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[sub][@Dealdric] - [b][color=808080][b]Tetroz[/b][/color][/b][/sub][/center]
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Now back at the peak of the mountains leading to the labs below, Nerplaguis orders his sentinel to deliver the captured "Fear substance" back to his lab. He's definitely going to have a field day experimenting with it. He has already considered making a potent fear toxin out of it that can paralyze a person's nervous system, leaving them utterly defenseless while lying in their own puddles of urine. Just seeing them suddenly plop down in an instant makes him giddy about the entire thing. But before he can go down, he needs to take a quick look for a specific herb in his little outside garden that can make his newfound toxin even more potent. Hemlock. 

Yet not more than a few minutes later, he finds himself looking at a big grey dragon flapping towards his very position. He points his pointy beak towards it in a somewhat annoyed fashion.

[b][color=a9a9a9]"Oh ho?"[/color][/b] he chirps curiously, [b][color=a9a9a9]"What's a dragon doing up here in my garden? Can't you see that I'm busy with my breaking new experiment? I would hate if you are here to burn everything here to the ground..."[/color][/b]

Yet the dragon isn't here to burn the Plague God's stuff to ash, rather he's here for a much different purpose. A rat had stole [b][u]his[/u][/b] gem, a gem belonging to Terzotz, the Black Dragon of Magic. Already, Nerplaguis, believed him to be one of Sister Dirka's most recent magical experiments. The dragon believes that the rat that had stolen it belonged to the plague god and wanted him to give it back to him. 

[b][color=a9a9a9]"My rats are known to steal many things."[/color][/b] the masked god says rather bluntly as he continues searching for the herb, [b][color=a9a9a9]"But they only really steal different types of herbs, spices, and crops from the local mortals to assist in my experiments. Not often do they steal these shiny rocks. I would say you are looking in the wrong place, but..."[/color][/b]

The plague god then turns around to face the giant dragon.

[b][color=a9a9a9]"It appears that one rat in particular appears to have been stealing more... valuable items as of late."[/color][/b] he admits, [b][color=a9a9a9]"I do not know which of my rats have been hoarding such useless trinkets - it's never at home - but perhaps it's the same one that has your precious gem. Today we shall both find the true culprit! Let me just bring em' all here for role-call."[/color][/b]

With that, Nerplaguis unveils a bone-white horn made of a deceased bull and blows into it. The loud, low-humming, rumble eventually summoned a huge horde of around a hundred rats to line up just a few feet away from the two beings. The beaked god looks ahead of the various plague-infested rats that were all standing at attention like the little servants they are.

[b][color=a9a9a9]"Excellent!"[/color][/b] he cooes as he takes out a long stick, [b][color=a9a9a9]"Alright everyone! Before I make my announcement, allow me to issue a quick roll-call to see if everyone is here. So! Annethi, Algeronn, Alphie..."[/color][/b]

This would go on for several long minutes before Nerplaguis was finally finished. And according to him, it seemed all was in order. But as he scanned his list again, he suddenly realized something.

[b][color=a9a9a9]"Hmmm... that's odd."[/color][/b] he wondered curiously, [b][color=a9a9a9]"It seems like I missed someone. Who did I...?"[/color][/b]

He then suddenly remembers a certain rat of his that he didn't remember seeing during role-call. An ordinary brown mouse with red-eyes, a scar running down his back, and had a chopped tail. 

[b][color=a9a9a9]"Where's Jimbo?"[/color][/b] Nerplaguis asked aloud, [b][color=a9a9a9]"Could've sworn I saw him here... let me do roll call again..."[/color][/b]

If one could look closely at the Plague God's robe however, one might be able to see a large moving lump hidden underneath around his collar area... could it be the thieving rodent?