"There are forests even on the ethereal plane?" Luff asks the otherworldly elf, "I thought it was a place of dead things, not the vibrant life of a forest."
Yes, beautiful and uncut."
** spoiler omitted **
Moving on up.
"Should it make me cling more strongly to what I have been taught, to distrust it, or to find some compromise?"
"Sounds like something to think about." Aehrick answers noncommittally, watching Jack move up. "But one of your companions seems ready to advance."
He leaves his sword in its scabbard for now and advances behind the smaller man, wading through the muddy waters.
'Well, off we go then!'
Leaf flies along with the party
"Aye," Al speaks gruffly as he starts to move forwards, leaning havily on his gnarled walking stick, "there's no sense idlin' around here admirin' the architecture when there's a little girl in danger."
The pixie nods his agreement, fading smoothly out of sight as he heads down the tunnel, the faint beat of his wings the only thing confirming his presence.
Arathalia silently falls in as the group moves through the tunnel.
Zissaren followed the others up the tunnel, glad that whoever had built them had seen fit to build on such a scale that even he could walk comfortably. When he arrived at the chamber he looked around at the many tunnel mouths and an idea occurred.
"It is a sshame you did not bring your acquaintance with you Jack. They may have been able to have caught the sscent of the girl, or the ssugar. Now we will either have to part wayss or sspend a very long time ssearching thesse tunnelss."
Zissaren followed the others up the tunnel, glad that whoever had built them had seen fit to build on such a scale that even he could walk comfortably. When he arrived at the chamber he looked around at the many tunnel mouths and an idea occurred.
"It is a sshame you did not bring your acquaintance with you Jack. They may have been able to have caught the sscent of the girl, or the ssugar. Now we will either have to part wayss or sspend a very long time ssearching thesse tunnelss."
"Indeed. I haven't heard from him recently. Allow me to head back into the air and I will contact him to see if he can attend us. Meanwhile, I must see to my business interests. Being a Marquis does not mean a life of luxury, I assure you!"
Jack will head back down the line from the party, wait until he's out of sight and sound, and
He will then head back into the chamber, staying as dry as is possible.
About 5 minutes after Jack leaves, a small black cat with a white star shaped patch over his breast saunters down the sewers. It steps nimbly but quickly, avoiding as much moisture as it can. When it comes to the end of the line, it begins sniffing the air.
Scent check?
Scent
About 5 minutes after Jack leaves, a small black cat with a white star shaped patch over his breast saunters down the sewers. It steps nimbly but quickly, avoiding as much moisture as it can. When it comes to the end of the line, it begins sniffing the air.
Considering the cat for some time, Aehrick slowly lifts his gaze to offer Zissaren an inquisitive look. "Is this your friend's... 'companion?'" Elsewhere he might feel foolish even considering the notion but all things considered-- it didn't seem so far fetched.
Considering the cat for some time, Aehrick slowly lifts his gaze to offer Zissaren an inquisitive look. "Is this your friend's... 'companion?'" Elsewhere he might feel foolish even considering the notion but all things considered-- it didn't seem so far fetched.
"I am not a 'companion'. I am a cat. Cats are never companions. It might be charitably said that he is my companion. A sidekick if you will. A minion if you will. Still, he does carry the best snacks. And I am having a difficult time sensing the trail. Perhaps if the rest of you smelly apes, lizards and glowy balls would step back, I could perform my task in peace?"
Perception (scent):
'I will move to a position that does not crowd you'
Leaf's voice sounds strangely proud, like he has just figured something out
'So, cats can talk. I suspected as much!'
full of joy, Leaf attempts to teleport about the room
As the cat saunters into view, a short squeak escapes from a pocket in Al's vest, followed by a quick burst of chittering as a tiny ferret emerges and climbs onto the old man's shoulder to look suspiciously towards the cat.
Al looks between the two animals and clucks soothingly to the ferret, then crouches down to speak to the cat, "So, do ye be havin' a name, my feline friend?"
As the cat saunters into view, a short squeak escapes from a pocket in Al's vest, followed by a quick burst of chittering as a tiny ferret emerges and climbs onto the old man's shoulder to look suspiciously towards the cat.
Al looks between the two animals and clucks soothingly to the ferret, then crouches down to speak to the cat, "So, do ye be havin' a name, my feline friend?"
The Cat looks at the man askance. "I am a Cat. I have no need of a label other than such." Looking about the room imperiously, the Cat walks toward one of the tunnels and sits down haughtily. "This tunnel is the one where the sweet smell is strongest. This is the path to follow." He then leaps into the tunnel and begins to stalk boldly forward.
'If any of the rest of you attempt to displace, please let me know if you are successful'
"Alright then, Cat it is." Al says, straightening out slowly and sharing a few furtive squeaks with Percival the ferret.
Looking over to Leaf he arches an eyebrow, "why do ye ask? Havin' problems are ye?" Raising his hand over his eyes, he mutters a few words before lowering it and casting an intent gaze around the room.
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"Alright then, Cat it is." Al says, straightening out slowly and sharing a few furtive squeaks with Percival the ferret.
Looking over to Leaf he arches an eyebrow, "why do ye ask? Havin' problems are ye?" Raising his hand over his eyes, he mutters a few words before lowering it and casting an intent gaze around the room.
To your eyes, everything around softly shines.
'Yes Alderthane, I appear to be stuck in three dimensions. It is making me feel a little unbalanced. Still, I believe worse is yet to come so I will not complain.'
Leaf hustles up the passageway with 'cat' - attempting to see if proximity to 'cat' tail causes any of the tail hair to stand on end
Aehrick shouldn't be surprised when the cat speaks-- especially considering all that's happened in recent history-- but he cannot help it. He forgets himself (and how to talk) for just a moment before dismissing the whole thing with another of the many shrugs from his repertoire.
"Anything worth noting?" He wonders of Alderthane, pausing just long enough to make sure the sky won't be falling before he sloshes through the sewers to catch up with Leaf and the Cat.
Arathalia follows silently.
"As I told that damnable fairy," the old man grumbles at Leaf, "ye can call me Al!"
"Well now," he answers Aehrick's question, "there's certainly some evidence to be supportin' yer theory that this place were made by wizards - the whole place is overflowin' with magical energies."
'Al!'
Leaf flies over the water, in line with the second rank of the party.
Left side, out front, keeping the scent up.
Zissaren follows quietly behind his companions and the strange talking cat as they enter the tunnel and takes the righthand path, one hand on the wall to keep himself balanced on the narrow ledge.
Al moves slowly along the left hand side of the tunnel, opposite Zissaren, placing his cane carefully each step to avoid slipping on the wet surface.
The pixie flutters along invisibly behind the archon, his dark eyes peering intently out ahead of the group.
Arathalia walks in line with Leaf.
"Really, made by wizards you say?"
"It was a theory." Aehrick tells Arathalia. He's at the front on the right side of the tunnel, glancing at the Cat occasionally as he helps lead the way. "Considering the extraordinary nature of the tunnels it seems likely that their manufacture wasn't mundane."
Ready for anything, but ready for nothing in particular Leaf hovers...
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You sense strong smell of cookies and suddenly the tunnel behind you is glazed with what looks like wall of ice. Murky waters in the channel churn and a huge shape made of water rises to the ceiling - wormlike and with large watery jaws. A number of smaller murky serpents made of the same sewage water undulate around its head, each with its own version of that horrific jaws that insanely grins at you.
Init
The Cat yowls an angry yowl as its fur stands on end.
Zissaren flattens himself against the tunnel wall and reaches for the handle of his flail, a surprised hiss escaping from his mouth at the surprise appearance of the strange monsters.
"What the blazes!?!" Al shouts as he draws back from the creature, holding out his walking stick to ward it off. Rodrigo pulls close against the old man's leg and lets out a low growl.
The invisible pixie flaps backwards instinctively. Drawing up the energies invested in him be Svetlana, he prepares to unleash a wave of sickening force against the strange creature should it attack one of his allies.