The Next Leap

 "Steam skipper" Amaruve replies, telling the guard everything he knows.

(Since I crit my stealth, do I get to avoid being taken in cuffs? Just askin')

(you are a shadow in the night, Ru)

Cordelia stows her bow as soon as the fight is over. She will casually linger nearby trying to eavesdrop on the conversation happening between her team and this ... guard person? They definitely seem to be giving that goblin guy an earful.

(My Passive Perception is 13, but if perception roll is needed: 14)

(Gonna call that an arcana/perception roll)

Cordelia, you notice that the half-orc captain has a number of magic-looking items about her person. That soulbound halberd, in particular, looks QUITE nasty. Based on the runes inscribed along its length, it could do serious damage to anyone on the wrong side of it. 

You also realize that none of the Iron Guard seem to be wearing weapons. That might indicate that they all possess soulbound weaponry. None of them have quite the air of deadliness and authority that the captain does, though. 

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

"I don't know why you need to yell, we just fought off some sort of smoke beast. You should be thanking us." Perspicacious turns to the aarakocra, and addresses him. "Sorry, I'm not sure I caught your name, but thank you for your help in killing that.. whatever it was. Do you know what's happening here?"

As you address him, the aarakocra shakes himself out of his reverie and peers at you intently, Perpsicacious. He looks as though he will respond to your question, but the raised voices of Tony, Amaruve, and the guard captain snatch his attention. He gives you a brief apologetic glance, then walks up to the arguing group.

"Excuse me! Captain Naz'k? It's all right!" He steps between the orc and the goblin, hands in a pacifying gesture as he begins to chuckle. "These individuals are assisting me in my research. Thank you very much for your zealous protection of the island, but I assure you they mean no harm to our city or its inhabitants." 

Captain Naz'k doesn't move a muscle other than to glance again at the dark sky above. Finally, her shoulders loosen fractionally and she responds, "Is that so, Fiorello?" She turns back to Amaruve, Tony, and Perspicacious. "The librarian says you're in his employ. That true?"

(Gonna need someone to roll deception to make this work if you want to try it; I'll allow advantage if someone can help.

Tony squints at the bird, then at the captain, “Yup, helping out the bird for free. I’m a big-hearted goblin like that.” Tony will Help whoever makes the check.

Not sure where he’s going with this, but playing along for now, Perspicacious nods. “Yes, that’s right. We’re consultants from out of town.”

Deception: 23

Amaruve has a genuinely confused look on his face, though it's difficult to tell on a half-bear, but he keeps his mouth shut for the moment.

Quote from AsbestosPenguin >>

Not sure where he’s going with this, but playing along for now, Perspicacious nods. “Yes, that’s right. We’re consultants from out of town.”

Deception: 23

 
Captain Naz'k looks at the tiefling and mouths silently, From out of town?  She's wise to the fact that you're hiding something (she rolled quite well), but from the look on her face she's willing to accept that you aren't responsible for the smoke monster or the incipient crisis of missing children. She straightens her posture and with a twirl of her halberd the weapon disappears. 

"Right, we will have a longer discussion about these self-reported outsiders later, Fiorello. In the meantime, the three of you," (she notices Kyo and Jean standing nearby - but she's still unaware of Cordelia), "Hmm. The five of you are hereby remanded to the central guard outpost on the west end of the fairgrounds. Librarian," she turns to the aarakocra (who is apparently named Fiorello), "Can I trust you to deliver these folk without incident?" 

Fiorello adopts a supremely benevolent expression. "I serve the good of this island, Captain Naz'k. You can trust me."

"Fair enough!" she snaps. And with a flick of her wrist, she whips a bolt of blue energy from the tip of her wand of paralysis, which strikes Tuppin (the halfling wizard who runs "Flaming Death"). He is suspended in a nimbus of light and totally immobilized. "Tuppin Riverstone," Naz'k quickly recites, "You are charged with reckless endangerment and unlicensed transmutation. You are bound by Iron Law to await review by the Praelet Judica." 

With that, the gray-cloaked human lieutenant steps forward and leads the floating halfling away. Naz'k looks at your party a last time, shakes her head, then quickly stalks toward the crowd and begins barking orders at guardsmen to begin organizing the chaos.

Once she’s firmly out of earshot, Tony whispers at Perspicacious, “Out of town!? There is no ‘out of town,’ we’re on an island in the middle of the Plane of Air! I’m just glad that we caught her in a good mood.”

Amaruve turns to face Fiorello, the new leader of this escapade.

Fiorello's eyes widen in surprise as Amaruve pops back into his baseline form. The aarakocra raises a hand and passes it slowly in front of the bear. "Not a curse, exactly," he says, "But..." 

He stamps his staff on the ground. "We'll discuss it later. For now, we have little time to lose." He turns to walk away, but stops himself short. "Oh, and that includes you, young lady," he says, looking toward Cordelia in the darkness. 

"Come along, now! We have only this one chance to reclaim the children." And he's off through the crowd. 

Tony follows quickly, no questions asked. He’s getting his sister back.

Perspicacious adjusts the medallion around her neck. "Well how was I supposed to know you only have one town," she mumbles under her breath. She, too, follows after the Aarakocra.

As you weave through the crowd, you see most of the business at the games and food tents has slowed significantly. The majority seem to be unaware that several children have gone missing, but you lose count after you have passed the fifteenth tearful parent describing their children to members of the Iron Guard.

Eventually, the crowd thins, and you see a simple guard post twenty yards ahead of you. The aarakocra smiles, then gestures to the north. "An explanation is forthcoming, but now is the time for speed and stealth, young adventurers. Quickly, now! The ranch is due north. If you become separated it is the largest and best-lit building north of the fairgrounds. Do everything you can to avoid notice by Cpatain Naz'k and her guards!" And with a gust from his wings he leaps into the air, flying silently to the north. 

(It's a skills challenge! Thank you, Ru for the idea. Describe how you hurry to the ranch without attracting attention. Here are the rules:

We need at least 4 successes, DC 13

Max of 2 stealth rolls total; you can use Athletics, acrobatics, or any other skill that makes sense

You can Help instead of taking an action or try to be especially clever to gain advantage

Good luck!)

Tony will keep low and guide the team around the city with the bird: Stealth: 10 

Jean follows, looking irritated but determined to help. "So much for our vacation jump." She murmured.

Amaruve is as stealthy as a Cat (Stealth: (4)23)

Cordelia will stop everyone once they've all successfully hidden behind a building. She watches the patrol of guards and looks for an opening so that everyone can make it through safely.

(Investigation: 13)

After a few moments of watching, their movements come together like pieces of a puzzle. That guard always looks that direction, this guard only walks in this singular line - and now! She ushers everyone through.

(I am thinking like those segments in Zelda hahaha)