[x] Attempt to discern the magic's source
Occult check: Discern the magic's source!
DC 100 needed:
43+23+17+12+9=104
Bare Success!
The interloper approaches quickly, but your focus is elsewhere. The magic vexes you for a moment, strands of memory woven into a novel shape. It is foreign, yes, but there are little touches of familiarity within the greater whole which remind you of something on the edge of thought. It is the little duck that finally makes you realize what you are dealing with… it is not a member of the Children, but the Idea of them; a creature born from the collective thoughts and emotions of what humanity thinks some member of the fey was. Possibly created by some real god or spirit or simply sprung into being like the thought beside you. You explain this to those following you.
"Huh." Dennis says. "A spirit made in the image of… now why does that sound familiar?"
No sooner had you made this realization than the one you had heard before makes himself known.
Krantz Intrigue Check: Avoid Notice
65+27-25(expected)=67
Kitsune Contest:
42+21+9+22=94
Failure
It's actually mildly embarrassing. You all make the barest possible effort to look like you don't see him as a dognosed man with round glasses, white gloves, and a poorly concealed gun slips into the room. He sees you all, starts, and then tries and fails to hide in the shadows. You notice a spark of recognition on Janna's face as the dognose 'stealthily' makes his way past you and towards the massive cat container your new pet is in. As soon as he reaches it, the bad attempt at subtlety ends.
"Ha ha! Fools! Your wasteful time wasting has allowed me, the indomitable Dr. KRANTZ, to once again pilfer your pathetically obtained treasure! This creature will shock and amaze the world! I'll make a fortune off of revealing it, just as soon as I…"
For the first time, Krantz attempts to move the cat carrier. He strains and toils, pathetic muscles utterly failing to even rock the cage in which a living stone cat is currently grooming itself.
"Huuugh! ...hold on. Arrgh! Haaa! Huuuughhh!"
You watch in bemusement as things continue in this manner until 'Dr. Krantz' falls to the floor in exhaustion.
"He's not really a threat, is he?" Lizzy asks.
"You'd be surprised. Janna replies. "But yeah, I think we're ok."
"I knew he was going to be a recurring enemy!" Dennis declares.
"Dennis, you weren't there when we met him the first time."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot."
"I would not rest easy just yet." You remind them. "There is still the oncoming issue of the-"
A blinding white light issues forth from the entrance to the fort as what was left of the frame is torn to shreds. When it finally fades you see an unreasonably buff bird standing in its place, posing in a manner some might generously describe as 'heroic'. It reminds you of the japanese zhĭyĭngxì Janna watches when she thinks nobody is looking.
"HALT, VILE INTERLOPERS! YOU WILL NOT DESECRATE THIS FOUL SANCTUM ANY FURTHER!"
"Ha!" Feldrake squawks. "I told you it was a sanctum!"
Storkules Learning Check: Remember what Dennis or Feldrake look like
DC 50
21+3=24
Critical Failure!
"GASP!" the eudaemon gasps. In a flash, he races over to your group and bends down to greet… Dennis?
"You, adorably tiny monochrome creature! I find you… familiar. You remind me of a dear compatriot I once fought beside! Tell me. Do you perhaps know a fine feathered fellow by the name of Donald Duck?!"
"Okay first off, not all Ducks know each other." Dennis chastises. "Second, YOU KNOW DONALD?!?! I LOVE DONALD!!!!!!!"
Janna drags a hand down her face.
"You're talking to the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and oooonly member of the Donald Duck fan club!"
"How could this be?! My good friend Donald is kind, intelligent, selfl- selfie.. .erm, he never thinks of himself first, he never shows even the slightest bit of issue with his temperament-"
"You remember 'temperament' but not 'selfless'?" Lizzy questions with a raised eyebrow.
Dennis seems to vibrate with glee. "Do you want to join the Donald Duck Fan Club?"
The eudaemon's face is split with a massive grin. "I would! I have seen every one of Donald's cartoons multiple times, and I've spoken to him on more than one occasion when he's been traveling with the Goddess of Adventure!"
You and Janna exchange a look. This is not how you planned on the encounter turning out, but it is amusing to watch.
"Then join with me in reciting the Donald Duck Fan Club Theme Song! D-O-N-A-L-D D-U-C-K-Missing beat!" Storkules' repetition of the song is flat and several seconds behind Dennis, but he can't be faulted for his enthusiasm.
"Excuse me! Has everyone forgotten about me?!?" Krantz complains.
"Look, dude. You're not winning this." Janna replies.
"Oh yeah?" He asks. "Then how about this?!"
Krantz Martial Check
92+76+26=198
Kitsune Contest:
42+21+9+17+12=101
Massive Success!!!!!
Have a Sandwich activates!
"As the newest and so far only inductee of the Donald the Duck fanclub," Dennis begins. "I now present you with the customary submarine sandwich of brotherhood. Eat of it, and remember Donald's wisdom:"
Krantz whips out his gun and aims directly at Janna. Thankfully, the bullet is blocked by the rising meal, which explodes into pastrami, lettuce and cheese on wheat shrapnel as it splatters across all of you.
"Aw. phooey." Dennis says.
"Gasp!" Storkules gasps again. "How dare you harm my new friend Dennis?"
"He was… aiming for me." Janna points out.
"How dare you harm my new friend's friends! Face me, villain!"
Storcules Martial Check:
20+48=68
Krantz contest
88(Underdog-nose: reroll!)+41+26=155
Critical Failure!
Storkules winds up a massive punch, pulling back a fist the size of a ham and aiming straight at the dog-man's head! At the very last second Krantz steps to the side, leaving Storkules to slam into the massive cage. His head lodged itself between the bars.
"Ooooh, my temples..." Storkules moans, blinking away stars. He looks up just as the Meteorbeast smells freshly caught bird. It salivates, and Storkules tugs, trying to pull his head out of the bars to no avail.
"Uh… nice kitty?"
In between the screams, Storkules manages to reassure you.
"AAAAAH! It's ok! I'll reform eventuallAAAHHHH!"
Krantz Martial roll
77+26=103
Kitsune Contest:
19+21+9+17+12=78
Krantz Success?!
With a gentle twist, Krantz bashes Janna with the flat of his gun, knocking her away before leveling the sights at you once again.
"Why is this hard." Lizzy asks. "This shouldn't be hard."
"It's kinda his thing, I think." Janna complains, rubbing her jaw as she stands up.
"He's the only foe we have left. He has to be a challenge!" Dennis exclaims fearfully.
"This is becoming tiresome." You say to disguise just how much Janna being hurt has upset you. In a flash you are upon the obnoxious little fool, claws out and very anxious to be put to use.
Kitsune Martial Check:
10+21+9+17+12=69
Krantz Contest:
21+26=47
Success!
"You fool! Never rush a man with a gun, he- why aren't you stoppi- OW OWWOWOWOWOW!" Krantz screams as you scratch and stab him with a feral growl. Desperate, he attempts to throw you off.
Krantz Martial roll
52+26-10(noodle arms)=68
Kitsune Contest:
51+21+9+17+12=110
Kitsune Success!
With that, you claw the dimwitted doctor a few more times before attempting to tie him up.
Kitsune Martial Check:
93+21+9+17+12=152
Krantz Contest:
21+26=47
Extreme Critical Success!
Climbing rope is surprisingly multipurpose, and in a few seconds the dognose is hogtied and thrown to the ground with a rough thump.
"Ow! How dare you do this to me! I'm-"
"We can't kill him, can we." Lizzy says with disappointment.
"I guess we could take him back and… imprison him or something?" Janna suggests
"No judge in the world would convict me! There's no evidence, I wore gloves! The second I get out of here you ignoramuses will-"
You contemplate the prospect of carrying this man across an entire mountain range and back to civilization.
"Leave him here?" Lizzy suggests.
"Leave him here." Janna nods.
"Agreed."
"I have no problems with this whatsoever!" Dennis declares.
---
Quest: Midnight Sun Completed!
You have obtained a Meteorbeast; a rare, trainable, unintelligent magical creature!
Golumetric Theory action unlocked!
Kitsune has gained 1 Martial!
Dennis' Joking Around changes to Aw, Phooey!
Aw, Phooey's effects apply to the Quest Leader on any Quest Dennis is put on; positive and negative. However, if Aw, Phooey causes a crit failure on a defensive roll, Have a Sandwich does not activate!
Aw, Phooey applies when Dennis performs a Personal Action!
---
Krantz was upset.
Trussed up, hogtied, left for dead in this godforsaken wilderness. How could things possibly get worse?
Two pairs of feet hit the ground.
"Are you sure she's here, Hildy-Wildy?" A voice asked. "All I see is that pathetic looking man on the floor over there."
"Ugh!" a second voice screamed. "Late again! This is all your fault, Beelzebub!"
There was a sound like a woman being hit over the head with a broom.
"To be fair dear, you did provoke him."
"It's gotta be perfect!" The voice of Jay Leno rang out.
"...What?"
"The timing! It's gotta be perfect!"
No one spoke.
"Eh? Eh? Pretty good, right?"
Krantz screamed.