Hmm. I think I helped with this one, just a bit.

It's our last roleplay of the mission. Sir Fumblies is returning from the monster island and in a bad mood.

 
The captain of the cargo ship The Mountaincenter Rocky Claw had promised it would be a rocky ride, so to speak, and he hadn't been kidding. Outside of an ill-fated attempt yearsa go at a cruiseliner audition for a spot in The Faraway Land Whaler, Fumblies hadn't spent much time on the open sea, but even the stormy waters were better than trying to deal with both Cattaras Whiteclaw's hunting skills and an insane assortment of prehistoric and modern (fantasy) era monsters, dragons, dinosaurs and hybrids.

The crew found Fumblies and Cattaras just about to engage in yet another battle and convinced them they needed to get off the island. Cattaras seemed to back down at the mention of an almost familiar name - Lady Whiteclaw of Mountaincenter Village.

The very same name had caused Fumblies to simply glare at Cattaras as he backed down. He had been holding some resentment for the Feline Empire leader for quiet some time. Now it seem that her personality here in whatever realm this was was a person of power. So while he didn't enjoy the thought of allowing Cattaras the chance to live, he went with the crew. After all, he might be able settle his score in a more effective manner.

The crewman had promised to fill them in after they got the ship launched. The crew didn't seem very eager to stick around on the island. After seeing some of the abominations, Fumblies realized he couldn't really blame them for being in a hurry.

Unfortunately, he'd been stuck without an update for at least a good twenty minutes, left with nothing to do but stay out of the way, watch as the ship took off, and since the drug was wearing off, his nerves were a bit frayed.

"Sir Fumblies," an unfamiliar voice called out. "You asked for an update once we got started to sea?"

Fumblies looked towards the voice and nods slowly. "That is correct."

"We're heading towards Lady Whiteclaw's stronghold, Mountaincenter Village. We'd received word not even a day and a half ago that several visitors from another dimension had.. suddenly appeared, tied to a plot which we believe has been hatched by the vile Zedika Dark and a rogue mage who's name is believed to be Kwadlin."

Fumblies narrowed his eyes as he looked at the person speaking.

The crew member shrugged. "We don't know much more. We suspect you've been drugged."

"And might I ask how you came to that brilliant deduction?" Fumblies asked in a slightly snide tone as he looks away from the crew member. The drug wearing off (coupled with his desire to see Cattaras become a fur rug) was wearing on his patience.

"They spared us most of the details so I'm not really sure," answered the crewmen. "I got the impression it's a combination of mystics and our scouts. That's usually how we'd go about something. You probably noticed we're a cargo ship, so the fact we're out here playing pick-up probably means there's something bigger at stake than just a little kidnapping and drug ring."

"You think? And you can tell what ever egg head informed you of possibility of drug involvement that they were right. Now is there anything else?" Fumblies gritted his teeth as he tried to keep his anger under control.

"Yeah," the crewman said, growing agitated. "If your name is 'Sir Fumblies,' we picked up a couple oversized brutes causing riots in Mountaincenter Village. They didn't talk much but they fought like hell. Tougher than a couple drunken titans hopped up on goofballs. Took about two dozen of us to seduce 'em. We've kept them locked up but they keep muttering one thing over and over. Your name. Know anything about that?"

The crewman's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Ahh the loyalty of my soldiers. Well where are they now? I am probably the only one who can control them. Sorry about any damage they may have caused but that is what the Brutes do."

"They kinda look like you, so I'm not surprised." The crew member let out a deep sign, probably sure he'd be yelled down. "They're probably still locked up at Mountaincenter Village, either drugged into submission or dead. Hopefully for your sake, it's the former. If that's all..."

"Yeah let me know when we get there and for your sake I would pray that my soldiers are still alive. It is hard to replace a Goblin Brute."

The guard thought about making a comment, but turned sharply, eager to be out of the half-orc's presence. Fumblies watched the crewman go with an amused smile on his lips as his thoughts turned to how he was going to interact with the queen he had come to despise.

See? Irritable Fumblies. And with that, we've finished roleplaying for the mission but hang on tight. There's still our traditional three part Finale up ahead and it is packed full of story!