🐙 Planet Aberat, Kingdom of Selya-Mira 🐙

"Thanks, guys," Treebeard nods. "And you be careful too. If someone attacks our people in broad daylight, right here on this street, in front of Her and her followers, it means the enemy is reckless, and we should expect an attack from anywhere. And for every warrior, no matter how valiant, there's always someone who can find a way to stab them in the back, right between the plates of their armor – just when they let their guard down." He circles the scene thoughtfully, his mental gears turning. The creature he had mistaken for a beggar from afar would certainly have been dealt with, had it not been for the incident. It wasn't easy, at first glance, to connect it with the other criminals of the past few weeks, but it fit well within their supposed modus operandi, if such a definition could be applied to this strange escapade. However, if he had been a familiar beggar, the locals would have certainly noticed him – so where did he come from? With a grim look, he surveys all the nearby sewer grates and dark alleys between the buildings. The policeman reaches for a cigarette, but doesn't take it out of the pack – now is not the time to relax and waste precious minutes. When you feel like the investigation has reached a dead end, it's worth taking a breath and considering other possibilities – you've probably overlooked something. He twists the pack of cigarettes between his fingers, puts it back in his pocket, turns sharply, and walks heavily but confidently towards the newspaper office.