[This wasn't the first time Ralph had been brought to the Emperor like this, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

He was currently being held between several of the Emperor's elite guards, the mermen with the tails of swordfish who carried sharp lances like their namesake's nose.

Ralph didn't struggle in their custody, though he was glowering and glaring at them.

This time, he had gotten into a fight with one of the city residents. They had decided to take his cave as their own while he was gone. Ralph had come back home to find them moving in and he had well...wrecked the place.

It had taken several guards to subdue him and drag him back to the Emperor to receive his punishment.

He had several injuries from the guards and he had given them a few bruises as well, possibly having broken the ribs of at least one of them, among inflicting other wounds.

One of the other guards not holding onto Ralph tosses his bag to the Emperor, there's several valuable and shiny objects inside of it.

When that happens, Ralph cries out and lunges forward slightly before being restrained by the guards even further.]

Hey! That's mine!