HAVE A TALKING BIRD!

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 19:47

When we left off, the group had just made the acquaintance of a peculiar kenku named Sail Snap who is offering to help them and has reassured them that she means no harm. The party is now in the library and has arranged themselves in the beanbags for a discussion.

bobble

Teri carefully puts the book back on the shelf, keeping it in the proper ordering. (with mage hand)

AncientSwordRage

Head in one hand, pinching her nose Fin says, "Svo, I need to know before agreeing to anything... já?"

Sciborg

Sail Snap bobs her head, birdlike. "Ask questions. I answer with all I know. Promise."

AncientSwordRage

"Where to start..."

Mithical

Sherri shifts the Minor Illusion to show the Gesta instead. "Well, love, you mentioned the... what was it, the "Dreaming Brothers"? Who are they?"

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 19:52

"The Dreamers," says Sail Snap, with a quick, seemingly unconscious twitch of her feathers. "They are... I lack words. They are people who look for relics. They have a Master. Called the Arcanist. Nobody knows who they are - they give orders through others. They look for your book."

bobble

"In a helpful way? Or in a send-creepy-creatures-to-an-innocent-library way?"

Sciborg

"Bad way," confirms Sail Snap. "Very bad."

AncientSwordRage

"Já maybe we have met them"

Mithical

"Ah, so the Illuminati is after us. I see, dear."

AncientSwordRage

"They were not friendly"

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 19:54

"Dreamers are... persuasive. They find out what you want and then they promise it. So you will help. And they do not make you do bad things... not until you very important." Sail Snap clicks her beak. "Not sure how they find what you want. Maybe mind read. Maybe listening. Not important enough to know."

Mithical

"And what did you want, Sail Snap, dear?"

AncientSwordRage

"I am very stubborn, so they will have a hard time with me!"

Then turning to Terri, less confident "Right?"

Sciborg

Sail Snap hangs her head in apparent shame. "Wanted... not important. But I did not get."

AncientSwordRage

"If you're not important, why are you in so much danger?"

bobble

@AncientSwordRage "Well... magic..."

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 19:58

Her eyes flick back and forth between you. "Scared of trying to leave. Thought you were strong enough to protect if people come for me."

bobble

"Some people tried to attack us before. I stabbed them"

Unconsciously, Teri makes a stabbing motion, though her hand is knifeless

Sciborg

She nods at the mention of attackers. "I think new people they lure in not always bad people. Sometimes desperate. Maybe just want purpose or money. But when they send them to kill people it means they bad people. Means the Dreamers know they can hurt people."

AncientSwordRage

"I screamed somebody to death... I don't know how..."

Mithical

Sherri leans a bit closer to the kenku. "It was a bit terrifying, dear, learning that your young coworker is actually quite talented at stabbing people."

bobble

"Not that young."

AncientSwordRage

Feb 17, 2022 20:01

"You're both quite young though, já...?"

bobble

"I'm not even a teenager! This is off-topic... Sail Snap, do you think we should expect more attackers soonish?"

Mithical

A few lyrics of Halsey's "Young God" start drifting from the illusory image of the Gesta that's currently floating in the middle of the beanbags.

♫ Do you feel like a young god... you know the two of us are just young gods...♫

Sciborg

Sail Snap nods vigorously. "Yes. Next people they send will be more scary." She glances awkwardly at Robert's phone. "I am sorry for trick. I did not know how to make you meet if I spoke as scary person."

bobble

mutters "if they destroy a single beanbag..."

"How do they find us?"

Mithical

The song cuts off as Sherri looks back at the kenku. "Ah, that's right, love. You still haven't explained how you got Robert's phone..."

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:05

The kenku shrugs helplessly at Teri's question. "Like I say. Not sure how they find or how they learn. Maybe listening somehow." She looks nervously at Sherri. "Friends promise not to be mad if I explain."

Mithical

"That entirely depends on your explanation, dear."

bobble

Teri is nervously playing with the tag of her beanbag, twisting it between her fingers

AncientSwordRage

@bobble looking at the stretched seams on her bean bag, Fin turns to Teri "já that would be awful"

bobble

(My computer just crashed so I'm on my phone for the foreseeable future)

Mithical

[@AncientSwordRage BTW: "Sherri" has 2 "r"s, "Teri" has 1. A bit confusing, I know]

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:09

"There is person named..." Sail Snap echoes Robert saying "Presley." Then, in her usual patchwork of voices, "Dreamers were very interested in person, not sure why. Maybe good at something that Dreamers need. Dreamers know somebody will check on if disappear. I am sent to... um... look through Presley apartment. Find if has friends. Not told why I must do this."

Mithical

Sherri crosses her arms and remains silent.

AncientSwordRage

@Mithical (👍🏻)

Fin looks angry

Sciborg

She mimics the sounds of rifling through drawers and shelves. "Looked through and find out Presley once worked on research team in science university place in Egypt. Used to look at old magic artifacts and magical inscriptions. Is also friends with Detective. They have much documents about relics. I am told to bring back to Dreamers because important. They say to steal research."

AncientSwordRage

"Mamma always said stealing is wrong"

"Except maybe ok to take a bit of bread now and then"

bobble

Teri reflexively looks at her bag with a backroom book

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:15

She wilts a bit. "Felt bad, but I took because wanted to not disobey. Few days later they tell me to go back because they think I missed something. Say there is something important and Presley is not cooperating to tell them. I feel bad but I go and Robert is there when I arrive. He sees me as burglar and we have fight. His phone falls out of pocket and I take and run away. Did not hurt but heard his voice. Knew he was friends with you when I look at phone, so called to help. Please not be mad."

Mithical

"A... a lot to unpack there, dear, but alright."

obligatory insight check, to see if she's deliberately hiding anything or outright lying: 11+4=15

Sciborg

There seems like a minor part of the story you sense she left out, but otherwise this account sounds truthful from start to end.

bobble

4+3=7 for me

Mithical

"Where is Presley now, love?"

Sciborg

"They say Presley not cooperating, so think they must have. I only delivered them the papers after they said I missed something. Not sure what they mean because took all the papers I found."

Mithical

Feb 17, 2022 20:20

"Oh, God, they're probably torturing Presley."

AncientSwordRage

Telepathically to Teri and Sherri, 'at least we should bring sail snap to Robert'

bobble

Worried, Teri gets up to check the door is locked and the loose window shut tight as possible

Mithical

Out loud, Sherri responds "But we can't reach Robert because his phone is here, and Coulter's phone is disconnected... this isn't good."

AncientSwordRage

"Let me help you dullin" Fin says at Teri, before flopping around trying to get up out of the beanbag

Mithical

Sherri is going to try to call Coulter's number again.

AncientSwordRage

Feb 17, 2022 20:22

Fin finally gets up, and trots after Teri

bobble

[anything interesting from the check?]

Sciborg

@Mithical You get the same generic "number disconnected or unavailable" message.

@bobble The door is still locked, and the windows are still shut as you left them.

AncientSwordRage

When Fin is out of sight from the Kenku, she'll cast Minor Illusion to make it sound like Robert's voice is coming from somewhere in the library, saying "I've come for my phone"

(let me know if I need stealth/deception/etc checks)

Sciborg

(Deception check)

(Normally the spell doesn't require one, but you're specifically trying to fool her)

bobble

Teri also pokes sadly at the backroom lock with some picks, but bobble is pretty sure that's useless

AncientSwordRage

Feb 17, 2022 20:24

@Sciborg (9+5=14)

Mithical

...that's higher than the 13 Insight check I rolled, so pretty sure you've fooled Sherri as well.

Sherri looks up, almost hopefully. "Robert, darling? How'd you get here?"

Sciborg

The kenku's head snaps around in surprise, hearing Robert's voice. "Who is there? How here? Nobody here."

AncientSwordRage

Sightly panicked having not thought this through, Fin casts it again (if there's time/nobody else reacts) but this time saying "I know you stole my phone Sail Snap, you can't hide!"

Sciborg

Sail Snap makes the sound of an alarm siren going off and lunges from the beanbag in apparent terror, all her feathers standing on end like a frightened cat.

bobble

Teri is pretty sure that Robert isn't here since she just checked that everything was locked, but she's not going to say that

Mithical

Feb 17, 2022 20:29

I just rolled a natural 1 for another Insight check, so... yeah, Sherri is absolutely convinced Robert is now hiding somewhere in the library.

AncientSwordRage

More panicked, Fin casts again this time saying, "Tell me the truth, and I'll go easy on you"

(I've been rolling for each casting)

Sciborg

The kenku squints suspiciously at this last one, her feathers de-poofing slightly. "Is trick?"

AncientSwordRage

Fin telepathically speaks to Teri and Sherri 'play along... please'

> If a creature uses its action to examine the sound or image, the creature can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC.

(DC 13)

Mithical

"Robert, darling! We were worried about you!"

bobble

"Robert, how'd you open the front door? It needs a key..."

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:33

(8) The kenku blinks in total bewilderment. "How he get here? Explain? Why hiding?"

Mithical

[can we respond telepathically to Fin?]

AncientSwordRage

Fin casts Minor Illusion one more time, to say as Robert "I'll show myself when I hear the truth"

@Mithical [no, it's one way without casting another spell]

Mithical

(thumbsup)

AncientSwordRage

(16+5=21)

bobble

(told cat that they won't be let in)

AncientSwordRage

Feb 17, 2022 20:36

Fin's face is dripping from the stress of the situation

Sciborg

"You were there," says Sail Snap, uncertainly. She takes out the phone and holds it up. "I sorry I took phone. Not sure if your friend okay... do you want back?"

AncientSwordRage

She's trying to stay composed

bobble

"Do you need the phone for anything, Sail Snap?"

Sciborg

She looks very reluctant to give it up, but says, "No, he can have back."

AncientSwordRage

Fin can't hold up the deception any longer, "Já, it was a trick..." She calls out, "At least now I think I can trust you..."

(brb 2-3 min)

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:38

"Oh." Sail Snap's feathers fully relax back down in apparent relief.

bobble

Teri pats Sail Snap awkwardly.

Mithical

"Well then." Sherri settles back down, looking a bit disappointed. "Teri, Fin, darlings, what do you think - do we need to check in on Coulter and Shae, warn Oakwinkle, try to find Presley...? Where are we heading next?"

bobble

"Forgot to ask, Sail Snap, do you know how to make the book less... tentacly creey magicy?"

AncientSwordRage

@Mithical walking back into view Fin says "Já but with, Sail Snap, is dangerous?"

Sciborg

Sail Snap clamps her beak shut. "I have said all things I promised to say. Friends must now promise their end. You will help me?"

bobble

Feb 17, 2022 20:44

"I'll give you the assistance you need as long as it's reasonable."

Mithical

"I don't think we can reasonably refuse at this point, dear. We'll do our best."

Sciborg

She nods in apparent relief. "I need place to hide. Away from Dreamers." She mimics the sound of a padlock snapping shut and a vault door slamming. "Safe place for me where I can go?"

Mithical

"Ah, that's... a good question, dear. I'm not sure anywhere really qualifies as "safe" now..."

bobble

"Do lots of witnesses make a place safer?"

Mithical

"Oakwinkle. Do we need to warn him that these Dreamers are after him?"

bobble

Feb 17, 2022 20:50

"Oh!" Teri fumbles the dumb phone out and tries to call him again

Sciborg

After quite a few rings, Oakwinkle picks up, sounding more world-weary than usual: "Yes, Miss Teri?"

bobble

"Do you know about the Dreamers? They seem to be... after... us, maybe you too."

Sciborg

"The name does not ring a bell, I'm afraid. Beyond some literary works, of course. Is it an urgent matter?" You can hear him stirring something in a cup with a spoon; evidently you caught him in the middle of teatime.

bobble

"We're reliably told that they'll be after us again soon, for the book... ?" turn, questioning look at Sail Snap for confirmation "And they probably were the ones that tried to attack us earlier, and they've taken someone named Presley, and Robert is in their sights, and..."

AncientSwordRage

Fin is listening, but not saying much

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 20:57

"Teri, dear, slow down. Don't panic." You hear him set the cup down, evidently realizing you need his full attention. "It will be all right, I'm sure. These are the people who interrogated me earlier, you believe? And you said the Detective is in danger?"

bobble

"Not SECO. Different. Yes." Teri is trying to compose herself after letting lots out at once.

Sciborg

"Don't be afraid, Miss Teri, I am sure all will be well. Breathe." You hear a creaking sound as he stands up from his easy chair. "If something is truly afoot, this is beyond an old elf. What has become of Miss Fin and Miss Sherri? Are they with you?"

AncientSwordRage

"Teri, do you need me to speak on the tely-phone?"

bobble

"Yes. Do you want to talk with them?"

AncientSwordRage

Fin makes grabby motions at Teri like an impatient child

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 21:02

"I would be happy to." You can hear Oakwinkle moving into another room and rummaging through items. "Where are you, Miss Teri? I believe I have some energy left in these bones."

bobble

"Library." Teri hands the phone to Fin

Mithical

Can Sherri hear Oakwinkle?

Sciborg

Probably, if Teri's phone volume is loud enough.

AncientSwordRage

Holding the phone awkwardly Fin says loudly "OAKWINKLE. WE ARE OK. HAVE A TALKING BIRD! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

2

Mithical

So I'd like to make an Insight check... for paranoia reasons.

Or not; that's a 2+4=6. :p

bobble

Feb 17, 2022 21:04

It's a bit louder than usual because she forgot to turn it down after the last time one of the elderly patrons borrowed it.

AncientSwordRage

Fin looks at Teri to see if she's doing the phone thing right

bobble

Teri makes a shush gesture to try to get Fin to be quieter

Sciborg

"I may be an old elf, but I'm still an elf, Miss Fin," Oakwinkle says, sounding very amused. "I can hear you perfectly all right."

AncientSwordRage

Fin stage whispers into the phone, "can. we bring the bird to you. .... please"

Fin looks at Teri for more approval, and then says to her at normal volume, 'How do I know he can hear me if he's not here..?'

Sciborg

"Who is this bird, Miss Fin?" You can hear muffled sounds of Oakwinkle putting a coat on. "And why must they be brought here?"

bobble

Feb 17, 2022 21:08

thumbsup

AncientSwordRage

"We need to check on Robert. He doesn't have a phone. We don't know if he is ok."

Fin says to Teri, 'Will Sail Snap be ok staying at Oakwinkles?'

bobble

"Oakwinkle is the elf who runs this library." Teri clarifies for Sail Snap

Mithical

Sherri holds out her hand to Fin. "May I, sweetie?"

Sciborg

Sail Snap blinks nervously. "I trust new friends. Maybe."

AncientSwordRage

Fin passes the phone over

Mithical

Feb 17, 2022 21:12

"Oakwinkle, dear, how are you?"

Sciborg

"I am quite all right, Miss Sherri; my nerves have settled. What has happened to Detective Robert? I would assume that Coulter would be with him." There is a jingling sound as Oakwinkle fetches his house keys. "Has he been attacked?"

Mithical

"We have a... bird person here, her name is Sail Snap. She needs protection from the cult, I suppose you could say, that she has left, who are the people that attacked the library and us. We can't reach the Detective or his husband, and their friend Presley has apparently been kidnapped." Sherri pauses, out of breath.

"Anyway, dear, we need to find a safe place for Sail Snap to hang out so that this Dreamers cult doesn't harm her."

AncientSwordRage

Fin flops carelessly and roughly into a beanbag forgetting her earlier difficulties

Sciborg

"...Fascinating. It seems a great deal has transpired in my absence." Oakwinkle's front door opens and shuts in the background. "I lack the magical abilities to be of much help, but I will do what I can. This person needs protection, you say?"

bobble

"Do you want to talk to him?" Teri whispers at Sail Snap

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 21:19

Sail Snap quails nervously and doesn't reply.

Mithical

"Yes, protection. Is that something that you can help with, darling?"

bobble

"He's nice." reassures Teri

Sciborg

"I believe I have something in mind." You hear wind blowing and grass crunching; it seems Oakwinkle is walking over from his house a few blocks away. "Has SECO blockaded my back room?"

AncientSwordRage

"Já, he wasn't mad when I stole the bad book, Oakwinkle is very nice"

Mithical

"Weren't you here when they did that, dear?"

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 21:24

"They placed a temporary seal on it, but I was not made aware if they had intended to fully decouple it from our world with a dimensional seal or not. None of my other books are quite as dangerous as the Gesta, I daresay. Is there perchance a runegate over the door?"

Mithical

Sherri leans over and goes "Teri, dear, do you know what a "runegate" is?"

AncientSwordRage

Fin gets out the Gesta and tries to look up Runegate, about to cast Guidance

bobble

Do I know what a runegate is?

Sciborg

Arcana check.

AncientSwordRage

@bobble need some guidance?

bobble

Feb 17, 2022 21:27

19+4=23, woot! Someone's been doing their reading

AncientSwordRage

(if you do I can still add d4 to your result?)

bobble

Do I a) know what a runegate is and b) know whether it's there?

[timecheck: 15 minutes until scheduled end time, 22 minutes until the latest I would feel safe leaving my apartment for class]

Sciborg

@bobble The purple-white rune weaving currently blocking the back room door strongly resembles something you've seen in a book. A "runegate" is a magical locking mechanism placed by an artificer or other rune-weaving magic user, implying the person who placed it was a magical engineer or similar. It is intended to be a semi-permanent enchantment that covers a hole in spacetime, which lines up with the back room being a pocket dimension or other warped area of spacetime.

The runegate is not permanent and can be opened, meaning that the back room is still there - just locked.

AncientSwordRage

@bobble [happy for you to call when we end]

bobble

"Yes, I tried picking the lock but..." shrugs

Mithical

Feb 17, 2022 21:34

"Teri says yes, there's a runegate and she apparently can't pick it."

Sciborg

"If there is a runegate, that means they decided it wasn't important enough to fully decouple. Excellent. We may be able to get back into the room." Oakwinkle's feet are audibly crunching through the grass. "There is a book in there with a specific spell that I daresay one of you will be able to cast to help your feathered friend."

Mithical

How far is Oakwinkle's house from the library, again?

Sciborg

He only lives a few blocks away, so he's able to usually walk to work in the mornings.

Mithical

Sherri peeks out through the window to see if Oakwinkle is within sight yet.

bobble

"Make sure to tell him the door's locked."

Sciborg

Feb 17, 2022 21:37

The morning outside is still a bit cloudy; there is dew on the grass outside. You don't see him in sight yet.

AncientSwordRage

Fin stops reading the Gesta, tucks it back into her bag, and looks up at Teri and Sherri

Mithical

"Ah, yes. Oakwinkle, dear, Teri says to tell you that the door's locked. I'm sure you have your key, though."

Sherri goes to hand Teri back her phone.

Sciborg

"Indeed I do, Miss Sherri. Do you still have what I gave you earlier?" Oakwinkle drops his voice slightly. "I thought it was quite fitting."

Mithical

"Ah, about that, dear... I'm afraid I couldn't quite figure out what it was. I spent several hours on it. Is there are secret activation word or something, darling?"

Sciborg

"Before I came to this country, Miss Sherri, I lived in the elven country of Laouvthsorienn, quite a ways to the east. The bay in which I resided was at the foot of a mighty spirit-volcano called Ualiar, and one of the elven traditions there was the carving of volcanic glass. That pearl I bestowed onto you is a gift from my homeland. It is a piece of Ualiar's wrath." He sounds amused. "I think you will find it has... useful properties."

Mithical

Feb 17, 2022 21:44

"I very much appreciate it, Mr. Oakwinkle, although I won't try to repeat those names back to you. How long will it take you to get here, incidentally, dear?"

Sciborg

"Oh, just about -" His figure appears on the street in the distance in a jacket, heading your way. "Now, I believe."

bobble

Where's the map of the library, again?

Sciborg

(The chat search is broken right now, alas.)

Mithical

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