As Armin curiously followed Dianne into the shack, he winced slightly at the gore splattered around the place. 'Geez, this place is a mess,' he said, trying not to look at the mutiliated corpses of the traffickers. 'I guess we'd better go and check out the basement...'

(Gee they sure do fill up fast.)

{Dianne opens the basement and descends into the dimly lit space. The place reeks, and it soon becomes apparent that these prisoners were not well looked after. In one corner, there was a cage with two humans. One male and one female. In another cage was a terrified, young werewolf, backed against the wall. In the middle of the room was a table, with a six-foot dragon, bound and muzzled, softly crying in their unconscious state. There were strange symbols cruelly carved along their back.}

Dianne: "By Symponia...."

{Dianne walks to the table and begins to unbind the dragon.}

(Feel free to take control of any of these npc's and even name them.)

Armin paused in the doorway, scenting the air. The odour of fear, as well as different species mixed together, lay thick over the room.

'What the heII?' he said quietly as he spotted the bound and muzzled dragon. 'What's with those symbols?' he asked, nodding at the dragon's back.

At that moment, the werewolf, who was in his beast form, let out a tiny whimper of fear. Armin left the unconscious dragon, going up to the bars of the werewolf's cell and attempting to reassure him. 'Hey, calm down, it's alright. We're getting all of you out of here.' The young werewolf's ears pricked up as he listened, but continued to press himself back against the wall.

Dianne: "These symbols keep this one from shifting to human form, along with suppressing any magical ability."

{One of the humans, the male, approaches the bars.}

Human 1: "W-who are you? Are you adventurers, here to rescue us? How did you find us?"

Armin turned towards the humans' cell. The young werewolf was still too afraid to speak, or do anything besides huddle in the corner. 'We're just travellers...' he said. 'We're on our way back home, and stopped by the lake to get food... then we noticed this place. But yeah, we're getting you out. What are all your names?'

The werewolf just continued to stare wide-eyed, left mute by fear.

{Dianne simply stood by the dragon, listening.}

Human: "Well, we're damn lucky you showed up. I'm Jack."

{The girl approaches the bars cautiously, still looking frightened.}

Human 2: "I....I'm Christie...I...I want to go home...."

Dianne: "Ok, Christie, we're going to help with that. Where are you from."

Christie: "....T...Traverston...."

Jack: "I'm from Treeport. On the coast. Jeeze, that's the last time I go to a nightclub..."

'What about you?' Armin asked, looking at the young werewolf, who just shook his head shakily. 'Oh well, I guess he doesn't have a name...'

'I-it's Duke,' the werewolf stammered. He sounded quite young. 'My n-name is Duke. I'm from A-Alexandria...'

'OK...' Armin turned to look at Dianne. 'So... how are we going to get them all home? And is that dragon OK?'

Dianne: "This dragon is in pretty bad shape. the Traffickers took more blood than they should have. We'll drop them off along the outskirts of the closest town or city. They should be able to get help from there."

Jack: "Honestly, I just need a phone. My parents are probably worried sick about me..."

'You might be able to use our phone, if you want to call anyone,' said Armin. He turned to the door of Duke's cell, and began attempting to open it with brute force, not having the key to the lock.

(I might take control of the dragon, unless you want them?)

(Go ahead.)

{Spotting the key hung up on the wall, Dianne takes it and frees Jack and Christie. Jack calmly walks out, But Christie shakily stumbles out, clearly still very shook up by the whole experience.}

Dianne: "Let's get you out of this basement first, then you can call your folks. Armin, you got that, or do you need the key?"

'Yep, I got it,' said Armin confidently, and continued stubbornly trying to force the door. After a few moments, the lock broke and the door swung open. 'OK, buddy, come on out.'

Duke, still in beast form, switched to a quadrupedal stance and trotted shakily out of the room.

After the other prisoners had left, the dragon stirred. She was too weak from blood loss to lift her head, so she just opened her eyes and gazed confusedly at Armin and Dianne. Clearly afraid that they were traffickers, here to take more of her blood, she started whimpering and crying softly.

{Seeing that the dragon has awakened, Dianne approches her.}

Dianne: "Hey, hey, it's ok. We're not going to hurt you, we're going to get you out of here."

The dragon closed her eyes and took a few shallow breaths as a small amount of relief washed over her.

'OK... Wh-where are those guys? The ones who brought us all here?'

Armin just stood quietly beside Duke's cell, waiting in case Dianne wanted any help in getting the nearly-immobile dragon out of the basement.

Dianne: "Don't worry about them. They can't hurt you anymore. Armin, give me a hand here? I want to get her outside."

'Sure.' Going over to the dragon, Armin helped her down from the table. She swayed and nearly collapsed upon touching the floor. He put one arm around her neck and another around her front leg to keep her upright. 'How do we do this? We could maybe carry her between us...'

Dianne: "That's exactly the plan."

{Dianne picks her up fom behind, waiting for Armin to lead the way up the stairs.}

Lifting the front half of the dragon's weight, Armin headed off up the stairs. He went slow, to make sure they didn't trip or drop the dragon. When they reached the ground floor, he made his way towards the exit, bringing the dragon outside into the cool evening air.

{Once they were out of the building, Dianne puts her hlf of the dragon on the grass and turns to the rest of the captives.}

Dianne: "Are you all ok? Are you hungry? Do you need medical attention?"

Jack: "I'm alright, ma'am."

Armin gently put his half of the dragon on the ground as well. She laid her head on her forelegs, her eyes half-closed.

'I-I'm fine,' said Duke, as he crouched by the lakeside. He seemed mildly in shock that he was actually free. 'I just want to get away from here...'

Armin was looking the dragon over. 'This one might need food,' he said. 'She's very weak from the blood loss. And will the magic stopping her from shifting wear off on its own?'

Dianne: "Once the wounds heal, she will regain full function."
{She looks the dragon over, then turns to one of the centaur.}

Dianne: "Go tell Titan to come over. The area is clear."

Duke watched nervously, unsure who this 'Titan' was, but guessing it had to be a huge dragon or something. 'Did you say you'll drop us off... at the nearest town?' he asked. 'What is the nearest town to here?'

'Should we build a fire on this side of the lake?' said Armin. 'I can get extra fish for anyone who wants some.'

Dianne: "Yes, Armin, we still need to eat. Duke, was it? Titan's bringing the map, so we'll know soon."

{Titan flies over, placing down the car and the crate, and sitting calmly by the lake side.}

Christie: "You...You're a necromancer?"

Jack: "Woah....metal, bro..."

Armin promptly set to work, retrieving a shovel from the crate and digging out a fire pit somewhat larger than usual. 'Someone else can go get the wood,' he said.

Duke seemed uncertain what to think of Titan, but remained crouched by the lakeside, watching Armin and occasionally throwing a concerned glance at the dragon.

From the truck window, Esme could be seen, standing up to get a look outside.

{Dianne sends a centaur to gather wood. Grabbing the map, she looks for the nearest city.}

Dianne: "Well...It looks like the closest civilized area is a small city called Andisville, due east. Although, we're not terribly far from Alexandria, but it would require a bit of backtracking, and we'd likely arrive by 3 am. If we go to Andisville, we could be there within an hour from departure."

Duke nodded eagerly. 'I don't mind staying there overnight, and making my own way back to Alexandria in the morning.'

Done with digging the pit, Armin tossed the shovel back into the crate and flew off to gather fish. He made multiple trips back and forth, catching several fish of varying sizes, enough to feed the whole party if they wanted any.

{The centaur returns, placing wood into the pit. Dianne lights it before continuing.}

Dianne: "Alright, after we cook the fish, we'll get going. Jack, here, You said you wanted to borrow a phone?"

Jack: "Yeah, thanks."

{Jack walks a little ways away to make his phone call.}

Armin had caught four fish - two large, and two smaller. He prepared them as quickly as possible and set them up over the flames to cook. 'Hey, what's the dragon's name?' he said curiously.

'...Grace...' the dragon replied sleepily. 'I'm Grace. I'm from Agamidae... I was caught by those people while taking a trip south...' Her voice was faint from weakness, but she seemed coherent.

{Dianne looked a litt nervous at the mention of Agamidae, but her helmet hid it.}

Dianne: "Grace. Where were you headed?"

'Just to visit friends in another town... I'd already seen them, and was beginning the trip back north, when I was attacked.'

Armin sat quietly by the fire, tending the fish, and listening to the conversation around him.

Dianne: "I'm sorry that happened to you. But, you're safe now. Hold on."

{Getting up, Dianne went to the truck to retrieve the first aid kit.
Christie sat by the fire and huddled up, looking a bit blank.}

Grace let her eyes fall shut, dozing a little.

Armin glanced at Christie as he dealt with the fish. He thought about asking how she got captured, but decided it might be too personal and left her alone. Duke also came closer to the fire, his coat fluffed up. He was looking calmer now.

'You OK, Christie?' he asked.

Christie: "Huh? Oh, yeah....I'm just....It's a lot to process....The other day, I thought I was going to die, or worse, and then I get rescued by....a vampire and a necromancer. Not to say I'm not grateful, I really am, you saved my life and all, but...I guess I just..wasn't expecting this..."

Armin nodded slightly. 'It's a lot to take in. Well, you can go home soon, and put all of this behind you. I'm just glad we flew by the area in time to help.'

{Dianne comes back with the medkit and starts tending to Grace's wounds.}

Christie: "I am very grateful to you both. Thank you again."

Grace flinched slightly, baring her teeth, but then settled down and allowed Dianne to tend her.

'So, you guys are travelling?' piped up Duke. 'Where to?'

'Oh, somewhere up north,' said Armin vaguely. 'But we're on our way home now. Vallis.'

'Vallis, huh? I've heard of that place... it seems peaceful... Not as busy as Alexandria...'

{As Dianne tended Grace's wounds, Jack walks back with Dianne's phone.}

Jack: "Ok, I told my folks where to come get me. Apparently, after I went missing, they got the Inter-regional police involved, so the police are going to meet me at Andisville. It's
quite a ways from Treeport...}

Armin scratched his head thoughtfully, glancing towards Dianne. 'You don't suppose the police will want to question us? We're the ones who found him, along with everyone else. They might want to know what happened... and then I guess we'd have to tell them that we slaughtered the blood traffickers...'

Dianne: "No. We don't have time for that. We'll drop them off and keep going."

'Hm, alright. That's probably for the best.' Armin inspected the fish. 'Hey, I think these are done.'

Duke edged closer, drooling slightly. Armin took one of the smaller fish and tossed it to him. The werewolf began to eat ravenously, tearing the fish apart with his huge jaws.

In the truck, Esme was growling and clawing at the window, upset about seeing so many people outside while she was stuck inside.

{Dianne, having finished with Grace and noticing Esme, walks over to Armin.}

Dianne: "Hey, Armin, let me have one of those fish."

'Help yourself,' said Armin, nodding at the three fish still hanging over the fire. At the same time, Grace dragged herself forwards to get closer to the fire's warmth.

{Dianne glanced concernedly at Grace, but then takes one of the larger fish and walks to the truck. Entering through the passenger side, she beckons Esme over.}

Dianne: "Are you hungry, Sweetie?"

Jack: "Whoo, boy, that fish sure does smell good. Mind if I help myself?"

Esme growled, as if to say 'About time', before padding over to Dianne.

'Go ahead. Plates and knives are over there,' said Armin. He then glanced at Grace. 'Hey, you want any? You should probably eat a little.'

'...A little...' Grace echoed drowsily. Armin took one of the larger fish, cut it in half, and placed one half in front of her.

Jack: "Much obliged, friend."

{Jack takes the fish and sits next to Christie. Dianne tears up the fish and offers Esme the pieces.}

Esme snapped up the pieces of fish she was offered.

Duke had already eaten his fish and was now just sitting by the fire, looking contented. Grace was nibbling slowly at her portion. There was now only half a fish left, which Armin started to eat himself.

{Once Dianne finished feeding Esme, she began to eat her fish. Jack offered Christie some of the fish, which she took with quiet thanks.}

Once Armin was done eating, he just sat and waited for everyone else to be ready to leave. //Are we all going to fit in the truck? Well, I guess we'll have to...//

He eyed Grace, who looked a bit more alert after eating most of her portion.

{After finishing her meal, Dianne comes back out of the truck.}

Dianne: "So, is everyone ready to go home?"

Jack: "Yeah, I'm good and ready."

Christie: "Yes..."

Grace managed to lift her head. 'Are we all going to travel in /that?/ she queried. 'Looks rather small...'

'I could fly outside the truck, to make more room,' said Armin as he got up and extinguished the fire.

Dianne: "Well, one less person would help, just until we get there. Grace, we'll help you in, then we'll see who can fit. Armin, give me a hand?"

Armin grabbed one side of the dragon, to support her. Grace attempted to walk, but was still too weak. He waited for Dianne to help him carry her into the truck.

Duke shifted to human form, to create more room.

Esme was sitting in the corner of the truck, looking bewildered.

{Dianne went to Grace's other side and proceeded to help her into the truck.}

Dianne: "There you go. Nice and comfortable. Do you want a blanket, Grace?"

'No, thank you... I'm quite alright...' Grace replied. She folded her wings and curled her tail around herself.

A moment later, Duke hopped into the truck and sat down beside her. 'This is so cool, it's a flying truck!' he muttered.

{Jack was the next to get in, sitting closer to the fromy of the truck. Christie came in next, followed by Dianne. Dianne picks up Esme and heads for the very front of the truck.}

Dianne: "Hmmm. Think you can squeeze in, Armin?"

Armin surveyed the crowded truck. 'Would be easier if I made myself smaller...' He stepped inside, closing up the back. He then shifted to hawk form and flew over everyone, perching on the steering wheel.

//OK, time for takeoff,// he said telepathically to the room at large. Esme was fidgeting slightly in Dianne's grasp, trying to get a better look at everyone else.

(Posted new room, this one won't last much longer)