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Sendor War: The Mystery of Versis: Recovering the Book

Page history last edited by rgs 14 years, 3 months ago

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* Whirlpool's Room of Doom *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

A floating, bald head says, "WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM!"

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Contents --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Calamity Oh. It's just a cosmic catastrophe. Move along. 3m 3h

Abrahil A valiant, gnomish slayer of paper demons. 1m 2h

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= Exits -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Out <O>

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Alice has arrived.

Donatien has arrived.

Serenity has arrived.

Myrana has arrived.

Valadhiel has arrived.

Lieutenant Colonel Borsh is your commanding officer today. He's assembled this team from the files they have on the irregulars and he seems pleased with his selections. He's a thin fellow. Half-Elven. His expression is flat and his hat a little too big for his head.

"Right, then," he says, "we've got a lot to do. We've received word back from one of our teams that there may be some survivors at a couple key locations. Your mission is to get into Versis, get them, and get out alive. That's going to be easier said than done, however."

Serenity has actually ridden her mount INTO the tent. Then again, considering her mount is a mastiff with the nametag: Sir Barksalot, this is less shocking than it should be. She even has her chalkboard out, and is scribbling on the handheld thing in erudite lettering,"How many?"

"...goodness, you mean they've found someone?" Abrahil looks over from feeding a rather squat-looking parrot, a grey creature almost as round as he is. The gnome stands on two legs which are barely visible beneath his proud rotundness, a spherical entity which proceeds him before every doorway, passageway, or walkway, hitherto and yon.

Valadhiel nods, "And how many different locations. What sort of transport do we have here?" She hrms, "And what sort of guards can we expect to find?"

Man, elves really get around. Another half elf appears. Alice is here. With a spear. Have no fear. And for lunch, she ate deer. Isn't that queer? At the Borch, Alice does peer. She seems amused by his hat. But for now, her mood is quiet, bubbly and she seems friendly enough. A blink at Serenity. ... Oooo. She's listening to the questions when GASP. A parrot! Cuteness.

Myrana listens, dark blue eyes boring intently into the Colonel. Her comely features are composed in dreadful seriousness, an emotion rarely seen in the young half-elf. But then, she's been told not an hour past some things about the city below that have rather shaken her.

Donatien stands with his hands clasped lightly behind his back, paying as much attention to the others in the tent as he does to the soldier. He does quite a good impression of not looking lost.

Myrana's white hands smooth over the fur of a small grey-green cat, which has passed out belly-up in her lap, purring grubbily.

"Dead bodies! Dead bodies!" the parrot clicks his beak and fluffs his feathers. Shakes his ruff. He opens his mouth again and another cracker's stuffed into it. "Oh, give it a rest, Einstein." Abrahil wriggles his fingers and wafts the crumbs from the tips. And the gnome looks over with an embarrassed smile. "I'm terribly sorry. I took him over to see the Vardamites..." "Smelly! Woo-hoo! *whistle*"

Sir Barksalot rumbles softly at Myrana's cat. Big dog. Lil' cat.

--------------- At a glance around Whirlpool's Room of Doom ----------------

Valadhiel 48s 5'2" 105 Lb

An elfmaid with dark auburn hair.

Myrana 1m 5'0" 125 Lb

A short young woman with thick coal-black braids

Serenity 48s 2'8" 26 lbs Lb

A short goblinette in white riding duds.

Donatien 3m 5'9" 161 Lb Human Male

Rather attractive young man in fine clothes.

Alice 9m 5'8" 140 Lb

Half elf! Hallelujah! No tentacles!

Abrahil 0s 3'4" 54 Lb

A valiant, gnomish slayer of paper demons.

Calamity 14m Lb

Oh. It's just a cosmic catastrophe. Move along.

==============================================================================

Borhs grimaces. "Several someones were brought back and debriefed. The story they told us wasn't good -- namely, that most of the individuals within the town have been.. taken is too mild a word, but it will have to suffice. They were taken by creatures from beyond this world. Demons, I'm told, but I can't be sure. This has only hardened Prince Verin's determination to see Versis cleansed." Purged with fire, he means. "We must get whatever survivors we can locate out as quickly as possible. We've been made aware that a group of survivors are hiding near the docks in one of the taverns, but we don't know much more than that. We're going to put you on a skiff, slink you down the river to the docks, and then you're to find these survivors as quickly as possible. And? While you're there? There is one more thing we'd like you to do before you return.."

"What is it?" Myrana looks at Borhs. Her voice is quiet, smoky with thought. "Is it to do with the Gate?"

Alice blinks at the parrot. "He's articulate." Ever notice how in most shows there's a split second before the RAWR comes out? That little eyebrow twitch before some fellow gets hurled across the screen. At the mention of a whole town mauled by demons, Alice's face visibly turns. Her eyes seem more green, pupils nearly vanishing. There will be buttkicking for goodness. All she needs is a giant miniature space hampster! Although the additional request causes her to tilt her head. "Oh?"

"Well, don't keep us in suspense, good fellow," Donatien speaks up. "We are here. Tell us what is on your mind and we shall be about your business. If we can spare any effort while rescuing those people we shall do so."

"Stinky! St--" cracker. Abrahil stuffs one into the parrot's beak, his expression tilting between embarrassment and a grandfatherly-like worry. When the parrot starts to open its beak again, he stuffs in another from the supply cupped in his hand. "It sounds rather dangerous," he comments. Looks over, "Do we know how many of them there might be?" *stuffcracker*

"No. We've yet to actually *see* any gates and only two demons have actually been spotted, if you could call them that. But the people are gone just the same. There is, however, something that may help. One of the survivors we rescued knows of a holy book and an associated object that might enable us to reconsecrate the grounds of the Daeusite cathedral within Versis. It is an old and historic building which we do not want to destroy. If we can reconsecrate the grounds, we may yet be able to save Versis and banish whatever evils remain within it. The problem is that the book and the associated object," he seems to be deliberately vague on the nature of said object, "are locked within a bank vault. Which means you're going to have to get to the bank and remove them both, somehow, without arousing too much attention.'

Valadhiel smiles faintly, "A bank robbery? Well, that seems a bit... interesting. We can certainly make the attempt, if nothing else." She hrms, "Probably best to get the people out first. One of them might know something more about the bank, as well. Alternative methods of egress."

Serenity makes a skittering motion with her fingers, then lifts her eyebrows at the man. The message is clear enough: Get in and out as quickly as possible?

"How well fortified is the bank?" Myrana asks.

"Breaking into a vault? That should scarcely prove to be a test of my skills." Donatien settles his cloak more comfortably about his shoulders. "I agree," he continues with a nod toward Valadhiel. "The people are the priority. I can only hope that the bank will prove to be the greater challenge."

"It's a bank vault. Wish I could tell you more than that but I really don't know," says Borsh, shaking his head. "I hate to send you in blind. So far, the town has been mostly quiet, though, so let's hope for your sake that it remains that way." A pause and leans forward to regard Valadhiel. "It's reasonable, but we don't have a lot of time. You may wnat to rescue the civilians *after* the bank. How you proceed is up to you."

"Hm. I suppose if the demons got hold of those things or something, it'd be seriously bad..." Alice considers. Even though she's no Daeusite, anything with enough divine mojo to turn that ground holier than an ice weasel in front of a machine gun is bound to be trouble.

"...goodness," Abrahil wipes his fingers on his vest. Einstein wobbles his beak around the crumbs, some of which crumble, fall to the floor. "Well," he looks at the fat little parrot, back to Borsh. "I'll give it my best shot, certainly. What time are the refugees supposed to arrive, do we know?" Do they have a time line, in other words?

Valadhiel nods, "Do we have a map of the city? If the refugees are holed up on the docks, and we're taking a skiff... might be easiest to get them first. But we can play this by ear, if necessary."

Myrana is quiet for the moment, listening to the others.

"They're hiding in a tarvern. That's all I can tell you. You're going to have to figure out *which* of the taverns they're in and then, well.. get them out of there." He nods towards Valadhiels' question, unfurling a map that looks hand-drawn, roughly of the city and its streets. "HEre's the docks district," he says, gesturing around it. "The bank is over *here*, on the other side."

Versis itself is split by the river, straddling the banks of it. The bank is one side, the district where the taverns he's talking about is on the other. "The bank is here, in the market square." He circles the square with his finger. "We've no idea what you'll run into. Preserving your own lives is important. If it looks too dangerous? It probably is. Get yourselves out of ther.e"

Donatien produces an item that could well be a snuff box. Instead of pinching out snuff he dabs a finger at its contents and rubs it under his nose. "We could just as soon place the people in the skiff once we find them. I shouldn't think they would be in any more danger there than in a tavern and it will allow us to escape all the faster, if we must."

So, after your briefing is concluded and a few last minute buys are made, you're ushered to the riverside and shown to a rowboat. It's big enough to fit all of your comfortably and can still stuff additional people onto it without much worry, but it's probably going to wind up cramped if there's too many civlians to save.

Either way, you get onto the boat and then you're rowing on your way down the river. It's not fun.

You first pass through the outskirts of the city. All is quiet so far. There's no lights, no sound. Nothing. It's quiet. Only the creaks and ambient sounds of the wind brushing through it and the sounds of the river itself are audible. It's early in the morning yet.

Serenity plods along on her mount (the dog). She'd just road on it IN the boat, since it didn't take up anymore space than that of a person. She ruffles its ears as it pads along, apparently not all that bothered by the quiet. That might have to do with the meat snacks she's feeding it.

After settling into the boat, Abrahil had taken out a small book and started to read. He occasionally scribbles off a note, though he stays still--moving about had evidenced a sort of rocking motion whenever he'd gone about it, and so, he sits there, parked and scribbling. The fat little gray parrot perches on his shoulder, eyeing the cat with a glittering sort of: don't you DARE look to him. "It really /is/ awfully silent," he suggests, looking up. "I thought we'd run into something by now." And he wriggles his fingers, and a sort of dust settles over him.

Serenity says, "I thought we landed. I will ammend."

Alice is on a boat! A mother f-- well, she's a cleric of Rada on a boat! She seems just at ease at sea as land. "Probably not, if they're all hiding. Or doing a good job of hiding. There's only so much demonic cavorting you can do once you've- y'know," Alice scowls. Her bubbliness is threatening to disappear.

Donatien bundles himself up against the cold off the water, all of which is for naught when he attempts to help with the rowing. That help doesn't go so well. Whatever else he's done in life, rowing boats didn't figure into it. Most of his efforts go towards not letting the oar splash too much. "I'll be quite happy if we encounter nothing at all but those people we are meant to rescue."

Serenity is on a dog. Which is on a boat. Which is ridiculous because dogs don't like boats. More ridiculous? You got it! She writes on her chalkboard: "Brrrr." Yes. That's right. She wrote: "Brrrr."

Valadhiel glances back and forth, keeping her profile low, "Well, suggestions on a place to dock?" She frowns, "Don't want to keep a high profile, after all."

Myrana turns one of the oars, the palms of her gloves scuffing as she pulls them as quietly as she can through the water. Rum snoozes on her shoulders, seeming quite comfortable nestled up upon the warm perch of wool coat and scarf beneath Myra's thick braids.

In the case of docking, you're actually in luck. As you row down the river through the town proper, deeper into it, the docks themselves become more evident as your best option. For one, the city is actually a big 'above' water level and the sides of the river have been built up over, leading to a bit of a climb if you want to go anywhere else. Still, you find a nice, wooden stairway up to the street from the waterlevel and are able to tie your boat off there, if you're so inclined. It's the right area, at least.

Alice will help dock and tie the boat off. She seems actually remarkably comfortable with this nautical nonsense. Who'd've thunk it? She doesn't seem to mind the cold too much either, although poofy curly blonde hair probably helps. As well as layered clothing! "There we go. Mind that first step, so many sailors fall off boats forgetting it," She smiles. She's remarkably caring when not kicking the crap out of something or BOOT TO THE HEAD!ing it.

Abrahil makes another note in his book before closing it and disembarking and stepping out onto the mudded dock. "Well, that was exciting. I don't think I've spent that long on the water since our production of Fizzlebar's Underwater Siege. And then, I had to wear a special suit--it was all very exciting, you know." When Alice points it out, he's careful over the step. As careful as an old uncle might be.

Serenity spurrs her dog onto the dock the moment the dock is... uh... docked with. Then she immediately waits, an annoyed look on her face, while the dog circls and proves his dominance. On the nearest docking-post.

Donatien pulls the oar in with exaggerated care to avoid making noise, be it by dropping the oar or smacking someone with it. He, too, is careful of that first step. Docks are never the cleanest places and who knows what else might be floating in the water in a demon-infested town? "Would anyone like a hand?" he asks of those in the boat once he's safely on the steps.

Valadhiel nimbly hops off the boat, drawing out her bow as she glances back and forth, "Alright, we know the likely targets for the taverns they might be hiding in, so we'll check that first I suppose." She hmms, "We should stick together as much as we can. Separating would be too risky, I think."

Myrana climbs out. "I agree," she murmurs, nodding to Valadhiel. "With what is rumored to be here, it would not be wise to seperate."

Bitter winds buffet you as you emerge onto the docks. There is snow clinging to the roofs, but the streets are remarkably clear of it. There is the stink of days old horse manure, but precious little else in the way of any signs of recent activity.

"Oh, yes. I've got all these books, here..." says the wizard, and if Donatien offers it, Abrahil will certainly take the help. Although, he's certainly no damsel in distress to have taken it. No, the person who responds to the poor man is a fat, chubby little gnome with papers and books that threaten to fly everywhere.

Brrr. "Do we even know where all the taverns are?" Alice wants to be heroic, but there's lingering doubt. "Because we're really, really screwed if the demons get a hold of holy artifacts."

Myrana smiles a little bit at Alice's question. "Taverns are easy to spot," she says. "Otherwise they soon turn into offices and housing." Then she sets off with a certain amount of confidence. After all, she is a barmaid.

Serenity waits for her dog to finish marking its new fun territory and then spurs it forward to begin its sniffing along the ground.

"I, as well," Donatien adds in support of Valadhiel after he helps the gnome out of the boat. "I sneak only slightly better than the typical courtly ponce." He remains behind Abrahil while on the steps. Burdened, rotund gnomes on an incline is a good recipe for disaster. "All the taverns? Perhaps not. However, that building," he points, "looks quite promising for a start."

"...well, goodness. Do give me a moment," and he rearranges his papers after Donatien helps him settle to the ground, Abrahil does. A small set of lights wink into existence, fairy-colored and bright. They rove around one another, spinning slowly and slower as he puts a finger to his lips. The spinning slows, and they dim--he beams, and ushers them on ahead a pace, low to the ground before looking to Alice. "...I'm really not sure. Perhaps the--well, we have a dog with us, do we not? Would his nose be of any use?"

And thus, you begin searching the tarverns.

The silence remains, well.. *there*. All around you. It's odd, being in a town with absolutely *no one* in it, so far as you can tell. The drip of water, the sounds of the river, the wind.. that's it. It's just.. *empty*. The first tavern your search continues this trend. Chairs and tables are overturned within, however, and a door into the back hangs loosely from its hinges, as if something had smashed through it and broke it open.

The floor appears to be covered in a blackish sort of soot.

On the plus side, there are several obviously full bottles behind the bar along with several kegs that are dripping.

Serenity stifles a little bit of a yawn, then forces a stretch as they search. Abrahil's question gets the requisite response,"He's trained for war, not search and rescue. Even if he were, he'd need a scent to hunt out first. But not a bad idea." Still, by the time they finish looking around, she will have made the sign of Daeus across her chest. Twice.

Nod. Fair enough. Alice frowns at the condition of the tavern. "Do you think they have a cellar or basement? And uh, given demonic activity, I probably wouldn't drink anything. Even if it's free," She considers. The Radian (But she's not radioactive or used in geometry!) is hesitant. Her fingers curl around a small vial with a blue crystal and clear water held by a stopper. Frown.

Abrahil waggles his finger in a slow circle--the lights follow it in a larger pattern across the soot-covered floor. The roving illumination shows more soot, more darkness. The mage's finger slows and the lights slow, tuck back behind him like little, bobbing faery-dogs. He tucks his hands into his robesleeves, looking worried. "...it would be nice if he could give it a try. We've really nothing to lose...Serenity, wasn't it?"

Donatien wrinkles his nose at the tavern's interior. "The soot does not look particularly disturbed so I venture to guess that no one has been through here recently. I suppose that means that no one is hiding in the cellar. However, I would not bargain a life on my powers of observation."

Serenity draws both of her pistols, one in each hand, then taps her dog's head once, as if to indicate the man should feel free to try. A simple nod is the only other response, other than to use the barrel of one pistol to tip her hat upwards.

Myrana paces catfooted through the tavern. Footprints appear in the soot behind her warm, layered skirts. Rum meanwhile, finally sits up somewhat. A fold-ear cat, Rum looks rather like a green owl as he peers around, sniffing at the air and licking his lips with a very pink tongue. She looks down below the counter before she passes behind it. A small bottle with raised rasberry vines dissapears into her satchel before she emerges, coming quietly back to where Abrahil talks with Serenity.

Valadhiel nods, "We can check quick for a cellar... but we shouldn't wait too long here." She nods over at the others, a faint frown on her lips as she looks carefully around.

--------------- At a glance around Whirlpool's Room of Doom ----------------

Valadhiel 1m 5'2" 105 Lb

An elfmaid with dark auburn hair.

Myrana 3m 5'0" 125 Lb

A short young woman with thick coal-black braids

Serenity 12s 2'8" 26 lbs Lb

A short goblinette in white riding duds.

Donatien 5m 5'9" 161 Lb Human Male

Rather attractive young man in fine clothes.

Alice 7m 5'8" 140 Lb

Half elf! Hallelujah! No tentacles!

Abrahil 0s 3'4" 54 Lb

A valiant, gnomish slayer of paper demons.

Calamity 26m Lb

Oh. It's just a cosmic catastrophe. Move along.

Whirlpool 4m Lb

==============================================================================

"I'm afraid I never learned the druid's trick," Abrahil says apologetically to Serenity. He tugs up his sleeves, rolls them moreover, and aims a look towards the cellar door. "Alright, let's check there, then. ...could you, please?" he looks up towards Donatien. "I think I may have a hard time reaching the doorknob. They place them so blastedly high out here."

Donatien begins the search for a trapdoor - or any door, really - to the cellar. "It may face the river," he says, having the sudden thought. "That would have made it easier for them to bring goods off a boat." With that thought in mind he makes for the broken rear door. He tries to walk with care in order to be silent, but Sneaky is decidedly not his middle name.

Checking the kitchens and the cellar are easy enough things to do. Both appear to be empty in this particular tavern -- though the kitchen bears signs of fighting. There is blood splatter on the walls, long since dried. The upstairs of the tavern, where it keeps its rooms, is another place where signs of battle are obvious. Several of the rooms have still more signs of figting. Blood, yes, but no bodies. They've all been taken, whoever was slain here.

That concludes the search of the first tavern.

The second one is much the same. The docks being the docks, there are numerous taverns, five in total, and the third is much the same as the first and second were, except even more trashed. Long, deep scratches have left furrows in the ground. A human fingernail sits easily in one of them, indicating people were dragged away with sufficient force.

And then, of course, you get to the fourth.

The fourth, the Burning Mermaid, is a larger tavern. The doors to this one are closed. Barred, actually, when you try to open them. A good sign, perhaps, even if the windows are shattered and open.

... burning ... what? Did she have an ETD? Nevermind. Alice tries not to think about it too much. "Huh. Anyone else able to open this door?" While she looks a bit perturbed by all the horror around her, she keeps it tucked away beneath a distant expression. She doesn't... seem to have much luck with that barred door.

Myrana walks along with the others quietly. Her eyes go to the fingernail and her jaw tightens and does not loosen till they get to the Burning Mermaid. "Miss," she looks at Serenity. "Can your dog smell anyone living inside?"

Serenity gently squeezes the dog with her knees, and almost immediately, it starts plaintifully scratching at the barred door. But she can't speak, so there's no real way for her to call out to the people.

Abrahil looks up, his hands covered and blackened in soot. So is his parrot. The fat little gray parrot's darkened its feathers, and shoots its master a glittery-eyed and disgusted look as the gnome brushes off his fingers. "Oh, goodness...well, it seems as though something's in there, doesn't it? ...could anyone see in the windows?" he brushes off his fingers. He gets another disgusted look from the parrot.

Donatien leans on his staff and frowns at the door. Then, taking note of how things tend to freeze and become slippery in winter, he straightens. "I doubt I'd have more success with the door than you. Short of, well... burning it." He points the staff at the windows. "The windows appear to be open."

Valadhiel frowns, "Check the windows first. If there ARE people in there... well, I'd have rigged them with a surprise if they're just open like that." She looks carefully at the windows, hrming as she is... well, not a trapmaker.

"Well, let's give it a look, then," Abrahil says brightly. He throws a nervous look over his shoulder, and back again. "If someone could lift me up, I could see," he suggests. "I'm sure I don't weigh all /that/ much." Ha ha.

The windows don't seem visibly trapped, but then, none of you are a Safety Elf!

Serenity wheels her dog around with her knees, apparently gaining distance, and then, with a sharp kick into the dog's flangs, sinds it loping towards the window. She bends slow over its back, and then two fly through the open window smoothly, landing with the clicking of fingernails.

With Serenity inside, it's a simple enough matter for her to lift the bar, even with her slender goblin arms, off the door and let the rest of you in. THe interior of this particular inn doesn't differ too much from the others, though there's less obvious signs of conflict here. The floor is still somewhat..sooty and several chairs and tables are stacked against windows and walls, the makeshift barriers broken down on the window you went through. Searching this place is rather easy, too. The rooms upstairs are empty, but for the signs of people fleeing in a hurry, and the kitchen itself is empty. Several high quality bottles of alcohol are also easily obtainable, should you feel inclined to.

Then, of course, there's the cellar. This one actually has one, and it is very dark down there. One might be eaten by a grue should they descend.

Valadhiel has reconnected.

Valadhiel has partially disconnected.

"I've a sunrod, if the light spells are out," Alice replies. She frowns at the state of the place, peering into the darkness. Sadly, she lacks magic missiles with which to attack the darkness. "Because... I don't really like going into dark places."

Serenity meanwhile spurs her dog towards the cellar. She has low light vision. She's not all that worried about it, as a result. She'd probably even hum if she coud. But she can't. So if she sees something, she'll just hum... with gunshots. Hi-ho silver, away!

A skinny bottle of limoncello and a squat one of dark rum dissapears from the bar. Rum grooms himself up on Myrana's shoulders.

"Light is no trouble, should anyone care to volunteer to carry it. Oh, and an item to carry the spell, of course," Donatien states. "Dark cellars are not commonly one of my fears, but I shall make an exception for towns that may be infested with demons." He raises his hand and looks at the others, awaiting the requested volunteer.

"Oh! ...well, it is dark down there, isn't it?" Abrahil steps forward, then bustles out of the way as the mighty mastiff descends! He's left, really, sitting on his behind. A few dancing lights dance woozily about his rotundness, and he blinks a bit as he readjusts his lenses.

Valadhiel nods, "Dim light isn't a problem for me, but if it's too dark, well... light would be welcome." She gestures, "We shouldn't delay, since this has more promise than the other places we were looking." Her eyes flicker back and forth.

Abrahil picks himself up. Dusts off his derriere. And descends with the others down the steps, the small faerie-fire lights dancing about his feet.

Lacking volunteers, Donatien brings up his mace and places the spell of light on its head. Glowing mace. That done, he prepares to descend the stairs.

Rum nearly topples off of Myrana's shoulder as the little fold-ear cat tries to swat at the dancing lights that orbit the round gnome. When they descend to Abrahil's feet, the cat looks simply bereft in an owlish sort of way.

Well, then.

The bottom of the stairs is covered with a thin layer of debris. Those looking for them would be able to see the sharp points glinting out from underneath them, but well, none of you are trained to spot that sort of thing.

Once the caltrops are identified, painfully, you'll be able to scoot around them carefully and move slowly over them.

The cellar appears to be largely filled with boxes, crates, and preserved foodstuffs. Dried meats and the like. There's no sign of people just yet, but a trap is always a good sign, at least, that there are people about.

Serenity meanwhile dismounts at this point to check over her dog. She even shoots a heart-breaking look at her companions upon seeing the beasts' injured paw. She actually seems rather upset for a change, as opposed to stoic or even-tempered. She is a young thing, after all.

"Hello?" Abrahil calls out. "Oh! Hello there? Anyone about?" he shakes his sleeves from his wrists and proceeds, well, minces over the caltrops. As much as a blob may mince. Einstein eyes Rum, of course. Eyes the cat, and puffs up his soot-covered feathers.

Alright. Alice might verge on tsundere or a light Jekyll-Hyde complex, tempestuous as the seas. But. She's got a heart in there. On seeing Serenity's heartbroken look, her face squinches. "Here, let me take a look." She offers a smile and pulls out her vial. A tiny bit of water is poured and a few words whispered to Rada. Surely Rada likes puppies? And lo! Healed paw!

Serenity actually hugs Alice's leg, looking up at the woman almost worshipfully. She knows about healing magic! Paladins do that sometimes! With a pleased grin, she climbs atop her dog once more, ruffling its ears, and smooches the top of its head. Then she draws out her pistols again... and waits for someone to precede her.

There's a soft rustling sound and a crate topples over onto its side. Someone lurches out of a trap door hidden beneath it. The first thing that assaults your nose is the smell. It pours out of the hole. "..oh gods. People. Real people. Thank the gods." tears immediately start streaming from the woman's eyes. "Thank the gods, thank the gods." Another man emerges behind her, followed by a child. They're dirty as hell. Very. Another two emerge as well. "You've got to be quiet. They *hear*," says one of them.

Valadhiel nods, murmuring softly, "We're here to get you out. How many are left?" She glances over at the survivors, hoping that there might be more, boat size be damned.

"Oh! Well...yes, yes we do," Abrahil says, startled. He reperches the lenses on his nose, and takes a step forward. "Oh...oh my. My goodness, my dears. I--oh! Yes, yes, we'll be quiet." He hurries forward to take the arms of the child. Who's probably about as big as he is, but is the only one he can help up.

"Ugh..." Myrana scowls at the caltrops and does her best to step where Abrahil steps, giving him a bit of space but not straying too far behind on account of the light that the gnome is providing. Meanwhile, Rum is not sure what to make of the suddenly much larger bird. Rum's eyes, already round as owls, widen even further and the cat hunches back, retreating like a fat gopher into Myra's scarf.

Myrana doesn't seem to notice, however, eyes going to the filthy survivors. "Oh dear," she murmurs, and comes forward, reaching out her hands to the crying woman. "Shhh, shhh," she murmurs, and hands her a hankerchief.

And Donatien makes certain that he doesn't suffer the same fate as the dog. Once he's clear of them he does the best he can to move the caltrops out of the way, the better to get these people up the stairs. "I see," he answers quietly. "Yes, follow me up the stairs. We will see to it that you get out of the town safely." So it is, right back up the stairs where his mace will be the proverbial beacon of light.

Daw. Alice looks touched, tilting her head and smiling. She gently pats Serenity's shoulder. And more smiling at the puppy. She goes quiet, perhaps content to let those more charismatic. "I can help someone up," She offers softly. "Is anyone hurt?" Her voice is more quiet, and she's looking over. It's all fun and games in demonic invasions until someone loses an eye or has their soul rent asunder. At which point, they star in a video game.

"Only if you consider everyone you know being taken somewhere... else hurt," says a man, bitterly, to Alice. He runs a hand over his balding head, saying, with a squint, "..they came and they just *took* people. Some died, but most of them, they took. We hid down there. They hadn't found us yet, but any day now they were going to, if the hunger didn't get us first." He looks painfully skinny, yes, as do the others. "You don't want to know what we had to do." He shakes his head, nodding towards the door.

"Get us out of here. Just... get us out of here."

The woman plainly sobs on Myrana in a mixture of fear and relief.

Abrahil pats the child's hand. He really can't reach the rest, and blinks his eyes a few times. Rapidly. "We'll get you out of here. Why...oh! The quiet thing again! Everyone, quiet...they have ears," a hurried, whispered warning of what the refugees had given. He lowers his palm to the ground, and the faerie-lights dim, dim, quieting to the earth.

"That is a bit beyond what I can offer here," Alice replies quietly. "I am sorry, though no words I may offer might ease the pain now. You have my sympathies and services if you should need a cleric. But- we'd best get moving." And quietlike. She looks upward. She'll start forward, slowly and around the caltrops (Are some of those d4s? Yeow) unless she's stopped or someone needs support.

Valadhiel murmurs, "We need to get to the bank, before we leave... there's something there." Then she goes completely silent, her bow coming out as she looks towards the ceiling, then at Alice with a shushing noise, followed by an urgently whispered "Don't move!"

Alice is silent, not even setting her foot down. Totally still. She was a champion at Red Light Green Light.

Donatien was waiting at the top of the stairs and thus not moving much to begin with, so becoming still is a trifle. Not completely still, however. He does look around to try to see what caused the elf to raise the alarm.

Balding Man walks over towards the covered up caltrops and begins to scootch them out of the way as best he can, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry. We put those there just so that, well.. we might be able to outrun anything that came down. It probably wasn't going to do any good, but you can't really blame us for trying. It was warning, too." He gathers up some of them and sticks them back in a pouch and waits to be lead up.

Eventually, you make it back out of the tavern. Early morning light offers a nice, rapidly more sunny street.

The question is, now, what you're going to do with these people if you're still planning on checking out the bank.

Valadhiel looks around at the others, hrming, "You need to get to the bank and get the item. I can escort these good people back to the boat, and we'll wait for you. But we'll be ready to set off the instant you arrive, we can't afford to tarry here a moment longer than necessary, from the sounds of things. How long do you think you'll need?" She says that to the others, arching a brow slightly as she regards them.

Myrana strokes the woman's hair and whispers soothing words in her ear as she sobs on her shoulder. "It's alright. Here, keep that." She looks at the balding man and smiles wrily. "That was smart," she says. "Don't apologize for protecting yourself." Once they're outside, she looks at Valadhiel thoughtfully. "I don't expect it should take us too long. We need to be fast."

"I have no inkling," Donatien lifts his shoulder. He looks to the others. "My experience with vaults is almost nil. Even should we find the bank quickly I could not say how long it might take us to get into the vault. Which also presumes that we meet nothing along the way that we would be better served avoiding."

Nod. "It shouldn't be too long, though - depending on that vault," Alice wrinkles her nose. "Don't know if we've a safecracker." She is quiet after a moment then. A smile to the survivors. She's trying to be comforting, although she is a bit rough around the edges. "Only way to know is to get there I suppose."

"The bank? What are you trying to go the.. nevermind. We're probably better off not knowing," says Mr. Balding. "Just.. get us out of here." He says again, almost pleading.

Really, you're able to get the civilians up the stairs and out onto the street without difficulty. So far, there's no sign of any evil. So far.

"You were our priority," Myrana says gently, quietly to the survivors. "Don't be afraid anymore."

"Well, let's avoid them, then," Abrahil suggests. He tugs at his cloak, and then he's tugging out a bird, an angry bird flapping its wings and throwing soot all over the place. "Oh, do stop the dramatics. Here, I'll give Einstein here a little...demonic flair? and send him ahead. I'm sure he'll do quite the job." The bird ruffles his feathers.

Valadhiel nods, "Very well. We

Valadhiel nods, "Very well. We'll wait an hour. After that, we'll probably be leaving. We need to get the people to safety." She looks at the others, "That should be more than enough time, I would hope. I'll keep a watch, and be careful. If what's at the bank is as potent as I suspect, there's no way it would be unguarded." With that, she gestures to the refugees, "Come on then, this way." She leads the others off towards the boat, keeping a cautious eye out as she goes.

Valadhiel has disconnected.

"Good idea," Myrana can't help but smile at the idea. "After all, parrots are naturally a source of great, shrieking evil. It is a natural fit." She nods, eyes sparkling with a bit of humor. Rum does not seem to see the joke. The owlish cat remains hidden in collar and scarf.

Donatien drapes a kerchief over the mace once they're outside the tavern. Once he's satisfied that it's not likely to alert everyone in the vicinity he follows the rest back to the skiff.

Alice is following quietly along, her crystal and water in hand. The holy symbol is a comfort. She's watching.

And so, Einstein is given glowing eyes. Somewhat demonic, that. Abrahil tosses him up into the air, and the bird--takes off. With a bit of a huff and fall or soot, it must be said. And the wizard...follows after.

So.

According to the map, the bank was on the other side of the river. The bridge itself is complete empty. A few wagons are left on it, abruptly stopped. There are no horses, which is odd in and of itself. Spattered blood is the only thing that indicates their fate.

You cross the bridge, though, and on to the other side of the river. Scorch marks begin to become visible on the walls here and there. Moreover, the great Cathedral of Daeus and its golden dome loom in the distance.

The market square is reached, then, and it looks like the sort of place that might have been busy at one time... and most certainly is not now.

"The First Myrrish Bank of Versis" reads the sign of the rather large, well build stone building near the center of the square. It's doors hang open, the steps leading up to red with blood.

... open doors bad. Alice's face twists. "I hope they've no safecrackers." She still clings to her holy symbol. Dear Rada, Please don't let my face get eaten. In exchange, I shall blowth thine enemies to smithereens. Love, Alice. She moves along cautiously, but moves nevertheless.

"This is entirely disturbing," Donatien opines. The lack of bodies is quite a relief, so long as he doesn't think about the fate those people might have suffered. Or might be suffering. "Most doors we have seen so far were open. This may indicate nothing more than that the demons chased people into the bank. They must have believed that it would be one of the safest buildings here."

Myrana looks up at the golden domes. Her expression is calm, but... thoughtful. "Let's just see what is inside," she says quietly.

After a while, the glowy-eyed parrot flaps his way back down. He lands on the edge of the door, perches there like a great, fat...alright. He perches like himself, and gives an animated shake of his head, shoulders, and upper body.

"Well, the sky's empty," Abrahil says, stepping up. "He says there's not a thing up there!"

"Empty, now! Empty!" and the bird whistles.

Donatien makes his way into the bank carefully, still heedful of the balding man's warning. Once he can hold the mace through the doorway he pulls off the kerchief to shed more light. "Let's not tarry. We have less than an hour and I'd rue it to spend even that much longer here."

"Right," Alice hustles in too. She's hardly subtle. Something that looks like a vault. Her green eyes narrow and she's on the hunt. For now, motivational holy club fish is tucked away. "So, what could we use to open it?" She considers.

Myrana heads on up the steps. "Hopefully we can break into it," she says. "Or find documentation with the codes in one of the upper offices."

Well, then.

The bank itself is easy enough to explore and quiet like the rest of the town -- eventually, you're able to locate, in the back, a solid, metal door that would definitely be the vault. It appears to be closed at the moment. That leaves the question of how exactly you're going to pry it open.

Serenity meanwhile eyes the vault, and then takes out her chalkboard, begins to examine it, and starts to chalk out diagrams and schematics, some of which only seem to vaguely resemble the vault.

Serenity finally waves her hands up in the air, then points at the top of the vault, as if begging for a lift. After a moment, she even begins to look excited.

"...well, we certainly might be able to burn it. But I don't suppose anyone has some way to just...knock?" Abrahil places his hands against the wall and begins walking up and down it. The parrot sits on his shoulder. And occasionally, pecks at his ears.

Donatien hesitates a moment before he hangs his mace back at his belt, completely with unfortunately effects on the lighting situation, and then proceeds to try hoist the goblin up. A rather awkward process, to be sure, since he isn't at all sure of how best to go about it. He knows the proper use of seventeen different types of fork, but did anyone think to teach him the proper etiquette of hoisting a female goblin?

Serenity begins eyeballing something, and then, wiping her chalkboard clean, after the lift from Donatien, begins hurriedly sketching a diagram, then writes in VERY big letters,"Release switch. Wizard please?" Her handwriting gets erratic near the end as she points at the others hopefully.

"...pardon?" Abrahil adjusts his lenses, and looks up. He appears not to have understood at all, but steps closer to take a better look.

Well. There's wood panelling blocking the area Serenity is indicating. It's going to have to be removed if anything relating to her diagram is to be pursued.

Serenity nods to Donatien, shows Abrahil the chalkboard with its diagram and the writing, then shows it to Donatien, and pulls out her Main Gauche, to try to lever out the wooden plate. She even beckons impatiently to Abrahil.

"I think she means, see if you can use a spell to manipulate the lock. Don't you have that finger wiggly spell or -" Hmmm. Alice shakes her head, "I'm not sure on diagrams, that sort of thing was never my strong point. I wonder..." Hmmm. Alice moves to the door, seeing if she can get a feel for any power behind it. Maybe not. It's a crazy idea. "OH!"

"Aha! ...well, no, then. But, I could remove the paneling, couldn't I? Hoist me up!" Abrahil steps up to Donatien. He rolls up his sleeves. "Would you like me to try and dismantle it, or simply blow it apart?"

"Oh. Yes, I can certainly do that. Attempt to move it, that is. Just the panel, is it?" Donatien inquires. "Or something a little more specific? You'd have to hold quite still. This is a rather awkward position from which to be practicing any spells and even a cantrip can have some unfortunate results."

Heading up to the manager's offices, Myrana searches every inch, every book. She pulls open desk drawers and rifles through for keys. Pours over books for combinations. She lifts up carpets and looks underneath desks. Rum jumps down and helps her in looking while the others try to break into the door itself.

With everyone working together, you're able to pry away the panelling surrounding the vault. Typically, the vault would likely be guarded to prevent this sort of thing, but technology for this sort of thing is not so good that they can be too easily protected, especially in a small town like this one.

With the panellin stripped away, you're able to see the space around the large bank vault door and will be able to, say, climb up on top of it. It's going to be a tight fit for anyone but the small ones, though.

"Can you see anything?" Abrahil's practically dancing as he waits for his turn to be hoisted. "Really, Serenity! What's up there?" and then when he is--well. It takes alot of squeezing and pushing for him to finally pop! through.

Serenity meanwhile scrambles up and out of Donatien's hands onto and into the area, then gives a thumbs-up to the man. More chalkboard-chalking later, and she points out,"If you could just trip the release, the lock should open. We don't need any... 'splodey'." At two and a half feet, and lithe, she fits pretty easily up here. At any rate, she holds the chalkboard out to Abrahil so he can see what they're searching for.

So on top of the vault go Serenity and Abrahil. Both of them are able to squeeze their way down the length of the vault towards what appears to be a small, grilled vent in the center. NO doubt it's to allow air flow into the vault in case someone actually gets trapped within, but with a little bit of light shining down into it, they can see the door way from the other side, just barely, and a complicated looking mecahnical lock apparatus with several levers, pulleys, and knobs.

For now, Alice waits and watches, curious to see if she's ndeeded.

Serenity, go ahead and roll clockworks again.

"Trip the--oh, I see. This thing over here?" Abrahil taps a chubby finger against the schematic. He squeezes around the vent until he's a little more comfortable--nimble goblin he is not. It's a tight fit. "Let's have a look at it..."

There's a clatter as somewhere out of sight, followed by a curse. Myrana continues to go about her search.

Serenity nods emphatically and begins looking for the release in question, eyes questing all over the workings for that particular release. She's getting a bit gobbo-twitchy. The way that goblins get when they're near something shiny and/or explosive.

Much like Alice, Donatien waits. He waits out of reach of the door, just in case. There are a gnome and a goblin working on it, after all. One hears stories.

Donatien goes OOC.

Donatien has left.

Abrahil tugs his sleeves into place, and waves his hands--and an invisible hand comes into being. It floats towards the location indicated, and...unfortunately, trips the alarm. The mage scrambles backwards and hits the vent instead--"Dadgum and blast! I didn't mean to do that..."

The door, at least, swings open.

The vault is full of gold. Really.

It's a bank vault. There's a lot of gold in there. Also, there is a lot of boxes. Closed boxes. There's no clear indication which one is going to have the book and the 'object' you're after in it, at least not at first glance.

The bell is ring-ring-ringing.

Wagh. Alice's face twists as the alarm rings. "Well, it's alright," Mercifully she doesn't have the full on sensitive hearing of an elf, but it's not pleasant really. "Guess we should search... unless someone sees an off switch. And I hate to be a wet blanket, but I don't think we should take their gold."

Myrana wriggles under another desk, pushing herself with her bootheels. As she roots around in a hidden compartment common amongst the desks of accountants, Rum decides that this exposed belly is the perfect opportunity. He clambers up and immediately flops-- Only to yowl and skitter under the desk, elicting a loud curse from Myrana, who tries to sit up, bonks her head... and emerges on her butt, holding a key. "Owwwww..."

Serenity comes scrambling free, quite suddenly and urgently, then tumbles free of the inner workings with a sudden jerk towards the ground... And somehow manages to right herself, falling valiantly into her dog's saddle. She points towards the vault, then gets scratching,"Grab the object, and our fastest should run with it. Everyone else, grab what gold you can, deny it to the enemy. Remember, it's contraband right now, not spoils." Whether anyone reads it or not, she charges in to search for the coveted object.

Myrana picks herself up, nursing a goose-egg on her head and swearing under her breath. She hurries a bit woggily into the vault and helps to search. Rum follows guiltily after.

Alice just ... pauses. "Fair enough," She's searching around. While it's a bit sad there's no SMITING to be done just yet, maybe she can um, consecrate real hard in lieu of a smiting or something. Maybe have to commission a holy hand grenade.

"I'm terribly sorry," Abrahil says for the nth time as he hurries about the place. And scurries about the place. He lifts objects and looks under others, looking for the--book? The object? And so far, his hands come up empty. His familiar, though, seems prone to comment.

DINGDINGDINGDING continues the alarm. Loudly.

This is probably going to complicate matters, yes.

On the other hand, you're in a bank vault. With a lot of gold! Yay!

Of course, these are people's money and belongings in here.

O Rada, wrath of the pounding seas and soft bubbling waves. Grant Alice the sight of a shark in a tourist filled beach, that she may find stuff and things. A holy hand grenade would still be freaking awesome. Or a blessed raptor carrying a holy hand grenade would work too. "I don't know. I wouldn't take their gold. This is people's deposits, possibly that over a lifetime," Alice points out. Then, her left eye twitches. "And I would solidly SMITE the crap out of any demons trying to take--" Heywaitaminute. Her head lifts. "Eh." Shuffleshuffle. Alice scampers towards a particular box. It's marked: WARNING: SCHOOL CHILDREN'S ART. Alice bends as best as one can in a breastplate and pulls up - a book! And then something shiny! "Eh!" A small, silver carved - representation of the Holy Sword of Ea. ... not as cool as Rada, but it'll do. The work on it looks elaborate. "This tingles like mad..." Even if it's not quite the awesome tingle of Rada. But c'mon. Sea god. Totally tingly.

Serenity frowns a little bit, then holds up a chalkboard,"Can any of you magic-types sense magic or whatever it is you spell-slingers do?" Yes. She's very articulate with her chalk. If only it didn't take so long.

Wait. Tingly. TINGLY IMPORTANT. Alice is a cleric. "Found it!" She waves the two items. Alice is as subtle as Carrot Top tied to a rhino, set on fire with a dozen schoolgirls and launched down a ramp.

"This all... we should give some of this to the survivors," Myrana says as she hastily tears open some boxes, looking for the book. "If so many are dead, they cannot use it, but-- oh! Good!" She obeys Serenity's sensible command and stuffs some of the bars into her satchel. Rum jumps up onto her shoulders, holding a giant bejeweled ring in his mouth like the highest class mouse ever.

"Oh, yes! Quite so. They're going to need it, aren't they?" Abrahil straightens, his voice tremulous as he does. And rolls up his sleeves as they prepare to go. "I've a few tricks if we need to make a run for it--oh! But of course, I hope we don't...but I very much fear we will..."

Whirlpool dropped Whirlpool's Timestop.

ATTENTION!!!

Whirlpool has dropped a Timestop. Please cease all roleplay immediately and wait for Whirlpool to instruct you further. To look at the commands for the timestop, please type: +lhelp timestop.

Do not use any commands until the DM says it is all right to do so.

Oh, good.

You're all making a break for it out of the damn bank. As you break out the front door, from above you, twin creatures drop right next to you. Pleasently. They're both short, solid, pale skinned humanoids. That are a little on the fat side. ALso, they have sharp teeth. And claws. And they *stink*. Horribly. Like brimstone and death.

The twin creatures, well.. they seem to be going after Alice. They leap upon her and claw at her. It would appear that their interest is in her. One could only guess as to why.

Still, their claws miss and the two silent creatures make no audible sounds, but can be *heard* speaking regardless. "Book! Book!"

Abrahil throws his hands forward, and fire--fire! springs outward in an arc--and hits the dretch's pallid skin and absorbs, whispering away in a faint hiss and steam. The mage blinks. The mage adjusts his lenses. He looks at his fingers and then the dretches, and..."Oh, dear."

Whirlpool says, "+3 for point blank shot. :)"

Serenity whirls her dog around as they are attacked by the dretches. Moments before she levels both her pistols, her dog begins to growl low in its throat, drool dripping from its mouth. Her first shot misses, but with a grim look in her eye, she coolly levels the other pistol, levels it at the dretch in question, and drops it with a bullet through the eye, a spray of blood, bone, and brain showering onlookers, even as the dog she rides leaps past the next dretch in an attempt to savage it.

Really. Remember that whole thing about the sea god having two sides? Alice looks annoyed as the demons swing at her. She turns. Her face is no longer serene or bubbly or happy. Her green eyes are narrowed and she drives her spear into one. "Now DIE you demonic filth! Yield to the wrath of the raging seas!" She lunges and drives the speartip deep into the demon. Deeper than Kafka even.

The grey cat yowls up on Myrana's shoulders. Myrana draws in a sharp breath and steps instinctually back, gesturing before her heart and muttering something quick in Celestial. A silvery sheen goes over her like the dust off a moth's wings, coating her clothes and skin entirely.

"BOOK. BOOK." All of you can hear it. It's not speaking, but the words are audible anyways. And behind those words is a malice. An evil so intent that each of you can feel it. The stink grows more potent as well. Horribly so, but it hasn't achieved its zenith yet! It proceeds to scratch at Alice, yanking the speartip out of its body and slashing her across the face, leaving bloody furrows in near the eyes it was trying to rip out.

And those fizzle, too. The wizard looks at his fingers and looks at the dretches. "...oh, dear," he mumbles. "Well, alright then..." and he starts to move well, around the combat. Around the fighting, as he eyes the quasi-flying creature.

The dog lunges again, attacking the poor Dretch, even as she hurries to reload her pistols with the practiced ease of a (sort of) professional. If only these things could hold more than one bullet!

Wagh. Alice winces. That's rather bloody. It's unfortunate the face has so many blood vessels right near the surface. She looks worse than a GWAR concert goer. Whoa. That's a sharp slap to realize. She pulls her holy symbol, that clear vial with the crystal and pure water. She steps back and chants quietly. Father Rada, watcher of the seas, your servant is about to get the buttons smote out of her. Please stop this as we should be doing the smiting. Amen, Alice. There's a subtle blue glow and she heals a bit.

Myrana has disconnected.

Myrana has connected.

Myrana thrusts out one hand. A bead of light, bright blue and glowing flies from her palm and into one of the demons. A moment later she staggers, holding her mouth instinctually and gagging at the terrible stench.

And that...and that...Abrahil walks into dretch fart. There is no other word for it, for the queasy feeling in his stomach, the sudden shaking of limbs, the sweat breaking out over his skin...the feeling as though he'd suddenly...

He's going to lose his lunch.

The gnome staggers away from the cloud, and holds his hands over his stomach.

Whirlpool has cleared initiatives.

Well. The stink gets worse. That's promising.

Very promising.

It gets bad enough to bea mixture between rotten eggs, dead skunks, live skunks, dead squirrels and dead peoeple.

It's just.. foul. REalyl, really foul.

Serenity narrows her eyes a little bit, and, with a little sharp whistle, raises both of her pistols even as her dog lunches forward. One bullet zings off into the air. The other pings deep into its chest, dropping the creature. Without missing a beat, she blows smoke from both barrels, then slips them into her hip-holsters, and hops off to begin tying up and checking the dretch for life-signs. Taking prisoners.

Foul? Alice hangs out around dead fish and sailors. She doesn't seem too fazed. "No one's hurt or needs a hand up?" She offers. Her face is still bloodied, giving her a feral, wounded appearance. She does quietly thank Rada for this and good friends. Although Serenity gets a look of awe. "Very good shooting."

AS the second creature falls, the bodies of both immediately burst into flames, just a quick flash, and are reduced to ash.

Of course, you hear hissing sounds. Lots of hissing sounds. Apparently, these two weren't alone. You can hear.. *things*. Out there. Coming your wtay.

Abrahil shivers, and after clutching his stomach--falls to his knees (those ARE knees, they're just very hard to see). And...by the sounds he makes, he's trying very hard not to lose his lunch. His chest spasms, his face is pale. ..."I've...never...so foul!"

Myrana coughs, gagging as she stumbles back. "Let's-- gkghh... Let's get the hell out of here!" She gasps, wrapping her scarf up around the lower half of her face, eyes watering.

Serenity narrows her eyes, nods to Alice, and even tips her hat. Without another look, she forgets the fallen dretch, mounts in a leap, and reaches out a hand as if to sweep Abrahil (sickly though he may be) onto the saddle behind her. She still has time, however, to use one finger to tip her hat in Alice's direction as she motors.

"Right, need a hand?" Alice offers to Myrana. She might be able to support or help the woman as Abrahil is swept towards the riding dog. Alice has to smile at the hat tip. "I'm thinking we should get out of here. We're on a time budget and unless I get some serious divine intervention here, we'll be toast." And her face is still messed up. Ew. If the offer is reacted to, Alice will scoot shortly after.

"Huhnnngg...!" Abrahil grips the saddle. His legs find a comfortable spot on the dog--and then it's hold onto the saddle and onto your stomach. He divides his attention between the two, eyes rolling from the stench until they're OUT of there!, with body covered in a cold and clammy sweat.

That still leaves Myrana to linger behind you a little. Thankfully, the wave of nausea does wear off fairly quickly, but a team is only as fast as its slowest person.

AS you begin making your way back through the street at a fast pace, you can hear *more* things. The heavy footfalls of heavily armored individuals. Covered in green flame, with baleful glowing eyes, these armored men emerge from an alleyway. One sees you, emitting a piercing shriek. It begins to run after you.

Thankfully, for you, heavy armor does make even a demon slower.

"You face--" But Myrana knows when not to worry about flesh wounds. Specifically, when there are bloody demons about to fall down on you like a ton of bricks. She takes the help till she can run in a straight line on her own, the green cat latched like death onto her shoulders.

Abrahil lurches like a puppet as the mastiff gallops onward. Einstein has no trouble keeping up--the bird wings on ahead as the wizard bounces, flops about like a bowl full of...

Don't say it.

"Oooog...wadded...sticky...spiderwebs!" and he risks letting go with a hand and throws it back--web shoots outward, flinging out and covering the area behind them and sticking to the buildings. And from behind, soft *thff* *thff* *thff's*! explode against the covering. All but...two.

"Yeah, the whole pain thing is still going," Alice comments, a bit of a wry comment on her condition. Odds are, there might be a scar or two. But that's not the big worry. It is a promise to deal with it later so she doesn't scare the kids. She's scooting though, looking over her shoulder. Woo! Web- cept for those two. "I don't know if it's wise to lead them to the boat unless we can cut the rope fast," Alice considers.

It's like a western where the cowboys are firing at indians behind them as they ride. Except the cowboy is a female goblin. And the horse is a dog. And the indians are large demons in armor. Actually, it's nothling like a western. The only thing close is how Serenity fires bullet after bullet pinging off of armor as she spurs her dog to greater speed. But at Alice's word? She holsters her guns and draws her falchion, read to leap aboard the moment it's in sight. She even saluts Alice with the thing: Thanks again, pard'ner.

Abrahil has the saddle in a grip. He waves with the other, a wild gesture back the way they'd come. "I could--" thump! "--give it anoth--" bump! "--er try." He is no cowboy, and if it's a western, the rotund fellow is wildly out of place. Save he might be the banker, with the button-down shirt. Right now, he's a bowl of jelly on the back of a dog.

Myrana runs as fast as she can, skirts kicking up about her legs, braids bouncing behind her and Rum hanging on for dear life. "It--would be easier--" she manages "If we wern

Myrana runs as fast as she can, skirts kicking up about her legs, braids bouncing behind her and Rum hanging on for dear life. "It--would be easier--" she manages "If we wern't-- carrying contraband!"

Well, then.

First things first. The two that are not webbed give chase. You're slowly losing them, but their strength is such that, when you reach the bridge, they begin to gain on you again purely by momentum. And they? Do not tire. At all. They don't seem to *ever* waver, chasing after you this whole time. Up above you, you can see something in the sky. Some kind of horrible, winged demon that is circling around you. It spots you just as you get the other side of the bridge and onto the docks. You're quickly, with abrahil's spell, able to shake the other two demons and get to your skiff

Serenity lifts in the saddle as they near the boat, literally standing on it as the dog leaps onto the boat, draws her pistols, and, taking aim at the flying creature, fires off at it. Her expression is one of utter excitement. She is a goblin and she is shooting things. Her world is complete.

Alice is quietly thanking Rada she did not opt for the full plate. Or the lead booties. But anyway. She's running along, clinging to the book and Ea's symbol. Not someone she wants to cheese off by losing those things. A smile at the tipped hat, and Alice touches a hand in a slight, running salute - to the side of her face (The uninjured side. One must forgive Alice that). She seems duly impressed by the shooting. Alice will clamber into the boat and wait for Myrana to get aboard before working at either untying or cutting the rope so they don't get demonic passengers. Just ... in case.

Einstein launches into the air as Abrahil falls from the dog. The parrot's already in place by the time the wizard catches up, clambers into the boat...and falls against the walls of the skiff. His clothes...still smell. Still reek. "...they're not still after us, are they?" he rolls his head up to look.

Myrana puffs after the others. Short legs! Augh! The little Half-elf is really more of a sprinter! White petticoats flash as she jumps down onto the skiff, riding boots clatter. "They are!" She manages, and leans over to push at the dock to help shove off.

No. They're not after you. Even more so, they're not after you just when the Myrrish rivership begins to float down the river towards you to assist in the pickup. It wouldn't make much sense to let you do all the heavy lifting withoput any assistance -- not when a flock of horrible, wigned demons and more of those armored people are appearing on the bridge.

The warship opens fire with cannon and shot on the winged creatures, buying enough time to offer you support in getting on board. It's not like they had far to go -- it's just that they were waiting and watching for you.

Serenity waits until everyone is in the boat, and then she will quite calmly, but quickly point one of her pistols at the rope mooring the boat, and fire at it. Because as much as she loves to shoot things... She also very much wants to not be around demons at the moment. Then she'll bend to helping (almost ridiculously) to help the boat shove off. And when the warship opens fire, she whistles between her lips and waves her hate in the air enthusiastically. Go Myrrs!

Take /that/ flying bastards. Even worse than pigeons even. Alice smiles as the warship opens fire. Yay! And help is good. Although... she probably should take care of her face. She's going to scare the children. Alice touches her face. "Oof. Sorry," She'll turn and heal herself up so she doesn't spook people. But Alice is NOT letting go of that book or holy symbol until ordered to. She calls on the spirit of Disgruntled Octopus. "Everyone's alright?"

"...oh. Well, that's awfully nice of them, isn't it?" Abrahil smiles tremulously, and then the ambassador's eyes roll back in his head. And he's out like a light. Sometimes, it just pays to take a nap. The parrot, out of the two of them, is the only one to stay awake--and blinks at Alice a few times. Tilts its head to the side. And whistles.

Alice has disconnected.

 

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