"Whisper told me that she has had a very long time to figure out how to do what she did in Falcon's Hollow. Enthrall the people village and animals in the surrounding forest, both living and undead. I got the sense that she may have been born long long ago, despite her appearance. And was maybe trapped somehow, either physically or spiritually. Perhaps trapped in her current dream-state, and was unable to affect the world of the waking for a long while. Although that is more of a gut feeling than it is based on any kind of hard evidence. Something to keep in mind though."

Having offered up that information, Bristle tried to think of anywhere that might house the information they sought. Being a cleric of both death and knowledge meant it was information that she should know. She cast a bit of Guidance on herself as she pondered, as was usual for her. She shared what she recalled with her group members.

---

Knowledge checks, with Guidance:
22:14, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 18 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge: Local with Guidance - where are records kept.
22:15, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 27 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge: History with Guidance - where would historical records be.
22:16, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 27 using 1d20+13.  Knowledge: Religion with Guidance - where would birth/death records be.

"I am not much help with all of that...  But give me an enemy to burn and I'm there. Or a scent to track, and I got that too, literally." She said with a small chuckle, then she considered a moment. "Though I do know a bit about planes... Hmm... She might be in another plane." The young, odd, red-haired woman taps her chin thinking.

[OOC: Knowledge Planes and Arcana just incase.
23:50, Today: Firea rolled 23 using 1d20+6.  Know Planes.
23:50, Today: Firea rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Know Arcana.]

Hester frowned.  "So..." she seemed to be struggling with a concept that didn't want to be born. "Perhaps she is trapped in sleep and we have to waken her.  What punishments can we give to one who transgresses in dreams?  No matter, punishment is secondary, getting her to ****ing STOP has to be first.  Where can someone sleep for aeons?  Perhaps there's a library we can use?"

"That bitch!" Firea finally growls out as she quickly straightens up in her chair! She'd been silent for several moments, so the sudden outburst from her was well, sudden. "I think I know where she is!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

Bristle was about to share where she knew they could search for records, but was suddenly taken aback by Firea's declaration. "If you do know where she is, it would definitely save us a lot of time and effort. It probably wouldn't hurt to double check though. Still, where?"

After hearing what Firea seemed to know, Bristle would inform the group of what she remembered of this city's record-keeping-locations. Namely, that historical records could be found at the People's Library, the Registrar and Clerk's Office at the Palace of the People's Council, or the Museum of Andoren History. The correct place to search would depend on the specific subject though. For instance, the records of local births and deaths would be kept at the registrar's office. Non-local births and deaths would need to be searched for in other cities.

"Where is she, Firea?" asked Hester, wondering whether it was something she said that gave Firea a clue and wishing she could give herself clues like that if it was.

"So, as I was thinking about it, it's very likely she is in another plane completely. I first figured the Astral or Ethereal planes were the most likely places, but then I thought more about it." She paused for a moment to catch her breath. "You see, there are many planes of existence that are demiplanes to those two, but one in particular rang out to me that makes what she is doing to us and others possible. The Dimension of Dreams." Another pause for a moment, then she continued. "From there she could very easily access the dreams of others with little or no hindrance. Further, she could through magic or spells make others through through that access do her bidding. Those other's could be anyone, from normal people to necromancers, even us."

"Oh", said Hester.  "Oh shit.  Does that mean she would have no physical body?  How do we get to her?"

But then of course, she realises that she for one has not a clue where to find a way in to the other dimension.  "And if there is a way that any of us know, is it something we can do now or do I have time to look for my grandmother?"

"I have actually made somewhat of a study of the planes. Several have interesting properties relevant to more complex forms of healing. I will think on what I know of these things."

Later, after gathering rumors, Sebastian returns to report what he had learned. "There have been several sightings of a woman matching the description of Whisper. One interesting thing is that most of the sightings have been while awake, although often in altered states, such as intoxication or hallucinations. Perhaps she has learned to reach out in daydreams as well as the more common nocturnal ones. A worrying sign."

06:48, Today: Sebastian Kosmin rolled 28 using 1d20+1d8+12.  knowledge (planes).
Are there any easy ways to access the dimension of dreams?
Could "Whisper" being on the dimension of dreams explain all of the rumors I have heard?"

"People seeing her while they are in altered states such as intoxication or hallucinations somewhat confirms my theory, because those states make your mind more susceptible to the dream dimension. As does deep sleep." Firea said with a nod.

"So she exists in another dimension? As in, some place where wizards and such can take you to to do things? That's great if it's true, all we'd have to do then would be find a way to get there, and I'd bet anything shooting her would work then." Caleb said, a small, somewhat sadistic smile creeping onto his face at the thought of properly ventilating the witch from his dreams.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Sat 19 Sept 2020.

"Perhaps. There was one more story which doesn't make sense. A woman who said she had a perfectly normal conversation with a woman matching the description exactly but who she later realized hadn't opened or closed the door of the shop to enter and leave. That doesn't comport with the dimension of dreams theory.

As for accessing the dimension directly, that is tricky thing indeed."

Hester frowned.  "It doesn't?  Surely just appearing in a room and then disappearing is a completely dreamlike thing to do?"

"Yes, but at the time the event occurred, she wasn't sleeping, nor did she describe any intoxicants or similar. If it was a dream, it was a waking one."

"I think we should still do some more research and investigation, especially now that we have potentially narrowed down our search criteria." Bristle nodded her head, hands on hips, agreeing with herself. "One or two of us should look further into this "dream dimension" thing, and the best ways to access it. My own magic is not yet powerful enough to manage such a feat. A couple more of us could do some more talking with people who have encountered her and start writing down what we learn. Get a better sense of what her goals might be. And what other dangers we should watch out for when going after her. It would also be nice if we could track down her origin story too. How she came to be where she is, doing what she is doing."

Bristle looked at her allies, old and new, to see if they agreed or had any amendments to her plan. She had already thought of an amendment of her own. "Also, it probably wouldn't hurt to look into a way to protect ourselves from dream intrusions too. It would be good to know how before it becomes necessary."

"I'm going to see if I can find my old gran." says Hester, "She's a powerful sorceress and she might know the answers to any of those questions.  Besides, she's the reason I went back to Falcon's Hollow in the first place."

"Sounds good," Bristle replied to Hester. "As far as I am aware, we are not in any particular rush to find this information. We just gotta find it before another Falcon's Hollow situation arises. We still need to live our lives too, so in the morning I am also planning to take my armor to get enchanted and maybe do a bit of shopping before diving into the city's archives."

"I will help with the research. Direct access is beyond my capabilities as well, but if Whisper entered, perhaps there is a portal or something around here. Alternatively, perhaps we can find a magic scroll or something similar.

As for warding ones dreams, I have an idea that may sidestep that issue, but it will take some investigation and luck, and if that is successful, some money. Let me see what I can do."

Sebastian will look for a Page of Spell Knowledge with "Keep Watch" https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic...spells/k/keep-watch/
If it's available, it should be only 1000 gp, and with two castings a day, 6 people (the whole party) doesn't need to sleep.

"You do not have to be asleep to dream. You can have daydreams." She considers for a moment. "There are various spells that would allow the woman to see what she saw and interact with it. Dream or some variation of it, Audiovisual Hallucination is another, Complex Hallucination. Those are to name a few, but I am sure there are others." She considers again.

"I know of a spell that could get us there, but it lies outside my abilities as well. It's called Gate." Firea said with a simple nod. "It is quite powerful. Even for a Nine-Tailed Heir like me."

"I agree with Bristle. We have leads, we should investigate them, and see if there are others. I can help with talking people, if you need a bad cop." She said with a chuckle. "Otherwise I am just a Flame Sorceress with a bad attitude, and planar knowledge."

Voh'ren stays silent as the others discuss subjects like other dimensions and traveling through dreams. Once they finish, he offers an apology.

"I'm afraid I can't help with tracking anything beyond the physical plane," he says with a frown. "Kiru---my wolf---and I can help you track them should they leave a trace behind, perhaps a scent or phantasmal residue. I can investigate that site if you like."

She looked to Voh'ren and grinned a toothy grin. "I can help with that type of tracking too." She said, tapping her nose. There was that hint again that there was more to this girl then meets the eyes.

"And just like that, you've gone over my head," Caleb said as the conversation got more and more magically technical. "I can help you hunt down your grandmother though, finding people is a specialty of mine." he said, looking over to Hester as he did so.

Hester smiles to Caleb and nods.  "With luck, I may have found her as well, but perhaps you could come with me to the Goose's Wing Inn and I can either introduce you, or you can help me with the next step along the way."

"Alright, it sounds like we have a plan forming then. How about we all get some rest tonight and start fresh in the morning. Hester and Caleb can track down Hester's grandmother. Make sure she is alright and see if she has any insights to offer. Firea and Voh'ren can investigate the people who have had sightings of Whisper. Either people we already know about, or find some new ones. Take good notes and see if you can find any traces she is leaving behind at the sights that we might follow. Use Kiru's nose and... whatever you were referring to Firea?" Bristle was obviously confused about Firea's tracking claim. Especially considering the facial expressions Firea made when she said it.

"Sea-ba- Er, Sebastian and I can go search the archives for more useful information. After we track down the supplies we are looking for." She looked specifically at Sebastian. "You want to try and see if you can track down some history about Whisper? Or at least look for references about someone who might have gotten banished to the dream dimension? And I'll work of finding a good way to get there. Or to bring her to us."

"What I am talking about is, this." She stood up, or started to anyway, but as she started to in a matter of seconds she had shifted forms into that of a fox with red fur. She had not one, but seven poofy fox tails that ended in tufts of white fur just like her hair did, and fox ears on the top of her with tufts of white in them. She was...a seven tailed fox. An animal. "In this form I can sniff out things, track by scent. I'm also a lot more stealthy in this form." And she can talk in it!

The small fox with all of the tails hops onto the table, then pads in front of Bristle, before padding around the table towards Caleb. "Since it's out though, and she was confused by what I was referring to I may as well show the rest. This, not the human form are my true forms." The fox says, stopping in front Caleb, sitting there for a moment, an ear twitching. "This is my true form." And she started to shift again. This time back to a form more like the human form she had before, but without the human ears. This time she had a pair of fox ears on the top of her head with tufts of white fur in them. She still had all seven of her floofy red tails as well, that ended in tufts of white. "I am a kitsune. My parents before they died said that kitsune like me very rare and that I am blessed by Daikitsu himself. That's why I have more then one tail, and can take Fox Form."