "Avaria, what are you doing?"

To K:

K to Jan:

Avaria survival roll  11

(Well... that's not good.)

As Avaria struggles with the lid and the knot, she hears Ethel, "The other is in this barrel!  I can smell him!" she growls back to her friend.

Marrin watches everyone leap or charge out and turns to watch as Hammerdasher checks his room, a hard to read expression on her face.

Her thumb absently tracing the holes on the flute held loosely in her hand, she walks silently out and down the stairs after the rest. She's not wearing shoes so she takes care as she slowly follows the other two.

There is no movement or sound from the barrel.

"In the barrel? You feeling okay Ava? Why are you gently rubbing the barrel with that rope?", Jan asks warily.

Marrin makes it the alley to catch the end of the Jan's question (...rubbing the barrel with a rope?).

She raises her eyebrows and gives a look around to see who else is nearby.

Avaria flushes with embarrassment.  "I.. uh.. I swear I had his scent.  It was coming from this barrel."  In her frustration, she drops the rope and rips off the lid of the barrel.