Ada, Marcelle, Neva, and Hannah stood lurking underneath a shadowy building. Dark clouds blanketed the night sky above. They watched the entrance to the warehouse like hawks. Two large and menacing guards smoking tobacco leaned against the building. Between them a large banded iron wooden door, stood stark against the dilapidated exterior. Boarded up windows dotted the sides of the warehouse. Faint candlelight could be seen flickering within the building.

"Two thugs at the entrance. Definitely more inside." Ada said softly. She gripped the wooden shortsword at her side. "Some of them, at least the negotiator, should be waiting for us at the sawmill."

"Do you think they'd be stupid enough to move him to the location?" Marcelle asked.

"No." Neva shook her head. In the dark, the movement was barely perceptible. "Probably too risky moving him out. They'll probably be a negotiator and maybe a handful of thugs. If it was an ambush, maybe more. Fritz would most likely be at an alternate location. Once the money exchange occurs, then he would be released."

"So what now? Are we planning on beating down the door?" Marcelle asked.

"Knock out the guards. Then we'll take a peek inside. Crack some skulls, and let's get our champion back." Neva said.

"Knock them out? Surely you don't plan on returning their crime with mercy?" Hanna asked. Her voice was like an ethereal dagger. Cold and sharp with the hint of ever present death. Ada's tail bristled with dread, crouching near the wight.

"Killing them will only draw the ire of the town's guard. If we're wrong, we'll have to explain why there's a bunch of dead beastkin in that warehouse." Neva replied. "Better to stick to non-lethal options for now. We can change tactics if necessary."

"Surely, you can just kill them too?" Hannah posited. "Who cares about guards? They should all be taught a lesson. The living are too merciful."

"Let me handle this. They'll be asleep before they know what happened." Marcelle said as she slid forward. From her pouch, she produced a thin glass flask. A compressed brackish smoke filled the container. All eyes were focused on the two beastkin ahead. Small cow horns extended from their heads as they stood menacingly next to the door. Faint puffs of smoke could be seen coming from their noses, as they nursed their tobacco. Next to the door was a lantern, sputtering orange light into the dim street. Marcelle readied herself in the shadow of the alleyway. She hefted the flask in her hand and waited for the right time to strike.

One of the guards turned their head away from Marcelle's hiding place. Surging forward with a screech, she pulled the flask back before launching it through the air. The alchemical compound sailed through the air. Its arc threatened to land on one of the large minotaurs. Marcelle stopped to watch her throw with a satisfied smirk. The flask went wide, thrown far off course by inexperienced hands. The flask hit somewhere on the roof. A cloud of gray smoke spread ineffectually into the night air as Marcelle blinked in stupefied surprise.

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The bovine guards noticed the lamia standing in the middle of the muddy street.

"What the hell are you doing?" One of the guards yelled out. He grabbed a large lumber axe leaning on the side of the building. Hefting it into his hands he stood ready for a fight.

"Hey! It's that snake lady!" The other said.

"Shit! They're with the hoo-man!"

Marcelle reacted quickly. Reaching into her pouch, she started frantically lobbing potions at the two guards. Shards of glass were scattered all over the ground as a large cloud of gas hung near the doorway. The guards collapsed in a coughing fit. Their boots peeked out from underneath the spreading gas. Marcelle wiped the sweat from her brow as she looked back to Neva and Ada's hiding place. A pained look spread across her face. She gave a meek thumbs up to her companions as they walked over to her.

"Nice one. Let me do the throwing from now on." Ada said as she passed by. Marcelle scoffed.

"What?! Just like you were supposed to throw project SKUNK?" Marcelle hissed out.

"Girls." Neva spoke up, interrupting the two. "Stay focused."

The guards were snoring in front of the door. They breathed slowly and evenly. The cloud of gas had eventually dispersed with a gentle breeze. Ada and Neva reached the door first. Marcelle and Hannah walked over cautiously to the door. Once the other two arrived, Neva motioned to the door. Ada grabbed the handle and tried to pull. Wood groaned against metal as the locked door refused to budge.

"Locked." Ada whispered.

"There's no keyhole either. Shit! It's braced." Neva responded. A voice from behind the door interrupted them.

"Cyrus? Benji? Something wrong? Need me to switch out with you?"

Ada and Neva pulled back from the door. They readied themselves for a fight.

"What the hell do we do?" Ada whispered. "It's barred from the other side."

"Shit. Do your best impression! Don't mess up!" Neva suggested. Ada massaged her throat as she prepared. Deepening her voice, she called out to the other lady.

"Yeah. Just need to get back inside. Need to see the human with my own eyes." Ada said.

"What's wrong with you? The fuck?" The voice called back. "Are you messing with me?"

"Deeper!" Neva hissed. "Go deeper!" Trying and failing to suppress her smile, Marcelle turned away.

"Just joking! Come on, let me in." Ada spoke awkwardly. Her voice cracked near the end.

"Cyrus, Benji cut it out! I'm about to ring the alarm. Tell me the password or I'm getting the boys!"

"What now? What do we do?" Ada whispered to Neva.

"Guess! Just guess!" Neva whispered back.

"Uh... Grognard rules?" Ada guessed.

"Intruders!" The man on the other side shouted.

"Enough of this foolishness." Hannah said. "Move." She raised her hand towards the door. Ada and Neva scrambled out of the way. A dangerous flash of dark magic emanated from her open palm. A blast of magical energy struck the door. The door frame splintered as the banded iron door was sent back like an arrow. An unlucky beastkin was hit by the flying door. Dust and grime kicked up into the air, as the beastkin slammed into the back of the warehouse.

"Shit." Ada, Marcelle, and Neva said in unison. Ada and Neva gripped their weapons, as Marcelle chugged down a potion. Veins seemed to pop out on her arms as her tail flicked menacingly. Shouts and sounds of alarm came from deeper within the warehouse. Dust obscured the dim interior of the warehouse. Ada was the first to rush in. She charged filled with visions of glorious valor, and evolving her wooden sword.

"Are we still non-lethal? That guy is dead!" Marcelle shouted.

"Try not to kill them!" Neva shouted as she followed Ada into the warehouse.