"Really?" Janet muttered to him as Tarvek lay beside her and Mayuko in the room of the inn "Putting a letter on a door?"

Tarvek gave an amused snort at her confused, perhaps annoyed, statement as she lay on her side to his right, elbow on the mattress, head on hand "Twas the only way, and sneaking is a skill hard earned. Simply marching up to the guard to give warning would bring attention upon us that is best avoided"

These recent nights had shown the smuggling to be concerning, even for Tarvek's own limited desire to engage with the native authorities. It reeked of cult activity, and ones dangerous to he and his two companions if it was as he feared in an upcoming attack. Necromancer suicide cults were usually trouble, and these ones were clearly trying to smuggle in something that reeked of necromancy and then moving it to odd spots. Areas with potential crowds, and out of the city, rather than to a secret laboratory or sanctum. Even if this was a local noble playing silly games…it was simply too dangerous from the histories Tarvek had read of such things, and on a plane such as this, based on stories here, maliciousness seemed the likely situation now.

'Because there is a worrying level of competence seeming to show behind it all' he had to admit to himself as he relaxed, Mayuko dozing against him on the left, while Janet was awake and demanding on his left after a brief night trip to do as he'd intended by leave a letter of warning "Maybe, but a letter? Really?"

He reached out, taking her head from behind and unbalancing her till she lay against him "Yes, now rest. Asking the same question in different tones will not bring forth different answers"

"You are just being lazy or suffering for nights out" came back her grumble, though an amused one as she rested against him, arm over his, false human, light cloth wearing chest. Maintaining the guise was always strange for extended periods of time, as he was both laying on comfortable bed as a human, yet also not, in that he was an orc in power armour. Just as Janet was clearly struggling with being in light hazmat armour while also being in a disguise-self spell. Hence why they needed to make best use of when they could sleep, like now as times were looking concerning to him, and Janet seemed inclined to agree with that concern after explaining it. So, with wards on doors and windows, he allowed himself to doze for some much needed rest.

Rising a little later today he used prestidigitation to ensure he, and they, were looking as best they could and placing on the armour and bright cloak for now, Tarvek felt refreshed after a decent night's rest, even in the current arcane form, and perhaps from the fact they were learning useful things even if they were in terms of local magic and history. Also the fact he could purchase magically imbued ingredients and potions to study, and local alchemy manuals was a pleasant thing for Tarvek, even with the cult threat in the background, as it gave access to resources he and his might need for their journey. That, and other things as he finished 'bartering' with a goblin over very crude grenades, paying for them after being sure they were usable. Janet giving him a strange look as they walked away, voice low.

"You could make better ones yourself"

He shrugged, storing away said grenades, leaning in close to Janet, voice low so as not to be overheard "Aye, that is true, but it is useful to have a sample of the local versions to study, but we are getting a feel for such things. Such as the fact goblins sell here, such as this, and what merchants, not of this Alliance, sell their wares within this city"

"They are at peace?" she offered back, still clearly struggling to hide how unnerved…not, just surprised by non-human races being around, such as his people and elves "Trade would…occur, wouldn't it?"

"Such is true, but it is interesting" such as the fact the merchants from Kalimdor's interior, the continent they were currently on as it was called, were allowed occasional permits to trade. Ones getting extra surveillance from the city guards. Something that might be his fault he wondered now, having place the letter and the attention going the wrong way perhaps?

He glanced at two of said guards hassling an elf, one of these 'blood elves' that seemed to be trader or working as one of those that had entered today as part of a merchant convoy. It was unfortunate, but security was much improved at least, and Tarvek and others, these locals and 'adventurers' were still purchasing from these travelling merchants under scrutiny. And, considering the effort put into hassling them, and inspecting their attempts at stalls, the goods were safe even without his own…

'Along with these areas in general' he considered as the day passed by, the sun slowly darkening, being ill at ease at the possibility of a terrorist attack 'Best to stick to those safer areas with Mayuko and Janet here'

"Hate to see such…bullying"

He nodded at Janet's words "Be glad tis not us facing it"

Such was life after all, unfair, especially with humans who were such by nature, with only the veneer of civilization binding them to decency. Orcs were much the same of course, with the idiocy quota unfortunately higher in many dimensions Tarvek knew. But despite that it was another 'normal' day in this new city, having been pleasant till now as the sun began to set in the sky. Still, the concerns lingered, and it was almost a relief when the screams to came to his ears as they returned to the Inn for evening meal and some drinks…

Fzzzztttcrumppttt

There was an explosion near the gate, something that was near the Inn. Though it wasn't a particularly loud explosion, but rather that of a hissing-gasping-burp sound. That though wasn't what drew Tarvek's attention to it, but the explosion of an Alert, for necromantic energies, on his HUD coming from that direction. Greenish-black smoke was rising up from the gate….near the gatehouse, where the guardhouse for inspecting travellers was located he judged as the other gate was closed. Tarvek let out a breath, tension easing oddly, even as other concerns came to mind as worry over an attack were answered at least rather than seeing shadows in every corner.

Screams echoed out, and while he didn't know what occurred as the smoke flowed in place, reeking of darkness and unholy energies…

He could guess "Back to the Inn, now"

Getting Mayuko and Janet out of the firing line was important as he moved before any others, surprise filling those around as they hadn't seen what occurred properly or heard it clearly. No, heads were glancing towards that direction, while those arcanely inclined seemed to be jumping up from tables or having woken from a nap on a nearby bench by falling off. He though was merely gently pushing his two female companions towards the nearby Inn entrance, scans confirming it was still clear. The building was defensible and had line of sight if forced to fight with weapons Janet and Mayuko could use without engaging in melee with undead. Something he suspected neither was ready to deal with.

"…what's happening…."

"Did you feel?"

"…smoke at the gate?"

"Go" he said softly, with a nudge, the distance not far, ignoring confused talk around them as the world around them was in slow-motion "We do not have long afore…"

"eeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

…the first scream, along with the clatter of items falling as he walked, Janet and Mayuko already moving, shoving passed some humans. He turned his head, scanning what was behind them as he saw the first scream, then the second and third as these were civilians or merchants heading for drinks or food rather than the adventurers of the morning leaving for riches. Oh, there were…four he noted, but he watched as guardsmen emerged, coughing, out of the sickly smoke, even as it began to dissipate. His helmets sensors saw what they were though, saw the blast of necromantic energy clinging to their bodies and no resistance as their lights flame was extinguished. Flesh was rotting already, eyes twisting to an electric-flickering green energy as the skin melted off the face of the one nearest, as they swung their sword, still clad in their guard uniform.

"What…"

"Inside, now" he instructed Janet as another guard, an uninfected one charged the other, along with a dwarf and a human in armour as more figures staggered out of the smoke…

Along with one moving easily, clad in robes, a mage, who was cursing heavily?

Tarvek continued to move his charges towards the inn, relying on the natives to defend for now, watching as one such fighter fell, as the crowd started to run and scream in panic where they weren't fighting. Getting inside was achievable though, as those inside didn't know yet, Tarvek shoving both females through the doors before having to turn as an undead ran for said doors. Seeking to delay reinforcements, or perhaps to catch those inside by surprise, using the confused crowd as cover. There were only two though, spread out, lashing out at the living, so it was easy to turn, draw his blade in an easy motion…

Tink

….catching the blade of the one nearest. Then moving and swinging in an easy, well-trained, motion to take the head off the creature. Followed by kicking out with his right leg to send it sprawling backwards, seeing if it rose again while retreating back inside the inn "Upstairs. Weapons out at windows"