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Zania pulls her taser out of her bag and attacks the biker while he is messing with the controls.
Attack (Touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Once he is down, she carefully looks over the controls in an attempt to shut the ride down, or have it reach its conclusion.
Zania double-moves, sidling right up to the biker at the controls of the ride, smiling warmly and looking at him admiringly. Wow, do you actually know how this works? That's amazing. Can you show me how? Think we can make it do a loop?
Zania, seeing that the innocent bystanders were cleared out, tasers the biker she is standing next to in order to take him out of the game, at least for now.
Zania, having expected all of this since the day before, is almost relieved as she watches it begin. She wants to accelerate the chance for the innocent people to get away before things get ugly, so she negotiates through the crowd so that she is near one of the thugs, but does not attack yet. Instead she turns and yells to the crowd in her best tourist guide voice:
Not recognizing the blonde, and unable to overhear anything, Zania moves next to Toni. The cavalry has arrived. Did you figure anything out? Just then Toni's text arrives and she glances at it and says Oh, guess not. Toni, meet Chloe. Met her in a parking lot when I was trying to track down Ameiko. She's a friend of hers. Couldn't find Nishka to tell us how she fits in, but remember how Nishka called me a... She uses her fingers to make quotation marks. "Star Person" yesterday? Well, she is one too, and so is that blonde. No idea what any of that means in the larger scheme, but probably good information to have. Anyway, she seems to think that I am in on Ameiko's disappearance, so she's following me rather than looking for her. Maybe motivated enough to help us.
I'm looking for my friend to see what the situation is here and to ask if she needs help. If you want something to do, keep an eye out for Ameiko. Zania walks close enough to overhear the blonde Aasimar as she is trying to spot Toni, hoping to catch the nature of the conversation she is having with the bikers.
Zania locks up her car, puts her laptop in her messenger bag, and goes to find Toni. This conglomeration of "star people" was positively strange, but she wasn't sure if it meant anything or not. She also keeps an eye out for Nishka, in case she is here at the festival.
Zania pulls up, seeing the closed sign, and then looks at the text from Sariel. What? One of the group was gone now? This was getting bad. And Nishka wasn't here to find out how the other Aasimar fit into anything either. Arrgh. She texts back >Where are you? On my way to festival, but will come to you if you tell me where. FYI, might have a tail... it's another "star person" ... not sure how she fits in, and Nishka not around to ask.< Then she starts the car back up and heads towards the festival.
Zania shrugs, but instead of driving to the festival, she drives over to Nishka's shop to see if she is there.
Zania glances at her phone, reading the note from Toni. Distractedly she answers Chloe Both and neither. At the festival I could keep an eye out for her, in case her disappearance is tied to the biker gang problem, and whoever hired them. Nishka might be able to give us more insight into what is going on, since you seemed skeptical, but it's a long shot, so if you aren't worried about whether it is all true anymore, then we don't need to do that. Neither of those relates directly to Ameiko's disappearance, only to the larger picture, which it could be a part of. Since it seems like you want to stay focused on your friend, which I completely understand, why don't you stick with Bethany, who is planning on talking to the Sheriff, and I'll go to the festival and let you know if we find anything out through other means. She thanks them both for their help, promising to keep in touch, and starts walking back to her car.
Zania takes pictures and notes, and sends a copy to Bethany and Chloe (if they want them and are willing to give her a contact number to send them to) and BCCs the team. You guys can give those to the sheriff if you like. Chloe, did you hear back from Shelly? If not, maybe I should take you over to Nishka so you can hear the whole story from her... you sound a little skeptical, and that would be the way to resolve that. If not, I am a little worried about what is brewing over at the festival, so I'll head over there and get out of your hair. Your call. Either way, Zania thanks Bethany warmly for her help, and lets her know that she will keep her appraised if she finds anything out about her friend's disappearance.
I changed mine for the game so it is clear, but Zanbabe = Zania.
She doesn't know anything about that. Seriously, do you want to just stand here in the parking... oh, nevermind. She looks frustrated, but she takes a breath and stops in the middle of the parking lot to explain. Nishka warned us that something bad was going to happen, pointing out the people that Ameiko was with at the festival yesterday. I came to warn her, but found her missing. Bethany says the room was broken into and there was a note, but not in her own handwriting. That's what we're going to see. Returning to your earlier questions, what Bethany says makes it pretty likely that she is missing, which is why I wanted to go see the room. I don't know Sato, and nobody said he did anything. Just his connections seem to indicate that the possibility exists. And yes, Nishka who runs the collectibles shop. Anything else you need to know before we go see Ameiko's room?
Of the information you are asking about.
Hi Chloe says Zania. Those are excellent questions, but let's take a look at the room first. If it is still as Bethany described it, I think that will convince you. She looks Chloe up and down, convinced that she is also Aasimar. What would Nishka say? If there were two "star people" ... maybe the prophecy was about Chloe and not her? After, I want to talk to Shelly and see if she knows anything... you might be useful there, since you know her, and then I can take you over to Nishka, the source, if you like. ... or, I can keep you both updated by email. Your choice.
Zania gets up and goes with Bethany.
She texts >Bethany reporting Ameiko as missing person to Sheriff. Will update when I know more. Anyone have a problem with being known to the Sheriff as part of this group, tell me soonest.< Once she and Bethany get outside, Zania spots a woman who starts heading towards them... really pleasant to look at, come to think of it. The kind of beauty that rivals her own... well, almost. She reaches surreptitiously into her bag, wondering if the woman is part of the group they are supposed to be hunting and thinking she might need her taser. When the woman gets close though Zania realizes that there is something really familiar about her. Could this be one of her own kind? As the woman approaches Bethany, Zania realizes that it is someone who knows Ameiko. She might have some good information. After returning new girl's smile, Zania steps away to give the two of them space to talk, sitting on a nearby bench and typing up her notes on her laptop, but she also keeps an ear open to see if they are sharing any leads.
Zania smiled reassuringly, although she was a little disappointed in her personal charm. Usually people liked her right away, but of course it was justified... the woman was smart to have concerns, especially with her boss and friend going missing like this. This was going to take longer, but it was important. She took a breath, and launched into the story. It's good to be suspicious in a circumstance like this, Bethany, and you should definitely call in the sheriff as well. I can wait here for you to do that if you are really concerned about me being in on something. Zania pulls out a business card and hands it to Bethany. As I told you, I really am a businesswoman, and I used that fact to try to get a meeting with her, but I really came to warn her about a concern that was raised yesterday. Do you know Nishka Mvashti? She owns Seagull Gifts and Collectibles?
Anyway, she came to a group of us yesterday, when we were at the festival... we were worried that trouble was brewing there from the bikers, and have since confirmed that the bikers have been paid off to cause trouble... well..., but let me start at the beginning. We were at the festival yesterday, organizing in case something came up. I'm not sure if you were there yesterday, but it was feeling sort of ominous, like something was going to happen, so it seemed prudent. I had Amanda and Kendra leave early because it seemed that way (do you know them... Amanda Sorn and Kendra Deverin?) and when I was walking back from seeing them off I met up with some other people who were also trying to help make sure everyone got home safely. While we were there discussing what to do, we saw Ameiko, along with her brother, Sato, but the three others I didn't know. Maybe you do? One was an obvious bodyguard... well muscled with shifty eyes, then there was a well-groomed man with a goatee, and a scholarly looking gentleman with glasses. They seemed to be arguing. As we were observing this, Nishka came up, warning us about the people Ameiko was with, and at first a lot of us were skeptical, but as we talked about it afterward, we realized that she actually was on to something, which we confirmed later. Zania smiles again, in a self-deprecatory way. Anyway, not a secret society or anything... just a group of us who organized yesterday to try to protect the people at the festival, and I volunteered to come over to talk to Ameiko because I own a business and figured I might be able to get a meeting with her and ask her who those people were, and maybe try to find out more. The rest of the group are around town, including one at the festival, and I figured it would be a good start on looking for her to tell them, especially if it is related to the concerns that we already had about security at the festival. She doesn't seem the type to be in on it, but... kind of her brother does, no offense. Does that clear things up for you? I only wanted to look at her room because you said it had been ransacked and there was an odd note... maybe there is something there that would help in the search. And if we get some pictures, then you will have more sway with the sheriff anyway. Normally they won't take missing person cases when it has been less than 24 hours, but clear evidence of foul play might help. What I'd like to do is just take a look, and then go talk to Shelly Anderson and see if she knows anything... keeping you informed all the way, and definitely available if the sheriff wants to talk to me. However, I can see you are concerned, and that concern is valid. I can stay and wait for the sheriff if it would make you feel better. Should I text my friends and tell them to proceed without me until we get this cleared up?
Also GM, no pressure from me. When I said I was waiting on that, I meant patiently, I promise, and just as an update so no one thought I was MIA. :) Life comes first, I get it.
No worries, I get it. I would probably jump to conclusions if it was my friend too. And there could actually be something going on here. I'm just saying I'm one of the good guys, okay? I want to help.
Mind if I take a look through her room? You can come with me if you want. I just want to see if there are any clues to what might have happened. Also, I'm just going to update my friends so they can keep an eye out for her or anyone who might know more, and I'll report back to you anything that we find. Sound good? Zania sends a text >No leads so far, but sounds like her room was ransacked. That's my next stop. No way to know where she might be, so no need to meet... just everyone keep your eyes and ears open and track down friends and family members if possible. Let everyone know if you get a solid lead and then we can meet up if help is needed.< If allowed to search the room, Zania takes her phone with her and gets pictures of everything, including the forged note. She then updates everyone in an email with attached photos detailing everything she knows up to this point. (After this, if Bethany doesn't have any other leads, Zania will go look up Ameiko's friend Shelly Anderson.)
Planning on answering Sariel's text, but waiting on the continuation of my conversation first.
Zania changes all of her plans instantly, leaning forward earnestly. Honestly? Oh, this is bad. I honestly am a businesswoman and was trying to use that as an in, but only to warn Ameiko. We saw some shady people talking with her and Sato yesterday, and we need to know more. I promise I have no idea where she is, but we have found out that some of the biker gangs are being paid to terrorize the town. No idea why, but this is likely part of some larger plot. Do you have any other information... when did you hear from her last? Zania types an emergency text >Ameiko missing! Change of plans. Need to find her.<
Zania, who was usually pretty laid back about things like this, took a second to plan her approach. If this was just for her business, no big deal either way, but since a mysterious prophecy was involved, it seemed somewhat more important that she make a good impression. She laughed at herself for thinking so hard about it and proceeded indoors. At the entrance she asked the hostess for a table and a menu and then said I also understand that the owner, Ameiko, is here this morning. Will you please let her know that I'd like to talk to her briefly before she leaves? My name is Zania Sheridan. Some mutual friends recommended that I talk to her about bringing some tour groups here, and I wanted to meet her and see if we could work something out. It was a small town, and she guessed that Ameiko would already know who she was from her father and perhaps some of the other business owners, but she was prepared to start from scratch if necessary. Hopefully Ameiko could fit her in for at least 10 minutes so she had time to ask her some side questions and have something to report back to the group.
We are committed to a nebulous goal that we don't really have any information about yet, as my character said before. We're working to get there, but we aren't to the walking around in a pack stage, at least in my estimation.
I'm assuming that depends on how the story goes. We don't know what will even happen at the meeting yet, or if Zania is going to have to go over to the Festival instead, and we don't know what information she will or will not get. We aren't even officially a party yet, are we? We haven't established a united purpose. We just started to get to know each other, and we're trying to set all of that up right now, correct?
After a good night's sleep, Zania got up, showered, and dressed in something a little more upscale from yesterday's casual attire, just in case Ameiko had an eye for those things. She wasn't sure what to expect after having met the father and hearing about the brother's mob contacts. Strange family... but not something to hold against anyone, for sure. She took her phone off of mute and saw that there was a lot of activity last night... and apparently a meeting this morning that she had already missed. Ah well, she had warned them she was skipping any morning meeting. She waited a bit to be sure that Ameiko's shop would be open and she wouldn't catch her unlocking, and then drove over, taking the car just in case Ameiko was setting up at the festival instead and she needed to drive over there.
From my side, Zania hasn't set up any official meeting yet. She is planning on going into Ameiko's place in the morning to try to talk to her/make friends with her, as she normally would do when cultivating business contacts with the locals, so if you are basing what you are doing on some specific meeting time between she and I, there isn't one.
Waiting till the morning to pursue my plotline, so let me know when you guys are done with the late night activity and it is time to move on.
>I'm going to try to get a meeting with Ameiko in the morning. If you guys are going to meet then (why? are there updates on your end?), I'll have to skip it. Good night.<
Zania texts Sariel back. >No meeting planned so far. Hate typing with my thumbs. If you don't have an email, you'll have to wait till after I have a meeting with Ameiko directly and have more information.<
Zania hangs with Amanda a little longer, and then goes upstairs to turn in. Before she does, she sends a group text to everyone in their new little group and tells them to send her their email addresses if they want updates about Ameiko. Then she types up what she has learned so far and saves it, to send out in the morning to whoever shares their email with her.
Zania goes back to her room, and after she puts her stuff away, she knocks on Amanda's door to make sure they got back okay, and when there is a lull in the conversation she asks her about Ameiko. I've already been negotiating with Lonjiku... is that her father? Anything else I should know? I want to see if she'll offer group discounts if I bring in tour groups.
Am I just doing a deal with Ameiko then, and finding out more about her, or are you all wanting to meet her as well? That would require more of a cover story. Also, I have a room in town, no need for a place at the cabin... unless there is a need for us to gather? Unless you guys have other ideas, I'll just go on my own... and if you do think we need to hole up, my question is what exactly are we trying to accomplish? I feel like we came here to get information, and got very little, so all we can do is gather information at this point, right? Until we find out exactly what we are meant to do or fight or solve or whatever, it's life as usual.
I own a travel agency. I can probably approach her with a business proposition.
Zania comes back in with her water just as Sariel is asking about people in the community.
Well, Ameiko Kaijitsu owns The Inn at The Tides, and it could have been Lonjiku Kaijitsu with her. That's the wealthiest person in the town, owner of Bodega Bay Tours and Porto Bodega Marina and RV park.
No thanks says Zania to the proffered tea, having used the glowing cup in part to get rid of it. To Nishka she says Do you mind if I step into the kitchen and get some water?
Zania turns her eyes back to Nishka, now that it looks like no one is at risk of running out. Please, tell us more. You mentioned there is an evil person that is about to discover something old... (you said "force of darkness" so I assume evil, but let me know if I am misinterpreting) ... is there any way to know who that is? Do you have additional information that will help us find the danger you spoke of?
So, mixed results, but perhaps still okay, if Nishka was right about the group. She wasn't sure about Nishka either, but she was committed now, so she decided to jump in and see if she could smooth things over a little. Freddie, please sit down. I know this is unusual, but no one is harming anyone, or on fire. It's something we can talk about, surely.
It's not exactly Lord of the Rings. I mean, I don't look like Gandalf, now do I? She smiles, trying to get him to see her as a person, not a monster. Maybe a tiny bit like Harry Potter for some of us, but you've all read urban fantasy, or at least seen movies like the Avengers, right? Nishka is just saying that all of us have unusual abilities that would make us a good team. They don't always manifest as something magical. Sometimes they are unusual physical abilities, or mental acuity, or off the charts hand-eye coordination. Something that makes you especially talented at what you do. Nothing that makes you a hobbit or an orc... just an extra-talented person. Toni, you're an engineer... but a really, really good one... am I wrong? You have some ability that makes you just a little bit better than others. Jon and Freddie, I'm guessing you both have some unusual physical abilities. Something that makes you especially good at what you do. All of us have to have this realization at some point, but maybe it was easier on those of us who had what we call "paranormal" abilities, because we had to face them young, and learn to hide them from others. Your abilities you don't necessarily have to hide, but surely if you think about it you can see that something makes you stand out.
Zania smiles appreciatively. She was glad she had taken the chance.
Wondering how much Nishka knows, and hoping that she isn't just some carnival psychic, because she is about to risk a lot, Zania says Ah, well... I mean, this isn't something I would normally share, but... She casts Light on the teacup she was handed, and then places the now-shining cup on the table. ... I don't know if I am ... what you say I am, but I also know that normal people can't do that. I'm willing to hear you out.
Zania takes a seat and says Catch me up... what is a guardian?
Zania shrugs Okay, let's try. She gets on, wrapping her arms around Toni, ducking her head into her shoulder/hair, and raising her legs so they won't get caught in anything, hoping that she isn't making it impossible for Toni to drive.
Zania looks over at Toni, wondering if she has other people to get out. --If not, she helps Sherry pack up and (if possible) gets a ride back to town with her as well. --If there are still people to evacuate, then she sticks with Toni and watches for trouble.
I'm back, just FYI for everyone.
Leaving for Vegas this morning and won't be back till tomorrow night, so if the story progresses before then, Zania goals are to watch Toni's back while she gets her friends out and then call a cab and get to the meeting.
Zania was glad no one was watching them, but kept watch just in case while Toni talked to her friends.
As Toni talked to her friend, Zania reached into her bag and grabbed her taser, checking it to make sure it was charged and functional, just in case they ended up needing it.
Okay, well let's go find your friends, and if it isn't workable, I'll get an uber or walk back. I'm sure someone will let me know what Nishka says.
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