Czlaplon Quest

[Kasbak]

Energy waiting for activation could be anything from an anchored spell ready to go time bomb to a cloaksense brooch. Without more detail, it's not possible to figure out, and would probably be beyond my level of expertise - I'm not a spellcaster. Following him probably won't do me much good either. Even if I'm small and somewhat sneaky, I'm not going to be able to slip into the busy crew area without being spotted. I'll note as much detail as I can on his features before he goes out of view. Best to bring that to Gudrun or Kolbeinn, one who can Astral Sight better than I.

For now, I will stay on target and finish pursuing my current task. The buffet table is right out; it's too busy for anyone to linger there or to get away without being noticed. The exit hatch is possible and would leave a good escape route, but wouldn't likely have as much cover. I think more likely would be the perch on the first class area. They'd have the deck itself for cover, full visibility, better position for escaoe, and as I have pointed out previously, grounders don't look up.

That then is my first place to check. Just in case there is someone still around that is watching me up there, I won't do the head on approach. First I will make towards the galley doors, as if I am following the steward I spotted. Rather than going in, however, I will stick close to the wall and fly straight up, using the edge of the deck for cover. I'll look for a foothold in the molding or something below the edge so that I can peek over or at least listen for who is around before I make myself visible. If anyone from below tries to intervene and ask what I'm doing, I can simply say I'm checking out possible positions for a display later.

[arcomniflash]

Must be one of the spirits called by the Nethermancer. "Not an emergency, yet. Though perhaps you could relay a message to Gudrun once she has finished meditating. We are being followed, and I wish to inform her of the situation." The spirit probably won't leak this information to anyone else, and it doesn't look like anyone is around, so this should be safe enough. "We are currently examining the situation, but I want to keep her in the loop as well."

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: You fly up to the molding at the top of the bulkhead, and one of the stewards glances up. “Oy! You get footprints up there, you'll be swabbin'em!”

Isaac: “I'll let her know,” the spirit says, dourly, as if being forced to perform work beneath her station. She fades back into the door.

[arcomniflash]

With a sigh, I'll head back up onto the deck to take in some of the evening air. With everyone duly informed...more or less...the evening is my own, though I will need to keep my wits about me. There's no telling who might be watching or, indeed, listening in. So, after getting some of my things from the cabin, I'll find a secluded spot above deck to practice my wood carving, letting the slivers of wood fall over the side so as not to make a mess. Of course, I'll be watching and listening carefully for anything suspicious looking. I'll need to meditate at some point, otherwise my skills will never improve, but first we need to find out what's going on with the people following us.

[Kasbak]

I expected someone might shout up, but as long as the approach wasn't entirely blown, that's okay. I'll give the steward a gesture of understanding and listen for any signs of retreating foot steps. I don't really expect it, since there's not really a reason for anyone after us to be scanning up there right now, but best to make sure.

If I do hear anyone, I'll take off over the side quickly to try and get a look at them. If not, I can just continue my normal search for clues.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac: It's not evening yet, just about time for mado'yeh. The stewards have been setting up the buffet table in the lounge. You gather up your woodcarving gear and do a bit of work on it. Shortly after you get started, a steward, passing by, informs you that the board is laid on for mado'yeh. A couple of children, including that boy from this morning, stop by to watch. “Are you makin' a stake to drive through the heart of a Horror?” he asks excitedly.

Alston: You poke around a bit, but find nothing. Apparently the crew takes their cleaning and polishing seriously. There's not so much as a cobweb or a fingerprint. And with the board laid on for mado'yeh, the passengers are filling up the lounge. On the next deck up, the first class passengers have been seated for their repast. No chance of any further investigation without being noticed.

[Kasbak]

I was afraid the trail would be cold at this point, but I needed to be sure. With the last amount of time left to me before the passengers start filling in, I'll try to position myself at the railing as one looking to spy on the activities below would, try to get in their head and see what else might be spotted from their perspective. I still can't be entirely certain this is where they'd be, or if there even is someone pursuing us, but reversing the situation, this is the best place I can think of to go.

I likely won't be able to check much anywhere else without having people in the way right now, so that puts an end to much investigating until mado'yeh ends. I'll do a quick check and make sure I haven't left any marks on the molding, then make my way to where the group would most likely be for lunch. I'll keep an eye out for the woman Isaac described, and anyone else suspicious for that matter, but since she's only shown herself around Isaac so far, I don't anticipate much. Perhaps I should stick with him for a while to lend an eye for potential sniper positions the next time she shows up.

[arcomniflash]

"No." I'll say, continuing to chip away at the wood until it vaguely resembles a small wooden cat. "Just a hobby of mine." I'll turn around and show the figurine to the boy before pocketing it. "And now it's time for mado'yeh, so I must be going." I'll tip my hat to him and the other children - never expected to have any popularity with children whatsoever, so I don't really know how to deal with it. Of course, I'd considered giving him the figurine, but the same magic that disguised a tall elf as a human woman may disguise a man as a child. It's unlikely, but I'm not going to be giving out personal objects until we have this resolved. For now, I'll merely tip my hat to the boy and his friends and head off to get something to eat.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Alston: As you're debating and deciding, Isaac arrives in the lounge, and heads over to the buffet. Down below, the passengers watching Kolbeinn's demonstration applaud and cheer as he wraps up with something showy.

Isaac: The kid follows you to the gangway, asking more questions. “So does that prove you're free of the Horrors like they say it does? I could whittle something like that if my mum would let me have a knife. Are you gonna be showing off your fighting tomorrow like the elementalist is doin' today? Except he's not showing off sword fighting, he's showing off magic. Can you do spells?” You only escape him by going into the lounge, where his mother spots him and once again removes him from your presence with a stern warning.

[Kasbak]

Well, since I can spot Isaac easy, I'll linger at the railing for a bit, again just trying to see from the perspective of our possible pursuers. I won't watch just him, but the whole area around him, and any other positions that would have an easy time seeing him. I'll look to the visible deck surfaces, the rigging, anything that looks like it might make a good scouting spot. I'll need to go join him for lunch, but not untill I'm confident I've had a good look at all the angles around him.