Andrea tips off her chair as the explosion sets off tremors through the city. Following the others outside, she pales as she sees the fireball.
You are right Truk, that looks quite the devilish inferno. Where is it coming from?
Grimm starts as the smoke rises
] Angradd's ass
"That can't be good."
We should get back to the safehouse and get everyone together. Andrea whispers to the others looks around at the panicky crowd. It looks like people are getting scared, we best get the Children of Westcrown out onto the streets to keep people calm and help any who have been wounded.
Faelyn catches Melissaa. I've got to go. Are you going to be ok by yourself? He helps her to her feet. I may have to deal with this. It may have to do with the artifact. If I do not arrive at your apartment tonight, that is why. I will do my best.
Faelyn kissed Melissaa deeply. Either way, I will see you as soon as I can.
"Yeh, I figured that was going to be a date breaker. Don't worry about me, stay safe and good luck, it looks like you will need it."
The initial explosion is over soon enough, but what remains behind is even more unusual and disturbing. Five pillars of fire, like stationary tornadoes of flame, spiral up into the sky around the explosion site,trailing into the clouds above and lighting the southern view with an infernal radiance.
There are 10's of thousands of people running in the street as chaos ensues. Merchants trying to protect their goods from shoplifters and damage, people talking about the end of the world and that Hell itself was spurting forth. Questions about which god, or gods, died this time. Commerce as it was known as now ceased to exist as the hoarder mentality takes over.
The are groups of Hellknights and dottari scrambling trying to get order.
"Looks like it's coming from over top the Mayor's place. Perhaps something finally got loose..."
"Wonder if the increased fires lately had anything to do with that." She points to the pillars of flame.
Orsin, you you have any way to increase the volume of your voice or mine? We need to prevent a riot.
Andrea steps onto a crate and attempts to calm the surrounding people.
People of Westcrown! Please do not panic! We have endured the death of Aroden and the menace of the shadowbeasts for over thirty years! Have we crumbled even though we cannot walk the streets at night? No! We have endured and adapted! Let us not let this fire throw us into terror! Let us get our loved ones and friends home safely!
It's chaotic, nobody is stopping to listen, the shouting and screaming is at a deafening decibel. Reason has vanished.
"It seems useless to try to calm this mass. Let's haul ass over to the Mayor's place instead and see just what the hell is going on. That's probably where the danger is going to be at. Though we gotta stop by the safehouse first for the rest of gear."
Lucrezia start off quickly to the safehouse.
Truk nods.
"Let's regroup at the safehouse. We're not doing any good here. Hopefully the Champ and Grimm are seeing this too and can meet us there."
Faelyn heads to the safe house to reunite with his companions.
Andrea sighs.. To the safehouse then. We should bring Khazrae along with us since she might know a bunch about the mayor's little guest. Andrea follows Lucrezia to the safehouse.
The journey through the streets is perilous at times, as some bands of thugs start to spring from the woodwork. They tend to avoid the armed companions. The travel back takes way longer than normal with all the traffic on the streets.
Grimm looks at Janivien's face as the horror unfolds.
No sense hangin about here. Keep yer blade ready. Mob mentality has taken over. We might see combat on our way back t'join the others.
Grimm takes his shield off his back and holds his hammer. Hopefully the open threat prevents any trouble as the two warriors pick their way through the streets.
Janiven already has twin handaxes ready."Let lets get through the northern gate before they close it."
The two of them hustle to the gate and it's already closed. She produces a small satchel of coin to the guard, "A gift, so we can get home?'
Orsin will attempt to use ghost sounds to produce the sound of twenty Orsins shouting in unison.
He goes with the others, doing his best to keep the peace as they go.
Andrea will hurry into the safehouse once they reach it, hoping the others have arrived. She will seek out Khazrae who should be lounging on a selection of soft pillows.
No doubt you have heard that loud noise. It seems the devil underneth the Mayor's estate has caused it to explode. Would you be able to tell us anything about the place where it was?
After what seems like a day-and-a-night everyone manages to get back to the safehouse. There is chatter off doom from a few newer members about judgment day but Areal quickly and firmly puts an end to this chaotic banter. The older members are much more disciplined standing waiting for instruction.
"STOP IT! We will have order and reason, panic will only add to the uncertainty." Then methodically he starts to implement a well thought out plan, designating squads of 7, all with at least 5 disciplined members. "We need feet on the ground, accessing the situation first, then helping others. We will send 10 teams into to the field at any given time. It is important to hold back 5 teams at base in reserve and to keep people fresh. Stay together separation can cause injury and death strength in numbers."
He begins to designate areas areas for the teams cover. The actual size and order of the Brotherhood should start to sink in for everyone. What began as small rag-tag group has actually grown into an effective group.
The big orc is anxious as the teams are assembled and given assignments.
"You said you'd been there Beautiful? To the Mayor's place?"
Areal nods, "I've one team already report back that the mayor's manor exploded, they are keeping a watchful but distant eye on it." He looks at the core adventurers, "If you want to try to get closer, see what's happening that could help us out. I understand that the dottari are setting up safety perimeters." He looks around. 'Be careful."
"I don't know about careful but we'll find out what's going on", Truk grunts.
"Come on, Westcrown's tearing itself apart. We gotta find out what's going on and fix it."
Truk will exit the safehouse and make his way towards the mayor's estate.
Andrea pulls Areal and Janivan aside. I believe this is that the Bearded Devil Szasmir said, and what Lucrezia's vision is about. The devil said 'Hell is coming' and Lucrezia saw an imprisoned devil in chains under the manor.
Andrea looks over to a secure box. I belive we should bring The Morrowfall with us. It's powers will no doubt be very useful, as well as Khazrae's knowledge.
Andrea will gather up her belongings, pray, and head out with the others when they are ready.
"Good thing that I just bought more silver arrows since I'm about to need them. Orn, I'd prefer you stay here at the safehouse. You just got outa prison and aren't really in shape to fighting alongside us, especially without any armor or weapons."
"Oh goodie another field trip....I get so lonely when I'm not pressed up against the the elf." She purrs.
Orn grunts his approval.
"Let's go see what is going on, but I doubt we will just be allowed in the house at the moment."
Don't worry about the Dottari. I am good friends with their commander. Faelyn laughs to himself. Oh boy. This is going to be fun!
The group can slip out into the chaotic street and wiggle themselves closer to the center of the storm. A few things you can pick up during your travels are ships are hurriedly leaving port, Hellknights and dottari are locked in an increasingly tense battle over jurisdiction, and steadily mounting talk of devils stalking the streets.
There is talk that the Mayor has gone missing, some presume dead but others say he was not in residence a the time. Still others discuss that there are missing nobles, especially those that reside near the mayor's mansion but nothing official is being released. It's just too soon after the explosion to know much that is factual.
Andrea looks up at the columns of fire. I think this would be a good place for John to shin, since he is a Hellknight he can hopefully get us closer to where the manor is, or was.
Andrea will try to integrate with any gawkers about anything they may have seen or heard, perhaps more concrete facts.
If the Mayor is gone, then it is going to get worse. Boor that he was, he did have political power and the nobles will no doubt be scrambling over themselves to starta power-grab.
"Let him burn," Orsin says venomously.
Grimm simply follows along. War had come. Finally. He needed to be ready to help and just maybe, this devil could fall under his hammer. If not, death would be glorious.
As they head towards the manor, Andrea gives Grimm the short version about what they heard in the Knot, what the bearded devil said and the vision of the pit fiend Lucrezia saw.
Truk looks grim as he follows along.
"Maybe this is what the city needs..." the big orc muses aloud. "...a little ruckus to shake things up and show the people that changes needs to happen. We should just make sure as few people get hurt as possible."
Perhaps showing that keeping that keeping Devils in your basement is a bad thing. If we can find the mayor and hold him up as an example of how the past regime has been so bad, we can get decent nobles like the Missepes and Grulios in charge and make big changes. After all, we are somewhat limited to changing things with our blades and spells. One needs power amongst the ruling class here to make things stick.
"Did Khazre know anything about whatever devil may have been imprisoned there?"
"Let him burn," Orsin says venomously.
This really sounds personal for you, did you cross paths with him before?
This really sounds personal for you, did you cross paths with him before?
"No, but it wasn't that long ago that we were puppets on a stage with the very real risk of our lives serving for his amusement. The fashion of murder plays preys upon the aspirations of actors who are either talentless or desperate. Often both. Their popularity is responsible for the death of the man I once could call a brother. Let the mayor die and his vile tastes with him." He spits on the ground for added emphasis.
Andrea lightly squeezes Orsin's arm. I almost forgot he was a key figure in arranging it, as well the the attempted follow-up.Just keep yourself alive to see it. Living past your revenge is a key part of following the Savored Sting.
Truk clapped the fuming bard on the back with a meaty paw.
"Orsin gets it."
"Sorry 'bout your friend", Truk said as he shared a glance with the bard.
Orsin's eyes are glassy with tears, but they are the only indication of his suffering. Voice clam and with a deliberate nod, he replies, "Thank you."
"Any idea of what we should do when we get there?" he asks the others.
Andrea looks out to their destination. See what happened to the Folly exactly and why those columns of fire appeared. I believe John's new Hellknight status can help get us a closer look and then we can decide what we should do next. This is related to The Knot no doubt considering what that Beared Devil told us, so we might be headign down there again.
Andrea pats a case she has with her. I have those mithril crossbow bolts from Delvehaven, they act like silver so should help against any devils.
As you approach the first corded off area a couple blocks away from the mansion you can begin to see the damage the explosion as caused. Most of the windows have been blown out, doors splinted and roofs damaged. There are two squads of dottari working crowd control and establishing a perimeter. From this point you clearly see the 5 towering infernal flames arching up into the clouds themselves. Oddly, it is not overwhelmingly hot near this location.
You recognize Maurice and his squad working the area. There is distinguished man in a breast plate on talking to the Lieutenant Whatley Pinkerton.
Andrea waves to Maurice. Maurice! Just what happened? Did anyone see the explosion start?
Andrea and John recognize the man in the breast plate is Lord Tilernos, the patriarch of the Tilernos House, and he is rumored to be some sort of holy warrior. He is speaking in a calm and measured manner with the Lieutenant. His cloak's sleeve has visible holy symbol of Iomedae, this is unusual as it is probably the very first time you have ever seen in open another God on display. He has golden hilt long sword on his left side and coppery looking short sword on his right side.