To the Dragon Gates & then to the North

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

His eyes narrow in suspicion as the half giant is turned into an elf, then even farther when Muiko turns to hm. He chitters with unease "[That depends, long legs. What is it you did to him? Is it like the shamans with their animal shapes?]" (Halfling)

He chitters and sniffs the new form of the large one, unhappy with the change but wondering if he tastes more like giant or elf now. Or very tough elf? Theyre already stringy and lean, elves dont need to be tough as well

[AthasianLaborer]

[Halfling: "Uh, yes and no.  It is a change in shape like they can do, but you cannot turn back into this-" Muiko gestures at Umbris' body "-unless I turn you back into this.  It is permanent if I would not reverse it, though it could be ended otherwise but it would need to be a shaman or a Master of The Way like me.  If you tell me to change you back first thing tomorrow, I will, though this will hasten our arrival in the city which urgently needs us"]

Muiko holds out his right hand with a cocoon in his palm [Halfling: "Do you trust me friend?"]

[DM Bob]

Coden, Scrye and Quila appear on the promenade outside the Tribunal's hall. It does not take long for them to get pointed out to the Spire of Meditation, the tower where Oronis trains those in the Way...

This is where Akos had his quarters.

You leave word with those in the square to tell your friends to meet you there (or you can telepathically notify them, no need to roll). After a short walk and plethora of stairs, you are greeted by an open door. Within the doorway itself stands the Presider Ulali and Kinnan of the House Azeth. They look exhausted, but happy to see you even through grim eyes. The young man of Azeth greets you first as you notice a squad of templars beyond the frame.

"That was fast, although I guess we should have expected it. Two attempted murders this evening, and Akos' attacker succeeded. I narrowly escaped a slit throat myself."

Ulali nods slowly in agreement as she wipes a tear from her eye.

"I think my only saving grace was that I never left the assembly this evening."

***

The rest of you are making good time.

[Attilius]

"ooooooooooo shiiiiit!" the giant exclaims as his vantage point is now significantly lower. A look of horror washes over his face as he quickly looks down and grabs his crotch. He let's out a relieved sigh when he realizes he's still packing.

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

Oct 17, 2024 10:49:34 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

[Halfling: "Uh, yes and no.  It is a change in shape like they can do, but you cannot turn back into this-" Muiko gestures at Umbris' body "-unless I turn you back into this.  It is permanent if I would not reverse it, though it could be ended otherwise but it would need to be a shaman or a Master of The Way like me.  If you tell me to change you back first thing tomorrow, I will, though this will hasten our arrival in the city which urgently needs us"]

Muiko holds out his right hand with a cocoon in his palm [Halfling: "Do you trust me friend?"]

"No, but we dont have much choice. Never again will I allow this... maybe." He chitters and clicks with annoyance, hissing at Mukos hand... sniffing it... then allowing whatever spell is to be done.  

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Taken aback by the revelation of attempted murder on the leadership of the city Quila blurts out ”Murder attempts? By whom? Have we identified the perpetrators?”

[DM Bob]

"Not yet, but our best are on it. Another squad of peacekeepers is scouring my home for clues... the masked attacker fled out the window. He was taller than me and thin, well, I assume it was a man. Held a curved dagger to my throat but ran when my guards came shouting that they'd found Akos dead."

The man is visibly shaking now, recalling the scene.

Ulali adds, "We don't know whether it was the same assassin or a team working in tandem."

[AthasianLaborer]

Looking Umbris in the eye, equal of height in the immediate aftermath of his change [Halfling: "To be clear, if you do not wish to remain an elf, it must happen once again.  Tell me how you feel in the morning"]

An idle smile spreads across Muiko's face as he surveys the trio of elves before him  "We'll want to stretch briefly before, the Run should be less than an hour on your unfamiliar legs?  Still quicker than otherwise" Muiko says as he begins stretching his legs "Niachi should lead the Run, he is a familiar runner and his legs are younger than mine"

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

"You say you are smart, yet you think I meant I wanted to stay like this? [(Halfling): Tasteless Lean-flesh!], I meant I wouldnt allow this again after ive been put back in the right body. How do you deal with these gangly things!?" It takes him a moment to get used to his new body, grumbling in halfling the entire time as he stretches... still has his rather magnificent muttonchops

[AthasianLaborer]

Muiko laughs at Umbris' question  "I know the feeling friend, I wore a half-giant for four and a half years before I learned to shift myself and Dakhina dispelled her polymorph!  You think elf limbs are unwieldy!"  Muiko doubles over with laughter and takes a moment to recover his composure before looking between the new elves.  He spits into his open palm offering it towards both of them "I give you both my word that you will live as elves for a far shorter time than I hid within Gwin"

[Attilius]

The giant... errr elf, begins stretching as he full well knows the rigors of running long distances.
"Right! Enough yapping! Let's get dis show on da road!"

[Niachi]

Niachi chuckles at the creation of superior sprinters through magic.
With Kaw-Raak squawking ahead, he runs to Kurn.
MV: Lots.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Oct 17, 2024 13:26:15 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

"Not yet, but our best are on it. Another squad of peacekeepers is scouring my home for clues... the masked attacker fled out the window. He was taller than me and thin, well, I assume it was a man. Held a curved dagger to my throat but ran when my guards came shouting that they'd found Akos dead."

The man is visibly shaking now, recalling the scene.

Ulali adds, "We don't know whether it was the same assassin or a team working in tandem."

Quila turns around and looks into the room, with her back to those present, and concentrates for a second to activate Truthear, and then looks back again to Presider Ulali and Kinnan Azeth. "May I?" and she walks into the room. "Can you remember anything else that might be relevant, anything from the period Oronis and the Lancers were away? Any threats made, any problems up at Fort Protector, any alarms set off in the mountain ranges, anything at all?"

Quila may be good, but she ain't dumb. Anyone really wanting to, could definitely impersonate either the Presider or the Azeth man. She wants to make sure that is not the case. It would be an ideal moment to stage a soft coup.

Quila will actively investigate the room with her command of the way and the gifts bestowed upon her by Oronis.
She will use her Danger Sense and also feel if the place is currently under any observation, like the one Aman sometimes triggered or the efreeti.

From the body walking to the window, Quila will also invoke Footsteps of the Quarry (lvl 2) by saying a short prayer to Oronis. This way she will find the tracks of the murderer and see how he got in here and possibly how they left if not by flight or levitation. Clues are what she is looking for.

Is there any carafe or decanter or body of water in the room? If there is, Quila will determine whether from it's vantage point the water could have sensed anything, and decide whether using a Speak with Water (lvl 2) is worth the effort.

After looking around doing her thing, Quila will again address the remaining Tribunal members. "Would you allow me to put a protective ward I can bestow through Oronis upon you both? The Sacred Guardian ward would instantly inform me of any danger or threat to you and provide me with a mental image of what that threat is. This ward lasts for days."

(OOC: Rolled 13 on 15-20 for Truthear, success. Rolled 11 on 18-20 for Danger Sense, success.)

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Muttering to herself looking at his dead body, then to Quila - "Mmm.. My friend, can you read people's minds?" - her mind runs with ideas, one shined between others, like a diamond within a field of mud - "Or maybe you, Coden?"

[OOC: SPELLS: 1stLvl(1/5), 2ndLvl(4/5), 3rdLvl(4/4), 4thLvl(3/3)]

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"I can. Dead people, not so much their mind as contact their spirits perhaps. Not sure I want to disturb Akos in that manner though. I will leave it to those already following the orders given by the Tribunal."