Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

Ylis makes a grab for Frekor, "Stop. Wait."

Frekor looks at Ylis.

-What?- he asks.

-She is running away.- whispers.

"Luna, go follow the grouchy lady then show us where she went later." Ylis gives her bat a kiss on the head and shoos her out the window.

"OK, we're not all sneaky sneak like you are Mr Frekor, so if we go together we will likely be made obvious by our collective clumsiness. If you go alone...well you're not going alone. I'm not letting you go out, in the dark, by yourself, when demons could attack you at any time. No. That's just pure silliness!" the bunny girl gives the ranger 'the look'.

"If that lady suffers a demon attack? I don't care. She's not one of us."

DM: Wysp, give me a Luna Perception or Survival Check using the Bat statblock. I think the +2 PB would apply here.

"Frekor, if you need me, I'll come with you. Just say the word."

Morgan turns back toward Question with a smile.
"I'm very powerful. And amazingly brave.. Allegedly."

Even though he's smiling, his eyes stay locked on Frekor, alert and ready.

Luna Survival check 16

Frekor lets air out with a smile. For a moment he thought that Ylis wasn't thinking straight, but she was being smarter than him thinking on sending a small creature to aid him in keeping track of the woman.

-Thanks Morgan, but I'm thinking on being stealthy for now. I'll try to not get in a fight, and if it happens, I'll just retreat with Luna and wait for you guys.- says the ranger.

-You'll show me all you power another time.- adds with a smile while patting the sorcerer's back before leaving with Luna to follow Aloysia.

It is evening now, yet the bat somehow manages to lose its quarry in the very time of day that it is meant to be exceptional.

It takes Frekor a moment to raise the elevator, get in, lower it, and exit. By the time he does get out the door, he can see some frustrated guards returning along their patrol, grumbling to one another about how much they would love to see the elven woman in proper chains after a stunt like this. 

DM: Frekor, we will create a temporary split where you will be driving a solo side quest and the party continues on their story simultaneously. What do you do?

DM: Jacaranda, haven't seen you in a bit. Are you showing the amulet to Question or nah?

(OOC: I would like to try tracking Aloysia. Should I do a survival chek or a perception one?)

DM: We will do the Survival Check for now since she has 'gotten away' from the patrols at least and you will need to track Aloysia. Besides, it is the better roll for night time because there is no Disadvantage on Survival Checks in Lightly Obscured areas for some reason. This is your time to shine. 

(OOC: ok, let's see if I got it. Survival check: 12,   7+5.  I don't think is THAT good, but we'll see.)

Frekor looks around the area. He judges the direction that Aloysia ran off to based on the returning direction of the patrolling Aurora Watchmen. She went east. Frekor pursues. He has worked hard to gain the skills necessary to track people, but it is on this night, that his superhuman elven senses do most of the heavy lifting. With his Darkvision, the darkness is brightened around him and he detects a single pair of footprints about the size of the woman’s, along with a trail of heavy-booted soldiers. Yes, he is sure she went this way.

He travels down random alleyways and tight, twisting paths that abruptly shift from cobblestone streets to dirt, then back again. Luna noticed him leaving and flaps its wings not far behind. The bat is able to communicate for at least a short while what Frekor is up to and the direction he has taken. Then Luna finds the edge of Ylis’ influence.

DM: Ylis, do you have Luna continue to watch over Frekor or return? Frekor seems to be on a trail. Luna will be unable to send any further updates from this point.

Frekot notes a kicked over trash bin. Perhaps it could be the vented frustrations of Aloysia. She did seem unreasonably angry for being rebuffed. Trash sprawls out in front of the alleyway. He moves on, skipping over noisy puddles silently and comes to a fork. There is no trail. Nothing. BLAST!

Wait.

There is the faint smell of trash, but no discarded foodstuff that would account for the sweet-rotting smell. Perhaps Aloysia’s vented frustrations had even more frustrating consequences. It seems possible that when she kicked the trash bin, she splashed some rotten food on herself. Yes, that way.

Frekor sneaks by a sleeping cat, who only is startled awake by the ripple of the disturbed air as he passes by. It hisses in surprise and embarrassment for being caught unaware. As Frekor comes to another 4-way intersection, he can sense that the smell of trash moves south. But just before he is prepared to take that path, he hears a muffled scream of a woman down the northern path, followed by the grunt of a male and a slapping sound. “Shut it!” the male hisses.

DM: Frekor, what do you do? Go south and possibly track Aloysia down. Go north and you know the trail will go cold. 

***

Question shifts uncomfortably after Aloysia left. “Well, that was strange. Anyway, let’s have a look at that amulet.”

Randa produces it from underneath her armor and Question’s jaw nearly drops to the table. “You really do have it.” She moves in uncomfortably close to Randa and inspects it, not waiting for Randa to take it off. “Wow, this is just like the drawings I saw at the Cobalt Soul archives. Not as elaborate though. Why do you think that is?” She continues her detailed inspection, not even stopping to have her question answered.

After a few minutes of looking over every detail, she steps back. “Well, I think it is safe to say that this object is the key to the mythic cycle that resonates in all Bazzoxan.” She looks around and realizes that most of the people here have no clue what that is, so she repeats the same speech she gave Morgan with just as much excitement, but with far more reverence in the presence of both Vestige of Divergence and its bearers.

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

DM: Ylis, do you have Luna continue to watch over Frekor or return? Frekor seems to be on a trail. Luna will be unable to send any further updates from this point.

 

 Ylis tells Luna to follow Frekor and if he runs into trouble, come back and get us. Otherwise, watch his back and warn him of danger he might have missed.

She turns her attention to Question and her information/story. She expresses amazement at the details and quality of work Question produces then, "Huh. Well we knew it was important but what do we do with with it?"

The bunny girl becomes thoughtful while nibbling on the hard crust remains of her sandwich.

Morgan casts a worried glance toward the window. He trusts their new companion, but he hopes Frekor does not get himself into too much trouble.

Turning back to the curious tiefling, Morgan shrugs lightly.
"Good question. Maybe it is incomplete... or not fully awakened... or something like that. We honestly do not know much. That is why we are looking for people more knowledgeable than us."

He gestures vaguely, as if trying to connect invisible dots in the air.
"Do you have any suggestions? If this thing really has some kind of will... or maybe a destiny to return here... there might be a way to look in that direction, to understand what is waiting for us."

He exhales, thoughtful.
"I am no expert, but... a rift opening here, and a vestige resurfacing at the same time? That feels like one hell of a coincidence."

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

 

***

Question shifts uncomfortably after Aloysia left. “Well, that was strange. Anyway, let’s have a look at that amulet.”

Randa produces it from underneath her armor and Question’s jaw nearly drops to the table. “You really do have it.” She moves in uncomfortably close to Randa and inspects it, not waiting for Randa to take it off. “Wow, this is just like the drawings I saw at the Cobalt Soul archives. Not as elaborate though. Why do you think that is?” She continues her detailed inspection, not even stopping to have her question answered.

After a few minutes of looking over every detail, she steps back. “Well, I think it is safe to say that this object is the key to the mythic cycle that resonates in all Bazzoxan.” She looks around and realizes that most of the people here have no clue what that is, so she repeats the same speech she gave Morgan with just as much excitement, but with far more reverence in the presence of both Vestige of Divergence and its bearers.

Jacaranda smiles at Question, remaining unrattled at the intimate proximity.

" I;m sure I would not know....being somewhat less of an expert than yourself."

She absorbs the information from Question without outside expression but absently fondles the jewelry as she thinks on its ties to this place.

" Perhaps we will have more answers after this evenings vigil?"

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

Frekor looks around the area. He judges the direction that Aloysia ran off to based on the returning direction of the patrolling Aurora Watchmen. She went east. Frekor pursues. He has worked hard to gain the skills necessary to track people, but it is on this night, that his superhuman elven senses do most of the heavy lifting. With his Darkvision, the darkness is brightened around him and he detects a single pair of footprints about the size of the woman’s, along with a trail of heavy-booted soldiers. Yes, he is sure she went this way.

He travels down random alleyways and tight, twisting paths that abruptly shift from cobblestone streets to dirt, then back again. Luna noticed him leaving and flaps its wings not far behind. The bat is able to communicate for at least a short while what Frekor is up to and the direction he has taken. Then Luna finds the edge of Ylis’ influence.

DM: Ylis, do you have Luna continue to watch over Frekor or return? Frekor seems to be on a trail. Luna will be unable to send any further updates from this point.

Frekot notes a kicked over trash bin. Perhaps it could be the vented frustrations of Aloysia. She did seem unreasonably angry for being rebuffed. Trash sprawls out in front of the alleyway. He moves on, skipping over noisy puddles silently and comes to a fork. There is no trail. Nothing. BLAST!

Wait.

There is the faint smell of trash, but no discarded foodstuff that would account for the sweet-rotting smell. Perhaps Aloysia’s vented frustrations had even more frustrating consequences. It seems possible that when she kicked the trash bin, she splashed some rotten food on herself. Yes, that way.

Frekor sneaks by a sleeping cat, who only is startled awake by the ripple of the disturbed air as he passes by. It hisses in surprise and embarrassment for being caught unaware. As Frekor comes to another 4-way intersection, he can sense that the smell of trash moves south. But just before he is prepared to take that path, he hears a muffled scream of a woman down the northern path, followed by the grunt of a male and a slapping sound. “Shut it!” the male hisses.

DM: Frekor, what do you do? Go south and possibly track Aloysia down. Go north and you know the trail will go cold. 

He struggles to choose. On one hand there is his job (following Aloysia) and then there is his heart (helping someone in need).

-Shit. No matter what, I'll regret something later.- says after a small moment to make his decision. Frekor then pulls out his shortsword and marks an arrow pointing south, the direction Aloysia took, and goes north making sure he doesn't alarm whoever is there.

-I'll come back later. It'll be harder to follow, but I can't let people get hurt near me.- thinks to himself.

(OOC:Possible stealth check: 21,  14+7)

DM: Ylis, please give me a Perception Check, an Insight Check, and a Dexterity Saving Throw for Luna. The PB +2 won't apply to the Insight. I may not need them but if I do, I will have them on hand. 

Question ponders Morgan’s question with her mouth scrunched up and to the side. “I would talk to Prolix. I play at archeology sometimes with my own research but he is an actual archeologist. I am sure this amulet is important and it is especially important that it is here, right now.” She whispers. Then even more quietly so that the party has to lean in to hear her, she continues. “I am also certain that this amulet finding its way here means things are going to get much worse. Mythic Resonance. The final battles of the gods. Demons pouring out of the Abyss like water from a fountain. Whatever you are here to do, do it quick, because I believe that the demons are either going to sense its presence and flood the city, or they will be unknowingly filling that impression in spacetime. The longer you stay, the more at risk the people here are.

“Betrayer’s Rise is certainly where you are destined to go.” She looks away and frowns, smothering a distracting thought. “You might also try to go to the Cobalt Soul archives. They are not open to the public, but I might be able to get you in. It’s a long trip to Ank’Harel, but we could go. Soon, if you like. Tomorrow even.”