Act 2: Upheaval II - Revelations and search

The young woman waits for Mihai to switch with Konrad before pulling on the werewolf's leg again.

A few minutes later, the party enters a narrow alleyway where streetlamps are absent. Nadzieja guides the adventurers deeper into this small maze until they reach a small open area connected to other alleyways. She lets go of the corpse and says, "We're here."

Curious, Fluffle examines his surroundings; there's a wooden dumpster in a corner, two trash bins next to it and a pile of old pallets against a wall. Florolf seems bored and he decides to sit down and clean himself instead.

Steve looks around the alley. "So, what now? Doesn't really look like a battle took place here."

Mihai looks around for any people-shaped wisps of black smoke - "Do we just pop back?"

Awareness 21

Konrad does the same, letting gravity work its own magic. "Suggesting we reenact the fight, Steve? I wouldn't mind seeing our new friend run off a wall, or do any other fancy tricks."

Steve shrugs. "Maybe? I know I'm the resident prankster but I've never faked a battle before."

Nadzieja faces the adventurers. "That's what I had in mind. It won't be perfect, but as long as the Defenders don't look too close, we'll be okay."

She then studies the area with a thoughtful expression.

"Not like the actual fight left a lot of claw marks..." - he stops himself and looks at his gut under the torn shreds of his clothes - "...that haven't been healed up, anyway."

"They'll probably just be happy the case is over. I bet if we set up the body I could blow it up with a spell. The splatter should do a pretty good job of looking plausible. What do you guys think?"

Lead Int check 16

"Prank away, Steve."

Int 15 - Help Steve do his smart thing

"Blow up the body?" The szef is intrigued by this idea. "...Yes, that could work. We'd just need to stand close to it while you cast the spell."

Fluffle makes a grimace and Florolf perks up his ears.

"...what about the head?"

"What do you think Fluffle?" He looks at Florolf, raises his eyebrow in curiosity and says, "How about you Florolf? How would you help?"

Konrad snaps his fingers. "Easy. Steve can singe the cut, and I'll throw it against a wall. It will appear as though it was dismembered by the blast."

Florolf runs behind Mihai's leg, searching for protection. Fluffle doesn't seem too pleased either.

"...If that's what we need to do," he says.

"Yeah, to a five-year old." - Mihai sighs - "Look, the battle happened for real, and it's not like we tore the place up in the Shroud either. We start complicating this, it'll just look more suspicious, not less."

Mihai just looks at Konrad weird, then thinks some more - "The thing did move after i'd cut it's head. Guess that part of the story would be true."

"Wow, the Endless kind of came through for once with their gross puppet powers. Konrad, Nadzieja, help me set up the body. Mihai take care of the head and then could you please get into position about here?" He indicates an area within the splash zone but not the explosion. "Fluffle, Florolf you can sit this out. I don't think they'll expect you to be covered in gore too. You can just stay behind Mihai like Florolf suggested; that should protect both of you well enough. After we are done setting up, we'll join Mihai in the splash zone and I'll do my thing. Any questions or suggestions?"

"Sorry, no more brilliant insights from me."

Konrad hoists the creature up with the monk's help. "Ugh, smells like a wet dog rolled around in offal."

The fairy and the carbuncle rush behind Mihai, ready to use him as cover from the impeding explosion of offals. The monk assists Konrad and places the corpse where Steve wants it.

"Wild dogs smell better," she says with a grimace.

"I've heard of heavy petting, but this is ridiculous." Konrad gives a chuckle, but it is quickly stifled by a gag.

"...leave the lower body. In case anyone starts bitching how there's only a head and a ton of gore."

"Good idea Mihai." Steve looks at the body. "I think this is ready. Any other ideas before we begin?"

"Toss the left arm around over there, once we leave the shroud. Right hand... about there. Head should be a ways that way. I cut off it's arm, then the head. Then the thing somehow kept moving after that, so you basted it for good measure. That's close enough to what happened."