Rats & Shadows
It's Variday, Pryntar 13 12:38:58 1019. The full moon is up. The tide is high and rising. Sleet and freezing rain fall from heavy clouds, coating everything with ice and making the ground slippery. The world looks silver in the icy grey light. A raw wind blows from the northeast.
A10: Temple District
Selia perches upon a forelorn vendor stall, the solid wooden slats offering protection from the weather as the little Lutch looks out over the plaza. The vendor himself is long gone, his wares taken someplace warmer, or at least dryer. A thick woolen blanket coveres the tiny lady, legs swinging absently as she sits upon the countertop.
Ga'Elian is moving gracefully, albeit carefully, around the Temple District stopping from time to time to take a closer look at... well, who knows what--on the ground. Following close behind, a griffon accompanies him, eagerly snapping up the numerous rats that cross his path despite the freezing rain. The pair approach the very stall upon which Selia sits. Ga'Elian looks up and smiles cordially then says, "Rats" in a flat tone, as if by way of explanation.
"Air rats?" Selia inquires. The tiny dancer flows like water, hardly seeming to move, yet somehow is further back in the stall, peering out of the counter, a nice solid barrier of wood between her and the large flying carnivore. "Most o' da pigieons is 'oled up, but few out 'n 'bout. Ain't seen much fer regular rats, temples keep clean place. Mostly. Why ya lookin?" He words drip with a thick Low Charn accent, though tones of Undercommon are also strong, with a hint of somethign utterly foreign. Fingertips flutter as she talks, not quite Handspeech, but lending emphasis to certain phrases.
Ga'Elian cocks his head, "Air rats? I suppose if thou referrest to pigeons. Mostly, as thou sayest, yes. The temples do seem to keep these vermin at bay, but lately, so many seem hereabouts that I'm curious to discover why. 'Tis not like rats to brave the elements so daringly. Hast thou observed curious things about?"
Selia considers a few moments, and shrugs. "Aye. Can't much see 'em taday, but da shadows... they ain't right. Sun sits at noon, tower shadow goes 'alf-after. Wall runs straight, shadow wobbles. Ain't made no sense o' it. But now is spread. Ain't just dat wot sits still, little things dat move ain't follwed right by dat wot outta mirror 'xactly."
Ga'Elian looks at the buildings... and the shadows they cast. "Hm. Strange, very strange. I might suspect some shenanigans on the part of arcanist students, but it seemeth an odd prank to play. Doth it happen throughout the City, or just here?"
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls perception+urban: aliased to perception+2: (6)+23+2: 31
<OOC> Ga'Elian +rolls to perceive the shadows in this weather.
Selia shrugs. "Everywhere, near as can tell. Shadows themselves ain't rightly sure as ta wot's 'appenin. Is subtle like, most don't pay much 'tention ta a little shadow. I's live 'em, notice more den most."
Selia's own shadow is cast at a distinctly diffrent angle than the lighting would suggest, though with such faint light, few would have ever noticed.
Ga'Elian shrugs. "Well, as I said, 'tis curious. This increase in the rat population seems to focus more in the heart of the City than near its extremities, at least as far as I can discern." He looks around as if seeking the light source that would account for Selia's shadow, and raises an eyebrow when he cannot locate one. He says, "I am Ga'Elian, lately a hunter of rats it seemeth."
Selia ponders that a moment, then rouses her ettiquite. "Selia Shadowkin, da Dancer." She hesitates a moment, then nods to the askew shadow... which sits up a little and waves, black on black eyes peering with curiousity. "Dis is Issa. My companion. Like a familiar, but not."
Ga'Elian smiles at Selia's introduction, then looks startled at that of Issa. He says, "So then she is not related to the oddities you have noticed, then?" Just then, a trio of rats darts out from a nearby sewer opening, but just as quick, the griffon turns and pounces, his iron-infused talons each grabbing for one. Then Ga'Elian takes the sling from his belt and swings it, releasing a bullet toward the third.
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls CompanionCMB: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls CompanionCMB: (20)+11: 31
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls Sling/bullet-DA: aliased to Weapon19-3: (17)+18+-3: 32
All three rodents are caught.
Selia watches, and shrugs, eyeing the fresh captives with mild curiousity, and the primary captor with more than a little caution. Comparitively speaking, she's not that much larger than a rat herself. "Technically, I reckon, but me an' Issa been tagether fer years. Dis stuff is recent."
The griffon quickly consumes both of the rats it has grappled, as Elian retrieves the one he struck. After a cursory examination, he tosses the rodent to his companion, who snatches it whole in his silvery beak. The elf says, "As usual, ordinary rats. At least I see no sign of them being tampered with by spellcraft, artifice, or alchemy. There are simply... more of them about."
Selia considers a few moments, and shrugs. "Ya ask da rats? Reckon ya ain't da sort ta talk direct like, but reckon be some druidy types wot can do so."
Ga'Elian looks back and says, "I suppose it couldn't hurt. Maybe I'll take the next ones there into Mahal's temple... Gilead as he's known here. I'm sure I can find a druid in there to give it a try. Probably won't come to much, but I guess you never know until you try."
Selia nods. "Ain't da sorta crowd I run wit, but reckon can keep me ears open. Guess know sum blokes wot work wit rats, can ask dem iffen anything odd been 'appenin. Ain't sure wot is all 'bout, but wit blokes like Heth runnin 'bout, anything off is cause fer worry."
Ga'Elian nods then replies, "Egads! I hope this isn't his doing. At least it doth not seem to be his style."
Selia nods. "I doubt it, but maybe. Ain't da only one running 'round. Fer all I know, da Great 'Yote is pulling some prank ta leave all in laughs."
Ga'Elian smirks. "Now that I can believe."
Selia shrugs again, and eyes the dim orb that currently passes for the sun. "I best be off. Is late, by some measures. Will asks 'round, see wot's ta be seen. Reckon can find ya easy 'nuff, bloke wit da big bird. Iffen ya needs me, ask in da Low Market, dey know 'ow ta reach me."
Ga'Elian smiles, "Thanks. If I can help thee, too, thou mayest get word to me through the Temple of Gilead. I go now to find a couple more specimens for the druids there to question. The gods be with thee." He waves and heads off, griffon following along.