Okoro sits down next to Laesah, scooting his chair in closer to her. "Well, for what it's worth, the teachers want to check in with us. Jantanimo is one of my instructors in the Uzunjati classes, and sent me along with a note."
Okoro places a folded piece of paper onto the table. It unfolds itself and you see words written in the same iridescent ink Janatimo uses in his notebook. As you begin to read, the words enter your mind, spoken in the voice of the teacher.
Greetings to The Pack,
Please join me for afternoon tea today. I would enjoy more tales of your investigation.
With Curiosity,
Janatimo
Okoro looks to Laesah. "Should we go? I mean, I kind of have to, he's the head of my branch..."
"Froglegs... Chef Yao murmurs to herself while sipping her own tea. "I have heard the name. She's a thief, but she's also runs protection rackets, extortion... any angle that makes money and expands her power. But she's doing her best to stay out of the limelight, and she's never crossed the school - she operates in the city. What I have heard is that people who spread any gossip don't do so for long. But I don't see why this needs to be your problem... The link between Oba, Froglegs, and the Magaambya seems accidental. Provided Oba doesn't say too much about it, that is likely the end of it. If she does say more, or someone says it for her, that'll likely be the end of her."
She pauses and gives Laesah a look to make sure her meaning is clear. Yao clearly thinks that Oba is correct: Oba's safety relies on Froglegs moving on from her as a target of disdain.
"As for the teachers... I don't know what to expect now that you're with Janatimo. Ot trusts him, and I trust Ot, but from what I've seen there's a difference between the two. Ot, and this school, try to make students into wizards, and set them on a path to expand the knowledge of this place. Janatimo wants to make heroes - and he seems to have a knack for it. I'm proud that he's taken to you, but worried too. Heroes make good stories, but they don't always have happy endings, or even happy lives."
"I'm not concerned Janatimo will take away this 'responsibility.' I'm worried he's going to pile more on tell a better 'story.'"
In the low light, Laesah can barely see Okoro's nervous, but excited, expression, but she can hear the unsteadiness in his voice get even worse. He tries to play it off with a joke.
"Was this a trap? Now I know how the fly must feel," he says with a chuckle. His hand reaches out and toys with the golden feather, smiling as it sends dazzling scatterings of blue bio-luminescent jellyfish light across the wall.
His voice finally calms. "Beautiful. A bath sounds lovely, but maybe it can wait?"
FADE TO BLACK
With that last bit of experience, and folks taking a rest (or whatever), you all reach level 5! We can discuss what that means in the discord. Also, if there's any info gathering to be done off campus, feel free to roll diplomacy and tell me what you're up to.
Okoro looks back and forth between Much and Laesah, settling on Laesah. "You know I'll follow you anywhere. Just tell me where we're going." He has a brave face, but you can all hear a slight waver of concern in his voice.
Haunt and Much have returned to the dorm/tree stump for rest. Leasah, what do you do (Okoro is along for the ride)?
"I don't know how to find Froglegs, which suits me, because I don't WANT to find Froglegs." She looks desperate for you to understand. "Look, I'm not some criminal, or part of their world. I know how to buy, keep, and sell animals in a way that makes me some money. That's it! I wouldn't have any idea how to find this person."
"I still appreciate what you've done, but this conversation is over. My goal is to move past this and hope nothing like this ever happens again. Come back if you ever have business to do with me, but otherwise, I think we're good here."
She opens a ledger and starts reviewing and making notes, set on going back about her day and ignoring you. The conversation does seem to be over, and you sense she's genuine about not knowing how to find Froglegs.
The Pack returns to Oba's office, bringing some answers and some questions.
"What so many questions for ME? I'm the victim here!" She asks, her voice shrill, and clearly aggrieved. "I don't know why this happened. Froglegs wanted a deal, I wanted a better deal. That's business. Then they tried to ruin me. Maybe kill me. I want to go back to how things were before all of this, and the only way that happens is if I keep my mouth shut and hope that Froglegs thinks they've punished me enough."
She steadies herself, taking a deep breath and pushing a loose lock of hair over her ear.
"Look... I appreciate you. Sincerely. I can't believe you saved all of my beasties," Oba says with relief. "You should consider going into business with me, we could make a killing. And I must say, the Magaambya has never been my friend, but perhaps I've been too quick to cut ties completely if you are the sorts of students they produce these days."
"I owe you one, and I hate that. So keep that feather. It looks good on you, but it'll probably fetch a decent price with a buyer." She rummages under her desk for a moment and comes back up with a potion and a token.
"And take these... A Cheetah's Elixir and a Beastmaster's Sigil. That Sigil is for saving all my creatures. Use it well... I have a feeling you're not done looking for trouble. I'm also hoping that convinces you to leave me out of that trouble. I don't want it, I don't need it, and if anyone else asks me about Froglegs, I'm going to tell them I don't know who they are talking about. Never heard of 'em."
Taking 20 is not exactly a thing in this system, but I did roll some updated perception checks with a circumstance bonus for taking your time.
The pack combs though the animal lot, looking through everything more thoroughly. While checking back at the griffon cages, Haunt makes a discovery.
An infiltrator’s pick is stuck in the mud. The specially made pick is longer than most, with strange grips and pads that make it awkward to use for typically "human" hands.
Aside from that, there is some basilisk blood preserved in a bottle near the basilisk shack. Okoro knows that this is what you'd use had anyone or any tiger been petrified.
The mpeshi has been battered by the nonlethal attacks of Much and Laesah and unprepared for the deadly assault from Haunt, who drives his rapier into the ribs of the creature. It screams, a bleating, hissing sound which shakes the air. Badly wounded, it tries to rise and continue the fight.
...its horned head smashes Haunt's unhorned head, and the horns win. There is a crack of bone, a crack of lightning, and the amurrun drops to the ground in a heap. The lightning arcs off of him and towards Much.
Here's my math. 19*2 = 38. 38-6(Amulet's Abeyance) = 32. 32>27 (HP including temp) = Downed Haunt via Crit = Dying 2
She arches her back, moving her head out the way. The tail sails by, inches from her face, and she snaps back to a fighting stance.
Round 4
Initiative
1. Laesah | 30/48HP +2 Temp HP <-- We are here
2. Okoro | 8 damage +2 Temp HP
3. Much | 38/58 HP +2 Temp HP
4. Mpeshi 99 damage
5. Haunt | Dying 2
Much reaches out and grabs a horn, giving it a twist and sending the mpeshi to the ground. Laesah quickly follows up with a kick to a leg, before the crocodilian tail can swing around to ward off her next blow.
Okoro's battle standard pulses with soothing magic as he reaches out to Much and slaps a balm on some of her electrical burns.
Battle Medicine for Much:2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
And then gives the fighter a slap on the back to motivate her. "Again, Much! Hit it again!"
Another swing, another welt. This one splits a little showing a thin line of blood through the fur.
Round 3
Initiative
1. Laesah X | 30/48HP +2 Temp HP
2. Okoro X | 8 damage +2 Temp HP
3. Haunt | 25/44 HP +2 Temp HP <-- We are here
4. Much X | 41/58 HP +2 Temp HP
5. Mpeshi 70 damage
Maybe it's the remnants of the electricity, but Haunt's blow doesn't quite hit the mark. The mpeshi, stands, lowering its head at Much to ram her. Much has something to say about that before it happens though.
Much shoves at the mpeshi, but it holds steady with the characteristic stubbornness of its goat portion. Then the stick connects again, leaving an angry welt on the creature's hide.
Round 2
Initiative
1. Laesah X | 30/48HP +2 Temp HP
2. Okoro X | 10 damage + 2 Temp HP
3. Haunt | 26/44 HP +2 Temp HP <-- We are here
4. Much X | 40/58 HP +2 Temp HP
5. Mpeshi 39 damage | Prone
But the sound disorients them both. Laesah takes the worst of it, and a trickle of blood runs out from one of her ears. She'll shake it off, but not right away.
Okoro worriedly cries out and drops his sword. Pointing at the beast. "Much, quick, while it's down!" he shouts. Much, never needing a lot of prompting towards violence where her pack is concerned, strikes.
There is a satisfying thwack as the stick hits the ribs of the prone mpeshi.
Okoro then reaches into his medical kit and slaps an infused bandage on himself. "If anyone gets next to me, I can heal them!" He screams, terror creeping into his voice.
treat wounds:2d8 ⇒ (2, 8) = 10
Round 2
Initiative
1. Laesah | 30/48HP +2 Temp HP <-- We are here
2. Okoro X | 10 damage + 2 Temp HP
3. Haunt | 26/44 HP +2 Temp HP
4. Much | 40/58 HP +2 Temp HP
5. Mpeshi 29 damage | Prone
But the beast leaps into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack and leaping 40 feet nearly straight into the air. As it comes down, it pivots to smash headfirst into the ground, sending a booming shockwave into the whole party. The mpeshi injures itself in its angry attack and is prone.
Thunderous Fall:
The mpeshi falls at least 10 feet; Effect The mpeshi reorients itself to slam headfirst into the ground with a thundering crash. Creatures within 10 feet of the mpeshi take sonic damage equal to the bludgeoning damage the mpeshi took from the fall (DC 23 basic Fortitude save). Creatures that fail this save are stunned 1 (stunned 2 on a critical failure).
Everyone takes 20 sonic damage and needs to give me a DC 23 Fort save. Stunned 1 on a fail, Stunned 2 on a crit fail.
Okoro Fort DC 23:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24Okoro resists
Round 2
Initiative
1. Laesah | 30/48HP <-- We are here
2. Okoro | 20 damage
3. Haunt | 26/44 HP
4. Much | 40/58 HP
5. Mpeshi 20 damage | Prone
Haunt realizes that he knows a LOT, whether it's from study or intuition. The Mpeshi isn't vulnerable to anything in particular, but it does have some resistances and immunity.
This beast is immune to electricity and has resist 10 to sonic.
Much reaches out and trips the mpeshi, sending the beast to the ground, but as she lashes out with her stick, the leathery tail swings out and deflects the blow.
Initiative
1. Laesah x | (+2 Temp HP)
2. Okoro x | (+2 Temp HP)
3. Haunt | (+2 Temp HP) <-- We are here
4. Much | (+2 Temp HP)
5. Mpeshi | Prone and Off-Guard to Melee
Alahazra starts to explore the manor, starting with the front door. She knocks and is startled when the door opens and a familiar presence is there. Huffing and puffing, the acolyte has followed her here, begging to be taken on.
Scarnetti Manor Card 1:
Acolyte
RotR
Ally C
Traits:
Elite
Human
To Acquire:
Charisma
Diplomacy
Arcane
Divine 6
Recharge this card to add 1d4 to your Arcane or Divine check.
Recharge this card to add 1d6 to your check to recharge a card that has the Magic trait.
Charisma 6 Check:1d12 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Free explore -> Find and acquire Acolyte.
"You again?" Alahazra exclaims. "What a surprise. I hate surprises..." She sighs and considers. "But that's not your fault, is it? Come on then, let's continue. But maybe be a dear and help me check around this place, would you?"
Discard Acolyte to explore Scarnetti Manor
The Acolyte nods happily, disappearing around a corner. After a few moments they slink back into the foyer. Then they turn and run as a werewolf bounds into view. It looks angrier than normal, so Alahazra brings forth an empowered version of her most powerful spell.
Scarnetti Manor Card 2:
Werewolf
RotR
Monster B
Traits:
Lycanthrope
To Defeat:
Combat 13
Before the encounter, examine the top card of the blessings discard pile. If the card is Blessing of the Gods, the difficulty to defeat the Werewolf is increased by 3.
She defeats the werewolf, but it brings her no joy. Surprise after surprise. I should know better. Alahazra thinks. She focuses her energy on learning more about her surroundings before rushing off into more danger.
Recharge Frigid Blast to scry Scarnetti Manor. Reveals Spyglass
Recharge Blessing of Spellbound to scry the Woods. Reveals Traitor
Displayed: Deck: 7 Discard: 2 Buried: 0
Hero Points: 1
NOTES: Available Support: Blessings are available for use, as are any skills that allow scrying.
Other: Hi I'm Alahazra! Please bot me if I need to Guard my location!
Deck, Discard, Buried:
Reloaded: Middle of Deck (Unknown Order): Cure, Blessing of the Gods 2, Researcher, Pyrotechnic Blast
Recharged: Blessing of the Spellbound 3, Frigid Blast, Blessing of the Spellbound 1,
Discard Pile: Acolyte, Holy Light, Buried Pile:
Favored Card: Spell Hand Size: 6 ☑ 7☐ 8☐ 9☐ 10☐ 11 Proficiencies: Light Armors POWERS:
You may recharge a card that has the Divine trait to examine the top card of any location
deck
At the end of your turn, you may discard a card that has the Divine trait to add a card that has the divine trait from your discard pile to your hand
If your combat check has the Attack trait, add 2 to it
Laesah doesn't get her feet firmly back under her after her leap, and her blows don't connect solidly enough to hurt the mpeshi. It snarls and turns to face her.
Okoro blinks hard, but seeing Laesah rush in, he realizes he needs to act. But first he needs to think...
Try as he might, he can't recall any new and useful information about the creature, so he runs up, and plants his banner and calls out. "Everyone, move up! Laesah, see if you can't distract it! Please?"
Everyone can step as a reaction. Laesah, if you finish your step next to the creature, it'll be off-guard to melee attacks to anyone taking this step action. Much, your reaction is FREE.
Additionally, please all take 2 Temp HP from the Plant Banner action.
Round 1
Initiative
1. Laesah x | (+2 Temp HP)
2. Okoro x | (+2 Temp HP)
3. Haunt | (+2 Temp HP) <-- We are here
4. Much | (+2 Temp HP)
5. Mpeshi | Off-Guard to Melee
Much, scanning intently, proves herself correct in her caution. In the bushes to the south, a spark of light catches her eyes. The mpeshi, part goat, part croc, part electricity knows it's been seen, and, with a bleat of anger, makes clear it wants to attack.
"That was amazing!" Okoro says. "I knew you could be fast, but... it's so different when you see it. I get why you guys like this adventuring stuff." He smiles, and some of the tension he's been holding onto goes out of his shoulders.
Displayed: Deck: 8 Discard: 0 Buried: 0
Hero Points: 1
NOTES: Available Support: Blessings are available for use, as are any skills that allow scrying.
Other: Hi I'm Alahazra! Please bot me if I need to Guard my location!
Deck, Discard, Buried:
Reloaded: Middle of Deck (Unknown Order): Blessing of the Spellbound 2, Blessing of the Spellbound 3, Frigid Blast, Spellbook, Holy Light, Blessing of the Spellbound 1, Fire Snake, Ruby of Charisma
Recharged: Discard Pile: Buried Pile:
Favored Card: Spell Hand Size: 6 ☑ 7☐ 8☐ 9☐ 10☐ 11 Proficiencies: Light Armors POWERS:
You may recharge a card that has the Divine trait to examine the top card of any location
deck
At the end of your turn, you may discard a card that has the Divine trait to add a card that has the divine trait from your discard pile to your hand
If your combat check has the Attack trait, add 2 to it
Laesah streaks across the cage, slams the hood onto the basilisk (I'm calling that a reflex save for the basilisk, not a "strike"), and then considers her next move.
Laesah silently moves towards the cage, taking a glancing in quickly enough to see what's going on without exposing herself to the basilisk's gaze.
She sees the creature in the back of the cage, hood off and cast to the ground a few feet away. It seems skittish, and likely to bolt if approached boldly.
Madame Oba would probably prefer the hood back on the creature, but the lock is also sitting by the door, open, but not broken. You could latch it shut and contain the beast.
You make your way towards the shed near the basilisk cage, eyes wide, ears twitching, and nostrils flared. A statue of a rearing tiger stands before the open door of this cage, a wooden sign trampled beneath its back paws. Several low walls stand on three sides of the cage.
You move int the shed itself without issue and find it holds grooming tools, food, magically preserved basilisk blood in case of accidental petrification, and a special mirror shield. The shield doesn't feel like it would block a blow, but Oba lead you to believe that if it's used against the basilisk the holder would be safe.
The door to the cage swings open and the lock is open in the door.
Much, perceiving on the way up, notices some human footprints around the door of the cage, some tiger tracks, but NO basilisk tracks of any sort.
Okoro winces as the birds keep crashing into the cages, sending feathers flying. "Can I try?" He asks, apparently rhetorically, as he approaches the cages, head low, hands wide, speaking calmly to the birds.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
He makes some cooing noises and the birds finally calm down enough to stop hurting themselves, though they continue to claw and scratch the ground nervously.
Okoro reaches down and picks up one particularly beautiful, unbroken gold feather and ties it into Laesah's hair. It's a little cartoonishly large, but it's also eye catching and unique.
"I'll bet that's probably worth something, but... it looks nice on you. Gold suits you." Okoro immediately looks at the ground and everyone assumes he's blushing furiously.
He sighs and looks back up. "Well, something spooked these birds and we're still missing a tiger. I agree with Much, we're probably going to wind up in a fight. Might as well get ready for it."
He pushes his cloak aside and starts rummaging into his Bookbag of Holding, producing a metal shield and a rune inscribed fighting stick. He hands the stick to Much. "I know you don't want to kill these animals. Maybe use this instead?" He pulls out a more mundane longsword for himself and straps it on, pulling the blade from its scabbard. "Probably best to keep this handy, but the odds of me hurting anything is... well, considerably less than you all."
He forces a brave face and says, "Shall we?"
Much, you've been (temporarily) given a +1 Striking Fighting Stick. This is notably nonlethal, so to quote the Graham Hess "Swing away." What do you guys do next?
As you make your way towards the basilisk shed, you pass by the elephant birds. (Map area B3) They are in a state of agitation, shrieking and throwing themselves at the bars of their cages.
The birds have shimmering golden plumage and, besides the battering they are inflicting upon themselves, look well cared for and unharmed. A wooden sign reads, “Elephant Birds, Golden: 6.” All 6 birds look accounted for, 2 per cage. They eye you nervously as you approach, and renew their birdish freak out.
Much detects the lingering scent of tigers. The cats must have come here looking for food and scared the birds, but were unable to get into the cages.
"Delicately?" She offers weakly. "The mpeshi does not have weaknesses - that is what makes it so splendid. It would be best if you could make yourself less susceptible to electricity or noise. It can create quite a lot of thunder and lightning."
She can tell from your face you aren't impressed by this answer.
"Oh! This might help. If for some reason you have to go near the basilisk, there's a mirrored shield in a nearby shed. It doesn't like to look at itself, so we use the shield if we need to go in there."
Oba gives this some thought and replies. "Well, the mpeshi can scare most creatures. Animals fear lightning only slightly less than they do fire. I don't know if they are afraid of the basilisk, but they should be, of course... Truly, my beasts are such that even a tiger should be frightened of them."
She finishes with pride.
"Well, besides the elephant birds, of course. Those are usually fearful, not fearsome."
A tiny spider with green markings sidles up to Laesah and whispers in a conspiratorial tone. "Three left hunting and only two returned. The two that came back looked scared, if I may be so bold as to say it. I'm not sure what happened to the other, but I'll bet it isn't good."
The Pack leads the tigers into their cages, enticing them with the fresher meat and some well-placed nuts to the mouth. The animals are safe and contented, and the group is proud to have done it without violence.
"Why is there only two?" Oba yells from behind the fence. "There's supposed to be three!"
Oba glances and Much and you can almost hear the merchant swallow. "Ah, I mean, do you know where the other one is? Can you find it, please?"
In the distance the group can hear the near-frenzied squawking of birds, but no immediate danger.
Oba breathes a sigh of relief, oblivious to your tone. "Oh, thank Abadar. Yes, lure them, subdue them, whatever you have to do, just don't kill them. They are expensive."
She glances at Much and adds. "And I care about them and their safety very much." She tries a smile. It's not convincing.
So the tigers are likely prowling the other side of this gate, somewhere. They've moved away and are not immediately visible. You know they were hungry and about to attack you before you got through the gate. What do you do?
Oba considers your offer, then her lips twist in a scowl.
"No. Thank you, but no. I don't think the Magaambya can protect me. I've heard the stories about how well they protect you students... And the truth is I don't have anything to say about Froglegs besides a name and reputation. I didn't know who they were before they sent underlings to try and purchase the griffons. Once that went poorly I started asking some questions, then learned enough to stop asking questions."
Her face softens a bit.
"But don't think I don't appreciate the suggestion. It's kinder than any your sort have offered before."
She looks at Much, and a little fear creeps in. Perhaps more than a little. "And I'll take your words to heart as well. Not for their kindness, but for their... pointed delivery."
"Now, tell me. Are you going to help me with these creatures today, or leave me to my own devices while I rouse my staff?"
Oba looks pale and a hand involuntarily goes to her belly. "I don't know much about Froglegs," she replies with a tremor in her voice. "I don't get mixed up that sort of thing."
"All I know is she's a grippli. And a criminal. And if she finds out I'm talking about her she'll probably have me killed. Her people wanted to buy my griffons, but the price was unreasonable. So what else could I do but haggle? Apparently I offended them, because now it's just calamity upon calamity."
She takes a moment to consider the rest of what Much and Laesah said. "I need the help, but... maybe you should come back some time when I've had a chance to elevate the conditions of the animals? I don't want you to see them when I'm still recovering from Froglegs disturbing the normally excellent care they receive... There is still a chance they get loose before my team comes back to contain them, but that's a risk I am now willing to take.
Her other hand goes protectively over her belly and she takes a subconscious step away from Much.
What do you do? She seems willing to have her own team take care of the issue, and you have learned more about why the griffons got loose, which was your mission from Janatimo."
Oba's proud face finally cracks as she feels the weight of what Much is saying and what the impact of her animals attacking students would be to her business.
"It wasn't me! It was Froglegs..." She says as she wrings her hands together. Much can smell the fear on her as she speaks. "But you can't tell anyone. I can't prove it, and she'll kill me if I suggest it. Can't you just help me and keep it quiet?"
Madame Oba looks VERY uncomfortable, but also defensive and insistent.
"How is this MY fault? I am certainly not setting my own creatures free. Where is the money in that?" She asks. "Can we not deal with this later? Someone needs to take care of these beasts before they get out. The fence will slow them, but I don't think it'll hold these creatures forever, and I can't get my team here for hours."
Much and Haunt both think that she sounds uncertain when she says this isn't her fault and acts like she doesn't know what's happening. She may not be directly responsible, but she knows more than she's letting on. There's fear in her defensiveness.
Much, do you want to roll an intimidate on the above? With a +2 for the delivery. Anyone else can feel free to aid or roll their own.
The tigers slam into the gate, knocking Much back a step. She snarls back at the beasts, sets her heals and digs in, pushing back against the giant cats. Slowly she makes progress, and with a CLICK the gate latches shut.
The tigers take another shove at the gate. It rattles but holds. They then back away looking for other ways through or over the fence.
Drawn by the noise, Oba runs up behind you. She looks distraught, and her cool composure is shattered.
"More of my animals are free! Why must misfortune plague me?" She wails, hands pressed to her head. "Please recover them alive, I beg of you. These animals are fierce, but they’re also expensive. I’ll reward you for subduing them and putting them back in their cages."
She hands Haunt a ring of keys, her eyes pleading.
You all head out the door and slam it shut. Okoro does so with a yelp of fear.
The tigers growl hungrily and throw themselves against the door to try and get after you.
Much, please roll an athletics check if you want to keep the door held shut. There is room for one person to help you if they want to roll athletics to aid. I'll accept other rationales if folks want to get creative and provide aid to this situation. If you pass this roll you can latch the door and keep them in.
Laesah and Much scan the area and make some notes.
The large open cage bears a wooden sign reading, “Tigers: 3.” A wooden shed to the southwest has several boards torn from it, and bits of chewed leather harnesses and collars are strewn about. A canvas tent to the northwest is torn open, with several large chunks of meat spilling from it.
The meat reeks of rot.
Much's investigation allows her to notice that the lock to the door is open, but not broken. It was opened with a key or lockpick. She also notices that the canvas tent is cut, rather than torn. Edged weapons were used, rather than the claws of a beast.
Laesah's understanding of animals makes her realize that the meat was likely rotting, but edible, before it was dragged into the sun from the ruined tent, which would have quickly made it no good for tigers.
Wherever they are, those tigers are probably pretty hungry, she thinks to herself.
As if on her mental cue, she barely spots the tigers in the brush near the party, stalking their way over looking to pounce.
Because of Laesah's perception check, you guys have a VERY short moment to act before these tigers attack. In game terms, two actions, but no attacks - attacking will put us into initiative.
As the group moves through the small show they quickly find themselves on a path leading about thirty feet past the shop, through a sturdy gate, and into an expansive, fenced area filled with trees, cages, and sheds.
A few wide paths lead through the area, and the smell of animals is unmistakable. A large hemispherical cage to the north stands empty. Boards have been pulled away from a nearby shed. From the east come
the sounds of several animals squawking.
You are in the animal lot! You might find some answers here about the griffons and how they got free. What do you do?
"The mpeshi is amazing. Half crocodile and half goat, it's almost like a lightning elemental. It has a close field of electricity and anyone hurt in there will also spark some damage to anyone standing next to them. We shouldn't bunch up if we need to fight it."
"As for the basilisk..." Okoro gulps nervously. "Everyone knows what that thing can do. Turn you to stone forever if it looks at you and your fortitude isn't up for the challenge. The only real weakness I know is that it is slow for a lizard. Bad reflexes."
Haunt doesn't know much more than Laesah on this one. He knows that basilisks have something with paralysis or turning things to stone or whatever, but he really doesn't know how it works.
Much doesn't see anything out of the ordinary in the office. A ledger, a small lockbox, some small animals in cages... All things you might expect from a small business that sells animals.
A thin smile plays across her lips, and her tone takes on a dramatic flair.
"Fearsome? Well, I should hope so, or this would not be Oba's Wondrous Creatures. All manner of beast is mine, but could be yours, for a price."
She drops most of the facade, but a little of the glint stays in her eye, happy to have gotten to do her familiar sales routine.
"Tigers, elephant birds, a basilisk, and my prized mpeshi. But worry not, I wouldn't have much of a business if I couldn't secure my beasts. The griffons getting loose was an aberration. I can't imagine it's happened again."
At Laesah's calm response the anger in Madam Oba's expression changes to confusion, and then softens. When next she speaks her tone is still frosty, but free of rancor.
"I... appreciate that you seem to want to understand my position. Many at the school dislike me, and treat me like some sort of slaver. I know some of the more wild-hearted students would even go so far as to break into my cages in the dead of night like thieves, freeing my 'captives.' I think this episode proves why that is so unwise. Students hurt, beasts killed... letting such a creature go without training or proper restraints is an unprofitable, dangerous waste."
She seems slightly chagrined as she continues.
"I don't know how they got free, but I think I know why they were headed to the school. They were likely following the anadi. I fed the griffons spiders often, and they had a taste for them. If the students were in spider or hybrid forms, they must have seemed a meal sent from Elysium to the griffons."
Oba pauses, considering you all quietly, then gestures to a door in the back of the office.
"If you wish to investigate further, you can check the grounds. I haven't been back there often of late. It's all too depressing... But I have nothing to hide, and if you can find out who did this perhaps someone can be held accountable and I can recoup some of this loss."
