Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon arrives, delivering a message to Katarina before departing.

The entirety of Merchant West is on fire. Civilians have run from the place, screaming in terror. Some are shouting unintelligibly about a monster, others are shouting about some arsonist. Others scream about a rampaging ox and wagons on fire and buildings burning. Every one of them is screaming for help, and as news spreads the heroes of Arx assemble grimly - to put the fire out for one, and to see what is causing such panic for another.

Aiden is part of the group who instead of running away from the fire, comes to investigate, likely on the word and wind of a monster made of flame. He's grabbed some of the Grayson Archery unit, the Silver Wings, to band with him. Although arrows might not be quite so effective against flame, there could still be use for the soldiers regardless. Many hands make light work and by the plumes of smoke, it would take many hands!

Alistair has joined the Melee Combat.

The line has been dismissed by Sparte.

Christine heard about a monster on fire. A monster! She's not a fighter, or... well, probably she cannot help much against it, but if there is a monster she doesn't want to miss it, so there she comes, followed by a very reluctant Aida, her books left home this time, just in case.

Graham has joined the Melee Combat.

A princess isn't amoungst those expected to respond to the call of fire but today, Isolde had been close nearby. Grabbing her guards and accompanied by the capable Lady Isabetta, she'd rushed towards the screams hoping to be able to help those in need.

Sparte was in the market haggling with a merchant about supplies for his latest idea. What he needed a large quantity of soot for is anyone's guess. Yet when a fire monster suddenly appeared, and people began running screaming, well... He doesn't need the merchant anymore, and has work to do as a guardsman. He heads off in a hurry to see what he can do.

Torian has left the Firefighters.

Ainsley is typically running patrols around the Ward of the Compact with his recruits. When the call comes out that there is GODSDAMNED MONSTER LIGHTING FIRES... Well the the Prince-Guard makes directly for the Merchant West, sending several of his young recruits back to the Iron Plaza to alert the rest of the guard-- taking two with him, and his two House Guards. "Alejandra-- HOME!" he informs the snowy white dog, who immediately turns and heads off through the city.

Alejandra, a snowy white hound have been dismissed.

Harald and his half dozen warriors had ridden toward the chaos, dismounting at a distance and starting toward the screams of a fell foe with a purposeful stride. He rumbles to his half-dozen, "Get the common folk clear. This will not be a fight for common steel."

Katarina comes when there is panic rampant, and fire is definitely a cause for alarm.

Isabetta is, as mentioned, with Princess Isolde, in her huntress regalia which is far and away not fire fighting gear. She also has a sword at her hip and a bow at her back with a full quiver of arrows. Take that, fire.

You know what makes it a little hard to do Audric's thrice-damned paperwork? Screaming. And fire. And screaming about fire and monsters. It also makes for a really really good excuse. Shard's far from the only member of the Valorous Few to arrive on the scene--their headquarters is very close by, after all--but she arrives at the forefront of the motley group, looking a little less than irritated at having been interrupted. Imagine that.

Ian isn't part of Harald's Grim Legion, but he rides in with them today. Incredibly awkwardly. On the tamest horse they could find. While the rest of the Legion dismount, he sortof slides off and collapses, so that one of Harald's men has to help him up. It wouldn't look like he belongs anywhere near here, except then he draws his sword. Ian handles that sword with such comfort, such ease, that it looks like he's regained a lost limb. Even the casual motions with the blade that he makes once it's drawn are beautiful. Through all of this, even the embarrassing parts, the serenity in his intense blue eyes never wavers.

Alistair checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Thesarin is quick to the scene, armed and armored, rattling and clicking with every step as he makes his way toward the flame. At the look of it, he starts to curse, quietly, in his native tongue. He takes a moment to look over the flames, and starts in toward them. Precisely the direction he'd rather not go.

Ian gets Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass from Aged Satchel.

Ian wields Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass.

Ian puts Basket-hilted Rubicund Sword in Aged Satchel.

Thena got the news pretty quickly, with burn victims starting to trickle in to the House of Solace where she was working. Luckily it was a work-in-armor day and it doesn't take her long to dash down to the source of the city's consternation with a handful of Solace members. These are immediately ordered to help citizens away from the flames and get those who require medical care to the House of Solace.

And onto the scene come Templars - because words of monsters tend to bring armed zealots. And word of fire brings religious do-gooders. And the Templars are both. As others go to help out and try to impose some order, Preston, in his white and gold armour, is pushing towards the centre of the chaos to try and find what is going on. He reaches up to pull his helm tight before he pulls at the diamondplate blade at his side, pulling it free of its scabbard with a little 'snick' "This had better be foolish panic...."

Gailin arrives by himself but the screams of a fire and possible monster are to strong an allure for the Count of Cedarvale hes come to see whats happening and to help in anyway he can.

Preston wields Banisher of Shadows.

Fire? That sounds like a job for the Disciples of Mangata - those water-loving Aquaduct-tending faithful. The Archlector Madeleine, hearing that this could be a fire -caused by a monster- cannot help but respond in person, scurrying along the streets with her white robes of office caught up in hand and her bare-feet padding along Arx's cobblestones as she runs free of the encumbering silks. "Sweet Gods," she exclaims on seeing the chaos. Her first reaction is to try to calm people down and evacuate them safely. "Shh now, shh, it's going to be -fine-." This is fine. Fire monsters are fine.

Sparte wields a massive rubicund claymore with garnet inset guard.

Madeleine has left the NonCombatants.

Agnarr's own presence here is somewhat serendipitous, having been on his way to the market for a snack in between watch shifts. It so happens that news of a fire comes along, and he hurries his way, still harnessed, towards the burning area of the city. "Abyss," he complains in a low voice, tugging his gauntlets on securely.

Alistair arrives with several armed Confessors as the shouts of monster and fire have reached the Houser of Questions at the same time. The High Inquisitor peers at the scene of utter chaos, his normally dour gaze drifting this way and that before he holds up a hand to one of his Confessors. The group hestitates for a moment as the prodigal man steps to the side and... loses his lunch. He does it so gracefully, one would expect it is planned! Or expected. He rumbles out something about evil and the abyss and then he and his Confessors are moving forward into the Merchant West.

Madeleine has joined the NonCombatants.

Jhond too is one that runs towards the fire instead of away from it when he hears the news. Fire, monsters. sounds like help is needed.

Estaban comes in with some of the Saik soldiers his archers, looking around he tells some of his men to startclearing out any commons who do not need to be here. he and the rest of his men move up and over to stand at the side of the young Prince Aiden.

Graham had been taking in the city, when the call of fire haad gone up. He had been another of those brave or foolish enough to rush towards the fire instead of fleeing. The young man is helping people get away though getting closer with each step as they speak of a monster. His hand at his hip with his sword.

Katarina wields Intricately forged ancient steel stiletto.

Torian has joined the Firefighters.

Aiden notices his brother there and quickly runs over toward him, "Ainsley! What should we do?" He glances toward the fire and the plumes of smoke, his own handful of archers with him, "Heard there was a monster of some sort... It could be a phoenix!" Though he cast a dubious eye toward the plumes, noticing Estaban coming up too, "Estaban-" a hand reaches out to clasp him on the shoulder.

Leta's just heard about a fire, and she arrives on the scene a little breathless, taking a few moments to take in what's ahead of her, wiping sweat off her furrowed brow with a sleeve. She's heavily armed, if not quite heavily armored, but doesn't draw steel, just starts to help people who flee in a panic, lifting any fallen people off the ground, helping others clear the way, while she advances nearer the fire and starts to look about for sources of water.

Harald wields Intricately forged ancient steel battleaxe.

Valencia rushes down the cobblestones, storm grey silk skirts rustling as she moves. Dark eyes scan the growing flames as the black think smoke fills the air and she silently curses. "Gods above and below.... BUCKETS! Bring buckets," she calls, her usually sweet face now grim and determined. "We cannot let this spread!" the little vixen says briskly moving towards the chaos without a second thought, her skirts being gathered and tucked up and out of the way as she goes. The word monster is heard and she curses under her breath again.

A large creature appears, vaguely man-shaped but with horns, and muscular shoulders that help him as he tears boards and doors and tosses wagons across the square. The fact that he's on fire means everything he touches is now ablaze, and it's easy to see that the danger here is twofold - in damage and people broken and destroyed by the creature, and in the fire spreading further out into Arx.

It becomes very obvious by the time Tobias and his Crimson Blade squad are nearby this isn't just some mass arsonist... so when he's approaching the West, he shouts back, "Sergeant, go and grab the rest of Iron Company in the barracks. Tell *everyone* to get over here on the double. Go!" The six remaining bodyguards are still on horse back behind Tobias as they come near.

Torian is present as the Heroes of the City gather. Of course he would be present... hauling his shopping from the city back down towards the lowers. He's got one last place to visit on his way back to his shop and wouldn't you know it, but the place is on fire and there's some kind of man-beast-aflame mucking about in front of the shops and things.

"What in the name of Mangata," Katarina trails her words as she stares with wide eyes at the vaguely humanoid monstrosity. An arm rises to shield herself from the oppressixe heat of fires raging around her. Panicked

5 Grimhall House Guards have been dismissed.

Orre have been dismissed.

Madeleine checked charm + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

So that's what a demon looks like. Madeleine pauses a moment to take in the appropriate level of sheer terror at seeing a FLAMING DEMON tearing apart her city. "Water," she cries, her usually soft voice taking on a loud and clear timbre. "Let me bless the water!" As cries of a bucket brigade echo to be formed, she runs to give what little support she can psychologically give. Because she knows it's not always going to work, if it works. Prayer can be funny that way. Her hands trace three circles and then a fouth circle at the heart linking them all together. "Gods of Creation, three in balance of life with the Death and Rebirth at the heart of all things. Bless this water that it may stand against those who would see all life snuffed and all good things burned."

Isabetta checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Madeleine has left the NonCombatants.

With a demon looming, Isolde's two guards move to stand in front of the princess. Her brow is furrowed and there is a hint of fear in her eyes but the mirrormask doesn't flee. Instead, she pulls her fellow disciple close and starts to pray with a bowed head. It's quiet, whispered words spoken for the 13th's ears only. If he's listening. One eye is kept open to spot any wounded trying to flee the scene.

Madeleine has joined the NonCombatants.

Isolde checked charm + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Gailin smirks seeing the demon the glint of battle in his eyes. "This should be a good test of my skills. Im in let the beast know that today hes messed with a Fireviper." he growls drawing his claymore from his sheath and watching.

Isabetta is rather hasty about keeping Isolde safe. She's armed, she's armored, she has her bow out and an arrow in her free hand, so things could be worse, but in her haste to get between Isolde and the threat and make sure she's ready to shoot anything that might threaten the princess she fails to account for one thing. She fails to account for Isabetta Gilden! Truly the greatest threat to Isolde that there is. At least at the moment as instead of barreling past to take a defensive position, she barrels into and probably, possibly at least, knocks her over.

After conversing with Estaban, Aiden can be seen pointing to higher places. Vantage points matter for archers!

Christine checked charm + occult at difficulty 15, rolling 53 higher.

Leta checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 47 higher.

With a fell look on his face, the Knight of Sorrows strides down the thoroughfare. His hands wrap around his long headsman's blade, and he pulls it free.

Darrow has joined the Melee Combat.

Christine tries to convince some of the reminding commoners to go away, cause there are already so many people... But there is people claiming now that is a demon, not just a monster, so she will mostly try to look at it and analyse the fire being.

Torian checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Valencia checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Valencia should know better, but when has that stopped her. There is work to be done and the little raven haired princess is ready to jump in and help as she can. With composure as cool as new fallen snow, she begins to try to get a fire brigad set up as quickly as possible. Dark eyes turn to settle on the nearest citizens not engaged in tasks, "You, there, get buckets. Water, now! You, in the red, go get more help, now! You four, form chain, get others as well. We must keep this from spreading. Form up!" she calls out. Turning to see Leta, Torian and Tobias, who is already taking charge in getting more hands on deck "We have to get them organized," she call out to them. "Will you help me?"

Tobias checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Alistair wields Watcher, a diamondplate sword.

Jhond wields Sharp-Wit, an alaricite dagger.

A huge hideously ugly mastiff have been dismissed.

Shard wields a largely unremarkable rubicund longbow.

Wilhelm the Iron Messenger have been dismissed.

Baron Archibald Chirpington, a Gyrfalcon have been dismissed.

Severa, the Guard Shepherd have been dismissed.

Sombra arrives, following Edward.

Sombra leaves, following Edward.

Torian doesn't know how to fight flaming monster men, but he's got some idea of how to fight fires. He charges to the aquaduct with his satchell of goods slung over his shoulder and bouncing on his hip. He leaps as he nears the masonry and starts climbing the thing! Is he crazy? Doesn't he know you can fill a pail at the bottome with the little spigot? He's certainly not listening to Valencia, though he does turn and call back to her as she climbs. "Princess! Valencia! Put a strong man at the base of this column!"

Graham wields Stone's Blade, a rubicund longsword.

As people run away from the square, Christine is keeping them organized and encouraging them to move away before focusing on whatever it is rampaging through the square. Valencia gets everyone moving in quick succession, giving the firefighters a jump start on the organization needed to put out so many flames. Archlector Madeleine is quick to pray a heartfelt blessing, and Torian... leaps up the column of the nearest acqueduct supporter. Isolde and Isabetta are all tangled up, even as the first wave of fighters with swords drawn leap into battle with the... creature causing this mess.

The sound of swords being drawn almost drowns out the roaring fire and the rampaging demon. "The creature is a demon of the Abyss." Alistair declares sharply, just incase anyone might think its just a particularly orney Ox that got lit on fire. "Strike it with proper metal and bring it down before it does more damage to the city!" The High Inquisitor calls out before he charges forward with his Confessors.

Sparte hefts the rubicund blade from his back after a brief debate on which weapon to draw. Little wonder he didn't go for the one made of wood. He balances the weight as he charges the creature, shouting out to others nearby as he closes. "Try not to let it touch you! Pin it down!" Thank goodness he isn't one of those people fighting with hairpins, he certainly is making full use of his weapon's reach.

Meanwhile, Wilhelm lets out a loud shriek of terror and runs the other way. Helpful.

Katarina has left the Melee Combat.

Quiet, a Valardin champion have been dismissed.

Aioni, a regal snowy white owl have been dismissed.

Darrow slides into the press near Harald, his fingers gripping around his heavy, archaic alaricite longsword. He pauses as his reflective-blue eyes fix on the large, ignited creature, and he starts moving towards it, stoically.

It doesn't take long for Tobias to bring his people there, his eyes going to Valencia as she speaks. "You do your thing, your Highness. I've got a few dozen Crimson Blades coming to be sure this fire doesn't spread to HQ." With that, Tobias moves to get into the firefighting lines. He's a good fighter.... but that monster is busy with the others. Time to make sure Arx doesn't burn down.

Leta might know how to fight flaming demons, but maybe she'd rather not. She's a brawny lass, and her sword-wielding physique is also good at bucket-carrying and bucket-tossing, pushing wagons out of the way, and so on. First things first, she pours a bucket of water on herself. Her clothing's heavy and padded enough that nothing turns clingy or see-through, thankfully, it just gets water-logged. And then she follows orders, inclining her head towards Valencia, "Highness..." with a bucket in hand, halting at the foot of the aqueduct.

Harald hefts battleaxe in one hand, and shield in the other, purposeful strides building slowly to a run, with the growled words, "If the beast has a skull, take it."

Graham draws his sword and moves quickly forward with the others a look of calm resolution in his eyes., while trying to think about how one attacks a fire demon without getting burned but perhaps a thought for later. He holds his sword at the ready and moves forward towards the demon.

Ian wields Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes moderate damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes moderate damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Preston takes critical damage.

Demon of Fire takes minor damage.

Demon of Fire is incapacitated.

Demon of Fire falls unconscious.

Demon of Fire has died.

Isolde takes moderate damage.

Preston takes minor damage.

Alistair takes minor damage.

Aiden takes moderate damage.

Christine takes moderate damage.

Darrow takes minor damage.

Harald takes minor damage.

Torian takes minor damage.

Ainsley takes minor damage.

Ian takes minor damage.

Thena takes minor damage.

Isabetta takes minor damage.

Graham takes minor damage.

Madeleine takes moderate damage.

Thesarin takes moderate damage.

Katarina takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Estaban takes minor damage.

Jhond takes minor damage.

Valencia takes minor damage.

Shard takes minor damage.

Agnarr takes minor damage.

Leta takes minor damage.

Gailin takes minor damage.

Aiden finds a good vantage point and directs his men and possibly Estaban's men there too. Regardless, the rubicund bow will have to do as his other bow is still in the crafter's shop! Regardless, it still might have some effect, however limited. "Silver Wings! In defense of the Compact, steady your aim. Make it count! Steady!!! Altogether now, make it count! AIM FOR THE HEAD!! AS ONE!" Aiden takes his own rubicund bow and draws, aims toward this monster-man of fire, and grimaces, before he looses the arrow!

Preston grabs one of the squires running around by his tabbard, hauling the young lad back almost off his feet "Go to the barracks, rouse the Grandmaster and tell him that our enemy is here. If you hear no word of victory here, ride to petrichor's lodge, rouse the brothers quartered there, and summon the nearby parishes." Preston lets go of the squire's tabbard with a small shove "Go!" before Preston turns to look at the large creature fully. His hand twists, tightening its grip on Banisher. Noticing Thena there with them, Preston turns his head for a moment "We faced the dead at Maelstrom. We faced the Silence. This one seems loud and alive. So this is already an improvement, Little Sister." And then Preston is off, striding forward with Banisher and the three-ringed sigilled shield gripped in his off hand. And he brings his blade around, and the diamondblade sinks into the Demon. Unofortunately this got its attention, and there is a brief murmer of a curse under Preston's breath and then the Demon smacks him hard and the armoured Templar goes skittering along the ground, his shield in various other directions, and his tabbard a smoldering fire. Not ideal. Not ideal at all.

Sparte bravely goes in and stabs the demon in the foot. Because sometimes that is what you do when you don't want someone running off. Sparte then mostly ducks down and holds onto his own blade, hoping nobody stabs him in the back accidentally.

Alistair charges in with the others, though seems to lag behind a bit as he grips his blade tightly in one hand, knuckles going white. The other hand shaking, raising up to his eye briefly before he seems to gather his wits about him and pile on upon the Demon of Fire. Holding a hand out to keep the waves of flame at bay that wither off of the creature's body, his blade slashes and chops as the combined might of the Compact descends upon the invader.

Gailin charges in like a mad man venom wielded above his head. When in range he brings it down cleaving at a diagonal angle slicing a good sized gouge in the demon.

Unsheathing her blades from her hips, Katarina falls into step behind Preston. "I'll watch your back," she promises.

Estaban follows along with Aiden they will work as a team, always better to work as a team! His mean stand with the Grayson archers, "Follow on Prince Aidens command men!" the baron tells his mean and pulls out his Diamond plate bow nocks a arrow and lets lose on command.

Thesarin charges the demon with an eerie, undulating, high-pitched scream through the fear at the thing's presence; it's the noise of one of the Riverland shav'arvani in an attack. He plunges the long end of his hunting spear into the thing's... body?, pulling back as the the flames engulfing the thing start to spread.

Harald is one of a dozen warriors striking at the horned beast, though the idle curiosity at whether fiery demons bleed fluid or fire is answered, the Grim Duke hews at the foe, unrelenting.

Shard stares for half a moment at the demon, but it doesn't last. She pulls her bow from her back and starts shouting at the Valorous Few that came with her. "If you brought weapons, lucky you. Archers with me. Melee with Agnarr over there. If you didn't, go grab a bucket. Move your asses, /go/." And that's it, because she takes off at a dash, just far enough to find good footing and a good vantage point to start loosing arrows. Which she does, at speed, into the horned, fiery monster.

Thena is a daggers girl and needs a meat shield; Preston will do, even if she gives him a deeply annoyed look for calling her 'Little Sister'. Again. "Just hit the thing," she murmurs and, as he does, ducks past him to slash at the demon with her dagger. Unfortunately Preston acts as a meat shield just a little /too/ well and once she feels her blade connect solidly and cleave through some part of the demon she skitters after him, beating at the fire on his tabard with her gloved hands. "Gods damn it, Preston, this again?"

Sombra arrives, following Edward.

Sombra leaves, following Edward.

Ian follows the charging grim warriors, but at a walking pace. He projects a sense of serenity that, given what he's facing, is eerie. He's watching the demon as he moves, picking out weaknesses, looking for a place where a small sword might make a difference against something so large. He brings the cutlass around when he gets to the demon and slices through a gap in its armor, careless for how close to the fire he is. Apparently he found a weak spot.

Graham slows only because as they approach the fumes make it hard to keep ones eyes focused though he squints and moves forward once more with the others. The sword in hand does swing over head to strike the beast, but though his sword hits the beast it seems to fail to find a weak point and he'll move to strike again as the beast is brought down though he can feel the fires heat upon him.

Darrow keeps pace with Harald for a moment, then as they close, his long steps outstride the other and he is a silent, bloody blur. His lean body twists around the man who's flung away from the demon, and attacks with little regard for himself, arcing his alaricte blade into the demon's leathery flesh. As it bites - dark blood begins to collect in the mirrored groove, trickling down in a rivulet, then a torrent as the beast continues to be hacked into by himself and others.

Shouts from the archers, the Silver Wings, and Estabans men rise up, as it looks like their efforts impacted! Shouts of victory before Aiden barks, "To the bucket lines!!"

Agnarr does not say anything as he steps to join some of the Compact's finest in the ensuing fight. It is a crowd, but the chaos is not such that he cannot join. He cuts and chops with great sweeping blows at the demon, heat searing through his quilt, leather, and steel, and, as much luck as it is skill, it is his blow that seems to finally halt its movement. At least, that's what it seems like.

The power of the Compact is such that a single demon clearly stands not much of a chance. And yet the fire rages, hot and lethal. The cackling of the demon, the crack of the fire is enough to gather the full might of the Compact on him, and suddenly people from every House and walk of life are facing it with swords and axes, with bows and spears and staves and whatever weapon they can get their hands on. Chopping and hacking and the demon changes quickly from cackling to vanished in a puff of smoke in an instant, and every bit adds together into a cumulative victory that should have them cheering.

If it weren't for the fire, ravaging through the buildings. It's hot enough to hurt, and the firefighters have blisters on the backs of their hands as they fight the flames. And there's a scream from above somehow - there are two children trapped in a building, pounding at the window to get out. The door to the building crashes down, completely blocked.

Prayers or not, Isolde was not spared getting tangled in the conflict. Fire raged and singed her silks, and the princess could only watch as the combatants engaged the demon. When she spots Preston getting smacked by the fiery beast, she darts forward into danger. Stopping next to Thena and the wounded man, she frowns. "Need some help?" She murmurs, pulling some herbs and a few bandages from her bag.

Isabetta has no need of her bow and arrows, after she spills the arrows and herself, she leaves the arrows and just gathers herself to her feet. Slipping the bow back over her shoulder she hurries along with Isolde, you know, just more carefully this time. Luckily in leathers and not silks, protected some and still trying to aide the Velenosa guards in shielding the princess from the blaze.

Ainsley checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 16 higher.

Estaban checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 23 lower.

Estaban takes moderate damage.

Leta checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 15 higher.

Alistair lets out a frustrated snarl as the demon cackles about and its demise is signaled with a puff of smoke. Is it truly dead? Or just vanquished back to its dark realm to regal its comrades with stories of its misdeeds. The High Inquisitor would much rather have a corpse then a wist of smoke that soon mixes with the smoke of the flames. He seems to calm though, sheathing his blade as he surveys the gathered soliders. "The demon is gone... focus on fighting the fire now." He informs them, rather confident that the demon is vanquished. At least his hand has stopped shaking. The man steps towards the Templar PReston, offering a hand to the fighter to get him back on his feet, though not before his Confessors help bat out some of the flames on the poor man's tabard.

Valencia checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Aiden checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Torian checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

Tobias checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 63 higher.

Isabetta checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Thena checks Preston over with a precision that speaks to some degree of healing ability of her own, but looks up and nods to Isolde. "Please. He's always doing this." She's such a sweet Little Sister.

Thena checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 28 higher.

Sword in hand Ainsley has his free hand lifted up to his face, his fingers clinking against his visor before he drops it. A hand lifting to try and cover his eyes, but it gives him a chance to see the children trapped over. And thus his sword gets sheathed, and he whistles to his guards, "With me!" And then he's charging through the flames and leaping at the side of the building, using his rubicund covered hands to grab the no doubt HOT ASS WALL to scale up and try to that window.

Madeleine checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Thena has left the Melee Combat.

Thena has joined the Firefighters.

Aiden has left the Ranged Combat.

Ian has left the Melee Combat.

Aiden has joined the Firefighters.

Estaban has left the Ranged Combat.

Ian has joined the Firefighters.

Shard has left the Ranged Combat.

Thesarin checked command + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 4 lower.

Shard has joined the Firefighters.

The little vixen gratefully nods to Leta and then to Tobias before looking for Torian, but the man doesn't seem to be on the ground. By pure chance Valencia looks up and sees him. There is a little furrow of brow then she nods once and selects three of the brawnier looking types from the brigade to help Torian. You cannot be too over prepare Assistance for the Culler secured, she purposefully move back to continue to spiritedly getting the lines organized and people fighting the flames in short order. The sound of the children calling for help stops her cold and she looks up, "LADDER!" she calls out as she begins to scan the buildings for them. "NOW, please. Get someone up there!"

Ian checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Christine checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 17 lower.

Madeleine starts to fling buckets of blessed water on the flame but gets herself too close. The Archlector figures practicality is better than prayer right now.

Gailin has left the Melee Combat.

Gailin has joined the Ranged Combat.

Gailin has left the Ranged Combat.

Agnarr checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Graham checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 6 lower.

Gailin has joined the Firefighters.

a black robed Silent Reflection arrives, following Driskell.

a black robed Silent Reflection leaves, following Driskell.

Harald checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

Katarina checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 1 lower.

Giving Thena a strained smile, Isolde nods. "Promise I'll get him back in working condition. Instead of on fire." Carefully the princess starts to tend to Preston's wounds, occasionally giving direction to people running past. Just so that they don't run into danger.

Christine is dressed in silks, nice, flamable silks, so she tries to stay away of the fire as much as she can. She cheers as the monster falls and she turns to send Aida for some medicaments and stuff to heal those hurt, while she just screams, here and there, encouraging those fighting the fire and, oh, children. "Up there!!!"

Isolde has rolled a critical success!
Isolde checked command + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 55 higher.

Ian walks to the building where the children are stuck, looks for, and finds, another way up. He might not walk well, but he can use his upper body when he climbs. Hopefully his leather armor will protect him from the worst of the damage. One of the two of them is bound to get up there.

Gailin checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 50 higher.

Estaban looks up hearing the children scream, "Shit." he slings his bow over his back and moving with Ainsley and his men to try and help the children that are trapped in the building by the fire. He never claimed to be the best at climbing so he moves up and slips getting to close to the flames he growls out in pain but is determined to help get those children out!

Torian, the mighty climber, rises to the top of the aquaduct and pulls from his bag a bolt of canvas! He holds it aloft and gives a shout and a bit of a jump and *SPLASH* falls down into the water, the bolt tumbling to the ground below. Shaking his hair dry (drier really, it's still dripping) he hauls himself from the water nand pats down his bag. He's lost one bolt to the ground and another to the current, but he's got one left and THAT one get unfurled! it's yard after yard of folded over canvas and he leans into the water then, holding the canvas wrapped around his arms to divert some fo the flow in a long canvas trough. he coughs up dsome water as a torrent of it starts pouring down his canvas trough, unguided until someone (anyone?) gets their hands on the other end to direct it.

Darrow holds his sword point down, offering a singular nod at Harald. He sweeps his gaze up and down the thoroughfare, tense and ready, and he looks up to the flames licking the buildings. He makes no move to aid the two screaming children.

Leta is moving about at the foot of the aqueduct, filling buckets and passing them towards the fire, before she moves ahead and closer to the frames herself. She's soaked herself, and she's got heavy leather gloves on, though the metal studs were probably not a good idea, and earn a few streams of expletives kept at a politely low volume whenever she nears Valencia's vicinity. Politeness above all, "Mangata's soggy breeches!" one assumes that is the state of Mangata's breeches. Still, other than a few superficial burns and singed brows, she's in solid, relentless, firefighting shape, hesitating only when she hears talk of children.

Aiden leads the Silver Wings toward the fire lines being extended from the sources of available water. They all take part in chugging bucket after bucket toward the burning buildings. Unfortunately, he's working a different part of the fire than where the children are screaming, but they're working just as frantically to try and prevent the spread of flames.

Wiping his sword clean (and not realizing his minor burns with the adrenaline), Agnarr fits the weapon back into the baldric, blinking slowly before he steps over to join the army of humanity toting buckets to help mitigate the damage. He fails to hear - or chooses not to hear - the two screaming children, moving off to deal with a place farther away.

Preston groans as he reaches up to lift his helm, spitting a small amount of blood as he turns his head. The demon's hit dented narrow furrows in Preston's armour, and tore through at various points, leaving the rapidly-reddening underarmour padding revealed. "Mmph." As the healers begin their effort, he reaches to unbuckle the remnants of his breastplate and tosses the front section to the side "Think I can convince Orazio I need more than steel now?" He asks of Thena, wincing a little. Alistair's hand is looked at and the injured Templar then takes it to pull himself up to a sitting position "Where is it? I can still hold the sword." And he pats around next to him for Banisher's pommel.

Graham hears the cries from the children and moves to sheath his sword and move towards those trying to help them, though debris is everywhere and he is cought up on a peace of burning wood stumbling and taking a moment to regain his balance so that he can continue on to help.

"Buckets!" Shard snaps, turning immediately from the fallen demon as she pulls her bow over one arm to get it out of the way. She waves over toward the now scattered members of the Few that came with her. "Get on the buckets, now, now. Move! Any one of you that I catch slacking off is on latrine duty for the next half a year!" For her part, she's moving as she says this, grabbing a bucket of her own and stepping into line. Like Thena beforehand, she douses herself in water first.

Gailin resheathes his blade and hearing the children scream he darts off and starts his climb to get to where they are.

Thesarin backs away from the sight of the fighting, starting to turn toward passers-by and anyone not yet fled, waving out instructions and shouting out orders. "YOU! Cary water! YOU! clear paths out! YOU! Help cary the wounded!" It's less that there's a plan, really. More that shouting out orders keeps people from standing around idle. Better if they're doing something.

Sparte rises up slowly, putting his rubicund blade away and looking around. He is stunned at the demon just, well, poofing for lack of a better word. He is a little slow on the uptake to realize he should switch gears from rah rah fight some demons mode, clearly expecting another he just doesn't see yet.

Isolde takes moderate damage.

Preston checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 10, rolling 26 higher.

Preston remains capable of fighting.

Alistair takes minor damage.

Aiden takes moderate damage.

Christine takes moderate damage.

Darrow takes minor damage.

Harald takes minor damage.

Torian takes minor damage.

Ainsley takes minor damage.

Ian takes minor damage.

Thena takes minor damage.

Isabetta takes minor damage.

Graham takes minor damage.

Madeleine takes moderate damage.

Thesarin takes moderate damage.

Katarina takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Estaban takes minor damage.

Jhond takes minor damage.

Valencia takes minor damage.

Shard takes minor damage.

Agnarr takes minor damage.

Leta takes minor damage.

Gailin takes minor damage.

Isabetta takes moderate damage.

Torian takes minor damage.

Madeleine takes minor damage.

Katarina takes minor damage.

Graham takes minor damage.

Christine takes serious damage.

Thesarin takes minor damage.

Ainsley takes moderate damage.

Gailin takes moderate damage.

Ian takes moderate damage.

The original firefighters are now joined by those who sheathe their swords and try to prevent the fire from spreading. Isolde tries to staunch Preston's wounds and does so with great success, getting him back on his feet. As the buckets keep coming, they are being dumped on the fire as fast as possible. About a quarter of the fire is out now, a section of the square soaking wet and charred, but the rest is still so very hot it burns just to get close enough to empty the buckets.

As the main group fights the fire, Ainsley, Ian, and Gailin are scaling up the outside of the wall, trying to get to the children trapped upstairs in a building that no longer has an exit and seems to be crumbling even as they climb. A bit of the wall comes off, and their hands start to blister but they keep on, undeterred in their quest to save the children.

Alistair peers down at Isolde as she goes to work, the man nodding his approval as the Princess Mirrormask displays her healing skills. "I think if you were wearing any heavier armor that toss might have been worse..." Alistair rumbles to the Templar before nodding to his Confessors as they retrieve the man's arms. "No need to hold a sword right now. The demon is gone..." Alistair seems confident of that. He turns sharply to watch the fire fighting efforts, his eyes looking upwards to the children who are trapped, a frown creasing his lips.

As the flames lick closer to where he and several others are, the man grunts, "Remove the wounded from the area." He calls out sharply, a look given to Preston. That means him especially. "Princess Isolde, perhaps you should set up a triage area further down the lane..." The High Inquisitor suggests.

Thena gets nimbly to her feet when Alistair helps Preston up, then bends to pick up the discarded breastplate with a little grimace. "I'd hope so." She drops the plate and nods. "Dead. Thank you." The last is directed towards Isolde, then, "Right, we need to get the wounded out of here."

Estaban lets the others climb up to hellp the children he is blistered and in pain but he moves to help try and put the fires out.

Tobias checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

1 Grayson Guardsmen arrives, following Roxana.

1 Grayson Guardsmen leaves, following Roxana.

Graham checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 30 higher.

Shard checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Leta checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 2 lower.

Unfortunately, even if she's trying to stay away from the fire... Well, wind exists and drives some burning ashes to Christine. And, flammable flammable silk starts burning as the Kennex lady starts screaming and trying to put the fire out with her hands.

Madeleine checked charm + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Thesarin checked strength + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Quiet, a Valardin champion have been dismissed.

Aioni, a regal snowy white owl have been dismissed.

Aiden checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

Agnarr checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Alistair checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 15, rolling 42 higher.

Christine checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

"I'll try my best." Isolde mutters, standing up as Preston is helped to his feet. She orders her guards to help escort him further away from the fire and then the screams of Christine catch her attention. And, the princess is running again. This time batting at the nobleman's flaming dress and trying to help patch her up long enough to get Christine to safety.

"Don't be sure that the death of the physical means the end of the being, or the end of the threat. Something had to call it - the enemy, the unfaithful, are here in the city." Preston warns, trying his best to be ominious, which is somewhat let down by the hacking cough that comes handidly along with blunt scratchy trauma to the torso. All a lesson in 'Don't get pimpslapped by Demons'. As he feels the heat, Preston winces, taking Banisher and cradling the blade to ensure it is whole before he turns to try and half crawl and half stagger his way towards the less exciting parts of the city.

Madeleine steps back from the burning and goes back to making gestures of blessing on the buckets. Psychological support if nothing else. "Mangata, bless this water so it may serve you will. As you quench all thirst, so may your water quench these flames. Bless and protect those who fight for life and to preserve our home." She lets her voice ring out, projecting a confident calm air. We got this.

Valencia checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 1 higher.

Isolde checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 9 higher.

Ainsley clings precariously to the window and hisses out, "Gloria grant me strength!" One hand comes up from the window sill and he wraps rubicund cover fingers over the side of the wood, and shoves with all his might. He slips just a little bit, but grabs back onto the window's edge once more, calling to the children, "Hurry! This way, we've got you."

Torian has rolled a critical success!
Torian checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 39 higher.

Graham cannot help those climbing now but he can help fight the fire, and so he'll join those with the bucket line getting buckets of water and tossing them at the fire. He winces as the fire stings, and burns though for now he'll ignore his wounds and continue his efforts.

Sparte is still just standing in the fire, basically. At least he is ignoring the fire fighting efforts, eyes surveying the area nearby as he starts to walk away from where the demon was as though trying to remember where he put something. "If I were a cultist, where would I have gone..."

Aiden continues to work the bucket line, the heat of the flames starting to singe his flesh and the soot of being so close to burning buildings gathering along his mocha skin. He continues to heave ho and encourages the men around him, "Come on! Faster!" He spots Estaban and shouts over toward him, "Get your men along here-" some reorganization in the chaos before he chummily smirks, "This is certainly a different way of fighting side by side!"

Though the heat continues to sear and harm flesh past insulation, Agnarr does not feel it. His body still works enough, and, the thought of leaving probably not occuring right this moment, he continues to remain part of the Few's own effort to kill the blaze.

The little southern princess moves to get those newly arrived to help join the fire brigade, briefly turning to ask a group of the newly arrived fighters to go and check to see if others might need rescuing. "Form up here, please," Valencia calls out determinedly, though she seems to be starting to show signs of exhaustion. "Lord Tobias, can you please set your men to seeing if other need evacuating. Move them away from this," the little vixen asks the grim faced warrior. "Dame Leta, would you mind helping Missere Torian with that?" she nods to the canvas as she is off again to keep things moving.

Isabetta checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 2 higher.

Isabetta is, this time, trying to just keep herself from getting hurt, she's still following Isolde around, but rather than putting herself in harm's way she is trying to stay available.. but specifically -out- of harms way.

Ian makes it up the side of the building, sweating a little bit, but otherwise just as dead calm as he's been through this whole thing. "It's going to be alright," he reassures the children. He readies an elbow to break the window, but Ainsley forces it open before he has to do that. And now there's another problem -- three rescuers, four children. He scans the street for someone who looks strong enough to catch a falling child. "We need someone to catch them!" He shouts.

Estaban nods his head, "It is!" he calls back and gets his men to start helping where Aiden told him to get his men, "Lets go put your backs into it!" he yells wincing as some of the leathers on his back are burnt away and he is in pain but he does his best to ignore it.

Sparte checked luck + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 0 higher.

"Threat's never ended," Thena says encouragingly to Preston, "but best you not worry about it for now. Maybe when you're less...broiled." With the Templar out of harm's way...he's out of harm's way, right? Thena sets to directing some of the members of the Silver Order in pulling wounded away from the fire and transporting the worst injured to the House of Solace.

Shard swears. "How fucking big are they?" She calls back.

It's around this time dozens upon dozens of Crimson Blades come on horseback from the direction of their HQ, and Tobias shouts over to them. "1st Platoon on me, 2nd platoon crowd control and and getting civilians out of buildings. We don't want this to spread!" Tobias commands of his men ,before he gets back to the buckets himself.

"They're children," Ian calls down. "Get a couple of people. We don't have a lot of time." He's swung in so that he's sitting on the windowsill by now, probably, since hanging from the building isn't a good idea.

Darrow trails along with Sparte, noting the man's aberrant course. He doesn't look like he's going along with fighting the fire or rescuing children, instead going on the prowl with Sparte.

Darrow checked luck + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 5 lower.

"We'll catch them!" Jhond yells up and moves into position to do just that.

Shard passes her bucket to one of the Few. "F--" Oh look at that. "That works." She moves off to assist Jhond, at full sprint.

Estaban looks up and over as Ian is yelling, "They need help with the children!"

"Ow, fffffu-" Leta complains as metal on her armor grows too hot, and a dry edge of her gambeson catches fire, forcing her to spend the next few moments trying to pat it out and shake a glove off, wasting a whole bucket of water on herself rather than on the flames. Now considerably soggier herself, she glances towards the sound of her own name, blinking between Valencia and the canvas. "Oh. Right! I thought - uh -" she's still got a bucket in hand, and passes it back to the start of the line before hurrying on over.

Shard checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 18 lower.

Harald has left the Melee Combat.

Aiden responds to Estaban, giving him a dubious look, "They're liable to crush me ... GO!" He ushers Estaban to go help but doesn't look to have the strength to try and risk himself to play catch the kiddie.

Jhond checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 24 higher.

Thesarin tries to keep the fire out. When he hears the call, he's on the move with Jhond and Shard, ready to try and catch anyone falling out from the windows.

Alistair checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 15 lower.

Graham checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 7 higher.

Torian squirms and futzes around with his long bolt of canvas on top of the aquaduct, getting himself half-drowned again. He swingds his legs around and plants them more solidly against the structure, getting himself a good position to lock himself into that will keep his stream of water running down the temporary trough he got going.

Thesarin checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 14 lower.

Thena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 2 higher.

Estaban moves back over to try and help catch the kid, what could go wrong the kid falls on him and has a soft landing right?

Tobias checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 1 lower.

"You're going to be alright. This is going to be scary, but it's going to be okay." Ian stays in the burning room, counting on his leather armor to protect him, and lowers one of the children, holding both their hands, so they're as close to the ground as he can make them. Then, when he's sure there's someone to catch them, he lets go.

Estaban checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 40, rolling 21 lower.

Preston flops up just outside the area of the fire, leaning his back against a building. He pants a little - moving is tiring when you are hurt - but helpfully he can pick up stones and throw them. ANd he does, throwing it at one of the Templars still around "Go tell the Barracks that the threat is gone. And tell the Mercies they are needed." Preston loads up with more helpful message devices - aka stones - and readies more in case he needs to do more yelling from the edge of things.

Graham looks up at the call for people to help catch the children trapped he'll place the bucket down and move quickly over under the window. He'll call up when ready, and then he's catching a falling child cushioning the blow the best he can even while wearing armor. Once caught he'll move to take the child to a safe distance or to be looked after.

"Here, give'em to me." says Ainsley to Ian for the last child. Rather than having them tossed to the waiting people below. Together they get the child secured to his back, and he starts making his way back down the wall. Telling the child quietly, "Keep hold of me now. Real tight. I won't let you fall, but you gotta keep ahold of me."

Blessed Madeleine is giving heart to the people, and Princess Valencia keeps people organized and calm. Isolde has spurred others into even greater feats of firefighting, and she and Isabetta are doing an incredible job both encouraging the workers, and directing people away from the square. Nearby, a group of people are gathering to watch the heroic efforts, and already they're starting to tell themselves that this was just some careless arsonist, of course, but look how many people are coming to help them!

Ainsley, Gailin, and Ian are working - Ainsley has forced open the window, and Gailin and Ian are lowering children and then hoping someone will catch them. Graham catches one, Jhond catches another, Thena catches a third. And then Tobias, Estaban, Thesarin, and Alistair all try to catch the same child and end up running into each other instead. But the child is dragged back up by Ainsley before she can make the jump into arms that wouldn't be there. He settles her on his back as the three begin to climb down the precarious building. Even though their hands are burning, blistering as they go from the heat of the stone building, they are resolute and determined. The fire is almost out, this time - even as Sparte and Darrow start prowling the edges of the fire, looking at those fighting the fire, and at those spectating too.

Isolde takes moderate damage.

Preston checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 26 higher.

Preston remains capable of fighting.

Alistair takes minor damage.

Aiden takes moderate damage.

Christine takes moderate damage.

Darrow takes minor damage.

Ainsley takes minor damage.

Ian takes minor damage.

Thena takes minor damage.

Isabetta takes minor damage.

Graham takes minor damage.

Madeleine takes moderate damage.

Thesarin takes moderate damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Estaban takes minor damage.

Jhond takes minor damage.

Valencia takes minor damage.

Shard takes minor damage.

Agnarr takes minor damage.

Leta takes minor damage.

Gailin takes minor damage.

Ainsley takes moderate damage.

Gailin takes moderate damage.

Ian takes moderate damage.

Valencia checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Madeleine checked charm + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Christine doesn't do much anymore, apart from trying to avoid the rest of the fire and trying to not get more burned. Not much more at least. And failing miserably. She complains. Oh, that she can do really well. Complain.

Isabetta checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 10 higher.

Christine checked charm + seduction at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Madeleine motions for the children to be brought her way. "Here here my little ducks," says the motherly woman. "Let's get you safely away from the fire..." she coos as softly as she can to sooth them.

Shard checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Sparte has rolled a critical success!
Sparte checked luck + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Thesarin checked strength + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 29 higher.

Isabetta seems to have something of an idea and instead of trying to shield Isolde, simply tries to stay out of the worst parts of the heat and guide the princess. "Isolde," she says in a hurried voice, "I'll give you the safest paths to where ever and what ever you think we need to do." At least she can apparently accomplish picking out the safest ways.

Ainsley checked strength + dodge at difficulty 50, rolling 18 lower.

Leta checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

With the fire seeming to calm down--or at least be under control. Isolde turns her attention to helping round up the wounded. In the midst of that, she hears Isabetta speaking and pauses. "To the Mercies. We need to get those who have burned taken care of." She replies, not stopping her herding of the injured for even a second.

Shard moves back into line, taking up her bucket again. Heat? She's pressing through it without any signs of stopping, although she does fling a narrow glance toward Sparte and Darrow when she catches a glimpse of them.

With a child landing solidly in her arms, Thena sees Madeleine waving them over and brings her charge, putting the solid little boy down next to the woman. "You stay here with Blessed Maddy, okay? She'll look after you." Then she's back in the firefighting fray.

Isolde checked charm + propaganda at difficulty 30, rolling 20 higher.

Agnarr checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

Torian checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 1 lower.

Aiden checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + streetwise at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

"Spirits," mutters Agnarr, only now beginning to feel the brunt of it. But there is few other places to go other than away. He continues to remain part of the lines, even if he's getting covered in ash.

Jhond reaches up and catches the child as they fall and then cradling them against his chest to run away from the worst of the heat and towards Madeline at her call before setting the child down. "there you go.. stay with this one.. she'll see to you"

Darrow checked luck + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 8 lower.

At somepoint on the climb down Ainsley starts to wobble a little bit, his grip slipping and he decides... it might just be best to /jump/. And so he pushes off from the wall, and rolls attempting to land so that he hits the ground first....

Sparte knows better than to trust his own instincts. He starts asking people who've been rubbernecking and watching as he searches the crowd. "You there. Yes, you, in the unmarked black cloak and hood. Did you see anyone suspicious?"

Ian stays where he is, sitting on the windowsill of a burning building (because he doesn't trust the floor not to collapse), looking down at the crowd long enough to make sure that the kids are caught and safe. This could be a routine military exercise for all that he reacts to it -- the only thing that betrays the adrenaline that's keeping him from feeling the burns he's collecting is that sense of focus, which is somehow sharper than usual. He starts the climb, but going down takes more leg strength than going up did, and the handholds he used before have mostly crumbled away. He makes it halfway down the building, and then there's that horrible moment where his grip slips. He falls.

With the support of some of the Templars who come back with the first one sent off, Preston finally manages to get to his feet and, with his Isole-bandaged wounds, he begins to make his way well aweay from the fire and back towards the Rectory. He pauses and pats one of the Templars "Go find Dame Thena, keep her safe and tell her to look for signs of corruption. We must find the enemy - we cannot rely on others. And they are here." He keeps chit-chatting as he walks off. It's possible he has a concussion. Not that he'd know what one is.

Graham checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 5 lower.

Preston has left the Melee Combat.

Alistair can tolerate being apart of a comedy routine as long as the kids are safe. He peers up through the smoke, wathing as Ainsley decends, the man wincing against the blackness of the fire's smoke. With the fire reaching a smolder now all they need to do is make sure everyone makes it out ok. "Can't we get a tarp or something for them to jump into?" He rumbles out, not much of a fire fighter.

The children being saved, others dispatched by Tobias to check for more who may need rescue, the little southern princess' takes a breath. The pain of her burns goes unnoticed for now, her adrenaline high and her cool determination higher. "Keep going! More to the south! Buckets to the tannery. Now, please! Go, go, go! Thank you, misseres! Keep at it! That's it... we have this!" Valencia calls out here and there as she refocuses on keeping morale up and the fire brigade moving to battle the blaze not seeing the falling heroes until it is too late.

Ian stays where he is, sitting on the windowsill of a burning building (because he doesn't trust the floor not to collapse), looking down at the crowd long enough to make sure that the kids are caught and safe. This could be a routine military exercise for all that he reacts to it -- the only thing that betrays the adrenaline that's keeping him from feeling the burns he's collecting is that sense of focus, which is somehow sharper than usual. He starts the climb, but going down takes more leg strength than going up did, and the handholds he used before have mostly crumbled away. He makes it halfway down the building, and then there's that horrible moment where his grip slips. He falls.

The heat of the flames is unbearable but yet the Prince of Grayson, the younger of the two, remains in it to battle the flames. He catches some of what happens with his brother Ainsley, but for the most part, Aiden is boots in the ashes and working to bucket those flames! He actually might go into a building a few times to tackle the flames on the inside!

Thesarin walks past Valencia and her bucket train, and takes the length of canvas in his hands, and starts haulting the water where it's most needed, pulling the stream one way and the other, to fill buckets and to choke out the flames from the base. Diverting a man-made river with his own two hands, walking into the fire without more than a curl of his lips as he starts to burn.

But if there's one thing Ian is good at, it's falling. Ian falls a LOT. And so he twists in the air, nimble as a cat, and actually catches himself in a forward roll, parcour style.

Gailin checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 7 higher.

Sparte is looking around, questioning anyone who might not belong there, but even as he does, he gets the sinking feeling that whoever caused this debacle is not at the scene of the crime. Darrow prowls the edges of the scene as well, but he cannot find hide nor hair of what brought this about either.

Gailin climbs down without further trauma, but Ian loses his grip at the last moment. Fortunately, he's done enough falling recently that he's very used to rolling out of trouble. Ainsley on the other hand is not - and when he loses his grip he falls, and the child with him loses her grip too. It's probably not as bad as it could be - for Ainsley. The child hits the cobblestones hard, and then there is silence, and then... and then she starts screaming. Her legs are shattered.

But at last, a gentle rain starts in the square, and as the firefighters at last through their heroic efforts put out the fire the steam from swiftly-cooling cobblestones rises into the air. For the most part, the buildings have been saved, the people have been evacuated, the children are... well. They're not dead, and that counts. And though the storefronts will likely need some refurbishing before they're really back to normal, as the Mercies and healers start to do their work, bandaging the wounded and seeing to the injured, there is a feeling of relief and pride. The Compact takes care of its own.

"No! NO-" It's cut off. Ainsley starts to fall, one hand going back to try and grab a hold of the child but it's too late, she's already free of him. He hits the ground in a clatter of metal and bone. Then there's that awful silence followed even more screaming. "No no no!"

He scrambles up and over to the child shouting, "HEALER! NOW!" A note of panic in his voice.

Aiden being preoccupied with trying to douse flames, doesn't hear about the children and the building, until one of the Grayson soldiers comes to tap him on the shoulder after throwing water a smoldering bile of rubble. Aiden looks sharply at the news and nods, rushing to where the children and his brother were. Healer away!

Madeleine starts to shoo the uninjured children away from their screaming friend, doing her best to reassure them that she'll be fine, the Mercies will set her right, so on and so forth. She stops as the rain starts to plunk down and smiles, turning her face upward. "Thank you," she says sincerely. "We praise your help and thank you for your mercy." Rain well look at that.

3 Armed Confessors arrives, following Godric.

3 Armed Confessors leaves, following Godric.

Ian rolls over on his back as the rain starts to fall, and looks up at the sky. He stirs, sits up, and winces; he's just now realizing how beat up he is. Then the screaming starts, and he looks in that direction, but deciding that it's well in hand, looks around to make sure the other children aren't just wandering around without anyone taking care of them.

Estaban is hurt and now that most things are done he moves to plop down where he is, his arms on his knees as his hands, arms and back are burnt and blistering. He leans his head down as his hands shaking a little breathing deeply as the rain starts to come down and drip off his nose.

Only when the rain starts falling and the flames abate does Thena notice that she's a little bit singed. But it's not enough to keep her down and she's soon walking amongst the people gathered there, encouraging the injured to go to the House of Solace and the Mercies waiting there.

Jhond gives a sniff and rubs his arm over his face to wipe aaay some of the ash.. and then moves off. everything seems to be in hand.

Jhond has left the Melee Combat.

A pigeon almost too fat to fly leaves, following Jhond.

Thesarin drops the canvas as the rain starts and the last of the fires are quenched, and starts to walk over toward Ainsley and the child. There's a bit of a grimace added to his resting scowl, as he looks over the girl's legs, he goes down to a squat. He takes the child's small hand in his own, and holds it tight. Lets her scream and flail, just kneeling down there in silence.

Graham is fighting the fire with the bucket crew wincing at the heat until a drop of rain hits his helm. "Rain, the skies look kindly upon us." He is hurt no doubt but for now he will only focus on helping the last of the people in danger to saftey. He will ignore any pain until people are out of harms way.

Shard grimaces at the sounds of young screaming, but she keeps on, doggedly, on and on until they've drowned the last visible spark. Then, finally, she drops her bucket and claps a few Valorous Few shoulders--the gesture is too hard and exceptionally awkward, clearly not natural coming from her, but, well, it's Shard. "Good," she says. "That's it. Drinks on Audric's tab, back at headquarters, go on." Is that screaming still being heard? "Go on, get yourselves bandaged up and get the fuck out of here, go."

Gailin climbs down safely seeing ainsley and ian fall he rushes to both. "You lads alright?" he asks breathing heavily hands and arms covered in burns his eyes surveying the scene armor darkened from smoke and soot. "Is everyone alright?" he asks moving to the child.

At the sight of Ainsley falling and the awful screams of the child, Isolde pushes past her guards to help. "We'll get them help." She hastily calls out to Ainsley. Then she moves to sit by Thesarin's side, looking over the shatters legs.

Aida has been much more clever than Christine, that's for sure. She went to pick those medicines she asked for but she stood out of the dangerous zone until the fire was out, and now she approaches the whimpering Kennex lady, grumbling and telling her off in some shav dialect.

Aiden is one of the first to the scene for the children, however, there's not much to do for the shattered legs here, instead his eyes widen as he looks over toward more experienced healers considering his own burns... He certainly takes a back seat, looking to Isolde, "Let me know where to assist!"


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As people fled Merchant West, the stories turned alternately darker, or stranger, or both. First a fire, then a rampaging arsonist, then a monster, then a demon (as if). Then soldiers from all over the Compact show up, racing to the scene and called there by the rumors and hysterical people. Almost immediately firefighting efforts get under way, and brave fighters confront the evil creature who would do such a terrible thing.

By the time the fire goes out, those who have been brave enough to come back to the scene have come to some sort of agreement that it was probably some crazed arsonist, or maybe a really terrible cultist of some bizarre fringe sect or something. Just a crazy person, setting fire to the street, and it could have been much, much worse if it weren't for the brave heroes of the Compact. Some folks just want to watch the world burn.
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Aiden checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Alistair can only stand in watch at the plummeting descent of Ainsley and the child, the normally stone faced man giving the slight wince at the sound of impact and broken bones. He orders his Confessors to form a barrier around those who are injured so the healer's can work, and soon the High Inquisitor is looking to Sparte and Darrow to see if they have uncovered anything regarding this strike at the Compact.

Leta's back on the buckets for a few, relentlessly bridging the distance between the end of the canvas spouting water and the fire, wherever needed. By the time the rain starts, she's thoroughly soaked, inside and out, and slumps onto a puddle for a moment to recover her breath, mildly singed and exhausted. It's a while before she gets back up, unbuckling her gambeson and wiping her face with her hat, to stagger off towards a bath and a drink.

Her eyes widen and then wince as Ian, Ainsley and the child fall, but she keeps on task. It is too dangerous to try to do everything at once. Soaked, singed and covered in soot and grim, she does not stop until the fire is out, leaving others to do their best work. As the flames die and the rain begins, she stands very still. Beyond exhausted, the little vixen lifts her face up to the sky, she lets the water kiss her face as the chaos begins to slow and the injured are seen to.

Ainsley checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Ian tries to rise, but it's pretty clear that it's not going to happen this time. He calls the oldest of the children over, a boy. "Help me up." The boy, still in shock from his ordeal and the screams of his sister, complies without thinking. Ian makes a sound in the back of his throat as he stands, the pain clear now. "Thank you. Let's all go and find a place to sit. What are your names?" And thus, it's Ian --IAN, FOLKS -- who winds up minding three very stunned children.

Ainsley peels off a gauntlet-- layers of melted flesh coming away with the rubicund that gets tossed to the ground as if it were nothing. His hand taking the other one of the girl's. His voice lifting up once more, "I NEED A HEALER." His eyes fall on Aiden and he barks, "/HELP HER/!" He shifts to his knees to look down at her legs, "Gods above-- what--" He turns toward the girl once more, but he can't quite seem to get it together, "Someone /fucking help me/, don't just stand there!"

Isolde checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 30, rolling 21 higher.

Madeleine motions Ian and his gaggle of children over. The motherly Archlector is hugging her own handed off little ones and getting them away from their screaming sibling. "Shh shhh it will be fine." She smiles up at the rain again. "You are so good," she says dreamily to the sky.

Sparte rubs at the back of his neck after a while, looking over to Darrow and shaking his head to himself. "I think maybe whoever did that left and didn't stick around to watch. I mean, it was a long shot to hope they wanted to see the damage." He dips a hand into a bag he is carrying, pulling out some salve and starts to open it. "You want some of this? It'll help on the skin that was exposed to the heat."

Aiden has rolled a critical success!
Aiden checked charm + empathy at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

As the flames die down, Darrow sheathes his blade and moves through the smoking rubble and tearful, sobbing crowds. He ignores the spill and rush around himself, leaving the conflagration as it dies down.

Sparte gets a small round tin pot filled with a sticky mixture from a first aid pouch embroidered with a candle flame.

Aiden puts a hand against Ainsley - somewhere that isn't burnt, "We're helping her. You did good Ainsley. You saved her life." He turns to watch the others helping out, "We'll get them to the House of Solace. You did good Brother."

Spitting off to the side and getting his sallet off, Agnarr coughs, blinking slowly. The work is done - now it is time for him to realize that his beard's singed. He does wince slightly at the noise of screaming children - but then it is all handled, and so off he goes. To wash, and a lot of ointment.

Shard turns as her fellow mercenaries scatter. She doesn't look to be leaving; not yet, anyway. She moves, not terribly hurried, through the crowds, watching with faintly narrowed eyes.

Agnarr has left the Melee Combat.

nQUIT

Lo and behold, Ian turns out to be exactly the person the children needed. Even with the screams of their sister (and the screams of Ainsley), and the obvious pain that he's in, that unflappable serenity is contagious. They sit on a crate and exchange names.

Leta has left the Firefighters.

Inhaling sharply, Isolde moves to give the girl a few herbs for the pain. "We'll have to move her. Not much can be done here." She mutters, a hint of urgency in her voice as she looks towards her guards. They move to lift the girl--carefully and gently--before heading in the direction of the mercies.

With things under control now, the armored and for once non-caped Tobias shouts, "Crimson Blades, we're done here. Get back to the barracks now that the HQ isn't going to burn down." Tobias looks to the burned out street, then. "Gods, this was ridiculous..."

Ainsley shakes his head at Isolde's guards, "I'll take her." A glance is given toward Aiden and a slight tightening of his jaw (which probably can't be seen under his helm), but he gets his hands underneath the girl ... and gently lifts her up. "House of Solace?" He asks of Isolde.

Ian has absolutely no idea what to do with kids, but fortunately he's a walking conversation starter. Literally. There's only a few seconds of silence before the boy asks him what's wrong with his legs, and that gives Ian the excuse to tell the story to them. It's a long story, full of fighting and sailing and derring do. He'll be able to string it along until someone comes to take charge of them, however long that may be.

Darrow has left the Melee Combat.

Thesarin stands as the girl is taken off toward the House of Solace, and he looks toward Ainsley, and toward the others. Takes a deep breath in, and exhales slowly, a few short words in his own tongue. "I am alive."

Thena checked command + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Aiden leans toward Ainsley and whispers to him, deciding to also stick by his brother as they seem to make a decision to go to the House of Solace.

Isolde waves her guard off, looking sympathetically at Ainsley. "House of Solace." She repeats, a note of concern in her voice. "Be safe, your highness."

Valencia takes a deep breath and pushes her hair from her face. Turning she looks to those who bravely came to assist. "Thank you," she nods. "Thank you so much. Drinks at Hart for those who feel able."

In a clear and carrying voice, "All injured to the House of Solace. If you need assistance, the Knights here will help you. The Mercies are already waiting," Thena calls, before making her way in the direction herself.

Seeing as Ian didn't see her waving to him with the other kids she was given, Madeleine makes her way over to him and his gaggle with her own. "It'll be okay," she continues to say, rain starting to dampen her slightly singed silks. "Let's get these guys to their parents- Anyone seen their parents?" She calls loudly.

Shard seems to move off after the group heading toward the House of Solace. Maybe she's going to get her burns tended. Or maybe she's just going to watch some more.

Alistair turns to watch the healers tend to the child, and the distraught Ainsley who hovers near. A frown has creased the High Inquisitor's lips as he surveys the damage.

There's visible relief on Ian's face when someone who understands kids comes to take over. The kids, on the other hand, want to hear the end of the story. So Ian tells them the rest of it, while Madeleine looks for the parents.

Ainsley has left the Melee Combat.

2 Grayson Guardsmen, Planchet, a young valet, 2 Iron Guardsmen leave, following Ainsley.

Thena has left the Firefighters.