Safiya Scouts the Underground Tunnel as a Bat

Summary

In Session 2 of the campaign, Safiya reveals her shapeshifting capabilities for the first time to her companions while exploring the tunnel beneath the Rex Tree. Announcing her intention to "look around", she transforms into a large bat in the darkness and uses echolocation to map the underground passages. Her reconnaissance reveals that the tunnel descends 20-30 feet into a large cavern with multiple branching passages, and she detects movement below that she cannot clearly identify. After her companions light torches, she retreats into a side tunnel to complete her transformation back to human form, then returns to brief the group on what she discovered.

Details

While the party stands in the dark tunnel beneath the Rex Tree, Safiya decides to use her Shapeshift Move to gather intelligence. She casually tells her companions, "Hey, guys, I'm just gonna look over here for a minute," before shifting form in the darkness. The transformation happens quickly—one moment Safiya is speaking, the next "a huge bat just starts screeching."

The tunnel itself is substantial, measuring 7 or 8 feet tall and 5 or 6 feet across. Using her bat form's echolocation, Safiya maps the passage as it curves downward into the earth. Her screeches reveal that "the tunnel that you're in curls down down into the earth. Probably 20 or 30 more feet down and then it opens into a large, large cavern at the bottom that has several other tunnels that run off from it."

During her scouting flight, Safiya detects something concerning: "You sense some movement but you don't get a clear picture of it." The echolocation provides structural information but cannot give her details about whatever is moving in the cavern below.

When Erin, Vasso, Sucks, Cat, and Katniss light torches to follow, Safiya swoops down into one of the branching side tunnels to transform back to human form away from direct observation. She mostly avoids being seen during the shift, then rejoins the party to report what she learned about the Underground Cavern Beneath Rex Tree and the mysterious presence within it.

Participants

Safiya — Uses her Shapeshift Move to become a bat and scouts the tunnel system
Erin — Present in the party during the scouting
Vasso — Present in the party during the scouting
Sucks — Present in the party during the scouting
Cat — Present in the party during the scouting
Katniss — Present in the party during the scouting
Monster — Unidentified presence detected moving in the cavern below

Consequences

Safiya demonstrates her shapeshifting ability to the party for the first time, though they do not witness the full transformation
The party gains crucial intelligence about the Underground Cavern Beneath Rex Tree layout: a 20-30 foot descent into a large cavern with multiple branching tunnels
The group becomes aware of an unidentified Monster or presence moving in the cavern, alerting them to potential danger ahead
Safiya's echolocation mapping provides tactical information that will inform the party's approach to exploring the cavern system