I smile at him and reply in Sylvan. "I am always amused at how common it is to find one who does not speak Common. Let us converse in this beautiful tongue instead. I was merely asking what has kept you at the carnival for so long. You wear the wings of a paying customer, but from their condition you have been here far longer than one would expect."
Dirla nods, a delighted smile breaking over his feline face (which in effect looks quite scary) when he realises you speak Sylvan. "Once I was, but now I look after the children of the workers here, and occasionally children of the visitors. I love children, and spent much of my earlier life as a nanny. And this is a lovely place to be."
He looks around them, admiring the dragonflies arcing through the sky, before his fanged mouth droops downward again.
He whispers: "But it is not always lovely here. Sometimes... things go missing and they never come back." He heaves a deep sigh and looks down at his paws.
I am more drawn to the Displacer's sadness than the Lost Property, and I approach Zephram and Dirla, and join the conversation, albeit with Zephram's help translating.
I am keen to understand the source of his unhappiness.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Realising that perhaps no one else can understand what we are talking about, I quickly recap for the others, then ask Dirla, "What kinds of things are going missing? Have you lost something yourself?"
And I glance at his paws - he may have been looking at them because he was feeling downcast, but knowing what I know about Displacer Beasts, I'm wondering if he still has his claws...
Before Dirla can answer, the older boy who had been playing with Dirla's tentacles runs out through the door of the Lost Property wagon, brushing past Phaalisse and laughing, a large mirrored ball in his hands.
Dirla's reaction is instantaneous -- he jumps up with a yowl, and snatches the ball with his front paw. In the movement of the swipe, Zephram catches sight of at least one claw as the paw moves with lightning speed.
The boy howls in fright and runs off around the wagon and away, tears streaming down his face.
Dirla immediately looks as contrite as a midnight blue cat-creature can, calling after him, "Viro, stop! I'm sorry!"
The younger boy stands stock-still, still reaching up where he was tugging on Dirla's left tentacle. He curls up on the ground and also starts to cry.
Dirla comforts the boy, offering him more of the toffee apple juice from his collar-keg. The displacer beast looks up at the group, tears welling in his golden eyes. "Please, find Viro. I cannot leave Allowin here alone, and he is too small to move quickly enough for us to find his brother. Children here should not wander alone. It is... well, it is not always... safe."
Phaalisse digs around in the "Lost" pile, and as she pulls through the detritus, something seems to be caught in her fingers. She picks it up and peers at it. A small white baby tooth sits in her palm.
A look crosses my face as Dirla speaks, like something is scratching at the door of my mind, trying to get in...then it's gone.
"Of course we will help," I say, and quickly translate for the others. "I shall need help finding him," I say to them. "Chasing children is rather outside my area of expertise."
I watch Zephram head off and shake my head. “I didn’t come here to find children. That’s not what I’ve lost.”
Addressing the displacer beast, I say, “If we do this, perhaps you can guide us in our search? I understand such a place as this, nothing is done or offered for free, and I’d very much hate to break the rules.”
Zephram - please roll a perception or investigation check to see if you can find where Viro has run off to.
Dirla frowns at Torkalyn and looks confused. He speaks something in Sylvan. When he realises you cannot understand him, he tries again in Elvish.
Meanwhile the young boy Allowin sits in between Dirla's front paws. He is still sniffling quietly, but the drink has soothed him. Dirla holds the silver ball with one of his tentacles cradling it with the same care that he cradles Allowin between his paws.
Zephram, after looking into a couple of nearby stalls, you catch sight of Viro as he wanders into a lolly shop. By the way he gazes adoringly at the array of coloured sweets in the shop, not a tear in sight, you assume he is completely recovered from his fright.
Genuinely excited by the shelves of sweets (because magic), I say, "Wow, this place is amazing! I don't know where to start!"Looking at Viro, I ask, "Which ones are the best?"
I look at the tooth, hmmm, maybe I did lose this many years ago. I'll tuck it into a pouch.
I'll look around to see if I can see where that blue-skinned guy in the white robe (Zephron? Zephyr? Zaphod? Zephram? I don't know, I'm not good with names) went. But I figure dressed in all white in a place like this should be easy top spot, so if I can see him I'll follow.
Genuinely excited by the shelves of sweets (because magic), I say, "Wow, this place is amazing! I don't know where to start!"Looking at Viro, I ask, "Which ones are the best?"
Viro catches sight of you, Zephram, and beckons you over. His fingers are pressed against the glass of the lolly cabinet. "Those ones!"he pipes. He points to a wispy lollipop that looks a little like smoky, multicoloured fairy floss wrapped around a stick.
The proprietor, a tall rotund lizardfolk man, leans over and asks Viro what he would like. "For you, little one, half price. Only 5 coppers for a sweet."
He stands up again and raises a scaly eyebrow at you. "You pay full price. One silver per item."
I look at the tooth, hmmm, maybe I did lose this many years ago. I'll tuck it into a pouch.
I'll look around to see if I can see where that blue-skinned guy in the white robe (Zephron? Zephyr? Zaphod? Zephram? I don't know, I'm not good with names) went. But I figure dressed in all white in a place like this should be easy top spot, so if I can see him I'll follow.
I pay for one lollipop for Viro, one for myself and one for Allowin, so 2sp, 5cp total.
I hand the lollipop to Viro and say, "I know you think Dirla was upset with you, but he just worries that you will be safe and happy. Shall we go back to him? Let him know you're all right?"
I pay for one lollipop for Viro, one for myself and one for Allowin, so 2sp, 5cp total.
I hand the lollipop to Viro and say, "I know you think Dirla was upset with you, but he just worries that you will be safe and happy. Shall we go back to him? Let him know you're all right?"
The lizardfolk shopkeeper waves goodbye after handing over your lollipops. Viro nods and sticks out his left hand to take your right one as you walk together. His right is holding the lollipop which he licks periodically. With each lick, a miniature glittery lightning bolt hits his tongue and he giggles. As you walk out to the pathway, you notice the sun seems a little brighter, and there are a couple of colourful flowers that are growing on the edges of the path.
I smile at him and reply in Sylvan. "I am always amused at how common it is to find one who does not speak Common. Let us converse in this beautiful tongue instead. I was merely asking what has kept you at the carnival for so long. You wear the wings of a paying customer, but from their condition you have been here far longer than one would expect."
Dirla nods, a delighted smile breaking over his feline face (which in effect looks quite scary) when he realises you speak Sylvan. "Once I was, but now I look after the children of the workers here, and occasionally children of the visitors. I love children, and spent much of my earlier life as a nanny. And this is a lovely place to be."
He looks around them, admiring the dragonflies arcing through the sky, before his fanged mouth droops downward again.
He whispers: "But it is not always lovely here. Sometimes... things go missing and they never come back." He heaves a deep sigh and looks down at his paws.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
I am more drawn to the Displacer's sadness than the Lost Property, and I approach Zephram and Dirla, and join the conversation, albeit with Zephram's help translating.
I am keen to understand the source of his unhappiness.
Realising that perhaps no one else can understand what we are talking about, I quickly recap for the others, then ask Dirla, "What kinds of things are going missing? Have you lost something yourself?"
And I glance at his paws - he may have been looking at them because he was feeling downcast, but knowing what I know about Displacer Beasts, I'm wondering if he still has his claws...
So, Perception check...
11
3 Investigation check
I am looking for that which I lost all those years ago.
Before Dirla can answer, the older boy who had been playing with Dirla's tentacles runs out through the door of the Lost Property wagon, brushing past Phaalisse and laughing, a large mirrored ball in his hands.
Dirla's reaction is instantaneous -- he jumps up with a yowl, and snatches the ball with his front paw. In the movement of the swipe, Zephram catches sight of at least one claw as the paw moves with lightning speed.
The boy howls in fright and runs off around the wagon and away, tears streaming down his face.
Dirla immediately looks as contrite as a midnight blue cat-creature can, calling after him, "Viro, stop! I'm sorry!"
The younger boy stands stock-still, still reaching up where he was tugging on Dirla's left tentacle. He curls up on the ground and also starts to cry.
Dirla comforts the boy, offering him more of the toffee apple juice from his collar-keg. The displacer beast looks up at the group, tears welling in his golden eyes. "Please, find Viro. I cannot leave Allowin here alone, and he is too small to move quickly enough for us to find his brother. Children here should not wander alone. It is... well, it is not always... safe."
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Phaalisse digs around in the "Lost" pile, and as she pulls through the detritus, something seems to be caught in her fingers. She picks it up and peers at it. A small white baby tooth sits in her palm.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
A look crosses my face as Dirla speaks, like something is scratching at the door of my mind, trying to get in...then it's gone.
"Of course we will help," I say, and quickly translate for the others. "I shall need help finding him," I say to them. "Chasing children is rather outside my area of expertise."
Then I head off after the boy.
I watch Zephram head off and shake my head. “I didn’t come here to find children. That’s not what I’ve lost.”
Addressing the displacer beast, I say, “If we do this, perhaps you can guide us in our search? I understand such a place as this, nothing is done or offered for free, and I’d very much hate to break the rules.”
Zephram - please roll a perception or investigation check to see if you can find where Viro has run off to.
Dirla frowns at Torkalyn and looks confused. He speaks something in Sylvan. When he realises you cannot understand him, he tries again in Elvish.
Meanwhile the young boy Allowin sits in between Dirla's front paws. He is still sniffling quietly, but the drink has soothed him. Dirla holds the silver ball with one of his tentacles cradling it with the same care that he cradles Allowin between his paws.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Investigation it is:
15
Zephram, after looking into a couple of nearby stalls, you catch sight of Viro as he wanders into a lolly shop. By the way he gazes adoringly at the array of coloured sweets in the shop, not a tear in sight, you assume he is completely recovered from his fright.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Genuinely excited by the shelves of sweets (because magic), I say, "Wow, this place is amazing! I don't know where to start!" Looking at Viro, I ask, "Which ones are the best?"
I look at the tooth, hmmm, maybe I did lose this many years ago. I'll tuck it into a pouch.
I'll look around to see if I can see where that blue-skinned guy in the white robe (Zephron? Zephyr? Zaphod? Zephram? I don't know, I'm not good with names) went. But I figure dressed in all white in a place like this should be easy top spot, so if I can see him I'll follow.
Viro catches sight of you, Zephram, and beckons you over. His fingers are pressed against the glass of the lolly cabinet. "Those ones!" he pipes. He points to a wispy lollipop that looks a little like smoky, multicoloured fairy floss wrapped around a stick.
The proprietor, a tall rotund lizardfolk man, leans over and asks Viro what he would like. "For you, little one, half price. Only 5 coppers for a sweet."
He stands up again and raises a scaly eyebrow at you. "You pay full price. One silver per item."
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
Please roll a perception check - DC of 15.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
I pay for one lollipop for Viro, one for myself and one for Allowin, so 2sp, 5cp total.
I hand the lollipop to Viro and say, "I know you think Dirla was upset with you, but he just worries that you will be safe and happy. Shall we go back to him? Let him know you're all right?"
The lizardfolk shopkeeper waves goodbye after handing over your lollipops. Viro nods and sticks out his left hand to take your right one as you walk together. His right is holding the lollipop which he licks periodically. With each lick, a miniature glittery lightning bolt hits his tongue and he giggles. As you walk out to the pathway, you notice the sun seems a little brighter, and there are a couple of colourful flowers that are growing on the edges of the path.
Past characters:
Cariadne - Forest of Celador
Daphyra Fuffletail - The City of Cats
DM - Geek Legends - Wild beyond the Witchlight
Leela Steadystone - Adventures in the Sands
Mirri Goldenhorn - Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Lola Smythe-Whyte - Larkin Expedition
Daphyra - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver
Vanja - Binder's Hold and the Problem with the Mine
22 Perception check
Hmm, I guess all blue people look the same.