They'd left from a disused landing on one side of the moat, hiding in the cargo bay of a small boat, metal all around to help the passengers hide.  They had arrived not too far from Mao's ultimate destination, but this place was a higher-security cargo dock.  They'd have to be careful.

"So what's the plan, boss?" Enrico asked.

"I want you to stick close to me," Mao said as she cast a spell, before taking Enrico's arm.

(OOC: Illusion on the both of them, no animal features, different faces and normal clothes.)

"Got it," said Enrico.  He stuck close to her.

"So... which way?"

The lab was off to the north, in some kind of research park.

"This way, lover-boy," Mao said, pulling him in the right direction.

The lab was up ahead; it looked like it didn't have obvious guards, but there were plenty of security cameras and probably some other sensors.

"We're going to need to find you a nice dark corner to hide in," Mao said. "So I can find us a good entry point."

"No problem," said Enrico.  He faded into the shadows, his fur proving to be excellent natural camouflage.

"Mao took out her camera detector and cast a spell that made her invisible before going hunting for a good entrance.

Investigation or Int check

(OOC: Investigation Roll -Mao Hojo rolled 7 using 1d20+6. rerolling. Mao Hojo rolled 25 using 1d20+6)

There was a service entrance, used for the disposal of waste.  That would probably do the job.

Mao headed back to the alley to inform Enrico about the entrance and lead him back there, this time using an illusion of a couple of dogs.

Enrico looked the door over.

"Okay," he said.  "Do you need me to do something about the lock, or have you got it?"

"I've got it," Mao said as she cast a spell to weaken the lock so it can be pulled apart.

Enrico pulled the door open; they were in, and no alarms sounded-- yet.

"Stay close," Mao said, using her illusion spell to make it look like they were two mice.

So far, they managed, but there were footsteps ahead of people moving around.  They'd have to be careful...

Stealth rol, plz

(OOC: Stealth roll - Mao Hojo rolled 18 using 1d20+10)

So far, it was working, and they were able to navigate the corridors and avoid the footsteps... but this place was a maze.  They might need to figure out how to navigate, or figure out what their true target was.

"We need a map," Mao whispered to Enrico. "Let's try finding a computer or something."

Enrico looked around.

"Over here," he said.  "Some kind of terminal."

"You any good at this or should I try?" Mao asked.

"I can give it a shot," said Enrico.  "Anything you can tell me about what we're looking for?"

"Look for chemical storage or some sort of hidden area," Mao said.

After a few moments, Enrico pulled something up.

"Maybe 'Waste Storage'?" he suggested.  "It's close to a shipping dock."

"Let's try it," Mao said.

Waste storage proved to be a gigantic doorway that was shut, with some kind of roll-up door, and a smaller side door with a card swipe and keypad.

Mao took out her device to see where any cameras where.

It appeared that there were cameras watching the larger door, but that was all.

"Let's try the roll up door first," Mao said, making sure they were out of the range of the cameras before weakening any locks it had.

Her spell took effect; the locks were now extremely fragile.

Mao turn the illusion back on and lifted the door up.

The room was full of a variety of barrels, containers, and dumpsters full of assorted glassware, computer parts, and stranger things.

Mao showed Enrico a picture of the barrels the chemical was in, so they could look for it.

Investigation check

(OOC: Investigation Roll -Mao Hojo rolled 16 using 1d20+6)

There appeared to be some kind of waste drums that fit the code in a back corner of the storeroom.

Mao checked to see if they were sealed.

They were; she could probably open one, especially with Enrico's help, but of course there might be some risk.

Mao got out so protective gloves and the other gear to get a sample.

"We'll need to be very careful here. This will be very dangerous. Slowly open it," she said.

"Right," said Enrico.  He opened; something glowing and... moving oozed out.

"Why the hell is it moving!" Mao said, pulling back.

"How the heck should I know?" asked Enrico.

It was moving, but not quickly, at least.  Just slowly oozing along, while strange things moved inside it.

Mao got down to examine, while keeping her distance.

"I wonder if it's someone sealed inside?"

"Dunno," said Enrico.  "If you want a sample, though, here it is."

"It's moving though. There/s no way I can take a sample of that, it's way too dangerous," Mao said.Was whatever it was still moving?

It was moving slightly, but appeared to be slowing down.  It had never been moving fast enough to be a direct threat, at least.

Mao carefully took a sample.

Dexterity or Melee Attack roll, plz

(OOC: Melee Attack Roll - Mao Hojo rolled 23 using 1d20+8)

She had a sample-- it tore free, causing the barrel to slosh violently.  And fall over.

Alarms began to sound.

"Crap, time to go," Mao said, quickly casting her illusion spell and leading Enrico out.

There was the sound of guards approaching, and doors were beginning to close.  Now was the time for very quick, decisive action-- the illusion might well not be enough.

"Move," Mao said as she ran for the doors.

Init roll to see how the timing's working for you.

(OOC: Initiative - Mao Hojo rolled 26 using 1d20+8)

They made it out before the doors locked and sealed!  But now there were the footsteps of guards... and other noises.  Wheels?  Treads?  It was hard to be sure.

MAo flattened herself against the far wall.

Stealth

(OOC: Stealth roll - Mao Hojo rolled 14 using 1d20+10. Rerolling. Mao Hojo rolled 22 using 1d20+10.)

The guards charged past her... but something else was approaching, slowly, with loud engine noises.

Mao moved forward, making sure that Enrico was following.

He was... but then the noise was coming from right in front of them!

What in the hell was it?

Something slid into view, but what was it?  It almost looked like a giant slug, but with a forest of tentacles that each ended in a single claw... some kind of strange metal collar appeared to be clamped around its head.

Mao headed to the door that had the security camera on it, and dropped the illusion to destroy the locks to get the door open.

The locks were destroyed-- but the slug-thing has sighted them, and was closing far too fast for some kind of slug-monster!

Better roll Init...

(OOC: Initiative roll - Mao Hojo rolled 24 using 1d20+8)

Mao was fast enough to get something done, but what?

Mao held open the door.

"Go, go!" she said to Enrico.

Enrico instead shoved her through-- and was, in turn, brutally struck from behind.  He collided with Mao as the slug propelled him.

Agil or Acrobatics check, plz

(OOC: Acrobatics check - Mao Hojo rolled 18 using 1d20+8)

She was able to keep to her feet, but Enrico was hurt and the slug was closing fast.

Mao sent a magic firework at the slug.

(OOC: Attack roll - Mao Hojo rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Wow! Second crit tonight)

The slug roared in pain and backed off for the moment.

"Get in now," Mao said to Enrico.

Enrico got up, ready to follow her lead.  But he was still injured...

"How badly are you hurt?" Mao asked as she surveyed the room they were in.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

"Ah, I've had worse," said Enrico.  Brave words, but he was bleeding from his nose and mouth as well as from the wound on his back, and unsteady on his feet...

...and the slug might return soon.

Was there an exit?

Perhaps down that way?  She'd had to run in a hurry; it was possible that she'd gotten turned around.

"Do you see an exit?" Mao asked Enrico as she headed down that way then.

"M-maybe there," said Enrico, pointing to the right.  He didn't sound good.

"Let's go then," Mao said, making sure Enrico could walk.

Enrico staggered with her; they made it outside, somehow.

Mao helped him to the fence, when she got their she's weaken so they could get through.

Stealth roll to get clear...

(OOC: Stealth Roll - Mao Hojo rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Rerolling. Mao Hojo rolled 24 using 1d20+10.)

Dodging guards, she was able to get the two of them out of danger and back to the docks.

"Now, let me see how you're doing," Mao said, taking out her first aid kit.

Treatment roll.  He's pretty hurting.

(OOC: Treatment Roll - Mao Hojo rolled 24 using 1d20+10

It wasn't great, but Mao could stabilize him-- and then he got up on his own, somehow.

"All right," he said.  "I'll make it.  It's cool.  So... was that what you needed?"

"I believe so," Mao said. "Let's get you back to the clinic so I can work on you."