It is late evening in Sandpoint a warm summer rain shower has driven most folks indoors.
Inside the Rusty Dragon there are few grumbles about the weather as a small cheery fire crackles in the hearth and the delicious scents of food both exotic and familiar waft from the kitchen. The clink of cutlery on pottery and a low contented murmur of people enjoying the food and company fills the bar, while a small band plays a lilting familiar tune from their place near the hearth.
The door opens and a cool damp breeze wafts inside as a young man in unseasonably long sleeves steps inside with a nod to the Shoanti man perched watchfully near the door.
At a table near the kitchen two of Gorvi's boys exchange a bit of gossip. "You know how red faced ol' Grump gets, he was shaking angry today" the young story teller squeezes his face into a paunchy angry parody of the old farmer as he shakes his jowls in mock rage before dropping into a barking laugh. "The sheriff still wouldn't organize a hunt for Grump's devil. Seems when Hemlock went out to Grumps farm last week he found the hog pen unlatched and a mess of goblin tracks. But still old Grump insists it was the devil and keeps pestering everyone about it."
"Those goblins are becoming a menace. I was down dumping a load at the junktoss talking to Gorvi when down below we see three or four of the little buggers out in the broad daylight." Roost, shakes his head before taking a drink and continuing, "Gorvi got his tusks all in a knot over that an he was into the little shack of his and back out in a flash. That battered crossbow of his was all cranked and ready but them goblins had already skittered off like rats. I swear they'll be in the town soon enough."
Nearby Niska's distantly related niece finishes a Harrow reading for gangling youth with a mop of bristly blond hair. As the band finishes it's tune she returns to her seat at the bar where Ameiko smiles and makes polite conversation with her patrons then suddenly laughing as a particular account reaches its unexpected comic twist. Camaraderie flows from the tap faster than the Two Knights beer. It's a good night.
There's a short quiet commotion as the lead musician attempts to get the attention of the cleric of Sheylin who sometimes sings.
Blake shakes the rain from his coat and after a nod to Nornan moves towards a table in the back, the one he typically occupies. Not seeing Clarence there he casts a look about the common room, but it appears the old historian has yet to arrive. He slips a bit of parchment from the his long coat, flips it over and reads:
Have something you must see, meet me at the Dragon tonight.
The scrap was signed in Clarence's familiar scrawl and had been delivered to the offices at the Two Knight Brewery that afternoon by one of the academy pupils. Blake slips the note back into his pocket and steps back to the Shoanti doorman, "Evening Nornan, I am meeting Clarence tonight. Have you seen him about? I meant to get here before the band started playing but the stills needed cleaning and I am afraid I've missed him. Oh, and if you get a chance tonight I'd be glad to buy you a stout. It's a new brew I have been working on using roots from a Jumnu bush and I'd like to know if it carries the ."
The last part of his statement carries loudly across the room when the band stops playing and the lead musician starts waving at Lysa. Blake feels his neck get a bit hotter, but it's likely he's the only one who noticed anything odd.
Brinda picks at the handle of her mug while she chats quietly with Ameiko and the others perched on stools around her waiting for her meal to arrive. Her foot bobs in time with the music unconsciously.
Seeing the musician motioning towards her, Lysa easily guesses that he wishes her to come and join his group for a song. Quickly finishing off the last sip of her light fruit wine, Lysa makes her way over to them, dropping her empty glass off on the bar along the way.
"Good evening again gentlemen, would you care to join me in performing "The Maiden Who Fell Off Her Horse"? I find myself in the mood for a cheery little love song tonight." The musicians recognize the song as one of Lysa's current favorites that tells the story of a lovely young maid who ends up meeting the love of her life after she falls off her horse and literally lands right in his arms.
As the musicians get their instruments ready to perform again, Lysa glances about the tavern room. Looks a bit more crowded than usual tonight. I guess some just came in to get out of that little summer shower. Hmmm, I think that's young Deverin over there talking to Nornan, poor fellow always looks too serious. Lysa's thoughts are cut short as the musicians begin to play and she begins singing.
Another night at the Rusty Dragon. The day had been uneventful. I set out in search of odd jobs, but asking around I was unable to find anything. When I came to this little village a few months ago, I was hopeful but realistic about my chances. I know that my appearance can be... lets say, disarming, to others not familiar with my tribe. But I thought that after a little time around, people would get to know me, and I could make inroads. This was not the case. Today, I left the inn early, trying to see if there was any work in the market. While people were polite, there was no missing the attitude of unwelcome.
The man Blake has been different, perhaps from what happened in childhood. I saw the scars, working for him at his brewery. We never had beer back home, but had something similar that we made from plants, sitting in the sun for a few weeks. Not nearly as tasty. Working for Blake has been a rare high point. He's been friendly and never shies away from a good talk, at least after the first couple of weeks. And the beer. I've taken a liking to that.
The night began like any other, except the weather meant that we had more patrons than usual. So far, no disturbances. Blake came in early, asking about Clarence, the teacher at the academy I had seen around a number of times.
Good evening, Mr. Deverin. No, Master Azaren has not been in tonight. It may be a little early. As to the stout, I am pretty excited to try it. Lets see if the light flavor of the Jumnu is able to overcome the maltiness of the stout. I'm sure you did it, though.
Maybe. The stouts I had had from Blake were always heavy on the malt. Gods, three months ago, I would never have known stout or malt.
As Blake walked off to find his usual seat near the back, I noticed the young half-elf cleric get up and begin to sing with the band. A nice voice, she had.
Blake takes a seat at a table and orders a pint when Bethana comes by to great him. He hears Lysa's sweet voice fill the the room as the crowds conversation dips to a dull murmur as many of the patrons turn to hear the love ballad. Soon Blake is lost in his thoughts, tonight about the Shoanti man who arrived in town just three months ago. Nornan had done some work at the brewery, and Blake felt he found a friend in the tribesman, but even after several times working together, and many shared tales over beer, Nornan still refused to drop the formalities.
Perhaps it has to do with the traditions of his people, an unusual naming convention that implies status or something of the sort. He has worked for me, maybe he can not be casual with me because of that. Could it dishonor him? I wouldn't want that. I will have to ask him.
As Lysa's clear voice begins the opening verse of "The Maiden Who Fell Off Her Horse" much of the conversation in the bar stills, in a shadowed booth Shaylis Vinder takes her young companion's hand, the same blond boy Brinda just finished a reading for. Shaylis flutters her eyelashes at the helpless young man before turning back to watch the performance in romantic anticipation.
Gorvi's boys stop talking about goblins. Roost's companion loses his sentence midstream as his eyes track to where Lysa is singing. "What were you saying?" Roost asks his friend in a more hushed tone.
"Uh? Oh me? uh, nevermind." the other boy replies, his attention never wavering from the performance. Red haired Roost grins broadly at his friend's distraction before scanning the room. He flashes a wicked youthful grin at several women including Ameiko and Brinda. He probably thinks that the overeager half smile makes him look dashing and dangerous. Maybe, it does for girls of his own age; girls around 15 or 17 summers.
Too soon for many of the patrons, the song ends and Lysa is greeted to warm applause.
Blake joins the applause of the crowd and gives Lysa a friendly wave as she returns to her seat. After he finishes his first pint of ale, he looks about for Bethana hoping to get her attention and order a plate of food.
Bethana makes her way to Blake's table and with a cheery smile and takes his order. Soon a seaming plate of delicious smelling food is delivered. The band plays a couple more songs before taking a break themselves.
As the trio of musicians finish their set Ameiko politely excuses herself from the company of her friends, Brinda and Lysa and her other patrons crowding the bar. "If, you'll excuse me, I think its time I took my turn."Ameiko grins impishly, "My fingers are getting itchy. Bethana can you watch the bar?" A quiver of of excitement passes through the crowd as she reaches below the bar and pulls up her three stringed samisen.
Ameiko sits her stool in front of the crowd. Smiles warmly as she briefly checks the tuning on her long lute-like instrument. "This is a traditional Tian piece, I hope you enjoy it."
Ameiko's eyes close as she seems to reach inside herself and feel the music: Her pick flashes and she begins to play an upbeat percussive melody of exotic beauty. The Samisen despite having only three strings in Ameiko's practiced hand produces a surprising range of sounds and emotions.
As Lysa's clear voice begins the opening verse of "The Maiden Who Fell Off Her Horse" much of the conversation in the bar stills, in a shadowed booth Shaylis Vinder takes her young companion's hand, the same blond boy Brinda just finished a reading for. Shaylis flutters her eyelashes at the helpless young man before turning back to watch the performance in romantic anticipation.
Brinda watches the young man with a great deal of sympathy and slight amusement. She shakes her head knowingly and takes a long drink from her newly arrived mug of ale. The convenience of her mug allows her to close her dark eyes mysteriously back at Roost while hiding her own devious grin.
Clarence, a little disheveled and obviously very excited, walks up to the front door of the Rusty Dragon Inn. Already, Clarence can clearly hear the lovely sound of Ameiko's shamisen, and he hums along to the tune. He almost bumps into a patron coming out, in his hurry to enter the Inn, muttering a quick apology while stepping aside.
Once inside, he turns to the Shoanti man standing by the door, the bouncer recently come to Sandpoint and known as Nornan. "Good day, Nornan. I hope all is well with you. Have you seen Blake Deverin, by chance? I have some important news I wish to share with him."
As the night went on, time passed surprisingly quickly. Lysa and Ameiko have incredible voices. The inn stayed busy and nothing happened requiring my intervention. A funny thing, as large and intimidating to others as I may be, I am not really good at acting the part. Well, I feel like I'm not.
Thinking on this, I was startled a bit when the older Master Azaren came in, asking about Blake. [b]Err, good evening. Yes, he is here, at a table over there. As a matter of fact, he was asking about you earlier. Have a good night, Master Azaren.
"Have a splendid evening, Nornan." Clarence gives the large Shoanti man a pat on the shoulder and hobbles over toward Blake, seeing the man for himself now.
On his way, he notes Brinda sitting on one of the stools, tapping her foot to the music and looking over toward Blake. Clarence has only a passing acquaintance with Brinda, having met her before in the Rusty Dragon Inn. Though he knows of her penchant for the Harrow Deck, Clarence has not yet asked Brinda to perform a Harrowing on him. Perhaps I should ask her... But not now.
Clarence also notes Lysa, who appears to be enjoying herself. From the looks of the other patrons nearby her, she must have just recently performed for the crowd. I do hope she'll perform again. She is quite talented.
Finally reaching Blake, Clarence pulls up a seat at his table. He doesn't waste any time before get right down into it. Blake, do you remember those journals that Sabyl's and Ilsoari's oracle friend wrote? They left them with me at our last meetup. Anyway, the man's name was Saul. He went blind, but miraculously gained some extraordinary abilities all at around the same time. I had asked about it, you know, because of my limp."
Clarence takes a deep breath while looking for Blake's confirmation, and then he continues on. "Well, I've read through the journals, and while I can't say they have given me any direct advice to my own situation, they have provided me with something interesting that I thought you might want to look at." A this, Clarence opens the journal to the last few pages. "There's a series of underground tunnels..." Realizing he spoke a little to loudly and hoping that everyone is paying closer attention to Ameiko than him, he quiets himself. "...under the Sandpoint Glassworks."
Clarence looks around before continuing, keeping his excitement in check. "Saul had been planning a trip to Magnimar to convince an old friend of his to come to Sandpoint and investigate with him. Unfortunately, that's where the journal ends, as Saul was murdered by Chopper, the pour soul."
Late evening has finally given way to full dark and the steady rain persists. Near the door patrons wave to friends and make to leave moments later the door opens again and the departing patrons jostle good-naturedly at the door with a damp, disheveled new arrival who speaks to Nornan briefly before making his way back to Blake’s table.
Roost makes eye contact with Brinda and grins again before signaling to Bethana to bring Brinda and Lysa another round. Bethana nods and begins bustling about the bar to prepare drinks for the ladies.
When Blake’s companion, Clarence, mentions “tunnels” Roost’s ears seem to prick up and he turns his attention to the nearby table. Roost glances around patting his friend on the shoulder rises as though to ask the aging professor a question and stops cold his eyes staring outside.
From outside a bright clear blue-white light brighter than midday streams in the windows and is accompanied a heartbeat later by a roar like thunder.
The light and sound roll impossibly on.
Bethana drops the mug she’s pouring the clangor of smashing pottery is lost among the confused and anxious commotion as patrons strain either to see out the windows or pour out into the street to better see what is happening.
”What is it?” several voices ask at once.
”An explosion?” asks another before being drown out in the cacophony of voices.
”Is it Fire!?!” Shrieks an old man to any one who listens.
”What’s burning?” fear edges into several voices—
—A calmer more curious voice responds ”it’s the wrong color—“
” is our village burning?”…”I said it’s the wrong--”…”—color? Who cares what color it is!?”
A high pitched whistle cuts through the din indoors. Amieko stands atop a chair,
She looks towards the bar and the stunned Bethana, “Bethana, Please pick up those tankard pieces. Everyone else proceed in an orderly fashion no need to trample each other at the door. ”
Despite Amieko’s words chaos still reigns a few folks near the bard seem to calm some but there is still a great deal of pushing and wailing as people try to make it to windows or out the door to see what disaster is happening now.
The night was continuing steadily, and having pointed the two men in the right direction, I settled in for the long haul. The stool they gave wasnt the most comfortable, but it was a better bet than standing. Doing my best to avoid looking like I was listening, I couldnt help but eavesdrop on the conversation Blake was having with Clarence. Tunnels of some kind, huh. Interesting. Might even be a part for me in it, since Blake's been relying on me for jobs more and more.
Suddenly, a bright light and loud noise shake me out of my concentration. Turning to look through the door, I stood and saw nothing other than a blinding bluish white light, different than sunlight. The noise continued, and my first thought of thunder or fire went out the window. Fires dont make a booming noise, explosions and lightning stop.
The crowd inside went crazy. Ameiko stood on a chair in her best effort to stop the confusion and panic. I reached down behind the stool, grabbed the little club they gave me to look menacing, and tried my best to stop the pushing and shoving. Yelling to get above the noise outside.
Lets go, everyone walk. You start shoving, and I start thumping heads!
Hopefully that would help keep people from getting hurt.
After her song, Lysa makes her way to Brinda's table and takes a seat, returning a wave to Blake along the way. The next time Bethana walks by, Lysa asks for a bowl of stew and quietly eats it while listening to Ameiko's performance. She plays so beautifully, I wonder if she could teach me how to play?
Noticing Roost's attention, Lysa nudges Brinda and nods in his direction and quietly remarks: We seem to have picked up a young admirer.
About to comment more upon Roost's attention, Lysa pauses as she overhears Clarence mention tunnels under the city. Well, that is certainly interesting. I wonder what the original purpose of those tunnels was? Escape in case of attack perhaps?
Any further guesswork about the tunnels is cut short by the commotion outside and the panic inside. Tugging on Brinda's arm, Lysa stands and will start to make for the door. "Come on, let's see if we can make it out the door and see what exactly is going on out there. Fire or explosion, people could be injured out there and need help."
Blake sees Clarence arrive and wipes gravy from his chin with a cloth, standing up to greet his old friend. "Good evening how's th..... Blake is cut off in greeting his old professor, as Clarence plops down at the table and eagerly starts to talk about Saul, the Oracle.
"Yes, I remember the fellow. He was a bit strange and I stayed clear of him," Blake says as Clarence takes a breath with a look of query in his eyes.
Blake takes the book from Clarence, skimming over the scrawled writing looking for the entry that his friend was mentioning. "Yes, I see it here. Tunnels? What do you think they are for, if they really are there?
At the mention of Saul's murder, Blake reaches for his ale and takes a long draw from the tankard draining the rest of its contents. "Yeah, poor soul I suppose...."
Blake is unable to contemplate Chopper and his murderous spree, and his father, for long as a thunderous sound booms outside. The bright light and unending sound alarms everyone in the Inn. People are pushing to get out, and Ameiko is calling for order while Nornan postures to keep control.
Around his table near the wall, patrons are crowding them trying to peer though the weather stained glass behind him. "Easy folks, lets not hurt anyone now." Blake looks out the window studies the light and listens to the rolling sound with an inquisitive ear. "Clarence have you ever seen or heard of anything like this, Blake asks while pondering the event himself.
As the initial confusion subsides slightly some people with calmer heads may notice that the light primarily seems to be streaming in the north, north-westerly windows. Light filters in from the front of the inn but that is much dimmer. Which only goes to show how bright the source of the light is.
*EDIT* I need to get more sleep somedays... WEST
Clarence follows Blake to the window to look out at the bright light. He is jostled and pushed on his way there, but thankfully no one manages to knock him over, even with his limp. Looking out the window, he reaches inside his own mind, seeking answers to his own questions. Where is that coming from? What is it? I wonder if something like this has happened before...
Squinting against the radiance, Clarence perches precariously on a chair trying to peer out a sliver of clear glass in the stained glass window near the table he shared with Blake.
To your knowledge nothing like this has happened before.
Clarence gasps when an idea forms in his mind about where the light could be originating. "I believe that light may be coming from that ancient ruined lighthouse everyone calls the Old Light. Brodert Quink had a theory that the lighthouse was actually a weapon of some kind. Could he be right?" Then, remembering where Brodert lives, Clarence almost topples off of his chair. "Brodert lives right near the lighthouse! He might be in trouble! If he's right about the building being an ancient weapon, then we must help him. He could be our only hope in stopping the thing!"
Clarence steps off of his chair and looks at Blake expectantly, hoping the young man will aid him. He also looks around and spots Nornan helping direct folks out the door. We'll probably want more volunteers.
After her song, Lysa makes her way to Brinda's table and takes a seat, returning a wave to Blake along the way. The next time Bethana walks by, Lysa asks for a bowl of stew and quietly eats it while listening to Ameiko's performance. She plays so beautifully, I wonder if she could teach me how to play?
Noticing Roost's attention, Lysa nudges Brinda and nods in his direction and quietly remarks: We seem to have picked up a young admirer.
About to comment more upon Roost's attention, Lysa pauses as she overhears Clarence mention tunnels under the city. Well, that is certainly interesting. I wonder what the original purpose of those tunnels was? Escape in case of attack perhaps?
Any further guesswork about the tunnels is cut short by the commotion outside and the panic inside. Tugging on Brinda's arm, Lysa stands and will start to make for the door. "Come on, let's see if we can make it out the door and see what exactly is going on out there. Fire or explosion, people could be injured out there and need help."
Brinda smiles, How else will we get free ale all night? You know I always have your back. She returns her attention to the multitude of young and desperate men for her next mark when the outside world goes mad.
Not the front, this way, we'll go out through the kitchen and come around. Brinda leads Lysa around the bar and away from the crowded front door and quickly to the street.
Clarence and Blake notice Brinda and Lysa duck through the back.
"Out the back" takes the you through the kitchen and its savory aromas and into the courtyard facing Mud Street. The rumbling roar is much louder out here than it had been inside. Rynshinn Povalli, owner of Vernah's Fine Clothing leans quickly out the upper window of her shop looking fearful she scans the street before disappearing back inside.
Mud street is still, especially when compared to Rusty Dragon's front on Market Street. From here you can see a pillar of blinding light burning into the sky from the northwest. It seems what you overheard from Clarence as you ducked out may be right-It does look like it might be the Old Light erupting.
Everyone else:
Near the front of the bar the most distressed members of the crowd have pushed their way outside oblivious to the rain. but the crowd is still milling fretfully choking the entrance.
Ameiko drops off her chair and pushes her way through the crowd to Nornan's side. "I can handle the door if you want to make sure everyone out side is okay. I'm sure Belor won't mind if we help keep folks calm and take some of the pressure off his guards." She then smiles at the big Shoanti man. "Thank you."
Blake helps Clarence down from his precarious position up on the chair, "We must be quick then if the Old Light is the source of this anomaly we need to get there now." Blake sees Nornan struggling with the pressing throng of patrons pushing towards the front door and wonders if there is another way out. Then he sees Lysa and the card reader Brinda ducking out though the kitchen. "They have the right idea, come on Clarence this way.' Blake helps his limping mentor through the back and out after the two women.
Clarence follows Blake out the back door, through the smell of kitchen and into the courtyard out back. He sees Brinda and Lysa up ahead, and calls out to them as he and Blake hurry toward the Old Light. "Brinda, Lysa! We could use some extra help, I think. We're heading for the Lighthouse. I know a man who lives nearby there who may have some important information about this phenomenon." Without waiting for a response, Clarence continues on, his limp slowing him down a little.
Blake and Clarence:
Mud street is still, especially when compared to Rusty Dragon's front on Market Street. You call out to Lysa and Brinda who are just ahead staring at a pillar of blinding light burning into the sky from the northwest. Certainly looks like the Old Light. Embers like fist sized comets spray from source of the geyser. And Brodert is below it.
The wind shifts bringing the first tang of smoke rain not withstanding.
The crowd mills and turns folks watch the sky you hear one man say, "I told you it wasn't natural fire."
"fantastic," answers another man, "so it ain't natural. I still smell smoke!" and sure enough as the wind shifts the distinct scent of burning thatch and timber is evident.
Ameiko came to relieve me of door duty. For all the blustering and yelling I did, it didnt seem to have much of an effect. The people in the inn must have been pretty panicked, judging by their lack of response to a large, unfamiliar man yelling and swinging a club.
As she came to tap me on the shoulder, I saw Blake and Clarence leave through a side door. The older man gives a quick wave and come sign, looking at me. A small hesitation, but it seemed that Ameiko had the situation in hand, perhaps better than I did.
I kept the club in hand, and thought quickly about running upstairs to my little attic loft, and grabbing gear. No, better to get out there and see what was going on. Ducking through the kitchen entrance, I came out onto Mud Street, which was oddly calm. About thirty feet in front are Blake and Clarence, staring at a giant light beaming into the sky. Fire comes shooting out.
Closing my mouth, I run to catch up with the two men, in a hurry to see if they need help. Need any help? What is going on? I still get flustered talking to those outside my, err, old... tribe, and it comes out simple sometimes.
Hearing their names called, Lysa turns around and sees Clarence and Blake come out the kitchen door followed shortly by Nornan. Nodding her assent at his request, Lysa joins the others in following Clarence as he moves as fast as he can towards the lighthouse.
"Of course we'll help."
The five of you make the walk to tower street. Clarence's limp makes the trip seem agonizingly slow. People bustle past you in both directions panic has dissolved into a sense of purpose and urgency. When you reach Tower Street all five buildings in the cul-de-sac is burning and several others are at risk of joining those five. Quint's impressive storefront rages...all of the books, scrolls, and other historical documents providing an easy fuel.
Bucket crews run in chains down junkers way providing thin aid to the steady rain. In the chaos there is no sign of the elderly scholar anywhere.
Fire every....burning. Smoke and ash charred fragments of paper swirling in the chaos consume Blake's attention. He swallows hard, and stands motionless on Tower Street. Everyone is lining up to run buckets to try and quell the flames in the homes and storefronts, but Blake can't move...the heat stings his flesh and the smoke burns his eyes. It's too hot....Mawma.
Belor Hemlock hollers orders at a crew of militia men with buckets but his words are almost completely drowned out by the thundering energy and the roar of flames as he throws his bucket ineffectually into the inferno that was the locksmith's shop.
Near boiling rain sizzles on street cobbles and among the flames the heat radiating down from above and from the fires is immense. It's hard to even imagine the amount of arcane power that has been burning out into the night sky for the last ten to twenty minutes. Then suddenly the deafening roar and blinding light vanish leaving only it's thunderous echoes the duller roar of conventional fires.
Lysa had been following close behind Clarence and Blake and as they approached the cul-de-sac her attention was focused on the fires in front of them. Which is why she suddenly found herself on her rear end sitting on the ground after running right into Blake who had suddenly stopped.
"Well, that'll teach me to pay more attention to where I'm running to. Hey Blake, warn a ......" About to chide Blake, Lysa's comment trails off as she takes in his expression and realizes something is wrong. Standing up and shaking the dust off her skirt, Lysa puts a hand on Blake's shoulder and gives a little shake to make sure she has his attention. "Blake, what's wrong? We need to go and see if people need our help."
Blake dosn't seem to hear Lysa, his eyes betraying fear and focused only on the white hot blaze pouring out of the top of the Old Light. She puts her hand on his shoulder, the pressure shifting the fabric of his shirt enough that she can see the rough scar on his neck. Its ugly twisted skin seems alive in the flicker of shadows and the red hot glow of the fire.
Then the tower ends its out pour of hot arcane fire and Blake looks about, "Everything...is....gone, so much fire." He speaks aloud but to no one in particular.
I noticed the reaction that Blake had immediately. Hard not to, as he changed completely. Poor man, I had seen the scars, clearly burns, but he'd never mentioned the cause. No surprise, as that kind of pain must be... difficult. It seemed best to ignore it, for the moment. But what was also noticeable was the sudden change in the fire. The pillar of light disappeared, leaving behind plain old fire, devastating the surrounding buildings.
Rain began to fall, doing little to dampen the heat of the fire. Someone may still be trapped in the fire, and saving them... we had to act. We need to get there and see if anyone is still alive, or anything worth saving.
I ran towards the fire engulfed buildings, trying not to think of how my hopes were shrinking.
Nornan charges towards the nearest engulfed building the locksmith's shop. A determined crew of guards and citizens continue to throw water on the fire and finally the rain seems to be having an effect but for now the fire still burns.
The Sheriff catches sight of Nornan approaching then behind him the others when he sees Lysa and Brinda his dour countenance seems to brighten slightly. "Thank the gods. Trully,"he sighs. before jogging towards the rest of you, passing Nornan with a respectful nod. "Clerics! Please! We've got men down who could use healing" he motions back away towards the backside of the garrison building where a small handful of men are tending to several more who are lying on the ground or sitting up against the stone wall watching the blazes."A few are my men, a couple more are townsfolk we managed to rescue."
I dont see anyone or anything in the locksmith's building. Damn, too late. Hanging on to the last bit of hope, I yell out.
Is there anyone in there? Did anyone see anything?
Seeing Blake's scar gives Lysa pause for a moment. Oh, I didn't even think about the fire he was in as a child. I hope he'll be okay, we need to see who needs help. "Blake, come on. People need our help, some are injured and some may still be stuck inside some of those building."
At Sheriff Hemlock's request, Lysa will rush over to where the injured are gathered and send a couple waves of healing energy over them.
Nornan:
One of the Sheriff's men, hardly more than a boy with black hair cut short in the style of soldiers and dressed in sooty sleep clothes. You recognize him as a sometimes obnoxious prat too eager with his authority. Tonight out of uniform in the fire light none of that is visible on his face. "Don't know. Thought I saw Volio inside when we first got here but he never came out and we haven't had a chance to get inside yet."
Voilioker Brikaberd is the dwarven locksmith who lives here--He's gruff but he is one of the few folks who doesn't treat you differently for being Shoanti. To him your just another human who isn't (in Volio's words) a "rotten thieving Scar." It's unfortunate he doesn't have more need of a strong back and arms, he'd be another good man to work for--if he isn't dead inside...
"People need our help,some are injured and some may still be stuck inside..."
Blake hears the voice, it seems so far away. He shakes his head and digs fumbles awkwardly with his scroll case. He pulls out the rolled parchment that never leaves his side.
"Where? Where are they trapped? WE HAVE TO HELP THEM! Blake shouts out be seems disoriented and unsure where he can be of help.
Lysa:
About five of Hemlock's men and a few families are gathered as far from danger as possible at the back wall of the garrison. One heart wrenching family crowds around a small boy maybe four years old his locks of curly blond hair caked with black soot. His eyes are closed and he hardly moves, barely breathes and even as you watch life seems to be slipping away.
As your first wave of energy washes over them a number of the less severly injured move as a few angry red burns soothed to mere memory. The boy doesn't so much as twitch nor do a couple of the others.
With the second wave full health seems to be restored to many of those lying on the ground. The boys eyes flash open and he coughs clearing black yuck from his lungs. The family stunned amazed and joyous gush over the boy then turn towards you faces exultant. You saved their baby, the tearful mother scoops up the boy in a tight embrace then without putting him down, she nearly knocks you off your feet as she embraces you too.
While she is crying joyfully into your shoulder you realize Clarence's friend the elderly sage is not here among the injured.
Clarence, unable to help with most of the physical work, grabs Blake's shoulders forces the young man to look directly at him. "Blake! Get a hold of yourself! Use that scroll of yours to help out Nornan. You can do this. Go!" He pushes Blake towards Nornan, hoping the young man can use the scroll of Create Water he carries around to open a way for Nornan to get in to whoever might be inside. Clarence can't see anyone himself, but one of the Sheriff's men had mentioned Volio might still be inside.
He then follows Lysa over to the injured men and women nearby. "Good work, Lysa. Though I have a feeling we'll need more where that comes from..."
Thank Desna I got here in time to heal that poor boy before it was too late. But I don't see Clarence's friend here. Perhaps the old sage was overcome from the smoke? He might never have made it out of his home...
As the crying woman finally releases her, Lysa turns to Clarence. "Which house belongs to your friend? It's possible he could have been overcome by the smoke before even making it out of his bed. If it is possible we should try to get to it and find out.