Back to Paulding Depot (private for Jen, Breila and HS.)

[Jenara]

"Of course. Lead the way." Angel says with a grim smile, "We want to get rid of it as much as you do." She urges Praesul on without stopping.

[Breila]

Liri follows the others. Hopefully, there will be time for a visit to the baths after all...

[Headshot]

{ooc} if papa knows the way then he will lead otherwise he will follow as well.

[Stik]

Ash and Grouch both stand there, looking at Angel and occasionally at each other. After this pause goes on slightly too long, Grouch speaks up. His voice is calm, and not unkind, which is a clear indication that sarcasm is coming: "Perhaps we all should ride across town on destriers, so you don't stand out?"

[Jenara]

(I forgot we were inside the town already)

"Ahh." Angel blushes, sliding off the horse, "Walking would make more sense."

[Stik]

The walk across town is fairly brief, and ends in a walled courtyard off to one side of Viletti's house. Viletti's clerk runs to fetch the man, who arrives a short time later. Fraso arrives a moment later. Spotting the cloth-wrapped corpse atop the pack horse, the man suddenly looks quite worried.

"Octo's report, sir," says Ash. "And a package."

Viletti looks at the pack horse then at the adventurers: "And what is this package?"

[Jenara]

"The Package is for Master Fraso." Angel leans over to the corpse, revealing the tattooed face of the 'Dwarf' creature. "If I may talk to him in private for a moment?"

"The help of Octo, Ash and the others has been invaluable." She motions to the former Soliders, "Thank you."

[Stik]

"I assure you, given that Master Fraso is my guest, and given that men under my command are currently deployed in connection with this matter, that Master Fraso has not secrets from me in this." Coming from anyone else, such words would sound arrogant, but from Viletti they seem more than reasonable.

In any case, Fraso does not express any desire for privacy in this. He looks at the dwarf without distaste and pronounces: "Aaah, the late commander of the group that assaulted us in the clearing. Pity we cannot discuss this with him. I shall have to do a thorough investigation, but I see nothing unusual about this one.
"Tell me, did you find anything of interest?"

[Jenara]

"We encountered many strange things my Lord.." Angel says with a nod towards Viletti, "The most notable would be a strange creature, the only way I could describe it would be a giant bug.. Under the control of another." (Who had the control panel? They would have brought it).

"Plus.. A Portal, a strange glowing purple portal, perhaps the way these creatures appeared?" She sighs, "I had a thought, that perhaps the creature we were carrying was a trial, or an accident? We found no signs of how it got here because it came by yet another portal...?"

[Breila]

Liri clears her throat and spakes up. "If I may voice my opinion, since the body we carried here was asked from us by creatures who looked quite similar, the main point of taking it from us was perhaps to keep us from investigating it further, from finding out what it really was. Also, I do agree with Angel that it may have come into this world through a portal. Perhaps a war in another world was taken into ours for some reason."

[Jenara]

"A war... I hadn't considered that." Angel muses.

[Stik]

[OOC] The object recovered from the creature was an ornate collar, although there were a number of hooks or barbs on it that penetrated the creature's hide. It is only an assumption that its function was to control the creature. [/OOC]

A shadow of apprehension crosses Fraso's face at Angel's words, which flashes to something resembling panic at the mention of the word 'war,' but he recovers quickly and covers fast. "I am sure that we will find out the particulars of this situation soon enough, once qualified experts have examined the evidence at hand. I have sent word to the MageGuild in the capital by arcane means, and anticipate a response soon."

"Octo has secured the site, sir, and the purple apparatus, and will not let anyone at it. Boomer is there as well, and as we were leaving there was talk of him taking a look at the thing, to see how it might be demolished, if necessary," Ash says.

[Jenara]

"There were a number of injured creatures near the portal, along with some guards.. we dispatched them but encountered some injuries." she adds, "While I do not seek to direct, your presence there may be prudent."

"Do we have your leave to rest, and head back at first light?" she asks, "Our mounts could do with some rest."

[Headshot]

and it would be helpful to restock up on some supplies too

[Stik]

"Ash, you and Grouch can head back in the morning. Bring the mercs to see the quartermaster tonight with any requests. Within reason, of course. Nothing you would not feel comfortable requisitioning. Then get them lodging. And a bath," Viletti says. Then he adds: "Good work today."