Obnoxious Men and Monsters

JP with mdman and Cindy

They finished their drinks and headed to their next stop. The police station. Police stations in the nicer part of the city were never extremely busy, but apparently today was busier than most. Elizabeth listened, in an attempt to overhear anything of use. An unusual number of wives reporting their husband's missing. A few people claiming to have witnessed strange occurances over the past few days. Such as seeing what had occurred at the Exposition, though their reports were even more fantastical than the actual occurrence. Elizabeth was certain wings and flight were not involved. What got her attention however was the talk of a monster roaming around in the area by the docks.

Placing that in the back of her mind, for the moment and having waited long enough. She flashed her ring to the desk clerk who immediately got the Chief of Police. Elizabeth had met the man once before, while arranging things but only knew him as Chief Allard. Elizabeth and Cronk were taken to the chief's office. He took their statements and said the problem would be dealt with.

After Elizabeth and Cronk had left the station and walked to a slightly less crowded area. "Mr. Cronk did you hear of the reports of a monster, down by the area of the docks?"

“Cronk heard,” said the Orc. “We check out?”

Cronk was more concerned with the phrase the problem will be dealt with. From experience, when Quinn was the problem, Cronk knew the police could be bought off. This bothered Cronk, knowing how things work in the underworld. If he got the chance, Cronk would follow-up on both Sokratis and Sable.

Elizabeth had little experience with the police, though she had been taught on how to deal with them. She knew that when the police in London told her father that something would be dealt with it would be. Probably, though that had to do with the clout her father had. Elizabeth herself, was not established enough to have that same clout and certainly not in Paris. It really remained to be seen, if the Chief was as good as his word.

A look crossed Elizabeth's eyes. She definitely had an adventurous streak. "Yes, Mr. Cronk. I do believe we would be derelict in our duties if we did not check it out." It wouldn't hurt to look around some after all. "Besides I have never been to the docks, and it would be best to know all of Paris." Or as much of it as she could.

Cronk instinctively began walking toward the river. He knew those who worked the docks would not care for Lady Elizabeth’s status. They, like wolves would be eyeing her, salivating in a lustful manner. Dock workers weee like that with women, especially when they were beautiful. He would have to teach them to look her in the eyes instead of her assets.

“Lady Elizabeth be careful,” Cronk insisted. “Dock workers no respect ladies.”

"Thank you, Mr. Cronk. It anyone gets too fresh by all means take care of it but try not to kill anyone." Elizabeth stated.

They made their way to the docks. It smelled of fish and sweat, with a slight aroma from the many spices that passed through. Still, smelled better than the alley they had been in previously.

As they walked around Elizabeth kept an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. Kept her ears listening as well but all she heard was the sounds of calls from the different crews and all the languages spoken.

Cronk utilizes his senses to denote anything out of the ordinary. He heard the gulls soaring in the sky above them, the constant chatter and orders from the dock workers. Cronk saw normal dock activity, the hoisting and moving of large crates and barrels. Cronk’s nostrils took in the scent of the river air, a scent of which he was not used to. At home in Oslofjord, Cronk literally taste the salt in the breeze, but due to the river being free of saltwater, Cronk missed that scent, which often cleared his sinuses.

The sensory intake caused him to think of home, missing the salt air of the fjord. He remembered often climbing the face of the cliffs in the fjord, a challenge not for the front of heart.

Cronk turned to Lady Elizabeth. “Cronk thinks people take fear too far,” explaining that Cronk thought it was over exaggeration of the event the Good Doctor caused.

"I so agree Mr. Cronk. People get scared then see their fears in everything. I suppose, in a way, I can not blame them. People can be scared of what they do not understand. When that fear is tangible it becomes worse in their minds." Elizabeth commented.

It was long before she heard a few cat calls, and comments in French directed at her. She ignored it and figured Cronk didn't understand what was being said, even if he likely knew what the whistle was for.

"Well, lookie here boys." One of the men, on the docks commented, fully in English, as Elizabeth and Cronk walked by "Hey, Lady you lost. I could show you around. I bet I could pay more than that big guy behind you."

Elizabeth stopped dead in her tracks. Had he just called her a prostitute? Looking around, and considering her company and she was dressed proper but Elizabeth had been told some upper class prostitutes did that. For a variety of reasons. Still, she was a Lady, nobility and there was no letting the man who was still going on about showing her a "good time" should be allowed to get away with that.

Elizabeth could have likely handled it herself but Cronk seemed to be more than willing and he seemed to enjoy it

"Mr. Cronk, will you please take care of," pointing to the dock worker, with some distain, "him."

Cronk simply nodded at Lady Elizabeth with a sheepish grin, glad that he was able to use his strength. He didn’t need to verge from his path far, as the man felt brace enough to begin to approach them, thinking to keep looking as the two passed.

Cronk simply gave a quick punch to the teeth. The man’s grin turned to a bloody frown as a few of his front teeth fell to the ground.

“You punched me!” the man screamed. “I can’t believe you punched me!”

“You no treat Lady nice!” Cronk voiced back, now picking the man up and tossing him into the Seine. “Must be insane!” Cronk insisted.

Cronk turned back to the others. “Anyone else?”

Men quietly turned away one by one, not able to muster the courage to confront what had just happened.

Cronk responded, “Cronk think not!” He turned to Lady Elizabeth. “They not bother Lady Elizabeth no more.”

"Thank you, Mr. Cronk." Elizabeth said, a grin threatening to cross her lips as her eyes caught sight of the dock worker, attempting to make his way from the water and the other dock workers backing away. "You did a good job taking care of the problem."

The two continued to walk for a while, and saw nothing Elizabeth was about to say maybe they should leave, when the sounds of blood curdling screams caught her ears and she spotted people running. Elizabeth moved to the side and hoped Cronk followed her.

Cronk made way for the people running the opposite way. They were screaming and looked petrified. He knew that look. He had seen it many times in his work for Quinn.

Cronk held out a thick arm, clotheslining one of the men, and grasping him tightly to his chest, looking him in those mortified eyes.

“Why run?”

“Dieu sauve-moi! Encore un monstre!” the man screamed before passing out.

“Cronk not know French!” Cronk demanded, then realized the man was unconscious. Cronk looked to Elizabeth and shrugged.

Elizabeth heard the man, ask God to save him and say the Cronk was another monster, but she wasn't going to tell Cronk that last part, no sense in hurting the Orc’s feelings. "He said God save me. And then said there was a monster." Elizabeth quickly added. "We need to put him some where safe and see if we can do something about the monster. You carry him. Let's put him off to the side, so he won't be trampled on."

Finding a place to put the man, that was out of the way and hidden, Elizabeth had Cronk put the passed out man there. She felt bad leaving the man but he would have been in more danger coming with her and Cronk.

Elizabeth then said to Cronk, "We'll be walking into danger. I need a moment." Sitting crossed leg, she centered herself and mediated for a moment drawing in energy from around her. Her magical stamina was definitely being tested today. After about 2 minutes Elizabeth got up and said. "Mr. Cronk I believe I am ready now. "

Hearing more screams and what sounded like crunching noises, Elizabeth looked out the door and then said to Cronk, "When we get close enough, I'll need you to distract the monster. " She paused. "Please be careful. Are you ready?"

Cronk was more than ready. As Elizabeth was meditating and centering herself, Cronk paced, looking about, ready to protect the Lady.

Cronk heard the noises too. He wondered what the stuff in the syringes had done to a small mouse, and what it would do to a human. It may have created a challenge for Cronk.

He grinned in acceptance of a challenge. He hadn’t had much of one, since Einar, a fellow Orc in Oslofjord had at one time.

When Lady Elizabeth asked if he were ready, Cronk acknowledged, “Cronk ready! Cronk distract!”

Cronk was off like a dart toward the sound emanating from the warehouse. The biggest Orc growl he could muster emanated from his throat. Entering the upraised door, Cronk stopped momentarily to take in the sight of the monster approaching Frenchie and the Wise One. Cronk left out a second ear splitting growl, arms raised, fists beating his chest. His braided hair bounced from side-to-side as he did so, then Cronk charged the creature.