Scene #5276: Greyhawk? More like GREAT hawk!

Owner	Pose
Laer	Ah, Sigil! City of mystery and wonders! It's completely not where Laer's sending anyone today! No, following up on the prior bits of information, Laer's invited everyone out to.. well, a rustic forest in the middle of a pretty generic-looking midevil world. Rustic, in this case, being a nicer word for kind of shitty. She's waiting for people in a clearing near a much nicer building than most in the nearest city, Greyhawk itself, tapping her foot as she waits and actually looking mildly nervous, in her own little way. Mostly you can tell by the way she seems to keep looking around every few minutes, really, checking her surroundings until people who've agreed to come have shown up.
Sanary Rondel	Another outing, another paycheck! Or bag of money. Or however Laer's been paying Sanary. The healer hasn't been too worried about the method as she has just been getting paid in general, so there's no reason not to show up again with the promise of yet more lucrative rewards on top of being able to help out an old ally. Today, the healer's even prepared for a possible infiltration! She's got a clunky disposable camera dangling off her neck, a wide bucket hat to keep her head covered, and a fishing vest on top of... A school uniform? She couldn't think of what else to wear that wouldn't look too weird and out of place for a tourist. The area's nice enough by her standards, at least, and she just strolls on over towards Laer while trying to look all nonchalant and informal. "Hey there. Sooo. Where're we going today?"
Priscilla	Shitty medieval-era forests. Perish the thought. Who could ever tolerate having to live around something like- Oh. Priscilla's here. Not dressed up nice this time, though. The classical, thick, white fluffy dress is back out, partly for purposes of not radiating status, and partly just because it's much tougher than silk. She's dispensed with the crown and bits and pieces as well. It's as close to 'classic Priscilla' as it gets these days, save the left eye and the odd, mildly unnerving pendant. "Praytell, what is it that distracts thee so, Lady Laer? Is this not in some way familiar territory to thee? I see little of pressing threat, at the moment."
August Kohler	Laer's jobs have been far too interesting for August to pass up, the redhead armed and wearing another hoodie. This one's forest green. Camo hoodie. The gun at his side may stand out, as he steps up to the others, nodding his head at Sanary, looking at Laer, and staring at Priscilla, because she bothers the hell out of him. He doesn't say anything (though his stare is easily noticeable), and instead turns back to Laer. "So, does this involve K.T.?"
Laer	There's no infiltration involved, though Laer will give Sanary a slightly odd look as she considers the school outfit disguise. It's not really going to work. "Aah. I'm expecting to be assaulted at any time, though I don't think it will be a problem. But more to the point.. I have certain obligations if I ever come back here, and they're going to require me to be there." She'll point at the building nearby, and add, as though it were a great vile thing she had to do.. "Teaching. And yes, it's about her." Laer will nod to August. "I can't really get around here without fulfilling those obligations first - I was allowed to put them off as long as I was nowhere near the area. But K.T. is supposed to be in this area, and will likely find out where I'll have to be. So I'm hoping you all can find her before she finds me. And get my belongings back, if at all possible..."
Sanary Rondel	It's not odd! It's just... Okay, it doesn't really match at all. Sanary conveniently avoids direct eye contact with Laer at that look, but it's fairly obvious that she noticed it. It's stylish, really! Spotting a familiar face and a familiar giant, Sanary gives August a light wave and Priscilla a long stare. August isn't so frightening to be around and is even something of a reassurance along with Laer, but Priscilla... She's still a little leery of dragons, full-blooded or half-blooded or otherwise. "Part of why we're here, I'm guessing. K.T. could be a problem, so if we nab her..." Sanary pauses, then glances around slowly while keeping a hand on the tomahawk barely-hidden on her belt by the vest. "You got any signals or names she'd recognize that the locals wouldn't? Maybe we can draw her out that way."
Priscilla	In interests of 'getting anywhere around a normal forest', Priscilla is currently not triple everyone's size. Being six and a half feet may still be giant enough for Sanary's concerns though. Speaking of which, getting awkward teen stares from Laer's buddies is not lost on the halfbreed. A couple of misgiving looks go back to the other two; significantly more intimidating for the predatory eyes and glacial expression (not to mention her always slightly unpleasant aura). Still, apparently these two are in the know, and Laer has trusted them thusfar. Priscilla is only just tagging in. "I beg thine pardon, but may I inquire as to whom this 'K.T.' is and of what importance they art? I believeth I shalt do little good without the barest summary of thine objective today, Lady Laer, in this rare hole in mine schedule." Then to August. "Is there something thou art wishing to say? Or art thine eyes merely daydreaming?"
Staren	Staren is here out of a sort of curiousity. Sigil looked... curious. And he wants to know what Laer did, if he's going to be in a faction with her. He shows up in his power armor -- the illusion disguise makes it look like full plate, and him human. "Why can't you just, you know, face this KT and deal with the problem? Why do you have to hide from it? And what are these obligations you have?"
August Kohler	"So, what does she look like?" August asks Laer, since they don't know even that, as he turns back to Priscilla and stares again. "If I did, I would have said it." He glances towards Staren as well, sighing. "Besides the fact that she obviously doesn't want to, I'd rather she not, honestly, because then this is a waste of time for us. If she wants proxies to go in her place for money, I don't care why, and I assume we'll find out when we beat up K.T., anyways."
Laer	"Well, in the event that she decided to fight me fair in a place like this, I would more or less completely annihilate her. Which is probably why she wouldn't fight me fair." Laer will tilt her head around for a moment, seeming to work her way up the next statement. "So. The thing is. That building is the school where I grew up. The cost of my education there is teaching later when I get in the area.. and I'm years and years past due now. They'll know I'm here, and more to the point I'm sworn to do it. But being there is going to offer a lot of possible hostages for someone like her to use when I get there. So I want you all to try and track her down, and drive her off if you want, or make it clear that there won't be any,ah, cheating." "...You'll know her when you see her, but my guess is she'll be in the city proper. It's a shithole. You'll love it." Laer will state to Priscilla. "If you really want me to do the fighting, that's fine; just make certain she won't be getting hostages or bringing a weapon that strikes down all dragons in the area or something. The rest of you saw the usual Mercykiller gear, but here, just in case..." She'll whistle, and an image will appear, an imposing person of ambiguous gender in six feet of spikey armor. Even the spikes have spikes on them.
Staren	The concern that this 'KT' would use hostages does put Staren's fears that they could be helping Laer fight a good guy somewhat at ease. He nods.
Sanary Rondel	Yep, six and a half is indeed giant enough for Sanary to be all envious and staring while pretending not to stare and doing a terrible job at it what with only the one eye. Still, the healer's got enough sense not to do it for too long (probably), and she turns her attention back to Laer with a low hum. "That explains that, then. Well... Just make sure to make some kinda noise if you do get ambushed, then. Or..." A beat. "...Don't stop making the noise. Then we'll know you're in trouble if the noise stops while we're trying to track her down." She seems really proud of that idea, never mind how annoying it'd be. "A school, though... Hmm. Who would even be hostages, anyway? Students?"
Priscilla	Priscilla frowns, albeit difficult to tell, at the explanation. Even if Laer is one of her own, she dislikes the gist of what she's been told. "Didst thou hath any plan before to make good on the arrangement? Or hast something prevented thee from it? Such an education hast clearly served thee well. Why is it that thou evade the responsibility thou took on in exchange?" She doesn't sound /upset/ about it, but it's clearly something that is going to bother her. If the answer is 'K.T.', well it makes the rest pretty easy. That much, she'll wait to hear. "I doubt there shalt be a need, Lady Laer, especially if such wouldst damage a potentially worthwhile reputation. I do await a full explanation of why this one is slated for elimination, however. I wouldst typically claim that, until then, she wouldst be captured before slain, but I admit mineself not . . . well suited to such." The armour is impressive, though. It doesn't look like they'll be hunting down a teacher, all mention of hostages aside. "Attune thine radios to a local band. It shouldst be easy enough to alert one another thusly." After that, Priscilla pretty much wanders off to scope out the building. If there's good reason to, she'll do so invisibly (or even a quarter of an adequate reason), but there's no sense in standing around forever. She can talk as she moves.
August Kohler	"Man, what won't these guys do to capture you?" August muses at the hostages thing, sighing as he sees the image. "Are you ever going to tell us what you did to get hated by literally everyone in that world?" He doesn't expect a reply, as he turns. "Tell us where to go, and we'll start off. Let's get this over and done with, and get Laer's stuff back."
Laer	"Well, travelling is part of what's expected for a student of the school. I didn't owe time teaching until I came back to the area, but as soon as I did I owed a lot since it's been, um, a little bit since I'd last been here." About forty years, actually. "Anyway, you're welcome to try to capture her. She'd probably be trying to capture me, after all. Greyhawk proper is the best place for information, though, and even there people like them would have stood out." "She's not from here, but most people here would be easily bribed for what would be thought of as a minor amount in Sigil. I don't know how much information she would have gotten on me by name, but she knew I was from this area." Laer will hand Priscilla a map, roughly drawn. "This is what I remember of the city.. but it might be outdated. Still, the main inn had been in business for hundreds of years, I doubt it's gone under since then."
Sanary Rondel	"Remind me to sit in on one of those classes..." Sanary chuckles lightly, although she pauses after a moment with a more serious tone coming into her voice. "... No, really. I need to get smarter. Better at not sounding so..." She glances at August, then coughs and stuffs her hands in her pockets. "Greyhawk, then. Alright, let's get this started. You'll be paying us back for any bribes we make here, right?" Another laugh, and the healer starts moving towards the same building that Priscilla's sneaking off off to! Sanary's hoping that's the direction she went in, anyway.
Staren	Staren hmms. "I'm not really the best at talking to people... but I'll take a look around the school, and be ready to come help the others if there's some sort of trouble, I guess."
Laer	Approaching the school will get Laer to hmm, and start to follow along. "Well. They'll already know we're here. I'd be surprised if she were actually here, but if she is it will make things quicker. I would suggest trying town, but we can look around a while.." She'll open the main door, which lights up with all sorts of runes at her touch. They seem to mostly be there for style purposes, though. "Come, then. This'll make a fine base to work from, if nothing else, while I'm teaching here." Upon entering, there's quite a lot of noise, students practicing music here and there. One girl, no older than twenty, is visible from the entryway in particular; her eyes are glowing with arcane energy as she looks at the group heading in while playing a piano that looks quite ancient, in a good way.
Sanary Rondel	"That makes things easier, then. They can't run forever, and..." Sanary squints slightly as she's bombarded with music, looking past Laer towards the inside of the building. She evne listens to the music for a short while before refocusing herself, then murmuring into her radio. <<"Hey... Er. Dra... Priscilla. Can you see if anyone's tailing us?">> She disguises it by rubbing her face and stretching her arms haphazardly, very nearly hitting someone in the head in the process as she moves down the hall and towards the glowing eyes girl. She takes a deep breath, then... ...dips into a practiced bow and puts on her best attempt at a smooth smile. "Afternoon, miss. Lovely song you're playing there. Been practicing with that long?" She gestures at the piano, then blinks at the girl slowly. Winking is hard.
Staren	Staren shrugs at the comment that KT probably isn't here. He tries to judge if the runes are just for effect, or are actually some kind of ward recognizing her as authorized. "So what will you teach? And do I look out of place?" As he asks, though, he sees it is a music school, and they probably don't get many plate-clad adventurers around. Oops. Oh well. He's easily distracted as he picks out one melody after another, listening curiously, before he remembers they're here to ask around, and approaches the piano. He probably looks out of place... oh well! He'll wait and listen for a few minutes before interrupting her, not wanting to interrupt her concentration. "Excuse me, but did you see a large person in spikey, spikey armor come through here?"
August Kohler	Once they're inside the school, August is silent. He's circling around any rooms that look like he won't get in trouble circling around in, trying to see if he can't spot someone with spikes/hear someone talking someone wearing spikes. Better to check if there's a lead here, after all.
Priscilla	Well, even if Laer didn't really answer, Priscilla is placated somewhat by her intent to stay. Of course, she's interested by the school setting itself, having never really been in one. It would show, except for the fact that she's hiding her presence. A shame, because it'd probably be amusing to August. Sanary wants to know if someone is following. Priscilla doubts it, but she is in a prime position to check, slipping through the door and shadowing the group through the hall. She doesn't have any particularly refined magical senses, but the normal ones she has are very sharp, and she has a Lordran native's metaphorical nose for delicious souls, and mages tend to have tasty ones. "Indeed." she says into the radio. "And how is it that thou plan to avoid K.T. if thou intendeth to stay here in the long term?"
Laer	The good news is that they're free to explore, more or less! Laer won't stop them, and coming with her will get the more or less full access. The bad news is that the place is full of people who are growing up in the same environment as Laer did, though many of the students are older. August will get a few curious looks, and then one particular girl will come up to him, a half-elf who looks in her twenties. "Oh, hello there! Can I get your help with an experiment?" Priscilla will sense lots and lots of magic around, because it's a school of the arcane and it is palpable in the air. Still, there's noone particularly following the group. The girl who is approached by Sanary and Staren will look up, the music stopping but the glow to her eyes continuing. "...Since I was ten. Are you trying to learn to wink, or do you just have something in your eyes?" She'll ask, curiously. "And we get people in spikey armor through here sometimes. They mostly go to see the headmaster. Did you find it?" That last is at Laer herself, who'll wave off the question and shake her head. Laer will try to answer the questions for others, too. "I'll be teaching the only thing this school teaches: music, magic, and the intersection between them. And I don't think I could avoid her if I stay here to teach. That's why I wanted you all, to try to find her before she finds me. I would probably need to resort to things with dangerous side effects for the area around me if forced into an open fight with her."
August Kohler	As August is exploring, the half-elf woman stops him and asks him for assistance. He's sort of baffled, and isn't sure what to expect, but he /was/ asked for help, and seeing as this is the school Laer works at, it shouldn't be anything too dangerous. Besides, he could always turn around and say no if it was something crazy. "What kind of experiment?" The redhead walks up to the half-elf, looking like he's considering it.
Sanary Rondel	So much for trying to be charming. Sanary's expression remains steady, but the long pause she takes before she speaks up again is probably enough of a sign that her confidence has been shot. "... Something in my eye. Hope it's not arrows." Another pause, and she glances around quickly just to be sure there really aren't any arrows floating around. The mention of spikey armored people gets her attention, though, and she glances over at Staren once before turning to the girl when she speaks to Laer. Of course she'd be recognizable here. "Magic and music, hmm? Definitely need to sit in on some of these classes one day... Anyway. Think the headmaster'll know anything?" Sanary clenches her hand briefly, then tilts her head over at August. "Just make sure they're not chopping anything off. Or... Keep what you lose if they do.
Staren	Staren nods to the piano-player. So she hasn't seen anyone /recently/, probably. He turns to Laer. "Does the school have any sort of security or guards? If anyone here would actually be on the lookout for mysterious people, it's probably them."
Laer	"If anyone would be, the headmaster would probably have recorded it. There are plenty here who are trained in combat uses. If you all would like, I can find resources here for you to use to help with the search.. And a room to stay. It's better here than out at Greyhawk, when you're in the area, at least. I'll be teaching for several weeks, though.." Laer will admit, with a sigh and a glance to the piano-playing girl.. "...That's a terribly impractical choice of instruments, you know. I approve." The half-elf will smile at August. "Aah. Thank you for volunteering. Let me know when you realize that you're no longer seeing reality." And with that mysterious statement, the half-elf will wonder off. This is probably a bad sign for his future. "In any case, either looking through the town or working as security while I'm here.. I'll pay for both." And with that, she'll head for the headmaster's office, letting the others come if they choose or not.
Laer	PREVIOUSLY, ON JACKASS BARD SCHOOL Z: Laer invited several associates to assist her in not getting attacked by an old foe while she was busy with teaching lessons at her old school. This includes giving them a tour of the school, which Laer claims to be obliged to not leave until her turn at teaching is completed. August has for some reason known only to him agreed to an experiment from a half-elf, who has requested to be informed when he 'realizes he's no longer seeing reality.' At present, Laer's offered to pay either for working security at the school, along with an introduction to the current headmaster, or for going to the city of Greyhawk several miles away to look into the mysterious K.T.'s presence, being the main hub for activity in the area. Regardless, it's certainly a lot less appealing than Sigil in many ways, though it's blessedly empty of the people who live in Sigil. Aside, arguably, from Laer.
Sanary Rondel	After unsuccessfully trying to woo the piano player, Sanary has wisely chosen to withdraw and regroup to plan out the next avenue of attack with the rest of the group. Or investigation. Investigative attacks. "The city, then? If K.T.'s still out there, then they'll probably be hauling ass when they hear Laer's here. And then we can..." Sanary pauses, a troubled frown crossing her face as she leans against a bookcase all dramatic-like. "... Would we be fast enough to catch them? I can't really drive or anything, and flying around might draw too much attention."
Staren	"I still think the school is the most likely target." Staren replies. "It's also easier to watch with a standing security force of drones and golems, if they'll let us. If KT is sighted in the city... well, we're pretty well equipped for fast-response. ...But then, some of you may be better detectives than me and very effective at finding her in the city, if she's there." Staren looks around. "If we can get an okay from the headmaster, I can at least leave some scouting drones to watch while we investigate the city..."
Priscilla	Priscilla, in lieu of catching anyone tailing the group, picks a good pillar or statue or some other obstruction to reappear behind, and thus walk out from to pretend she wasn't rudely hiding in plain sight. "I am in agreement, that the school itself shalt soon be her most likely point of eventual attack, however, I believeth, seeing this, that it wouldst be exceedingly unlikely for her to be already here. Of course, I wouldst support whatever measure of security the owner wouldst alloweth thee to leave posted here, as it is our intention to guard it, but we shalt find little of anything that allows us to act preemptively here either, I expect." She does take a second to look to Laer though. "As I am to understand it, thou believeth not that 'K.T.' is in the area at all, correct? We art not pressed for time by a matter of hours."
Laer	"I'll just give you permission on the headmaster's account." Laer will say to Staren, tapping her fingers on her side. "By the time we explained what a drone is to him, I would already be dead. Of old age, if nothing else. This school is not an easy place to attack, necessarily, even were I not here. But I would not want the safety of this place endangered, could I avoid it.." Priscilla will get a hum in response, noncommital. "She claimed to be, in the message left me. If I were to guess, she's in the city, or in one of the outlying areas; waiting here for me would be no option, even if she knew exactly where this place is." Sanary will get a tilt of the head, before Laer will add. "Walking would be the least attention-grabbing thing, but flying is well within the range of abilities for many of the more powerful arcane users in the area. There aren't roads that are what we'd call drivable, anyway. I would expect K.T. to have an escape route to Sigil planned, but if we can find their portal, it's within my power to seal it."
August Kohler	Well, that was awkward and also scary. August is also pretty sure he didn't actually agree, but it's too late. 'No longer seeing reality'? He's pretty sure he's seeing reality...right? Either way, he goes back to the group, nodding in affirmative with Sanary as she pitches the city, and not saying anything regarding the drones. "Hey, guys. Am I behaving funny to you?" August asks simply, before he also replies to Sanary. "I can't fly."
Priscilla	Priscilla gives August a look. It is . . . a look alright. "I shalt alert thee whence thou beginneth to act any more strangely than thou already art." After all, the kid did spend their introductory period staring at her like a weirdo. "On the subject of flight, if both Lady Rondel and Sir Staren art capable of such, I adviseth they taketh advantage of it to the fullest extent possible. Covering ground afoot is something I am well able to do, and wouldst provide us two perspectives, and opportunities to speak with different groups."
Staren	Staren nods to Laer and pulls a few insect-size robots from his bag, and they fly off into the air. He blinks au August. "Dude, you're carrying a futuristic gun after profusely insisting a dislike of guns and practical futuristic technology. I don't know /what's/ going on with you, but I'm not really close enough to you to care." He starts pulling his magic broom out of a bag that looks too small for it, like Mary Poppins. "But where in the city do we start looking?"
Sanary Rondel	"Really? Huh... Alright, maybe flying wouldn't be so bad." Sanary nods slowly at Laer and Priscilla, then flashes a confident grin towards August. "Eh, worst case scenario? I can carry you. Probably." She even flexes briefly for emphasis, then begins stroking her chin at Staren's suggestion while pushing herself off the bookcase. "If the drones look suspicious..." She pauses, looking towards Priscilla after a moment. "... Don't suppose we could use some of your fluff to make 'em look like birds, huh?"
Staren	Staren shakes his head. "Iianor's spell doesn't extend to objects not on my person. But that's why I used the ones that look like insects rather than the quadrotors." He may have assumed Sanary was referring to Iianor's glamour as 'fluff' for some reason, because that makes more sense than... than... seriously?!
Laer	Laer will eye Sanary for a moment. "This is an entire school of magic, with no small focus on illusions. It will get dismissed as someone experimenting in the event someone even notices. And I can cast a flight spell on any of you who really wants it, though I wouldn't use it to fly too high; since I'm not going with you, when it expires, if you are too high up most likely you will also expire. Now, if you're going, please let me know if you discover anything."
Priscilla	The drones are an old sight to Priscilla by now. Staren has used them enough that she's begun to assume that he just has them handy at all times. The broom is mildly comical, but she's seen strange enough from him that it doesn't garner a visibly amused reaction (funny as it is, as opposed to jet packs and energy wings). Sanary, however, elicits the most immediately frosty, dead-eyed stare physically possible to get from one careless sentence; the kind where an extra foot and a half of height lets Priscilla stare down her nose as if distracted by almost stepping in something offensively putrid. "No. Thou may not." At that point, she just leaves. Better to actually get to work than continue that line of thinking.
Sanary Rondel	Sanary nods slowly at Laer's reasoning, and the topic of disguising drones is over and no longer going to bite her in the ass! It totally bites her in the ass. As often as the healer puts on a brave face, that cold cold horrible stare from Priscilla has her clamming up and just nodding quietly in response. Sanary doesn't even move at first when she leaves, just sort of... Standing there for a while and waiting until Priscilla's a safe distance away before following along. She'll feel much better about flying after this.
August Kohler	"I've been using guns for a while, I assume you just haven't noticed." August replies to Staren, before shaking his head to Laer. "I'll walk." Something seems to be getting to him as he follows after Priscilla as she walks out the door, frowning a bit. Is reality the same? Did it change? There's no way to be sure. Maybe the half-elf was lying to him? But he can't be sure of that either. "So, we're looking for a spikey armor person, right? Shouldn't be too difficult."
Laer	The city of Greyhawk is several miles away, with plenty of time to talk to one another! Laer will start talking in hushed tones to the student on the piano, though, clearly distracted by her duties. It'll make her quite distant, though still available via radio if an emergency happens. Whether approached by sky or ground, the city puts the 'grey' into its name, with many of the buildings being made of grey bricks. On the outskirts are tents and campsites, home to quite a large refugee population, but there are a great number of temples and inns within the city that one might seek information. While not large by multiversal standards, by the standards of the area the city is enormous, with a population of nearly a hundred thousand; finding a single person in it may be harder than what Laer had made it out to be.
Sanary Rondel	Wisely, Sanary avoids shoving her foot any further in her mouth on the way over. Just because she's flying (behind anyone else that might also be flying just in case) doesn't mean she can't come up with something dumb to say if she tries hard enough! Even commenting on the grey grayness is something she'll avoid doing. Instead, the healer is focused on the sole task of trying to spot... Someone. It's just one person out of how many hundred? It couldn't be more than a thousand. With no other leads just yet, she'll just have to watch for scurrying dots below and ones that look like they're moving a lot faster than the others.
Staren	Refugee camps. They remind Staren of the ones outside Lazlo after Tolkeen fell... although this city is maybe a 20th the size of his home. He wonders what these refugees are fleeing. "Well, there's the grey, I wonder where the hawk is... So, who's good at finding people? Divination spells, anything? or do we just go to taverns and show them the picture Laer showed us?"
Priscilla	Grey bricks and flagstones, and medieval urban sprawl, are hardly anything new to Priscilla. Really, what makes Greyhawk stand out is, well, the fact that there are so many living people in it, with how relatively (i.e. sanely) flat it is coming in close second. It already gives her a good idea of what a trial it is going to be to find someone here, especially one only seen in fully concealing armour. "A tavern, I am not so certain about, however if she hath intent to stay here, it follows to reason that lodgings art an unavoidable necessity for her, and if she aims only for Lady Laer, then she hath no need of permanent ones. The number of travelers from afar, staying for a short time, is far less than the population of a the city itself."
Laer	There are quite a lot of people in armor down in the town and the tents around it - Greyhawk is something of an adventuring hub, and the transient population is high, to say the least. By and large the armor isn't nearly so imposing as what K.T. wore, but it's enough to make asking around quite the challenge. In fact, while there are a pretty wide variety of races, humans are the majority and virtually none of them are undead. Priscilla's sense of home may be completely thrown off. There are, in fact, at least three temples specializing in divination if Staren asks around about that.
Staren	Staren lands and puts the broom away. It's probably semi-notable that he rode in on a broom, but not THAT weird. He asks around by showing people a holographic reproduction of the illusion Laer showed them earlier, to make clear the exact /kind/ of spiky armor he's asking about. At some point he asks if any of his allies can perform divination and a townsperson in earshot refers him to the temple of Boccob. It's as good a lead as any! With some trepidation, he approaches the temple for someone to talk to. While Staren is not entirely opposed to religion in theory, in practice he's had a number of disagreements, but he is planning to try to be diplomatic this time. The first priest or acolyte he can talk to, he explains that he's searching for someone and shows them the hologram.
Sanary Rondel	Trying to spot an oddly dressed person leaving town quickly sounded good on paper, but with a place the size of Greyhawk... Not so much. It doesn't take long for Sanary to decide on exploring the area on foot instead, stumbling a bit and feeling even more out of place without her usual gear and fancy coat on her. Maybe it'd be easier to just ask around instead. Seeking out the nearest bunch of transients, the healer starts asking said transients themselves about K.T. by name. Who she is, what she does, what she looks like. If pressed for reasons, she'd respond with something vague involving work offers (for K.T.) and food (for good information).
Priscilla	Well, Priscilla had been correct in theory. Still is technically correct, on paper. The number of people just camping out, without making real arrangements in town, however, is as dismaying as it is inconvenient. Considering K.T. could theoretically be slumming it in any one of what looks like hundreds of random camps, she is forced to contact Laer over the radio again. "If thou wouldst, what know thee of this woman's finances and status. Am I to assumeth her the type to reserve comfort whence possible, or one not above aiming well below her station, in matters of pragmatism?"
August Kohler	As they approach the city, August is glancing at things. "Okay, so it's really grey, it's not just me." The redhead's noticeably out of it; /something's/ bugging him. Regardless, he sticks to Sanary, her being the one he's most familiar with and most agreeable. He assists with her searching by describing what they know she looks like: Mercykiller armor, woman, probably an asshole. In between walking around, August turns to Sanary. "Hey, Rondel. Am I still perceiving reality correctly?"
Laer	Sanary more or less strikes out - noone knows the name, and noone seems to much want to talk to her. August's paranoia is probably not helping things, though he hasn't even told the half elf who is now miles away that he's uncertain! They're starting to get a bit of a crowd, though, at the mention of food... Priscilla will get an answer back. "Well. She's unlikely to know that I'm here yet, and she can't have known how long it would take - I was told she was prepared to spend months here, and she would want to stay well out of sight, if she could bring herself to do it. My guess is she's either in a lower class establishment, or in a campsite within several miles of the city, but she would need supplies regardless." Staren will get a look from the priest of Boccob, a man very much in the supposed image of the diety himself - a man with long white hair. "We can search for this woman for you, for an appropriate donation. Are you prepared to pay the price for such knowledge?"
Staren	Staren shrugs. "Well, that depends on how big of a donation you're asking for."
Laer	The priest will name a price - 25 electrum - that probably doesn't make a lot of sense to Staren necessarily but translates to about five percent of what Laer's paying him for this particular job. Luckily for him, Laer had given him and the others some local currency.
Staren	Staren works out the value after a little explaining and finds it agreeable. He'll try to expense it anyway, later, to the Concord or to Laer. "That will be agreeable." He smiles slightly as he picks the coins out of the local currency Laer gave him.
Sanary Rondel	"Reality...?" Sanary murmurs in confusion at first, pausing to glance around at the growing crowd before turning back to August and giving him a firm pat on the back. "No, yeah, you're good. Everything /is/ super gray out here. Doesn't look like anyone here has any idea where K.T. is, though. And there's... A lotta people. More than before, even." What the hell are they supposed to do with a bunch of hungry hobos and no information on K.T.? The healer messes with her eyepatch a bit, scnaning the crowd for anyone that... Shit. They're just here for food, aren't they?! Well, maybe that can work to their advantage, too. Sanary nudges August's side with her elbow, then raises her hand and points at the sky like some dramatic outsider would. "Listen up! I got a bunch of pigs and no money, so-ooo~ If you can bring me good info on where K.T. is? I'll bring three of the finest pigs from the farm right here!" Food as bribes is something anyone can understand, right?
August Kohler	It takes some radio conversation before it dawns on August that he's in the control group. He smacks his forehead and visibly loosens up, though the damage is done. Now, though, he's more confident of himself, so he moves up next to Sanary, speaking with her, in an attempt to help bribe the crowd. "We've also got pork rind, pork cracklin, pork pork, and bacon at the farm! Your pick if you have /accurate/ information! Step up!" No, he didn't ask Sanary permission. She'll have to deal with it. This may be revenge for a comment she made.
Priscilla	Fortunately, that does narrow it down. Not as much as it theoretically could, to something hilarious easy as 'the priciest inn in town', but Priscilla is glad she asked. "And I presumeth that she is one to travel alone for this venture, yes? The matter of distant camps is a surmountable one. Given a night or two, it is within mine power to see to remote places she wouldst wish to hide in-person, without alerting her of our intent. As for establishments . . ." Well, Sanary seems to be taking care of people skills. Radio again: "If either of thee art able to secure reliable testimony, consider not the cost. Outside of Lady Laer's funds, there is ample compensation available for the task of defending one of the Concord's own."
Laer	Sanary will now get a great deal of information, people claiming K.T. is everywhere from in a tavern across town to one person making a claim that 'he' is somewhere called Ravenloft! These are all followed by the demands for the food. It's all false, fairly easily provably so, but people are hungry. Staren will find that paying for magical divination is more useful. The priest will take the payment, and then ask for Staren to wait there for a while, while the ritual is performed. Fifteen minutes later, the rather stern looking man will come back out. "...The woman you seek has taken refuge within the ruins of Castle Greyhawk. Her precise location within the castle is not locatable, as the castle itself was protected from divination, but she went inside the ruins three days ago and has not left. If you intend to persue her, I suggest you prepare."
Staren	Staren plays videogames on his headware while he waits. When the man comes back with this news, he smiles. "Thank you! This is a huge help." He holds out a hand to shake. "We are prepared to fight her if we have to, but... why do you mention it? Did the divination show something unusual about her?" He may not understand what 'ruins of castle Greyhawk' really means.
Laer	The priest will look surprised for a moment, but will shake the offered hand. "The ruins.. the tent cities outside are filled with those who have come to explore the ruins. Most who go never return, and frequently become the undead, attempting to feast on those who follow. I do not know how dangerous this woman is, but the ruins are quite dangerous enough without fighting others. Be wary."
Staren	Staren blinks, slightly taken aback. "Oh. Thanks for the warning, sounds like we'd better research these ruins before heading in then." He nods, "Good day." and turns to leave.
Sanary Rondel	Sanary probably deserved that one. Alas, she can't quite shit on August's parade, and she plays along as well! "We find K.T. and the food's yours!" Good thing Laer's footing the bill on this. Now the problem is sorting out who's actually saying what and which parts are actually useful. <<"I heard someone yell out... Havenloft? Ravencroft...?">> She murmurs into the radio, glancing around the crowd rapidly to listen for anything else that might actually be useful. The demands for food immediately draw a weary sigh from her, though, and she crosses her arms in front of her. "Like we said. Once we confirm this information's good, the food'll be brought right here! Just sit tight, okay?" She flashes the crowd what she hopes is more of a charming smile rather than a threatening one, and then she nudges at August's side again while offering a hand and muttering more quietly to him. "If they crowd too much... Uh. Hold on, okay?" Yes, she's fully intending to just use her anklets to fly on out of there if it gets too cramped.