[The part about robotic lions catches Darin's attention...but he just sits back in his chair and grins. Ether this guy was trying entirely hard to stay low-key, thereby making him stick out like a sore thumb, or he was an eccentric old codger.]

[Darin loved badgering eccentric old codgers.]

[So, when he responds, he pretends to know nothing of robotic lions or their paladins.]

Man, I hate it when you get on the wrong side of a pack of Wabbernocks. Last time that happened, I lost an entire week. Hell of a way to end a solstice though.

Welcome, friend. You look like you've traveled your fair share.