Coral points at the suspect and shouts
She doesn't even need there to be city guards around - this is Vigil, after all, and any of its true citizens (any of those who have taken the Shield-Mark or the Sword-Mark) should be ready to apprehend the Wise Crow.
But Coral cannot give chase. She cannot abandon Kendren. And so she watches helplessly, hoping that the people of Vigil will capture the arsonist.
Kendren listened carefully for the sounds of where anyone in the shop or forge might be, so he knew which way to go.
Hearing strange, unnatural sounds coming from the direction of the forge, Kendren decided that there may be a greater chance of someone being trapped in the forge, and so he prepared himself to dive through the hearth and into the worst of the flames.
Kendren dives through the hearth, deciding to get in there as quickly as possible. He manages to move quickly enough that he avoids catching on fire.
As he rises from a diving roll and lands in the forge, the scene is utterly devastation. The remnants of what once was a place of creation and craftsmanship lie in ruin, consumed by a merciless blaze. The soot-stained walls and the intense glow of the red-hot metal door stand as silent witnesses to the elemental's destructive dance.
There is only one creature in this room, a towering figure of crackling flames and searing heat which turns its attention to Kendren as he makes his entrance. It moves with a fluid grace that belies its destructive nature, feeding the flames with a fervor that speaks of its desire to see everything reduced to ash.
The fire elemental, embodying the untamed fury of the blaze it commands, lashes out at Kendren with a pair of forceful slams. The air, superheated by the elemental's mere presence, shimmers with the intensity of its attack, distorting the harsh, flickering light of the forge.
Kendren anticipates the first slam, the air crackling as the elemental's fiery limb cuts through the space where he just stood. It is a near miss that sends waves of blistering heat cascading over him. The elemental overextends, and his fist keeps moving upwards until it explodes out of the building's ceiling.
The second strike, however, finds its mark. Despite Kendren's best efforts to evade, the elemental's fist connects with a solid impact, engulfing him in a brief, searing embrace that threatens to overwhelm his senses with pain and heat.
---
Coral's command cuts through the cacophony of the crowd, her voice clear and authoritative. Despite the chaos surrounding them—cries for water, shouts for assistance, the general uproar of the onlookers—her call to action finds its mark in a few citizens who snap their heads toward the direction Coral points.
Their initial steps toward the fleeing suspect are swift and determined, fueled by the duty that runs deep in the heart of Vigil's sons and daughters. But then, a sudden eruption of fire billows from the roof of Brunna's Quality Shields, sending a column of flame skyward that momentarily draws everyone's attention. It's a spectacle that halts everyone in their tracks, drawing gasps and wide-eyed stares. The silhouette of a titanic flaming arm, reaching out from the inferno as if to grasp the very heavens, dominates the skyline.
Feena realized too late what awaited Kendren inside the inferno as her magical sight revealed the true nature of the flames, there was magic there, significant magic, and the source was a foe she could do little against, a fire elemental. She had barely noticed when Coral yelled at the crowd to stop the man who fled the scene as she was too focused on what she had discovered.
Just as Feena was about to say something the giant fist smashed out of the building and into the sky and she paled at the realization this was no small elemental but something far older and more powerful. "There is a fire elemental in there, Kendren will need our help and the flames can't be put out until it is gone," Feena cried out, even as she realized she would be of little help in this fight since as most of her offensive might was focused on fire.
Kendren felt flames engulf him from the creature’s fiery fists. The flames burned, hitting him greatly, but he looked about the room for any sign of this Rolf.
Kendren does not see anyone, but sounds coming from behind the searing-hot metal door across the room. It could be someone pleading for help. It's difficult to tell beyond the noise of the inferno and the huge creature trying to melt him.
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Lola glares at the rotten-toothed man, and clicks a button to unsnap La Guitarra and places it on the ground. She pulls down her mask, and with a sigh, charges into the burning building - following Kendren while shouting over her shoulder, ”if anything happens to La Guitarra, voy a cortar los cojones a alguien!
Damian feels Kendren's searing pain through their link and shouts just as the huge blazing arm crashes through the roof. "Kendren's in trouble, we need to go inside and help him!"
Snatching a bucket of water from a nearby citizen, he upends it over his head, drenching his hair and clothes to make it harder to catch fire. Then, drawing his cloak over his head, he rushes inside the burning building.
Why did he...
Coral can't believe what Damian just did.
But shouting after Damian is of no use, so she invokes Warrior Spirit to give her blade the power of Quenching flames and runs into the building after him.
Kendren knew that he needed to draw the elemental away from the door if he was going to rescue the person inside. He hunkers down behind his shield as he takes a step back and to the left, hoping to be able to lure the elemental towards the main shop. Perhaps he could signal Coral or someone to go through the hearth and get to the door.
He did his best to ignore the flames. He knew he couldn't keep it up forever, but hopefully he could for long enough.
The heat in the room is oppressive and unyielding, roaring flames flashing all around Kendren.
The elemental, drawn by Kendren's movements and the challenge he presents, continues its relentless assault. Yet, for all its fury, it finds no purchase against the paladin's defenses. As Kendren takes a step back, the elemental advances with him.
Kendren continued backing up, luring the fire elemental to come after him as he moved into another part of the shop. Seeing the others approaching, he called out, "There's someone trapped behind a metal door in the forge area. You can get in through the hearth!"
Steeling herself, Lola rushes into the building, not wishing to dive through the hearth.
As she moves, she activates a Zambra-style dance to ensure Damian can get access to her inspiration, and tries to figure out what Kendren is talking about.
"¡Mierda!" She gestures, "let's hope the damn thing follows you."
As he enters the blazing inferno, Damian winces as he feels his skin blister and burn under the twin assault of the real fire and the damage he was shielding Kendren from. He moves to follow Lola and to try and protect her as well.
Coral uses Total Defense and moves into the room, risking the elemental's wrath while trying to dodge as best she can.
Should Kendren be attacked, she will not be able to use Bodyguard this round (due to Total Defense), but she will provide +2 to saves from Shake it Off.
Feena knew she would be no help against the fire elemntal as all of her offensive potential was geared towards purifying things with fire! There was one thing she could do to help so she moved to get everyone in range and cast a single spell causing everyone's perception of time to slow down as they moved and thought quicker than normal.
The smoke is building this room, and it's becoming difficult to breathe!
The elemental advances another five feet, launching two rapid attacks at Kendren. Thanks to Coral's tactical insights, Kendren's sturdy defense, and the enhanced agility bestowed by Feena's magic, he narrowly evades the elemental's fiery onslaught.
Meanwhile, the structure of the building begins to buckle under the extreme heat generated by the elemental's presence. Suddenly, a portion of the already weakened, flaming roof gives way, crashing down towards Coral and Lola.
"Come then, fiery beast! Let us dance!"
Kendren defensively advanced on the fire elemental with Dawn's Radiance, striking at it as he closed the distance.
Lola manages to keep her composure, but can't get out of the way of the debris.
Coughing, Lola draws her bow and tries to take a shot at the elemental, while trying to tap her feet to inspire the others, and moving slightly,
Coral is overcome with coughing, but manages to dodge the debris.
The water he had doused himself with has evaporated in a cloud of steam, and Damian takes the full brunt of the blaze, on top of the vital energy he was syphoning towards his companions. With a quick gesture to mend his burns a little, Damian likewise takes out his bow - hoping the string won't catch fire - and sends an arrow at the elemental.
The magic of Lola's music allows Coral to recover, and she moves up to attack.
With the smoke thickening and little else she could do to help Feena moved back to clear the doorway and prepared to run or heal with her flames as needed.
The group puts up a rather impressive offensive front against the elemental despite the horrendous conditions in the room. Each party member lands their offensive strike, and the elemental is showing signs of its injury, knowing it cannot sustain another round like that. It swings and connects with Kendren, but can't penetrate his armored defenses.
Another section of the ceiling collapses, dropping more burning debris into the room but it falls in the rear of the room where no one is currently standing.
Kendren, being quite on fire, begins coughing seriously from the smoke of...well, it's him. He's the source of the smoke.
Lola keeps dancing to keep up her inspire courage, and takes a shot at the elemental, trying to kill it.
Following Lola's example, Damian dances takes out his bow and fires at the elemental. Then he heals himself a little more.
Coral takes advantage of Feena and Lola's magic to unleash a rapid series of strikes at the elemental.
Unable to do anything to help with what was going on inside Feena moved a little further away from the intensifying inferno, ready to do what she could to help when they came back out.
Despite Kendren being momentarily overwhelmed by the thick, choking smoke, the combined might of Damian, Coral, and Lola proves to be too much for the flame elemental. With a relentless onslaught, they hammer at the elemental's fiery form until it dissipates.
Even with the elemental gone, the damage is done. The building continues to come down around you. This time a section collapses on Coral and Kendren, fiery debris falling upon them.
Coral calls on the power of Iomedae to heal her wounds.
She moves up and, knowing it is going to hurt, opens the red-hot metal door.
Kendren uses some of his power from Sarenrae to heal his wounds as burning debris collapses on him, then moves to help Coral open the door and get whoever is back there, sheathing his blade as he goes. "We have to hurry and get this person out of there!"
Lola follows Coral as the elemental disappears, as she makes a note, "the thing was summoned, come on! Let's help Coral!" and she stops performing, putting away her weapon and moving to aid the halfling.
The door isn't hard to open, but it's hot and Coral burns herself in the process .
Once the door opens, you find a steep earthen stairway that descends into a dry cellar where three shields rest on a rack along the southern wall. Opposite the display of masterfully crafted shields, a complex iron door covered in mechanical locking mechanisms fits seamlessly in the northern wall .
In the corner of the room is what you presume to be the dwarf Rolf, unconscious on the floor.
Coral uses her Quenching sword to douse the flames on Kendren, then sheathes it.
At least there is respite from the fire here, but the air will not last forever.
"Kendren, Lola, can you bring him around?
People set fires to destroy evidence. We may need what is in the vault. I can try picking the lock, but it would be easier if he knows how to open it."
Lola nods and rummages through her or Kendren's bag to get one of their wands, and steps over, tagging Rolf with it.
"The earthen cellar should help prevent the flames from spreading down here, too. I can carry the dwarf, if need be."
Kendren checks him over to see what the cause of unconsciousness is.
Damian follows the others, releasing a burst of healing energy to help his friends and the unconscious dwarf.
Kendren can tell that the dwarf has no visible injuries and is only incapacitated by smoke inhalation. The party's magical healing does the trick.
As Rolf's eyes flutter open, the panic in them is palpable. He gasps for air, his gaze darting around the cellar, wide with terror. He sucks in a sharp, panicked breath, his chest heaving as if still trapped in a smoke-filled nightmare. "Fire! Is it—? Is it gone?" he stammers out, fear lacing every word, his gaze flicking wildly around the cellar looking for the elemental.
"The fire creature is gone, but the fire is not out. We may not have long.
I think we need to open the safe. Do you know how?"
Rolf takes a few seconds to comprehend what Coral is asking, but when the recognition comes he scrambles up and to the safe. He works through the process of opening the safe and then retrieving what looks like decades of meticulous notes. He grabs handfuls of ledgers and books, one after the other, before turning back to you and asking , "How are we getting these out of here without burning them up?"
"Give them here. My bag has a magical enchantment on it; it can protect them while I run out of here. You will need to do your best to keep up."
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Rolf hands over the documents and then Kendren acts swiftly, securing the papers with a carefulness that belies the urgency of their situation. As the party navigates the treacherous path out of the building, the air grows fresher with each step towards freedom. The structure groans and cries out its final moments behind them, a cacophony of destruction that propels them forward.
Emerging into the open, the scene is one of stark contrasts—the coolness of the evening air clashing with the heat that clings to their skin, the quiet of the outside world a stark relief from the roar of the fire. Brunna, who had feared the worst, sees them, and a glimmer of hope sparks in her tear-streaked eyes.
The moment Rolf is within reach, Brunna rushes forward, her arms enveloping him in an embrace. Her tears, a mixture of relief and sorrow, wet his ash-smudged face as she murmurs words of gratitude and relief into his ear.
The crowd, which had been a mixture of anxious onlookers and would-be helpers, erupts into cheers and applause. It's a small victory against the backdrop of destruction, but in this moment, it feels monumental.
Brunna turns to Kendren and offers him a crushing hug of thanks as well. "How can I ever repay you! I am in your debt!" she says, releasing her crushing hug and wiping away tears.
Taking advantage of everyone still standing in close proximity, Damian channels a bit more divine power to heal some of the burns.
"Thank you for the healing, Damian."
"So what do we do now? Go through those records and find what we are looking for before someone else makes an attempt to destroy them, or try to track down the Wise Crow who set the blaze and then escaped?"
Lola rushes out with the others, and picks up La Guitarra, glancing to see if anyone had touched it. Seeing it intact, she sighs, and slings it back on her back, "that went as well as could have been expected. Other than the escaping villain... let's look at the documents quickly, maybe there's something useful."
Brunna listens intently as the party explains their quest, her brows knitting in concentration. "Ah, yes, that order." she mutters, rummaging through the documents from the safe. The pages are filled with meticulous entries and she flips through the ledger with practiced ease until she finds the entry marked with the date from two years ago.
"Here it is." Brunna announces, pointing to the detailed order for the replica of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant. The name Kilibrandt Erstwhile stands out, accompanied by a note mentioning the assistance of a wizard named Dondun. "I remember them now." she continues, her voice laced with a hint of curiosity mixed with concern. "Kilibrandt, a gnome from Erstwhile Dyeworks. Quite particular about the details, they were. And Dondun...a quiet sort, but there was something unsettling about him." She describes someone who resembles the man you just saw outside of the burning building earlier.
She hands over the record, allowing the party to see for themselves the specifics of the commission, including the peculiar request to replicate the exact fractures of the original shield. "I thought it a strange request, but a commission's a commission." Brunna remarks with a shrug.
Looking at the others, Kendren said, "Erstwhile Dyeworks? That might be where these Crows roost. If this Dondun was a wizard, it may be he that summoned the elemental that set off the fire. These Six Wise Crows must be trying to cover their tracks. We should update Ranton with what we've found as soon as possible, and then deal with them." Kendren looks at Brunna and says, "You have not committed any crime, but this Kilibrandt likely has, and it was likely on her orders they burned your shop down to try and cover their tracks. There are two other things we would like you to do. Can you tell us where the Erstwhile Dyeworks is located? Second, may we have the record of the commission and take you to Ranton Gandry so that you may provide your testimony in this matter to him?"
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Brunna listens intently, her expression darkening as Kendren lays out the implications of their findings.
"Yes, I know of the place. It's not far from here, situated in the craftsman's district. Always seemed a reputable enough business, though I never had much reason to interact with them directly."
At Kendren's request for the record of the commission and to take her testimony to Ranton Gandry, Brunna nods solemnly. "Of course, you can take the record. It's important that the truth comes out, and if my commission has been used for nefarious purposes, then I want to help set things right." She carefully extracts the document from her ledger, handing it over to Kendren.
"And yes, I'll come with you to Ranton Gandry. It's the least I can do." Brunna continues, her resolve firming. "This shop has been my life's work, and to see it targeted like this...it's more than just the loss of property. It's a violation, an attack on the community itself. If my testimony can help stop those responsible, then I'll do whatever it takes."
Lola nods at Brunna, "then - we should go immediately, yes? It sounds as if these crows have stolen the shield and swapped it with the replica. We may be able to stop whatever ceremony the Way has planned, but only if we move with haste." She gestures, "come - the leadership must know."