"You are a cleric of Dinesah, no?" Macario sets down his arepa and continues without waiting for an answer. "I was in training with the priesthood at the ruins for many years. Even now, I still draw power from Sesisah," he says, producing a ghostly green flame in his palm before letting it vanish. "So believe me when I tell you I know how it feels to be in your position. There are a great number of rituals that even I never understood, but they keep the goddess pleased and prevent issues with the Underside. If you've seen or felt something from your goddess, I think it's important to follow that, regardless of what anybody else may think of it." 

[[ Idk if this needs a roll or something, I'd love for it to be religion but it may be persuasion. I rolled badly so it's either an 8 or a 6 unless something grants me advantage. ]]

@Macario

Inra takes a step back and looks at you wide-eyed. "D- Dinesa? No. No. No. No. You think I'm-? I follow Intsanah! And Fenya." She looks down a bit, and mumbles. "... Just like everyone else."

"I see." She looks at your green flame in awe, watching its tantalizing dance back and forth. The movement seemed to calm her, so she sits and thinks about what you said for a moment.

"It- it is always good to have someone who understands. That's why I brought you..." She leans her head on her palm, propped up by her elbow. "I only try to please Dinesa out of necessity, you know. But I do not know if I am right. It was a long time ago. When I was younger and lacking a purpose. When I wasn't sure who I am." Inra looks down at her own hand, the one still lying on the table, and she opens and folds it. "I really don't know what to believe."

"You know, I always wondered why Sesisah cut Intsanah's tail off. During the Great Battle. I do not think it was out of spite or anger. Like you, I'm guessing, I think it was out of mercy. I have as much fear of the God of Life as I do for the Goddess of Death. The gods... they can be quite tricky to understand." She blinks and just sort of blankly stares at the ceiling.

((Oof those are low rolls. I'm going to say it is religion but then it would just suck to gets bits and pieces of information. So I'll give you a lore dump soon!))

He steps back again. 

He gives a thumbs up. "I'm just really tired right now... I just need some rest."

@Argos

You step back again... and she doesn't notice. She's too busy staring off blankly at the ceiling to care. Then you give a thumbs up and that catches her eye. "You're tired? It's only morning?"

She shakes her head, "Um, sorry. It's okay. With how the day's been so far, we all probably need a rest." She fiddles with the arepa she practically squished and squishes it some more. "If the show does get canceled... then I'll just see how it goes. I feel like I've been trying on warding something off for so long. I mean, the snow- it happened anyways. Like what's the point. Maybe I wasn't doing anything to stop it. Maybe the point now is I should wait to see what happens if nothing happens? And I do... nothing."

You three all hear a muffled 'thunk' from inside the kitchen. "Hm? No one's supposed to be back there?" She stands up to go to check it out, but first, leans down to pick up the arepa and finishes it off with a quick bite. Through a full mouth, she calls out. "Elias? That you."

No answer.

"I've been running around a lot..." He said under his breath.

"Don't sweat on the show that much, I have a feeling it'll go on and would have been the best show..."

He heard the thunk. "Eh?" (Does the hotel have more than 1 kitchen?) Argos scratches his head. How does a thunk happen in a burnt kitchen...

He looked to Irna to see her get up, and then eat some more. He grimaced a bit as she called through a mouthful. But she said a name he didn't recognize. "Elias, whose Elias?"

@Argos

 Inra had nodded emphatically when you said you've been running around a lot, but she didn't quite catch what you had said, so she moved on (ever the impulsive one she is).

"Thanks. You're too kind." She turns her head away from the noise to face you with a smile, "I really hope it does. I don't know. I've never seen what happens when I let go. But I've been working so hard and my ice sculpture..." 

There is only one kitchen that you know of. And that noise... was coming from that exact same one. The tabaxi snaps her fingers, looking as if she was remembering something. "Right. You asked me about Elias. He's the receptionist. He's a good kid. We grew up here together, well, he was like 4 years younger than me, but his mom worked at the hotel alongside with my dad."

"I don't know why'd he be back there though. I told the chefs to take the rest of the day off. Must've been a mouse or something." Her eyes went wide, "Um, not that we have mouses here. Mice. I mean."

She doesn't look convinced at her own words. Her feet keep tapping the floor and she keeps turning her head to look back there as if expecting something, but doesn't get up. "I'm really sorry for dragging you all into this. Is there anything I could do to make it all up for you?" 

Macario’s eyes are still on the kitchen door. “I believe I met Elias earlier, but he seemed a little preoccupied to be poking around in the kitchen. If there are no chefs in there, perhaps we should investigate? I don’t mean to alarm you but I woke up to a mimic in my room this morning, and I’d hate to leave something similar in the kitchen for an unfortunate chef or guest to find.” Without realizing it, his hand drifts to the knife next to his plate. 

[[ Hoping for dagger stats since my sword is upstairs? ]]

(Maybe the tabaxis' hunted the other mice or smth lol)

"Ah, nothing really. Thanks for the clarification!" Argos waved his hand. "G'bye!" Argos proceeded to racewalk to wherever he tries to remember the rooms are (Upstairs? A bridge? I forgot -w-)

@Argos and Macario

((oh no right. you did leave your scimitar. oof. Yeah the knife works as a dagger!))

"You sure? Perhaps a gift baskets or anything-" She stood up to go shake Argos's hand, but you racewalked too fast that she didn't even bother trying. She squints with a raised eyebrow, "Uh, bye?" The doors swing and shut closed as you head on out, and Inra just stares with her mouth agape.

Inra then goes to look over at Macario instead, following your gaze to see that it is still intently on that door. With a quick glace, she also notices that your hand had gone over to the knife and that made her wince. Then you said it...

"Wait. Wait Wait. A mimic? A MIMIC? Was here?" She leans forward with her hands on the table, "For real?" She throws her hands to her head and starts pacing "Oh dear gods this can't be happening. Another omen." She stops then turns to you, "Are you okay, though? Wait- tell me what happened? Are you alright? I can heal you." 

"If there's something in this hotel. This is my responsibility." She is now standing closer enough to peek around the hall, while still watching you. You can see she also has her claws out.

@Argos

You manage to make it out of the executive office, leading behind the other two (well at least Inra) in shocked disbelief. You are quite quick on your feet, to which even Elias comments, "Hey! No running in the lobby!"

You manage to make it towards the elevators where there is now a maintenance crew of two elves and a gnome standing around, trying to fix the first elevator that has been stuck. "Take the other elevator. This one's broken." The gnome says gruffly, nodding with his head over to the next elevator about a 30 feet distance away. You see there is a line starting to form around this elevator. Well, more like one large tabaxi family of 11 kids and a tired couple struggling to keep their kids in check as the elevator is slowly descending down to the lobby.

One little kid is staring at you, making faces and making fun of the way you walk while getting applause from her brother.

(help my poor soul I'm having a thought of Argos battling a kid cuz his sacred ego was broken and I'm cackling too much-)

Argos was too stressed to listen to Elias.

Once he reaches it and hears what the maintenance crew has to say. Does he really have to wait...

Argos then notices the child making fun of him. "You try being busy and scared you morons." He snarled at both of them, making a gesture that he had his eyes on them.

(The place has stairs?)

"I'm fine really, but the other guests may not be if there are more." Macario stands, holding the knife, and approaches the door to the kitchen, calling on the power of Sesisah to protect him for the second time in as many hours (symbiotic entity). "It's not your responsibility alone. You brought me here, let me help." He places his free hand on the door. "Ready?"

((HAHAH oh my god ))

((this made me realize how many grunkle stan gifs are of him advocating to fight children dhkjfhd))

@Argos

Elias sighs as you run past him and the front desk and just lets you go at this point. He is too nose deep into his book to care.

At your snarl, the girl tabaxi's eyes widen and she takes a step back. Upon seeing her brother's surprise against her usually more confident demeanor, she scowls right back at you, walks right up to you, and steps on your foot! You take no damage. Made just on your pride though. She and her brother exchange wide grins.

The mom looks at her daughter in shock, "Honey! No we don't do that!" She pushes forward from the crowd of children and up to you. "I'm real sorry about that. This one-" She shoots a glare back at the kid, "Doesn't have the best manners." She takes the girl's hand and drags her forward, "Now say 'sorry' to this nice young man."

"Sorry..."

"Good. Now we're going to have a talk again about how we treat others once we get upstairs. Okay?" The girl just grumbles and the mom pulls her daughter away and back towards the elevator. 

During this whole debacle you do notice there are stairs to the right of the elevator.

'Ding'

Great now the elevator is here now too!

Argos holds his foot. "You jerk!"

He was about to raise his fist to sucker-punch the kid, but then remembered, people. Especially his family was watching him. Glad he didn't do that.

He watched as the mother disciplined her children.

"I-It's alright..." He said to the mother, accepting her apology.

To the girl, however, he just lectures her, telling her that she'll probably get hurt one day if she keeps this up.

(Hmmm elevator or stairs...)

Argos decided on the stairs, besides the elevator would be crowded, and those kids... He'd rather not...

@Macario

((man sorry I didn't see this yesterday!!!))

"Okay... if you're alright. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"You're right." She nods, giving you a smile. Then she looks down. "Th-thanks. Sometimes I feel like I've been running it alone... I'm glad I've sent for you."

She stands there, closing her eyes and deep breathes. "Yes. Ready." 

You open up the door. Inside reveals it reveals nothing but a regular kitchen. The stoves, the rotisserie, the pots and pans were the same way that the chefs had left it earlier this morning after they made the breakfast spread. Except the only thing out of place was the lying there dead body of a toucan on one of the counter tables. Its body slumped against a pan.

"No. No. No. Noooo."

She tears start to well up in her eyes. "Tuca." She starts to walk up to it, but hesitates.

Inra turns to look at you, guessing your probable confusion. "She was my show-bird. She was part of the act. We did these all the time together." She grits her teeth.

"She was more than just a pet. A partner. A friend." She reaches over to touch the bird, tenderly stroking it. "Who did this to you, girl?"

As soon as she touches the bird, the room starts to flicker. Like someone superimposed a photo on top of a photo and one layer just dropped. Immediately came the overwhelming heat of fire. The stoves seemed to spit flame with an angry vengeance. And the floor... it seemed like it was sinking. At the sight of this, Inra immediately lets go and jumps back.

And the room? It goes back to normal.

She curses in tabaxi. "What in the 'side* was that?!" She pants heavily, staring at her hands, then the room, and then the bird in disbelief. She winces, then looks at you. "... No offense"

((*The Underside is treated a bit like hell sometimes))

@Argos

The kid had laughed as soon as you said 'You jerk!'.  Before the mom takes her away, you manage to lecture the girl but she just seems so utterly disinterested. She rolled her eyes. Before the whole family goes into the elevator without you, in the crowd of children, the same kid mockingly uses the same 'I'm watching you' gesture you did earlier.

You decided on going through the stairs. Opening the door, the staircase is a carved out section of the tree and the stairs are in fact part of the bark itself. This floor is labeled 'lobby'. You climb up it. And you climb up it. And climb up it. And you still haven't reached floor 1. 

Then you start to hear whispers. Nothing that you can make out as yet. They are coming from some staircases above you... at least so you think.

(Hehaw, regret gets me again B))

Argos took a long sigh. At least there are no kids on the stairs.

At least- Oh the stairs are long. Argos groaned.

Then whispers came. He looked up, having no idea if this was good or not.

Or maybe he was just hallucinating.

Yeah... hallucinations. Nothing would happen he though.

Argos continued to climb up the stairs.

Macario waves a hand at Inra as if to say "no worries," but he's more preoccupied with what they had both just seen. Flames, a sinking floor, a dead familiar. He looks around the kitchen for anything out of place. After all, a dead toucan can't 'thunk' against anything on its own. 

[[  Perception 10 or investigation 8 for anything there that shouldn't be, and then maybe an arcana roll of 21 for what the hologram effect was? ]]

((hghgh sorry this took so long was just ugh mental health yesterday and stuff. I take forever to write.

also man a 21 roll nice job))

@Argos

((yeehaw >:) ))

You contentiously climb the stairs... and your valiant efforts have pulled off because find yourself yet again- with more stairs! You hear whispers from up ahead from two different voices. Listening in, you can't tell exactly what they're saying. Unfortunately for you, the majority of it is in Thieves' Cant, which as a cleric, you can not understand. From what you can make out:

"You checked that the all the rivers have melted?"

"Of course." One growls, "You think I'm stupid? .... Thinks he can hide from us. We need to find that 'lil bugger."

"And so the cat is really out of the bag on this one?" You hear light chuckle, followed by a bit of a bump, then "Ow."

One pair of heavy footsteps descend down from above you. Another pair is stip-stepping real fast. Oh no! They are coming.

((Since Argos is pretty clumsy, roll for a dexterity check with disadvantage (you roll twice and take the lowest score) to see if you bump into them or not. heheh ))

@Macario

Inra nods solemnly at that. She too investigates the kitchen around you. You both see nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it looks like a perfectly normal kitchen had it not just warped in front of you moments before. She even picks up a pot and a pan, carefully avoiding the bird though with tears in her eyes, and gives the objects a shake... and nothing else happens. "Weird."

Frowning, she steps back and casts Find Traps, then winces. "Oh no. This is bad. This is real bad. We shouldn't be here."

"Something- Something is very wrong here." She looks at you straight in the eye and points at all of the room.

From your studies in the priesthood, you recall that there are two planes: The Feywild and the Underside. The Feywild is the one guarded and ruled by Dinesa after the Great Battle, and its entrance is believed to be in the mountains, especially thought to be at the highest peak. It is a place of heightened emotion and wonder with things being there and sort of not there at the same time (a sort of Alice in Wonderland type place if you will). No one who has attempted to visit the Feywild has gone and come back. Dinesa, herself, has been rumored to be silent for centuries and nothing like this has been recorded or seen before. Unfortunately for you, you have seen firsthand that this isn't true.

The Feywild plan is known to be a bit unstable on the Day of Trickery due to this day falling on the anniversary of the day before Victory for Insannah, Fenya, and Sesisah over Dinesa and her colossal fey monsters. Weird stuff usually happens on this day that can't be explained and is attributed to Dinesa's trickster nature, but it's not taken too seriously. People ward it off with masks and wild celebrations which over time because sort of like a children's holiday of costume and fun.

On the other hand is the Underside which is guarded by Sesisah who watches over the dead. There is variety of fiends and devils (whose lineages are traced back to Dinesa's meddling and other wild creations when she still was frolicking about on the mortal plane. The same fiends who are the ancestors of tieflings) are trapped there in a separate place from the good and the lost souls. This plane is not known to traverse to the mortal one other than the Day of Remembrance, a holiday where people leave out food and gifts on the altars for their deceased loved ones when they come visit them on this day. The entrance in the Azzan Ruins don't specifically physically open on this day but you and the other priests remember feeling the bridging between life and death even though you couldn't see it.

Snapping back to reality, Inra mutters something under her breath then turns to you, "This. This I remember hearing something like this once before. When Dinesa's monsters first roamed this world. They could cause rifts in the planes, you know. But how? How? And now? I thought they were all locked away?!"

"I- I really want to say this is some sort of illusion or trick, but I can't. I just. I don't know..." She just stares at the space in front of her with cloudy eyes sighs. He gaze falls to the dead bird once again. "This suits the day well, doesn't it?"

Then once again you hear a 'thunk' and a plate in the far off eastern corner of the room falls off and spin-clatters to the floor. Nothing can be seen there that moved it.

The fur on the back of Inra's neck stands up. She hisses and her back arches like a scared cat. She then takes out a shield from behind her robe, which apparently she had the entire time. Good to know.

(Your mental health is very important, if you need a break or you time, you do ur ur time!)

(I rolled a 9 and a 8, so I'm guessing 8 is the taken one-)

Macario’s attention darts to the corner, and even as Inra is drawing her shield, he points his makeshift dagger toward where the plate fell and speaks a word of Infernal. “Ihayag.” A burst of energy radiates from him, outlining the plate and everything around it in a ghostly green flame. 

[[ DC 13 dexterity save if there happen to be any invisible creatures within 10 feet of the plate as it falls or they are revealed to myself and Inra. ;) ]]

@Argos

((thank you so much I really appreciate it!

ah yikes an 8 it is. :(

DC save 8 < 10. A Miss.))

Before you can go anywhere, you stub your toe on the next step and before you know it a tall, lanky looking elf is looking down upon you. "Ay well lookie what we have 'ere, boss?" He's got a wide grin plastered on his face, and despite being an elf, his teeth are rather sharp. It looks very much like filed them pointy on purpose. Ah the pain it takes for beauty. "Move out the way, will ya, squirt?" He grabs your head and ruffles your hair, then pushes you aside.

Seconds later (wow he's fast) his 'boss' comes down descending from the stairs. He's a bulky human male with a stone cold face and an almost equally large duffel-type bag stands between you and the elf. He's got muscle for days. He huffs, "No. Don't let him go." Lankly-elf lets go, and he leans in and grabs your chin to pull you to look up. His hot, smelly stinky breath smacks you right upon your face. "What are you doing up here? The observatory is closed for guests this time of year." His eyes look up to the top of the stairs then down a you, greeting you with an equally chill smile.

@Macario

((DC Save 13 > 10. Nice.))

Inra steps back surprised at your fire, then nods. "This would be an interesting way to go out. Never thought it be at the hands of my own hotel." She mutters, mostly to herself. 

The room emanates a ghastly green glow from your fire. It casts an eerie feeling on top of the already not so cozy atmosphere. From where you can see, nothing again seems out of the ordinary- until it isn't. An outline of an... an animal or something appears off in the distance between the long counter in front of you and the far back rotisserie. Then it's gone. And then it isn't. It is something... canine like with its haunches. An outline of its tail flicks back and forth before it disappears again.

"No. This can't be happening." A deep throated roar comes from Inra. Her appearance is a bit more animal like in its intensity, and even with the shield in her hand, her claws are drawn. "A blink dog? In my kitchen?"