Opening Scene, a Fracas in Frakas

[Concerned Ninja Citizen]

Korth follows Grey, continuing to scan the area with his dragon's senses.

[ariasderros]

When you get to the plate's edge, and you look down to the first ledge, 75 foot below, you will notice that there is no ladder, rope or other tool to get down. There doesn't seem to be any markings in the stone for where any might have been, either.

And yet, somehow, the culprit is getting around down here, even when carrying unconscious people.

How do you go about your decent?

[phaedrusxy]

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I'm assuming the area is well lit enough so that Grey can actually see that there are no obvious threats at the bottom. If that's not the case, I'll retcon this post...

Grey floats over the edge, and slowly drifts towards the bottom.

[Concerned Ninja Citizen]

Korth gets out his cablespool and readies it for use assuming Grey doesn't find a ladder/stairs/elevator/teleportation system at the bottom of the drop.

[ariasderros]

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@ Grey: The area is lit, but dimly. You cannot see any obvious threats. Nor does your mindsight pick up anything.

@ everyone
As you float / climb down, you do notice scratches along parts of the wall. Vaguely as if there had been a housecat scrambling up the wall. Though the scratches are too far apart, and a cats claws aren't hard enough to make these scratches in stone.

Further looking at any of the points that have these scratches will show that they form paths up the wall, each instance of a spot being almost 3 feet above / below from the next, and they always have two marks side by side. Each of the marks on the wall have many little scratches, and have small amounts of adhesive tack left over on some of them.

[phaedrusxy]

Grey says "Anyone have any idea what could have made those marks? Is that from some kind of "natural" creature's claws, or climbing gear?"

[Risada]

"Hmm..."

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Natural Lore check to identify the owner of the claws: 1d20+8=17

[ariasderros]

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It does not seem to be natural. If this is from a creature, then it has a very odd form of grip that you've never encountered before. The pattern of the marks would be as if a whole paw was covered in small claws, as well as extruding some form of adhesive gunk.

[Risada]

Sckhar passes the information he recalled to the group before continuing.

"I believe this does not come from a tool, considering those traits. Perhaps it's some kind of creature born from arcane means?"

[phaedrusxy]

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Grey takes 10 on Arcana and Psi, for a 21 and a 20, respectively.
Also, here is a roll for Engineering:

Rolled 1d20+8 : 15 + 8, total 23

He's trying to see if any of what Sckhar observed rings any bells with him.

[VennDygrem]

Meanwhile, back at the house...

"That's a very generous offer, but I'm sure you can guess I don't have much call to attend fancy gatherings in my journeys. Thank you, all the same."

Fina looks around at the room a bit more.

"So, pardon my forwardness, but you seem to have quite a bit of familiarity with blessed bloods from what you've mentioned. Certainly enough that the other families are looking to you for guidance in the recent matters. If you don't mind my asking, what is your history as that goes?"

[geniussavant]

Grugruk examines the markings closely, trying to think of an animal that may leave such markings

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Rolled for a total 32 on Nat lore check

[ariasderros]

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{spoiler title read in Superfriends announcer voice}

"So, pardon my forwardness, but you seem to have quite a bit of familiarity with blessed bloods from what you've mentioned. Certainly enough that the other families are looking to you for guidance in the recent matters. If you don't mind my asking, what is your history as that goes?"

She almost smirks, but barely keeps her face neutral, but the pride is clear in her voice.
"Well, I used to be Grand Valet of The Houses. So I trained many of those that serve the nobles, and even many other folk apprenticed as servants and valets in order to broaden their training. But, primarily, the large building that my home is attached to is the Seat of Houses, where the Houses meet, when they actually do. It used to be my job to run and administer the goings-on there when they used it.
Which means that when The Houses needed to call in Blessed Bloods for employ, it used to be I whom greeted them. And since the House members were more than a little wary of such folk as yourself, they also tended to have me handle most of the dealings themselves."

She then seems to almost drift away again, then she speaks a bit more somberly.
"Now, it takes both my son, and his wife to handle all of the work that must be done to help keep things moving."

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Grugruk examines the markings closely, trying to think of an animal that may leave such markings

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Rolled for a total 32 on Nat lore check

As soon as Grugruk begins to think on what could possibly make those marks, even he is astounded by the veritable index of beasts that filter through his mind.

The small marks seem more like thorny bristle-pads with the thorny-teeth all pointed in the direction to hold a good grip. Likely to improve grip. Some animals have lines or filaments (think gecko) on their hands for such purpose, and some plant-creatures that climb do so with either an adhesive sap, or by grabbing into the material they climb, but none do both.

Most likely: this is man-made, based on such creatures (think the real-world gecko-based climbing stuff).

[phaedrusxy]

"We'll probably find out what did it soon enough, anyway. Let's move on."

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Much as he had done before, the pale elf sends his bird down in front of the group. Hovering at about 50 ft away at any given time, he spends time checking the bird's senses as much as his own, keeping his weapon in hand. It was only going to be so long before they found either some captives or some horrible people, and he wanted to be ready for either happening.

[VennDygrem]

Fina tests the mental connection with Grey, only to find that it seems to have run its course. Time to meet up with the group, then.

After a moment and nodding at the appropriate times, Fina finds
"Well, Ms. Yanques, I truly appreciate your generosity in tending to me, but I am feeling much better. I think it's time I caught up with my group. No rest for the weary, and such."

If the old woman excuses her, Fina leaves to catch up with the others.