Meeting the Tribunal

[DM Bob]

Enemy's Slumber, 3rd of Dominary - Evening

Quila Oris had been summoned. Rikto had met her and informed her of a task that the Tribunal needed eyes on. The male elf had stopped talking down to her since her travels far to the south... and by his current tone, it seemed as if she had advanced her trust even further. The Wind Whisperer was a shaman of the very skies of Athas. His ties to the bird folk were strong and he had trained many of their own shamans. This land walker! Of all things under the Crimson Sun.

"I have heard some troubling things today, Quila. Troubling things. These newer additions to Kurn? It seems that some were harboring secrets, dangerous, dangerous secrets. I know you have been close to the border of the Dead Lands. It seems like the goliath, Hurk and his noble friend Coden have loosed a pair of spirits, dissident spirits from beneath the Shadow King's vaults and granted them freedom to return once more to the unliving kingdoms."

His voice was strangely soothing even beyond the apparent stress. He fondles the horn at his neck.

"Both spirits once worshipped the Flames... as I do the Winds. They were corrupted, and my divinations revealed today that the very elements would love to see them permanently removed from Athas once more. But that is not your current task. I need you to keep an eye on our new emissaries and keep them focused on the Tribunal's goals. We seek diplomacy from the Kreen Empire. You leave first thing tomorrow morning. My worries are that some of the stirrings from the south could have been due to these spirit's release. It is uncertain how aware the dead lords are of the lands beyond their black glassed prison... but those two ghosts were known to raise chaos in their times. I want you to ask any befriended tohr-kreen of any strange activity on their southern border.

The other concern I have is The Messenger herself. What the Heavens claim eventually return to the ground, no? Well, the wind spirits have been clamoring loudly for my attentions. They seem to think that the future is hanging in the balance. If you gain any insight in your travels to the west of The Messenger's resting place... I, we, would be highly appreciative. Come. The others should be meeting soon."

***

Everybody meets.

Kinnan Azeth was the only member of the Tribunal yet to account for in our heroes' story. Kinnan was the youngest son of Corik Azeth, head of Kurn's prime trading house. The young man was pretty & clean. His blond hair immaculately trimmed, he was definitely a younger version of his father (for those that knew the merchant family).

Rikto and he sat to either side of the Presider Ulali. She a half elf, Rikto a full blood and Kinnan a human. Another, younger half elven woman sits to the right of Rikto, who Hurk notices as the same shaman that seconded his mental interrogation. Ande recognizes the woman as Quila, a fellow templar and traveler in employ of Kurn. The dynamics here were different, that was for sure.

The chamber was much the same. Soft music was present once more, this time accompanied by a duet of softly warbling bird folk. It was quiet enough to speak over. There was no food currently and the only beverages were water... yet chilled with *ice*, a luxury brought down from the very Winter's Nest. Perhaps even by the duet singing behind you.

"We shall continue with our mission tomorrow... although, there has been some concern raised after your truth session earlier today." Speaks Ulali, directed at Hurk. "And with last night's event? The Messenger falling? We have decided to ask you to look for evidence of it's visit to the mortal realm. We fear agents of the other City States may be also interested in scouting this event - and there's a decent chance it ranged as far as the kreen's grasslands. Any information you may gather would be of extreme import to us... especially if it could be used to further our goals of restoration."

[Attilius]

Aug 8, 2023 13:34:05 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"We shall continue with our mission tomorrow... although, there has been some concern raised after your truth session earlier today." Speaks Ulali, directed at Hurk. "And with last night's event? The Messenger falling? We have decided to ask you to look for evidence of it's visit to the mortal realm. We fear agents of the other City States may be also interested in scouting this event - and there's a decent chance it ranged as far as the kreen's grasslands. Any information you may gather would be of extreme import to us... especially if it could be used to further our goals of restoration."

"So are you 'porting us further into the grasslands along it's falling path then?" HurK asks

[DM Bob]

Kinnan replies. His voice is soft and high pitched.

"After discussing with the others earlier, we think we might have a vague idea of where it landed? My father's cartographers coupled with the astrologers and our divinations possibly place it a bit further east and north of our original wormhole destination. However, there seems to be an issue scrying the areas nearby directly - the interference is simply put *odd*."

The other two members simply nod in agreement.

Rikto adds, "There is also no way of knowing it bounced or skipped, like a stone thrown against the hard clay. Or formed a crater like that of the Dragon's Bowl. And as far as blocking scrying? Few mortals can do so, those that can are of the highest psionic abilities. Is it one of them? Or the Messenger itself?"

[Attilius]

Aug 8, 2023 14:11:31 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Kinnan replies. His voice is soft and high pitched.

"After discussing with the others earlier, we think we might have a vague idea of where it landed? My father's cartographers coupled with the astrologers and our divinations possibly place it a bit further east and north of our original wormhole destination. However, there seems to be an issue scrying the areas nearby directly - the interference is simply put *odd*."

The other two members simply nod in agreement.

Rikto adds, "There is also no way of knowing it bounced or skipped, like a stone thrown against the hard clay. Or formed a crater like that of the Dragon's Bowl. And as far as blocking scrying? Few mortals can do so, those that can are of the highest psionic abilities. Is it one of them? Or the Messenger itself?"

The giant nods as well at these possibilities then asks "Have you tried scrying from a thousand to 5,000 feet above the grasslands area, looking down? You may find the answers to a bounced or cratered landing, not to mention who, or WHAT may be creating this interference..." 

[DM Bob]

"If only it were that easy. Large swaths if land are simply blurred from view... another reason we believe we're on the right track. Our hope is that this obsfucation does not affect our plans transporting you to the Empire." He squeaks.

[Attilius]

"Hmmph..." The massive psion thinks... "so we're 'porting in blind then... this is getting better by the minute..." he says with a frustrated exhale.

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 8, 2023 14:11:31 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Kinnan replies. His voice is soft and high pitched.

"After discussing with the others earlier, we think we might have a vague idea of where it landed? My father's cartographers coupled with the astrologers and our divinations possibly place it a bit further east and north of our original wormhole destination. However, there seems to be an issue scrying the areas nearby directly - the interference is simply put *odd*."

The other two members simply nod in agreement.

Rikto adds, "There is also no way of knowing it bounced or skipped, like a stone thrown against the hard clay. Or formed a crater like that of the Dragon's Bowl. And as far as blocking scrying? Few mortals can do so, those that can are of the highest psionic abilities. Is it one of them? Or the Messenger itself?"

"If I may?" Ande interjects "You speak as if you know coordinates, would you care to share them?  If you can, I will volunteer to go take a look personally.  I will seek a landing point in the sky above the projected impact site and surveill the scene with my own eyes."  Ande smooths her anxiously ruffled feathers and steps forward solemnly "I will risk the blind travel so that we--" she gestures with her wings at the assembly "--need not".

If she's given coordinates, she'll first use Radial Navigation (rolled a 13 needing under 17) before opening a Wormhole above and slightly east of the coords (rolled a 13 needing an 18, will cost 100 PSP if <=1000 miles distant).  She'd also request that Quila use Sacred Guardian on her prior to making the attempt.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

The gathered group sees a woman sitting next to the elf Rikto, too tall for a human too small for an elf, but unusually tall for any half-elf you've seen. Those in the know might recognise her as Eloy.
Her clothing looks well maintained and seems to be a cross between both functionality and swirling looks. There's tight fitting pants running into calf-high sturdy boots and a hooded garnache/vest with several pockets clasped at several places to a baldric all covering a more embroidered undershirt. A pattern of Ral and Guthay moons and elemental illustrations feature at sections of the undershirt.

The woman frowns a bit at the directness of the half-giant towards the Speaker but otherwise looks with a slightly warm smile and great curiosity towards the gathered group, nodding ever so slightly and smiling when she lays her eyes upon Ande. The others see a young woman with a golden brown complexion and hair that is all umber curls. Keen observant copper brown eyes look out from a pretty face. 

As she speaks, her voice sounds soothing but has a hint of tenseness behind it:"I can do better than that my dear Ande. For sure I will use Oronis' protective wards upon you, but I suggest to link minds as well to keep in touch. And I can follow you remotely using the Sight if I am allowed to look through the portal you will be using."

[DM Bob]

"This is acceptable." States the Presider. "But do realize that if for whatever reason you get stranded there this evening... that we probably won't be able open a portal to you until tomorrow - as Oronis himself is planning on doing so. He..."

She takes a sip of her iced water.

"...can be interesting to motivate at times."

[Go ahead and make your rolls, 66 PSPs initial cost / 22 PSPs each round to maintain. Due to never having been there, I'm going to add a -2 penalty to your roll. If you fail, tell me by how much please.]

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Eslyk listens the conversation and decided to gets one of the drinks with such funny transparent rocks.
She gives it a sip - "Yikes!" - pulling the mug quickly from her lips, taking a bit to realise the effect in the beverage. She looks at everyone - "I'm sorry.."- apologising about it.

She tilts the mug here and there without spilling the contain, spinning it, putting her index finger inside, pulling the transparent rocks under the drink surface, just to see it showing up again - "So interesting.. And relaxing sound.."

She smiles at the Speaker and keeps listening to the conversation, touching the mug once in a while with her hands, only to touch to her forehead and neck with, in silence, in a relaxing way, before raising her head and speak at everyone - "My knowledge of teleportation is not that developed, my danger sense is short-ranged but if I can help in anything, please let me know" - in serious tone

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 9, 2023 1:13:25 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

If she's given coordinates, she'll first use Radial Navigation (rolled a 13 needing under 17) before opening a Wormhole above and slightly east of the coords (rolled a 13 needing an 18, will cost 100 PSP if <=1000 miles distant).  She'd also request that Quila use Sacred Guardian on her prior to making the attempt.

^^If I need to reroll those, I will.  I will make the following amendments given awareness of the PSP cost.

Radial Navigation costs 11 PSP (4 Initial + 7/hour for the first hour of maintenance) bringing 112 down to 101
Power Manipulation to enhance following Teleport Trigger rolled a 6 needing a 13 or less; Success, range penalties for the Teleport are ignored
Teleport Trigger "If I am grabbed/grappled, I Teleport back to the Tribunal Hall" rolled a 14 needing a 21 or less; Teleport Trigger costs 2 PSPs (0 Initial + 2/hour for the first hour of maintenance) bringing 101 to 99
Wormhole costs 66 PSP bringing 99 to 33.  She will land @1500' which would be spotted range during the day with a clear sky, night spotted is 100 (both per Revised PHB pg 155), but she is landing high in case there is light from the crater.  When she gets there she'll close if need be.

"I am our advance scout, Quila will relay all that I experience and see.  I will rendevous with the rest of you at the appointed time." and with that, Ande disappears into the Wormhole which closes behind her.

Once through, her immediate goal (aside from remaining alive) is to take note of where the crater is (if she sees it) and relaying through Quila the precise direction/distance 'as the bird flies' from where she stood in the Tribunal Hall.  After discerning that, she'll drop Radial Navigation so hopefully it doesn't take her more than an hour to get eyes on it.

I have a few thoughts on how she'll spend the next 24 hours or so but am curious to see what bridges need crossed before crossing them.

[Attilius]

Aug 9, 2023 7:23:02 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

"I am our advance scout, Quila will relay all that I experience and see.  I will rendevous with the rest of you at the appointed time." and with that, Ande disappears into the Wormhole which closes behind her...

HurK is about to say something but is cut short by the closing of the portal...

Attachments:

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila would have cast Sacred Guardian (priest lvl 1, ToM) upon Ande beforehand. That protective ward lasts a week normally and would instantly alert Quila if Ande is in danger with an additional mental image of Ande's situation being provided to me.

I also put a Contact/Mindlink sequence in effect with Ande before she goes.
Contact (rolled a 4 needing 20 or less, adjusted for -3 bird/aarakocra) costs 8 PSP to establish, then Mindlink (rolled a 16 needing under 19.) for another 8 PSP per round to maintain.
As I peer through the Wormhole I see roughly where my seeing powers could be established.

However, I don't activate a regular Clairvoyance. Knowing by now the detailed intricate gold and rose quartz rings Ande wears on her claws (upper/lower), I focus on those and Power Manipulate (initially rolled 20 needing 15) my Environment power (rolling 6 needing under 19). That gives me full 360 as observed from a rose quartz ring on a lower claw of Ande's, providing hopefully a scenic snapsnot for a full minute. [Rolling the 20 on Power Manipulation makes me suffer the 20 of Environment - which says: "The psionicist gets images from a similar item, but not the one he wishes." Depending on the result I will re-initialize/retry this in the next round. But I'm waiting for that for now until Bob describes.]

[PSPs: Environment with Power Manipulation costs me 8 PSP. Total with 2 rounds of Mindlink--first round then the second in which I activate Environment-- is 32 PSPs. That brings me 122-32 = 90 PSPs.]

[Environment power says: "The psionicist receives an all-round sensory snapshot from the item's surroundings: visual, olfactory, aural, and temperature signals."]

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Aug 9, 2023 7:36:13 GMT -12 Attilius said:

Aug 9, 2023 7:23:02 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

"I am our advance scout, Quila will relay all that I experience and see.  I will rendevous with the rest of you at the appointed time." and with that, Ande disappears into the Wormhole which closes behind her...

HurK is about to say something but is cut short by the closing of the portal...

Noticing HurK's changing stance, Quila observes "If you want me to tell Ande something, pray do tell. I will pass along the message."

[Attilius]

Aug 9, 2023 7:59:33 GMT -12 Quila Oris (John M.) said:

Aug 9, 2023 7:36:13 GMT -12 Attilius said:

HurK is about to say something but is cut short by the closing of the portal...

Noticing HurK's changing stance, Quila observes "If you want me to tell Ande something, pray do tell. I will pass along the message."

"Thanks Q but it's too late." The half giant turns to address the team "One thing Coden and I've learned over our undead adventures is never go at it alone: ALWAYS bring a buddy. 'Cause if you're paralyzed or go down though blade, claw, magics, poison or the Way, there's no one to rescue you... Let's hope Ande goes unnoticed until we get there... TOMORROW."