Keeping some protection over his head, Lan'elli still lost his wind when the guards fell on him. Along with his wind, any fight he had fled as well. Ok... I... will come... quietly... he wheezed, relishing the idea of getting out of the alleyway. He'd been in cuffs more than once, and if you knew what you were doing, getting out was almost easier than getting in...

Tora successfully blasted through the soldiers standing in the road, managing to get away from the battered guards.  Millie grazed a man's hand with his shot before he got a chance to attack, he looked back in fear and ordered a retreat. The town guards weren't prepared to deal with a ranged attack. Zigor attempted to strike a retreating man, but suddenly a large rumbling sound could be heard. The ground shook for just a moment, causing the ghostly knight's helm to come lose. The apparition screamed in pain as its armor went to pieces and rolled down a nearby hilled alleyway with him inside. A guard who was cuffing Lan'elli also tripped, latching the elf's legs instead of his arms. It wouldn't be such an easy cuffing to shake off this time as it turned out. The elf was carried way by the retreating guards.

The battle was won, and the treasure still remained on the ground, but two comrades were lost in opposite directions, and the true thief in a third; a nearby household that seemed to be making quite a commotion at this point.

As Kerath walked with Tath, he turned his head towards her, "So we got the trail rations, a couple extra water skins, some extra rope..." He paused for a second and raised an eyebrow, "did they really say they were going to see a psychic or something?"

He then saw Tora go running past on a street perpendicular to their own in her were-tiger form and in quite a hurry, and heard some shouting and excitement coming from the direction from which she came. He sighed, "That can't be good! Let's find out what's going on." with those words he took off at a run to catch up with Tora, his hands naturally going to the grips of his swords.

Feliph had been feeling kind of perplexed since sticking her head into that tent at an inopportune moment. She hadn't meant to intrude, but the fortune-teller's words had made her awfully curious. She was stuck between not wanting to be rude and wanting to approach this group, and had wandered away with Hamilton for a little while to collect her thoughts. Judging from the makeup of the group, they didn't seem like they'd be hard to find later.

Finally, her curiosity about the band she'd seen - especially the more bestial ones - burned her up too much. She turned from her aimless wandering to try to follow the direction they'd taken, only to stumble on what seemed to be the tail end of a robbery they'd committed. "Oh my. What's going on here?" she asked with a hand to her mouth, her quiet voice addressed more to herself and Hamilton than anyone on the scene. For now, she just tried to remain at the periphery and try to figure out the answer for herself.

Tath shrugged, rummaging through her pack to make sure they had everything, a piece of jerky dangling between her teeth. "Shomething like that." She said, rolling her eyes. She wasn't overly impressed by the decision to see a parlour trick. It was part of why she had chosen to go supply-hunting. Stay away from the soothsayers, grab first-pick at some really nice equipment if it caught her eye. . .

The added bonus being a few extra gold pieces she'd 'liberated' from the townsfolk.

She didn't miss the rampaging were-tiger anyway. Idle smile became exasperated smirk, and she shouldered her pack. "What do you want to bet we're gonna hafta make tracks here, my four-legged friend?" She asked as she drew her rapier. "Such a nice town, too. C'mon, let's bail them out."

With that, she dashed forward, out into the street.

After having stayed back for much of the altercation and generally being a rather quiet one Pandora simply follows where the general mass of people seem to be heading. Today had thus far been the strangest day of her life.

In reply to Kerath Taliss (msg # 30):

Tora's loping stride quickly takes her away from the fight. Sensing someone keeping pace with her, she makes a quick turn and waits to pounce. Upon seeing Kerath is the one following she waves to get his attention but continues to watch the direction they came from.

Millie follows the general direction that everyone else is going.

The thief returned to the scene of the crime, exiting the house by where the fight took place. He quickly goes to work piling spilled silver into a newly stolen sack. He didn't seem to notice the group nearby.

The docks were downhill, east a few blocks from where the group ran to. The road out of town was north.

"Argh, my head!" The knight manages to catch his balance, but his helm continues rolling downhill towards the docks. The spirit desperately protects the gap over its 'neck' from the invading sun with it shield. "I can't see without my helm! Curses and fie to the fates!" The knight stumbles blindly in search of his head.

In time with the clanging of the rolling helmet comes a loud chiming that shakes the air throughout the town. The warning bells of a town emergency; all the guards would now be on alert in search of the unfortunate gang. It would be hard to escape if they didn't make a choice soon.

Kerath turned to Tora. "I take it that we've managed to get ourselves into some trouble. Was it the seer?" He looked around and heard all the commotion. "Hmmm, maybe I'll ask about specifics later. North will take us out of town quickly. Let's gather everyone up and go!" He suggested.

Tora looks over at Kerath. "Aye, the guard started a fight that I was tempted to finish." She looks around at the noise and replies. "Yeah, lets head north. Anyone that's smart will meet up there." She'll head out with Kerath and head north.

"Whoa!" Feliph exclaimed with no small amount of alarm when she saw the armored figure's helmet come off, figuring his head must be in there with it. But then she heard his voice come from within the armor itself. Her curiosity settled it for her - she wanted to know more about this strange band she'd happened on.

"Ham, get it!" she said, quickly pointing at the rolling helmet. This was a different instruction from "fetch" - it meant Hamilton was supposed to stop something getting away without hurting it, like an interesting animal. At once the enormous dog leaped into joyous motion, barking with excitement as he ran up to pounce on the helmet and keep it firmly in place. Feliph was quick to catch up to him, giving him a quick head pat and a "good boy" as she bent down to pick it up.

With that in hand and Hamilton at her heels, she quickly ran back the other way, to Zigor. "Here, I think you dropped this," she said, offering it to the oddly headless suit of armor.

Eve had been gathering food into her bag when chaos erupted up the street. She could see the guards and a couple of familiar people. She had skipped the fortune teller for lack of interest. These people had been superstitious and she had no place in believing that bad luck was haunting them, but by the sight above she figured it had to be one of them it was plaguing, she had been having a calm morning. She ran up a couple of side alleys avoiding the scene and ending up just north of the mess. Speed had been on her side. She could see Tora and Kerath already ahead of her. She did not wait a second before running after them. She did not speak, considering there wasn't much to be said.

Tath nodded at Kerath's decision, glancing about quickly. "Well, this isn't the first time we've had trouble with the guards," she quipped, drawing her rapier with a flourish, giving it a couple of playful thrusts into an imaginary guard. "Either way, we can't afford to lose anyone. You two go on ahead. I'll see about herding everyone North."

With that, the catfolk dashed back into the town, ready to defend herself if need be. It didn't take long for her to come across mister tall, black, and headless. A smirk formed on her face. "Hey there, ya piece of tin. Trouble you caused has us heading out of town. Let's get a move-on, ya?"

It was only then did she catch a glimpse of Feliph, though her only response was to grin wide and wink at the girl.

The knight blindly grasped ahead of himself in search of his head. "What trickery is this..? Sneak-cat, if this is another one of thine jests, I shall...! Oh, there it is." The armor took its head and completed itself with Feliph's assistance. Two red dots appeared behind the now filled visor "My gratitude mortal, I am indebted to you and your beast." Zigor moved his right arm onto his chest-plate and his shielded hand down, drawing his right leg back and bowing slightly in a very obsolete show of manners.

A voice yelled out from the street above. "Halt! Muzzle that dog, and drop your weapons, ye're all under arrest!"

"Come child, we retreat for now." The knight made a beckoning gesture at Feliph and retreated down an alleyway connecting to the north.

The way towards the exit seemed clear for now, of guards at least. Vilagers on the other hand gawked and muttered at the crew as they made their way towards the forestway. The angelic-man Sankt piped in though, "wait, Lan'elli is not with us. He must not have been able to escape the guards! We have to go back for him."

The mysterious rogue Ayleth shook her head. "Smaller groups will fare better. You and I will go help him. Everyone else, keep going, we'll try to catch up or we'll meet in one of the usual spots afterwards."

The pair left to double back on the elven man as the rest of the group continued on.

At the end of the road is a metal large gate standing at least twelve feet high occupying a wall of equal height. It was rather out of place in the small town, it seemed more like the wall of a fortress. Conspicuously, there was no such wall upon entering the town from the west or south, merely on this northern passage stretching form the eastern sea shore to a western river. The gate was open, two guards were on top of the wall to either side, but despite the bell, they looked out towards the northern forest vigilantly, not noticing the group within the city.

Kerath turned to Tora, looking up at the guards, "Just keep calm and walk naturally." He said quietly to her, "hopefully they have only heard the warning bells and haven't been given a good description of us. As it is I wasn't even at whatever scene you all created, so they won't be looking for me. Try and be small and hide next to me." He said with a little smile and wink.

Eve walked a few feet behind the other giving room should the guards decide to fire down on them. She was distant enough not to be with them yet kept vigilant as she followed. She kept shuffling through her bag as though she might have lost something and then found it. She would catch up to the group once beyond the wall. Eve was certain they knew she followed.

In reply to Kerath Taliss (msg # 46):

Tora nods and returns to her human shape, quietly moving close to Kerath as they move forward.

Feliph generally didn't have much to do with law enforcement. She tended to follow her own rules, but she was the sort of person to drift through towns only briefly, and without stepping on any toes. In truth, she didn't have much regard for the laws of man, beyond a willingness to leave a community she offended.

She was quite surprised to be caught up in the middle of all this, and for a moment she wondered if it would be better to stay and explain the situation. (Though she had no intention of muzzling Hamilton.) "You're welcome," she answered Zigor automatically despite her distraction as she thought.

But then Tath showed up, and Feliph couldn't help but stare at her a bit. She hadn't seen a fascinatingly feline sort of creature like her before. Then that very creature grinned and winked at her, and a blush quickly came to Feliph's cheeks. That made up her mind right there.

"Okay, coming," she murmured, quickly making her way down the alleyway along with the others. Hamilton quickly followed, though he was now sniffing the air dubiously for the scent of cat to go with the vaguely catlike sight he was picking up. He could handle cats, had even babysat for kittens one time, but they prompted a bit of... alertness in him.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:21, Sat 22 Nov 2014.

"HEY!" One of the tower guards called out fiercely as they passed beneath the gateway out to the forest path. "Be careful out there, travelers. There've been more sightings as of late." It didn't seem he was aware of the incident in town.

The path led into a thick forest, the last ruby rays of the setting sun peaked through the dancing elm branches that obscured the way forward. A plainly visible dirt trail was cut through ahead, but it lacked any recent tracks, and it was peppered with fresh grass sprouts, suggesting it wasn't often traveled anymore.

As soon as it seemed the guards weren't intending on attacking, Tath sheathed her blade with a flourish. Her hair stood up as she sensed the mastiff, though for now, the girl's animal companion was the least of her worries. Her tail swished back and forth as she walked with feline grace; Purposeful, with just the right amount of swagger, giving off the air of rugged adventurer and refined connoisseur in equal measure.

The Catfolk glanced around as she, Zigor, and Feliph came to the gates, before glancing around. "So, introductions in order, ya? You'll meet the rest of us sooner or later. Name's Tath." She flashes yet another playful, pointed grin at the girl. "The tin suit's name is Zigor. He's not so bad once you get past the 'he's completely hollow' part."

As they walked, she stretched her back and arms, though her gaze went right back to the newcomer once she was done. "I've got to ask, though. What's a cute girl like you doin', getting all tangled up in a band of ruffians like ourselves."

Then again, another good question might be 'why was Tath assuming she was going to be travelling with them.' Maybe she knew the adventuring type when she saw them. Maybe she'd caught a glimpse of her and her bull mastiff walking into the Seer's tent when she was making her way out. Or, maybe this wasn't the first time Tath had tried to drag along a pretty face to see the world.

Eve made her way through the gate, having passed Kerath somewhere along the way to ensure they knew she was with them still, even after all the trouble they started. She could see the tin man and the cat folk coming up the way and decided to wait and see if they could mend the group that was here and figure out what was happening with those missing. The elf was no where to be seen and a few others had gone missing.