Rising to his feet, Gostric takes a deep breath, and addresses the rest.

"For one, these are clearly not 'were-rats', for my simple sling bullet did damage them. What they are, if they are anything other then over-sized rats, I do not know.
"Matter, the second, I have claimed these bodies, though the heads of course go the the harbor master. Despite the good life our friend-dwarf has had, there are people for whom these vermin will be as a feast, and a place that can prepare them for safe consumption.
"'Even the poorest among us deserve respect from the merchants they do business with'" he states, apparently quoting from his scripture.

"From the third hand, remember, in cleaning out these rats, we have not only done away with creatures capable of stealing and eating not just babies, but toddlers and small children, but we have aided the owner of this place in their efforts to re-start their business of storing goods here safely.
Good has been done here, perhaps not as much as we hope to do once we figure out the matter of the Gypsies, but it has been a good five minutes of battle, and hardly worth looking down upon as a waste of time."

He releases a deep breath, and visible calms himself down.

"Now, shall we attempt to explore a second warehouse or not? If not, I have other business to attend to."

  ..if you have other  business, that requires you to leave this place before we are certain, that our job has been done..then..my friend..be on your way. The folks who are hungry for rat meat, can wait a few hours  more...had we died here? they would still have no food...first thing is first, regardless of the weight on your mind as we....make sure...

  The elf's words were tinged  with only the slightest sarcasim..he was indeed...hunting.

Keneally smiles and nods her head at Bruga's greeting.  She listens to the dwarf and nods agreement with his wisdom. She smiles at him and replies, "I would be honoured to help transport this meat to where it will be best used, neighbour.  You are wise and kind.  Good has decidedly been done here today." in clear agreement to the sentiment.

She watches the group wandering around all over the warehouse, checking over even where others had been before.  She raises an eyebrow curiously and asks rather nonchalantly, "Not having had the luxury of knowing what your missive here was at all, what is it that is hidden and to be retrieved for the harbourmaster?"

  As he walks  back across the warehouse floor, he stops at the  new person and Bows his head  slightly, Kree...Quickshadow, Good LAdy. I am of the mind that these creatures..whether  natural or nay..were allowed to get this big, yet..none have tried before..or if they did, ..they did not have the skills we have...i was  wondering, and will do the same in the next warehouse...if there may not be some ...blackmarket passages  and such here. if so...we might  come into  some gooldy gain, and..snuff  out a few of the followers of the DArk...the worse that happens..I am wrong and  we move on...The rats were the reasons  we were let in..our  reason was to find Bat leavings  for an addled  wizard...

 he shrugs,..i would rather be hunting down slavers and bandits...and making them pay...a heavy price..for thier deeds...but our path has lead us here...for now...

In reply to Keneally of Jacodi (msg #90):

Sweet friend Keneally, we have a large tale to tell and a short time to tell it in.  Suffice to say that we are making sure that the owner of this establishment is totally free of issues that may arise once they start reestablishing there business in this wharehouse.  I will gladly tell you some of our experiences of late but unfortunately at a later date and time.   Smiles, no worries, our path is for the good and just with a little luck, we can break a trade of human auctioning.

Goseric, Your ratlaof will have to wait a little longer, I count two more wharehouses to check possibly tonight if we can handle it.

Sighs, anyone see any bat poop?

None?  We move on to the next werehouse then.  Snare, to me.

Senuviel approaches the party and gives a slight bow to Kennealy. I'm called Senuviel Alantir, swordsman and spell user. Well, I'll spare you any further introductions, I guess my friends Clair and Kree have given you all the details. I'm happy you joined us holy warrior I'm sure we can be good comrades in arms. He then turns to Kree. Maybe now we could use a different battle formation, Kree. Maybe the paladin could take the front line together with our mighty dwarf and the both of us help them with the arrows our race is famous for. And of course, that would give me some space to support the group with my spells. Senuviel then glances at the paladin. If the lady doesn't mind of course.

well thought  words, Good Senuviel..but let us  hope our  other skills allow  us to strike first, and deeply, before  they know  we are around...then the others  can clean up after.

Keneally looks a long moment at Clair, quite expecting her to conclude her description of their missive with a guffaw or chuckle.  Her statement and her next query seemed so disjunct as to cause the Crusader to wince. How would bat excrement save slaves and harm slavers? she wondered.

"Well met m'lady, Kree and Senuviel. I would be agreeable to taking lead with our stalwart neighbour, of course.  Kree, an interesting notion.  One I confess would not have occured to me, but I do not spend much time in dark shadows. Any gleening as to these hidden entrances?

Two warehouses should not be too arduous.  I should be surprised to find many more of those creatures.  Quite an oddity, I should think.  Aren't they?"

Senuviel answers Kennealy's question with a somber tone. Unless they've been put in here, I don't think so. The elf then speaks in a rather pensive tone. Unless....those giant rats have eaten something odd.

  Kree's head nods as he begins to move  across the way,something is...unright...the last time i felt this  way, and we did not answer that call..we delivered slaves to a town...that..is never happening again....and there are slavers who wil pay the heavy price, when i find them...

"Kree, it took two of us to save your leg. From a rat. If we run into nothing worse then this, you might lose you leg altogether. As a hunter, you above all should be aware that the unprepared hunter is a fool.
That said, I did not say I would go along, I said that if we opted to rest up, I would make an effort to feed the poor."

He turns to face Clair, clearly disappointed with her comments.

"I, for one wish more of our little group shared the good sense, and kind heart of our newest companion. I find it in poor taste that you make fun of my efforts, as slight as they are, but even more-so at the fact that you would do so after Keneally has shown similar interest.
"I am used to being the butt of your jokes, but this new warrior and champion for our cause deserves more respect."

Turning to face the Paladin, he bows low, in deep respect.

"Well met, champion of the Light. Much as my god respects yours, I respect the calling you have undertaken. It is not an easy burden; I hope that joining our little band might lighten it a bit.
"As to the greater good, and slavers, and gypsies, we move forward, but we must take baby steps.
"Our current task is to collect random bits of oddness for Osk, whom you already know. This is no take of legend, I agree, but the most important efforts, be they in business, or in life, are best served if built on a firm foundation.
"At this point, we are but errand boys and girl. But given the change, we shall be formidable, oh yes we shall.
"If we don't kill each other first."

A rumbly chuckle fills the room.

He turns to the face them all.

"The rat meat is mine. Whomever wants the heads may take them first, for if I decapitate the bodies with my hammer you might be paid less but whatever your plan, please do it quickly.
"If the consensus is move on, what little I have to offer will be at your side, however I must vote for caution. There is no compelling reason to hurry our current task; as the Book of Three teaches, haste makes waste. And waste is a sin."

already..have  i taken the heads...it is  a custom of my clan.to take the heads of our foes..lest they come back in unlife...we figure..what good is  a moving body, without the head?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Thu 15 Sept 2011.

Gostric nods his gratitude, and starts putting bodies in bags. If, as he suspect, the weight becomes to much, he asks the Paladin for assistance.

These bodies will be eaten. Why leave them for the rats. Soon as we've checked this place...just in case the feeling pans out...I'll help carry them.

A look of contrition crosses the clerics face.

"My thanks, Mistress Honeyfinder. Your assistance is much appreciated."

Kree "stage whispers to Gosric ..MISTER....Honeyfinder....

A search of the entire warehouse reveals no more then what you have already found, you find no trapdoors, secret doors, or anything outside of the growing smell of death, the small rats have already started swarming the bodies of the giant ones the party managed to find a sack large enough to carry the heads in before this happened. But the bodies of the giant rats will be gone before to long, ah the circle of life. :)

In reply to GM (msg #104):

OOC - so the rats are eating the dead large rat bodies before we can haul them out for Goseric??

Smiles at Bruga, something I should know about? M'lady, chuckles

Turns and sighs while shrugging her shoulders, Keneally, we have been slowly gaining strength to thwart slave trade between this town and Londeren (sp) and as we go we keep stumbling on other pieces of a larger puzzle hence our finding of the gypsies in a magical field trapped to look like "skeletal" forms or maybe not trapped?  A firedrake protecting something besides his lair, and now these rats. looks at her directly, If you wish to stay and help long term and can stand our "mismatched" but overall friendly and balanced group we aim to deal with the evils we have found and any we have yet too find.  But Stopping the slavers is our long term goal, however we end up getting it done.

looks to Goseric Goseric, fear not, we may at times draw from different ways of life but in the end, we are a group and we stick together and you may jest at me all you like as I am prone to that onto others, in fun, just my way.  <\Blue>Turns to the dead rats <Blue>it is the luck of the draw in help with those less fortunate.  Your actions are admirable but <\Blue>spreads her hands out to show the rats enveloping and eating up the dead rats bodies <Blue>before we can deal with them as you like, mother nature has taken her meal first.  She will help to shoo the rats away if that is what the group wants.

Nothing, not a trap door or loose board and no bat poop.  Man, we must press on, Kree you took a good hit but Goseric was able to heal you up.  Another battle like the last one and we will have to finish this later.

Good thought if Keneally wants point with Khorden, then you two can feather and spell our adversaries to a weakened state.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Thu 15 Sept 2011.

I've found no secret doors either. I think it's better for us to move on to the next warehouse. Says the elf, stringing his bow and checking his quiver.

A Bruga, in need of clean clothes and a bath, reports his lack of findings. Then We ready to deprive the rats of a meal?

  Kree shakes his head   as well, he looks at the rats and asks..is there a chance that one of  our spell folks, have something that we  could cast of the massed rats, to kill them? We would make a big dent in the creatures of this Building....if nay?  Let us be on out  way  to the next..

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #108):

Nothing from me and fire will not be advisable.

Wrinkling her nose with a modicum of disgust, Keneally sighs and turns to Gosric sadly commenting, "I fear we have been beaten to the meat for the poor, neighbour.  What say we do a hunt when we are finished this task and give that as gift to the poor.  I daresay it would be a safer meal in the end."

She turns to Kree and asks, "Are you strong enough to walk or would you like a lift, Kree? Save that leg for when you need expend the energy?"

  He looks at his leg and shrugs  a bit, then to Keneally, I am as fit  as i should be, Good LAdy. And i had to trek miles in the  trees with worse wounds..the healing was done, right and proper, it would  seem..But i thank yuou for the thought.  he smiles   his halfsmile, then waves to the door,Let us be off, before i have second thoughts on setting this  place ablaze...

In reply to Kree Quickshadow (msg #111):

Clair with Snare and and the rest go out to the next wharehouse.  Let's be more prepared this time around.