Winter 25, 6840 CA
Wanderlust
The group make their way back to the Wanderlust. Most of them (except for Yuriel) are in various stages of wounded. Most people can't help but notice that it looks like Valia got mauled by a poodle. But the only canines Valia is after are the two dogs they left at Zed and Yuriel's apartment. When she asks Ava about it, she's given a big dose of bad news. Apparently the two dogs have caused a huge mess and the landlady is furious! Ava is fairly convinced the two kids are going to get evicted.
Meanwhile, Zed sees Havmos Norwind having a discussion with a new face and she decides to listen in. The man he's talking with is Horatio Dartlip, a private investigator. The two are trying to decide how to go about recovering the Aetherstone that Havmos's aunt is supposed to have. Horatio thinks they'll need some help and suggests that they include the person that's listening in on them. Havmos is delighted to see the group and wants to get them involved in snooping Aunt Ilyana's manor. The date is to be determined still, but he offers a 1000 gold pieces for their help. The group agrees.
Bruno was talking with another orc that abrutply leaves when the group arrives. He tells the group that to meet at the Wanderlust that same night, since that's when a trade will be going down at the docks. That gives the exhausted party just enough time to get a long rest in and get a few other odds and ends taken care of.
Paw Patrol
Valia and Wally make their way over to the apartment to reclaim the dogs. There's a crowd gathered now that are all lodging complaints at the landlady. The barking dogs can be heard a block away. Valia poses as Animal Rescue and comes to collect the dogs. The landlady rants that it's going to be at least a 100 gold pieces in damages. Valia nervously takes the dogs away, though she and Wally have to take some extra measures to get them to cooperate.
They take the dogs to the manor and use some meat to lure them into the basement and lock them down there. But it only takes a few minutes before the dogs start howling and the two are unable to get their rest. The dogs are released and they form an actual dogpile on the floor of the cold, abandoned manor while wandering where the hell the others are. Weren't they supposed to meet here at their new commune?
The Dadnapping
Zed and Yuriel see that Onzo is entertaining some people, but it turns out it's rehearsal for a play that is taken from the pages of Mordo's Mysterious Mythologies. Onzo offers a starring role to Zed but she declines and sends Yuriel instead. Yuriel is offered the place of a prop coordinator backstage. Yuriel insists that he already has a job. Onzo is skeptical but keeps the offer open.
Ursa takes Zed and Yuriel over to her place now that they're technically homeless. The front door's window pane has been busted in and signs of intrusion and damage are immediately obvious. While Yuriel and Zed casually snack on stale bread, they help Ursa survey the scene. There's evidence that Roph Douglas had returned home, but he's no longer there. Moreover, there's blood on the ground and his favorite hat. Ursa is beside herself with grief. Why did she have to buy that spice pouch!
The group all meet up again at the Manor and Ursa explains the kidnapping. Since they already have a plan to attack the dock hideout that night, there's little more they can do but wait. Valia apologizes to the two siblings and gives up all of her remaining gold and vows to pay off the bill with their previous landlady. Yuriel and Zed are willing to accept this, though Yuriel seems somewhat perturbed at Valia recompensating him for his boxers.
The Cop and the Criminal
The group head to the Wanderlust to find Bruno, but are instead confronted by Sgt. Angelica Steele of the City Watch. She's been sent be the Watch Commander to recruit Valia after hearing about her deeds rescuing Havmos Norwind. Valia is reluctant to join just yet, since they're in the middle of something. Angelica mentions that she actually had come looking for them to help with a job. Coincidentally, she's aware of the very same deal happening at the docks. She's even willing to pay the party 20 gold pieces per person to help her subdue the criminals and uncover any wrongdoing they're up to. The group agrees, since it's basically free money and extra help.
Bruno is reluctant to team up with a cop, but Valia smooths things over and gets assurances that Bruno will be able to walk away after. Everyone is agreed and they make their way to the docks. Bruno provides a verbal layout of the warehouse and options for how to get in. The group decide to enter through the side entrance where carriages are usually stowed away. They only spot a few thugs inside, but their point of entry is denied when Zed breaks her lockpick set inside the lock at the door. They improvise by using a docked cargo boat to give them access to go around. They immediately run in swinging from both sides to try to silently take down both thugs.
The first thug goes down. But before they can silence the second one, she breaks from the group and heads towards the stairs screaming there's intruders. Immediately more goons start investigating and the group find themselves clashing with enemies on the first and second floors of the building. Valia heads into the warehouse and immediately dodges out of the way of a bullet directed at her. With the help of Yuriel and Zed, they're able to clear out the first floor. Wally tries to help, but finds himself in a dizzying labyrinth of stacked supplies that he can't see over.
Up on the second floor, Bruno deals with some pesky goblins and soon has Ursa for backup. She chases down a goblin, but the goblin quickly realizes he's way in over his head and engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse as he keeps managing to remain hidden. Eventually when Bruno and Yuriel start to catch up, the goblin dashes out of a window to flee the scene. They decide not to chase after him, since the gang leader already headed downstairs and finding Roph Douglas is far more urgent.
That's a Big Troll
The group start making their way to the basement, but Angelica elects to stay behind so that the criminals can start being restrained before they wake up and try to escape. The group head down with Bruno to the basement. Instead of finding dear old dad, they find the back of a ten foot troll that is listlessly standing about. There's nowhere to go but forward! Zed rushes forward to stab the Troll, but is only able to manage to prick it with her dagger. She has now got the troll's attention.
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