Nathailon steps up and stabs at the bee that attacked Raleigh. The blunt end of a stave can pack a lot of force, concentrated in a small area.
The guardsman yells over the commotion to the man next to him.
"What're ya doin'? We gotta get outta here! Go!"
Borumaru continues to carry the unconscious human.
Gaziq stands just outside as he waits for the doors to close, ready in case another bee comes flying out. As he glances around at his newfound (hopefully) companions, a realization seems to dawn on him. "...Am I 'little guy'!?"
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Nathalion shakes his head in confusion. Did the man dressed as a guardsman think the bee wouldn't follow him? Probably not the safest assumption.
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Nathalion steps forward and jabs on the the bees with his staff, knocking it back a few inches and making it buzz angrily. However, its attention is not pulled from Uuzkhangr and Borumaru, who are hurriedly dragging the last two unconscious humans towards the door. The two creatures lash out again--already limping slightly from previous stabs, the dwarf is struck twice more!
Still even those painful wounds aren't enough to stop the pair, and as they pass through the door (Gaziq crouched and blade at the ready) Raleigh hauls on the thick wood, now scarred by Uuzkhangr's mace.
Panting and bleeding, you look around at each other and the ill-fitting doors while the crowd murmurs, sloshing pails sitting unused on the ground. MAMA! cries the little girl, running up to the woman in Borumaru's arms and shaking her. "Why won't she wake up? Is she hurt?" The child is close to tears, and her voice cracks at the word hurt--she doesn't dare even voice the other possibility aloud.
Uuzkhangr calls soothing words in through the cracks in the door.
"There there. It's okay now. The fires are out. Just go back to your hives. That's it."
Uuzkhangr reaches down and touches the bee lying on the ground outside the door, and murmurs something to himself.
Gaziq stands just outside as he waits for the doors to close, ready in case another bee comes flying out. As he glances around at his newfound (hopefully) companions, a realization seems to dawn on him. "...Am I 'little guy'!?"-Posted with Wayfinder
"I mean... heh, ya ain't tall, jack."
The slightly crooked smile of relief on the guards's face drops when he hears the girls cries. At the same time he holds the doors together as well as he can.
Uuzkhangr tries to treat the bee's wounds with conventional methods.
"Yer giant bee good now? Whoop-dee-frickin-doo. How 'bout th' unconscious people?"
The man in the blue uniform starts getting snippy with the mysterious dwarf.
Uuzkhangr looks at the unconscious people dragged out of the apiary.
"They will wake up in time. But some people earn their living by caring for these bees. If I can help save their livelihood I will."
Gaziq sheathes his sword before collapsing with his back to the wall, some distance from the door. He doesn't have any real skill when it comes to first aid, and besides, he needs the rest. "I have a bad feeling this may not be the last crisis."
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"If these events are deliberate, then you are probably right."
"There's no reason we should allow unnecessary deaths to occur..."
Borumaru casts "Stabilize" on every unconscious human (or bee) in the vicinity.
Ceinwynn sits on the ground breathing heavily. She looks around, please they had saved lives.
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With the notable exception of Ceinwynn's charge, the unconscious humans appear totally unharmed to a casual inspection. Unfortunately the man hauled out by the elf is still bloody, badly swollen, and struggling to speak clearly. "Rrr tey, aligh? Rrr they aligh?" the effort clearly taxes him and he coughs weakly.
While Uuzkhangr takes softly speaks to the bees in an effort to calm them--with limited success so far--a shrill whistle pierces the air and the crowd parts as a half-dozen city guards push through the onlookers, led by a tall woman in breastplate armor being led by Zilderban the gnome. They approach the building and your group at a hustle, drawing up short a few feet away.
This is Watchknight Iris Umael, with whom you've had a few run-ins on account of your pretending to be a guard. Unlike Watchknight Kerrick Sallos she seems to appreciate that you're trying to help and has even paid you for a valuable tip a few times...but she drops persistent and not-so-subtle hints that you ought to join the guard formally. She's semi-regularly threatens to arrest you but unlike Sallos has never gone through with it.
Scanning the building and the group of carefully, the woman sighs and removes her helm, revealing a somewhat plain-looking woman with dark brown hair with worry-lines creasing her forehead. Her expression is simultaneously relieved and irritated.
"Damn your eyes, Raleigh, I knew you would be involved in this somehow." she bites out.
There's an immediate look of recognition in Raleigh's face when he hears the womans voice.
Well, this could be worse. Priorities. That guy's in bad shape. Besides, what am I gonna say? "I was minding my own business?" I never mind my own business.
He turns away from the door immediately.
"Heh hey! Iris. It is good ta see ya babe. The man wit' da elf needs medical attention. New folks, this is the compassionate, and very wise Watchknight Umael."
He looks around the assembled newcomers for a split-second. "What, Captain Stick-in-the-butt ain't 'ere?"
"Dammit." Visibly taking a moment to control her expression, Watchknight Umael points to several of her guards and snaps outs orders in a calm, professional tone. "Rannis, Ulf, head around back. Jol, keep the crowd back. Erri, grab some stretchers. And you lot," her stern glare snaps back to the group of you, "explain what exactly is going on here. No, not you Raleigh."
"Dammit." Visibly taking a moment to control her expression, Watchknight Umael points to several of her guards and snaps outs orders in a calm, professional tone. "Rannis, Ulf, head around back. Jol, keep the crowd back. Erri, grab some stretchers. And you lot," her stern glare snaps back to the group of you, "explain what exactly is going on here."
"Well, ya se-"
"No, not you Raleigh."
"Rmm."
"We were trying to save lives," Gaziq chimes in, without moving from his spot. "There was a fire, which my new friend very deftly extinguished. And several injured and unconscious people who we thought it prudent to bring outside, so that they might receive medical attention. Which by my count makes two near disasters we helped avert today. Not that I keep score or anything."
Uuzkhangr pulls up his hood again. He fetches Zyxl's cloak and puts it over her. She ignores this as she continues to eat the remains of the bee.
"The mantis is with me. She's no danger. She's very well trained."
After looking after Zyxl's 'disguise' he straightens up.
"And it is as the rat-man has said. There was a fire here and we came to help. We put out the fire and dragged these people out. But we have not had the chance to ask them what happened to cause a fire here."
"Now if you will excuse me, I must attend to my wounds. The stingers of these bees are quite sharp."
Uuzkhangr sits next to Zyxl and begins to meditate.
Watchknight Umael starts, and looks you all over again with a more sympathetic eye. "I am sorry," she says. "You've clearly put yourselves in harm's way to rescue these people, and you're wounded." Reaching into a hip pouch, she withdraws three small vials of pale blue glass. "It's not much, but I have a number of minor curatives here."
Passing the vials off to you, she turns her attention to those you have rescued. "We need to get these people off the street. We'll take them to Chalice Court. I'd appreciate it if you'd accompany us, to answer a few questions."
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The guard apparently called Erri comes hustling back with a bundle of stretchers that she lays out beside the people you rescued. Assisted by Watchknight Umael herself, the unconscious and wounded are carefully moved onto the stretchers.
Meanwhile, another guard heads off and returns a few minutes later with a length of chain, which he uses to crudely latch the damaged door together. It sags alarmingly, but holds, and no bees issue forth. Several of the others start trying to disperse the crowd to no success. Once the group is ready to move out all six guards and Umael grab ends of a stretcher.
"If one of you could grab the other end I'd appreciate it. We haven't far to go."
Zilderban stands off to the side, and nervously shuffles over to your group. "I'm very, sincerely sorry if I've caused you any trouble," he whispers, hat in hand. I didn't know what else to do! So I went and got the guards. Umael's a good sort, she'll get this all figured out. I'll certainly vouch for you!"
Gaziq finally forces himself back to his feet and pats Zilderban on the shoulder. "No worries. In fact, your arrival seems rather timely. Thank you for bringing help." He will let his companions have the potions, as others were hurt worse than he was, and follow along behind Umael.
Raleigh grabs an end to carry.
"Steady now."
Uuzkhangr nods and takes the potions.
"My thanks," he says to the watchknight. He drinks one of the potions.
"You did the right thing." Nathalion tells Zilderban. He follows along to the Chalice Court.
As he walks along Nathalion tries to remember what he knows about Chalice Court.
"There was need for action. So I acted." says Borumaru to the guard. "Give your ailments to the fallen. They have more need of it."
Ceinwynn takes one of the potions after she sees only one claimed. "Thank you." She joins the procession.
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While the bulk of the City Watch (which doubles as both Magnimar's standing defensive army & its internal police force) is quartered in the Arvensoar, a number of small stations are scattered throughout the city, including a small barracks, a jailhouse, and often an armory or lockboxes for the storing of valuables. "Chalice Court" is the name of Lowcleft's watch-station. Given the relative proximity of Arvensoar it's the only such station in the district.
With Raleigh's assistance with the last stretcher the whole lot of you set out, with the little girl following along behind nervously as Zilderban tries to comfort her. Only six blocks later you find yourself at a small two-story building with a low wall (8ft, topped with dull black metal spikes of varying lengths) surrounding the yard. A guard inside opens the small gate as your draw near and the lot of you are ushered inside.
There an older man with a well-trimmed grey beard and the symbol of Iomedae on his tunic directs you to gently set down the stretchers. Cracking his knuckles, he starts at the bee-stung man. "Merciful Heritor! It's the younger Deverin boy!" the priest exclaims, his spellcasting gaining a certain urgency then. Before your eyes the swelling diminishes significantly and with a pained moan the young man starts to stir. "I haven't any spells for the musculature damage, but with careful rest and plenty of fluids he should be right as rain in under a week!" the priest explains to Umael in a slightly apologetic tone. He them moves to the unconscious civilians, gently prodding around their head and neck while the younger man silently presses at the swelling still present on his neck and arm.
"Next time, I think I would much rather be the dashing rescuer," he offers with a pained grin. Climbing slowly and carefully to his feet, he steps over to Ceinwynn and places his hands on her shoulders. "I'm extremely grateful for your timely arrival. That goes for all of you as well!" he continues with a gesture to you.
"But first I have to see to my people, please don't go anywhere!"
Must be an important fellow to get that sort of treatment.
Gaziq stays out of the way for the most part, still surprised by how unnecessarily large everything was around here. It was almost enough to make him agoraphobic.
"So...Raleigh, was it? You seem to be pretty familiar with Umael. You work together?"
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House Deverin is one of the city's wealthiest but least assuming families, and they own a number of businesses in Lowcleft and Dockside--most famously the Fancy Reefclaw. Their modest villa can be found in the Naos District, and the family patriarch Hobart Deverin is known as the "Simple Lord" for his modest lifestyle and willingness to fund public works and business ventures at fair rates.
Raleigh visibly eyes Tilos on his way out of the room.
"Oh aye. In a manner a speakin'. She ain't overly fond a my choice a methods. Sometimes ya gotta know how to get what ya need. Sometimes bureaucracy stifles urgency. Know waddamean jack?" After a second look he turns to the ratfolk.
"So uhh, yer outfit gonna be alright? Ya still look run down."
Uuzkhangr sits on a bench in the station, waiting. He looks around, making sure he knows where the exits are. He considers bolting. No... it's not like that here. It's different than where I grew up. We're not under arrest, there are no manacles or chains. Just keep calm.
Still, why did we need to come down here? Did they not believe our statement? The sooner I am out of here, the better.
Climbing slowly and carefully to his feet, he steps over to Ceinwynn and places his hands on her shoulders. "I'm extremely grateful for your timely arrival. That goes for all of you as well!" he continues with a gesture to you.
"But first I have to see to my people, please don't go anywhere!"
Ceinwynn begins to move over and help the man up. He gets to his feet before she is able to assist him in rising. As he places his hands on her shoulders, she blushes a bit. Composing herself, she smiles coyly at the man. "You're welcome."
"Somebody glued your front door shut. Tried to burn the place down with you inside..." Nathalion tells the young noble.
"I don't suppose you saw who it was?" Nathalion wonders if the attack on Zilderban's apparatus could be connected to the incident at the Honey Hut. If not, it was a strange coincidence indeed. If so, whoever was perpetrating these attacks might have more such mayhem in mind. The wizard's brow furrows with worry as he regards Tilos Deverin.
Raleigh visibly eyes Tilos on his way out of the room.
"Oh aye. In a manner a speakin'. She ain't overly fond a my choice a methods. Sometimes ya gotta know how to get what ya need. Sometimes bureaucracy stifles urgency. Know waddamean jack?" After a second look he turns to the ratfolk.
"So uhh, yer outfit gonna be alright? Ya still look run down."
Gaziq looked down at his clothes sheepishly. He hadn't come into town looking his best to begin with, and between the flooding, fire, and puncture wounds he was looking pretty rough. "Suppose I should look into buying some new clothes soon," he said, poking at a hole in the sleeve of his jacket.
"Somebody glued your front door shut. Tried to burn the place down with you inside..."
Looking back at you, face grim and tight with anger, "I know." Then he walks over to the priest who is waving a small jar under the chins of the unconscious humans.
"I don't suppose you saw who it was?"
The young man shakes his head. "No, but I heard them. They were invisible. A moment please, I'll return."
For a few minutes Umael speaks with one of the now-awake humans, then with Deverin and Zilderban. At her side a slender young man with a quick and writing board writes furiously the entire time before the pair walks over to where you're sitting.
"I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that most of you aren't from around here," Umael says dryly. "One at a time, please tell me your name and your business in the city. You're not in any trouble--on the contrary, without your efforts things at the Honey Hut would doubtless have been considerably worse. But we do have an incident of arson and attempted murder on our hands now, so we'll do it by the book. What exactly did everyone see...?"
Uuzkhangr looks up. "I am Uuzkhangr," he says. "I moved to the city perhaps a year ago. I earn a living as a rat-catcher; I have a talent with animals."
Uuzkhangr scratches his beard. "I can't say I saw much. When we got there the building was already afire. We couldn't get the door open so I broke it down. Three of the bigger hives were burning, and there were four unconscious people under the tables. The bees were mighty agitated. I put out the fires and dragged the unconscious people out, while the others fended off the bees."
"The Deverin boy was hurt and was upstairs. Ceinwynn there went and grabbed him and brought him out."