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.]