The party accepts the Sergeant Michaela's, and ultimately the mayor's, offer to investigate the wolf that Macavee and his group killed after the repairs to the Spire are complete. It takes this long for everyone interested to get their supplies together for an overnight trip as most don't own weapons to defend themselves, nor even the basics of armor. Ben Stormblade is very busy making the need items as quickly as possible. He even offers most of it for less than what he would normally charge given the situation.

The group of roughly two dozen individuals head out and return the next evening, but the party finds it hard to get them to talk to them given their association with Moonlight.

OCC: Anyone cano roll a Diplomacy check to see if y'all can get one to talk

Mephis had always considered himself a charmer and he had grow to rely on that more and more as his body had been wasting away. But when it came to asking about this wolf he managed to put his boot in his mouth every chance he got. He eventually had to call it quits and return to the group with his head hung low "I... couldn't get anyone to say anything. I expect Mcavee has put a charm spell or some such on them. It's the only possible explanation."

OOC:
14:22, Today: Mephis rolled 5 using 1d20+4 ((1)).

Sylvia, separately, tried talking to a few of the travelers as well, specifically looking to talk to those who'd had positive interactions with the group previously -- either those who had come to establish the base camp during the cleansing of Aron's Tower, or those who had some connection to Katrina or her family.

15:53, Today: Sylvia rolled 12 using 1d20+4 ((8)).

Using her diminutive size and her relative newness in town to her advantage, Azhanti walked around the bustle of the preparations with a wide-eyed wonder and simply asked 'stupid' questions.  Ones that a nosy adolescent might be allowed some leeway to ask.  She gawked at the weapons and size of the posse members, noting how imposing and brave they were.  And then she simply asked where they were going, why they'd packed so much, and which route they might be taking to get there that required such equipment (and, of course, she had to listen to how to use such things and how good the men were at using such things).  Because she wasn't all the familiar with the local area and jargon, she simply made it a point of memorizing locations and such for later discussion with the others.

All through it, Azhanti nodded, 'oh'd and 'ah'd her way through the discussion.  She hung around just enough to not be too obvious about the information gathering, but not so long as to become a nuisance.

---

[OOC:  Diplomacy check to find out a bit more about the location of the wolf den?

  13:19, Today: Azhanti rolled 20 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 17.  Diplomacy/Cha check:  Wolf pack info? – 20]

Ocean did as Ocean does as she walks around and chats and chats.  Her pheromones not being held back Ocean randomly chats with people about anything but will eventually turn to any question she has at hand to find the information they need.  But to see if she can attract anyone she actually finds a good place to hold up and puts on a performance to attract some patrons that she can ask information of.  She even tailors the song to one about wolves.


Singing - 26 (To attract people and put them at ease)
Diplomacy - 22 (25 if they find her attractive (Forgot to add pheromones in the first roll)

15:10, Today: Ocean rolled 18 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 6.  Diplomacy +4 (Pheromones), +3 if they find you attractive.
15:20, Today: Ocean rolled 26 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 14.  Singing to attract people to talk too.

Moondale stays out the way so nobody can see him and does not effect the others chance of the people talking.
Before they leave he wishes them all well and cast Guidence on each one of them (if the GM will allow the effect +1 to the rolls).

Then waits for them to return.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Mon 08 Jan.

Alyx didn't bother to try and help with the information gathering. He knew he wasn't good at it, and most people found him...'off-putting', or they wouldn't be polite and instead would call him 'creepy'. He wasn't well-known around there either, and with his unusual appearance would earn more than his fair share of looks. So he watched and waited.

When Mephis returned and made his statement, Alyx couldn't help it, he let out a surprised laugh! "Sorry, sorry. You probably didn't mean that to be funny...but...come on, buddy. You and I both can be...acquired tastes."

OOC: And all I could think of are the stupid ignorant men who get rejected by a woman and think she MUST be a lesbian! lol

Moonlight laught and flapped his wings.
Alyx.   Their is an art to beings an acquired taste.  I should know.  The first thing to do is embrace it to the full.  Be happy with who you are and what you look like.  The second is to only care about people that care about others.

He nods towards the girls in the group.

OOC: Just had to laugh at that pos Alyxt.  One of the best I read.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:46, Tue 09 Jan.

Even with the guidance, Mephis does find everyone a little put offish and mutterings of winged elf friend every once in awhile though most have the good sense to not say it to his face. Instead one of Macavee's friends notice him and tells him to take a hike before he gets roughed up.

Sylvia has some similar experiences and just can't seem to get much in the way of information.

Azanti and Ocean, however, have the greatest of success. While Azanti just hadn't been around long enough for others to see whom she hung around with while Ocean just seemed to have a natural affinity for talking to people. Some of the women in the group give Ocean the cold shoulder with a couple pulling their husbands away from her while Azanti's small stature reminds a couple of them of their lost children. The location of the den is within a day's walk and, while not directly, is generally in the direction of where the White Hand's ingredient is. What is also discussed, when the citizens get back, is that some are convinced that this is the wolf that killed there loved ones, but a minority isn't. This is generally chocked up to the remains were just too mauled or old to know for sure.

Call it luck, or favor of some otherworldly being, the group reconvenes to share the information and prepare for the trip.

OCC: Okay, you guys have you're location and can head out there. Everyone can roll a Survival check and assist as per my house rule. If y'all wish to purchase or lease some horses, you could cut the time down to 2 hours instead of all day.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:08, Sun 14 Jan.

"Good enough," Sylvia declared. "Let's gather our things and head out."

OOC: Survival check result: 22
12:20, Today: Sylvia rolled 22 using 1d20+4 ((18)).

Not having even tried to interact with Macavee's men and friends, Alyx disliked being told to leave or he'd get roughed up. What was he supposed to do, leave town? It's not like he was invading their personal space. He wasn't even standing near them. If anyone should get told that, it was Mephis with how they had tried to approach the people. He sighed and shook it off. He knew Ocean would come through at least - she always smelled so good it was a little weird - and Azhanti was pretty personable at times too.

He gave them both a nod, "Cool. Good job."

He was fine with walking, unless they wanted horses for the long-term with how much traveling they might do.

And he seemed at ease outside of town, like he traveled quite extensively before. Which he had.

11:34, Today: Alyx rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Survival.

Azhanti seemed pleased to be helpful, even if Ocean was more helpful.  With a direction to go in and people she trusted go there with, the blue-skinned mutant felt happy and the spring in her step showed it.  Rubbing her hands eagerly, she gathered her (meager) belongings together - including her trusty Boy Scout manual - in anticipation of the journey.  Sporting a "The Disturbed" t-shirt pulled over her fine graphene mesh body weave, Azhanti shrugged on her backpack before joining the others.

"It is too bad we don't have Gralgal and his cart." she mused aloud as she feet pattered along the path in her effort to keep up with the rest of the group.  Of course, she was following the lead of the trusting they knew the area better than her.

---

[OOC:  One Survival check coming up!

  11:55, Today: Azhanti rolled 8 using 1d20 with rolls of 8.  Survival/Wis check (TN: ??):  On the road again.. – 8

Sorry, for got to add Azhanti's skill bonus of +5; so, that is a '13'.  Not stealing anyone's thunder - but, good enough to Aid.]

Moonlight listens to the informaiton the two ladies had found out about the wolf den.
See Azhanti, with out you and Ocean we would be spending days trying to find the den.  Now it will take us just one.
You ladies are a very important part of our group.  Our trust in you two is well place. 

With at quick talk to the others he settles himself to the back of the group with his bow ready.
OOC:
22:36, Today: Moonlight Dalesong rolled 12 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 3.  Perception +2 add if human.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Sun 14 Jan.

Ocean is pleased that her work was done and smiles at Azhanti who also showed great talent in helping to find the data.  That said she does share the information with the group and then smile at the prospect of adventure.  She does say to Azhanti, "Yes but walking is fun.  We get to see more of the world and at a pace we can appreciate it more.  I enjoy seeing the beauty in all things."  Ocean adding a skip to her step.

Survival - 6

16:12, Today: Ocean rolled 4 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 6.  Survival. – 4

"I'm no woodsman but this should be easy enough on foot." Mephis follows along keeping three eyes open for trouble. He hoped he would do better here than when he was asking questions around town.

OOC:
17:14, Today: Mephis rolled 14 using 1d20 ((14)).

The group heads out on foot. An acid rain storm had blown in a day or two before causing the usual damage to the wildlife. It wasn't something that would kill the new plants of this age, but it did cause holes and the smell of bile to permeate the air for almost a week. At first this smell is unpleasant, but time makes it so that the smell is less and less noticeable. Birds chirp at each other as the party moves from field to woods and then deeper into the forest following game trails . The trek is peaceful as you all move, taking a short break about half way through the day for lunch, as nothing molests the party. As the sun moves into the beginnings of evening, the forest ends as a portion of the wasteland plains wraps up from the south and east to end the wooded area. The trees stretch off to the north and west as a column of smoke from the logging camps up that way can be seen climbing into the air. The plains' grass is roughly ankle height and legend says that the grasses don't grow any higher because the Ancients knew how to control even the very growth patterns of plants in this area of the plains. After another hour, the group arrives at where the den is supposed to be.

First the scent of dead rotten flesh overpowers the acidic rain smell, then a few bones, both human and animal, are found on the ground. A hole has been dug into a natural depression that shows signs that this might have been a structure long ago. Only a single 5 foot squarish clump of bricks, and the rough rectangular shape of the depression, remain that reveal this assumption. A hole has been dug out near one side that has tufts of fur and scraps of cloth randomly scattered about as well as the remains of several creatures. A lone vulture with two heads squawks at you all before it snatches a morsel and flies off. Looking at the hole, it is very dark and difficult to see very far inside.

Alyx frowned at the smell when they first traveling and pulled the heavy scarf around his neck up to cover his nose and mouth. But then it gradually got more and more bearable, or faint. But then it was back again when they got close to the...well, he assumed it was the den. So he pulled the scarf back up. He was no stranger to such scenes, but it didn't mean he liked them.

"Well, I can see in total darkness, and I think a few others can as well. Should we just go in carefully, all together? Or do we fancy someone stealthy doing a bit of scouting?" His tone made it clear he wasn't sure that second option was a good idea.

He focused his mind and brought forth his psychic ability to sense his surroundings despite not being able to see, getting ready for the descent in to darkness.

Sylvia peered at the remains of the creatures and shook her head.

"These bodies seem really fresh to me. Didn't they claim to have ended the threat a week ago?" She pulled out the laser rifle she'd retrieved from the Spire as her attention turned toward the hole. "I don't think it's a good idea to split up, especially when we don't know what we're getting into."

OOC: Heal check to determine:

1. How recently the bodies died, and
   
2. Whether they're animals or humanoids.

Check result: hahahah nvm 3
10:33, Today: Sylvia rolled 3 using 1d20-2 ((5)).

Azhanti peered out from behind Ocean, whom she'd glommed onto when the group had approached the den.  Her nose wrinkled at the haphazard carnage strewn about and then warily eyed the dark maw of an opening.  The blue-skinned mutant swallowed hard, pursing her lips.

"We don't need to split up." she offered to Sylvia and then the others.  Her brow furrowed in concentration and the graphene-weave that surrounded much of her body began to glow lightly.  With her hands held out in front of about twenty or so inches apart, the diffuse glow emitted by graphene started to concentrate near her hands with light starting to flicker from her fingertips and coalesce into a canine form.  There edges of dog flicked and roiled, as if indistinct.  "I saw a pack of these once in the ruins..." Azhanti narrated, "This one is named Blinky, but he'll only last for about twenty-five seconds or so."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, "But, I should be able to create him over and over." then a touch of uncertainty crept in, "I, I think..."

The semi-solid holo-morphic construct nuzzled her hand.  [Language unknown: "Niard of...."] she cooed in the binary coded language of Androfyn and then pointed to den opening, [Language unknown: "Al il omedi ro of fi acngus ame wait t wa sait oer.  Hiswilour i t al, ter m llsan wereenure u aiint ers letefo ave earsi ntirutbut teen."]

---

[OOC:  Azhanti will use her Shadow (Light/Holography) Conjuration power to do the equivalent of Summon Monster III and create a Celestial-templated Blink Dog ('Blinky', https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti...al-beasts/blink-dog/ ), which she's willing to send off into the den, unless some stops her  ...  The dog should be able to communicate with her (either using Androfyn or Celestial, if necessary) and should have an Int of 10 (which is not far off from Azhanti's own rating ... :D)]