Focusing more on the people around him, the cleric of Sarenrae grabs a bucket from on villager and hands it to the next in line. "Help all you can! I'll attend to everyone's wounds after the blaze is controlled!"
Elise glances about the room, feeling frustrated by the dilemma before her. Something was going to need to be sacrificed, most likely. The building could be replaced; the people could not be.
Elise abandons the brigade, shouting:
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 6 - continued
20 Valdrin (5hp dmg)
14 Olaf (arcane cascade, 2hp dmg)
14 Elise (8hp dmg)
14 Fentus (2hp dmg)
14 Mr Serpens (13hp dmg)
14 Townspeople (not looking good at all)
13 Trista (6hp dmg)
10 Fire
9 Councilors
Stopping instead of fleeing, Mr Serpens directs two very ill-looking people from the room, while taking slightly more smoke damage himself.
As much as Fentus wants to save people, he keeps his place in line passing buckets to the front.
Trista tosses two buckets on the fire, and watches as it douses a good portion, but she knows there is still a bit more to go.
Valdrin shouts out that he will bring Sarenrae's healing to all once the fire is out, and holds his place in line, making sure the buckets move up.
Coughing through the smoke, Olaf keeps passing buckets to the folks running to dump them.
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 6 - concluded
Olaf shakes off any damage from his coughing fit, while continuing to pass buckets off to both sides.
All across the room, the remaining spectators in the room all fall unconscious from burns and smoke inhalation. The bucket brigade does not. Nor do the councilor/leaders.
At the edges of the room, the fire, though diminished, grows again.
The fire brigade on the west side, drops two buckets also this turn, putting the fire back to where it began or better. Three more fire-fighters arrive to take the place of anyone else who wants to get out of line. Greta Gardania drags one unconscious child from the room catching her breath in the hallway to the south.
End of Round 6
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 7
20 Valdrin (5hp dmg)
14 Olaf (arcane cascade, 2hp dmg)
14 Elise (8hp dmg)
14 Fentus (2hp dmg)
14 Mr Serpens (14hp dmg)
14 Townspeople (all unconscious)
13 Trista (6hp dmg)
10 Fire
9 Councilors
There are now 6 unconscious townies on the floor in the chamber. One bucket will be available to each end of the fire line. There are two additional townspeople to replace party members if you wish to drag and drop them.
Shaking his head through the smoke and the tears, remaining quiet now at this point, his loud voice worth very little now.
He sees a townie has fallen near him and leaves the bucket brigade to help carry them out of the room.
Struggling amidst the smoke, Fentus is only able to drag the town member a few feet.
Startled slightly, then nodding with a cough, Valdrin shouts, "Someone take my spot for the line, people need help!" Rushing towards the chairs, he makes is way to one of the townsfolk who is laying on the ground while reaching into the healer's kit on him. Pulling out a small packet, the cleric crushes it in his hand before opening it, whatever substance creating a strong menthol smell. "Get up, you have more to live for!"
Seeing the new firefighters coming in and looking around and seeing collapsed townsfolk, Olaf determines his strength is better used for getting people out.
Leaving his place in line with a shouted, "I'm getting people out!" and moving to the closest townsperson and dragging them towards the door.
Elise runs towards a fallen woman in the benches and attempts to drag her out.
With the rest of the party tending to fallen townsfolk, Trista continues to lead the fire brigade, splashing more water on the flames to the north.
She coughs in the thick smoke and steam that flies up from the flames.
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 7 - continued
Fentus moves out of the fire line, instead going to the aid of fallen townsperson. Unfortunately, the bowl of stew at Wizard's Grace didn't strengthen the sorceror enough to drag the citizen very far.
Valdrin rushes to the nearest fallen civilian and begins treating his burn wounds and reviving him with some medicine from his kit. The groggy townsperson gets to his feet, retching and still coughing heavily from the acrid smoke.
Olaf gets to a fallen Breachton and at first cannot budge the person, but he calls on the strength of his forebears silently invoking their names, and his strength heroically returns, pulling the person almost all the way to the door.
Elise also grabs a person and is slowly able to move them through the jumble of toppled and skewed benches.
Despite the smoke inhalation from being so close, Trista is able to dump another bucket on the north fire, getting it down to a reasonable size.
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 7 - concluded
While getting ready to exit the room, Mr. Serpens sees another downed citizen and gathers his strength to pull that man to safety, ducking quickly back into the room to head towards another.
The fire spreads a bit, but now seems to be controllable if not fully out yet. It won't be long until it is totally squelched thanks to the buckets coming from the ring of wells around Lamont Breachton's statue.
The fire brigade douses more of the north fire, and its as low as its been since the conflagration started. Greta Gardania stays out of the room, hacking out the inhaled smoke in the main corridor of the Hall.
End of Round 7
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 8
20 Valdrin (5hp dmg)
14 Olaf (arcane cascade, 2hp dmg)
14 Elise (8hp dmg)
14 Fentus (2hp dmg)
14 Mr Serpens (14hp dmg)
14 Townspeople (all unconscious)
13 Trista (7hp dmg)
10 Fire
9 Councilors
The fire seems to be ebbing, but the fate of the townspeople left in the smoky ruin of the council chamber is still undecided. Those unconscious few cannot last much longer.
Coughing loudly, and his eyes watery from the smoke, Valdrin attempts to help the townsfolk near him as best he can. "Get. Out! Save yourselves! I'll help those who are unconscious!"
Trista uses the buckets to dose the northern fire.
"Get...get them out." cough...cough.
Elise will work on dragging this last lady out.
Fentus continues to struggle to drag the villager out of the fires.
Blinking through teared eyes as he sees he is only another 20 or feet from the exit he gives it everything he has to drag this person to safety.
Getting all the way to the exit with the villager he helps hand them to a person outside and then goes right back into the building to help Elise with the villager she is working on.
Olaf assists in helping the few folks by the door out of the building.
Snickers in the Smoke - Round 8 - concluded
Valdrin coaches the townsperson he just revived pushing them to escape the smoke-filled room, and with the right encouragement, the citizen departs quickly.
Trista dumps two brimming buckets on the remaining flames by the north door, finally extinguishing them, and avoiding most of the resultant noxious fumes.
Nearly overcome and seeing most of the work done, Mr Serpens pivots and heads for the relative safety of the hallway.
Moving quickly through the dense smoke Olaf successfully drags two people out of the room, leaving only one more imperiled civilian.
Elise's strength is sapped by the excitement of the battle and the inability to get a clean breath, but she is able to still drag the last civilian from the room.
When the remaining fire flares up a bit, the fire brigade is able to fully extinguish it with a pair of cold water buckets, ending the threat.
End of Combat
As the last of the people are pulled from the fiery chamber, and fire is quelled, the group of would-be Heroes finds themselves outside the smoldering town hall with the harried survivors of the ordeal. After a moment, the soot-stained councilors emerge from the crowd, and Greta Gardania whistles loudly to get the anxious crowd's attention.
She looks around, hugging some of the townspeople next to her, while others wearily clap her on the back in thanks for their lives. "What manner of madness just happened? This can be no accident! Did anyone see anything?"
One of the guards, who was stationed outside before the fire began, raises his hand, then his voice. "Aye," says the weary uniformed man. "The clerks say everything -- it was Calmont, that cad of the bookseller's apprentice. He lit the fires in the halls next to the chamber. He also set that fire monster loose on the crowd!"
The second guard shouts in assent. "Indeed!" says the grave but steely woman. "And witnesses outside the building saw him run towards Hellknight Hill!"
A surprised and worried wave ripples through the crowd at this information, including Warbal's distinctly shrill cry, "The citadel! My Bumblebrashers!"
Greta raises her hand authoritatively, and the crowd begins to calm. "Friends, we'll get to the bottom of this," she assures them. "But we can't do it alone. Who are the heroes in attendance today? Heroes are you willing to investigate Hellknight Hill?"
As soon as Elise makes it out of the building with the last survivor, she finds a place to sit and collapses heavily onto the ground, legs sprawled in front of her and back against a wall. Her breathing comes in heavy and ragged, each inhale stinging with pain from the smoke damage. She puts a hand on her chest and winces, looking down at herself to assess the damage.
Oh, that hurts. She thinks, running her fingers over the sooty fabric of her ruined tunic. When Greta comes out and begins speaking, Elise pulls herself up from the sitting position and moves over to the rest of those who had arrived at the Call today. Elise glances around at them and then steps forward to present herself, ragged and sooty.
"I...*cough*...sorry..." Elise pauses and clears her throat painfully before continuing, "I daresay you are all familiar with me at this point...Elise Grimms." She puts forth her best brilliant smile, her pearly whites contrasting with her soot-smeared and freckled skin. "I, along with these others," she gestures to Fentus, Mr. Serpens, Trista, Valdrin, and Olaf, "We all came to answer the Call. Calmont has quite a bit to answer for. I can't speak for the others, but I will investigate. Breachill is home, and I do not appreciate people attacking my home." Elise's eyes narrow and her face turns grim. She steps back a tad after finishing, allowing the others to speak for themselves.
Covered head to toe in soot, Fentus tries to wipe some of the grime from his eyes and off his face, Looking to the councilors, Realizing that he forgot to end his Bullhorn spell as he bellowed out his name for all to hear, he quickly dismisses the spell before continuing, "I'm from Absalom but my Mother is from this village and I traveled all this way to hopefully find some of my lost family if they still exist. I'm not much of the hero type, never real had to be in Absalom, but if you'll let me I'd like the chance to help and I have my own reasons for wanting to explore the Castle,"
Drawing out his waterskin he takes a few drinks to help quench his burning throat and uses the rest to dump over his hair and face.
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Serpens takes a big swig of water and gasps
I lived here long ago and returned just in time to hear about this call. This whole town will bear the mark of the serpent by the time I am done. Get ready to rename the river after me.
He nods to Elise. If this Calmont is responsible for this, then I will see he faces justice.
But Serpens has the feeling he is just some idiot being manipulated. He hates politics.
He sighs Perhaps we can see a priest before we go confront someone who has the ability to conjure devils... he suggests to Elise.
Stumbling out of the building, face slick with sweat and covered in soot and debris, Valdrin takes a deep breath before violently coughing. "I..... I think that's everybody," he speaks hoarsely while dropping to his knees. Pulling out his waterskin and taking a few gulps to soothe his throat, he passes it to a nearby towns member while collecting himself before standing.
"I think we should go, but we also need to tend to everybody who was in the hall, which may take some time. Is everyone up to follow the lad now, or should we better prepare ourselves?" Looking around, while thumbing the wooden symbol of Sarenrae hanging from his neck, Valdrin's eyes look towards the direction of the citadel.
With a sigh of relief, and turning towards Councilwoman Greta, the cleric speaks. "I am Valdrin, roaming priest of Sarenrae, here to answer the Call of Heroes. We must investigate, and find out why Calmont performed this act. I suggest we leave with haste if no one needs healing, though we should take the time to prepare ourselves."
Kneeling next to Warbal, he places his hand on the goblin's shoulder, "We shall go to the citadel, and bye the Dawnflower's Grace, make sure your Brumblebrashers are safe.
"Trista Lortella, reporting for the Call. I thought there was something unusual about that clerk. He was terribly rude for a merchant's assistant."
Trista looks to her companions. "Shall we go up the Hellknight Hill together?" She gingerly puts a hand to her singed cheek. "Perhaps after patching ourselves up. Is there a cleric or a medic present?"
Elise turns to Trista and Valdrin to address their questions. "Yeah...I'm feeling pretty rough. I'd love to patch up first." Elise coughs again, glancing around at everyone with eyebrows raised. "We'll be better off sticking together. Power in numbers and all."
He sighs Perhaps we can see a priest before we go confront someone who has the ability to conjure devils... he suggests to Elise.
"Good idea. And really? Prepare to name a river after you?" She smiles wryly, chuckling at his audacity. "You could be a smidgen more humble, friend."
Looking to the others, "If we aren't setting off right away, I think a certain bathtub is calling my name," Rubbing his hands together as he looks for the innkeeper that promised him that bath earlier.
"Someone fetch Brynne and Kellen," barks Greta Gardania to the crowd. "Here," says a bearded man in the back, wearing the blue robes and holy symbol of Desna. " I will tend to your wounds, heroes. The Dreamer blesses those that give of themselves for the common good." He stands among muttering incantations that begin to heal back your wounds. As his magic is faded, a heavy-set woman with one long black braid trots over, carrying a cask of ale and a tap. She sets to work and soon has ale flowing. "Drink deeply, friends. This is Cayden's holy water, and it will refresh you and restore your vitality." She passes mugs to each of you, and more to the injured and incapacitated villagers.
While the clergy are tending to wounds, the councilors huddle up, and soon Greta speaks to the assembled heroes directly. "Breachill thanks you profusely for your actions to fight the fire and save the townsfolk. You have proven your worth, and we are glad you are here to answer the Call for Heroes. To aid you in any trials you might face at Hellknight Hill, we offer you these items now." She passes over 3 minor healing potions, an anti-plague, and an antidote, as well as small bags containing 50sp apiece, one for each party member. "Additionally, the town will pay you 10gp for the job of contacting the Bumblebrashers and another 10gp for bringing Calmont back alive, to face justice. These funds will be payable immediately upon completion of said tasks."
"You may set out whenever you wish, but I suggest you hear more from Warbal since she was about to present her petition when the trouble started."
Fentus does see Trinil, the innkeeper from Wizard's Grace, standing on the front step of her place, just across the street from the excitement at town hall. He is a bit taken about when she appears to wink at him, but he can't be sure from this distance.
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Serpens River is an excellent name. I am really going the whole region afavor by choosing to come home and be a true hero here! the ancient crusty elf proclaims with pride
Serpens inventories his bag and looks up gratefully So I guess we were the ones answering thiscall...
He sighs Do you know where to find this Warble, Elise?
Serpens is so stuck in his own head, that he doesn't see the diminutive Warbal right next to Greta, attired in her scholarly outfit. The small goblin woman pipes up, "I am right here, elf!" she says shaking her head with wonder. "I hope you are the heroes my Bumblebrashers may need if they are in trouble. They must be rescued, yes indeed!"
"You would have seen her if you weren't so busy crowing about how great you are," Elise says acidly, pointing to the goblin in front of her and Serpens.
She turns her attention to Warbal, her expression quickly transforming from annoyance to a polite smile. "What details can you tell us about the Bumblebrashers? Where they are, what we should look out for? Anything, even the most minor detail, could help."
Breathing deeply and recovering from the smoke inhalation and exertion Olaf doesn't respond as rapidly as some of the other group, but hears the call for heroes to this Hellknight Hill and the concerns of the Bumblebashers that have gone silent.
Finally, getting himself under control, he offers "I go by Olaf, swordsman and spell slinger, I will gladly answer your call to check on these Bumblebrashers and chase the fool who started this fire."
Warbal smiles wanly. "I am happy to tell you about my Bumblebrashers. I won't leave anything out, but please ask if you have more questions. If anything helps, I want to provide all I can to the Heroes." She clears her throat and starts reciting in her shrill voice, hands punctuating the air at key points.
"The Bumblebrashers are a tribe of goblins who have, for years now, lived peacefully and in isolation in Citadel Altaerein, the former Hellknight keep on the hill just outside of town. Typically, every two weeks I meet with Helba, the tribe’s chieftain, on the road outside the keep. We discuss news, and I convey the town’s interests and hear any concerns that the tribe might wish me to bring before the council. It is a relationship of utmost importance, and Helba is normally punctual. But she has missed our previous two meetings, and I have seen plumes of smoke coming from the top of the citadel. The smoke is a chalky red in color—the tribe’s traditional color of distress. I fear that the Bumblebrashers are in danger, or that something dire has befallen them. It has sickened me with worry."
Her voice breaks more than once as she relates this, tears eventually streaming from her goblin eyes. "I am certain something foul has befallen the Bumblebrashers. Helba would not miss our meeting twice in a row for no reason, nor would the tribe signal its distress unless something terrible were amiss. Please, Heroes, please do what you can to find and rescue my family and friends!"
"Many thanks for the healing, good priests." Trista huddles up with the rest of the group around Warble.
"Red smoke, eh? Smoke there, fires here." She buries her nose in her book, flipping through it as if referring to some previous entry. Without looking up, she ask Warble, "Did Helba mention anything unusual when you last met? Anything at all?"
Warbal ponders Trista's question, biting her long goblin nails reflexively as she considers. "No, I don't think so. No. The last time we met, we talked about trade goods and a new Bumblebrasher babe but nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that would lead me to think they would be in any danger. Something must of sprung up! Oh what could it be!" she weeps a little more, using the hem of her white robes to dab at her eyes.
Fentus strides across the street to the Wizard's Grace, bowing before Trinil, "I am not sure I'll have time now m'lady, but," gesturing to the building and the crowd, "I think I'll take you up on the bath offer when we return. We are about to go have a look at the Castle on the Hill and I hear its quite the Goblin village now, so can't imagine I'm gonna leave that place any cleaner than I am now,"
Looking back to the group talking with Warbal, "I best be off but I'll return soon,"
Heading over to Warbal and the others to ask a question, "Warbal, is there anything you can tell us about the Castle since the Bumblebrasher's have taken over? Anything strange or dangerous about the place that y'all've should've left alone"
Olaf frowns at the story. "Trouble signal for some time then, we should hurry to see if we can help, though we should be wary for a trap after this fire. Feels like maybe someone didn't want us heading to Hellknight hill" the northman muses.
Trinil smiles warmly at Fentus. "The bath'll keep, boyo. An' there'll be as much lentil stew as ye can stand too when you return -- with Calmont in chains an' them Bumbles safe."
Warbal earnestly tries to answer Fentus' question. "The keep has become home to all kinds of things, some foul and some fair. Bumblebrashers keep to themselves mostly and don't stir up trouble. Helba is a good leader and would not dabble with things they don't understand. But many things use Altaerein as home. Bumblebrashers are good neighbors though, ask Breachill. Why would someone hurt my friends?"
Mr Serpens asks her about Calmont, but Warbal just blinks at him. "I was making my petition when the fire started, elf-sir. Warbal did not see Calmont in the room or set the fire..." She sputters a bit, losing her emotions once again. A clerk pipes up however. "I saw the little cad," he exclaims crossly. "He was reading from some paper and 'poof' out popped that fiery creature. Started papers and scrolls aflame and Calmont helped spread it. I saw the whole thing. He looked normal as could be, perhaps a little excited too, if you take my meaning...."
The archivist, Jorell Blacktusk, you met before the excitement, strides over. "The main body of the Order of the Nail moved off to their new fortress in Varisia about 30 years ago, leaving only a token garrison behind. The last of the Hellknights left the place about 8 years ago. The goblins moved in shortly thereafter and have been residents for years without incident."
As Olaf muses that the fire and the Bumblebrashers unrest could be related, Greta nods her head. "Go find out. It's unlikely they are interrelated, but finding Calmont and rescuing the goblins -- if they need rescuing -- should tell us what we need to know about that. You have your mission. Go and may Lamont Breachton watch over you as he did your forebears years ago!"
"Interesting. Who knows what the Hellknights might have left behind. They keep unusual company." Trista says aloud as she makes a note of the archivist's intelligence.
"Are we ready? I say we set off immediately!"
"If we are to bring Calmont back, I think some sort of bindings would be needed if he proves unruly. As for his actions, I do hope he can repent and reform. He seemed like a troubled lad when I saw him in the Grace," he mutters to himself before looking up. "Perhaps we should have a chat with Miss Lirayn as well before leaving. With her establishment being what it was, perhaps she may have noticed what Calmont might have been interested in? Other than that, if we are to travel, I am as ready as I can be."
Unstrapping his walking stick from his pack, he kneels and whispers in a low voice, "May the Dawn guide us through this trial, and offer redemption for those lost from your warm embrace blessed Sarenrae. As a child of the sun, I shall spread your grace."
"Oh, excellent idea, Valdrin! Let's buy manacles at the Odds and Ends."
Trista will pick up two poor manacles for 3 sp each.
"A pair of manacles is not a bad idea," Elise replies to Valdrin, nodding. "And speaking with Ms. Lirayne briefly may be a good idea as well." She frowns touching her chin lightly in thought.
"Some of us can go to obtain manacles and the others can go to The Reliant and speak to Ms. Lirayne to cut down on time, I think. I propose that I go along to The Reliant if that route is agreeable... A local might help smooth things over, especially since Calmont and Ms. Lirayne don't get along, according to the rumors."
Fentus watches the back and forth about manacles, offering up "Rope would probably do just fine as well, can always truss him up, it was a halfling right? Ought to be no harder to truss a halfling than a pig,"
He doesn't have much particular preference for where he goes, either shopping with the others or questioning Lirayne.
At Quarters and Bits, Mr Serpens is welcomed warmly by his new acquaintance Crink Twiddleton, the halfling chap from Wizard's Grace, still decked out in a bowler cap, bow tie, and fancy jacket. "Come to buy some fine stock have ya?" Crink smiles enthusiastically, and is happy to part with some manacles for 3gp. "Lock that pesky bugger Calmont right up, won'tcha. An' tell everyone the cuffs are from their old friend Crink while your at it, eh?"
At Reliant Book Company: The shop is dark when you arrive with a sign saying "Closed for the Day" hastily affixed to the front door. The shop seems small, and does not appear to be open for business as you approach.