Shattered Star: The Asylum Stone [IC]

[DrK]

Akif pauses and nods. "Very well Myki. " he adds, stepping aside and waiting for Myki to search the pantry whilst glancing up at the stairs.

[Qazgir]

Sisir

"When we do find the kidnapped troll, as I have no doubt we will do so, what is our exit strategy? Shall we simply return the way we came, or perhaps attempt to leave through a window?" He turns to the scribe, asking "you can't simply teleport us out by any chance?"

[Tippnick]

Iluvar ponders the question then responds, "He is a troll and will be a burden if he is unable to move on his own. We might want to worry about that to. Maybe make a travois or something similar. Keep an eye out for materials. However, I would not suggest a window. We don't know what kind of shape he will be in."

[lostsole31]

Myki checks the small room attached to the northwest of the blasted kitchen. This small closet is packed tight with sacks, jars, and crates of foodstuffs. It takes her less than a minute for a once-over before she's satisfied and steps out.

As the party makes its way to the stairs back to the west, The Scribe answers Sisir. "We should come back the way we came, because the way we came includes known areas that we've cleared of hostiles."

In relation to Akif's question The Scribe seems taken aback. "I don't know whether to be flattered or dumbfounded. We do have a teleporter in the group, and I have only recently discovered that in the last battle," he says, looking to Iluvar. "But I can't help but think that was a recent plateau of ki sorcery .... and the first time he's ever done that?"

He looks back to Akif, "But what about our association makes you think I muster magics of anything even remotely of that power? Besides, I doubt Iluvar could teleport everyone, so that isn't useful in this case, as it would split the party's strength. We entered in force; we leave the same way."

[Qazgir]

"Ah well, no easy way out, not that I really expected you to be capable of such a thing, but one can always hope. I suppose the best we can wish for then is that taking the troll raises no more of an alarm that our present activities." Sisir looks bemused, and seeing that Myki has finished her inspection of the pantry says "shall we proceded upstairs then?"

[DrK]

At the lack of magical solutions Akif merely shrugs. "If my brother and I hold to our true forms we can easily carry a troll out. They are only small" he says, with a slight laugh. "Well, small for giantkind." he clarifies with a wink to his brother, happy that they both know that titans are the mightiest of all creatures. Waiting for the the choice of doors to be decided he stands ready to move deeper into the maze like house.

[lostsole31]

While Akif is confused and looking for a choice of doors ... Myki - who knows that all doors have been explored, or at least the places on the other side of them have been explored - begins to carefully head upstairs. She takes the lead, but she taps Akif to begin following her, and everyone else begins to fall in line.

She only gets a little bit up the stairs before she looks to switch with Akif. "You'll have to go first with your light since it seems dark upstairs. Just .... stop charging ahead, okay? I mean, you do you, but I might sense danger before you, and if you only move a little bit at a time, that gives me time to catch up behind you and search and sense the area for danger. Deal?"

[DrK]

Akif nods to Myki, "Very well. Then stay by my side and stay in the light". He'll renew the light spell before heading upstairs but pausing at the fist door he finds to allow Myki to examine it before he opens it, even his movements up the stairs are slow as he allows Myki time to scan the ground in front of them before moving forwards

[lostsole31]

Right at the top of the stairs is a door just past a small bit of hallway quickly turning south (then east), so Akif clears that and goes around the corner as Myki goes to the door. While Akif is up here, he notes several doors in this localized "nook," and then a long open-air walkway (as in outside, not inside the manor) that continues from this portion of the building to another portion of the building.

Myki listens at the door, and then she and Akif switch places for him to open the door. What does Akif have in hand? Shield stowed and spear in hand? Because he is opening doors, but he can't "stow" this massive spear.

[DrK]

With Myki's nod after checking the door Akif leans the spear against the wall to free up a hand to open the door (and assming nothing leaps out) he'll grab the spear up again before advancing into the room, a nod of A more prudent approach I see." to the young lady.

[lostsole31]

Akif opens the door. Against the far wall of this small chamber stands a small shrine made out of interlocking gears, topped with an artistic mask of a female face formed from metal plates. The two walls to either side hold long tapestries, one of a naked clockwork woman reaching down from a cloud to lift up a young man in robes, and another showing the same man standing triumphantly on the shoulders of an enormous humanoid machine as it stomps across a crowded marketplace. A mat sits on the floor before the shrine, a bowl of incense overturned in front of it. Both the tapestries are ripped and askew, and the shrine itself is dented.

[DrK]

Akif enters the room and steps to the east as he does so. Holding the spear upright (so as not to threaten) he looks at the man. ”Greetings, who would you be?” he asks firmly

[Tippnick]

Iluvar looks around trying to see who Akif was talking to. "I don't see anyone in here. This looks like a shrine. Let us try to figure out who this shrine is to. Maybe we can gleen a clue about the owner of this building."

Spoiler: hmm

Show

Is there anything familiar or recognizable about the symbols here?

[lostsole31]

Akif must've meant west, not east?

The religious scholars determine that the clockwork lady is a representation of Brigh, goddess of clockworks, invention, and time.

[DrK]

Akif shakes his head, and rattles his helm slightly, "This place. It sees to be confusing me." he says to the others as he approaches the small statue and then inspects the room carefully. "Something must have happened in here. Looking at Myki he gestures at the spilled bowl and ripped cloths, "Any idea what may have caused this"

[lostsole31]

Myki moves into the now crowded shrine. "Doesn't look like a battle. Looks like vandalism."

[Tippnick]

Iluvar will let Myki check the doorway and then hurry everyone on. "Let us not waste time."

[lostsole31]

Since they are side-by-side, Myki will check the two doors to the south that are side-by-side, and nod that it is safe.

[DrK]

Akif, nods to Myki, "Safe you say. That is good." he adds as he heads to the first (the westerward) of the southern doors and pushes it open. Pausing to pick up his spear he heads into the room cautiously.

[lostsole31]

This air in this room is a heavy mix of perfume and animal stink. In one corner lies a mass of fine blankets and pillows that have been slashed and raked into a crude nest. In another stands a vanity with a tall mirror and an impressive array of crystal perfume bottles. Between the two, a wooden trunk sits against the wall. Feathers and streaks of white litter the floor.

Iluvar and Sisir see Myki grit her teeth and facepalm when Akif just blithely walks in.

[Tippnick]

Iluvar asks Myki, "Can you check the trunk? Scribe can you help identify these feathers. Everyone be wary. There might be a resident still here."

[lostsole31]

With Myki pulling back Akif to lead the charge (for safety), the room is quickly searched.

The perfumes on the vanity are estimated at 50 gp in total (though left alone unless someone does something).

The Scribe will check the trunk, and Myki mentions it seems safe. The Scribe easily unlocks it, despite it being a very good luck. With are the following ...

• human skull
• masterwork ukelele
• a magical amulet wrapped in a cloth
• leather-bound journal

The Scribe identifies the feather as likely belonging to a harpy - a monstrous humanoid with a bewitching voice.

It's the journal that interests The Scribe has he asks everyone to gather in and shut the door while he peruses it. It is only a one-minute perusal, but the journal is filled primarily with the author's mundane thoughts and rants, written in scrawling Taldane, but The Scribe's quick study has him quickly realizing that the harpy took the job primarily to be close to Kanya, with whom she’s hopelessly infatuated and wants to become “nest mates.”

[Tippnick]

"Hmm, a harpy. Well, let us proceed as we were. Myki, the door to the south please. Akif, back her up.", Iluvar says showing no interest in any item.

[DrK]

Akif nods, also content to not steal things from the house. He nods to the door and to Myki, ”follow me through, I have a bad feeling on this one.” he adds glancing around before leaning his spear against the wall opening the door and (after grabbing the spear) jumping into the room

[lostsole31]

This is a small office with a window looking out over the garden and district. A desk holds stacks of documents, blank paper, and other writing materials. A large silver mirror hangs on one wall.

[Tippnick]

Iluvar walks into the room to search for dangers and clues quickly.

"If this has no other exit than the window. Let us explore down the nearest hallway and see if we can find a way up or someone who knows where the troll is.", Iluvar directs the group.

[DrK]

Akif nods at Iluvar after seeing another empty room. "Yes, seek the troll. The primitive ones should know their place in things" he adds the latter looking at his brother for agreement as he start heading east down the corridor.

[lostsole31]

It only takes a little more than 30 seconds for a quick search of the room, ignoring the locked cash box, mirror, and other items, and no clues are noted. Akif, Myki, and Iluvar get out into the hallway....

Surprise Round ...

S27: Akif thinks he sees something in the shadows at the end of the hall, squinting he is too late to respond when a figure erupts from the shadow on the other side of the walkway to shoot very wide at Akif. The winged archer seems less hostile and more upset or beleaguered by something, shrieking loudly.

Begin Round One ...

R1T34: Myki takes an extract and then rushes past Akif to jump off the walkway as she begins flying and takes out her rapier as she goes.

R1T27: The winged archer jumps off the south side of the walkway and then southwest and out of sight.

R1T22: Iluvar, you had gotten back out into the hallway of this portion of the building and you saw this from across the open-air walkway. What do you do?

[Tippnick]

Iluvar will move to the East 50 feet.

Spoiler: assense

Show

As he moves east and if he sees the creature he will attempt to assess them.
SwA: activate his slippers of the lightest step.

[lostsole31]

R1T22: Iluvar moves to the east. He clicks his heels to begin the magic of his sandals while taking a look at the flying creature.

R1T21: The Scribe heads out to the middle of the walkway and studies the creature that he sees and gets into a combat stance.

R1T20: Sisir, what do you do?