A Blaze on Estwycke

From WinterWiki

February 22nd 2008

Players: Octivus

It is the 10 o'clock hour, and snow drifts from the sky slowly. There is hardly any wind to speak of. Though it has been a relatively quiet night, this will not be so for long.

On one side of Estwycke, smoke has begun to pour from the upstairs window of a two-story town home, with the tell-tale crackle of flames accompanying it. From the upstairs window of the town home -- "SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE!" Is screamed by a shrill, fearful woman's voice. "Our house is burning!"

Before long, a woman's shape emerges from the upstairs window, leaning outward toward fresh air. "Please, someone heeeelp us!"

Octivus mind is worlds away. His foot steps fall into the slush of snow as his cloak is pulled up around his neck tightly. The icy blowing wind whips into his face as he grumbles quietly. "Bloody town." He goes on to curse the eternal winter that seems to have descended over the town. That is until the sound of screams comes and the man grumbles. Turning he frowns and looks around slowly. "Call the Guard." He calls and moves to bolt towards the building and looks for a door as he mutters again. Damn find time to forget an incantation it is.

The front of the building has an iron-reinforced door, which appears closed tightly. There are no downstairs windows visible. "Please help us, Mister!" The woman yells down at Octivus, as some go to fetch the City Guard, while others stand around watching the scene. Nobody seems immediately inclined to assist in the rescue.

Octivus frowns and then looks around. The cleric finally remembering one of the spells. "Call valtamari's temple also." The temple of water has to be useful for something. He moves to look around and curses. "Farking town," he states and looks around and moves to check the door, attempting to see if its hot first, and then locked second.

The front door doesn't seem hot, and it doesn't appear locked, either. "Pleeeease!" The Woman calls out, "Please, sir, I have children!"

"I am on my way." Octivus calls as finally remembers the spell for water as he pushes against the door to enter into the house. He has been at least to enough bond fires to know about a back draft, and hopefully moves fast enough if there is one out at him.

The crowd begins to murmur about Adventurers, growing slowly as more and more people stop to gawk. When the door opens, Octivus finds himself in a drawing room, the walls finally beginning to blacken and burn. Under other circumstances, this would be a rather tasteful and respected drawing room, but there isn't time to admire it, or the oil paintings on the wall. Directly across from the front door is a door leading further into the home.

Octivus is insane. Octivus is not wise. Octivus is heading for the fire. "Tuli protect me from the fires.." He mutters the spell quickly, and quietly to himself when he is certain the crowd outside can not see what he is doing.. Before even touching the door. A shimmer of energy flows over him weaving the protective magic spell on his frame as he moves to head through the next door.

The door handle is HOT! Luckily, Octivus had the foresight to protect himself from the heat. However, as he opens the door a great cloud of black soot and smoke rolls directly into his face. The Hunter manages to capture a breath just in time, the smoke rolling around him. Eyes water, but skin that would otherwise burn merely makes the fellow intensely uncomfortable. Smoke continues to roll out seemingly endlessly...

Octivus coughs and sputters his face turns away from the flame as he shakes his head, "nay." he grumbles. "Not like this." he turns and moves to head towards where he was going further closer to the flame, and hopefully towards the woman and her children. His eyes burn, His eyes water. He breathes in that hot air and coughs again. He cursed the cold and got heat. The irony is found for a mere second as he looks for a way upwards and crouches down to keep the smoke from his face.

The smoke makes it very hard to navigate, even in the rather small home. The flames seem to be coming from the ceiling, and presumably the second floor. Midway through the room, Octivus nearly trips over a knee-high table, but is able to catch himself before falling. Despite the smoke, a door becomes visible to Octivus' left, closed as tight as the drawing room door was...

Octivus moves, attempting to navigate as fast as he can, "Woman are you there." he calls over the roar of the flames, Moving to the door he doesn't even test it for temperature, rather attempts to crash it in with a kick of his foot.

There is no response from the woman, over the terrible noise of the flames. However, the door responds very well to Octivus' attempt to knock the door in, crashing open with a bang. There is an audible gasp from the crowd outside, having heard the noise. Smoke seems to be slowly creeping into this room, creating a blanket at head-height. Huddled in the corner is a young boy, hiding beneath a think oaken table. Looking to Octivus when he kicks the door in, "My Mum is upstairs!" He calls, tears streaking his soot-stained face.

Octivus nods and motions the way out, "Can you go on your own." he calls, "Do you have any other siblings." Octivus leans down to help the boy out as he does. "Hurry lad, we haven't much time." he urges the young man on as he gives a glance around, oh this is going to be close. Octivus can feel it.

The boy shakes his head softly, "I'm scared." He whimpers, smudging tears and soot across his face with a pudgy little fist. "Yes. Mum is upstairs with Sister." He points up, tears beginning to well in his eyes again, letting himself be scooped up by Octivus. He seems as if he would be a very well-behaved, respectful little boy in other circumstances, but right now he looks positively grungy.

There is a loud creaking and pops as the frame of the house begins to slowly collapse inward on itself. The boy cries now, "Don't let my Mum and Sister burn, Mister!"

Yup Octivus growls at the cracking and then looks back to the boy, "You have to run." he motions the way out, "You have run fast, and when you get out side you need to stay out, No matter what happens." He pushes the boy a bit, hoping he comes across as sincere enough the boy will actually do his bidding. Turning back to the upstairs, he looks for the stairwell. And then curses again as he ducks under the smoke.

The young boy nods, "Alright." He says, looking fearful. He immediately begins running for the outside, ducking under the smoke easily. Coughing, he heads out the door, and there are the sounds of shocked people. There are also the sounds of horse shoes on cobblestone and ice, and the authoritative voices of City Guardsmen, but no presence in the house yet.

When Octivus begins looking for the stairs, it turns out the are directly to his right once he moves into the main room once again, but the rolling smoke was hiding it rather well. The stairs are steep and narrow, and it looks as though part of the staircase has collapsed in upon itself. Perhaps the source of the noise before?

Octivus grumbles decides he will attempt the perilous climb upwards towards the second level. "Where in the Fjords frozen waters are Valtamari's clerics.." he curses. Backing up a few paces and then breaking into a full out run up the stairs the man means to be quick about it.

Though not the most impressive jump, Octivus manages to clear a good portion of the worst damage on the staircase, using his hands to pull himself up onto the second floor. The wood around him is deadly hot from the flames, but his magical protections keep him protected from harm. A dangerous-looking gout of flames comes roaring over his head, nearly engulfing the area above and behind him. Once at the top of the stairs, the fellow is sweating heavily and the smoke has not stopped, watering his eyes and making it almost impossible to see...

Octivus grumbles and presses forward, "La--"he doesn't get through before coughing and hacking. "You there." he calls out crawling for where he though he saw the woman. "Anyone." A coughing sputtering fit again, "There." He lowers his head from the flames.

The evening stars come out as the red-orange sun sinks below the horizon. "Heeeelp me! We are here!" Is the return call, from behind a door that has been nearly entirely engulfed in flames, along with the from of the building. "Please rescue my children!" She calls, coughing and choking as well. "I have another downstairs, did you find him?"

There is a catastrophic noise as the floor of the second floor and the ceiling of the first collapses, and the incoming rush of air fuels a great burst of flames, engulfing what is left of the floor and walls in the room Octivus resides in. The crashing prompts a great wail of feat from the woman. The street is now partially visible from Octivus' perspective, the fallen burning timber having blocked the City Guards approach into the home.

Octivus doesn't answer, Oh no, He charges at this rushing right for the woman, "yes." he says when he is near her. Looking to make sure all are with him, he nods slowly, "This is not going to be easy." he calls out to her. Turning in on himself, He mutters something, whispering it really. "Tuli, I know you're the mistress of fire, but I need some water to douse it out…" He closes his eyes, and summoning what prayers he can offer to the goddess he casts a create water spell.

From the sounds of it, the woman appears to be on the other side of the flame-licked door -- Through several feet of smoke and fire, and who knows what on the other side. "Our house is collapsing! Please help us!" Her wails do nothing to help calm the situation. Once again, the houses timber frame begins to creak and complain, the stairwell finally collapsing from the damage. The house is coming down upon itself very quickly.

Octivus' water creation helps calm the flames near the door, though truly it creates a great gout of steam, further blurring his vision. Ultimately, however, the flames have begun to recede in that area, making it almost traversal.

Well that was Octivus's one shot, now. He moves to open the door to get the woman out of the room. "Come on." he calls, staying as low as he can he makes a motion for her to come to him. "You gotta come this way, we gotta get out." He pleads and curses again as more of the house groans.

Once more, the hot door handle should have burned the man. It sizzles, but does no true harm. However, a large chunk of wood falls from the ceiling and strikes Octivus on the shoulder in the same moment, searing him badly. However, he does manage to get the door open. Letting even more air into the room, the flames begin to rage a little brighter. It also pours smoke into the room with the woman, which from the looks of it seems to have been relatively untouched by flame or smoke. She is cradling a tiny child, tears running down her face. The child seems rather unperturbed. "Oh no, there's fire! you're burned!" She says, "We'll surely perish if we go that direction!" She doesn't seem inclined to follow.

Octivus shakes his head, "My dear, tis no more then a kiss from Tuli, Come we must go, I shall heal I Promise you." the Tattooed hunter calls and sighs. "Come on." he calls again and offers his hand out to her. "We have to get out of here." He presses again, attempting to coax her from her home.

Tanikas shakes her head, "There is no way!" She cries, looking toward the window. "My Baby--" There is another crunching sound somewhere, as more of the building collapses. Reconsidering her words, she takes Octivus' hand. "If you think this the best way..." She says, covering her Child with a cloth, "Did you find my eldest down stairs?" She asks, hopeful.

"He is out already." he says and moves to take the babe from her arms. "I will protect him with my life.." He offers and motions to the hole in the side of the house. "We have to jump.." He says looking at the stairs. Maybe that way would be better, is the thought that crosses his mind. A hand is on the woman's shoulder, making sure she doesn't move to fast. "Where the fuck is Valtamari's people." he curses quietly and looks around. "We need to jump." He moves to the edge as carefully as possible. "We need a soft landing." he calls down to the people. "Do it. NOW." he orders. He hopes the shoutin, the fire, and the over all pissed off look of the man in the burning building snaps a -few- people to work.

As it turns out, a ragged bucket team has begun to dump water on the rubble where the door used to be. The woman looks rather trepidations at the thought of giving up her child to a stranger, her motherly instincts strong despite the occurrences. Octivus' words have motivated some of the people below to begin working, though they don't seem to be making much progress. A strong voice from down below, "We're workin' on clearin' the way, Lad. Jus' be patient for now. We'll 'ave you out of there in two shakes of a lamb's tail." A Dwarf steps up to the rubble and begins working with a crowbar to remove the hot rubble, seemingly oblivious to the heat. Meanwhile, a troupe of Clerics has arrived! There is a lot of commotion near the burning building, but nothing stirs the masses quite like the Valtamerites as they arrive. Dressed in holy garments, the handful of holy men and women begin to chant slowly, gathering magical energies..

"I don't have time to argue the finner points of this." Octivus offers, "I have more packin the coushin the jump we have to do then you do." Octivus looks down and frowns, "Rutty people, they are going to take the credit for this you know." He points out and looks around, "We have Little time." He calls to the dwarf. "Surely…" he frowns, "Remind me to speak to Chrull on this." He offers to the woman. Look kids, a public burning!

Down below, one of the Valtamerites steps up to the Dwarf and the Guard Captain on scene, having quiet words with them. Nodding, the Guard Captain, "Son, we need you and the Woman and Child to step back from the edge there. The Clerics are going to put an end to this fire. Find some cover if you can find it." Looking to the them, he nods. The troupe begins chanting once more, heads bowed in a circle around a center caster. The Dwarf frowns slightly and backs off, taking his crowbar with him. The crowd seems confused, dispersing slightly. "They are gonna drown us." Octivus offers and motions back a bit, "Come on." he offers attempting to get her away from the hole in the wall, and back towards the flames, "Apparently, the priests know what they are doing." Now if he could believe that.

The woman follows Octivus to shelter, the flames still licking around the room dangerously. "Drown us?" She asks, sounding concerned. The fear is plain on her face, but she follows directions. "Keep your heads down now, Son!" The Guardsman calls out. A mere moment after that, a great wall of water comes rushing down upon the flaming area near the front of the house. Water bursts everywhere, soaking everything around. The water mixes with hot ash and splashes Octivus and the woman, covering them with sooty water. It runs down where the stairs used to be, and steam rises from everything. The fire mostly doused, a ladder is thrown up haphazardly for Octivus and the woman as the water continues to run over everything. The damage is complete, the House utterly destroyed and unlivable. However, everyone seems to have lived through this disaster.

Octivus holds onto the woman and puts his head down. When the water is passed, The Hunter rogue of man tosses his head back, the long blond locks now look more salt and pepper then anything, "Fucking Valtamari." He curses and looks at the woman, "You alive." He wonders. He spits out some water from his mouth and looks around slowly. "Your house isn't." he frowns.

Now that the excitement is over, most of the onlookers have left. Leaving just the Guardsmen and Valtamerites, and a whole lot of water. "Come on down now, Son. Let the woman down first, and you come on down with the child." He instructs, motioning for a Guardsman to approach and assist. "I've got a fellow there to help you down." He adds. The woman looks distinctly unhappy, and completely waterlogged, "My child is going to catch the vapors if we do not get her covered up." She says, slowly moving toward the ladder and climbing down. The Guardsman helps her down and through the still smoking rubble. Octivus waits for her to head down, then slowly makes his own way down, "I know a place near by, They will house you I am sure until you get a new home." he offers and motions up the gravel path to Tuli's Creations. "The priestess Amari claims to be of good heart, and is married to a paladin of Aurinko. So if nothing else you are guaranteed the sun gods grace." he points out.

With the Family saved, the Guardsmen take a quick once-over of Octivus. They ask him a few brief questions about the events, letting him go on his own afterwards. Of course, with the stipulation that he not skip town any time soon. The house is utterly destroyed, unlivable. The Valtamerites take the Family with them to the Temple for temporary housing, making sure they have a warm place to sleep for the night. Ultimately, Octivus is a hero, though we shall have to see what the rumor mill makes of all of this.