Feolinn is a town that celebrates a long history. Founded around 400+ years ago as a waypoint between Port Zoon and Port Damali, settlers quickly took to the bountiful Plumgroves, turning its many fruits into wine. From there the rest is history and the town grew to a nice trade empire for all things wines and ciders. A rivalry between the Dwendalian Empire’s Kamordah eventually grew and the Feolinn Wine Festival is one of the ways the town tries to prove that its vintages are the best in Wildemount. The entire town loves to participate and show off their Feolinn town spirit. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop the competition from trying to one-up their competitors and it can get downright cutthroat with how serious it is. So today the Zho are in full presence along the 4 main roads of the town and inside its many alleys. Someone is going to try something today. I have already seen 6 merchants pay off Zho guards in the last hour alone. Not to mention that the book has mentioned of a possible quest involving the Myriad and this festival. According to the quest, the Myriad is part of the reason this festival happens, as they sponsor some businesses and festivities in an attempt to honeypot the rich and powerful of the town. I don't know how to even spot that without being really invasive. I was told to stay out of private property for now so I will. But despite all that worry, I am having a great time. What's the point of a second life if you can't live a little? Currently, I am in seagull form sitting on a pole used to hang streamers across the road. Now in order to keep up my disguise I am also watching people's food waiting for my moment to strike. Oh, I see the perfect target.

“You know what goes well with wine. Meat and cheese. Come on over and try our fine cheddar and sausages. All made from local sources.” A rather round human with a wonderful curly mustache was advertising all his delicious food. And doesn't have a tarp over his stand either. He isn't wearing a hairnet either. Now he isn't following good food safety precautions. I think I will have to follow the bad example of the other Zho and take a bribe in order to look the other way. I leap off my perch and dive towards his table.

“Fine Feolinn cheeses WHAa shoo shoo noooo.” He screamed at me. Too bad you can't uneat the sausage. I make my escape when he reaches for a broom and with that, my cover has been fully established. I laugh evilly like all seagulls are known to do.

I move on to watch more of the city. I switch between raven and seagull every now and then and for about an hour at 3 I shifted to cat for a bit. I tried being a dog but I got way too much attention from children. While I did like being pet it got weird once I thought about it, I quickly decided not to do that again. Going back to work as long as I had a high point of view I didn't miss much. I had to report at least 7 pickpockets and 5 assaults. And speak of the devil. I look down an alley off Alt'afi Avenue and I see a group of 6 breaking into a locked door. Masks, swords, lockpicks, and crowbars. I mean come on you can't look more suspicious. This is actually the largest group I have seen yet. I fly around the front and see that this place is called The Golden Hand. It’s a casino but they should have a bunch of people on staff right now not sure how these guys are gonna get away with this one. Well either way I see a Zho and swing down an alley and turn back into my human form.

“Hey. I just saw a group of six masked individuals break into the back of The Golden Hand.” I said to the guard.

“Ah, fuck can't ever be easy. Your Edsom right?” He asked.

“Yes. I have orders to inform the barracks in case of break-ins. I saw you and stopped to tell you. I have to run.” I said.

“That's okay I will do it. Word has made it around the barracks of your powers. Can you run around back and try to keep an eye on them.” He said.

Now there is a dilemma. Do I follow his orders and go investigate on my own or do I let him do it? That's the thing ain't it? I can't even trust the Zho to always do what's right, can't I? “Sorry sir but I have my orders. Plus I will make it to the barracks faster.” I said and ran into an alley to change. Taking to the skies has become much easier. I rushed back to the barracks. That guy might have just wanted to take credit for delegating or he might have had bad intentions. Either way, I can't risk it right now. Swooping into the yard I change back. The panic at seeing me do that has worn off around the second time and now people know to get ready when I make an entrance like that. I report to Martel.

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“A group of 6 armed and masked men broke into the back of The Golden Hand. I informed 1 Zho on my way here.” I said finishing my report. I noticed there wasn't that many Zho here right now.

“Ah fuck why now. Come with me Edsom.” He said and I followed. I am getting a bad feeling. “Alright, you said Golden Hand right?” He asked.

“Yes. There is some kind of problem with Golden Hand.” I asked.

“Yes, a big one. The owner of the Golden Hand, a man named Harris, just requested a bunch of guards to come to his house. Look, we owe the merchants and people that make the Concord function a lot. It's how we are paid so well and get to enjoy such fine budgets. But I think he knows what is about to happen to his casino and wants it to happen. I don’t like this.” He said.

“What do you want me to do?” I said. He wouldn't be telling me this unless he had something in mind for me. I have only been here a week. I don't think I am in the circle of trust yet so he must need something.

“I need you to head back to the Golden Hand. Find and follow these thieves. Small forms only and keep your distance. I don't need you to stop them, just reconnaissance.” He said.

“Yes sir,” I said. I really don't like this now. Too much I don’t know. This last week has been good but now? I am going to have to figure out who to trust here. Let's start with Martel and Captain Kali. They have invested a lot in me. Even if they are corrupt, that doesn't mean they will throw away a good tool. I mean I don't plan on being used just to be thrown away, but that doesn't mean I can't play along.

I fly back to the Golden Hand. First I circle the building to see if anything else is wrong. So far nothing. No alarms, no hostages, nothing much. The guard I signaled earlier isn't here. Hmmm. He could be inside no need to doubt just yet. I check the back. The door they broke into is propped open still with a wooden wedge. I land and assume cat form. A rat might be smaller but between the two if I get spotted, I won't be killed immediately 9 times out of 10 as a cat. Plus both are just as quiet and dexterous. I squeeze inside the building and am met with my first problem. I don't know which way they went. The door I came from is on the east side of the building. The hallway leads north, south, and west. I don't have anything to determine who's scent belongs to whom so that won't work. I could play it safe and wait outside but I have no clue if they will even exit this way. Guess I will have to be less quiet and more quick.

I ran down the southern hallway where the hall turns east. I peek around the corner and see a door slightly open. I move towards it and see this leads to a break room. Probably not here. I run back north and head further down to the other end. The hall turns east again but this time it leads to stairs going to a second floor. I run upstairs and follow the hall. I finally found my first clue. There's a room open that looks to have been tossed. No one is inside so I continue to search. These guys might be just robbing the place. Which if Harris knows it might be some kind of insurance scam. Does Exandria have insurance?

After moving quickly through the halls I slam on the brakes because I found them. They are inside an office searching for something. They are distracted because they haven't heard or seen me yet. Which is perfect. I peek my head into the door. Hopefully, I seem just like a normal cat.

"Come on. I thought you were good at safe cracking?" Thief 1 says. This one is the second tallest of the group. I can see a hint of their skin. Caucasian. And it is clean and unblemished. Maybe an elf?

"It takes time. Give me a minute." Thief 2 says. This one is actually the shortest of the group. Not so stalky as to be a dwarf so maybe a gnome, halfing, or some other short race. Like goblin or kobold.

The group of 6 is now 5. Where's the last one? Worry about that in a second I guess these guys seem to be trying to break into a safe. This office is nice and I think its location puts it above the main door. This screams the main office to me. If it is Harris’s, why would he want these thieves uncaught? He dragged a number of Zho away to who knows where when his own casino was being robbed. Or maybe he doesn't know he is being robbed.

“Got it.” Thief 2 says.

"Is it in there?" Says thief 3. They are big. And I don't just mean tall. They all have cloaks and such but I can still tell they are ripped. Oh, they have a scaled tail. I think this is a dragonborn.

"Yes I got it, let's go." Says thief 2. They close the safe and the group begins to turn. I duck behind the door and sit under a table in the hallway. It doesn't provide any cover and if they look at me they will without a doubt see me but I can at least pretend to be a normal cat.

"Where's Folin?” Thief 4 asked. This one was of average build. They looked like a human.

“No idea? He said to leave him if it came to it. Let's just go and we can message him later.” Thief 5 said. This one also seemed to be human or at least human-shaped.

“Wait.” Said thief 3. Oh no. She was looking at me. “I am gonna take this cat.”

Oh fuck.