39: Look for the Crimson Midget

[Ebiris]

[14:05] <@Ebiris> Leaving Shadowshore and Cudgel districts behind, the two gondoliers ply the murky waters of the harbour as they skirt around domineering merchantmen and caravels this way and that, before turning into a canal splitting through the clustered islands of the Merchant District, trailing under vaulted ornate bridges where cloaked and coat wearing passersby go overhead, houses and shops rising up right at the canalfront on either side as you wind your way up inland and towards the bridge linking Wagon Street with Bastion Street, a small dock beside it with stairs up onto the road proper. Naturally Rudy and 'Alison' arrive first, having chance to disembark and make their way onto the bridge proper with Lucie and Glenn's gondola visible just starting to pass underneath.
[14:07] <@Rudy> "Maybe we should head roughly around where she did, see if anyone tries to head us off," remarks Rudy.
[14:08] <@Henrietta> "Certainly," Henrietta agrees quietly. "If I look like I am trying to remember something, it might give extra incentive to approach us?"
[14:08] <@Ebiris> From here one can cross over a bridge to the North up into Sunset district, cross the bridge next to you over onto Bastion Street, or walk South a little ways and cross another bridge onto Star Street. Lots of ways to go!
[14:09] <@Rudy> "How do you look like that? Have you got some paper you can look at or something?" asks Rudy, deciding to start heading towards the bridge to Bastion Street.
[14:10] <@Henrietta> "Did you never forget something and wonder about it?" Henrietta asks back. "Next time you do, keep a mirror handy and you will see for yourself."
[14:11] <@Rudy> "Wow, someone's feeling snippy today!"
[14:12] <@Henrietta> "Hmph. If someone is, it may well be because a different someone is always doing something to bring that about, I would wager," Henrietta responds with a sniff.
[14:12] <@Ebiris> Bastion street crosses the length of this particular island, heading off quite a ways Westwards. The pair of Henrietta and Rudy are just crossing the arching bridge where a building signed as Rooftop Solutions with a cheery image of a figure cupping his hands and shouting from a rooftop takes up one of the painted over windows stands to their left. In smaller lettering it claims to be a messenger service. A little bit ahead is a small open market selling various farm produce. Meanwhile Glenn and Lucie have a chance to step back onto dry land themselves...
[14:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: #evil for Glenn and Lucie, actually
[14:14] <@Rudy> "It's just for fun," complains Rudy. "It doesn't hurt you or anything, so what's the problem? Most girls like it, you know."
[14:15] <@Henrietta> "Well, the answer is obvious then, is it not? I am not most girls."
[14:17] <@Rudy> "I just don't get why it bothers you. I mean, it's obviously not jealousy, so it has to be something else."
[14:19] <@Henrietta> "It, well, if you must know...." Henrietta squirms slightly. "It makes me feel really cheap. It is not very pleasant, I will have you know."
[14:20] <@Rudy> "Cheap?" asks Rudy, in surprise. "Watching other girls get hit on makes you feel cheap? That one's new."
[14:21] <@Henrietta> "Watching every other girl go... kiss you... and things, right after you meet them. On behalf of my gender, I take offense!"
[14:24] <@Rudy> Rudy veers off into a nearby alleyway, intent on checking out the area between Star Street and Bastion Street. "But that's wrong, that's totally wrong! I'm not some guy who just plays around with women without thinking about them or anything," he replies. "It's my rule that they need to have more fun than me, or I'll just be like that scumbag noble, I bet."
[14:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[14:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d100 and gets 79." [1d100=79]
[14:25] <@Henrietta> "Except he was really bad at it...." Henrietta trails off, glancing about her at the alleyway.
[14:25] <@Rudy> "Well, that's the difference. He doesn't have any real love in him, unlike me."
[14:26] <@Ebiris> Entering the alleyway just before the market stalls, Rudy finds it to be quite narrow, forcing him and Henrietta to walk single file if they wish to traverse it. It doesn't go directly to Star Street, but seems to run between two homes here on Bastion, butting against the back of another building that could be a restaurant from the smells emanating from the high window, the alley branching to the right around it while the left way is somewhat clogged with bins and rubbish.
[14:26] <@Henrietta> "You should find a very nice girl that you like and only settle for her!" Henrietta lectures Rudy, nothing in particular catching her attention.
[14:29] <@Rudy> Rudy ends up turning right, unwilling ot traverse a wall of garbage. "It's not so easy as that. There's got to be that initial spark," replies Rudy. "So I look for that in every girl. Love at first sight is kind of dumb, you know? You have to know the girl first. But if you end up just being friends, you're basically doomed."
[14:30] <@Henrietta> "It's not dumb!" Henrietta protests, following after him. "My parents have that, you know. It just means you haven't found the right person yet."
[14:31] <@Ebiris> It's a tight squeeze, a windowledge coming from under a shuttered window on the Bastion side making it even more awkward - considering the view is of a brick wall less than two feet away it's no wonder the window stays shut, though. Sounds like there's someone on the other side of it, though. If that's ignored, the narrow alley widens a little past both the restaurant and the house, into a small wash-line strewn courtyard.
[14:32] <@Rudy> "Well, when I find the right person, I'll concede to your theory," replies Rudy. "Love at first sight is something you know instinctively, right? No mistaking it? If so, then I haven't found it yet." It would be creepy to peer into people's windows, so Rudy ends up walking straight past it.
[14:34] <@Ebiris> It requires holding the breath to make the tight squeeze, but it's do-able. In the courtyard - really not much more than a ten by ten square - washlines festooned with damp garments hang overhead, criss-crossing each other at ground level and from windows at the second storey. A path goes back onto Bastion Street while another leads to Star Street, more easily traversable. There's also a narrow passage continuing inbetween the two.
[14:37] <@Henrietta> Her breath is already constrained, and Henrietta has no trouble passing through. "Do you think we could talk to the person whose window opens into the alley?" she asks Rudy, dropping the previous topic to focus better on their job. "But not, well, through the window."
[14:38] <@Rudy> "Sure, if it's a guy."
[14:40] <@Henrietta> "Did you see where the entrance to the building was?" Henrietta herself was too preoccupied at the time to pay attention.
[14:40] <@Rudy> "What? No. It's probably on the actual street."
[14:41] <@Henrietta> "We can go back to Bastion for now, then?" she suggests, intending on taking the new and more easily traversable passage.
[14:42] <@Rudy> "Mmm. We might not do badly just asking door-to-door," notes Rudy, trailing after Henri.
[14:43] <@Ebiris> Heading back out onto the street now past the market, Henrietta can see Glenn nearby buying an apple. On the other side is a wide building with a huge and gaudy golden figure above the door, his body tiny and out of proportion to his enormous head with wide bulging eyes and huge pointed ears. The gold flakes off in places, and a sign underneath hails it as the Golden Gremlin's House of Games. The wide double-doors are closed but there's a colourful poster on them.
[14:44] <@Ebiris> Glenn promptly heads into the same alley Rudy and Henrietta were in before.

----

[14:14] <@Ebiris> Climbing up onto the bridge, the oracle and the alchemist can see Rudy's familiar form along with an unfamiliar woman a bit ahead of them at the East end of Bastion Street, seemingly enjoying a pleasantly spirited conversation.
[14:15] * Ebiris sets mode: +o Glenn
[14:15] * @Lucie pays the gondolier his five coppers (no more!) and disembarks. She keeps an eye on the other team's direction and lags a bit behind, making a show of looking around the area, checking shops, and so on as she monitors them and the area.
[14:15] <@Ebiris> The young gondolier pockets his fee a bit dispiritedly and loiters in wait of another fare.
[14:18] <@Ebiris> Here on this side is a nearby Inn with a painting of a sleeping donkey at the canalside next to the bridge, while a little ways down the road away from Bastion Street is a bronze statue of Bacchus... quite a lewd one, but it doesn't stop the odd passerby from rubbing him... perhaps for luck? There's a plate underneath filled with a few copper and silver coins it looks like.
[14:19] * @Lucie strolls by and examines it, wondering if there's a dedicatory plaque or something, and searches her memory for what petitioners might be asking this particular god for.
[14:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll religion?
[14:19] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+8
[14:19] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+8 and gets 27." [1d20=19]
[14:20] <@Glenn> "How'd you like the gondola ride?" Glenn asks as they walk around, looking at the people around as well as the shops and other places of interest, same as Lucie. He doesn't pay the statue much attention though he does keep near Lucie when she goes to examine it.
[14:22] <@Ebiris> There's no plaque, it's a statue of a goat-legged slightly chubby man with a wide smile, a flagon tucked under one arm, and a... well, there's no way any man could have one of those that big, not without suffering severe blood loss issues. He's also known as Dionysus, a God of revelry, celebration, and excess... also arts and theatre, but most people focus on the debauchery aspect. Perhaps luck in throwing a good party? Or more likely luck in some mindless drug-fuelled sex, since Aphrodite would be more likely for simple romance and lust.
[14:24] * @Lucie shrugs and continues jer mostly aimless amble around the area, looking like she's looking for something she can't quite place as she just happens to trail after Rudy and the other woman.
[14:24] <@Lucie> *her
[14:26] <@Ebiris> Just past the bridge, Lucie can see Rudy and Henrietta diverting South into an alleyway.
[14:28] * @Lucie follows along. "Tolerable enough," she replies to Glenn. "Is that the sort of thing everyone else says about the Cobras, though? Well, I guess a bloated rep can only help them out."
[14:29] <@Ebiris> Crossing over the bridge, Lucie can see a messenger service on their right with a little open market ahead, vendors mostly hawking staple foods and nothing too fancy. The street continues on quite a ways past that, though.
[14:30] * @Lucie peeks down the alley, not meaning to lose track of the other duo, and as always keeping an eye out for anyone else taking an interest in their passing.
[14:32] <@Ebiris> The alley turns out of sight a little way in, no sign of Rudy or Henrietta. It's awfully narrow, though. One of the nearest vendors does take an immediate interest, "Madam! You like cucumbers? Potatos? Got great deal on veg, right here! Buy two pounds, get three pounds! No better deal in Salerno!"
[14:35] <@Glenn> "Sorry, we're not looking for vegetables at this time," Glenn says politely. He pauses though and asks, "You have any apples though?"
[14:36] * @Lucie just glares at the man for distracting her, then starts off down the alley. Glenn had better pay fast if he wants to keep up. Should've eaten before they left!
[14:36] <@Ebiris> The merchant grins toothily at Glenn, "No, but ask my friend Zevran! Oi, Zevran!" he calls to the merchant opposite him, who does have a wide selection of fresh fruit on offer.
[14:36] <@Ebiris> "You want apples? Buy a half dozen, get one free! Fresh from the orchard, bursting with flavour in every bite!" the eponymous Zevran calls eagerly.
[14:37] <@Ebiris> Lucie has to squeeze into the alley, earning a dubious look from the merchant who called to her. Once she reaches the corner she can see Rudy and Henrietta ahead to her right in a more open courtyard.
[14:38] <@Lucie> Well, as long as she can keep track of where everyone else. She hangs out at the turn so Glenn knows where she is (it's hardly the first unpleasant alleyway she's found herself in in her life), though she'll set off again if she looks about to lose the others.
[14:39] * @Glenn laughs. "I'll just take one to munch on along the road. No special deals today, sorry," Glenn says as he pulls out some money while giving a quick glance down the alley Lucie turned towards. "I need to get going and catch up to my companion before she strays too far exploring the city."
[14:39] <@Ebiris> It's merely one copper for an apple and the transaction is processed amicably!
[14:42] <@Glenn> "Thanks," Glenn says as he grabs the apple and follows after Lucie.
[14:42] * @Lucie keeps moving along the same cramped avenue the others followed, then.
[14:43] <@Ebiris> Lucie sees Henrietta and Rudy disappear as they head back in the direction of Bastion Street.
[14:44] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[14:44] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d100 and gets 36." [1d100=36]
[14:44] * @Lucie sighs. "Oh, really," she exclaims, walking along the backalley to follow their exact path instead of popping back out in front of the same merchants.
[14:46] <@Ebiris> Lucie has to squeeze some, especially to get past a windowsill (why?!) facing onto the already too narrow alley. It sounds like there's someone moving around behind it, but she'd have to stop and peer through the slats to see if she cared to. Otherwise, the small courtyard of laundry beckons!
[14:47] * @Lucie may as well take a second to see what kind of establishment is in there? Voyeuristic curiosity, it beckons!
[14:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2
[14:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 and gets 20." [1d20=18]
[14:50] <@Ebiris> Lucie stops and peeks through the slats... she can see a young woman in the process of putting on her underwear, a rumpled bed nearby... But just as the woman pulls a set of sheer stockings up her legs, she pauses and turns to look at the window. She's a pretty young thing, black-haired and pale skinned, with a perky figure. "Is someone there?" she asks in a questioning tone.
[14:52] <@Lucie> It would surely be a terrible idea to answer--this is business, keep moving on! Yet Lucie finds herself momentarily frozen in place, heart beating a little faster. "I'm just--the window sill, it makes it hard to squeeze past," the words tumble out.
[14:54] <@Ebiris> The woman's eyes widen and she steps back from the window. "Well... don't linger, then!" she blurts out.
[14:55] <@Lucie> "Of course--look, I'm not the idiot who put a window sill in an alley!" she snaps as she squeezes past and hurries on, making double time to catch up to the others. Hopefully Glenn's keeping up with her.
[14:56] <@Ebiris> "Neither was I!" the woman snaps back just in time for Glenn to reach the window.
[15:06] * @Glenn keeps following after Lucie and doesn't pay the woman any mind as he moves past the window sill.
[15:07] <@Ebiris> With Glenn finally waking up from mysterious alchemical dreams, the pair return back onto the street, seeing Rudy and Henrietta nearby at the door of the same building they just walked around. Talking to the woman Lucie saw! Except remarkably well dressed... and with shorter hair?
[15:09] <@Lucie> Well, that was fast work getting dressed. Lucie's inclined to make certain assumptions based on that (and the rumpled bed--it's a bit late in the day to just be waking). She'll meander around the street scanning local establishments and the like as she continues to watch for anyone taking undue interest in any part of their group.
[15:10] <@Ebiris> On the other side of the market and opposite the alley she just emerged from is a wide building with a huge and gaudy golden figure above the door, his body tiny and out of proportion to his enormous head with wide bulging eyes and huge pointed ears. The gold flakes off in places, and a sign underneath hails it as the Golden Gremlin's House of Games. The wide double-doors are closed but there's a colourful poster on them.
[15:12] <@Lucie> Gambling hall, huh? Maybe they're not *all* crooked, but...it's a common scheme to bilk the unsuspecting in her old circles. Still, likely to be a busy place, could be turned over for info later if they fail at finding other leads. Lucie makes a mental note of this, goes back to watch the others.
[15:20] <@Ebiris> Rudy and Henrietta finish up at the door of the quick-changing woman, stepping back out into the market.
[15:21] * @Lucie figures she may as well rejoin the others at this point--no one's made any apparent attempt at tailing them, and maybe Rudy learned something of use.

----

[14:44] <@Rudy> "What is wrong with Isernians? You'd never see shit like that in Anowia," mutters Rudy, disgusted at the Golden Gremlin's gormless appearance.
[14:45] <@Henrietta> "We can... try a game, I suppose, once we check here?" Henrietta suggests, trying to determine what house the windows that they have passed could belong to, and whether they can easily enter the premises or not.
[14:46] <@Rudy> "Oh, sure, if you like taking shots at glued targets, or trying to find the marble out of three empty cups. I'll keep my money, thanks."
[14:47] <@Henrietta> "I was thinking that if anywhere people might remember a new face, it might be there?"
[14:47] <@Ebiris> It's a simple enough two storey house of which Salerno has many of, sturdy brick construction, and door placed inbetween two of the merchant stalls.
[14:48] * @Henrietta approaches the door, hesitates briefly and then knocks upon it.
[14:48] * @Rudy walks up to the poster and takes a look at it. "You're right, of course."
[14:51] <@Ebiris> It takes a moment before the door is opened by a slim and pretty young woman with short but curly black hair framing a face still showing a few traces of childish roundness, wearing a simple but flattering housedress and apron. "Hello?" she puts on a quizzical smile, looking between the duo.
[14:54] <@Henrietta> "Excuse me," Henrietta says, sounding slightly worried. "This might sound strange, but have you seen me before?"
[14:55] <@Ebiris> "Huh?" she does blink at the strange question, eyeing Henrietta in Alison's clothing. "No... not... that I recall..." she replies in a somewhat strained tone of confusion. "Is this... I mean, um, why?"
[14:57] <@Ebiris> From the back a female voice can dimly be heard shouting "Neither was I!" prompting a glance backwards from the woman at the door.
[14:59] <@Henrietta> "A few days ago, well...." Henrietta grimaces. "I remember being here, bits and pieces, but... not much else. I was hoping to... find someone to help me remember the rest. Do you know someone here who could, that is, who could help me with that?"
[15:01] <@Rudy> "I'm sorry for the confusion," adds Rudy. "We're investigating something for the city at the same time; the young woman here was caught in a fight, and we're trying to find the perpetrators. If you know anything about that, it would be greatly appreciated."
[15:02] <@Ebiris> "Oh, I'm sorry, sweetie," she gives Henrietta a commiserating look, "I'm more in the business of making new memories. It sounds like you've spent too long in a-" she stops at Rudy's addition. "Fight? Well, um... young Waltham has been picking fights with people a lot all of a sudden. He used to be such an innocent boy, too - never would've thought he'd harm a fly."
[15:04] <@Henrietta> "Too long in...?" Henrietta repeats in confusion.
[15:04] <@Rudy> "Really? Can you describe his attitude to me?" asks Rudy, perking up. "We've had similar cases of this sort of thing, where people change their ways for the worse all of a sudden."
[15:06] <@Ebiris> She gives Henrietta an apologetic smile, "Sorry, at first it sounded like you'd been drinking too much," she explains before facing Rudy. "He's very surly all of a sudden. Takes insult at the slightest thing, calls people horrid things to get a rise out of them. Most people let it lie, he's young and doesn't look threatening, and Old Waltham is very respected. But he did have a black eye when I saw him last night, so... probably a matter of time till he gets worse since it didn't seem to calm him down any."
[15:06] <@Rudy> "Can you tell me when this started happening?"
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "Sometime this week, I think," she taps her chin thoughtfully, looking upwards. "Yes, I saw him on Sunday night and he was his usual meek self, but on Monday afternoon I saw him yelling at people on the street."
[15:09] <@Rudy> "Sunday night. So, he was out that night?"
[15:10] * @Henrietta grimaces. "Maybe it was him, then...."
[15:11] <@Ebiris> "At the Golden Gremlin," she inclines her head towards the nearby building, "He's good at cards. He's been barred recently, though, for being a troublemaker."
[15:12] <@Rudy> "Good at cards, huh... alright. Do you know if I could speak to him?"
[15:13] <@Ebiris> "Although to be honest I have a hard time picturing him actually *winning* a fight," she admits afterwards with a slightly repressed giggle. "He lives with his father up at the other end of Star Street, but he could be wandering anywhere during the day."
[15:14] <@Henrietta> "Star Street..." Henrietta repeats slowly. "That's the last I remember. I was there... or was going there?" She frowns, but the expression passes quickly in favor of gratitude. "Thank you! It's the first lead I have! Thank you so much!"
[15:15] <@Ebiris> "You're welcome," she smiles at Henrietta, "I hope you get your memory back, Miss."
[15:16] <@Rudy> "It's been a pleasure. Thanks for your help, Miss...?"
[15:17] <@Ebiris> "Cherise," she smiles pleasantly at Rudy. "Cherise Tollwood."
[15:18] <@Rudy> Rudy nods. "Good day."
[15:19] <@Ebiris> "Good luck," the woman returns, stepping back and closing the door. As they step away, Rudy and Henrietta can see Lucie and Glenn loitering nearby outside the casino Rudy loathes so much.
[15:20] <@Henrietta> "The Golden Gremlin might have a clue as well?" Henrietta suggests to Rudy. "They might tell us more about Waltham and the circumstances of him being kicked out. Or they might even have seen me?"
[15:21] <@Rudy> "Mmm. We should go ask after Waltham at his place, too. Let's get those guys to do that."
[15:22] <@Ebiris> As if reading Rudy's mind, Lucie starts to approach the pair!
[15:22] <@Henrietta> As they have just emerged from an alleyway, Henrietta leads him towards one so that they could be linked with Message.
[15:23] * @Lucie walks up to the two of them. "Haven't seen anyone taking an interest in you lot," she says. "'cept maybe the girl there, unless I miss my guess. Turn anything up? I figure if not, we can ask around the gambling hall here. Likely a crowd there."
[15:23] * @Glenn follows shortly after Lucie, after a bit of pause at her decision to approach the other pair.
[15:24] <@Rudy> "Yeah, we actually found another case like Alison's, and the last place we know poor Young Waltham was turned out to be that very hall," replies Rudy. "We're thinking of investigating this place, but maybe you could go have a chat with the Waltham's and see if they know anything else that's helpful."
[15:26] <@Henrietta> "Both father and son go by the same name," Henrietta elaborates further, "and live at the other end of Star Street. This change in the younger Waltham is very recent, apparently."
[15:27] <@Lucie> "Oh yeah? Same cause, you think? Or something contagious like, maybe. Huh."
[15:28] <@Henrietta> "I think the casino may either hold the cause, or give us more information, but before that I want to talk to the Walthams and see what happens there. Shall we?"
[15:28] <@Ebiris> Approaching said Casino, the party find two things. The poster on the door features a fat-bellied red devil laughing atop a huge mound of gold and surrounded by buxom bat-winged beauties, script underneath reading "Cheat the Devil and take his Gold! A Special Event all This Week! Will you walk away with the fabled JACKPOT of the Devil, or will He STEAL your SOUL?" Unfortunately the door itself is locked, and a sign beside it indicates that the casino is open from 6pm to 4am. It's not quite noon yet.
[15:28] <@Rudy> "Reminds me of that disease on Griffon Reef," remarks Rudy, after a moment. "Yeah, we can come back here tonight."
[15:28] <@Lucie> "Good enough for me," Lucie agrees.
[15:29] <@Henrietta> With such an agreement formed, Henrietta leads the way to Star Street, connecting them all with Message once they are out of sight of interlopers in an alleyway.
[15:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[15:29] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d100 and gets 50." [1d100=50]
[15:32] <@Ebiris> Crossing the alleyway without incident, the group emerge onto the parallel street next to a Jovar themed restaurant from which tangy and sour aromas emanate, signposted as the Emperor's Kitchens. Across the way is a three storey structure with a tall signboard of a well endowed woman dressed in scanty silks with a topknot of black hair, lettering running down calling it the Crimson Genie. Off in the distance one can see the gothic rise of Lady Vanderboren's manor to the West. A group of tattooed and muscled men, barechested despite the icy chill in the air, approach the Crimson Genie with an air of merriment and expectation.
[15:33] <@Rudy> "Does nobody here realise it's freezing but us?" wonders Rudy, starting to stroll towards the other end of Star Street.
[15:34] <@Lucie> "Maybe you're just used to milder autumns, Rudy?" Lucie guesses.
[15:35] * @Henrietta has to wince at Rudy's question, but she can hardly admit she was wrong at this point. Instead, she pretends everything is perfectly fine and follows him quietly, while observing the establishments and wondering which of them a reserved courrier might be a patron of. Not the genie, certainly, but maybe something else will come up later?
[15:36] <@Rudy> "Maybe. I lived inland, so we didn't have the sea chill coming in," replies Rudy. "Isernia's certainly been wetter."
[15:37] <@Ebiris> Most everyone else is dressed quite appropriately for the weather, and the bare-chested men to draw a few odd looks. But perhaps they've taken lessons from Henrietta in stoicly enduring the bitter cold of encroaching Winter. Heading up Star Street towards a bridge that crosses over onto Blue Skink Lane right by Vanderboren Manor, the group finds numerous houses all around, as well as a shop called Cages of Plenty, showing a veritable menagerie of colourful and exotic animals in its windows, thankfully tending towards the small and ornamental rather than the deadly.
[15:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[15:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d100 and gets 66." [1d100=66]
[15:37] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception?
[15:37] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+11
[15:37] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[15:37] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+0
[15:37] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+0 and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[15:37] * @Henrietta pauses before the pet store to admire the animals!
[15:37] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[15:37] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[15:38] <@Glenn> roll d20+2
[15:38] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+2 and gets 21." [d20=19]
[15:39] -> *Lucie* You can dimly hair a noise coming from the alleys leading into Bastion Street. It sounds like a wounded animal wailing.
[15:39] -> *Glenn* You can dimly hair a noise coming from the alleys leading into Bastion Street. It sounds like a wounded animal wailing, or a very incoherent small child.
[15:39] * @Lucie cocks an ear towards an alleywar off of Bastion. "What is that? Wounded animal?" She glances around to pin down the particular street.
[15:39] <@Lucie> *alleyway
[15:40] <@Ebiris> Henrietta sees lots of colourful birds and small rodent-like creatures with big dark eyes and huge fan-shaped ears, and some ornamental small dogs and cats, all in various cages. Most are sleeping but a few are up, bouncing up and staring at anyone who comes by the window.
[15:40] <@Glenn> "Seems like it..." Glenn says as he briefly turns to look in that direction, trying to better place the location as well. "It's certainly wailing like one."
[15:41] <@Rudy> "What're these things?" asks Rudy, eyeing the things with the hueg ears.
[15:41] <@Ebiris> It's likely coming from the thin alleyway between two houses opposite the pet shop, Lucie thinks. No one else walking by seems to register it, though, but Henrietta does see a few animals perking up, the cats especially fuzzing their fur and edging in their cages away from that direction.
[15:42] <@Ebiris> OOC: knowledge nature
[15:42] <@Rudy> OOC: I lack it
[15:42] <@Ebiris> OOC: anyone who wants to educate Rudy can roll
[15:42] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+6
[15:42] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+6 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[15:43] -> *Henrietta* You think they're some type of weasel, but don't know the specifics.
[15:43] <@Glenn> roll d20+13
[15:43] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+13 and gets 25." [d20=12]
[15:43] * @Lucie strolls over to peer down that alley and see what might be happening there. Probably nothing that helps their job, and she'd got used to turning a blind eye to random unpleasantness back in the day, but you never know. Opportunities can come from unexpected places, she knows from experience.
[15:43] <@Henrietta> "Weasels," Henrietta responds, smiling at the creatures.
[15:43] -> *Glenn* They're Goblin Foxes, more closely related to rats than dogs despite the name. Cute but very skittish, they're quite messy and make for poor pets.
[15:44] <@Rudy> "Huh. Never thought they'd look like that."
[15:44] <@Glenn> "Goblin foxes actually," Glenn says. "They're kind of skittish and messy."
[15:45] <@Rudy> "Huh. They don't look like goblins, or foxes," notes Rudy.
[15:45] <@Glenn> "You probably don't want one as a pet," he adds.
[15:45] <@Ebiris> The Alley is much like the one from earlier that she followed Rudy and Henrietta into, a narrow passage to a junction against the back of another structure. The sound is getting fainter and more intermittent, but she thinks it's coming from the left.
[15:45] <@Rudy> "Where'd Lucie go?"
[15:45] <@Ebiris> Lucie is nearby looking down an alley opposite the pet shop!
[15:45] * @Glenn shrugs. "That's what they're called though."
[15:46] <@Rudy> "Oh, there she is!" Rudy trudges after Lucie. "Thinking of home?"
[15:46] <@Lucie> "Something back this way," she mentions to the others. "Hurt, maybe dying. Worth looking into? Would take us off the path a ways, probably."
[15:46] * @Lucie shoots Rudy a Look.
[15:46] <@Rudy> Rudy recoils!
[15:47] <@Henrietta> Lucie's words take Henrietta's attention off the adorable pets, and she solves everyone's dilemma by quickly walking down the alleyway!
[15:48] * @Lucie shrugs and follows her.
[15:49] * @Glenn follows after the others off to see what gave that wail earlier.
[15:49] <@Ebiris> Much as before it's a tight squeeze, but Henrietta forces her way down followed by Lucie. Reaching the turn she can see it heading right to another small courtyard, while left approaches a corner veering out of sight. But down that direction she also sees a small black cat laying on its side, yowling piteously, its fur matted and bald in places. It forces its head up to look at her with piercing amber eyes.
[15:51] * @Henrietta steps into the intersection, such as it is, and glances left to make sure there is nothing just waiting there to pounce on her before she makes her way to the yowling cat.
[15:51] <@Lucie> "Oh, it's just a cat," Lucie observes.
[15:51] <@Henrietta> "Is Glenn there?" Henrietta asks upon her approach.
[15:51] <@Ebiris> There doesn't seem to be anything around besides herself, the cat, Lucie, and Glenn! The cat ceases its quiet yowling and just looks up at Henrietta as she steps closer.
[15:52] <@Rudy> Rudy shrugs, and remains out on the street for now. A wounded animal, oh no! We better drop everything and go help it! It's not like there's hundreds like it everywhere!
[15:54] <@Glenn> "I'm here," Glenn says as he reaches the cat and the other two. Seeing the cat, he pauses. "...Let me guess, you want me to feed it a potion, like the bird that time?"
[15:54] <@Ebiris> Glenn actually can't see the cat what with Lucie and Henrietta blocking the way in the narrow alley.
[15:54] * @Glenn says that about whatever is surely wailing then.
[15:54] <@Henrietta> This would be difficult, but Henrietta approaches the cat slowly and then reaches down with her hand. Once she ascertains that the cat is used to her presence, she will try to pick it up.
[15:55] * @Lucie sighs. "Really, Henri? A stray cat? Aren't these potions rather expensive? Aren't we working?"
[15:56] <@Henrietta> "If you pass by anyone suffering that makes you a terrible person," Henrietta responds, smiling down at the cat.
[15:56] <@Lucie> "Not as though it's a person we're talking about here," Lucie says with a shrug.
[15:57] * @Glenn sighs and passes Lucie a potion. "Just hand it over to her, it'll be quicker."
[15:57] * @Lucie rolls her eyes and takes it for Henri's use.
[15:58] <@Ebiris> The cat seems entirely untroubled by Henrietta's presence, only looking at her placidly now that it's no longer meowing. As she stoops down towards it, it pushes itself onto its feet and looks up... and elongates, its head stretching away from its body and fur receding to leave pink flesh behind, that similarly changes shape into a more warped configuration that looks rather like a chicken on display at a butchershop but gifted with the head of an overlarge toucan. It opens its bone-coloured beak too wide and emits... it's not a sound, more of a reverbation, but one that goes right through everyone present in the alley!
[15:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: fort saves you three
[15:58] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+3 why can't all my saves be will
[15:58] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+3 why can't all my saves be will and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[15:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+4
[15:58] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+4 and gets 7." [1d20=3]
[16:01] <@Glenn> roll d20+7
[16:01] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+7 and gets 22." [d20=15]
[16:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 rounds stunned
[16:01] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4 rounds stunned and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[16:02] <@Ebiris> Henrietta and Lucie are both sent into a fugue by the tone hammering deep inside their brains, dropping anything held and swaying vacantly - not that there's much room to sway in the narrow alley. Glenn at least manages to endure it, keeping his wits about him!
[16:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll init
[16:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 thing
[16:02] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 thing and gets 26." [1d20=17]
[16:02] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 18." [1d20=12]
[16:03] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[16:03] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 i'm around the corner and stuff
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 i'm around the corner and stuff and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[16:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 11." [d20=7]
[16:04] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Thing > Lucie (stunned) > Rudy > Glenn > Henrietta (stunned)'
[16:05] <@Ebiris> While Henrietta is stunned and leaned over, the monstrous bird opens its beak even wider and its tongue whips out towards the disguised sorceresses forehead!
[16:05] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 cmb
[16:05] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+11 cmb and gets 21." [1d20=10]
[16:05] <@Glenn> "...I thought you said it was just a stray cat, Lucie!" Glenn exclaims with some force as he stumbles ever so briefly from what just happened. "Cats don't do whatever that just did!"
[16:06] * @Lucie is in no fit state to respond, staring dumbly with her mouth hanging slack as she sways in place.
[16:06] <@Ebiris> It makes contact just barely enough to leave a bruise, but sticks there for an instant and seems to pulse with energy, a visible yellow light fading out of Henrietta's head and into the tiny monster bird!
[16:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: 1 nonlethal damage and see PM
[16:09] <@Ebiris> The tongue snaps back into the bird's mouth and it contracts in on itself, turning into a small dog and scampering down the alleyway! It reaches the corner but isn't quite out of sight yet!
[16:10] <@Ebiris> Lucie gathers her wits after the trauama, but can't quite act yet...
[16:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:10] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[16:10] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Thing > Lucie > Rudy > Glenn > Henrietta (stunned)'
[16:10] <@Rudy> "This is so dumb," mutters Rudy, sighing. (holding)
[16:11] <@Rudy> (ex that!)
[16:13] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! Something's happening! Guys, what's going on? What did the cat do?" exclaims Rudy, stamping his foot. "You, air-flying-thing! Go get that cat!"
[16:13] <@Rudy> An air elemental leaps into existence, ready to take the shortest route to the alleyway in search of feline foes!
[16:13] <@Ebiris> The air elemental flies over the house blocking Rudy's way and then down into the alley, hovering above to not block anyone's way, and sadly seeing no felines in evidence.
[16:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:16] <@Glenn> "I don't know what the cat did!" Glenn answers Rudy, as he pauses to check on Lucie and Henrietta, not really able to jump over them to chase the non-cat thing. "I just saw it do something to Henri and then a -dog- scampered off!"
[16:17] <@Rudy> "A dog! Go catch that dog!" yells Rudy.
[16:19] <@Ebiris> Henrietta gathers her wits as the small brown terrier rushes off quickly down the alley towards bastion street and out of sight!
[16:19] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Thing > Lucie > Rudy > Elemental > Glenn > Henrietta'
[16:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[16:19] * @Henrietta slowly scratches her forehead as she regains her bearings.
[16:20] <@Lucie> "I owe you a drink for this later, Henri," Lucie mutters as she rudely pushes the sorceress down to bolt at full speed down the alley after the cat-bird-dog-thing-monster, drawing her mace as she moves!
[16:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri can submit but if she doesn't Lucie has to roll CMB vs her
[16:20] <@Henrietta> OOC: Fight!
[16:21] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+5 fine!
[16:21] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+5 fine! and gets 22." [1d20=17]
[16:22] <@Ebiris> Lucie bowls Henri over like the skinny Anowian she looks like, stumbling down the alleyway and scraping her clothes something fierce as she reaches the corner, seeing it lead out onto the street ahead with the dog racing away!
[16:22] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:23] <@Rudy> Rudy has the air elemental chase after the dog, and the summoner himself quickly empowers himself with amazing speed so that he can catch up posthaste! OOC: Haste, elemental is serving as a marker, basically, chase!
[16:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: heading into the same alley after Glenn? There's a proper street about a hundred feet away to your left and another alley about sixty to your right. Narrow alleys (like this one) mean half speed movement for medium creatures
[16:25] <@Rudy> OOC: I won't go down the same alley as Glenn... which of the street and the other alley appears closer to the elemental at a glance?
[16:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: the street, since the elemental went to the left of the Glenn alley
[16:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: elemental is close enough to reach the dog and then attack if it cares to
[16:25] <@Rudy> OOC: Is the street horribly crowded?
[16:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: no
[16:25] <@Rudy> OOC: If not, go!
[16:26] <@Rudy> OOC: Elemental will do just that
[16:27] <@Ebiris> Rudy bolts towards the street running alongside the canal opposite Vanderboren manor - is the beautiful young baroness looking from those tall windows, sighing wistfully at his athletic prowess? We'll never know, sadly... but Bastion Street and the bridge across to Blue Skink Lane is just ahead!
[16:27] <@Rudy> The elemental swoops down to intercept the fleeing dog, battering it with winds for all it's worth!
[16:28] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+9 whatever it can take one real hit, surely, and -10 HP etc
[16:28] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+9 whatever it can take one real hit, surely, and -10 HP etc and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[16:28] <@Rudy> OOC: +2 charge +1 height
[16:29] <@Ebiris> The elemental swoops down at the dog, but it nimbly dodges to the side, scampering away!
[16:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:30] * @Glenn drops down a bit to help Henrietta out and try to figure out what the creature did to her while the others chase after it, rather than step over Henrietta like Lucie. That's just cold. (ooc: heal check or any sort of thing to figure out what's wrong with her?)
[16:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: go for it
[16:31] <@Glenn> roll d20+9 heal
[16:31] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+9 heal and gets 17." [d20=8]
[16:32] -> *Glenn* She seems to be responding normally to stimuli now - eyes are alert and focusing... with a lot of anger on Lucie, it seems like. There's a faint red scratch on her forehead, but it hasn't even drawn blood. Looks fine and healthy to him, although the illusory disguise spell could be hiding something for all he knows.
[16:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: H-chan
[16:33] * @Henrietta shakes her head, struggling to her feet. "Who-- Lucie?! Hey, what was that all about?!" As best as she can, she heads out of the alley and towards the street-proper!
[16:34] <@Ebiris> OOC: back past Glenn to Star Street?
[16:34] <@Henrietta> OOC: After Lucie
[16:35] <@Ebiris> Shuffling along through the narrow alleyway, Henrietta catches up with Lucie at the corner! Meanwhile the dog continues bolting away from the elmental...
[16:35] <@Ebiris> OOC: provokes AoO
[16:35] <@Rudy> The elemental lashes out with another swirly fist of compressed air!
[16:35] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[16:35] <@Henrietta> "You pushed me!" Henrietta accuses, sounding a mix of angry and hurt. "And stepped on me! At least twice!"
[16:35] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[16:35] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:36] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+1
[16:36] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+1 and gets 4." [1d4=3]
[16:36] <@Ebiris> The elemental strikes hard and fast, making the dog skid away as its hind legs are knocked out from behind it, but it quickly recovers and turns onto Bastion Street, starting to dash Eastwards through the pedestrians!