Hathin nods and moves past to inspect within, looking over the people within the theater for one that matches the doll's description...
Perception:
Cezar frowns when the man walks away from the trio, and he turns to his sister.
"Should we try to get somebody to help search around? I want to find mister Pestico's daughter so that we can go back there...His dolls were amazing...Do you think that *I* could do something like that? Or maybe he'll sell me one. How much do you think I'd have to pay for one? Would he even sell it at all?"
As usual, his frown disappears behind his typical spew of excited blabber.
We should probably just try and find it ourselves. I suppose you could do something like that. Maybe you could ask him if you could be his apprentice?
Vasile will look around at the faces of those on stage, looking for similarities.
She will also look around the props and such, staying out of the way of the actors as much as possible.
You look carefully from among the actors, but none of them have the very distinct appearance or movements of the dolls. Vasile looks backstage for a bit, but doesn't find anything back there.
Pakak raises a brow as he sees the others are here already, "Looks like we're not the only one on the trail."
Flagging one of the crew that does not seem too busy or flustered, Hathin asks "When is the next performance?"
The performer, a short and energetic human woman, replies to you in an airy tone, "Why, 'tis in two days, sir." She then smiles apologetically and says in a more normal voice, "Sorry, I was in character. The next show is in two days."
Smiling in what he hopes does not appear a grimace Hathin continues "Any new faces among the stage hands or actors?"
The woman ponders that, and replies, "Not among the actors, so far as I know. The stage hands, though, it could be, I don't really keep track."
"Thank you" Hathin adds before moving off to try and get in among the backstage personnel.
Perception:
Stealth (if needed):
Vasile will accompany Hathin to the back. Good idea. I hadn't thought that she might try and join the stage hands.
You are let through to the back stage, though the people around you keep a close eye on what you're doing. You search about for the figurine amongst the stagehands, but to no avail; however, when Hathin gets a view of the stage at one point, he does notice a significant amount of dust suddenly fall from above. The stage area is covered by a roof, which is apparently where it fell from.
Pakak raises a brow as he sees the others are here already, "Looks like we're not the only one on the trail."
"Another remarkable coincidence. They must have learned something from that odd man after all."
Hathin's eyes turn roofward as he tries to look for a decent way up...
You cannot see a way up there from the inside. However, (putting this here in the interest of saving time) when you move to the outside of the building, you find a ladder leading up to the roof. Though it is attached to the building, it's wooden and looks to be old.
Hathin tests the ladder with his weight...
Climb: take 10 for 13
"Another remarkable coincidence. They must have learned something from that odd man after all."
Pakak nods, "Got a plan on where to take it from here?
"Maybe you could try looking for auras again? But the 'daughter' that I talked to was rather eerie. She would stand out among people, so would have to be somewhere hidden; perhaps in a basement or attic, or maybe among the props, if she stays still."
The ladder holds your weight, though its creaking makes you uncomfortable as you ascend. The top of the amphitheatre is curved (difficult terrain, not too steep to need climb checks) and about 25 feet from the ground at its lowest. The roof itself is more sturdy than the ladder.
The lip where you estimate the dust must have fallen from is on the other side of the roof, and you cannot see that area from where you are.
Seeing that Vasile is coming also, Hathin bids her wait until he has made the roof. Once atop, he steadies the ladder to make her climb easier.
Looking over the roof, he shrugs "You go that way, I go this?" suggesting that Vasile look to the left and he to the right as they climb up and over the apex of the roof.
Perception:
Sounds good to me, Vasile says as she reaches the top, and proceeds to move left as asked.
You carefully make your way along the roof, moving toward the other side. As Vasile reaches the apex of the roof, something small nearby her gives a startled squeak. Before she knows what's happening, a little tentacle shoots up toward her throat.
What appears to be a tiny humanoid devoid of bones clings to Vasile's throat with the claws on the end of one of it's unnaturally long arms. It's maw of jagged fangs draws back as it hisses at her.
Initiative:
Knowledge (Dungeoneering):
Incredibly startled, Vasile points her fingers at the creature, letting loose an unrefined burst of force.
[dice=Force Missile (Sp)]1d4+1[/dice]
The energetic spurt of force thrown by Vasile knocks the choker's body backward significantly. However, it's grip on her throat is freakishly strong, and it keeps up its stranglehold, now with a fresh gash on its chest oozing darkly colored blood.
With a roar Hathin picks his way forward to aim a clumsy haymaker at the choker...
Attack: for (non-lethal)
Suleiyel looks around, wondering where Vasile and her nameless orc-kin companion had gotten to. No doubt the short one is looking at their figures. "Perhaps we should check among the props first, and maybe also see if what's-his-name, Caesar is there. Make sure he's okay."
Sully grins at Pakak. "Not that I really know him -- I'm just guessing, from that scene at Pestico's."
"Sure, sure... sounds as good as anything else." He heads towards the props.
Hathin coldclocks the choker right in the head, and sends it flying off the rooftop. Its death grip on Vasile releases as it goes, and you hear an odd splattering sound moments later. It's quickly followed by cries of surprise and disgust, and a shrill woman's scream.
For those below: you start to head toward backstage, intent on looking through the props, when suddenly a quickly descending object catches your peripheral. You turn in time to see a lump splatter against the floor, and black liquid flies in every direction. The actors shout in surprise, and one woman who was caught a bit by the splatter screams.
Still grimacing with effort Hathin looks to Vasile to see if she is alright. After that his breathing begins to slow and he suggests "There is nothing here, we better go back to the ground."
Vasile, her breathing quickly returning to normal, says "Thank you, very much. And it's agreed, let's get down."
Suleiyel starts. "Holy sh... I mean, mess!" The cautious elf carefully approaches the lump on the floor, looking up in case of more falling... messes. He looks the thing over. "I have no idea what that is, Pakak. But I think I can guess where the others went." He looks up again. "We should check and see if they're okay."
Cezar jumps up with a start, taking his attention away from the practicing actors. The shriek he heard was feminine, and that was enough to make him want to find his sister and make sure she was alright. Though his curiosity to discover what caused the scream was powerful, his fear for his sister's safety was more so.
"I hope the lady hit by that stuff is okay, " Pakak adds even as he nods his agreement and starts to head up.
As Suleiyel and Pakak get to the bottom of the ladder (after figuring out where it is), they can see Vasile and Hathin descending it. Cezar similarly figures out the situation after a short while, and follows.
Once they get to the ground, you can clearly see bright red marks on Vasile's neck. Her breathing seems fine, however.
Suleiyel furrows his brow in concern at the sight of Vasile. "Oh no! What happened to you? And what was that... mess... that fell on the stage?"
I'm fine, there's no need to worry, thanks to Hathin. It's called a choker, I think, but it's rather small. Those things have a death grip, though, as you can see.
Hathin shrugs and rubs his fist "It died easy enough... did you see the doll anywhere?"
"No, but we had just barely started looking. I was thinking that they would've noticed her, unless she's somewhere people don't look, like a basement or attic. I didn't think of the roof."
"Maybe its some place where you don't need to breathe? Some place most people couldn't or wouldn't go?"
I suppose it's possible. I don't know where around here that would be, though.
"I think that we should stick together for safety. Look for a basement next?"
That sounds good to me.Vasile says, rubbing her neck.
Cezar practically drowns his sister in concern and worry, spewing out questions in Celestial regarding her well-being.
After things are settled and the next point of travel is being decided on, he relaxes quite a bit, though he stays close by Vasile, somehow convinced that he'd be able to protect her. He's very passive over where the group will go to next, and has no significant input, though he seems a bit wary of the rafters now...
Pakak nods his agreement, and heads down looking for a basement.
You ask the actors for a basement, and they inform you of an underground storage area for larger props and backdrops. Before you leave, they say, "By the way, what the devils was that thing that fell?" and they look to the mess at the foot of the stage. Some unfortunate stagehand has begun cleaning the carnage.