Stratton nods and heads down one of the other tunnels, sneaking as best he can.
Stealth
Zaidel looks down upon his kill. "Wow! How was that, Dad?" The satyr said to himself.
Jean as you walk down the cave your scales make a screeching sound as you go forward. You can see a pair of glowing eyes blink and become alert. It is out of your 60 foot darkvision.
Stratton goes down the last cave and finds a den of younglings, 5 of them with a protective mother who has her back to you as the kids get milk. They don't appear to notice you.
Stratton backs out of the cave as quietly as he can, returning to Zaidel. "We've got a mama kidding suckling five kids back there. Didn't really feel like going all Anakin on the babies, but they'll probably be a problem for the locals as they grow."
Zaidel takes the information seriously. "I understand your dilemma, Stratton", the cleric sighs.
"This may be cruel to suggest, but need to kill those displacer beasts." Looking to the oni, Zaidel adds, "Didn't you express an interest in gaining a loyal companion, like Jock. You could raise one of the displace beast kittens as one of your own."
"I imagine they'll be more difficult to raise than goats. I'm also unsure they'd take to cows milk. I don't suppose your magic can make warm displacer beast milk can it?" Stratton asks.
"Well, I'll come with", Zaidel said grimly. "Do you have another deep slumber you could use?"
"Afraid not. It was pretty distracted. If we sneak we may be able to end it quickly." Stratton suggests, moving back towards the momma and babies as stealthily as he can muster.
Stealth
Zaidel does his best to follow the oni quietly.
Jean inches his way forward until the beast appears in his vision, then it charges you.
plus trip)
---
Stratton and Zaidel reach the mother quietly.
Zaidel grimly takes Carouser's Retort and plunges it into the sleeping displacer beast's neck.
dead
The black feline instantly stops moving then slumps more to the ground.
The cubs slowly stop drinking milk and begin to hiss at the two of you.
With sad eyes, Zaidel looks down at the hissing cub.
"You have every right to hiss. I'm sorry.."
The satyr starts stabbing the baby monsters.
Jean shreds the displacer beast as it falls to the ground in chunks.
As Ziadel slays the innocent baby he feels guilt. Does Stratton intercede or watch on. Four more cubs hiss and bite at you when you attack them.
Stratton helps Zaidel finish off the cubs. He's had to do this sort of thing before on the farm with vermin, but never with a sword. He tries his best to make it quick.
Zaidel and Stratton try to quickly end the remaining displacer cubs.
"The glamorous life of an adventurer. Not." Stratton says, trying to make light of the dark situation. "I can do this if you'd rather, Zaidel. You're looking a little green around the gills."
The satyr grimly shakes his head, dead eyes concentrating on the grim task until it's done.
With the cubs killed, you leave the caves to find Krazok at the mouth of the caves. Jean likely meets up with you there as well.
He gravely states, "By the looks of it you stealthy types took care of the job. Anything else I can do to help?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Firesource!" Zaidel happily greets the half-dragon. "I am not versed in proper dressing and trophy-making. I would great appreciate your expertise. We need them in some form as to be identified by the Mayor's office."
He nods and states, "Lead me to the carcass I can dress it and collect its head." He puts the ax on his back and the blade seems to just attach to him as blood drops from its blade and acts like a binding agent. Then he pulls out a sickly sharp carving knife.
Finding the bodies he gets to work. First decapitating the beast and offering the heads to each of you as he goes back to the rest of the body to begin skinning it, slicing it up, and collecting the limbs. He puts most of those in his bag. He snarkily states, "The heads won't fit in my bag so unless you have a large bag of holding you are going to need to carry them."
Zaidel takes off his bag. "I've got a type IV; we're good."
The satyr slowly puts all properly-dressed head in his bag of holding.
Krazok does not have any dressings, so if you have extra clothes or something to use... they go in bloody.
Well, that's why the Gods created prestidigitation, I suppose, the cleric thinks as he handles the severed heads.
Eventually he comes to the room with the cubs and disdainful looks at any of the slaughterers that are in the room with him. He grabs each of the cubs and stores their bodies in his bag, then works on the mother.
Zaidel quiets watches Krazok work on the mother. It's a little gruesome, but consider what he just did to the cubs, it's not as bad.
As a human, Joe never went hunting despite living in Michigan. Zaidel laments on the times his father went hunting, and the missed shared experiences.
It takes about 2 hours but then all of the bodies are skinned, cut, and stored.
The caydenite cleric offers Krazok a drink whenever he needs it.
"Hey, thank you for the drink! How much water can you produce? Any chance I could wash my claws often?!" He replies and asks.
With Zaidel's aid he likely takes a bit more time but he is clean when done!
He curiously asks, "So back to town then?"
"Hey, thank you for the drink! How much water can you produce? Any chance I could wash my claws often?!" He replies and asks.
"I can do one better", Zaidel smiles, casting prestidigitation on the half-dragon, magically removing all blood and gore from Krazok.
He curiously asks, "So back to town then?"
"Now that Jean has rejoined us, let's head to Owl Port. Hopefully Matt has been just as successful."
Stratton declines the offer. "I don't think I'd have time to do a proper job of raising it. I'd rather not be responsible for any collateral damage a failure on that front would cause. Whether we're killing them to spare them suffering without their mother, or to spare the world the danger they'd present all grown up, its best we just be quick and as merciful as we can."
He stabs the last cub to punctuate the statement.
Catching Krazok's look of disdain when he enters, Stratton fights any upwelling shame, knowing it was necessary to safeguard the townsfolk from future harm.
****
"Yes, to Owl Port." he agrees.
Your group makes it back to Owl Port in about an hour.
In the darkened hovels of houses you can see children and others looking out of the darkened windows looking at you and those in your party.
The large owl on the roof of the Owl Inn, is barely moving, you think it is alive but is as large as you. The yellow eyes seem to have an intelligence to them.
At the pillar is a wooden sign which has several offers on it:
Owl's Watch Inn:
A night stay, with a warm breakfast, and passage over the river - 13 sp
A warm meal and passage over the river - 7 sp
Passage over the river - 2 sp
Looking around you can see the closest building next to the sign has several owls hanging around it. The door is just a sway door and you can hear chatter coming form within. Light also comes from under and over the sway door.
The other building across the way looks vacant but has a big sign saying: General.
Straight ahead you see a small desk in front of the stairs leading down and up. A door leads into a common room beside the stairs holding at least several bunk beds in view, likely more.
On the right side of the inn is a large blazing hearth that has several pots over it. In the center of the largest building in town are seven rectangular tables with plenty of stools around or just a wooden plank over two wooden wedges.
On the walls are several deer heads are mounted to the walls and most of the other decorations are deer antlers with the head of a large bug like creature.
The room is full of patrons and the festivities continue as your group enters. There are three serving wenches. A red head that wears a green frilly dress that seems out of place, she goes by the name Drell. A plump burnett in a brown skirt and blouse that barely keeps her ample bosom in it, she goes by the name Ashley. The last serving lass is much more focused on her job than pleasing the crowd with her leather britches and tight blue sparkling shirt, the blonde is called Bella.
The short woman behind the desk before the stairs is actually a halfling and seems only a child, Brunny takes the money for the use of any room. She appears to have overused makeup.
If you ask for a room you are directed to Brunny:
"Greetings there sport, we have several rooms that might be to your liking. First is the common room, no weapons they stay at the bar, only 3 copper. Next is the rooms downstairs no beds but there is plenty of straw and solitude, 7 silver. Upstairs rooms are the best, actual beds that can fit three snugly, warmed by heated bed pans even now, private bathtubs, and as much food as you want, 3 gold a night. If you want company just let me know and we can arrange what taste you like the best." She winks at you after.
The only other person other than Brunny and the wenches that stands out is the bartender. Shartash, female half orc, with a purple mohawk, purple eyes and tattoos of owls well placed over her arms and the bald spots of her head. Shartash grins showing her lower pure white canines nearly all the time.
Your group makes it back to Owl Port in about an hour.
"Guys, I think we should head straight to The Mayor's office", Zaidel suggests. "She likely has the authority to issue any reward for the displacer beasts. The we can head to the inn and celebrate!"
"Sounds like a plan" Stratton nods in agreement.
Straight to the mayor's office, you find the door unlocked.
Stratton knocks on the door, awaiting someone's answer.
One of the young female attendants comes to the door and opens it, "Yes my lords how can we be of service to you?"
"Good afternoon, miss", Zaidel said with a bow. "Our adventuring party, Aeria Gloris, wishes to meet with the Lady Mayor to announce a resolution to the current displacer beast problem outside of town. Is she free?"
She gasps, once her breath comes back to her, she just flees not giving you a response.
The satyr looks at the others. "Did I speak in too harsh a tone?" Zaidel asked confused.
Zaidel sticks his horned head inside. "Um? Hello?!"
"Nah, she was just overwhelmed by your..... you-ness???" Stratton winks at Zaidel.
"Heloooooo? We're here to see the mayor." Stratton wanders into the entryway.