Delayed Shipment VP

Log Info

• Title: Delayed Shipment
• Emitter: Aryia
• Characters: Andelena, Barclaiigh, Dolan
• Place: PrP Room 2: Jail cells, Warehouse District
• Time: February 18th, 2022
• Summary: The party speaks with a detained mul'neissian man who overheard something about exotic shipments being held in a warehouse. But what was strange, was that the information was spoken in Abyssal. He's set to be released today, but the guard needs them to check out a warehouse that he was going to break into to investigate. The party questions the Watchwoman and the mul'nessia before heading out with one of the Guard following them as witness.

They arrive at the delapated storage facility and, after a brief conversation of how to get in, bust down the front door. They find two "rats" conspiring, but soon turn out to be imps. One tries to open the cages of some wild animals to sic them on the party while the other harries them. Barclaiigh keeps one from being opened with some quick thinking, the cheetah stuck in its cage, but the one containing the lion is set free. After both imps are slain (and one eaten by the lion), the lion gets a swipe off on Dolan before it's knocked out by Barlaiigh after the group lands some solid hits on it.

The Watch comes in to secure the place, and the party finds that this place exports not just illegal wares, but also holds boxes of Hellwasps.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=        Players    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Andelena           6'0"     180 Lb     Human             Female    
    Redhead with steel-grey eyes and powerful build.                           
Barclaiigh         4'5"     202 Lb     Mountain Dwarf    Male      
    A thick tree-trunk of a dwarf. Wavy auburn hair, loose traveling clothes   
Dolan              5'10"    174 Lb     Human             Male      
    Brown-haired human with scars down his face.                        
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=                  As the DM           -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aryia              4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    
    A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about          
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Jail Cells

Watch Constables' Lodge, Jail Cells

"He ain't say much 'side from wha' we put in the report."

A half-oruch woman spits off to the side in the holding cells by the West Gate, arms crossed as she nods her head towards the prisoner behind the bars.

It was a decently dressed mul'neissian man, with wild crimson hair and a set of silver eyes. Most notably was that he lacked a right arm from the shoulder downward. Either exhausted from the repeated questioning, or just plain annoyed, he huffs and crosses his lone arm under his opposite shoulder, not contesting the point or trying to drive it further.

"Say'z he ain't done anything, though he got some suspicious magics. Came into the gates a couple months ago disguised. Now we gots a problem with wasp fiends and whatydnot and random things explodin'. Can't let ya in ta... *ahem* talk to 'em, but if we ain't get nothin' outta 'im today, then we gotta let 'im go."

"Please do," the shadow elf mumbles quietly, sighing with a shake of his head.

"What's this about wasp fiends?" Dolan, sword over his back, dressed in breastplate, crosses his arms and looks between the mul and the half-oruch, his shoulders wound tighter than springs. He wears not even a hint of a smile, and the green orb inset into a ring that replaces his right eye regards them balefully. "What made you lock him up?"

The taller woman behind Dolan dressed head from toe in the armor befitting of a Sunguard purses her lips into a thin line as she looks over the mul with analytical eyes. Her steel-gray eyes squint for a moment as she looks back over to the half-oruch woman. "What charge, exactly, did you book him on?" Andelena asks. "You can't book a man for being suspicious. For Knight's sake, he hardly looks it."

On the unpleasant side of the just-ended Khazadi festival of kegs, Barclaiigh lacks a bit of the usual bright-eyed wonder he usually sports in the city. The shaman's small eyes rest atop dark bags and he's rolling his right shoulder with his left hand braced against the offending joint. A few familiar faces shouting from the drunk tank make the dwarf stoop and shield his face from that direction with one hand and hustle a little more to join the interrogation.

"Easy roads," croaks the wildman, managing a smile and waving lazily to all-- even the prisoner. Clearly the watch took to disarming a bit overzealously.

The Watchwoman raises a brow, her moving her helmet from under one arm to the other. "Hellwasps, 'ad a problem wit' 'em as o' late. Sorta on a notice at tha' moment ta keep an out for 'em."

The request for reason was met with a frown. "He was found snoopin' around the Warehouse District, looking inta windows and places. 'ad his hands on some gutter runner's tools. Was usin' some kind o' shady magics to keep low. He's /charged/ with trespassin' and breaking and enterin'. Though his recount o' getting here and this mess has him in detained."

"And so dreadfully dull," the mul bemoans, perking up a bit and dipping his head to the wildman. "Like I said, I was investigating something I tipped your Guard, but wouldn't be half brained to actually look."

That changes matters - somewhat. Dolan's tension remains, but something in his face - the half of it that can, at least - relaxes. "Tell you what-" he turns to the half-oruch. "You've got nothing on him, and you'll have to let him go anyway. If he tells us what he was chasing, you let him go now. Fair deal?" His tone is businesslike, no-nonsense, but a good bit gentler than it was, and he looks between the two. "If it's got to do with hell anything in the city, don't ignore it, for Knight's sake." He doesn't seem even a little concerned about the possibility of breaking and entering.

"Well, hold on, Bry," Andelena says, putting her hand on the shorter man's shoulder. "He still was found breaking and entering. However, it does sound like he has valuable information that the Guard has overlooked--so while I think some form of penance is in order, it shouldn't be overly harsh. After all, it sounds like, if this man's testimony is true, he wouldn't have been doing it to begin with if the Guard was investigating matters properly."

"Wasps're bad 'nough," Bar grumbles after clearing his throat, dancing around a bit awkwardly as he tries to find a place to stand without having to peek between two of the three taller folk and see into the cell. He's a wide fellow. Bulky. His armor of fine, piled furs is less-than-slimming, too.

"'r either'a ya loaded fer heckwasps?" His bushy eyebrows lift inquisitively as he peers up between Andie and Dolan. There's a sniff and his caterpillar mustache waggles back and forth.

Then, to the watchperson, "Maybe y'show us t'the warehouse with th'shipment'n we have a looksee? Make it 'ficial'n above-board. Easy roads," he dusts his calloused hands together to demonstrate how easily such a thing might be accomplished.

The mul'neissa perks up at the idea of being released early, but he deflates as the notion is quickly put on hold.

The guard purses her lips. "We're spread thin, hence why you're here," she elaborates, but the detainee chuckles softly to himself.

The Watchwoman sighs, rubbing her face and glances to Barc. "Can send someone with ya if ya's checking it out. Though we ain't equip'd ta handle the wasps if they're there."

The prisoner rises, walking up to the bars and resting his sole hand on one of them. "Seren Lane. Warehouse eight. Heard someone speaking in Abyssal about exotic shipments and that place. Kept using some slang that did not match the language at all. I almost found out what was going on there, but..."

A pause. "Don't ask why I know that tongue," he mentions before it's brought up.

Dolan's eyes narrow at the mul, but he nods. "Someone's got to, Andie. If the Guard didn't do it ... guess they're doing it now. Credit him for at least doing something. This had better not be a trap, though." An ice dagger shoots through the words as they come out. "Let's go find out what's going on. Seren Lane, warehouse eight, eh?"

He turns his head fully towards the Watchwoman. "Get us in there, please?" He nods his agreement with the wildman. "Let's do this right."

"Plenty of people know it for a variety of reasons," Andelena says, her eyes turning back to the prisoner as he mentions his knowledge of Abyssal. "Lots of people know it to know their enemy--and I hope today, you are one of them."

She nods to Dolan and Barclaiigh. "Let's get this done and get Justice properly served. That warehouse doesn't know what's fuckin' coming," she adds with a little grin.

Barclaiigh sneaks in another glance at the area where a second mul'niessa arm should be and then just shrugs, wincing and bracing his shoulder again. "Ain't no reason t'leave the place tore up..." The dwarf glances at the watch-oruch and offers his guileless smile, "... hopefully."

"Jus' gotta be ready t'skedaddle if things turn pear-shaped. Feel like I need to wrastle w'heckwasps like I need a hole'n th'head." He turns to go, fishing out his boar-tusk fetish and sliding his spear out from under his furs to use as a walking stick.

"If this were a trap, I wouldn't be in this situation," the one armed mul'neissa retorts and tuts softly, him going back to the bench in the cell.

He rolls the shoulder with the missing arm, though the way the elf moved and conducted himself, he must have been used to that absent limb for quite a while. He eyes the much taller human woman, him appraising her. "... perhaps, little sun. Perhaps."

The Watchwoman nods slowly, then takes a few steps to lean out of the exit of the jails. "Gregek! Get yer shit together, ya followin' these'uns!"

An Arvek Nar that was eating on an apple at the entrance groans, gets off their rear, and starts donning their uniform armor.

Warehouse District

The party sets out across the city the early evening, the air chilly with the setting sun reflecting across ice caked along the roads and alleys. It takes a couple of hours to get there, the Warehouse District a winding mess of seeming back alleys and cramped roads. The Watchman keeps a bit of distance from the group, the Nar's lantern swinging in tandem with his marching tempo steps. Then the tempo slows.

And you arrive.

It's a small warehouse crammed inbetween two larger ones. Old and foggy windows flank the lone door into this place. The sun threatens to wink out at any heartbeat now, and the lanternlight from the Watchman floods the road. "Haven't had the time to figure out which one this belongs to," the hobgoblin mentions, nodding towards the building.

"If it's being used for nefarious purposes, that was probably what its owners had in mind." Dolan surveys the dilapidated little half-building skeptically. "Are you getting us in, or do we need to do it?"

The Watchman shrugs his shoulders, reaches behind himself, and pulls out a crowbar from his belt. "Here's your key."

Andelena draws her sword and shield. Always be prepared. Steel-gray eyes scan the perimeter of the warehouse. "Ohh, ain't this a sight for sore eyes," she says. "Halfway broken down building, shady shit happening... Just like old times, Bry."

She looks at the crowbar. "Who's doing the honors?" she asks of the group.

"Oooh, I wouldn't mind a go?" Barclaiigh's tiny eyes light up over the tired bags and his lips form an excited 'o' for a moment. He tucks his spear beneath his arms and rubs his hands vigorously together. "I was gonna say I can shape th'wood'n get us in but this'll be more fun'm sure."

Callosued fingers wrap around the crowbar and he skirts his way across the half-frozen cobbles. A moment is taken to lean his spear against the wall-- on a thought he stops and bangs a three-count knock against the door and waits a few moments. Assuming there's no answer he'll put the burglar's key to work.

Dolan stands back and lets the wildman do his thing, a wolfish grin stretching his lips for the first time since this started. That wolfish grin gets directed at Andelena. "Some things never change, Andie." There's a bright sparkle in the lone brown eye. "That's a good thing."

GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Strength+2: (18)+3+2: 23

The door isn't too terribly strong. Just a single layer of planks and nothing mor-

Wait. This thing is... actually really sturdy.

But not for a Stoutbrew. There's a flicker of some kind of ward failing as Khazad strength is amplified by simple breaking and entering tools, and the door all but splinters open off the latch and swings wide.

And there before them is a sight.

There are two, somewhat large rats on chairs, having an... /avid/ conversation.

"No no, NO stupid! It can't go there! We don't how long it takes!"

"C'mooooon, it'll be funny!"

"This isn't a funny man's ga-"

The two rats look at the entrance, a pair of crimson eyes blinking. "... ah Hells," one squeaks.

Behind the rats is a large cage, and something is pacing within.

There's a muffled buzzing sound filling the room.

GAME: Andelena casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14

"Some stay just the same," Andie quips back to Dolan with a wolfish grin to match his--and then the 'rats' are revealed.

"Okay, that's a first," Andelena says, then she lifts her sword, her body brimming with holy energy that washes out onto Barclaiigh and Dolan as she declares, "Forward unto dawn! For justice! For glory!"

GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Knowledge/Nature: (9)+9: 18

Barclaiigh's eye pop open in surprise at the Carrollian scene playing out in the warehouse. The crowbar clatters to the ground, clanging as it bounces on the stones. The khazadi shaman snatches up his spear and runs into the run, the swirling druidic runes coming to green-glowing life.

"'lright, y'varmints! We came t'see what the buzz-wuzz." A pause. "Was." And then his bushy eyebrows push together when he remembers that rats don't talk.

Something is definitely not right. Rats talking? Dolan peers into the gloom, but not for more than half a breath. "Holy dawn shield us as we work His justice," he agrees, and then rushes in, the leather harness holding the greatsword dropping to the warehouse floor somewhere unheeded in a slither of leather to the floor. The sword is in his hand, and he's not quite quick enough to catch up to the wildman. Close enough.

That buzzing worries him, though.

From the back of the warehouse, and off to the side, there's some low growling that comes from them. And those that enter the warehouse can spy two feline figures prowling in their cages, a hungry look about them.

And the only thing keeping them closed is a bolted latch.

A lion and a cheetah, a bit starved for a meal.

GAME: Andelena casts Weapon of Awe. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15

"Alright, let's go. Knight be with me!" Andelena cries out as she moves in with the group, her longsword now brimming with the blessing of Daeus. Her usual way of speaking may not be befitting of a Sunguard, but the way she calls on his favor and brings it into battle is a clear sign of her profession.

The rat on the chair squeaks. "AH SHIT IT'S THE FUZZ!" it screeches before it seeps out a black cloud. It goes >poof< and a tiny figure with flapping fiendish wings and a scorpion tail takes off to fly over towards the cage. Clawed hands and feet land upon the latch, and start to pull it open. "COME OOON!"

GAME: Barclaiigh casts Wood Shape. Caster Level: 3 DC: 16

"Think th'two'a you can handle th'imps?" Barclaiigh wonders, glancing back at the holy-folk. He rumbles on ahead atop heavy, slapping-sandaled footfalls looks between the cages. "Oh, Truffles, I think we can keep this from spiralin'."

The druid grabs up his fetish and brushes the tusks against his lips, reaching out with his spearhand to knuckle-bump the crate. There's a groan and crackling as the dead, harvested, and shaped wood comes back to life long enough to crawl and shape itself before the smaller of the two cages and black the door shut.

"That'll do, pig," he whispers and let's the necklace fall back against his chest.

GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1+2+1: (14)+5+2+1: 22
GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Dolan rolls knowledge/the planes: (18)+5: 23 (26 due to Monster Lore)

"Imps!" A new note sings through Dolan's tone as the first one unmasks itself. "Holy Knight, judge these evil creatures with your divine power." Is that a faint tremble in his voice, as he holds the greatsword up between his hands? If it is, it doesn't seem to affect his decision-making, because even as the sword begins to glow with a faint light, he rushes forward to pin the other one down, slashing at it viciously. The slash strikes true, but doesn't bite as deeply as one might expect. "These can poison you!" he shouts.

<OOC> Aryia says, "rat1 is going to shape change to its true form (Super natural ability, no aoo) and move into barc's space 6,16 to threaten him. Provokes from barc and dolan."
GAME: Dolan uses an AoO! 0 remaining.
GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1+1: (18)+5+1: 24
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d6+4: (6)+4: 10
GAME: Barclaiigh uses an AoO! 0 remaining.

The rat yelps. "OW. FUCK." It poofs in a similar manner, turning into a crimson skinned pest and flies over to Barc, getting slashed and stabbed along the way. The wound it first took is gone, but now new ones replace it. It flaps in the druid's face, it screeching to the other one. "Get the BIG KITTY! NOW!"

GAME: Andelena rolls Weapon1-1+1: (10)+6+-1+1: 16
GAME: Andelena rolls damage1+4: aliased to 1d8+3+4: (1)+3+4: 8

"I'm with you this time, Bry!" Andelena shouts over the fray, and she brings her sword down into the imp, the blessed blade biting into the imp. The Sunguard growls a little as she notices the wound wasn't as deep as she would like it to be.

Almost like a battle cry, the foiled imp yells triumphantly. "THE BIG KITTY!"

It soars over the warehouse, lands atop the latch on the other cage, and pulls the pin out.

The door groans open slowly. Then clanks against itself.

The low growl gets louder, as the mane of a large feline peeks out of the cage. Drooling.

GAME: Barclaiigh rolls weapon7-1+1: (9)+6+-1+1: 15
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+8: (20)+8: 28 (aoo)
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+8: (9)+8: 17 (confirmed)
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Fortitude+2: (11)+5+2: 18
GAME: Aryia rolls 2d4: (6): 6

"Phtp! Thpthpthp!" Barclaiigh is fluttering squinted eyes and ducking around like a madman trying to keep the imp out of his wavy mane of auburn hair-- and he gets an infernal wing in his mouth for his efforts! "HA!" he cheers, sure he skewered the little critter only to find that he stabbed directly bween the imps tiny legs. The imp seems are surprised as the Khazadi shaman that it remains intact.

There's a shuffle and Barclaiigh trying to get close enough to wrangle the cat-- but he takes a spear-tipped tail right into his ear for his efforts, causing him to stagger on the way. "AUGH! Y'ornery lil'-- 'said I didn' need another hole in m'head!"

GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1+1-1: (11)+5+1+-1: 16
GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+4+2: (7)+4+3: 14

The cry from the Sunguard reaches Dolan's ears, and somehow, it steadies him, a quirk of his lips betraying a level of gratitude. He is not alone. Without hesitating, he turns and channels all of the torque from that whirl into the two-handed slash he aims at the bleeding creature.

Fueled from within and without, that slash holds enough power to nearly split the little devil in two, and it goes up in a puff of smoke. That wolfish grin returns, and he turns an adoring look on Andelena. "Thanks," he whispers, before turning and rushing towards the cage and the lion coming out of it.

GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+7+2: (8)+7+2: 17
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+13: (11)+13: 24 (Grapple)
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6

Fully emerging from the cage is a great cat, fangs bared as its mane bristling. Looking for a quick snack, it snaps its jaws out and chomps on the imp's wing and shakes its head about viscously.

"OW! BAD KITTY! BAD!" it smacks it little hand against the beast's nose.

GAME: Andelena rolls weapon1+1-1: (18)+6+1+-1: 24
GAME: Andelena rolls damage1+2+2: aliased to 1d8+3+2+2: (7)+3+2+2: 14

"Right behind you, honey," Andelena says, hot on his heels as he rushes towards the cage. Her steel-gray eyes glint with recognition as she spots the imp hiding behind boxes. It's an automatic reflex as she brings down her blessed blade onto the imp. "Get away from him, you pint-sized sack of shit!" she growls in a rather un-Sunguardly manner as she delivers a strong hit onto the imp.

<OOC> Aryia says, "the imp is going to try and cast a spell"
<OOC> Aryia says, "first, defenseive"
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+6+2: (18)+6+2: 26 
<OOC> Aryia says, "next, against grapple"
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+6+2: (18)+6+2: 26
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d3: (2): 2 (eeny meeny miny moe)
<OOC> Aryia says, "barc, will save. Enchantment compulsion mind effecting"
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Will+2: (8)+7+2: 17 (Saved vs Suggestion)

The imp squirms, and squabbles, and screeches as its carved into. It flails around, looking wildly as it sees: the wood shaper. "YOU! GET ME OUT OF HERE! NOW!" it demands, eyes shimmering purple for a moment as it beats its tiny fist against the lion's nose.

It's scorpion tail goes limp. "Aw Hells."

GAME: Barclaiigh rolls weapon7+2+1-1: (14)+6+2+1+-1: 22
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d6+4+3: (4)+4+3: 11

Starting to feel a bit like a fifth-wheel on date night, Barclaiigh makes an effort to pay more attention to the giant, angry feline than the banter between the two Myrrish refugees. His eyes cross for a moment when the imp's infernal magics was over him but they can't manage to pierce the mild hangover the Khazadi reveler is suffering through at the moment. His wide lips curl into an annoyed snarl and he stabs forward, the green runes flaring briefly as they find the imp. There's a shake to dislodge the body, dropping in between the lions paws.

"Cat's got a mean hungry on'm. Can't let'm git out to th'folks on th'street but it'd be nice if we didn't have to put'm down." The shaman glances back on the door hanging off its hinges and he sighs.

GAME: Dolan rolls weapon1-1+1: (16)+5+-1+1: 21
GAME: Dolan rolls 2d6+4+2: (5)+4+2: 11
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25
GAME: Aryia rolls 1d4+5: (4)+5: 9

"I think it's got bigger problems than me, Andie," Dolan raises his bloodied blade again to a guard position, both eyes this time on the lion as the imp dies in its claws. "Yes, that's where you need to go!" he shouts as it dies, but now he turns his attention to the lion. It's tasted blood, and he's expecting it to move on someone.

As it happens, that someone is him. It figures, and the readied blade is quicker. Blood flies in a split-second clash of steel and claws. "Agh! Damn it!" he shouts, reversing and readying for the next strike. "No can do!" he shouts at the ranger. "It's tasted blood now! Take it out before it eats someone!"

The lion, with its fresh kill, tilts its head back and snaps the imp up with one finishing bite as it quits squirming. It licks its chops, looking at the new meals delivered straight to it.

It roars, then goes for Dolan, taking a sword to its hide as it snaps at it. Swipes once with a paw, it crashing into a box nearby that spills out exotic textiles, then the final one catches him on his side and tears in.

The cheetah pouts in its cage, looking on with large eyes. It wants a snack too.

GAME: Andelena rolls weapon1-1+1: (17)+6+-1+1: 23
GAME: Andelena rolls damage1+2+2: aliased to 1d8+3+2+2: (6)+3+2+2: 13

"Not if I can fucking help it," Andelena growls with a ferocity to match the lion's own. She puts her blade to use and gives the lion an unfortunate wound necessary to save the life of her partner and her drinking buddy.

GAME: Barclaiigh rolls weapon7+1-4: (18)+6+1+-4: 21
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls 1d6+5: (4)+5: 9 (Nonlethal)

"Pspspsps," Barclaiigh attempts to draw the great cat's attention away from Dolan even as he bleeds profusely from his ear. "Got enough grumpy bears'n m'life right now. Don't need no man-eatin' felines."

He drops the tip of the spear low and lets the haft slide through his grasp, taking his two-handed grip low with hands together; like a club. "Sleepy kitty," he coaxes, swinging across and low-to-high to catch the lion on the jaw. There's a paused moment of teetering before the apex predator tumbles down to the ground in a heap.

"Ugh..." sighs the dwarf, falling against the damaged create with a sigh. "'think auntie can get these critters shipped home without too much trouble. Kegger Fest was good to us."

The once-caged lion's head whips skyward as the blunt end of the spear in a perfect goodnight whack. It staggers on its feet, steps forward, about to bite Dolan once more, but it comes out as a weak 'click' of its jaw, and it crumples into a heap on the floor.

There's some footsteps that come from the door, the Nar from before returning after having ran off to fetch some more of the Watch. The bullseye lantern sweeps about the warehouse, his brows furrowed as the other guards man the door. "Bloody hell, what is this...?" he comments, the beam of the hooded lantern wafting over the dead imp, the sleeping lion, and the party.

That buzzing sound hasn't abated in the slightest. In fact, it's grown more annoyed.

The cheetah looks at the imp body longingly... with a lick across its chops.

Dolan fairly slumps in relief when the beast goes down, but doesn't completely drop his guard, staring at it hard, his teeth gritted. "You've ... got to get that out of here," he nods down at the lion. "What's it doing here, anyway? And what is that buzzing?" He looks up and around, searching for its source, breathing hard even as the fire from the opened claw wound makes itself known along his left side. "Shit." He backpedals a step or two to let the guards look. "Imps. Who put them here? Why are they here? Bet me this is all illegal," he pauses to wince, "goods."

"Probably," Andelena says, her steel-gray eyes squinting as she looks around now that it's all much quieter. She keeps her sword and shield out, not quite trusting this is the last of their enemies. "Better question is, /where/ is that buzzing from?"

"He won't be out long," Barclaiigh sighs. The dwarf lets his spear fall to the ground and moves over to the lion, performing a quick once-over to make sure none of the wounds are bleeding overmuch. "It's dang obnoxious," he agrees on the topic of buzzing, busy walking around the great cat with his head cocked.

"I got somethin' t'calm the smaller cat but this needs doin', first."

"... might I could use a hand w'this..." The dwarfs wraps his hands around the feline's hind legs and starts to heave backwards, attempting to drag him back into his cage with a 'hnnnnnnnn!' He's burly and strong but it's an awkward load; it'll take a little bit of time.

The great cat needs a bit of patching up to cease the bleeding, but it's easy to do. A few of the Watch jog up to Barclaiigh to help move the lion back into its pen. "... how'd they fit this in 'ere?" one of them wonders as it looked like the dwarf had it handled, so they keep the cage open and the other moves limbs about to get it in.

An inspection around reveals the table has some notes and roughly drawn maps of the city, along with some X's in various places, mostly in back alleys. Though, there isn't any words aside from numbers in sections of the city. As well as '???' written in others.

The buzzing sound...

... is coming from the large crates. It's loud and agitated, but seems to be chilling out some as the violence in the room has all but ended.

The Nar Watchman pinches the bridge of his nose. "... we'll... get a report done..."

By the sound of that, he was the one who does all the reports.

"Right," Dolan still doesn't let down his guard stance until the kitty is safely locked back up and tended to. He lowers his blade, then, and looks around for something to clean the massive weapon on. He's moving with a hitch in his stride, and his left side is covered in blood, but eventually, he finds the map. "Hey, a map," he grits out. "Those fuckers," he growls. "A plan for release. What if those crates are those hellwasp things." Suddenly, he looks up and stares _hard_ at the crates. "Who the hell is bringing this in?"

"What's important is we stopped this," Andelena says, putting her hand on Dolan's shoulder. Her tone grows gentle and sympathetic. "We did /good/ today, Bry. And we need to get that man out of prison for giving us that tip."

Not quite done seeing to the animals, Bar stomps over towards the cheetah, collecting up the imp corpse and sifting through his pouches and pockets and finally finding one of those plump, juicy currants he always seems to have on hand. He shoves it into the imp's tiny mouth-- dressing it like a roast holiday pig-- and tosses it to the pacing cat. "Like sneakin' Porter some herbs when his tummies'a'grumbly affer gettin' in t'offal."

The shaman goes and picks up his staff, setting the butt to the ground as he nods agreement with Andelena. "Yah. He sure looked like he could use a hand."

"S'what I said before, Andie." Dolan looks up and backwards at the Sunguard, his grin at once predatory and pleased - and thoroughly displeased as well, somehow. "Yeah, we did, but we aren't done. That was one hell of a tip." He turns his head to watch the imp being fed to the cheetah. "Those fuckers can't stand against the both of us. Not with the Holy Knight at our backs."

The cheetah watches the wildman with wide, puppy-dog-but-deadly-cat eyes. It tippy taps its front paws as the imp body grows closer. And it pounces on it as it lands in its cage.

They must not have eaten for a couple of days.

The Watchman reporter joins Dolan at the table with the maps, his brows furrowed as he pulls out a clipboard. A pen scribbling some notes. "I'll send word to have him released. And I don't know who's been bringing in these wasps."

He slides on some reading glasses. "... but it seems they have a delayed shipment."

-End Scene-

Combatty

Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mst2e954ndm

===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     25   Cages               
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     23   Andelena         1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
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     14   Rat2?               
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     11   Barclaiigh       1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
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     9    Dolan            1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
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     5    Rat1?               
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 ==============================================================================