Roated Porcupine with a side of surprise - RPLOG

Participants

• Angus
• Arimia
• Dio
• Meyna
• Sveta

Date

13/8/476

Log

Mange square was...deserted, well. Of its inhabitants at least, at least a dozen beings wearing the offical seal of the Sweetwater military were combing through the streets. Turning over carts, poking through haybails, all in search of one beings. They had been at it for hours now, but they couldn't stop. Not while he was still on the loose. Standing rather idly off to the side was a Gecko, leaning on his spear as he takes a break and starts scratching at his cheek.

With a lovely hand crossbow strapped to his arm, in case of emergency of course, Dio strides into the mange square after hearing tell of a murderer on the loose. He takes note of all the guards, wondering just where the killer could've gotten off to. Perhaps instead of hiding, he could be in plain sight! Noticing someone not doing a whole lot, Dio waves to the gecko and approaches him with a smile. "'ello lad," he says, trying to get his attention. "Strange business goin' on I 'ear?"

Sveta has arrived in response to the call put forth, having had the luck to just have today off. She gives Dio a slightly deeper bob of her head as usual as she approaches the gecko, who looks the best to ask - what with being mostly inactive being in this mess of activity. "Oh, hello Dio. And yes. What's all this business about a murderer?" She looks about. "Must be a pretty important fellow, by the looks of it."

Meyna is standing off to the side, watching the proceeds. She slowly creeps forward, nearing one of the guards, hands away from her paired pistols. "Uh, hi, hello there. You guys, uh, looking for someone or did someone lose a monocle? If it's someone gone, is there a reward?" she's trying not to make it as obvious. For once.

Arimia makes her way through the square, scowl on her features. She looks around then makes her way over to Meyna. When she speaks she does so loud enough that the various military folk can easily overhear. "They're lookin' for an' escaped prisoner. So yeah, there's a reward. But they're goin' about it in the most stupid way possible. They ain't ever gonna find him this way. Mange square has too many places to hide, an' ain't nobody here that willin' to talk to officials 'bout such things."

The bored Gecko nearly jumps as both Dio and Sveta greet him, and he lifts his helmet to give them a grim look. "A'yep, Seems that a rather deranged killer got away from the guard. A porcupine going by the name of Klaus....hold on." He fiddles with his spear, switching it over to his left hand so he can dig into his pocket and pull out a folded piece of paper. "Aahhhh lets see, from what we know he's a skinny little bastard who's a little above average height. Wanted for eight counts of murder, twelve counts of Theivery, six counts of Arson, and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder." He shivers a little bit as he puts the paper away. "The guy targets felines, doesn't care for gender or age." He shrugs, and looks to Sveta and Dio. "Still up for this?" The rest of the guard turns to look at Arimia and Meyna, giving them a glare before a few go back to work. "What, are you saying you can do better?" Comments a rather young looking bull, his horns still not yet to full size as he glares at the Raccoon.

"Good afternoon lass," Dio returns after Sveta addresses him. "An' you two as well." After giving the two new arrivals a wave, he returns his focus back to the gecko, listening intently at the grizzly information. "Felines?" The lion looks at himself, and then at Meyna. "But what kind of..." The smile he wore began to vanish, now becoming rather serious for the typically silly lion. "Alright, I won' let his murder count go one higher! Let's get to searchin' an all that!" Dio slams his fist into his other open palm, looking vibrant and alive as ever, a fiery whirlwind of emotion and pure passion!

Sveta ignores the byplay, although she acknowledges Meyna and Arimia's presence with a small nod. She's here to do a job, after all, but..."So, up to it, my dear Lion of Great...something or the other? I take it you're not unfamiliar with people trying to kill you, so you shouldn't be worried, right?" Well, he definitely doesn't seem worried, and she turns to the gecko. "Well, it's unfortunate you don't have a drawing. How did he escape? I take it he was last seen around here, because that's where you're looking, but how long ago was it? Anything would help."

Meyna begins laughing and says, "Oh I /know/ we could do better, we don't trample the scene and we don't chase off witnesses or leads. You head cases ever think of securing exits and hiring the sort that think hunting another down's a good line of work?" She taps her boot against the pavement and adds, "Besides, it sounds like I'm the perfect bait. And we've even got another over there, he even comes with a self defense mechanism."

Arimia looks over at the bull, and then rather obviously dismisses him as being entirely unimportant and unthreatening. "'Course we can. We ain't doin' stupid things like searchin' through hay stacks an' lookin' under carts. See, if I were gonna go to ground an' hide in mage square I'd pick an abandoned buildin'. Or better, one that ain't abandoned but has got another way in. So the folk who live there or work there don' even know I'm hidin' there. That way they won't be lyin' when they say it's jus' them in there." She glances around and says, "But all these uniforms are jus' gonna make him' keep on hidin' in the place he is, where you obviously haven't thought to look. So clear 'em out."

The Bull snorts, before turning around and moving back to the others who have stopped searching to stare at the new comers. "Well, that's why we asked for Freeswords isn't it?" The Gecko asks, turning to look at his comrades before turning back and nodding to Dio and Sveta. "He was released on parole before we could get any evidence on him, so the higher ups are thinking that someone tampered with the records. As for anything that could help, well. We think he has a grudge against the longtails, and we know that he has someone working with him. Just don't know who." He turns to eye Meyna and shrugs. "You'll all be compensated for your work, or we wouldn't of even have called you guys. Now, I believe that the coon is right, time for us to leave boys." Turning around he barks a few orders, and the rest of the guard starts clearing out. Letting the group start their own investigation and deal with it.

"You bet I'm up to is, lass!" To show off his bravado and spirit, Dio brings an arm to the opposite elbow, using it to help better display his power in a mighty flex! "But as some of the lasses 'ad said, we're not gonna go findin' a criminal in hay stacks, that's fer sure." After watching the guards depart and listening to the additional information, he begins rubbing at his chin, thinking idly in thought. "Not a big fan of the Longtails is he? I wonder if I could pose as one! Though, I don't know too much 'bout 'em. Perhaps we could lead 'em into a trap of sorts with tale of a longtail out 'n' about."

Sveta looks at Meyna and Arimia and gives the both of them a nod. "Both of you clearly have more experience in this sort of situation, so I'll defer to you on this. And Dio...that's very enthusiastic of you to help out that way, but there are practically thousands of felines in the city and its environs, we still don't know where he is, and there's no reason for him to go specifically after you. But I'm open to what the experts have to say on the matter."

Meyna makes a rude gesture at the bull and mutters, "Trumped up fancy lad" mostly to herself as she looks around for a place to climb up to get a better look at the situation. Whether she finds it or not, she calls out to Arimia, "Who the 'ell'd have a chase after that family? This guy some Sweetwater fanatic, someone that was pushed out when they picked up his business or is he just touched in the head like that one woman?" While looking around, she then calls over to the guard, "Hey you, biggun! You lot found any fresh bodies, naked-like? Or did you at least make sure you checked everyone when you cleared this area out?" She smiles to Sveta after and adds, "We'll wing it for now, this lot here's thrown it all out before we got here, so it'll be harder. Maybe I should set up a bounty office, make it easier to get everythi-... anyway!"

Arimia flicks an ear and looks around. "He ain't gonna be out in the open. Let's see if anyone saw him." She inspects the various buildings then makes her way over to one with a mark on the doorframe. She knocks on the door and calls out, "Oi! Uncle! Hate to bother you, but we're lookin' for a hedgehog who took a hike. Guy ain't a cull. He's used up a few folk, which is bad for business. We'd appreciate it if you could tell us anything."

"No bodies at all, and we made sure to check everyone that left. He's still here somewhere." One of the guards shouts out as he is leaving, muttering something about crazies as he goes. The door opens when Arimia knocks, and the scarred up muzzle of a rat appears as he looks her over. He eyes her for a few seconds, and then speaks in a rough tone. "Saw a hedgehog heading towards the warehouse down the street. Might be the one your looking for." He eyes the rest of the group, before the door shuts just as quickly as it was opened.

"I'd 'appily take the job of bein' a false Longtail," he says, tucking at his rather expensive looking coat, despite the figure of the person wearing it. "But perhaps I wouldn't fit the part too well. We'll just 'ave to figure it out." As Arimia knocks on the door and asks a few strange questions he didn't quite understand, he gets a little closer, nodding as the information passes into his leonine ears. "A warehouse ya say..." The lion looks down the street, beginning to ponder and think. "We should check it out, certainly. But if we all go in one blob, he might get spooked a little."

"Dio, the way your coat is what with the holes and all, you might have been anyone who just picked one up and out of the gutter. Or it wouldn't matter if we weren't seen in the first place, or might make us easier targets to be picked off. Maybe we should go in pairs? But then, I'll listen to what the experts have to say." Sveta thumbs down the street at the warehouse. "Best to scout out the place first from a safe distance, I think."

Meyna calls down, "I'll do the fake Longtail thing if we can't possibly find one to bribe to do it. I mean, it can't be that hard, moon the Good King and shout some jingo." Then she hops down from her perch and says, "Hey Arimia, how do we want to do this, going into the warehouse would be stupid without.. more than we've got here and burning it down and waiting at a door's not an option." She snaps her fingers, then begins laughing, "Hey, your shop, it's got those chemical barrels right? Got any large quantities of sulfer lying around? Let's just roll a few in and use air magic to circulate it around the warehouse."

Arimia makes a face and shrugs her shoulders. "I was thinkin' either present a couple felines for him to go after, or to show up as workers in the warehouse an' search that way." She frowns, flicking her banded tail and says, "We may have some sulfer in there. I don' know. I don' use that stuff myself. Ain't much need for it with my golems. Selena or Sierra may have some though."

The warehouse in question was big, but had fallen on hard times if the hole in the roof could speak for it. One of the front doors were open a crack, allowing a glimpse of crates inside. And a slight flicker of movment in the shadows...

"What 're ya talkin' about, lass?" Dio tugs a little at his coat before turning around and presenting the rear. "Don't ya remember from when ya... Forcefully and violently bathed me? I got my coat fixed 'n' repaired!" With a quick glance at his coat, it would certainly appear that the previous holes that had formed due to recent adventures have been patched quite well, thanks to the handiwork of a tailor. "Well, ya can do it the violent way, the sneaky way, 'r the tricky bait way. I can even take the feline lass 'ere on a little date to the warehouse 'n' maybe drag 'em out. Let's get goin' soon."

"Pardon me, my dear lion of recently-repaired coats. A lapse of memory on my part." Sveta steps back and considers the warehouse, than turns to Meyna and Arimia. "Well, how do you suggest we do this? Anything you need done...just say the word."

Meyna crosses her legs and leans against the wall and says, "Well, it was more of a joke than anything. It works in smaller places, but that warehouse, it'd be a nuisance. I think going in after him would just let him slip free. Splitting up would be stupid on a few levels. Could boobytrap the exits, keep someone on the roof with a bow or musket to shoot at him if he exposes himself and try to flush him out?"

Arimia frowns and looks toward the warehouse. "Could try an' flush him out. Have those guards over there go in the back with us watchin' the front an' sides." She shrugs her shoulders and says, "I'm used to it bein' jus' me. I'd sneak in, find him, an' knock him out."

The Guards that Arimia spoke of were just idlying about, the same Gecko from before staring down at a Rabbit as he picks his teeth. "Ya, we could help if ya needed us." He comments, looking over at Arimia before he just shrugs and goes back to being bored.

"It's alright lass, I ferget things all the time!" Dio begins to chuckle at the little jab and looks around to the others. "Well when ya lasses agree on a plan, I'm good to do. I'll do anythin' to catch that killer."

"If I may, then..." Sveta quickly sketches out a plan involving sealing all the doors save one with earth magic, lighting a bonfire at the last one and using wind magic to send the resulting smoke in and flush out the hedgehog. "He's not likely to head towards the source of the smoke, so that means he'll likely follow the smoke out onto the roof, where everyone should be covering. If he does head out the door I'll drop the spell and stall him long enough for everyone to arrive. Does that sound good? I can handle the bonfire and circulating the smoke, but someone else will probably need to seal the doors and maintain the spell while I work."

Meyna rolls her shoulders and sighs, watching the building quietly before she says, Want me at the door or would you like me up topside? Either way, I'll do what I can for you."

Arimia flicks her ears and starts to move toward the building. "I'll be up on the roof then. I ain't as good with earth magic. I'll leave that to someone else." Once she reaches the building she looks the side over then starts to climb, the metal claws of her right arm leaving marks on the side.

The Gecko blinks, watching the group as he smiles. "ten crowns say he doesn't even make it out of the warehouse." The Rabbit comments, eyeing Arimia as she climbs up the side of the Warehouse. "...twenty crowns bets your wrong." Is the only response, the gecko pulling down his helmet to cover his eyes.

Dio listens intently to Sveta's plan, nodding and finding himself quite excited by the concept. "How interestin'," he comments. "Smokin' 'em out, eh? I like it. The only problem is that we don' even know he's REALLY in there. At least this method is mostly non-lethal." The lion looks back at the warehouse, checking his hand crossbow, making sure he has a bolt prepared and ready to go. "I remember a bein' taught me a little earth magic. Some basics. An if that don' work, then I'll just block it with my body. I suppose the other feline lass will be guardin' the unsealed door. Let's get goin'."

Sveta looks around. Seems like no one's willing to take up the jobs. The goshawk fiddles with her soul gems first putting up the barriers over the doors before hailing the two guards. "I need one of you to help me gather materials for the bonfire. Anything that'll produce plenty of smoke'll do, we'll smoke the fellow out like bees in a hive, rats in a hole, what have you. Build it some distance away in the street, we don't want anything catching fire by accident. The other can follow everyone up and help cover the roof. Give me a moment, and I'll help you." It isn't too long before some trash is scrounged up - this is Mange Square, after all - and positively foul-smelling smoke begins to rise from the mess of old rags, rotting boards, and all other manner of trash. Focusing a moment, Sveta directs the smoke into the warehouse.

Meyna cracks her knuckles as she waits for the foul smoke to waft through the building. She's wearing a cloth mask of her own at the moment, keeping the smell out and maybe setting up things for later for her at this point.

Arimia reaches the roof and tugs her cloak around her, though keeping a bit away from the hole for the moment. She fishes under her cloak and pulls out a long, carved bone. One which she bends and tugs a bowstring onto. Holding the bone curve of the bow in her right hand she places an arrow against the string with her left before moving to lie down near the hole so she can peek in and see. At least until the smoke clouds her view.