Infestation: Revenge of the Ovalisk

[Knight Errant]

"I see... well of this world or not, its here. And someone has to oppose it. It can't be allowed to do as it pleases." He pauses. "Though anything you could tell me about it would be appreciated. If I'm unprepared, then I'll see about preparing myself."

[Feng]

The priests pour the tea into cups, offering one to Dact first, then to Old Bird. A curiously strong herbal smell comes from the brew.

"I must insist that you turn back and leave its containment to us. The creature is our responsibility; we do not ask that more lives put themselves at risk!"

He takes a sip from his cup, the steam wafting through his nose.

"This creature is deceptively strong" relents Old Bird with a sigh. "We had been keeping it at the Black Temple, under careful watch of the Chibiwan-"

"Master Old Bird!" interrupts the priest with the kettle. "Is it wise to entrust such secrets to an outsider? To a Tall One especially?!"

[Knight Errant]

"I see... so something you had kept sealed away got free, and your trying to catch it again?" He takes the tea, sipping. "And I'm an adventurer. Putting my life at risk is pretty much the description of the job. Besides... if this thing knows you... it will be on the lookout for you. Perhaps I could help you lure it into a trap?"

[Feng]

Old Bird raises his hand to silent the priest and turns to Dactylos.

"In a sense, you are correct. Yet... perhaps I am wrong to describe it as a creature. Perhaps the real word is 'weapon'."

He sips his tea.

"I see no point in keeping this secret from you, Tall One. You are stubborn and therefore will ignore my warning, choosing to face it. I will not stop you, nor will my order interfere with your desire. What you seek is a death wish, so it stands to reason that the secrets regarding the weapon will disappear along with you if you fail."

He takes another sip.

"Which is almost a certainty. The creature took down an entire school of the Chibiwanbanshu after all."

[Knight Errant]

"I'm not interested in exposing your secrets. I just want to stop this thing. Anything you can tell me... I want to hear." He frowns... sipping his tea and nodding. Hoping he will continue.

[Feng]

Old Bird nods.

"Very well..."

He takes a long sip of his tea and sighs.

"Listen well, Tall One, for I will not repeat myself" says the old Chibi. "The weapon apparently belonged an organization known as the Brotherhood. We do not know quite how it came to be. All we know is that the Smoking One has charged our order in keeping it safe."

*Sip*

"And so we have, over the course of the past eight years in fact. I myself personally so to its care. The creature is remarkably strange. It required neither much in the way of food or sleep. And its skin..... Most strange. However, it possessed a terrible power. Because of its nature we initially kept it secluded at the Black Temple for fear of the destruction it might bring. Over time we began trying to teach it, in the hopes of perhaps taming it. To put it to the good of our society yes?"

*Sip*

"Unfortunately, some of our member wanted to train the creature as a weapon. One of our Member, Crooked Beak, saw it as a means of putting you tall ones in check. You may remember him as the one who summoned the Destroyer many years past."

He sighs.

"Against my better judgment, I agreed to train the creature in the ways of the Chibiwanban operative, so we moved it to the Northern School. Its size and abilities made it naturally suited to roll. Somehow, despite its disposition, it managed to learn the ways of stealth and even combat. And for a moment, I had thought we had truly won it to our side."

*Sip*

"We were fools, of course, to think we could truly tame that creature. In our hubris we had lowered our guard. That is when it struck. By the time I had returned from my post at the Temple, the entire Northern School had been.... wiped out."

[AmbushCat]

*Several buildings away, a large-eared figure hidden in shadow winces sympathetically.*

[Knight Errant]

"I see... sounds like a terrible, tragic story..." He sips his tea. "So... what kind of power does it have? What am I getting myself into...?"

[Feng]

"Despite its innocent looks it is very deceptive" says Old Bird with a wearied sigh. "Worse, it has a technique to increase its number."

He glances up, somehow sensing the anguish of some distant entity.

"You'd be wise to turn back."

::OI! DEPUTY! DO YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE?!::

[Knight Errant]

He leans over. "Its alright, Inspector! I'm just having a chat with the Chibi up here." He shouts down to the inspector... before looking back. "Wait, there is more than one...?"

[Feng]

Old Bird nods.

"If we do not contain it soon, the creature could soon build an army."

He finishes his tea.

"We intend to keep the creature and its spawn trapped. Although.... We are unsure if we can hold them for long."

[Knight Errant]

"Well... thats worrysome. Is there anything me of the Muffin PD can do to help you get a handle on the situation...?"

[Feng]

"I told you before, Tall One, this situation is under control. We plan to restrain the creature before it can grow its army further. If necessary, we'll put it out of its misery."

He hands his empty cup to the priest.

"You're going in still, I assume. Very well. If you must dive into the jaws of oblivion, at least let me administer a blessing."

He motions to the priests who approach Dact, each now holding burning censors that pulse with blue smoke.

"May the Smoking One guide your steps as you journey through the realm of darkness. May the Burning One steel your resolve as you face the creature. May the Feathered One guide your soul to final rest when you meet a gruesome death. May the Drowned One protect you should you cross slippery surfaces...."

The priests hum as Old Bird leans over and marks Dact's foreheads with ashes.

"Good luck, foolish Human."

[Knight Errant]

"Alright... thanks." He sets the cup down, and jumps down to the inspector.

[Feng]

Inspector McGruff rushes on over.

"What did those darn Toaster Worshipers want?! They didn't hurt you did they?"

He pulls out his megaphone.

::YOU WRETCHED DWARVES! ASSAULTING A DEPUTIZED OFFICER IS A CRIME!::

He lowers it and turns to Dactylos

"But go on. Any leads on the investigation?"