Premature departures; unexpected visitors

[DM Bob]

Enemy's Slumber, 3rd of Dominary - Evening

Current Locations: Kreen Empire & New Kurn

Our party found itself split (already!). Ande the birdwoman found herself in hostile skies...

While the others worried in Kurn. Quila found her contact cut off, as Ande slipped into the Fading Lands beyond the Veil. But not before Quila passes this wisdom from Coden. "Gain altitude and head for water, if you can see any. Kreen don't swim and they might not chase Ande through a wet area." The templaress of the air flew through the dream slowly, pacing her exodus to hope fully put her...

"There." She whispered to herself as she popped out behind the flying insects somewhat closer to the kreen city, town or whatever it was. However, it was getting darker... and now properly early evening. The mounds are still at least 10 miles off, luckily Ande can still make out the general area due to the light of Guthay. The insects in this area are more towards the ground...

So you have a bit of time to consider the actions of the evening.

It is at this time that Hurk reenters the chamber in New Kurn, fully-loaded for klar hunting.

[AthasianLaborer]

Climb as high as comfortable, a little chilly is okay but let's keep the air breatheable (you tell me her altitude).  Take in what she can see from the light of Guthay.

Wait for Quila to reestablish a connection.

Until then,

Investigation Proficiency Check 1 needing a 15
Observation Proficiency Check 2 needing a 17

Ande will also look to the stars if the skies are clear and look for familiar constellations for assistance in figuring out how far she is from home.

I will post the rolls momentarily because the internet will eat my post if I swap tabs with a post open on this device.

[Attilius]

Aug 10, 2023 12:26:30 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

It is at this time that Hurk reenters the chamber in New Kurn, fully-loaded for klar hunting.

a bit out of breath "What'd I miss? She still alive?"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Bob is there any change from the red alert that the priest spell Sacred Guardian gave before? That would allow me to get a sense of the general safety of Ande for now.

Also you mentioned Mindlink dropped out. But can I simply reestablish again on the back of Contact that did not fail or disconnect like Mindlink, or what?

[DM Bob]

It's a tad early to get a full scan of the Heavens, but by all means this looks very much like the skies above Kurn. Looking down, the darkness, shadows and unfamiliar topography make your insights less than you'd hope by the light of the moon.

One thing sticks in your head, from the elder of your tribe in Winter's Nest the one known as Traaka. She warned, "New skies harbor great threats. As much as the braxat prey on the gith and the gith on the crodlu and the crodlu on the grasses... the same lines can be drawn among those that call the winds their home."

As far as Sacred Guardian, radial navigation, and all the extant powers in use - teleport triggers, etc...

Most of that hasn't come up. Quila will not feel that Ande is in direct danger as she pops out of this plane, and it remains calm once she reenters the Prime. That is when a solid vision from the bird woman's ring will show the same scene as she sees. If I missed a spell or activation you think needs addressing, please bring it up here. And yes, mindlink can be reinitiated now that she's back.

Radial navigation will let Ande know she is around 750+ miles away from New Kurn & almost due west.


Retcon: MINDLINK was not lost upon the use of dimension walk. Apologies.

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 10, 2023 13:37:52 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

It's a tad early to get a full scan of the Heavens, but by all means this looks very much like the skies above Kurn. Looking down, the darkness, shadows and unfamiliar topography make your insights less than you'd hope by the light of the moon.

One thing sticks in your head, from the elder of your tribe in Winter's Nest the one known as Traaka. She warned, "New skies harbor great threats. As much as the braxat prey on the gith and the gith on the crodlu and the crodlu on the grasses... the same lines can be drawn among those that call the winds their home."

As far as Sacred Guardian, radial navigation, and all the extant powers in use - teleport triggers, etc...

Most of that hasn't come up. Quila will not feel that Ande is in direct danger as she pops out of this plane, and it remains calm once she reenters the Prime. That is when a solid vision from the bird woman's ring will show the same scene as she sees. If I missed a spell or activation you think needs addressing, please bring it up here. And yes, mindlink can be reinitiated now that she's back.

Radial navigation will let Ande know she is around 750+ miles away from New Kurn & almost due west.

Ande will share her GPS dataset with Quila to the finest precision she can provide, updating regularly until Radial Navigation ceases.

What's the air pressure like?  If she went to the altitude where the ground looked a similar distance from her as the rocky badlands below Winter Nest are when viewed from Winter Nest, what's the air feel like?  Does it feel like home?  Denser?

What does the ground look like if she matches the air pressure to home?

She's also keeping PSPs in the tank for Dimension Walking out of trouble again.  If she can cast while flying, she'd use Sanctuary if spotted (Remember Sensitivity to Observation and yes, she can afford both, barely)

[DM Bob]

The air here is thicker, more humid than you're accustomed to, not to mention that you're hundreds of feet lower than Tablelands. It is a tad harder to fly here, and there is a slight breeze. The higher you go, the stronger the winds.

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 10, 2023 14:25:57 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

The air here is thicker, more humid than you're accustomed to, not to mention that you're hundreds of feet lower than Tablelands. It is a tad harder to fly here, and there is a slight breeze. The higher you go, the stronger the winds.

Ande will do what she can to stay in comfortable airspace while waiting for her tank to refill.

She'll pass the time stargazing in the night sky and doing an omen reading thereafter.

Astronomy Proficiency Check rolled a 1 needing a 17 or less
Omen Reading (Astrology) Check rolled a 5 needing a 15 or less.

She isn't neglecting looking down, she's just looking at what's most visible and gathering what she views as vital intelligence on the situation.

If the Messenger lights up while she's soaring circles, she'll pay attention obviously, but she isn't risking getting mobbed by those bugs unless it's giving a show.

I don't imagine that she's fleeing the area so much as gaining a wider perspective on the matter.  Climbing to the altitude I have described above and circling maybe 8-10 miles diameter around the Messenger.

To recap:
She Dimension Walked west 4 miles before emerging and climbing to (airspace her comfort level) in altitude before bringing the circle back around while gathering her Intel and waiting to refuel but she isn't neglecting to keep the Messenger in her potential field of view (since she's mostly looking up, looking down once a Turn or so?)

Edit: To be clear, I imagine she is at altitude before circling back, she isn't climbing over the Messenger, she climbing and then returning to circle the Messenger.

Edit2: I am dumb, if she exits 4 miles west and is circling 8-10 miles in diameter, she'd climb steep to altitude at 10 miles south of the Messenger. 

Picture it like this, she exits on floor 2 at 9 on the clockface and the goes straight towards the ceiling of 7 then begin circling counterclockwise at 10 miles from the Messenger

[DM Bob]

In the Kreen Empire...

There are no lights other than the moon. The larger insects *seem* to be descending, perhaps back to what hives or lairs they took during the evening. Not much to look at, although there is noise. Imagine a million horny cicadas creaking their creaky noise. Luckily you're too high to see if the bloodflies are as active here as they are near home.

You estimate that the almond-shaped Messenger is around 275 feet long and 225 feet at the widest... and about 65 feet tall if you aren't mistaken by the amount under the earth. When making your rounds here, you do feel observed. There are a few kreen keeping watch and distance from the downed anomaly. It is likely them.

***

New Kurn

Meanwhile, only fifteen or twenty minutes have passed; the Tribunal keeping mostly silent while watching you work. The Presider asks after you've calmed down a bit... "I understand that you're worried about Ande, but Oronis has always held faith in her abilities and we had no reason to doubt them. She is at times, a bit rash and prone to reaction - over planning. Perhaps you can help temper that edge if you find it needs tempering."

The younger Azeth laughs. "Good show, good show! What shall you be doing next?"

Food is brought out, roasted neep in weezer honey, kank nectar, roasted eggs and various condiments, as well as more of the wine.

Ulali adds, "We shall be ready to send you as soon as day break. Would you like any mounts or additional provisioning readied?"

Rikto chimes in, "Especially since there seem to be many sky hunters about?"

[Niachi]

Food is brought out, roasted neep in weezer honey, kank nectar, roasted eggs and various condiments, as well as more of the wine.



Ulali adds, "We shall be ready to send you as soon as day break. Would you like any mounts or additional provisioning readied?"



Rikto chimes in, "Especially since there seem to be many sky hunters about?

Niachi feasts as if it's his last meal, but drinks only 1 cup of wine to have his mind sharp at dawn. He shares battle stories with the table, and answers the hosts:

"Are we to bring samples of trade? a few crodlu as pack animals -and sky hunter bait - if we are in tall grasslands, better to have their height than kanks. I request  2 quivers of arrows to supplement mine. I'll run or walk, no mount for me. For camp defense: some sturdy spears  to help against diving beasts for our Balican (nodding to Coden) as his weapon of choice. They will be useful for testing the depths of any standing waters we traverse.   A few torches and firemaking kits, herbal salves and remedies for insect stings, or the materials to make them."

To his comrades:

"What else?"

[Attilius]

Aug 10, 2023 15:48:10 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Rikto chimes in, "Especially since there seem to be many sky hunters about?"

"I'll take the biggest Inix and saddle you've got, a ton barrel of water, as much ranike sap and Chatkcha's as you've got and what's a sky hunter and how do you beat it? Also can Captain Syndic join us?" Asks HurK

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "I'd ask for some kank honey, as insects gets attracted to it" - as she goes to the table to eat something - "perhaps it would work, and some rope" - as she drinks some water -"and dry meat please" - with a smile, as she grabs a closed. bottle of wine

Eslyk finishes her mouthful and gets closer to Ulali - "Could I take this with me kind woman?" - raising the bottle - "Perhaps they will appreciate it somehow and will help us with trade, or any other sentient creature in our journey"

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila pings Ande and says “I will have to stop our link in a minute or so to recuperate and meditate. What do you want me to do regarding getting in touch again? And where will we rendezvous jn the morning when we get our portal from here to there?”

After the link is closed Quila lets out a sigh and stretches her shoulders and neck. She takes out some foods and a cold drink. No alcohol. She sits and tries as best as possible to rejuvenate whilst not totally keeping herself aside from this group of new recruits.

As for supplies she asks for a mount, preferably a crodlu, two quivers of arrows for her bow, and if at all possible some curatives to offset insect stings, poisons, and most importantly paralytics.

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 11, 2023 6:39:50 GMT -12 Quila Oris (John M.) said:

Quila pings Ande and says “I will have to stop our link in a minute or so to recuperate and meditate. What do you want me to do regarding getting in touch again? And where will we rendezvous jn the morning when we get our portal from here to there?”

After the link is closed Quila lets out a sigh and stretches her shoulders and neck. She takes out some foods and a cold drink. No alcohol. She sits and tries as best as possible to rejuvenate whilst not totally keeping herself aside from this group of new recruits.

As for supplies she asks for a mount, preferably a crodlu, two quivers of arrows for her bow, and if at all possible some curatives to offset insect stings, poisons, and most importantly paralytics.

"Is the portal ETA still tomorrow evening? I estimate my return just after sun up to fit in a debrief, a proper meal, a nap and a bath hopefully before our glorious return.  I know I am being watched, I believe the kreen on the ground are aware of me.  Depending, I may need more time to refuel if I am engaged, perhaps we should dodge that stone if it is thrown and not before?"

[Attilius]

Aug 10, 2023 15:48:10 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

New Kurn

Ulali adds, "We shall be ready to send you as soon as day break. Would you like any mounts or additional provisioning readied?"

Aug 11, 2023 7:37:45 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

"Is the portal ETA still tomorrow evening? I estimate my return just after sun up to fit in a debrief, a proper meal, a nap and a bath hopefully before our glorious return.  I know I am being watched, I believe the kreen on the ground are aware of me.  Depending, I may need more time to refuel if I am engaged, perhaps we should dodge that stone if it is thrown and not before?"

"Tell Ande we're joining her at SUNUP, 12 hours from now..." HurK says