Victorious advance

[Anastasia]

"Yes. It is a blessing. Mostly." Here Antenora clears her throat. "I've already had a few that invoked my name when they were with lovers. Does it ever get less awkward?"

Syala's smiling, "You get used to it. That's part of life too."

"Or a benefit, depending on who you ask," The Red Knight thirds, "Ah, speaking of love. Syala, do you still have access to the Tree of Idun?"

"I do," Syala agrees.

"I would like an apple from it," Is the Red Knight's reply.

"Alright, as long as it's not for evil means," Syala agrees, "Now, I'm going to go check on Jessica," she says, as...

Anything else to do here?

[Ebiris]

Nope, think we're done.

[Anastasia]

To refresh, you're waiting on war and/or Daun?

[Ebiris]

Plus Honey Belle's investigations for Sharran activity in Pallanth, and seeing if anything bad happens to Antenora.

[Anastasia]

Okay, give me a Diplo check for Honey Belle.

[Ebiris]

Reminder of her protocol for this, she's taking 10 pretty consistently. (numbers updated for her higher level since last time)

Step 1: Gather information about the best rich people taverns and hangouts. She uses the epic 'rouse suspicion' ability to be pretty obvious about this, giving her a +20 bonus to her check. She takes 10 for 81.
Step 1a: Gather information about Sharran activity concurrently with the previous action. She uses the epic 'avoid suspicion' ability to fly completely under the radar while doing this, taking a -20 penalty to her check. She takes 10 for 41.
Step 2: Spend several evenings performing at places highlighted to her in step 1. She sings and dances while intentionally limiting her abilities - she could hit DC 61 by taking 10 but she'll aim to hit DC 25 for a memorable performance.
Step 2a: Gather information about Sharran activity while performing at these places. Again she'll take a -20 penalty to her check to avoid rousing suspicion, but she'll also get Alicia to buff her with heroism for 5 hours ahead of each evening, letting her hit DC 45.
Step 3: Explore town during mornings after performances looking for any evidence of Sharran activity - symbols, omens, superstitions. She'll take 10 for 58 on perception and 10 for 58 on knowledge: religion as far as spotting physical signs, and 10 for 58 on sense motive for spotting suspicious people.
Step 4: Move to next town either by using Seira's teleport network (preferred if available), or joining up with a caravan. If none are available she'll gather information to find reliable adventurers/bodyguards and take 10 for 58 and hire said guards with a portion of her proceeds from performing to escort her to the next town.

[Anastasia]

It happens to be little more than a village. Elsoir is in the central region of Pallanth, rather sleepy all told. Marie's just spending the night and passing through as she works. But it's at the bar that she catches wind of something, a muttering in the drinking crowd.

"Curse those Sharrans."

[Ebiris]

The charming blonde human girl collects her drink from the bartender with a smile and a tip, weaving through the crowd towards the sound of that complaint. "Seems everywhere I go it's always the same song with the same name being cursed," she says casually, commiserating smile on her lips as she invites the speaker to share what they've gotten bothered over.

[Anastasia]

The speaker is an elf, of course. Tall and of fair features, lithe to the point of being feminine and pretty to match. His (you think) long black hair cascades down to his back.  He sips a bit of wine and gives you a look. He's wearing well cut and well made clothes, though you don't spy a weapon on him.

"Honey Belle?" The elf asks, giving you a look over his wine. "I didn't mean to be overheard."

[Ebiris]

"You need good ears as well as a good voice to make it as a singer," Marie says as she smiles back at the elf. "Also hearing that name's usually a cue to get out of town and call the Crimson Guard where I come from."

[Anastasia]

A giggle from the elf, "Wisdom straight from the whispered groves of Arvandor."

[Ebiris]

"Isn't it?" Marie agrees, arching a brow. "So should I skip the encore and book it on the next caravan out of here?"

[Anastasia]

Lowering his voice, "Well, not here...but oh, I shouldn't say." he says, demurring.

[Ebiris]

"Why not?" Marie asks. "Are you being threatened, or protecting someone's reputation?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh, I sold someone the information and they asked me to keep it quiet. ...but it is Sharrans..." he muses, "Well..."