Amaruve looks wide eyed and dumb-founded at Perspicacious and Joja. Right. This little mouse body. He just needs spectacles; Baobur didn't even realize... No time for that now.

Amaruve comes back to Rowan's side to Help Fellori, the vet, when he arrives. (Help: 9)

The community of ***** shrews gathers around you in a flurry of activity. Baobur works alongside the healer, Fellori, a tall, wiry shrew with a long stalk of dry grass constantly between his teeth. It is a long afternoon, but together they're able to stop the internal hemorrhaging and sew the unconscious ranger into shape (The Help action is only for use with other players since NPCs never need to roll in this game; you don't "expose yourself to danger"). Rowan's wounds were deep and perfectly round; far larger than a stoat's fangs could puncture... You save him just the same.

Cordelia, you and the professor remember the stardust for the first time in days. If you like, you may each feel free to roll either +Mind or +Planar Knowledge to examine it further. (You may also interact with anyone/do anything as you see fit) Local Potentiality still reads at 92%. Your actions thus far seem to have changed absolutely nothing...

Jean/Garo, you are the first to make your way to the inn, the weight of your armor your reclaimed sense of self have sapped you of all remaining strength. You are all given rooms for free this night as members of the Long Patrol (likely in hopes of a solution to the town's stoat problem). Bizarrely, the owner of the inn is a large, smiling she-shrew by the name of Gordra. As far as you can tell, this is pure coincidence. Garo, you may roll anything you so choose (though you are going to sleep...)

Before sunset and your separate tasks, the mayor and his hare companion meet you. Baobur, you are assisting Fellori, but you are within earshot. The mayor, an ancient shrew named Rondeau, is ready to provide you with answers to whatever questions you may have. The hare, Keenwhistle, is a member of the March Patrol (the rabbit equivalent of your order; you are something like Marines to their Green Berets). He addresses you primarily, Perspicacious, as he recognizes you as a brother (or sister) in arms.

As Fellori is finishing his sutures AmaraBur asks, examining the wound "Monsters... Badgers? ... Cats..."  Trying to determine the source of these wounds, though Amaruve knows the source Baobur knows nothing of it. As if Rabbits and Mice were the top of the food Chain here... 

(Does the Mouse patrol have a word for Badger, or any predators, Fox, Dog, etc.)

Amaruve, you can't access the memories of your host body any longer (not at the moment, anyway). You are aware that Perspicacious has this ability, however...

Fellori is, if possible, even less talkative than Amaruve tends to be. He grunts at your comment, then after a moment, looks up at you. "You making a joke, boy? This ain't no fairy story. Monsters and cats ain't real." He spits, rubbing a just-washed paw on his snout, "As for badgers, they've got the teeth, but they're grub-eaters. Who ever heard of one attacking a mouse, and a member o' the guard at that?"

"Fairytales." AmaruBur Nods, but he looks back over his shoulder at his friends with a meaningful glance.

Upon the sudden remembrance they are not actually mice investigating a near murder, but lost travelers leaping from body to body, Perspicacious will once again try to recall the thoughts of her host, Joja, and just what they might be up to here. While doing this, she'll half way try to listen to the hare, not wanting to seem rude, but needing to focus on the larger task at hand.

Palaver: 20

Rolling Planar knowledge to see if I can tell how long we have left, or if anything changed when we saw Vasht: 17

Perspicacious, you dive immediately back into the mind of Joja to reconcile their knowledge of this world with your own. (Mechanically, since you hit a 20, you manage to invest yourself in Joja's consciousness without losing it again. For the rest of this leap, you can flip through Joja's memories for pertinent info whenever you hit a knowledge gap). As you bustle about with the tasks of the coming evening, Keenwhistle and the mayor are ready to answer any questions you or the rest of the group have. Neither of them seem to notice your brief lapse while palavaring. 

(I'll give you one piece of intel for free:) In reviewing Joja's thoughts, you see little knowledge of major predators in this world. Rats and stoats are dangers, but they are the equivalent of wolves and lions on Earth. There are no foxes, wolves, bears, or large cats (though predatory bird species and snakes do exist). Like the sabretooth tiger and the mammoth, it seems likely that either these hyper-intelligent mice hunted them to extinction, or this forest simply has none to speak of. 

Gordra, since Vasht's appearance you and Cordelia note that, while Local Potentiality is unchanged, the time meter has begun to fade in and out slowly. You reason that whatever circumstances lead to a rift's appearance have been set in motion, but there is still some time before you must make the leap. Luna, your "gate sense" is not lighting up at all at the moment. 

Perspicacious won't go far from Rowan. She speaks to Amaruve as the medics work on their injured friend. "These mice don't have natural predators, at least, they don't now. Whatever attacked him may not be from around here. It may be from.. somewhere else, you know. Like we are. Speaking of which, thanks for saving him. I don't know that I could have done that on my own. You were quite impressive." She'll then turn to the hare, "Say, do you recognize the injuries? Have you had any reports of anyone getting hurt or disappearing? We're concerned there might be a new danger out there. Any information you have could be helpful."

Keenwhistle grunts. Peering closely at the unconscious ranger, she says, "Haven't seen the like o' these wounds before. Would call 'em bites, but those teeth would have to be the size of my left foot. Would call ''em honey locust thorns," she gestures to Rowan, "but there's no inflammation, and those suckers puff you up worse than a yellowjacket sting." She looks uneasy,  "There've been no reports or traders coming down from the Abbey at Viper Lake for a fortnite, now. This time o' year, they should be bringing their harvest to market." She looks straight into Perspicacious' eyes and says, "Shrews are a proud folk, maybe even more so than you lot. They'd never admit they're scared, but I will. My gut tells me you're right: there is something  in these woods and it isn't just stoats." 

She thanks him for the information, then excuses herself to go to talk to Jean, Cordelia, and Gordra. "I'm not sure what you've found out, but it sounds like something's happening at this Abbey at Viper Lake. Maybe we should investigate? Does Duster tell you anything?" Perspicacious indicates the device that Cordelia is so fond of using, oblivious to the fact she has the nick name wrong. 

(Perspicacious, you notice one of Keenwhistle's enormous ears twitch in your direction when you mention "Duster".)

Amaruve nods as perspicacious suggestion, and blushes at her compliment, though it isn't apparent under his fur.

Quote from Adaxter >>

(Perspicacious, you notice one of Keenwhistle's enormous ears twitch in your direction when you mention "Duster".)

Perspicacious makes a mental note to be more careful of how she speaks when near those with large ears, and then suggests to the party they discuss further matters in a more private place, maybe after Rowan has stabilized.

Duties for the day complete, you make your way to Gordra's Inn (the shrew Gordra). Rowan is being watched over by a small shrew female, who sits at the Rangers side repairing a torn sailcloth. Her child sleeps on a small pallet near her chair. Elodin, Tevii, and Garo, you notice that its the shrew boy from the dock as you entered the village- his newt is curled up next to him like a red amphibious labrador. 

(Last chance to talk to people or make decisions before nightfall. Remember: the stoats have been attacking at night!)

AmaruBur stands before the gathered friends and townsfolk, ready to deliver another dose of inspiration.

"They come. There will be blood." 

Bard: +1 Forward to the party

(#sixwordstory)

(I'll accept the bonus but I'm going to take it back for anyone who doesn't get sleep; it's been a full day of marching and near-death. You're also the long patrol-these shrews are likely looking to you for guidance and a plan)

Garo/Jean asked the group if she was needed for anything, ready to hit the hay (or the cheese?) should no one need her.

(Jean are you rolling haunted by the past? You get +1 from baobur's "inspiration")

(Sure, was waiting to hear from the others first, but let's roll to see what happens while we wait: 9 )