Questing to the Dragon's Den - RPLOG
Participants
Date
21/1/2015
Log
It is shortly after sundown, and the Golden Goat is in full swing. An awful, thundering riot of noise comes from the band playing on the stage, and the crowd in attendance has gotten their drinking well under way. There is even a small brawl (with only three participants) going on in one corner of the room, to the cheering and hollering of the crowd, and at the far end a man sits on soething rather like a throne, watching and looking amused. Sigyn, the group's contact, is at the front of the hall with her arms crossed; the hulking woman waits by the door for any unwary adventurers that might stumble in.
Myriam lives in Woodfield! And knows that there is often a good time to be found over towards the Golden Goat, so when word was put out, she needed little other motivation to show up. She tilts up the brim of her witch at, patting down her coat and offering a smile and a wag of her tail. "Hello!"
Fenris trots jovially up to the unusual bar. The big tanuki whistles appreciatively at the hubbub. "Never been here!" he grins as he peers through the doorway before looking to his contact, "Are you Sigyn? I heard you had an adventure in your pocket!" The chubby coon dog trots inside to get out of the doorway.
Time off. After her last mission RSX had insisted Sasha take a little while off her paws and do something 'relaxing'. "Heh, cleaning up this mess is relaxing." She said mostly to herself as she came to the doors of the bar. Some of her associates had suggested going to a pub of some form, either this or the AWOL Bar and Grill. Seeing how this was closer to home station, it made sense. Walking in the smell of the drink is the first thing to assult her nose, and quite unpleasently as well, but, undetured, it is the brawl that gets more of her attention!
Taggart thumps his way into the Goat, collar pulled up to shield himself from the chill that January brings. A hulk of a wolf in size and strength, every step resounding to echo and remind of that fact. However, at the sights and sounds that the bar bring, a big grin spreads upon the Irishman's face. "This... is a bloody pub." Never one to turn down these sorts of festivites, Taggart is sure to order himself a pint before joining the group rounding up around Sigyn, sipping upon a dark, amber lager while everyone gathers.
Dal slowly walks through the door and shifts his gaze around the area. The contact for the job should be around here somewhere. He was told that it would be someone big and out of place. He notices a big woman at the front and smiles, revealing his sharp teeth. "So that's who I'm supposed to find." He begins to walk over to her when a a Tanuki walks straight into his path. The dragon clears his throat in order to get some attention from the woman, "Are you Sigyn? The contact told me that you had a job. Is that correct?"
Esana follows not far behind, looking throughout the crowded room curiously before spotting the woman she's supposed find. The shark steps to the side and out of the way as she crosses her arms, giving a nod of greeting to the woman "Seems the question's been asked already. And plenty of people showing up for details..."
Looking left and right while walking down the street, the small dog occasionally checking a map in his hands, then around him. Welp, he's lost. That never happened before. Decideing to try his luck at the obviously lively bar, Adren walked toward the entrance, scratching the back of his head. He noticed the large woman near the door and spoke up, his tail wagging from side to side. "Hey, excuse me, but I'm looking for the Upper Corner street. I've been waling around in circles for a while and I can't find it."
A huge figure strolls over to the hall. She doesn't come into the hall on account of being somewhat too large to fit inside. Yes, it's Aliasi, everyone's favorite oversized and overmuscled giant. She crouchs and raps on the door with a knuckle. "Hey, heard somethin' was going on around here? Always on the lookout for things here in Woodfield..."
Where there is drink there must be food... And where there is food, scavengers abound. Always looking for a easy, or better yet, a free meal, a coyote dashes inside the front door as people move in and out of the meadhall, stopping and sitting quietly infront of Sigyn, just staring at her from his position on the floor. This person looks nice enough, plus, others have already begun gathering around her!
Fenris grins when he sees Taggart arrive. "Mister Taggart!" he says, doing his best to stay out of Dal's way, "You go to other pubs?" The round tanuki can barely seem to hold still, dancing from foot to foot along with the music and sounds of fighting.
Adren perked his ears as he was waiting for an anwser, hearing talks of adventures and jobs. He looked down at his dirty map then shruged, crumpling it into a ball and discarding it into his pocket. "Actually, nevermind. I think I'd going to stay here and enjoy myself for a while." His nose caught a familiar scent, despite the multitude of smells and the dog turned his head toward a certain coyote. "Redd? Fancy seeing you there!"
Taggart blinks his bright green eyes and looks to Fenris, head tilting to one side as he looks the tanuki over, mid-drink. "You...erm... d'I know you? Sorry, get alotta traffic t'rew tha pub. Don't ramamber every face..." One large paw pulls the collar of his peacoat down, "But aye. I visit ot'er pubs. Got nuthin'gainst ot'er pubs. Jus'... lot ta do at me own, s'all."
The modern-day valkyrie at the door laughs as she gives Adren a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Come in, come in, all are welcome in this hall." Sigyn eyes the group of people collecting around her, her grin growing as she takes stock of her potential knights errant. "Grab a drink. Or some food. But if you are indeed the Juniour Apprentice Questors I have sent for, then yes, I have w-. I have a jo-." She pauses, face scrunching as if trying to work her way around some unfamiliar words, and then she spreads her arms and bellows. "THERE IS A QUEST!" The crowd in the mead hall pauses for a moment, then echoing shouts of "A QUEST!" go up. Sigyn waves them down though. "My normal band of loyal traveling companions are... indisposed, and so I must turn to you. And of course, as with any -proper- quest, a successful return will bring you glory and riches! Aye?" The muscular woman puts her hands on her hips. "A companion of ours made a discovery while scouting! Far away on the other side of the nation of Woodfield, down the Lane of Oaks and near the Grove of Birch, he found a dragon's den. One that must surely hold priceless relics of The Time Before." She pauses, then thrusts a rolled up... something at Fenris. "The map! Follow it, to glory, and bring me proof of this dragon's hoard."
Dal hears the coyote's conversation with the dog. "Redd, huh? Well-" The dragon stops as he notices the large being currently in the room. He blinks in surprise and taps his chin while looking at the giant. "Just like the tablets depicted." He turns back to Sigyn and smiles, "Allow to me to introduce myself, Sigyn. The name is Dal and being a soldier and or guard is my profession."
Esana looks at each of the other problem-solvers that have shown up, taking a subtle sniff in the direction of each and looking them over curiously, gaze lingering on some more than others, before snapping back to Sigryn as she speaks, listening carefully. "...A dragon? Interesting. Do you wish the dragon in question captured as well, or do we chae it off, if able?"
Myriam settles her hands in her pockets, tail wagging all the faster. "Oooh. A quest! A fetch! I am good at fetching!" She chimes happily, already turning for the door. "And adventure! I will find the thing and bring it here!" And with that, she's going! Up until she reaches the door. "Wait. What otherside of Woodfield? We talkin' north side? West side? South side?"
Fenris joins in the exuberant shouting, suddenly certain that he likes these people, even if they smell like barnyard! After the cheer dies down he grins at Taggart. "I come in for pie sometimes," he says, "I understand if you don't remember." The tanuki pulls his own wine goird from within his coat and takes a swig. Just to get in the spirit of things.
Aliasi huhs. "Hey, I've been a dragon before. Can be a lot of fun. And I make a hell of a distraction while you more normally-sized sorts can steal all the goodies, so long as I get a cut."
Dal quickly turns to Esana. "I am not the dragon in question. After all, that can't be what I was hired for." He quickly turns to the muscular Sigyn and nervously grins, "Right?" Adren raised a brow at the mention of the dragon hunting/treasure finding quest. Sounds like fun! "Count me in. I don't have anything to do... erh... anymore. Will be a good opportunity to meet new people too." He added with a grin, eyes sweeping over the numerous new faces.
Fenris joins in the exuberant shouting, suddenly certain that he likes these people, even if they smell like barnyard! After the cheer dies down he grins at Taggart. "I come in for pie sometimes," he says, "I understand if you don't remember." The tanuki pulls his own wine goird from within his coat and takes a swig. Just to get in the spirit of things.
Aliasi huhs. "Hey, I've been a dragon before. Can be a lot of fun. And I make a hell of a distraction while you more normally-sized sorts can steal all the goodies, so long as I get a cut."
Dal quickly turns to Esana. "I am not the dragon in question. After all, that can't be what I was hired for." He quickly turns to the muscular Sigyn and nervously grins, "Right?"
Adren raised a brow at the mention of the dragon hunting/treasure finding quest. Sounds like fun! "Count me in. I don't have anything to do... erh... anymore. Will be a good opportunity to meet new people too." He added with a grin, eyes sweeping over the numerous new faces.
"She said proof of the hoard, not the hoard itself, and certainly not the dragon!" Redd's on his hind feet, with a pawlike hand on Myriam's shoulder. He glances at Dal. "Nah, you don't look like the hoarding sort." So much for free food... Maybe there'll be a feast when they get back?
Taggart shifts his attention to Sigyn as she describes their quest, a wry grin forming upon his muzzle before looking back to Fenris. "Oh, right, right, right. Aye. I ramamber ya. Once'er'twice, aye." The large wolfman gives a shrug and falls quiet, drinking his beer and turning his attention to the bar around him while everyone else plans.
Esana chuckles at Dal's comment, before glancing over to Redd. "What better proof of the hoard than the hoarder/ Though this is all conjecture....it might be too big to drag back. So, to the east, then...?"
Aliasi poses the question to Redd, "What's the point of a dragon's hoard if not to take it for yourself? That's what treasure hoards DO. Also, I gotta pay for the latest bundle of salvaged building materials we're bartering for on the island. Being a priestess isn't all communing with the powers, you know."
Fenris looks over the map. "Corner of Oak and Birch, got it," he says with a grin, "Aaaaaaaaadventuuuuuure!" The big tanuki raises the old crayon and burger wrapper map over his head and starts off at a trot out the door. No specifics, just a vague direction. Yep, all American Tanuki, that one.
Myriam takes a moment to look at the map, trying to put it to memory before turning back towards the door. "Oh I see! Over in... The area. I am good at following the moon." She glances amongst the others before peering at Redd. "Okay, then! Time for adventure! Let's go! Fetching or not!" She'd heard all she needed to hear. She was going now! And going she is.
Sasha raises her ears at a ... "Dragon's den? Heh, my mom's been to quite a few dragon's dens, what makes this one different?" She asks, listening in on the conversation going on. "But, it sounds fun all the same." She comments giving a shrug. Her attention diverts around to those about, pondering about who all was about her. But then again, she'd signed up to work with random folks before.
"Oi!" Taggart hollars out, his gruff, gravely Irish lilt lifting up and over the crowd for a moment, "Everyone needs ta come back'ere and down a pint! Proper t'ing ta do bafore an adventure, as a party like this." The wolfman thumps over to the bar and orders a glass of beer for everyone, of appropriate sizes for each. "Down'em on tha way, iffun ya gotta, but yer drinkin' it." Then, he proceeds to pass out the drinks.
Dal thinks carefully to that hint while he takes a seat in one of the chairs. "Hmm, rising moon. Well, there's only one direction where that goes, however-." He shifts his gaze over to the group of individuals gathered. "I'm pretty sure that is in the west. We only need one thing though, right?"
Adren tried to take a look at the map, but it was already taken and moving ahead and back in the street. Shrugging and grinning, he moved next to Redd and gently pushed the coyote away toward the exit. "C'mon, let's go. We'll talk about rewards and such later. I think these Norses have enough feast to share whether we come back with a dragon or a lightning hammer." He kept pushing on Redd, until the guy would start moving.
Fenris stops cartoonishly mid-stride, spins on his heel and trots back to the pub, map still gripped in his hand to accept a tankard from Taggart. "Adventuuuuuure!" he cries again as he downs it.
Esana shakes her head and chuckles at the sudden chaos as Sigyn gives out the instructions. hearing the irish wolf yell out, she turns his way, but waits for the rest of the group's choice before moving, ready to follow if everyone but taggart leaves.
Sasha ears and tail twitch, "Umm, no thanks, never touch the stuff, doesn't agree with my tongue or nose." She says to Taggart before looking around to everyone else once more. "Well, if we are going to get going, lets get going, though I'm left wondering about this 'Dragon' more than anything else." She says.
Sigyn lets out a hearty laugh as the group starts to get in the proper mood, and she gives Taggart a grin at his demand. "It's different 'cause it is," she replies. "You're the night's questors. It's a great honor. May strength and wisdom guide you." The 'band' kicks into it's next horrific assault on aural decency, and the brawl in the back picks up another couple of combatants to replace one man nursing a broken jaw. The viking lady perches herself on a stool near the door, and begins enjoying her own pint while she goes about her own business again - sharpening a double headed axe that appears to have been chisled from a manhole cover.
"Erf, I ought not drink any alcohol, I'm supposed to stay sober..." The coyote stares at the offered drink, sniffing hesitantly and pushing it back towards Taggart. "I don't think you'd want a trickster getting any alcohol fueled schemes." He nods in agreement with Sasha, peering at the jackal curiously.
Myriam pauses at the door, again, but this time to frown. "I... Don't really drink. Nnn." She huffs and shifts about uncomfortably before taking the drink with her to sip at slowly as she moves back out the door to await the others. Or at least the one that took the map.
Dal suddenly gets a bright idea and stands up. "I might be able to get a good view of the area and I can take you guys anywhere very quickly by flight." He stares at the coyote for a second and grins. Too bad he doesn't know that attempting to change this dragon's form is pointless. Dedications bypass that little trick by changing back quickly. He slowly frowns as he remembers the giant in the room. He stares at the coyote for a second and grins. "Err, sorry miss. I can't take you to other places. You're too big for me to carry you."
Taggart squints his green eyes at Sasha a moment, "Ya realize yer jinxin' tha whole adventure, iffun ya don't, right? S'tradition'ere. So... iffun we fail, I'm blamin' you." He thunks the pint down in front of Sasha before moving on and passingout the rest. After they're handed out, a fairly intimidating growl given to any others who refuse, especially Redd. "It's a bloody pint. Yer not gettin' drunk from a single bloody pint, tha nanites'll save ya. Jus'drink." He shakes his head and heads to the door, his own pint in hand.
Esana sighs and shrugs at Taggart, before nodding in the direction of the door. "Nice as planning can be, we may want to leave before they start the party without us. Will just have to wing it once there." She heads to the door, pulling the trident she carries off the liip on her pack, before stating up, blinking at the giant outside, before moving to the side.
Adren looked at the offered mug of beer, a bit of a grimace onto his face. "Why, uh... thanks!" He took a sip of it, or at least pretended to, before putting the mug down and following after the large wolf, the tanuki and... pretty much everybody else. While still attempting to drag the coyote with him.
Aliasi takes the pint, although relatively speaking, it's probably a bit like drinking a thimble of liquid. But the gesture is the thing.
Dal hears the offer and puts his hands on his hips, "Shouldn't we save that for when we actually win this. I personally love feasts. It means I can get a nice large meal." He smiles brightly as he imagines the wonderful food that is sure to be given for success.
And with a -mostly- auspicious start to the evening, the Grand Quest is underway. The map is... poorly drawn, to put it nicely, but it is certainly suggestive of which direction to head in; those that live in Woodfield may recall an Oak Lane as well, out on the edge of Woodfield just before it turns to suburbs. It will be quite the walk, but after the noise and the chaos of the Golden Goat, the moonlit streets of Woodfield are relatively quiet and peaceful. For the most part, at least; it is only a short while spent following Fenris, and the map, before stumbling on a pack of roaming Female Commandos that seem to be in the process of looting another feral pack's nest.
Fenris trots happily along Oak lane with the map held out in front of him. Upside down, yes, but out in front of him. He does not seem to be looking at it anyway. The round tanuki is humming happily and occasionally singing quietly. Something about a hedgehog. "Must be close now!" he cheers.
Taggart thumps slowly along to the side and slightly behind of Fenris, drinking his pint while keeping his attention slowly roaming around them. A group of their size is likely to be undisturbed making it's way through the city, so the large wolf doesn't even think to pause for the group of Commandos. He keeps an eye upon them, sipping at his beer while his heavy tail swishes slowly behind him.
Myriam remains in her own little world for most of the walk. She'd spent most of her life on these streets, technically. It wasn't anything terribly new. Her hands tucked in her pockets and her eyes up on the sky above, though she does slow to a stop upon the sight of the commandos. Her tail stills its wagging, the wolf trying to trot quietly to the other end of the street and continue on, hoping they don't take notice.
Aliasi is pretty used to just... going where she pleases. One of the advantages of being freakishly huge.
Esana readies her trident as the ferals come into sight, but stays quiet and motions with her head for everyone to keep moving, tail nudging anyone along that stops as she murmers. "Just keep moving, don't make eye contact, and they should leave you alone."
Sasha made very little comments on the walk. paws striking on the broken up pavement as they walk along. "You know, I wonder what this place would have been like before everything started falling apart." Is about all she really says. Upon being confronted with a group of commandos, she meerly shakes her head, unfolds her pink insect-like wings. Beginning to flutter them, she looks almost like a canine butterfly as she takes to the air.
Adren was now pumped up about that adventure, moving up to the beginning of the lane, next to Fenris and Taggart. Amused by the tanuki's shenanigans, he let out a chuckle in his direction. "Man, you certainly know how to use a man! Better than I did earlier." His eyes caught the pack of commandos, but quickly moved back in direction of the tanuki.
Dal flies in the air following the group from above. The smile on his face is larger than ever at the moment. "I love flying!" He looks down and notices the group of Female Commandos in the way. "Really? They never learn do they? Oh well. Time for-" He realizes the nest is empty and that no one has lived in it for a long time. "Err, nevermind." He flies on with the group.
The nest was far from empty; the team of female commandos has neatly stacked a pile of food near some bushes in front of the building - it may have been a store front of some sort back in the day, before the window was broken out and the weather was left to do its thing to the interior. A whistle sounds from off to the side as the group approaches and the four commandos looting the building scatter, taking up hidden vantage points - although they are not perfectly hidden, and seem to be wavering between remaining hidden, and trying to ambush the party.
"I hope you mean map, you silly mutt." The coyote snickers as he trots along behind Adren. Always good to stay near familiar people. Especially when said person is a new friend. Or potential victim. Or as in this case, both. An ear swivels towards the movement of the commandos, and the coyote turns his head to watch them.
Fenris waves happily to the feral commandos. "Evening Ladies!" he says, "You just keep doing your thing! just passing through!" The tanuki hardly seems worried, but that spear on his back could be in his hands in an instant if needs be. "Nothing here worth bothering yourselves over," he prompts.
"Tha six of ya's really care ta tangle wit'us, yer welcome. Won't be a good night fer ya..." Taggart raises his voice to hollar out, "We got a giant, after all." The large wolf downs the last of his pint and then chuckes the empty glass further down the street, in the direction that they're heading.
Adren turned his head and blinked in direction of Redd. "Yeah. Map. That's what I said!" The dog was completely oblivious of the commandos' movements, instead just walking ahead, or at least following the map-holding tanuki. His tail was waggig, ears twitching, face smiling. He was having a good time and enjoying the walk so far.
Sasha looks down upon the scene developing and was just about to say something when she hears Fenris being... welcoming. Well, alright, worth a shot. Being nice. Never really got her anywhere, and then, Taggart starts, well, that was something at least. Well, maybe she could have some fun anyway. "La madre fottuto inferno della nostra liberiane dannati o prendo la milza e fin qui i vostri asini da gustare!" she yells out, growling behind every word from the air.
Dal notices some of the extra movement in the shadows. He grits his teeth in frustration and stares at the extra female commandos. "Okay, really? They can't be that stupid, right?" He continues to follow the group from high above the air. He flies over to Aliasi's ear and whispers, "You may want to be a bit careful. We might need a bit of extra force for some female commandos."
Esana chuckles softly at the tanuki, then nods to Taggart, speaking openly. "I'm sure they're not that stupid. Takes soem smarts to live out here successfully. Hurling yourself at a heavily armed group on the way to fight a dragon would just be silly..."
Aliasi backs up Taggart's move by grinning down and looking, well, particularly intimidating. While she no longer gets VERY small thanks to her Kaiju-ness, she does have some variability... and she kicks herself up by about ten feet.
Fenris seems to have moved on completely, ignoring the commandos and the various shouts and threats from his erstwhile companions. He seems to be composing a little song as he trots along, map still held out in front of him. "Dragon, dragon, dragon, dragon!" he sings. It is not a very good song.
Myriam pulls her hands out of her pockets, brushing back the sides of her trenchcoat to give her access to the weapons on her legs, should she need them. She doesn't draw, though. Not yet. She tries to keep going along her way, with Fenris. If they don't start anything, she won't! Of course, she's ready for if they -do- make a move, that much is clear.
After his small bit of cocky bluster, along with the backup-bluster from his traveling companions, Taggart tucks both of his paws into the pockets of his peacoat. Seems he's content with that for now, his heavy footpaws thumping along as he stays flanked to Fenris, free of worry toward either a fight starting or not.
With such a large group of people traveling together, the rest of the hour-long walk across town is similar - passing single agents or ones working in pairs, groups of ferals, and the various bits and pieces that make up the nightly activities of a broken society on the mend - is relatively undisturbed. Eventually the group finds Oak Lane, and, after heading in the wrong direction for several blocks, gets oriented properly and Birchgrove Circle - a small shopping area. True enough, the store in the center has a sign proclaiming it to be the Dragon's Den Comics Store and, miraculously, the glass of the front window is mostly intact, even if a bit cracked. The windows are boarded up, but a thin trickle of light marks the building as occupied.
"A comic store, seriously?" The coyote snickers, and dashes to the door. "I call all the miniatures!"
Dal stares at the comic book store and laughs, "Okay, a comic book store? Great, are we going to play extreme Dungeons and Dragons now?" He slowly stops laughing as he comes in for a landing in front of the comic book store. "This is too easy."
Esana blinks, then shakes her head with a sharky grin. "The dragons den....makes sense now. Though, doesn't light mean someone that isn't a feral is there...? Someone's home?"
Adren is running right behind Redd, trying to reach the door first. "Dream on, Redd! I'm getting the collector ones! Maybe they even have some dice too. Or even rule books!"
Sasha blinks a bit looking at the store front. "Miniatures? Dungeons and Dragons?" She asks, looking back at it once more, "Well, it is something and light doesn't always mean there are sane people inside. For all we know could just be some mutation that glows brighter than I do." She says, looking at the windows, "Well, who first?" She asks.
"Hot!" Fenris crows, "This is awesome!" The tubby tanuki races off after the others. "Dibs on Sandman!" he calls. The coon-dog can't remember what his real name is, but he remembers his favorite comics. How bizarre. "Oh, oh!" he calls, "And see if they have Bone!" He hurries up and knocks politely on the door before sticking his head inside, "Anyone home?"
Taggart approaches the comic book store with a bit of a smirk and shakes this head, then raises his brows as the two of them dash for the door. "Bloody coyotes..." The large wolf gives a small sigh and shakes his head, "Ya'll ger yerself eaten, I'm not savin' ya."
Dal hears Adren's words from behind and stops. He shouts out, "Wait! We are supposed to bring proof of the dragon and proof of his hoard, not steal everything there!"
Myriam tilts her head to the side, peering at the store. She's got no clue what miniatures are! And probably the wrong idea about 'dungeons and dragons' but all the same, she starts for the door after the others, not in any particular rush, save for the excitement of seeing something new.
Esana winces as the group rush for the door, before moving in with her spear out, ready to defend the foolish agents if needed.
Fenris was the first to stick his head in the shop's door, and so it is Fenris' head that is in the way when a heavy kick threatens to slam the door shut on him. Luckily the tanuki ducks his head back quick enough to avoid having it squished, and the doorframe rattles as it slams shut. A low, grumpy snarl comes from the other side, inside the building.
Adren jumped back, quite startled by the sudden attack on Fenris, but seeing as the Tanuki is alright, he exclaimed with a mockingly terrified tone. "Oh no! The final boss is a D&D nerd! He's probably a lvl 100 Warrior/Mage! We're doooooomed! Seriously though, we gotta get inside, I bet there are treasures in there."
Esana chuckles and shakes her head. "The shock serves you right. This is their territory. And if there is light, it's likely not a feral, but a survivor. It's gone from an attack or theft mission to negotiating."
Fenris blinks and stands at the suddenly slammed door. "Well," he says, "That wasn't very nice." The tanuki then proceeds to knock politely on the door. "Hi!" he says brightly, "Didn't mean to intrude. Can I come in? I like comics too, I think!"
Dal watches as the door nearly slams shut on the large tanuki's face. He laughs slightly, "I knew it wouldn't be that easy." He turns back to the rest of the group. "Well, which of us has the most physical force? We could have them open the door, or we could try another way." The golden scaled dragon notices the window. "We could go in through the window or get him out here. Anyone have a stink bomb?"
Myriam leans back when the door is slammed in their face, ears twitching under her large witch hat. "...Huh. Maybe they are friendly?" At Dal's question, she gives a shake of her head. "Not me. I have lots of firepower, but not much in the way of... Hitting things hard."
Sasha shakes her head, "Alright, if we aren't just going to destory the place, as you all seem quite fond of it, seems we need another way in." She says, wings fluttering once again, she looks up to the large one among them, "Any rough access, chimneys, sky lights, holes that you see up there?" She asks.
Taggart gives a hefty sigh at the attempted break-in, shaking his head slowly back and forth while thumping his way up to the door. The large wolf pushes past the rest of the group, not afraid to shove his companions to the side before he gets to the entrance, waiting while Fenris addresses the 'dragon' inside. "Clear out a bit, then... give'em sum room." He glowers at everyone crowded at the door, "An' quit talkin' about smokin'em out'er wutever else. Not tha best way ta get on their good side."
Fenris frowns over his shoulder at the rest of the groups. "Hey!" he says, "Nobody will share comics with you if you act like that!" He turns his attention back to the door. "Mind if I come in and chat?" he asks, carefully removing his spear and sword and passing them to Taggart, "I'm unarmed! And mostly cuddly!" The teddybear-esque tanuki does look pretty non-threatening.
Dal flies over to Taggart and whispers, "Have you tried telling him that we are knights and we want him to join our quest?"
Aliasi shakes her head. "Look, you figure out something, since it's a miracle the place is undamaged. But if you all can't do it peaceful, I'll be damaging the place."
Adren gave a bump in Fenris' side with his elbow. "Ask him if they have any rule books. And dice. Do you think they take creds...? Ask them about this too, please!" The heeler couldn't hide his excitement, tail being a blur behind him.
"I'll check the roof, maybe they've got a skylight or something!" The coyote tries to grab the side of the building and starts his climbing attempt.
As Redd makes his way to the corner of the building and begins inching his way up the side of the cinder block building - slowly, and painstakingly, managing to clear a good six inches (by jumping off the ground) - the door cracks open. A draconic head, sleek and angular and covered in glittering scales, peeks out and lets loose with a bellow. A billowing, shadowy morass as cold as an arctic gale flows out at the group, and although most of the group scatters out of the worst of it, a few of the Questing Adventurers are caught dead center in the blast. Then the door slams shut again.
Adren grinned from ear to ear when the door opened, opening his mouth to greet the, frankly quite impressive, dragon, when he found himself hit right in the face by a wave of cold. Wearing nothing his his shorts, the poor dog is quite affected by it, his gooey body starting to harden while frozen patches grow here and there onto his torso and face. Whimpering and trying to hug himself, the dog moved away from the door, really slowly since his body was now half-solid "R-R-Ruu--uud-d-de!"
Esana gasps in surprise at the sudden cold greeting, managing to leap out of the blast zone for it. As soon as she lands, she lets out a growl and dashes towards the door, raising her shoulder to slam half a ton of ticked-off shark against it. They had tried playing nice, now things got nasty.
Taggart squints his emerald eyes mostly shut as the dragon peeks out, one arm raising upward to ward off the dragon breath attack. After the shadowy swirl fades away, his arm slowly lowers and he lets out a hefty snort through his nostrils, his upper lip raising into a dangerous and low growl. "'n'ere I wuz gunna try ta be civil..." A hand shifts down to flick a switch upon a digital device upon his belt, before he backs up a few steps and starts to charge forward at the big, glass window...
Sasha takes to the air at seeing the dragon head pop out, giving quite a growl as she flies upward to avoid the breath! "Alright, enough is enough." She says. Flying up to the roof, she looks about and spoots... something, not quite sure what it is, but it is attached to some kind of tubing that leads inside. She gets over to it, takes a grip and tries to rip it open enough to permit entry.
Dal backflips into the air, but feels the sudden chill and lands on his back. He rolls back to his feet and flies up into the air. He calls out to the coyote on the wall. "Okay, you might want to rethink that plan unless you like becoming a yotecicle."
Myriam blinks in surprise as the head pokes out of the door. As soon as she sees it opening it's mouth, she leaps out of the way, skittering to the side to avoid it while drawing each of her laser pistols from their thigh holsters. She takes aim on the door, in case anything decides to poke through again. It won't work twice!
Fenris tumbles effortlessly to the side of the door, rolling back to his feet and stomping back up to the portal. "Hey!" he cries, "Not cool at all! Even if you are Dragonlance and Wizards of the Coast Canon!" The tanuki reaches to take his weapons back from Taggart, then makes an almost cartoonish wind up with his hips before swinging them forward with force. Suddenly, a pair of wreckingball sized testicles balloon out from his crotch to slam into the glass.
Aliasi shivers but isn't badly hurt by the burst of cold, but she's distracted enough to not take an immediate action.
Sasha rips the entire decrepet and, to her, unknown machine off the top of the building to casually toss it over the side. A vent! She knew what vents were! She ponders a bit, putting her muzzle to the open shaft and exhaling her toxic breath down into it.
And so the party has started; Fenris winds up and mashes his massive balls into the cracked pane of glass covering the store front, just before Taggart slams his weight into the wooden boards and breaks into the building interior. Esana breaks the front door of the shop down, clean off of its hinges, and as the group moves in to assault the poor territorial dragon, the interior of the shop is revealed. There are numerous shelves, although only one of them is still standing; a large nest of shredded paper is sheltered between two of the bookcases leaning against eachother in the middle of the room. Small bits of metal are scattered around the floor - Taggart even steps right on one, painfully, as he recovers his balance - and an electric camp light set up on the counter flickers and casts shadows about the room, faintly illuminating the dust and foggy air falling from the ceiling. Meanwhile, down the street, a sharp whistle sounds - although the noise of the break in covers it.
Dal notices Sasha rip off the top. "Well, that works but I better go do something to make sure she doesn't kill the occupant." He flies over to Sasha and yells out with his hands on his hips. "We aren't supposed to kill him. How are we going to cover this up or even get in?"
The shop's crystalline dragon occupant has retreated to her nest and is hissing, rough-hewn wings spread, a glitter of light refracting from the shards of crystal lifting from her wings.
Myriam scoots a little close to the building, but she doesn't enter with the rest of them. Not yet, anyway. She peeks inside, certainly, but she remains at the ready, keeping her eyes on the street. She could've swore she heard something... She brings her pistols up again, back to the door frame.
Fenris stares at the shredded pile of papers in horror as his tanuki endowments vanish with a rather strange slurp. Then his teddy bear visage darkens and he advances on the hissing dragon. "Shame on you!" he roars as he stomps across the room, "How could you ruin perfectly good comics like that?" It is rather comical to see the fat tanuki bearing down on the dragon.
Sasha looks down the hole... no real change all in all? Maybe too big, or too long? In either case she gets up and looks over to Redd as he continues to make his way up, offering a hand to help him the rest of the way up, or a wing if needed. "Well, seems that they beat down the door while I was up here, oh well." She says, so much for an unusual entrace.
Esana doesn't hesitate a moment, resuming her dash directly at the hissing dragon, building up momentum as she turns her head to the side, one arm raising to partially protect herself from the incoming shards of crystal, though she doesn't slow or otherwise hinder her own attack, counting on being able to take at least one hit,
Dal hears Fenris's yelling and flies down over to the ground. He lands near the corner of the room so as to avoid the incoming attack entirely. "I better help them out so that they don't get hurt." The golden scaled dragon focuses and raises a large protective shield onto Esana as she charges in. "This should protect you a bit. It's mirror shield."
Taggart growls as he lands on the inside of the store, grimacing further as sharp metal pierces into his paws. The large wolf manages to shake most of it off, standing up and taking a quick look at what's happening. He huffs and gives a small scowl, noticing the impending attack from the dragon and Fenris' apparent ignorance to it. While the tanuki looks big, he isn't sure how much of a hit he can take, so Taggart decides to try and put himself between Fenris and the dragon, instead.
"Thanks for the hand." The coyote grabs the offered paw to pull him up. Once on the rooftop proper, the coyote stares at the open ventilation shaft. "Think I could fit down there?" He points at the remains of the old HVAC system.
Aliasi has had enough of the fancy skulking about all these others are doing, plus, that asshole tried to freeze her! She just walks over to one side of the building and... kicks the damn wall down.
The air of the shop has a sweet, musty smell to it now, and it is cloying enough to induce coughing fits for those inside; Esana is a bit distracted from the shoddy air quality, however, as her headlong charge means she takes the full brunt of the flechette blast of diamond-edged missiles. Painfully shredded, but certainly not stopped, the shark girl barrels full bore into the dragon. And then the wall buckles, blocks scattering throughout the room as a giant foot kicks a few of them loose.
As distracting as the fight - and the impending demolishment of the building - may be, Myriam and Sasha notice a set of flitting shadows moving from building to building, approaching the group; Redd's contemplation of the vent - about half his size and filled with poisonous air, but oh, so tempting - is shaken by the tremor that passes through the building at the kick.
Dal watches as Aliasi kicks the wall down and just stares at Aliasi. He shouts out to her. "Thank you, madam!" He looks over to the shark girl and frowns as he notices that the mirror wave didn't help much at all. "Crap, why can't I ever get it right when it is needed?!" The angry dragon stares at the crystal dragon and begins charging energy into his hands. He carefully gets his aim ready. "Steady, steady. Almost there."
Fenris is not even slowed as Esana storms through and takes the dragon's blast full force. He only stamps on, drawing his spear and walks right up to the dragon before smacking it across the snout with the butt end of the ornate spear. "Bad!" he shouts, "Bad dragon!" He must be out of his mind.
Sasha feels the building starting to shake and takes to the air, looking at the side of the building as part of it comes down... "Il cazzo era che per, che cosa stai facendo!?" she shouts, still holding onto Redd as she flies! "Stupido gigante! Calciare il negozio mentre ci sono persone che si trovano all'interno non Lipil piMuscular luminoso al mondo le cose! Inoltre, c'Liproba ci vuole!" She continues to shout, looking about as there seemed to be something darting about!
Esana snarls as the crystal shards rip at her exposed half, but at this point she's too angry at the dragon to care much, her own adrenaline rush, and tendancy to lose her temper during rut, along with her natural toughness helping her focus as she leaps for the dragon's back, trying to flip over with the dragon into a pin!
Seeing as how Fenris has completely ignored Taggart's attempt to protect him, the wolf pulls himself around and gets a better look at things. It was chaos. The large canine just shakes his head and pulls himself back to his feet, thumping back toward the front door. Apparently, they had things under control with the assault of the Dragon's Lair.
Dal notices the shark get in front of the crystal dragon and shouts, "No!" He struggles to angle the shot out of the way and hopefully onto the shoulder of the enemy. His aim shakes as he realizes something. "I can't do it." The golden scaled dragon aims the blast to the left of them and fires out a large shot directly to the left of the grappling pair. "I can't risk hurting my friends."
Myriam stares at Aliasi, brow furrowed as the building's wall is kicked in. She starts to open her mouth to say something, but falls quiet when something darts around the corner of her eye. She starts to scoot away from the building, look for a more defensible spot.
Fenris continues to berate the dragon, even as Esana launches into her attack. "You are the worst dragon ever!" he shouts, "Didn't even protect your hoard! I demand you hand over your dragon license!" All the while he is smacking the crystaline beast with his spear, not doing any sort of damage, or actually attacking, just being loud and annoying.
"Miss, I can't understand a word your saying, but please don't let go!" Very thankful he hadn't yet let go of the jackal's hand, Redd stares at the surrounding city. "What're those?" The coyote points to the movement with his free hand.
Dal punches the ground in rage. "All this power and I still can't help them." He notices a stray comic book from out of the corner of his eye. It's a Marvel Comic Book featuring Thor. "Well, someone better get this before everything is gone." The solar dragon quickly grabs the comic and notices a nice safe place to put the comic. "Perfect!"
Aliasi crouches to get a better look at the hole she made. It'd be easy enough to just tear the damn place down, but that might devalue whatever's hitten inside.
The crystalline dragon snarls and snaps, claws scratching at Esana and teeth trying to snap Fenris' spear. However, she can't break free of Esana's hold, thrashing against the shark. Another couple of blocks crumble from the wall, and then a trio of commandos bolt from an allyway, working together to catch Aliasi from the side and knock the giantess off her feet, while two more run up to look in the hole Aliasi created in the wall.
Dal punches the ground in anger, "Why can't I help anyone!?" He remembers the objective all of a sudden. "Wait, I have to find a comic book, but where would a dragon nerd keep his most prized possession. Its bed!" He instantly flies over to the counter and begins searching through the wreckage. "It has to be here somewhere."
Fenris stops his annoying, flailing attacks. "There's nothing human in there," he snorts, flipping his spear over, finally ready to fight. The pudgy tanuki may look cute and silly, but he holds that spear competently. He shoots in, trying to score a jab under the creature's jaw. Maybe subduing it would give the poor soul a chance to snap out of it.
Taggart glances over his shoulder as he hears the commandos suddenly bolt into the building as he's walking out the front door, making him pause in his step. He lets out a hefty sigh and groan, slowly shaking his head while he unbuttons his peacoat and folds it up, setting it to the side of the entrance. A paw moves to his shoulder, rolling it about in the socket while his neck slowly pulls one way and then the other, stretching. Then, he moves further out into the street and crouches down, digging claws from both paws in while he sits and waits for the opportunity to hunt down anyone that might make it out.
Esana snarls and snaps right back at the dragon, only meaner, flexing as she tries to keep it's wings and head still, and outright bully it into submitting!
Sasha blinks a bit, figuring out after Redd says he can't understand her, opens her muzzle to say something, only to notice that now there was a monsterous sized humanoid coming down to the ground. Following what Redd wants, she decides gaining some height would be a good idea... "Well...Mr... or Miss... Coyote, I think perhaps now might be a good time to improvise. Do you have anything on you we might be able to use to fool our friends back at the pub that we found a treasure?" She asks, currently holding the coyote and herself roughly 300 ft above the scene.
"I've got plenty of shiny things, though, I don't know what sort of dragon it was, did you see them?" The coyote grimaces as he stares downward. "Could we get a bit closer to the ground though? ... Maybe I could whittle some dice out of a log or stone or something for that Valkyrie."
Dal notices a camp light and groans. "Maybe this will work." He takes the camp light and nearly begins to run, but he stops when he notices the comic book as well. "This is much better." It reads Mysteries of the Universe #96. He places the comic book inside of his armor for safe keeping. He flies right outside of the building through the door. "Sweet, I better tell everyone, but how will I get their attention?"
Aliasi sits up, shaking her head... and then sees the poor fools who tripped her. She gets to her feet. Bitches must PAY, and the others can handle the damned dragon! Time to stomp these girls a new asshole!
Sasha shakes her head, "Well, it was some kind of dragon, shiny, crystal like. Do you have anything like that?" She asks, and sure, we can get a bit closer to the ground." She says, coming back down to about 100 feet. "Now, do you think we should try to help them out or... wait... what is the giant doing?" She asks, waiting for Redd's responce.
The rest of the group was still around. Aliasi probably had the commandos handled, and it seemed mostly quiet otherwise. She starts towards the shop and pokes her head in, ears perked under her hat. "Uhm. Find... Anything?" She asks, tail flicking behind her. "There was no backup or ambush waiting outside! It was kinda boring, really."
Dal smiles, "Perfect." He flies over to Aliasi and yells, "I have the comic book. We can go at any time." He stares at the attractive amazon with a serious look. "Tell them that I have the comic book so that we can get going." He looks back at the hurt allies and turns to Aliasi, "I'm not leaving them behind and you can get everyone's attention."
Aliasi shakes her head. "Who cares about the damn comic book?!" she yells, loud enough for the rest to hear. "I got idiots to smash!" She charges after the commandos, but the message does get out. In a manner of speaking.
The trio of commandos try to knock Aliasi off balance again as she starts getting up, but wihtout the element of surprise it is a harder task; the ground (and the weakened building) shakes as she begins stomping and kicking, trying to catch the smaller and more agile women. Inside the Dragon's Den, the diamond drake tries to snap at Fenris again, only to end up lunging forward as Fenris jabs his spear into her neck; it is only moments later until she stops struggling. Of the two commandos that entered the building, one snatches at Fenris' spear, but is unable to wrest the ornate weapon from the tanuki. Given the poor condition of the building's interior, they do not linger - instead aborting their failed snatch and grab, and rushing out the front.
"Err, shiny, crystal dragon... I've got loads of scales from back when I was a diamond drake. Think they'll accept that as proof of beating the dragon? Or do you think I should fashion em into crystal dice?" The coyote pulls out a handful of shiny scales from a small bag, holding one up where Sasha might see.
Taggart wraps his tongue around a large canine tooth and sucks at it in annoyance. He squints at the two commandos coming out the front, but his ears perk as Aliasi and Dal shout about, making the large wolf give a hefty sigh. Standing, he slowly pads toward the front door as the pair of females rush out, snapping his teeth and growling in intimidating fashion, but only in passing. He leans, picks up his peacoat and then tugs it back on before moving back out into the street.
Myriam scrambles back at the fleeing commandos, starting to raise a pistol but thinking better of it and letting it drop again. Taggart's exit is a more welcome sight, though. "Helloooo. You okay? You don't look too happy," the wolfess says, rocking back and forth on her paws before leaning over to peek into the shop again. It's not looking stable enough for her to want to risk going in there.
Sasha looks at at the scale before looking at the poor fight going on below. The stomping, "Mr. Coyote, that building isn't going to last long, do you think we should help them? And yes, maybe forging those into dice or something would work." She says.
Fenris snorts at the fleeing commandos and stows his spear, then draws an shining, otherworldy sword to shear off one of the dragon's horns. "Jerk," he says, stowing the horn in his coat before looking around for anything that might have survived the dragon.
Dal flies out the door and slightly higher into the air. He keeps an eye on the coyote and looks back to the building and yells, "Come on! We got what we came for and the building won't last much longer." He looks back and wonders if he should just drag the shark out of there instead.
Esana grins at the tanuki at the well-timed stab, panting a bit as she relaxes her grip somewhat. She hardly has any time to react to the snatch-and-grab attempt from the commandos, thoug hshe does snarl at them as they retreat. As far as she can tell, their mission has been a success. That said, she grunts as she gets to her feet, wincing as the pain starts to hit her now that the fight is over. She hesitates for just a moment, then grabs the crystal dragon and hauls her along best as able towards the hole in the wall, dropping her off just outside the soon-to-collapse building.
The coyote watches as his fellow adventurers leave the building. "I think we'd be safe to go turn some of these in, I bet I could make at least three or four crystal die before we arrive." The coyote rolls some of the scales around in his palm. "I think they might believe us if we said the rest of them died... Maybe."
Sasha looks on at the sight and looks to the coyote. "Well, I'm not sure if this is what RSX meant when they told me to take time off, but this has been fun." She says, "If you think that is a good idea, well, why not?" Flying off back for the bar, still holding the coyote by the wrists, "My name is Sasha by the way, Sasha Arnsworth." She says.
Fenris manages to scoop up a few of the miniatures that had been scattered about the floor like caltrops before the continued tremors of the stomping giantess causes a rather unpleasant crack to sound from... somewhere, in the building's walls. With their prospects of quick and easy loot dashed, the rest of the commandos scatter as well, leaving the group of erstwhile heroes to sort out the mess and head back to the mead hall. Although, of course, Sasha and Redd have a pretty substantial head start.
Not wanting to waste a moment, Sasha heads directly for the Golden Goat, being a bit careful to set Redd down before landing properly herself, "Well, after you, I'm betting you will tell a far better story than I could." She says, holding the door open for Redd.
As the coyote walks in, he tosses several of his freshly crafted crystal dice towards the Valkyrie, grinning as they roll to a stop in front of her on the bar's counter. "Found these in that den, also a bag full of the dragon's scales, if you want proof they were dealt with. Sadly, I'm not certain that our companions made it out alive. The building collapsed as we got outside, and I wasn't able to find them in the rubble..." As Redd steps closer, he places his bag of scales on the counter next to the dice. "There might be more stuff buried in the building, but we got this much out before the roof caved in."
Dal marches into the room with everyone following closely behind him. He marches over to Sigyn and smiles a toothy grin as he takes the comic book out of his armor and presents it to Sigyn. "That nerd was a diamond drake. A diamond drake that apparently knew frost breath and it froze three of us here. The tanuki broke open the door by swelling his balls to the size of boulders and swinging them like a flail, while the wolf and the shark charged at the dragon and defeated it." The solar dragon frowns slightly, "I tried to help but I nearly shot my own comrade my mistake when she engaged in taking down the beast in hand to hand combat. She is very impressive and I'd highly recommend her for the Einkerjar if I could. The coyote on the other hand, I would only recommend him for work with Loki considering that he did absolutely nothing except hide with Sasha like a complete coward. The building nearly collapsed on us with just how much damage the fighting caused." The Solar Dragon stares at Redd. "Seriously, we nearly died back there. How could you do that?"
After collecting what toys he could find, Fenris trots out to join Esana by the dragon's body. With the nanites being what they are, that comics killer would certainly be up and about again before too long. The tanuki sticks his tongue out at the beast, but carefully places a packet of cookies by the dragon's snout before turning and starting the trek back to the Golden Goat.
By the time he arrives with the others, his good humor has returned, along with his contented little tanuki smile. "ADVENTURE!" he shouts, holding the horn he had harvested above his head! He is completely unaware that he has arrived during the story of his own demise.
Myriam slips in with the others, though she hangs back to listen to the others chat with Sigyn. She doesn't want to be impolite and interrupt! But she's certainly sticking around to inquire about future adventures. This was fun! Even if she didn't get to shoot anything.
Taggart thumps his way along everyone else back to the Goat, quiet and somber, but with an underlying bit of restrained rage and frustration at something or another, visible in the twitching of his golden-red tail. When they arrive, he slips just inside the door and watches the scene unfold, standing near Myriam with his arms crossing, leaning to a wall.
Esana follows behind the others, plucking little slivers of crystal out of her arm and shoulder, here nanites having healed up ost of the wounds that don't have objects in the way. She grins as she listens to the end of Redd's story, then Dal's rather angry half-rant. "....All that being said, mission successful, dragon was defeated and left outside the collapsed building, and we got a nanite-shielded comic for it, likely a collectors item. No gold, but, it is the twenty-first century."
Sigyn, the other Einherjar and patrons present (and not brawling, it seems like that fight is -still- going on, and up to a dozen or so people now), and even some of the waitstaff have drawn up to listen to Redd as the coyote describes their journey. There are cheers, and clapping, and the proper exclaimations as they listen - and then Dal and the rest walk in! "WHAT?!" Sigyn bellows as Dal and Esana talk. "No!! So not only was there an epic fight, but you came back from the Underwold... and with great treasure! Bottled lightning, AND a relic of our ancestors." There is a hearty round of cheering, the Great Artifacts are reverently inspected, and then the party kicks back into high gear. It is certain that the story will live on here, at least for another night or two, and all of the returning champions are welcomed to drink and feast.
Fenris gladly shares his part in the story with anyone willing to listen, though he does not embellish very much. Mostly he just takes up every offer of mead from the Einherjar and Valkyeries. Turns out, tanuki have almost as much alcohol tolerance as legendary vikings! The chubby tanuki goes on to get into several wrestling matches and one rather remarkable belching contest!
"Oi! Yote! Ya do sumthin' like that again... an'yer gettin' ate." Taggart shakes his head, growling softly and grumbling before he turns and heads out the door.
Dal looks at the coyote with a menacing stare and places the camplight right next to Sigyn. He walks over to everyone who helped out and smiles, "Thank you, everyone. Please enjoy the feast, you all earned it more than Redd, Sasha, and I did." He quietly walks out the door with a smile on his face. "Eventually, that coyote will get old and his luck will run out." He feels a kick in his womb. "Seriously?! I can't believe no one noticed I was pregnant for most of the time." He walks out the door with his belly swaying with each step.
