Unable to see their foe, Erevan does as suggested, keeping his eyes open for any telltale signs of the Warden and his hands on the bow and arrow, ready to put them to use as soon as the opportunity arises.
"Tch!" Etna said trough her teeth "At least he's going down honorably with a fight".
With a few gestures and a quick incantation, Etna starts to scan her surroundings, hoping that the warden was wearing some magical item that now could point them to his location.
Intent on his prey, the Doctor moves forward, sniffing for the stench of frightened old man.
Grumblejack continues climbing across the bed and moving north in a straight line to the dresser before stopping and looking in the mirror of the dresser, seeing only his reflection he breaks the mirror with his club and yells "No hide from Grumblejack, lil' old man. Grumblejack smash." The broken glass now covers all squares around the dresser.
Hecate moves back toward the door of the bedroom and closes it and uses herself to block it for the moment.
As the doctor begins to move forward he smells the warden's scent directly in front of him and lashes out with his quarterstaff alerting the others to his position. Unfortunately the doctors swing hisses through the air but strikes nothing.
Erevan hearing the doctor's call at location moves over next to the bed to get a better shot at the general area where the warden might be. He aims and fires his longbow. The arrow hissing throw the air toward the spot. Sailing through the space and ricocheting off the wall it did not strike anything, however the arrow did not break so it would be recoverable later.
Tkaara stands near the door blocking it as best she can next to Hecate as the two women hope to keep the only exit from the room blocked.
Felrin as well after hearing the doctor's call moves up next to the good doctor and strikes a claw out into the emptiness. Unlike the others Felrin's long claws found their mark as he dragged his claw through something that resisted before seeing blood dripping from his claw. He heard the warden cry out in pain.
Etna begins to use her ability to detect magic to find and lock on to her prey. She immediately senses the presence of magical auras but it will take more rounds of concentration to pick them out and distinguish their location.
The cry of pain stops and everything goes silent again. There is blood splatter on the floor with footprints. The sound of an incantation being cast can be heard and then all is quiet again.
Mage Armor is what was cast.
Current location is N6
Current location is N6
Picture of Mathias Richter, Warden of Branderscar Prison
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:54 am (Day:One)
Felrin exults in having clawed the warden and holds a bloodied hand aloft, saying quietly but fiercely, "I got him!" He then casts about in frustration trying to determine where the warden has moved to, but is unable to locate him by following the spatters and drops of blood or by the sounds the man is making. Felrin takes a step forward and lashes out at random with his claws, hoping to connect again.
Employing his heightened senses, the Doctor tracks the mage unerringly. "There!" he points to the warden's hiding spot. "Fassen!" With that, he drops his staff and rushes around the bed in an attempt to grapple his foe. Unfortunately his aim is off and he grabs nothing but a fitful of air with a frustrated snarl.
Grumblejack spots the warden and yells to everyone his position. Smiling Grumblejack shifts south and swings with his boneclub. The boneclub makes an evil hiss through the air but strikes nothing. "Where is he!!!" Grumblejack yells in anger.
Hecate listens to the incantation; it's one she's very familiar with. "He's trying to protect himself, it's the same armour spell I used on Erevan!" She calls out to the others round the corner.
Judging from the sounds of annoyance, they aren't having much luck in finding him. All she can do is cover the door until the spell wears off.
Etna is about to keep up her detection spell when Grumblejack points to the warden location. Moving near the bed to impede the warden's escape, she hurls a globe of greenish acid once again.
Taking notice of the blood trail and being no stranger to tracking the occasional man or woman, Erevan manages to discern where the old mage is supposed to be. Letting the bow fall to the floor, he gracefully rolls over the bed, drawing his spear as he goes, and joins Grumblejack and Ottakar in effectively surrounding the Warden. Unfortunately, his subsequent attack strikes only air, the spells of invisibility and armoring proving a formidable form of defense.
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Hearing the others' fighting the Warden and attempting to discern his location, Tkaara adjusts her grip on her mace and remains by the door to block the Warden from being able to easily escape.
Action: Ready action to attack if close by.
Perception: <-- can hear where he is although I cannot see him, lol.
Grumblejack spots the warden and yells to everyone his position. Smiling Grumblejack shifts south and swings with his boneclub. The boneclub makes an evil hiss through the air but strikes nothing.
Hecate listens to the incantation; it's one she's very familiar with. She calls out to the others round the corner. Judging from the sounds of annoyance, they aren't having much luck in finding him. All she can do is cover the door until the spell wears off.
Employing his heightened senses, the Doctor tracks the mage unerringly. He points to the warden's hiding spot. Then he drops his staff and rushes around the bed in an attempt to grapple his foe. Unfortunately his aim is off and he grabs nothing but a fitful of air with a frustrated snarl.
Taking notice of the blood trail and being no stranger to tracking the occasional man or woman, Erevan manages to discern where the old mage is supposed to be. Letting the bow fall to the floor, he gracefully rolls over the bed, drawing his spear as he goes, and joins Grumblejack and Ottakar in effectively surrounding the Warden. Unfortunately, his subsequent attack strikes only air, the spells of invisibility and armoring proving a formidable form of defense.
Hearing the others' fighting the Warden and attempting to discern his location, Tkaara adjusts her grip on her mace and remains by the door to block the Warden from being able to easily escape.
Felrin exults in having clawed the warden and holds a bloodied hand aloft. He then casts about in frustration trying to determine where the warden has moved to, hearing the doctor give away his position he moves in to help the doctor. Felrin moves beside the doctor and lashes out at random with his claw, hoping to connect again. This time drawing nothing but air.
Etna is about to keep up her detection spell when Grumblejack points to the warden location. Moving near the bed to impede the warden's escape, she hurls a globe of greenish acid once again. The orb sails through the air and splashes against the wall harmlessly.
All is silent from the spot the warden is believed to be in and then a vial breaking on the floor can be heard on the other side of the bed between Etna and the wall.
The warden is still in the same square.
There are no footsteps to track or anything else they gave away his position.
You still smell him in the same spot that he was before, you do not believe he has really moved.
Picture of Mathias Richter, Warden of Branderscar Prison
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
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Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:54 am (Day:One)
The Doctor, unfooled by the old man's tricks, lunges again only to once again come up empty-handed. "Grab him, you fools! He can neither sneak about nor use magic against us if one of us has our hands round his scrawny neck!"
Felrin’s frustration at having lost his target inspires him to try a new approach. Slipping past the doctor, Felrin yanks the blanket off the warden’s bed, giving no thought to what unpleasantness the old man might have gotten up to there. He holds the blanket at arm’s length and whirls in a circle, the blanket forming a taut sheet as he spins, hoping to find the old man when the blanket strikes him.
Once again Erevan tries his skill and his luck against the invisible mage, once again his spear finds only air.
Etna starts acting visibly frustrated when her attack misses once more. "I commend your tenacity, but your tricks are getting old fast. Surrender, and you death shall be swift and honorable." she says as she walks closer to the edge of the bed, throwing a globe of acid in the meantime.
Grumblejack will again swing into the spot trying to avoid hitting the others as best he can. But once again Grumblejack's club just sails through the air striking nothing. "Stop moving damn it!" he exclaims. Then looking at the others "Are you sure he even here?"
(-4 to account for cover provided by the others.)
Grumblejack will again swing into the spot trying to avoid hitting the others as best he can. But once again Grumblejack's club just sails through the air striking nothing.
Hecate continues guarding the door.
The Doctor, unfooled by the old man's tricks, lunges again only to once again come up empty-handed.
Once again Erevan tries his skill and his luck against the invisible mage, once again his spear finds only air.
Concerned about the problems facing the others, Tkaara remains where she is blocking the door and hoping that the apparently invisible mage is dealt with swiftly.
Felrin’s frustration at having lost his target inspires him to try a new approach. Slipping past the doctor, Felrin yanks the blanket off the warden’s bed, giving no thought to what unpleasantness the old man might have gotten up to there. He holds the blanket at arm’s length and whirls in a circle, the blanket forming a taut sheet as he spins, hoping to find the old man when the blanket strikes him. The blanket slapping at something invisible in front of you.
Etna launches another orb of acid in the direction of the warden. This time she will not miss as the acid burns into and splashes her target before disappearing.
Once the acid has sizzled in place a few seconds, Everyone can hear a few quick arcane words said in succession you then see him quickly scamper up and over the bed and then Etna feels him brush by her as if headed for the door.
The spell cast was expeditious retreat.
You do not believe he headed for the door but instead cut his attempt short and lies somewhere in the south eastern part of the room.
The warden is in square N12.
Picture of Mathias Richter, Warden of Branderscar Prison
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:54 am (Day:One)
Scrambling over the bed, Ottakar stops and sniffs the air closely, trying to once more pinpoint the location of his elusive prey.
Still holding the blanket, Felrin rushes around the foot of the bed, crying out as he moves. "He went that way!" he says, gesturing with one blanket-wrapped fist toward the southeast part of the room. Once around the bed, he looks to the doctor to see if he can smell the warden's old-man scent or if he needs to swing the blanket again.
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Hearing that the Warden is no longer constrained, Tkaara looks about for something to block or seal to doorway.
If there is a lock or bar on the door, Tkaara will latch it. If not, she will try to find something to block the door from being opened.
Perception(hear warden):
Perception(something to block/lock door):
Hecate can't quite catch the arcane words that are spoken... something about excavation? Is he about to disappear through the floor? That can't be right. She stays silent and concentrates on blocking the doorway so that no one can get past.
As the warden passes by her, the ifrit tries to grab him without success. Frustrated, Etna tries to remember the words of the warden's incantation while the others pinpoint his location.
"Expeditious retreat!" Etna shouts to the other after a couple of seconds "That's what he just cast. He will be running faster for a couple of minutes or more, but it won't have any other effects save for making us waste even more time catching him!"
"How long does his spell last, I wonder," Erevan asks with a sigh. "There is no way out of here and sooner or later we will be able to see you again, good sir, in which case things may go less unpleasantly for you if you would be so kind as to save us all the trouble of prancing about in your room." Following along towards the mage's general direction, at least according to Felrin, he stands ready to strike at him if or when he is not only visible again but within reach as well.
Grumblejack, not knowing where to attack shrugs his shoulders and waits for a sign.
Hecate can't quite catch the arcane words that are spoken... something about excavation? Is he about to disappear through the floor? That can't be right. She stays silent and concentrates on blocking the doorway so that no one can get past.
Scrambling over the bed, Ottakar stops and sniffs the air closely, trying to once more pinpoint the location of his elusive prey. He catches a scent to the southeast.
Erevan following along towards the mage's general direction, at least according to Felrin, he stands ready to strike at him if or when he is not only visible again but within reach as well. He lashes at in front of him but his attack only strikes air.
Hearing that the Warden is no longer constrained, Tkaara looks about for something to block or seal to doorway. There is a lock on the door but it requires a key she thinks to herself. The sofa would make a great blockade for the door but she would need assistance in moving the oversized piece of furniture.
Still holding the blanket, Felrin rushes around the foot of the bed, crying out as he moves. gesturing with one blanket-wrapped fist toward the southeast part of the room. Once around the bed, he looks to the doctor to see if he can smell the warden's old-man scent or if he needs to swing the blanket again. Felrin swings the blanket around overhead and into the adjacent squares but the only thing he manages to do is to kick up a lot of air.
Grumblejack will follow the other men into the general area they are grouped in.
As the warden passes by her, the ifrit tries to grab him without success. Frustrated, Etna tries to remember the words of the warden's incantation while the others pinpoint his location.
A voice of conversation comes from the southeast portion of the room just beyond the reach of the men. "How I do despise getting my hands all dirty with melee combat. It is so messy. I usually leave that kind of work to Blackerly. Sadly he is not here." You then hear footsteps headed for the western part of the room toward the door. "Excuse me my dear ladies! Presido tamarando strikamundo."
Slowing the warden's visage becomes visible as he points toward the door and two glowing orbs strike out into the direction of Tkaara and Hecate. One missile directed toward each. Both orbs of force tearing into their targets with ease.
Picture of Mathias Richter, Warden of Branderscar Prison
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
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Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:54 am (Day:One)
When the Warden finally reveals himslef, Ottakar grins. "Then allow us to send you to meet him!" With that, he maneuvers himself next to the man, ready to assist in his defeat.
"Finally," Erevan says softly as he wastes no time taking advantage of the opportunity given to him and his companions. Taking care to allow Felrin to better position himself and flank the Warden, the golden-eyed man moves to close with the old mage and uses his spear to great effect, running him through, the weapon's blade burying itself in their foe's stomach almost too easily and tearing through muscle and organs before coming out of his back covered in blood.
"I am quite sorry for the mess, good sir," he remarks in his usual calm and pleasant manner as he looks into Mathias Richter's fading eyes. "At least it is quick, yes? For the courtesy of revealing yourself as I asked."
Hecate cries out in pain as the missile hits her. She puts her hand to her side to press against the wound; it is little more than a scratch, but she is not good with pain. And now she has blood over her new clothing.
Gritting her teeth, she glares at the warden. "Not such a ... clever move to... show yourself." She nevertheless winces as Erevan calmly walks up and runs the man through with his spear.
It looks like her own incantation won't be needed, but she readies the spell just in case.
A fell smile replaces the look of frustration on Felrin's face as the warden reappears. Dropping the blanket, he rushes across the room and swipes a claw across the man's face, cutting him deeply above and below one eye.
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Grimacing as the force bolt strikes her, Tkaara growls.
Poor choice old man.
She then charges toward the old mage swinging as she does. Unfortunately, her new injury is too severe throwing off her aim and causing the blow to be well wide of its mark.
Attack-mace:
As an FYI, I am going to be mostly out of commission for the next week. If I do not post within 24 hours, please NPC Tkaara as needed. I should be back by next Wednesday at the latest. RL work has thrown me a bit of a curve ball at present.
Etna gasps when the bolts almost kills one of her associates, but her worry quickly fades as the golden-eyed man runs the wizard trough with his spear. "See? It wasn't so hard, warden." she says mockingly as she hurls a last globe of acid to the old man, even if it probably wasn't necessary.
Hecate cries out in pain as the missile hits her. She puts her hand to her side to press against the wound; it is little more than a scratch, but she is not good with pain. And now she has blood over her new clothing. She quickly fights back the pain and readies and incantation if it is needed.
When the warden finally reveals himself, Ottakar grins, he maneuvers himself next to the man, ready to assist in his defeat. As the good doctor moves around the warden to get into position he does not see the flash of steel from the warden's hand when he strikes with a dagger. However the quick slice from the knife does not penetrate the good doctor's armor he acquired earlier.
Erevan wastes no time taking advantage of the opportunity given to him and his companions. Taking care to allow Ottakar to better position himself and flank the Warden, the golden-eyed man moves to close with the old mage and uses his spear to great effect, running him through, the weapon's blade burying itself in their foe's stomach almost too easily and tearing through muscle and organs before coming out of his back covered in blood.
The warden slumps across Erevan as the spear runs him through. "I curse thee with my last breath. You won't get away with this." the warden gasp before closing his eyes and falling backwards onto the floor.
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
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Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:55 am (Day:One)
Despite the macabre nature of the action, and the warden's rapidly-cooling corpse slumped bloodily in front of her, Hecate giggles slightly: "Did he just say 'you won't get away with this'? Really? His taste in literature is ATROCIOUS."
Hecate is livid when she finds that most of the books in the library downstairs were penny dreadfuls - "Why in the name of Asmodeus's infernal hells would any wizard, who can study reality itself and bend it to their will, waste their time on this... trash? Honestly," she spits, "he - almost - deserved to die for that alone. A disgrace to the name of wizard. Still, might as well see what pearls are hidden among the swine."
With that, and a scowl, she starts rummaging through his bookshelf, discarding - with some force - those books that meet with her disapproval, muttering naughty words under her breath from time to time.
If anyone ransacks the warden's rooms and brings her anything of interest, she'll do her best to identify and/or appraise its value.
Etna restrains herself to avoid cheering at the wizard's death, instead smiling satisfied when the annoyance is dealt with. ”Are you still able to walk, Tkaara?” she asks to the other barrister, worried that she may lose an ally that had proved herself more than capable.
For a second the ifrit stays silent, glancing around the room, and then adds calmly ”What do we do now? We search this floor and the lower one, and then set the building on fire to draw the guards attention?”. Her hair grow more vivid fore a moment when she concludes with her suggestion, moving in the meantime to the door ”Is there anyone that would help me check if there is something useful in the library? Hecate?”.
”You know, this library here reminds me a lot of the one my father had” she comments as she descends the stairs to whoever is accompanying her, smiling faintly. ”maybe I already told you, but my father was a wizard, too, one of the most famous of the realm!” she says with a tinge of pride in her voice, as she picks one of the penny dreadfuls from the shelves, oblivious of their contents. ”He would still be here if it wasn't for that venom spitting wench of my mother. I'll shortly get my reven-” the red haired woman stops abruptly, as she flips to a page with an image of a scantly clad woman. Disgusted, she throws the book to the ground, picking another one in another shelf. ”What?...” she manages to say with half-voice, as this book too reveals to be very similar in contents to the last one. As she continue to pick books and fling them to the ground as soon as she read them, the ifrit's disgust quickly turns into rage. ”Lewd literature? LEWD LITERATURE? You would think that a man this old and with interest in the sophisticated world of the arcane would be above such...such...things.” Etna paces furiously trough the room, her hair making popping sounds ”Drunk guards, corrupted captains and this. I would say that this whole place is going to Hell, but that would be a compliment in this case.”
Etna paces furiously through the room, her hair making popping sounds ”Drunk guards, corrupted captains and this. I would say that this whole place is going to Hell, but that would be a compliment in this case."
Hecate nods, indignantly. "Quite. Hell has order. Hell has discipline. Hell has too much dignity to allow this sort of garbage."
She brightens momentarily "Did you suggest setting the place on fire? I saw several barrels of lantern oil in the store room - and these books would make useful kindling..."
As Felrin charges across the room to attack the warden, Erevan spears the man clean through, dropping him to the stone floor. Felrin slows his pace and says, ”Well done! Let’s see if there’s anything useful here and keep moving.”
He turns to the chest at the foot of the warden’s bed and studies it carefully for any surprises. Once he’s sure it’s safe, he sets to opening it.
At the wizard's demise, the Doctor wipes his hands and mutters to himself. "That certainly took longer than was necessary." With that, he stoops down and searches the corpse for anything of value, taking care to avoid that "owl" the guards mentioned earlier.
Hecate and Etna head downstairs to the second floor and begins rummaging through the warden's books. The Penny Dreadfuls they just discard into a nice pile on the floor as if intending to burn them at some point. Tiring with the duty the duo of women head over to the scholarly marked section to see if it indeed gets any better...
In the more scholarly section, there are fifty five books on subjects ranging from magical theory, history and astronomy. Fifty two of these are common books and tomes worth an average of 3 gp and each weighing a pound. However, three of them are very valuable:
“Astra Mysterii” A rare treatise on astrology written by the mad monk Clivarus, worth 75 gp. It requires a Knowledge (arcana) (DC 15) or an Appraise (DC 20) to identify.
“The Travels of Titus the Mendicant” by Artus Vellor. A valuable first edition of a popular title published before the author was well known, this book would fetch 120 gp amongst collectors. The tome requires a Knowledge (geography) (DC 15) or an Appraise (DC 20) to realize its true worth.
“The Floralegium” by Branthus Hart. An imposing tome of no small age, this beautifully illustrated book of flowers is obviously something special. However it takes a Knowledge (nature) (DC 20) or an Appraise (DC 20) skill check to realize this book’s true value. It is worth 250 gp to collectors.
Felrin moves over to the large sturdy oak chest at the foot of the bed and after examining it he opens it:
Inside the chest is a well packed alchemist’s lab (worth 200 gp; weighing 40 lbs.).
The good doctor kneels down and begins to search the still warm body of the warden. He finds:
3 Scrolls, a dagger, wizard’s college class ring that the doctor immediately appraises (gold with diamonds worth 250 gp), ioun torch, spell component pouch \
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
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Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:56 am (Day:One)
"Yes, I've already brought 2 or 3 bottles of lamp oil and put them in the clothes bag the doctor is carrying..." Etna nods to Hecate. Completely absorbed in ripping apart one of the Penny Dreadfuls in frustration, she doesn't notice the valuable books on the shelf.
"I like that idea, it will distract the guards and we can either surprise them from ambush or just slip away." Hecate's bad mood is passing. It looks like the warden had a variety of books, some of which might even have value. She nods as Etna continues to shred the books which don't measure up to their expectations.
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Tkaara looks down at the smoking hole in her side where the force missile penetrated easily through her armor.
I . . . I really do not feel so good. I think I should sit down for a while.
With that, she slumps to the floor looking rather dazed now that the adrenaline of the fight is over.
Your call on whether you want her to use a CLW. It will be her last, but should get her back to full.
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While she sits on the ground, Tkaara's eyes roll back into her head suddenly turning instead into what appears to be a rendition of the night sky, but showing only the constellation of Asmodeus. As this happens, the pinpricks of light form around her and quickly sink into her body healing the wound.
Cast CLW:
"Well, it will certainly give the remaining guards something to worry about other than give chase after us," Erevan concurs, his attention divided between the discussion at hand and wiping the blood off of his spear.
"Rubbish... rubbish... rub- ooh, what's this?" Hecate has located something of interest. Considerable interest, judging from her tone and manner. "This - this is the Floralegium! I didn't know there were any other copies; my tutor said he was apprenticed to someone who was apprenticed to Branthus Hart himself! This is a really old tome, and it's in mint condition. Ha, obviously he never actually read it. And this! This is a first edition Artus Vellor! Titus the Mendicant, hey? Not one I know but it's pretty valuable." She carefully stashes the two books away in her robes.
"Oh, a Clivarus. Heard he went insane in the end; but he knew his astrology. I'll have that one, too."
Her search of the shelves finally complete, she rejoins the others. "So, what did you guys find?"
... so our saga continues....
Etna rips apart one of the Penny Dreadfuls in frustration as she sees nothing of value in the library of any use. The former Barrister of law not believing that a massive library as this could be filled with so much useless garbage.
Hecate giggles softly at Etna as she stashes the three books of value in her sack, not believing that Etna actually missed all three and joins the others back upstairs leaving Etna to her torture of books.
Prison Map from Blackerly's Office
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Location: Branderscar Prison: Warden’s Private Chambers, Date: Oathday, Erastus 25th,(Summer) 4714 Time: 3:57 am (Day:One)
With the group assembled once again, Felrin says, "I think it's time to get out of this place. I'm for lighting the warden's library on fire, then making a run for it in the chaos. If we can make the fire start slowly, we can get downstairs and out into the darkness. When the guards come to deal with the fire, we head out - I'm thinking we head around the west side of the main building and through the gatehouse."
He flicks his blue-green eyes over his companions, gauging each of them for their readiness for the task ahead, then asks, "What do you think? Any other ideas?"
"I agree with Felrin's plan." Etna says as she follows after Hecate. "I'd add a couple of things, though. First, we should check what's in the other room on this floor. The Wizard's owl, I'd wager.". The Ifrit stops for a second, a look of disgust crossing her face for a second.
After what those guards said, I REALLY hope we find an actual howl.
"Second, we could use the window in the veil to make a more discreet escape: running past the guards while they inspect the fire would be harder. Otherwise, I agree with the course of action proposed by Felrin. Maybe we could even find some horses or a faster mean of transport."
The Doctor grunts noncommittally as he strips the Warden's corpse of valuables. Figuring that wizardly accoutrements belong with a wizard, he then stands up and dumps the slightly blood-spattered lot into Hecate's arms. "Here. I assume something here will be of use."