Odd IC

[FirebirdFlying]

Spoiler

Show

You're mostly certain you're awake. Well, no amount of pain has worked to wake you up, anyway, and there's been plenty of that - for all the lack of sunlight (there appear to be brown clouds covering the whole sky), or living plants, or running water, there have been plenty of things.

Some of them are just rabbits, or mice. Ordinary. Except they hit you with all the force and fury of an innkeeper whose livelihood burned down in a fight, and you'd rather not look into their eyes because you're afraid you might not be able to look away.

And some of them are stranger. Twisted. Indescribable, almost, because when you look at them the second time they are entirely different than they were before. There are things that look like normal creatures, shoved together, owl's eyes on lion's claws - but those are not the worst. The worst are blurred, shadowy, always just beyond vision, calling your name in screams and whispers and the laughter of a thing that should never have learned how. The worst are waiting, knowing that they will not have to fight you, only wait until you follow their mournful cries.

And you're tired. So, so tired…

So when you wake up, you believe for a minute that they have found you. But nothing ripped out your throat in your sleep.

No.

There are four other people here, with normal eyes - no matter their form, it is the eyes that tell you their nature.

Your wounds are gone.

Far in the distance sits a little house, with crooked statues lining the way to its door.

The surroundings have barely changed, in one direction. The sky is the same dusty brown, a shade darker than the dead, crushed grass and dirt below. The same wind still whispers by, just a little too cold to be comfortable, just a little too loud to quite distinguish what must be the cries of the things behind.

There are, however, a few things different. For one, the barest hint of green spreads along the ground, growing higher and darker - though carefully trimmed to reach only a few inches of height. A grey path of crushed rocks winds through, flanked by short statues of fat, bearded men (with clothes that must have once been bright) shoved haphazardly into the ground. Several hundred yards away, a little house squats in a self-satisfied manner upon the grass, which dies away abruptly beyond.

And, of course, there are four other people, all within a few yards.

And they have eyes.

[jojolagger]

"We stand a better chance if we work together. It looks like the house would be our best option." Says the translucent man floating about 2 feet off the ground.
ooc:claiming red

[memnarch]

Nisse

Nisse looks back and forth between the other... eyes, as she sits on the ground. It is quiet here; not too many minds like the city. A quiet voice echoes into the floaty man's mind, And who might you be? It is polite to introduce one's self first before making statements like that.

OOC: Nisse gives no sign that she is the one communicating if ghost-guy (what's his name?) looks at her, but the voice does have a slight feminine tone to it. Claiming SeaGreen. Italics are thoughts to herself.

[jojolagger]

"If I could give you a straight answer my life would be far easier. I'm using legion as a place holder, because every few hours my name as I remember it changes."

[Savannah]

Keldan

The rather plain-looking man in scholar's clothes and a shabby backpack slowly sits up, wincing slightly. Careful observers might note a leather band around his neck with some sort of symbol stamped on it, and no signs of how it could be removed. He sizes up the others out of the corner of his eyes, keeping his head lowered.

His fists clench, and under his breath he hisses "Mariah", then quickly glances up to see if any of the others heard.

[shadowedsoul]

Sherae

Sherae sits up slowly, glancing around furtively and sniffing the air before speaking.
Unnnh. That was unpleasant.
She says, shaking her head to clear out the cobwebs.
My name's Sherae.
She says after the floating man answers no one in particular.

Spoiler

Show

Claiming Indigo

Is my animal companion here? I haven't actually statted it up yet, but I can get it done by tomorrow.

[memnarch]

Nisse

Nisse stands up, checks to see if everything is working alright and says, And I am Nisse Skygge. Legion, Sherea, and... Mariah was it? I suppose by your earlier statement Legion that you had nothing to do with me coming here? She then quickly mutters to herself and her eyes faintly glow before returning to normal.

OOC: See the unseen activated.

[Savannah]

Keldan

He looks up, startled, "Mariah? No, no, my name is Keldan. Mariah is...nevermind."

With a sigh, he stands up, sniffing slightly.

Spoiler

Show

Using scent (from hunter's stance), specifically interested in whether there is anyone around besides my companions, but also trying to learn the scent of my companions.

[memnarch]

Nisse

The pixie thinks to Keldan <Someone important to you I assume.> while looking meaningfully at him.

Nisse says Might as well see what the house is away. before quietly muttering again. People looking at her now think there may be something a little wrong with their vision.

OOC: Entropic Warding activated.

Active: See the Unseen, Entropic Warding

[FirebirdFlying]

shadowedsoul:

Spoiler

Show

Yep, animal companion's there. Forgot to mention it.

memnarch:

Spoiler

Show

Past the house, you can barely make out the faint outline of a large city wall - it seems to waver in and out of your enhanced vision.

Savannah:

Spoiler

Show

The faint smell of maybe two or three creatures lingers in the air. If you've used the scent ability before, you noticed that none of the things you've come across here before now had a distinct scent.

All:

Spoiler

Show

Tell Savannah how you smell, please.

[Savannah]

Keldan

"...you don't know who Mariah is? Head of House Obani? Where are you from?" he asks incredulously.

[memnarch]

Nisse

<Not from where you lived it seems.>

Starting a little, she says to Sherea and Legion, I'm sorry. That was some what rude. I sometime just use telepathy to communicate; it's a little easier than just talking. Anyway, there seems to be an invisible wall just behind the house.

[shadowedsoul]

Sherae

Sherae files the information Nisse just let be away as Rhavad'eth comes over. Scratching the clawfoot's head idly she turns to look towards the house.
An invisible wall. Huh. I don't suppose you know how high it is?
She asks almost absentmindedly, trying to watch all directions at once.

Spoiler

Show

Since I forgot to make them before, awareness checks-

Sherae-(1d20+32)[36]
Rhavad'eth-(1d20+19)[25]

Sherae also has blindsense out to 30 ft.

OOC: It's Sherae, not Sherea

[Savannah]

Keldan

"Behind the house, you say? Nothing preventing us from getting in? Seems this place wants us to investigate the house.

"I don't know if playing along is the best idea....on the one hand, it's really the only way for us to find out what is going on, but on the other hand it could be a trap."

[memnarch]

Nisse

The wall is barely there as it is. And it only seems to be behind the house.

The pixie pauses, then continues, And if we are going to work together to go through the house, how shall we distinguish who someone is? To make sure there aren't any tricks replacing us in this... odd world?

[Savannah]

Keldan

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I can smell you, and most illusions don't bother to replicate scent. In fact, I've not smelled much in the world, other than you all. Of course, that doesn't help you if I am the one replaced."

[jojolagger]

Legion
"A code words should be enough to identify ourselves."

[Savannah]

Keldan

"Then we'd best agree on one, and do it by whispers so that no one can hear it - hold on, why don't you," he points to Nisse, "pick a word and think it to the rest of us. That way nothing can learn it in advance. Actually, better pick two sentences. The first one should be a normal question, and the second a nonsense answer."

[memnarch]

Nisse

No offense. And that would work. <The question will be "what is the velocity of an unladen swallow?> she finishes. <and then the answer, which you can think to me through this, will be "blue".>

[memnarch]

Nisse

Now that we are acquainted, shall we see what is in the building?

[jojolagger]

"Sure, I'll enter on the ethereal plane." Says Legion, fading from view.

Spoiler

Show

On the ethereal plane, moving into house.

[FirebirdFlying]

jojolagger:

Spoiler

Show

For a much longer moment than normal, nothing changes. The material plane is as sharp and clear as ever, though it is apparent that the others cannot see him. With a funny feeling of shifting deep within the place where his belly once was, Legion finds himself again in the familiar fog of the Ethereal Plane.

The house, however, is still there beyond the limits of where he normally can see into the Material Plane, wavering in and out of the mist.

Awareness check, please.

[Savannah]

Keldan

"I agree, we should investigate the house. I'll try to sneak over to it."

Keldan moves off towards the house.

Spoiler

Show

From the description, it doesn't sound like there's anything for him to hide in as he moves up to the house, so this is just trying to stay away from any open windows. Hide: (1d20+15)[27], Move silently: (1d20+15)[24]

When he gets there, he attemps to peek in through a window. Awareness: (1d20+17)[24]

[shadowedsoul]

Sherae

Seeing everyone move towards the house, Sherae tags along, staying out of sight as much as possible.

Spoiler

Show

Hide in Plain Sight for the win-
Hide-(1d20+31)[48]
Move Silently-(1d20+31)[49]

And Awareness (for if/when it comes up on the approach and checking around the outside of the house)-(1d20+32)[40]

[FirebirdFlying]

The path winds up to a little porch - painted white in a haphazard manner - a couple feet above the ground. The windows - two, flanking the small green door - have brightly flowered curtains on the inside obscuring the view. A brown mat sits quietly in front of the door, with 'Welcome' lettered in black on it. Above the door, a painted flower curves around the pink words, 'Please Remove Your Shoes'.

A few feet away from the porch, a sign has been shoved into the ground alongside one of the fat statues. It reads 'Please Keep Off The Grass'.

shadowedsoul:

Spoiler

Show

Out of the corner of her eye, Sherae glimpses what looks rather like an eyeball nestled under the porch.

[shadowedsoul]

Sherae

****, that doesn't look good.
Sherae muses as she explores the houses exterior.
I hope this works.
She thinks before attempting to contact the pixie.
<Uhh, there's a sensor of some kind under the porch. I don't know enough about magic to identify it for sure, but it doesn't smell like anything so I would guess it's some kind of farseeing effect.>
She projects to the little fairy, avoiding speaking out loud so she doesn't give away her position.

[jojolagger]

(1d20+19)[33] Awareness

[memnarch]

Nisse

<I'll see if it's magic.>

The pixie rebroadcasts the finding to the other two group members adding on <I'll see if it's magic.>

Nisse turns invisible, moves up to the house silently move silently - (1d20+17)[35], then casts detect magic and starts concentration on the house.

OOC:Telepath spell, so no sound there.
Detect magic duration 4 minutes.
Active: See the Unseen, Entropic Warding

[Savannah]

Keldan

Keldan freezes in place, waiting for an update before doing anything more.

[FirebirdFlying]

shadowedsoul:

Spoiler

Show

Anything in particular she's looking for?

memnarch:

Spoiler

Show

The air positively hums with magic as the spell comes into its strength. The house doesn't stand out at all, and nor does anything else - the feel of magic is all encompassing and overwhelming.

jojolagger:

Spoiler

Show

Legion hears a quiet whistling sound behind him. A short time after he notices, it begins to grow louder, as if multiple creatures were making the noise.