The show must go on part 2 - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/4/477
Log
After the initial commotion at Saint's Square and later on, the guard house, the group has picked u a few more folks, for their own reasons, as they speed onwards to the wayhouse by the gates in search of more clues as to what might have happened to the orchestra's instruments, priceless works of art worth thousands, if not tens of thousands of crowns. Clearly there has been foul play at work, for three wagon wheels were sawn partway through, causing a delay that forced them to stay the night outside the walls.
The wayhouse in question started off a small fortified tavern where those who found themselves stuck outside city gates after dark, with shadows all around, could find some semblance of safety, with food, drink and shelter a close second. Over the years, the compound has grown, an outer wall over the inner one, the addition of stabling and shedding for travellers' vehicles, more comfortable accommodation, and even a well. It's probably in one of the sheds that Zora's wagon train spent the night...
While taking a bite out of a conveinent biscuit stashed away for hungry times, Dio prepares to do the very same to CRIME. The lion joins the crime solving party, tower shield clanking across his back with each step while a hand steadily grips a dangerous spear. Looking at the other mystery solvers, the lion lowers his weapon. "Alright," he proudly proclaims. "So from what I've been told, we got some instrument stealers o' somethin'. Suppose we should start askin' aroun' a bit to see if anyone saw some suspicious activity?"
Glein would roll his eyes if he could, but just shakes his head instead. "We've apparently feline thieves in play. We're heading to this wayhouse to learn what we can about any possibily in the area." He says, bringing on hand behind him to make sure his weapons were 'ready' and that they wouldn't be difficult to get ahold of between the large pack on his back and the cloak covering both as well as himself.
Bite shakes her head to Dio and hisses "So to fill you in, the instruments were stolen. We asked what happened and apparently they had been late due to some sort of wheel issue, which convienently made them late for their appointed time in the gate, and forced them to stay outside the city. Some felines who apparently don't work at the wayhouse according to the guard helped them with their wagons and cargo, and today, when they arrived, the instruments were missing, one of the wagons was covered in dust and had an odd smell, the crates had excess glue on them, and the lovely swan is offering a reward for their return. Let's go find out about these felines, and how they managed to do this if they aren't supposed to be working, and find out who was supposed to be on duty?" The serpent stretches as she finishes explaining things and looks to the others before she proceeds onwards.
Cassidy tugs up her cowl, but not the mask, as she approaches the warehouse, wrinkling her nose. "I certainly want to get to the bottom of this, yes. Curiosity alone is killin' me!" She gives a polite nod to Dio as she eyes the place over. "Think we'll end up in a scuffle?"
A mumble, a flick of Flora's tails. She's moving along with the group and muttering softly while she looks over the group, offering a slight hiss in Dio's direction, before looking at the rest of the group. She's currently following the rest of the goup, her tails flicking again while she mulls over these facts in her mind.
The shed lies off to the wayhouse's side, and a frenzy of activity greets everyone as they step in: about four worried-looking beings poring over the various vehicles, boxes and barrels, sometimes opening one of the larger ones, clearly looking for something. The one nearest by the entrance, an otter, looks up as everyone arrives.
"More folk? We aren't up to putting away any wagons or carts for now - the boss, she has us looking for those who were supposed to be on shift last night. They just...vanished." She shakes her head. "They're good kids, wouldn't do that and why would one give up a steady job in these times? We're still looking over the place for them, but all this stuff is really heavy. Anyways, come back later if you need your cart put away properly or something, all right?"
While listening to the bits and pieces of information, Dio consumes the rest of his biscuit in a few short bites. "Thanks fer the explanation there. Some big bunch stealin' somethin' with that much value. I sure 'ope we don't end up in a tussle o' sorts, but if we do, it's best to be prepared. Criminals o' this type, ya can never be too sure ya know." Hearing a hiss in his direction, the lion scratches and tilts his head. "I ain't sure what problem ya got with me, lass. I always try to be nice to people an' such, an'... Ah well, suppose I did somethin' dumb, but we got a job to do."
Arriving at the shed along with the others, Dio peeks inside before heading on in, observing the hustle and bustle. "Sorry to barge in, but we're 'ere on an investigation o' sorts. It's possible that these missin' crew members are related to our thieves. On a hunch from what I've been told, perhaps our thieves knocked out the proper staff members an' hid 'em somewhere while they stole all those instruments. This may be a bit o' a strange question, but if ya were a criminal an' ya wanted to stash away some beings 'ere at the wayhouse, where do ya think ya'd put 'em so no one would see 'em?"
Unable to stop himself from groaning and facepalming, Glein sighes. Looking around, he sees that the whole yard's been torn up in movement while the workers tried to find their missing companions. There'd be little chance of finding any means to track their feline culprits, but if they could find the missing workers, they might be able to get some descriptions. "Could you describe them for us please? I think we might be able to help if we had some idea of what to look for." He offers, figuring they'd be more willing to help their investigation, if the group helped the worker's own.
Bite shakes her head and recants herself once more. "Sssweeties you don't have a group of cats working here at the wayhouse do you? They helped house important valuablle insturments and wagons for a performer who traveled a long way here from the north, and she's really upset. We need those instruments back. Do you by chance store spare wagons around here that might have been swapped for the real one, or perhaps someplace odd that they might have gathered dust and a peculiar smell?" she quizzes as she looks things over.
Cassidy frowns a little, folding her arms. "Missing? Yes, if you can tell us what they look like, I'd be happy to help look for them! I do hope nothing bad has happened... Usually when people vanish like that, it's not a good sign!"
Far behind the rest of the group is one of Flora's golems, a smaller, simpler model, keeping watch of everything in the area as per Flora's instructions.
The smaller feline is flicking her tail lightly, watching the happenings quizzically and mumbling. "Flora would like to know what these felinse looked like, and Flora would also like to know what the missing people looked like, yes," she mumbles, pulling out a sketchbook and a lump of charcoal.
The otter looks appropriately shocked at the idea of kidnapping, but thinks a moment. "Would probably stash them away somewhere in here, if you mean it that way...no end of places to hide folk in, and wouldn't want anyone to spot you dragging an out-cold fellow around, would you? They were mostly good 'uns, small folk as in mice and small birds, so could be in a corner, in one of the bins or barrels, although I hope that's not the case, then they'd suffocate...and as for a smell..." this one requires a little more thought. "A smell? Come to think of it, when we were passing by the side entrance on the way to the front, smelled something heavy an' sweet...like sugar water or sap, only more so. Was going to mention it to the boss, thought one of the stock might have sprung a leak, but got sidetracked when we realised them folk were missing..."
With that, she gives a brief description of the missing stevedores to Flora, enough to reliably draw a sketch by.
Dio listens to the otter and nods his head. "Yer right. No criminal worth their salt would create witnesses like that. But if they did want to move the bodies 'round, they could've used the barrels an' such 'ere to move 'em 'round the building. Perhaps if we can find a witness that saw a group o' felines movin' barrels an' such 'round, we might get a bit closer to our goal." Hearing another clue, the lion's ears perk up! "Could be just somethin' strange, but everythin' is worth investigatin'. I'll go check out that side entrance if ya don't mind. Hopefully some searchin' here will turn up yer missin' co-workers." With a small wave, Dio takes off towards the indicated side entrance to locate that mysterious smell.
Glein sighes, and shrugs. "I'll keep the lion from causing trouble. And who know, might need someone a little smaller than he is to check out something." He says, pointing at Dio, and following after.
Bite follows Dio hastily, summoning an elemental companion as she does so just in case things get bad. The elemental tails them but avoids getting close to things it shouldn't. The feline with the tower shield is followed rather closely, having proven their worth as a blockade in the past.
Cassidy tilts her head, shuffling back a few steps. "I'll keep my ears open. If you need any help, I'll come running! But you've got enough people going, so in the meantime I think I will remain here with the other employees and keep an eye out. Make sure nothing else happens over on this end. Let me know what you find out!"
Another flick of Flora's tails as she continues sketching, large enough to identify each being and smiling lightly. "Flora will be wandering around, yes, checking things out," she mumbles, sketchbook still out as she draws absolutely everything, and well, touches pretty much everything as well.
The golem follows along with her, and Flora continues her exploring post-haste.
Indeed, Dio's nose is true. With most everyone following the lion's feline sense of smell, save a few who stay behind with Cassidy, he leads them around the stalled carts and wagons to the side entrance that was mentioned. It hasn't been used in quite some time, the bar heavily set in place, and the goods that have been placed there are largely non-perishable.
As everyone approaches, the odd smell grows, and it's evident that many beings have been here quite recently - clean spots lie aplenty in the covered dust. Several newer barrels have been placed along the backs of a wall, their lids ajar, and the warehouse workers waste no time in running ahead and prying open the lids, revealing their missing colleagues - bound, gagged and dishevelled, but not seriously hurt.
"Aha!" Dio exclaims as he lifts the lid off one of the barrels, revealing a poor being inside. "Glad we found 'em this quickly. 'old on lads, we're 'ere to 'elp ya out." The lion removes one of the barrel bound beings and helps remove any gags or restraints. "Glad to know we ain't dealin' with the murderous type at least. Now then, any o' ya lads up to givin' us description o' whoever did this to ya? We're on an investigation to find a group o' felines that managed to steal some expensive instruments an' such."
Glein helps another, looking over what was used to bind and gag them. Looked to be the same sorts as used by the workers here. "Whoever did this used materials already here. They sought to keep their tracks as small as possible by using as little outside resources as possible." He says, undoing the bindings. "The binding method is similar to what some folks who deal with ropes would use in a quick but sturdy binding."
Bite sees that the victims are well at hand, and instead examines the surrounding area for all these mystereous clean spots of dust. She searches for clues, keeping an eye out in case someone doesn't like that hey're looking around at all. "Well tracks, but I can't tell exactly how many. There's hair here too!" she hisses and giggles. This wasn't unexpected.
Cassidy idly tugs at her bowstring, glancing around. "Did you guys find anything back there," she calls out. Her eyes flit towards Flora for a moment as the feline wanders off before making her own way towards the group, having decided that her side of the building was quiet enough.
Flora mumbles softly as she methodically wanders the different hallways, questioning absolutely everyone on the things they've seen, whether there were odd things, and if they have any further information. On the whole, the feline is both listening to the answers, looking for tells, and of course, letting the golem accompanying her force smoke from its maw, to add a little more 'persuasion' to her questions if anyone decides to withold information she could use.
The freed workers are more than happy to recount their tale to Flora - apparently, they'd been lazing about on the night shift, playing cards due to there being nothing to do when suddenly everyone suddenly felt very sleepy...not all of them went out at the same time, though, and one of the smaller mice is able to give a description, albeit a bit fuzzy, of three cats he managed to catch glimpses of in brief flashes of lucidity between being manhandled about like a sack of potatoes. "They were wearing clothes like us, ma'am, but didn't wear them like they were used to them, if you know what I mean. Look a bit like you too, if you don't mind me saying so, something in the shape of the face. Next thing I knew, I was in that bin - dunno for how long, since I couldn't see the light of day."
"Wait," the otter practically squeals. "Those folk that you mentioned - they left just before you lot -" she points at the group - "turned up! Fancy folk with a fine wagon, were heading west along the main road away from the city...did seem weighed down, but didn't think they were up to anything until you lot came running...
Think you might be able to catch up with them, if I lend you the cart we use for making trips into town...maybe you can catch up with them, since they were really bogged down. If yer right and word gets out this kinda heist happened here, we're gonna be ruined."
More clues, and now they were even closer to the truth. When one of the workers comments about Flora's face, he looks at her for a few moments, recalling the recent talk about her recent noble appointment. Connection? Perhaps, but the only thing that matters is catching them! "Thank ya all fer yer information, but we got some thieves to catch!" The lion exclaims, banging the base of his spear against the ground. "Prepare that cart. Let's get goin' before they get too far."
Stepping out of the room, Glein looks around. "Did you see which direction they were headed? Would definitely give us a chance to catch them before they get too far, and less likely for them to ditch teh goods, or worse, transfer it to another wagon." He says, pulling out the pistol and checking the powder to make sure it was ready to be lit, and that his sword was ready to be pulled out as needed.
Bite nods and awaits the wagon to ake them out west. She stretches and giggles as she does so. "We'll bring them back if they're weighed down sssweetie, let's go!" she hisses enthusiastically, altering her soul gems a tiny bit.
Cassidy tilts her head back, stifling a yawn with her hand as she listens to the recount of the recently-found and freed beings, a slight frown tugging at her lips. "Looks like we're finally getting to go on the hunt proper like, perhaps?" she asks, noticing Glein's preparations. "Because I could use something like that to get the blood pumping."
A nod, a flick of Flora's tails as she sketches the felines out, making sure it's all properly sketched out, before climbing onto the back of her quadrupedal golem. "Flora will be traveling like this... It's not Tigris, but it's almost as fast, yes," she mumbles, stowing the comment about her face away in her mind and rumbling. "Flora will be on her way, yes," she growls, rumbling towards the unnamed golem momentarily to have it quickly dashing off. So that's what the leather pad on its back was for.
Like Cassidy said, it seems like the hunt is on. Creators know what held back the thieves from making off with their precious ill-gotten gains immediately after the deed, but good thing they did. Everyone piles into the cart - save Flora on her riding golem, of course - runes start to glow as air magics set the wheels to turning, and everyone's off on the hunt.
It's a good thirty minutes of speeding down the main highway away from Firmament, with the road being reasonably clear - the straight, unobstructed view of the paved highway allows one a good view down the farming plains to the west of Firmament, and the few other vehicles, be they beast drawn or magically driven, give the chase a wide berth. After about twenty minutes, what seems like a wagon fitting the wayhouse workers' descriptions draws into view on the horizon, still a distance away from the bulk of the pursuers.
A low growl leaves Flora's muzzle as she rummages through a sidebag. Like always, she's come prepared, and she carefully pulls out her invention, tapping the runes to get a somewhat clear image of the cart. Muskets. The felines carry muskets. Curses!
Soon enough, she steers her golem /around/ the cart, forcing it into a dash to try and overtake it without getting into firing-range. At least, not yet.
Spotting what could be the cart, Dio gets out his tower shield and holds it out in front of him. After all, it's doubtful criminals with such a large score would go down without some sort of fight.
Glein makes sure to hang from the rear of the cart, figuring while whoever was handling it focused on the OBVIOUS threats, he could climb aboard, and get them from where they were vulnerable. It wasn't the best plan, but if he could work it right, he might be able to manipulate the situation to their advantage. He wouldn't try damaging their wheels, not at these speeds, but he could hopefully figure out something.
Bite moves behind Dio as he raise his shield, peeking once or twice before she works up some fire magics, attempting to focus on their mathemagic powered mechanisms. A liil unexpectedly the front of the wagon explodes, the serpent giggling until the contents start spilling out. They don't stop but they're probably not going much further.
Cassidy unslings her longbow, tugging up her mask as she reaches for an arrow, setting it in her windmagical weapon, but not yet drawing. "What do you think the odds are they will surrender peacefully?" she murmurs, already knowing the answer is likely 'slim' at best. Then Bite does the thing with the explosives, and she's pretty sure that it's right out, anyway. "Well then. Might need a few more arrows..."
Indeed, the cats in the wagon react quite adroitly to the situation, loosing off a volley of shots at the group's cart that mostly ping off Dio's tower shield. As soon as Flora appears on the scene, though, a vaguely frustrated yowl resounds from within, and the thieving felines pull out smaller pistol sidearms and aim for the tigress, the precious antique cargo clearly coming second to this new objective. Lead shot whistles by, missing Flora narrowly, and the rogues take up defensive positions about the cargo in their slowing vehicle.
Dio holds his shield strong and steady, especially trying to shield Bite to the best of his abilities. And considering the loud clinking noises pummeling his tower shield, it seems to be working quite well. "Good job, lass! Now let's disarm 'em." The lion lets out a small invigorating roar before running a few calculations in his head that are quite common when it comes to air magic and flight. Spotting a poor feline foe, the lion takes a flying leap with his shield out in front of him, intending to dive in and deliver a mighty blunt force upon his body with his defensive tool.
Well that caused all kinds of trouble. Still, dropping off their wagon, Glein figured he could go around the now damaged wagon and get the felines from behind. Who knew, he might even manage to grab one and convince his buddies to drop their weapons and surrender. Just a matter pulling off the sneak.
Bite lost her cover! She acts quickly, eyeing one of the beings behind cover and, focusing some earth magics, she brings the ground upward to meet them, rather abruptly and with a point. The spire cracks through the wagons bottom and makes its way towards the lower half of some unfortunate possibly longtail bandit, making sure to avoid the cargo as this could be messy.
Cassidy shakes her head and does indeed pull several more arrows from her quiver before turning her magical bow skyward. She takes a brief moment to align her trajectory before letting off several of ther arrows in rapid succession, intent on letting them fall down upon the aggressors from above.
Flora takes a moment to steer the golem out of range, before taking out her Dark Magician soulgem and swapping the gems around. Taking the minute to have her knowledge re-align itself, she dashes inwards, intent on reaching the cart and jumping atop it. During the charge, and with some effort, she manages to work on her grasper onto her right arm, intent on jumping up on the cart and using one of the felines as a human shield for the time being. A glance at the arrows, and a quick set of instructions to the golem to incinerate any arrows that threaten to hit her, before she tries to execute her plan, having worked over all the variables in her mind. Worst case scenario, she broke a leg and was shot. Best case scenario, her plan succeeds.
Glein moved quietly up to the back of the damaged wagon, and taking a quick breath, pulled his hood on over his head. drawing his blade and pistol, and slipped around the wagon away from teh majority of the group, and stalked to the end of the wagon, glancing for hte closest target that didn't appear to be engaged. With quick sure steps, he grabbed ahold of the feline, he'd looked like he'd tried to avoid the spike that'd erupted amongst them, a firm grip across their upper body, locking their arms to their sides, and hte blade resting against his neck. "I'd suggest you not try to struggle friend. Blood makes for a terrible mess to clean up." He states, before glancing under teh cowl of his hood at the rest of the fight.
The plan works! Hastily put together, but nevertheless, it works. The relentless assault by everyone and sneak attack by Glein overwhelms the cat bandits' - if you can consider such impeccably-dressed beings bandits - defences, and the remaining ones still able to fight back reluctantly drop their weapons and surrender. The jig, as the proverb says, is up. All that remains is for these ruffians to be taken in, the goods checked for damage and returned to their proper owner, and the few remaining blips smoothed out...unless anyone has anything to say...
"Why?" Flora growls to the feline whose neck her grasper is placed at, even as a pistol remains pointed at another. "Speak, and Flora might spare you," she growls, her eyes turning black... Sure, she doesn't have any actual spells on hand, but she's managed to figure out how to fake the effect well enough.
Her grasper is pricking just lightly in the feline's neck, leaving three small specks of blood behind, though not leaving him seriously harmed... Yet.
One of the felines speaks, coughing up a little blood. "Then we have a message from you from up in the Organisation. You are a threat. A danger to the existing hierarchy. The way we do things and are comfortable with. Hence, you must be persuaded, and if not, dealt with. It is unlikely, with your proclamation, that you will let yourself be persuaded. All this? It was just to raise money, a little extra liquidity to help snuff you out. you aren't even worth taking money away from the main coffers to deal with, upstart. Go on, kill me. I'm a wanted criminal. We're all wanted criminals, for bein born who we are. No one will look at a Longtail twice, let alone take them on as an apprentice, or do business with them. You think the Good King's word is worth spi-" she settles down in another fit of coughing.
Glein watches teh whole scene, and sighes. Turning to Flora, he shrugs. "Sounds like you need to get information, and doing it yourself is to risk being murdered." He says, looking over at teh three felines that'd been captured. "I'd be willing to offer up my services."
Dio looks down at the feline he had smashed down with his shield, crouching over his body for a moment to examine his features. "Interestin' bunch o' criminals," he comments idly, giving his shoulders a good roll or two before returning the shield to his backside. The lion listens to the exchange between Flora and the feline curiously before eventually chiming in. "Ya will get a proper trial an' an appropriate sentence like everyone else. I see the new noble lass 'as quite a bit o' trouble on 'er hands. I know ya don't like me o' somethin', but if it's worth somethin', I'll 'elp ya out if any o' the old Longtails give ya trouble. 'til then, let's get these instruments back an' make sure we've rounded up the criminals."
Bite hisses a little bit of discontent as the Longtail threatens Flora, thinking a moment. "Well sssweetie I think you should collect them all and take them in. I would love to help you too, if you need it, but maybe you should be careful and de-root the... problems?"
A low growl, a rumble, a hiss. "Flora will make this perfectly clear. Any Longtail wishing to stop their business in the underworld can make a claim to the name, merely by speaking to Flora. Any Longtail that chooses not to will lose their claim to the name," She growls, before releasing the male and kicking him down. It looks like she's about to walk away, until suddenly, she shoots the female in the shoulder. "Let this be a warning to all of you. You have lost your claim to the name. And you two? Does anyone else feel like testing Flora, or have you changed your minds?" she growls, casting her still-blackened eyes to the other two before rolling her shoulders and turning to Dio! and Glein. "Flora will... Consider it. Perhaps mister lion might be able to get a job as LongTech security, but that's a consideration for later, yes. For now, Flora will be heading off to tend to the developments at LongTech."
"Of course, if mister lion works for LongTech, Flora expects him to... Clean himself better," she mumbles, moving to stand upwind, relative to Dio.
The shot female flinches and staggers from the pain, her arm dangling uselessly from its socket. All three of them say nothing as the other two help her to her feet to be led away, although they shoot Flora - and everyone else, for that matter - pure gazes of intense hatred. They clearly don't trust Flora at her words - but when one lives in lies all the time, one starts seeing them everywhere, whether they exist or not. There's nothing left now, but to have all this cleared up and the instruments, hopefully not too badly damaged, returned to the diva and her troupe.
