The monster dodges some of Dora’s lightning. Dani misses, but Jack makes a studied strike and Edison wallops it with a hammer blow! Dazed but not confused, the creature swings its tail at Edison’s legs, knocking him down, then chews on him with its mandibles!
"Edison, careful!" she shouts, clearly too late.
{A,A}
"This just isn't working!" she says in exasperation.
With the monster distracted Doctor Maturin sidesteps around the creature and strikes hard at its back legs!
Dora zaps the monster again, and Jack thwacks its legs with the sheath of his sword cane. Another blow from Edison is enough to knock the creature out!
The blacksmith, Parva, looks around with sorrow at the destruction to his inventory. "This is a disaster! But I am deeply grateful for your intervention," he says. "Whatever gear you want, it's yours."
"Wow, that's generous of you. We'll certainly take you up on that offer!" Dani responds quickly before someone says they weren't interested.
She makes her way over to Edison to try and help him out. "Hey. That looks pretty terrible. Let me see if I remember how to do this." She pulls a salve out of her pack and tries to help ease the man's pain.
"There is no way that all of these animals just escaped unless the zoo were negligent in their duties. We need a plan before attempting to confine the animal in the greengrocer's shop, because our current plan just isn't working well for us." She pauses for a second, evaluating the situation, "Or Edison, in particular actually. In any case, we need a plan before someone is hurt beyond repair."
Edison is still staggered from the fight, but comes to himself as he wounds are being treated.
"Ah, thank you Agent Folsamir."
He looks at the smith, "As for your offer, you might call them 'Monkey's fists' in the fashion of actual fists, mind you. With this symbol engraved on them. Do you understand? Thank you."
Then he begins to dust off his plain grey uniform.
"Thank you Mr Parva, we will doubtless take you up on that once we have the time to consider the situation properly." The Doctor replies, before summoning the hapless zoo workers to deal with the creature and receive another stern talking to.
That done he turns to his fellows and sets to work on their injuries.
He occasionally winces at the sounds coming from next door, but medicine takes time when done well, and should never be done badly!
"You are quite right Dora. Edison, perhaps you should borrow a shield from Mr Parva here? You are the strongest of us so it makes sense that you lead. Dani, we will need your encouragement but some more practical contributions would be useful if you have them. I am by no means an expert fighter. Dora, keep doing what you're doing. The quicker we put this thing down the better."
"Well now, to the green grocer. And I thoroughly agree that someone is due a proper lashing for their negligence. Agent Morilla, your suggestion on a plan?"
Edison walks out towards the grocer.
"Oh, no," Dora says hastily, "I dont think a proper lashing is the way to go!" She is clearly taken aback by Edison's exuberance at physical retribution. "I think just a fine or other form of warning may be in order. We will need to check back for the proper way to deal with this situation with the lieutenant when we return."
"I honestly don't have much of a suggestion, it is why I asked. I don't have much experience of rampaging animals! I think Dr Maturin is right, perhaps we could just borrow a shield to help you for a little and maybe now Dani is feeling a bit better, she could step in to help you and the Doctor?" she says, echoing the Doctor's suggestions.
Once you are ready, you head into the greengrocer. The inside of this greengrocer’s shop is a mess of smashed fruit and spilled vegetables, with overturned bins and shelves scattered across the floor. A counter runs across the south end of the shop, guarding a narrow door to a back room. On the north side of the space, a huge shaggy beast with a cruelly hooked beak tears apart a display of cabbages.
The door cracks open and an elven woman pokes her head out. ”No! My cabbages! Officers, help! Get me out of here! And save my cabbages!”
The beast growls and turns towards you, beady eyes glinting with malice!
It lets loose a bloodcurdling screech as it advances, pecking at Edison with its beak!
Success The creature is frightened 1.
Failure The creature is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The creature is fleeing for 1 round and frightened 3.
Dora recoils and covers her ears quickly, blocking out the bloodcurdling screech.
"Get back in that room and close the door please Ma'am." Dora calls across the room whilst aiming another arc of electricity between Jack and Edison.
The Doctor winces at the sheer volume of the thing and tries to come up with a plan now that Edison is on the floor... again...
The best thing he can come up with is to get the man standing again!
That strategy is very successful!
Dani gets only one step forward before the bloodcurdling screech reaches her ears. Once it does, panic sets in and she turns on her heel and begins to run away in the opposite direction, screaming in fear.
Edison joins Dani in fleeing in terror. The owlbear dodges some of Dora’s lightning blast, then moves up to Jack, raking him with a talon.
After fleeing at top speed for a few seconds, Dani slows down and looks back over her shoulder frowning. What was that?! she wonders to herself, trying to shake it off. She doubles back, starting to inspire her allies along the way to try and make it over the fact that she's terrified of that thing.
The doctor collapses to the floor.
Dora drags Jack out of the shop and close the doors as Dani and Edison come running back. You can hear the beast growling and hooting inside the shop, but it does not attempt to pursue you. You've earned a respite for now to heal up and prepare to try again--or perhaps return to headquarters and seek back-up...
"Dani, Edison, where did you go?! Jack's unconscious, can either of you help? That thing is still in there and the shopkeeper is still trapped!" she calls in a garbled fashion.
When Edison applies his healing hands the Doctor sits up and checks himself for injuries. "Thank you Edison. Who else needs my attention?"
"So. We could fall back and request backup but leaving this creature inside longer seems like an unwise idea. I do have some more 'quick and dirty' methods I could try to patch you up Edison, if we intend to re assault the creature at once."
"We absolutely need to help this woman, we can't just leave here there - I worry that the beast could break through the door protecting her if it realises. What are these quick and dirty methods Doctor?"
The Doctor produces a thin root from a pocket and shows it to Dora. "Chewing this will produce a strong sense of euphoria and dull all but the worst pain. The problem is that taking more than a single dose too quickly may cause seizures. Once one has taken that then I can suture wounds and so forth without causing undue pain. So a quick method, but not one I would want to use often."
Dani returns, embarassed about her earlier stint with running away. She slumps her shoulders and says meekly "Sorry about that, I don't know what came over me. I'm glad everyone is alright."
When discussion on what to do moving forward is raised, she agrees with Dora. "We need to help her, I do not think we can afford to leave and come back or wait for additional assistance."
She scratches her head and says "If I can get a look at it again, perhaps I can use some magic to try and weaken it."
To Jack she explains "Also, Doctor, in addition to being trained in medicine, I have magical means to grace the someone's mind and provide magical healing if need be."
"Dani, I think we may need to conserve any magical means you have to deal with this monstrous beast and instead use the Doctor's refined skills to heal Edison? Perhaps waiting 30 minutes wouldn't be too bad to help him further, certainly quicker than getting back up at least. It would be especially good if we could get a message to the shopkeeper through a window or some such to hold tight." Dora says, managing a smile.
"Doctor, I think I may have something to help focus your mind to help you heal Edison successfully, it only lasts a very short while so please tell me when you think it most appropriate."
She takes a moment to think about the next step, considering all the possibilities.
"I concur with you about trying to weaken it Dani - do you want to have another look at it through the door? I could always stand behind you to help as well?" she replies to Dani, concurring.
You wait a bit longer for the effects of Jack's spot treatment of Edison to wear off. At last, you prepare to try again. Opening the door, you can see even more of the produce has been devoured by the hungry owlbear, and the elven proprietor weeps from behind the closed door. The beast turns towards you, angered by your second interruption!
Again, the owlbear lets out a bloodcurdling screech and rushes at Edison! This time, the champion remembers to keep his shield raised, blocking some of the blow.
Success The creature is frightened 1.
Failure The creature is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The creature is fleeing for 1 round and frightened 3.
Dora feels sick to her stomach with fear from the blood-curdling scream but stands her ground, albeit shakily, attempting to shock it.
This time the Doctor is prepared for the sheer noise of the owlbear and shakes the effects off more quickly. He considers the position, attempting to devise a stratagem.
As the plan forms in his mind the Doctor shoves his white root into Edison's hand and strides behind the owlbear, before striking at its legs with brutal efficiency.
When the screech comes, she instinctively turns to run again, but this time she fights through it and manages to hold her ground. Though still frightened, she plays her music to inspire her allies before picking up a broken piece of a table and using her magic to slam it into the owlbear.
This time, all of your attacks hit the owlbear. It still stands through, and with a growl, it shatters Edison’s shield and grabs hold of him. It gnaws on him with its beak, tearing at his guts, then drops the dying champion to the floor!
Dora takes aim and tries to zap the owlbear again, trying to get the creature's attention away from Edison.
With no way to stablise the dying man the Doctor considers an attack strategy but comes up short, instead he hurries to Edison's side and pulls the man out of the owlbears reach.
"Do what you can Dani!" He commands before setting himself to face the owlbear.
Dani is about ready to cast her spell to weaken the owlbearl when Edison is nearly killed. She gasps and stutters back a few steps, stuck looking between his dying body and the large creature.
What to do?!
With Edison up, their chances of defeating this thing were greatly diminished, she reasoned. Taking a breath, she used her spell to soothe his mind and help prevent him from passing on.
After her spell, she continues to try and inspire her allies to at least stay conscious.
Edison {A}stands up, his {A}hands glowing with the might of the law.
Then he slings the monkey's fist at the Owlbear!
The owlbear is wounded by Dora’s lightning and Edison’s fist. It takes the champion with a talon and grabs him again, but he holds its jagged beak at bay, preventing it from gnawing on him!
Thankful for his good fortune the Doctor moves behind the owlbear once more although there is little else he can do. "Strike at its eyes!" He calls.
With Edison having his eyes open for now, Dani turns her attention back to the owlbear. She tries to reduce it's strength with her magic, but fails miserably in her attempt.
She keeps on playing her violin, hoping the inspiration will influence her companions more than it did herself.
Zapping it appears to be helping, so she continues, hoping that it focuses on anything else but Edison.
"Edison, you need to get back before it rakes you again!"
Edison lands a punishing blow to the owlbear’s head. Coupled with Dora’s electricity, the beast finally goes down!
Doctor Maturin indulges his feelings so far as to kick the owlbear, quite hard before turning to examine the rest of the room. His main priority is trying to find the owner in case they need medical attention.
"Ma'am, you can come out now!" Dora calls towards the back door. "The beast is incapacitated."
”Oh thank you! Thank you!” the elven grocer emerges. Sobbing with relief, she throws her arms around Dora. The woman appears to be shaken but unharmed.
Dora pats the woman's back affectionately. "You're ok now, please don't worry Ma'am. Let's look at getting this place tidied up a little and one of my colleagues here will get this beast removed safely back to captivity in the zoo."
Dora begins picking up some of the produce that has scattered over the floor in hopes to calm the woman.
The Doctor summons the zoo keepers yet again and, using his words alone, flays them within an inch of their lives for their "Catastrophic foolishness, blatant disregard for public safety, utterly irresponsible idiocy" and many other choice epithets. The fines he promises are vast.
"Well," He says, spleen vented and once the animal has been removed. "We had best report in."
You head back to Edgewatch HQ to report to Sergeant Ollo. The dwarf seems satisfied by your report. ”Good work. Go ahead and rest, heal up, and mend your uniforms. I’ll assign a detail to watch the Menagerie to ensure no more beasts escape in the meantime. Tomorrow morning, you can return to finish securing the site. Dismissed.”
***
After resting and recovering, you return to the zoo. Several Edgewatch agents stand guard outside the gates, including Detective Desdelen “Skinny” Bolera. The half-elf woman is the Edgewatch’s best detective, and she doesn’t hesitate to say so herself. With her rakish charm, trademark hat, and penchant for intradepartmental flings, Skinny is notorious around the district for breaking hearts.
”There you are!” she says with a tip of her hat. ”We’ve heard lots of growling inside, but nothing’s tried to get past us. Those beasts are all yours! Go get ‘em, tigers!”
Leaving the Sergeant's office, Dora leans back against the wall in exhaustion. "So, that wasn't quite the day I had expected. Who'd have thought day two would be harder than the first day on the job?!"
[b]"Now, I really would like to get to know you all better over dinner, but I think tonight I just need to retire, Im just not hungry after all of that." She shoots a smile at Edison, Jack and Dani before heading to her bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.
-----------------------
Dora ensures that she asks the Sergeant about the appropriate level of fine for a situation such as this before they leave in the morning.
"I think after today, a good night's sleep is exactly what is required." Jack agrees. "Edison, before you go let me take a look at that."
"Hmm... a nasty blow and deep. I can sew it up but you will need magical healing for it to close in less than a week."
-----------------------
Detective Bolera gets a guarded nod from the Doctor. She doesn't pay enough attention to forensic evidence at most crime scenes, but her results speak for themselves.
"Taking the easy route today Detective?" He asks, sardonically.
”Just killing time till the next challenge, Doc. Everybody deserves a chance to kick their feet up once in while,” Skinny says with a wink.
After a bit of banter, you prepare to enter the menagerie proper. A ten-foot-high wooden fence surrounds the site, enticing passersby with colorful murals of fantastic beasts. The gates of the main entrance stand open beneath an arch featuring a cartoon of a rust monster wearing a top hat, flanked by the words “Knight’s Marvelous Menagerie—Home of Rusty the Rust Monster!” An abandoned ticket kiosk stands just inside, behind which sprawls the zoo’s manicured lawn and meandering dirt paths. To the northeast, a windowless wooden building with two distinct wings defines the far sides of the menagerie’s grounds, while a variety of wagons fill the south end and a few smaller structures stand to the north.
You can hear snuffling and gulping sounds coming from an open-air food stand to the north .
Dora wishes Detective Bolera a good morning and enters the menagerie with her fellow agents. Walking in, she tries to take in everything she can see. She always meant to visit the menagerie but never had time between studying and working for her Uncle.
"So we met Rusty the Rust Monster yesterday - not quite the introduction we all had planned." Dora notes. "I'm thinking our next introduction is going to be over there" she says pointing at the food stand.
"Let's go!"
A red-and-white-striped canvas roof covers the menagerie’s open-air food stand. Colorful signs above the counter list fancifully named treats such as “Arcadian gold-corn” and “owlbear chow.”
As you near the stand, a pair of hyenas behind the counter lurch upright and leap to attack!