Raichel had heard about some frequent attacks on people in a neighboring kingdom she had business at, so figured she would kill two birds with one stone and check out these claims while she was there. She would have told her siblings regardless, but it's entirely possible she told a few others.

Mittens of course is happy to come help.  Lucky will help too if he's needed, but may focus on orphans if Timothius is going to be the token healer for the group.

"Hmm... I need a more awesome mount than ye olde horse.  A dragon would be a good start..." Mittens muses aloud.

  "Chirp, how come we never go on any nice business trips?"   "Because our business is violence.  Or the prevention of violence, with violence."  Familiar ask a silly question, familiar get a silly answer.

Used to Mittens' antics (Well... most of the times), Raichel says in a matter-of-fact, almost bored tone, "Nah. Dragons are so last century for mounts. You want the World Serpent for starters."

Timothius looks at Mittens' horse and says, "Don't listen to them. You're a great mount. People just tend to take for granted the things they're used to."

"In this corner!  The Bulldog Raspy Dragon!  And in this corner!  World Serpent Centipede!  Who will win?  But wait!  A new contender!  A horse!  But no ordinary horse... this is MAXIMUS!  Cower in abject horror, mortals, for DOOM has come!"

The horse seems used to it too.

  "How come you never got around to making ME a mount, tweet?"   "Because then you are a viable target, I suppose I could still looking into i-"  "Never squawking mind!"  "Of course."

  On to hopefully more reasonable matters.  "What particular attacks have been made that we know of?  Or is it just a vague 'attacks' we have to work with and not the how or where?"

Raichel says, "Seems to be some kind of stalker who attacks people in the city at random and at night. Well.. so far the only thing that's been consistent is that the people are young. Though everything from young adult to infant."

"Do they have 'victim' written all over them?  'Cause I dunno how well I could pass as bait.  I mean...  as a sword mage, I'm pretty tough without armor on and could possibly handle the gank attempt...  but...  _{myactingskillscouldusesomework.}"

She shrugs.

  Terdisas considers themselves and his companions.  While the usual sort of crazed stalker would consider Raichel more of a 'Victim' just because Girl not = Monk who can punch my skull off to those sort of nutjobs usually, it would be less than tactful to suggest it... On the other hand, the runned up there would be 'Thin man weaing cloth', himself...

  "hmm, in retrospect I doubt even my skill at deception for a good cause would bypass the fact I have a beard in trying to pass off as a helpless youth."

Timothius says, "S'alright... Raichel and I already agreed to be bait."

"You could always shave..." Mittens comments to Terdisas, "Unless the beard is the source of your divine super strength.  In which case, never mind."

She grins at Timothius.

"And such tasty bait you are!  You'll have all the evil fishies drooling over having a bite... wait...  Fish can't drool, can they?  Inanycase.  I'm very proud of you for bravely volunteering to lure out the dangerous stalker!  I look forward to Stabooming them ambush style for great justice!"

  "I suppose I could shave in a world gone mad, but then I would look adolescent at best.  Not that I am particularly pleased with any of us being bait."

  After Mittens's commentary, Superbird asks "Tweet, how can you tell fish are NOT drooling? They are in the water all the time."

Timothius asks, "....why would the world have to go mad for you to shave?"

Mittens considers the questions asked and answers simply, "Hmm... I don't know."

"Figuratively.  Of course if I were a Dwarf, everyone would be too afraid to ask.  Nor would most people suggest you or your sisters shave unless it were likely an insult.  My beard is a victim of society... What the hells am I talking about"

"Tweet, no, no. Go on, this is fascinating.  Now, how do you feel about your mother?"

Timothius says, "I heard a rumor once that a gnome put a fake beard on and claimed he was a starving, emaciated dwarf. And his bluff worked. I suppose if desperate enough, a dwarf may shave and say he's an overweight gnome."

Mittens snickers at where the conversation's gone, but figures Rai's probably getting impatient about now.

"So yeah.  Badguy to lure out.  Let's get to luring!  This calls for my ninja black outfit..."

  "With enough resemblance, impersonating another race is a simple task... Well, until you run into practical problems.   Dwarf claiming to be Gnome, simple.  Gnome claiming to be Dwarf, problems from not having the same eyesight."

  He considers his travel companions, and says "Impersonating one of you would on the other hand, be rather more difficult I would imagine...  Do you have a spare in my size Mittens?" probably not, but one can hope.

  Though technically, Terdisas is 'using' camo clothing

Raichel looks over her shoulder at her tail, wagging it some with a smile and looks back at Terdisas. "Making a convincing tail would be hard, yeah. You'd need either an enchanted rope or be able to cast cantrips." She wiggles her ears. "And to fool my race, you'd have to go the step further and have mobile ears."

She then nods to Mittens. "Yeah. But not night time yet. Let's secure a place to sleep the would be ideal for a kidnapper to grab us from."

Timothius says, "Meanwhile, we can also secure a more secure place and boast about how the kidnapper has no chance of kidnapping someone from there. If the kidnapper is utilitarian, he'll go for the easy target. If the kidnapper is proud or doing this for the challenge, he'll go for the "secure" target."

Mittens headshakes to Terdisas.  "Custom made by Tailor Timothius.  Maybe if you ask nicely and pay well he'll make one for you...  between his million other projects."

Mits nods to Rai.  "Good thinking!"

She puts her enthusiastic energy behind getting what needs done done.

  Terdisas nods, "Perhaps later then, in one of those rare moments when lives are not at risk."  He considers the Split Up Gang! plan, and asks "Any particular preference for which location I would be watching?"

Timothius says, "Probably would make life simpler if we just go with Mitts watching Raichel and you watching me."

Raichel nodnods.

Fast forwarding a bit; the four found two good spots. Timothius played like he was a traveler who didn't have the money currently to pay for a room, so he offered to be an extra hand for an hour or so if he was allowed to sleep in the barn for the night.

Meanwhile, Raichel got the most secure room she could find. Night falls and the two squirm a bit initially, but they act asleep looong before they'll fall asleep.

Mittens watches over Raichel intently, ready to signal the others should she be attacked.  Because no way would she allow herself to miss out on action because there's no signal set up to let HER know if Timothius is the one being attacked!  She spends the time pretending she's some kinda super stealthy ninja elf assassin with keen senses and reflexes, ready to gank the target with extreme prejudice... whatever that means.