Squeak-ë i Otos Elen runs up Major Kort’s arm to his head partly to get a better view, partly to put more distance between herself and the cats.
Edelmira isn’t sure, but others may attempt it.
- - -
If you wait a few minutes to see if they change back... they don't. You can of course, keep them from the cats with a little care, should you wish to investigate further.
As it is, I think, more entertaining, we'll just say you both saved vs the second effect - so you still have your minds intact. You're just rats on the outside.
Professor Kart shakes his head, looking for mouse to mouse.
"Hmm...hadn't thought that this might happen. It does put a spin on things. On one hand, you're now perfect spies. On the other hand, well, it's going to be tough and expensive to get you back," Kart looks over at Edelmira, wondering what she thinks is best.
Kart ponders. He wants to see what is in the last room, but also there are two mice on his shoulders and he worries for their safety.
Muri takes to the hallway as he hears Edelmira shrieks.
When he approaches, hears the Professor assess, and sees the rodents on high, Muri decides to keep Underfoot back, while he himself takes to the door, and tries his luck on avoiding his own personal set of whiskers.
"Ok. Two of us are rats now. For now. Professor, do they understand us, the way they are now? Hold on. Let me just..."
Looking at the room's occupants, the halfling doesn't feel as bold as he might in the presence of smaller felines, but he has his bow out, and menaces a couple of the closer cats, just to be safe.
Taking to the next unopened door at the rear of Sweet Dreams, Muri opens it, but not before holding his breath instinctively, and waiting for another magical spell to be cast against him.
Professor Kart wasn’t sure he wanted that door opened yet, especially not without input from Edelmira. He readies himself, drawing his wand.
The Night Swan deliberates privately a moment. ”Let us check it. We can run if needed.”
Moving on to the last room - the bedroom. Opening the door releases a rancorous odor of decay and incense. In the far corner from the door lies a humanoid figure wrapped in sheets - the rotting body of the former owner Eudocia. A desk near the door includes writing implements and stationary, as well as a massive tome bound in leather - something else to study later (can anyone read both Abyssal and Infernal?).
To complete the search, you find a dose of flying ointment and, oddly, an orb of golden heaven on a shelf alongside various half burned candles, cracked animal bones, and feathers in the first room.
Also on the bookshelf here, and on the table, are a bundle of meticulous ledgers maintained by the Sisters of Indulgent Dreams on behalf of Milon Jeroth. It’ll take a few hours to sort it all out however, time you likely don’t want to spend here.
You can readily enough depart by the warehouse doors to try and slink away from another combat scene and avoid unpleasant questions by the town guard if you wish. It's early to mid afternoon, so plenty of time to read through what you've discovered so far, or do something else.
When the area is deemed safe, Kart will cast Detect Magic and explore the area for anything of interest or might have been missed.
"Well, you all, let's see to the mice," Kart assumes his inclinations are correct. "Then we should return to our inn so that I might study the tome. He does not speak either language fluently, but does dabble in them both and might be able to suitably translate the text. He will additionally put the ledgers in his 'sack.
Professor Kart will make the mice comfortable and protected, even soliciting their advice for how they want to travel, and will make his way to a place wherein he might buy some high value scrolls, like Break Enchantment.
[b]"Do either of you have any coins on hand? This might be expensive," he notes as he walks.
"Squeak," Squeak-ë i Otos Elen states from the top of Kort's head... shrugging?
Kamari pats her fur where her haversatchel would normally hang and looks up at Kort with shrugging shoulders.
Away from the scene and back in her Hildegaard disguise, Edelmira pats her pathfinder pouch. ”I have a little over 3000 myself. They can settle accounts once they are back to normal.”
The party ducks out of another blood soaked business and makes their way to the church of Abadar - a powerful place in any city and doubly so here as the 'holy' order of the Vault and Chain, made powerful by Pythareus in town, is based there.
You deal with a few paltry lay-clerks before your money and stature gets you in with a high level priest. ”I can cast it, and even have it prepared today, for 600gp. It’ll affect all of you, just in case you’ve got something going on you don’t know about anyway. If that doesn’t work, and I do not guarantee that it will, I have a scroll for 1,125gp. It’s not as effective, but still pretty good and saves you from waiting until tomorrow when I am willing to cast again.”
Assuming you try at least one, if not both, of those solutions. He casts…
vs DC 20
vs DC 20
You return to your hotel/bathhouse and sequester yourselves in your rooms. It’s still only mid-afternoon. What are your plans for the day?
A cat. I might've enjoyed some time as a cat. But definitely not a rat.
Kamari counts her fingers and toes and discretely as possible checks to be sure she does not still have a tail.
Once back in the room and under the protection of cricket chirps, Kamari wonders aloud.
"Well, we are definitely making a mark in this town. Hopefully the authorities don't know it's us, but I'm sure they know some group is in town."
"So, how now?"
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Kart is relieved when the spell works so well and so quickly, worried that the priest might ask some questions about how and why such things are necessary. He works his mind for a suitable lie, but can only come up with “Sometimes the experiences I teach get out of hand. Happens to the best of students.”
”I feel like I should get back and translate these tomes and ledgers,” Kart replies, but understands others may have ideas. ”Given some time, we might gain additional information about our foes given what the tea merchant has been able to undercover. There might be something useful within.”
Given his vote, Kart will opt for reading and study, but can be persuaded otherwise.
Muri agrees with Ko/art. "I think it's good to take whatever we find, and report it back to Kathann as soon as we can. Who knows if we can hide what we find, should sentinels decide to search us, or our rooms when we're not turning in for the night."
The halfling can't help but ask the rats. "What was that like? It looked like you still kept your minds. When you shrunk, then climbed Kart, was that animal instinct, or common sense?" Muri seems genuinely interested in the transformative process.
"Waterhill Manor, anyone? It feels like the longer we wait, the likelier someone there figures out Milon has encountered a problem, and they might start covering up things."
”Oh… the Rat Form. No, my mind was intact, but there was an unexpected assault upon my other senses so I headed for higher ground to clear my head. Quite unpleasant, but I am glad I do not have to get accustomed to being stuck that way. Thank you everyone, for restoring us.”
Elen/Mathilda nods to Muri. "Yes, I'll go with you to Waterhill Manor. I too think the sooner the better -- we need to stay ahead of them if we are to find our contact."
Edelmira also nods in agreement. ”I agree that the manor is the right call now. The longer we dally the more time we give our enemies to figure out what is going on and who is doing it. We should not squander our advantage.”
The party abandons research for now, I think, and you head to the Waterhill Manor. Walking past to get a glimpse without committing, you see a large mansion with two floors. There are two doors on the lower floor - an obvious main entrance, and a back door, likely to the kitchen, through some manicured gardens.
An upper floor also has an open walkway with two doors leading deeper into the structure if you wanted to take that approach. The windows are well curtained, and no light spills out from within, or any other visual.
Casting Vanish and Detect Magic, Kart will make a trip around the building and try to see what might be seen, whilst remaining unseen.
Perception
Stealth
Also, before anyone does anything foolish, he will cast Heroism on Kamari, as he thinks is best.
The Major turns invisible for some 30 seconds, but doesn't get very far on the grounds in that time. Still, he finds nothing new - other than their gardens are somewhat prickly.
Per OOC discussion, the Major actually casts a full invisibility and is gone some little while.
He returns to the group without additional wisdom however, but still invisible - though perhaps pulling some nettles from his clothes.
"Ayep, there was nothing of interest to be seen. If we want to know anything, we'll have to go inside." Professor Kart will let others make the first move after giving his (empty and invisible) report.
"Are we going in bluffing as new agents of Milon Jeroth? Are we just going in and killing some more? I think our party is too large and not stealthy enough to be unnoticed."
Kamari peers at the manor to see if anyone is inside. Considering it's supposed to be a safehouse, she will be on the lookout for traps once they move in.
"What do we know about Milon's plans in the city? It'll help me pretend better, if we're trying to look like allies. The spy thing, right? Just don't drink anything they pour."
"I am not sure we haven't been unnoticed... I thought the plan was to take them by surprise. So, if they haven't noticed, why give them the opportunity?" Mathilda/Elen says.
"What does Underfoot's senses tell her?"
Muri shrugs his shoulders, looking from Elen to Underfoot, before he slips the Circlet from the saddlebag, and hush-speaks something about paying attention, or focus now, and places it on the malinois's brow.
"I know we're a little far from the front door, but can you tell anything from where we are, Underfoot?"
"Rabbit. Right there. Under the bush. We can chase..."
"No, not right now. We're probably going to knock on the front door, and find out how tough the guests of the manor are."
"But the rabbit..."
"Ok, that's enough for now." Muri looks at Elen, while pawing the dog's head, and pulling the Circlet from her brow.
"Shall we?"
Muri marches up to the front door, and tries out the handle. If it opens, he waits for the others, then proceeds in. If it's locked, he knocks on the door, and waits for an answer, obliging any of the others who want to take front position and speak first. Otherwise he will.
Muri strides up to the door - and it opens easily under his touch. Well, after he turned the knob of course, but in their confidence, it was not locked…
You see into a large long chamber after a short entry hall.
This large living room is built in three tiers, ascending from the area adjoining the front door to a large, semicircular wall of windows looking out over the city to the west. Plush blue sofas line the walls, intermixed with statuary and potted plants. A short flight of stairs rises to the north, steeper stairs leading up to the south, and a hallway lies to east.
A gray ring sits on a red pillow under a bell jar between the two uppermost couches. Something about it calls out to Muri.
Just past the door on the first tier, you see two servants and a halfling butler (red), apparently chatting away amiably and seated on the couches. As you enter they rise and the halfling turns to you saying, ”Yes my lords and ladies? How may we be of assistance?” There seems to be some confusion behind the question, but it could just be your entry without knocking.
Kamari steps forward.
"We are expected."
"We have arrived at the appointed hour. Please show us to him."
Professor Kart nods gravely in agreement with Kamari, who is not lying at all. If there is one thing that Kart knows now to do it, it’s be stiff and look grave. And he will look grave here, because it’s so serious.
Bluff to aid
"Milon didn't tell us how nice Waterhill was. It'll be a welcome calm before the storm." Muri and Underfoot trot into the Manor, using the question posed to them as permission.
When the upper section of the big room draws the halfling's attention, the rider and mount take to the stairs, to investigate the bell jar, and what lies beneath...
Mathilda trundles into the room. "Oh, sorry for just entering, he said to 'just come one in' or words to that effect... Oh, but it looks like we beat him here? Oh, oh my. How awkward."
Edelmira tugs at her gloves. ”Yes yes, hurry along. Hildegaard Brandt and her associates are here.”
”Ahhh, you are expected.” the halfling strides down the stairs to meet you, the other two servants, both tall and slim follow obediently. ”Please, please, come in. I am Oaca and we are at your service. She and the others bow.
She guides you into the stepped chamber and distributes you around the various couches and chairs.
"Iaram,” she looks casually over her shoulder at one of the two behind her, ”will take your weapons. You may keep your daggers of course,” she laughs nervously, and a little excitedly, ”for your meal.”
You can see none of them wears armor or carries a weapon.
Muri, will save please, DC 20. And no, no one visibly cast a spell.
Muri is too fascinated with the display to acknowledge Oaca's instructions to hand over weaponry to Iaram. His halfling-sized longbow remains slung over his shoulder for the time-being.
His ears are trained to pay attention to any words uttered by his own, of course, so he may remain on-message with whatever webby stories they weave about their purpose in the Manor.
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Professor Kart remains unseen, and follows the group in. He tries to use their noise to mask his own.
Stealth
He will keep an eye out for trouble.
Perception
Kamari enters the room but does not give up her weapon.
"Meal? We did not come here to dine. We will wait a bit longer but our patience grows thin. Perhaps we will return when things are more organized. Perhaps we won't. I'm unimpressed."
Mathilda takes a step away from the impatient Weaver and pretends to be distracted by the ceiling.
Hildegaard plays at surprise as she begins patting herself all over. ”Oh! Yes. Do I have weapons?” She makes the question sound earnest and absent-minded, as if she is not accustomed to even considering it. ”Ah! I forgot I purchased this set of cold iron axes thinking they would make a wall display. Here you go.” She hands over her throwing axes and battleaxe.
Stylistic flourishes and a stout design suggest dwarves had a hand in forging this thick ring. The precise engineering of the small moving parts shows the fine artistry that went into creating the item. The ring features two carved symbols that flank a faceted onyx: one resembles the flag of Taldor, and the other depicts the eye of Aroden.
It’s an impressive piece ensconced on a pedestal, on a pillow, under glass. For just a moment there, you nearly reached out and took it. Consequences be damned. But you kept control of yourself.
- - -
As Muri investigates, the halfling calls out with a grin, ”Be careful, that is the masters.”
- - -
"Meal? We did not come here to dine. We will wait a bit longer but our patience grows thin. Perhaps we will return when things are more organized. Perhaps we won't. I'm unimpressed."
”Oh, I am so sorry we did not live up to your expectations.” she says with a grin, though her tone was respectful.
She collects Edelmira’s weapons and hands them over. The servant then walks up to Kamari to collect her weapons.
Kamari does not hand over anything, let alone Koriana's blade.
"I'll keep this, thank you. It helps me poke things on the far end of the table. Some people like to hog all the good treats at their end."
Kart waits and watches, uncertain what the play is here...and who is going to make it.
Hrmm… I wonder if we needed to come here at all? Maybe everything we need to know about their plans are in the ledgers we didn’t read… How to salvage this without blowing our cover?
"Meal? We did not come here to dine.”[ WEAPONS GIVE ]"I'll keep this, thank you.”
Maybe now is not the right time to skewer them…
”Ohhohoho, now – “ she says, grabbing onto Kamari. ”Let’s not upset our hosts prematurely unduly – “ She looks back behind towards Muri.
She looks at her hosts – ”Oh, is it always like Lord Milon to be so tardy?”
"I'll keep this, thank you. It helps me poke things on the far end of the table. Some people like to hog all the good treats at their end."
”I’m afraid we must insist.” adds the servant in a hissy sort of way. Perhaps they have a lisp.
- - -
She looks at her hosts – ”Oh, is it always like Lord Milon to be so tardy?”
The halfling grins again, ”Unlike him entirely. Perhaps this time is a gift by him to us. May I get you drinks?”
"Be careful, that is the master's.”
Muri takes his eyes away from the ring, and nods to their host. In the same moment as he lays eyes on her, he also studies her for traces of evil. Given the time, he looks over the other two, as well.
He looks back at the ring for a moment, before heading back down the stairs, and past the halfling, angling his way towards the hallway behind her. "Which one is the bathroom? I could really use it right now."
”I’m afraid we must insist.”
"Insist away. Maybe when we sit down to dinner if you have really small chairs. And I'll pass on the drink, I'm trying to take better care of my health."
Kamari moves away from the pesky person and looks around.
Kart waits, and will hide and re-apply his invisibility if and when it is needed (but it lasts 11 minutes so shouldn't be for a while).