As soon as the door closes behind Crosso, Marianne says, "I don't think that was very smart, Nee. Are we going to that efreet place now? Because if not, I bet that's where he's going."

Content to watch until now, Marianne says, "Now we're seeing a little truth from this little el. Samen learns something new, and we can believe his answers under the knife. Or stick, ha. I don't see a downside."

Marianne arches an eyebrow at your display. "It looks like you have other things on your mind. I'm not saying no forever...but I also want to make sure the whole idea wasn't caused by that sylph madness cac that was floating around everywhere. I'm kind of...happy not having an elemental on my back at the moment."

"Yes, the rulers of the city will love to see us. We have a very good track record of showing up right around when things start collapsing."

"Hmm. I'll have time to process all that after I have nightmares about Smiling Sky. Goodnight."

"Night everyone."

***

Alone with Iniga in the ele's room, Marianne sets her pack on the floor and sighs with contentment. "So, happy to be back in Hearth? What's this city like, anyway?"

"Dad said in his journal that these relics would point the way to Sky. So far, we've stopped a civil war in Forest, and sucker-punched a newborn god." She smiles.

"Samoon always had the dream of climbing Volcano, finding the way to Sky - I think we may need to do that, and show the true face of Sky, rather than this Smiling Sky. He feels like an imposter, a cheap copy, to me."

"This Smile thing is horrible. I want to get away from Light and from the awful music that's playing out there. Any way out is a way out."

marianne will save at -4 vs sylph: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 14

Marianne again falls unconscious (-5 HP)

Marianne stands up from her slouch upon the brick walls, and immediately starts firing.

rapid: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 21
rapid: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 20
atk iterative: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 = 17

and suddenly, Ky La has no more mirror images. (updated map)

Mariannne (now taking her turn in initiative) will fire as many arrows as she can,

Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 14
Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 12
Rapid Shot Iterative: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 5 = 7

but misses terribly, her hawk eyes blurry for once. She shakes her head, trying to rif it of Ky La's questions...

marianne will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

wow

Marianne ducks down, covering her face as she fights,

but when she straightens, she has blank mirrors for eyes.

Marianne sees Ky La about to cast a spell, and fires,

bow: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Marianne immediately points her arrow directly at Ky La. "Is he casting spells, Samen? Should I shoot him?"

perception check wearing invis glasses: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Marianne is suddenly pointing a nocked arrow down the hall. In a loud voice, she says, "Alright, I know Byron and Instant are here already, so you need to decloak or whatever, now."

welcoming Iniga back to the scene, as per Discussion

"Ah, cousin, you're back! We're about to pour salt on the cwmwl! Did you have a chance to seduce or perhaps kill Rentwyrth?" In spite of the gravity of the last few days, Marianne still seems glib as ever.

Marianne frowns. "Bout time you came out from under there, stranger. I was ready to shoot if you pulled out one of those fancy vials of yours."

Marianne will be keeping watch with Samen and Samoon

"Damn. That would have been quite a spirit to stitch to the hawk wings."

Marianne's face is grim, intent on bringing down the vulture. "Stinking carrion eaters."

Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 21
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 11
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Whispering loudly, "Would you two shut up and come on!"

mari stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"Too slow, brothers." Marianne goes down first.

marianne percep: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"Samen, can you read this on the walls? It looks more like a math class than a language."

Marianne raises an eyebrow. "I was kidding. I haven't been able to listen to birds since I lost my scroll." She looks around. "Only thing I can see is that this food looks weird, kind of like sand more than seeds. And that guy did mention "feeding the birds", so maybe they're trying out cwmwl on other forms of life?"

She shrugs. "We should probably keep moving. We're here for Samoon, not the latest birdfeed trends."

"Right, good! So, are we interrogating the birds, or moving on?"

wild empathy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Marianne coos, imitating the sylph. The birds quiet down, but still seem watchful, on edge.

if you roll higher than the sylph, you can act

rapid shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 22
shocking damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8
rapid shot: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 29
shocking damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (2) = 6

Marianne init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Marianne bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Umm..." She looks behind her, unsure what to say.

Marianne hardly waits for you to answer, and just decides to go in herself. "Hey! Weirdo! What are you doing?"

"Well if we're talking instead of smashing, it should probably either be me or Iniga doing the talking. What do you think, cousin?"

Marianne holds her bow ready. Her face shows a hint of nerves, but her hands are steady.

Marianne rolls her eyes. "Not-crazy sylph standing right here..."

Marianne leads you through the streets, her ranger movements serving her as well in the city as in the wilderness. She pulls sharply on Wamblee's shoulder at one point as he almost walks into a group of streaking sylphs holding fire bombs above their heads.

"Sky's Tears, Wamblee, I can't even move you! Just watch where you're going, alright?"

stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
percep: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

"Well, I saw the building he tromped off to. I'm up for a midnight excursion if you guys are."

"I didn't see everyone in a crowd of hundreds. This is a sylph town, and I saw sylphs. Judging from what they were wearing, I think they were all alchemists?"

She shoots a look back at you. "You have a problem, brother? I don't know why I wasn't affected. Perhaps my wit and charm?"

Not hearing--or perhaps ignoring--Samen's comment, "I managed to get the glasses. They're pretty nifty. But on the way back, this...march?...demonstration?...mob of sylphs, all yelling about cwmwl, and the next thing I know Samoon has shiny gray eyes and he's marching away like he doesn't even know me. I tried to pull him away, and he almost chucked a bomb at me." Her gaze is faraway, frightened.

after you have been discussing your respective days for a bit

Marianne walks in, looking haggard. "Umm, I think Samoon got stolen by a cult."

"Volc that. We have more problems than just elementals. If this city is good for anything, it's magic and alchemy. I'm going to go sniffing around for some magic items while Iniga is out on her mission. Anyone care to join me?"

"Too many of these damn mages and alchemists use invisibility! We need to look into how to see them, or counter them, or something. Give old Helen a surprise the next time she's hiding something from us."

Marianne nods at Samen's final words. "That's the Samen I know and love."

Marianne rolls her eyes and mutters, "Right, we never do anything as crazy as stealing."

Rooting around Samoon's room for something to eat, Marianne says, "So wait, we're trying to murder Joseph and steal from the Alchemists at the same time? Doesn't that seem like we're overextending ourselves?"

Marianne, whose hangover seems to be fading, says, "So Samen is the optimist now? Funny! Well, if an answer to the Dark does come, it will be from the minds of elens, not from the gods. Best of luck to them."

Marianne blushes at Iniga's remark and says, "Yeah, it sounds like you might know how to push his buttons."

Marianne nods as well, smiling. "Hell yes."

Marianne's voice is controlled, but simmers beneath like a fireplace cauldron. It reminds you of Mother. "Do you have something to say, brother?"

"Volc, what a start to the day. I only had two of those stupid gloating fargles! Wonder if anyone in this town has finally discovered a cure for hangovers."

Head tilted for a moment, then she smiles. "Sky's kiss, of course." Her lips smack the air, and she blows it toward the swaggering sylph.

common term for the wind

Turning to all of you, "Well family, should we find somewhere to sleep and call on brother dearest in the morning?"

Marianne, bold with drink, says, "I'll give you a kiss, with my arrow, if you don't tell me. How's that for a bargain?"

intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16