Ch. 1

Ravastine stands solemnly and politely nearby, attempting to keep herself available but stay out of the way of the distraught parents. She will keep an eye toward the door and act as a humble guard if any non-Erathian attempts to enter.

She watches them subtlety. Her life has been harsh at its worst and even rugged at its best. These folk seem born into a sort of luxury she cannot comprehend, yet all people share such tragedies: rich or poor, noble or common, the danger to a child is equally difficult. Well, a loved child, she grimly adds.

((OOC: Not my first one on this site though. I either get great or horrible rolls here it seems. But such is life.))

The wizard and his guardswoman continue to search the small kitchen for any clues to the occupants whereabouts and wait for the drow to join them.

ooc sorry! I thought I was a) holding the fence open and standing guard b) too big to come through.

Uhlskah looks in surprise as Kirrian and his entourage enter, and then, with a glance to the street around, picks the best moment to slip inside and see what he can see.

Asterion bows formally to the Rynekels. "My Lord. My Lady. As you know I have taken charge of the investigation. This was an attack. I do not wish to alarm you but we cannot discount the possibility that your son was the target. We must take precautions until we know more. The priestess Lady Gavrantha assured me the affliction is not contagious, and the boils will heal with proper treatment. Your son is expected to awake later tonight. It is best not to move him until then. He is in good hands here. I have instructed the city watch to maintain a perimeter around this temple. My associates are pursuing leads. I expect to hear from them shortly so I may personally pursue the matter further. You have my word, we will bring whoever did this to justice."

Kirrian and his people begin a quiet systematic search of the small house.

Uhlskah finds the crawling under the fence very undignified. What would any of his audience say if they saw him like this? There must be another way to investigate this noise to the right. He wiggles back out of the boards and goes round to the glassmaker's shop. Playing the part of a genuine client of such an establishment, he breezes in with a bright smile.

Asterion finds the brevity of Istraud Rynekel's response curious. Then again, that man was never one to show much emotion. Asterion moves to intercept the man at the door before he can leave. "My Lord. If I could trouble you for another moment. Is there any reason, besides your family's position on the Ruling Council, that anyone might wish to cause harm to your son?"

Earlier, Asterion has witnessed Ravastine to be quite adept diplomacy as well. Perhaps she can extract information while at the same time offering comfort. He signals discreetly to her to go to Lady Vestra.

Uhlskah takes a moment or two to admire the trinkets being offered and on display before saying in a businesslike manner:

"Very fine, very fine. My parents said you were a master craftsman. You have heard of my parents I suppose? Kilth is the name.

Uhlskah waits a moment for his words to sink in and to get a gleam of recognition from the shopkeeper before continuing in a more delicate tone,

"The thing is, that my parents have a special client who wants something made up of glass and gemstones. They sent me to you to see if your work really matches the reputation you have. I can see from the finished products that their faith is not misplaced, but to get a fuller idea of the quality of your workmanship, I really need to see your workshop. It's this way, I presume..."

Uhlskah already has his hand on the doorhandle to the back room and is opening the door, not waiting for the shopkeeper's reply, trusting that his flattery will make him compliant.

Ravastine overhears Asterion's conversation and catching his eye, approaches the stricken boy. She takes a cloth from a herb-infused basin nearby and wrings out most of the warm water. Gently, she kneels above his head and gently cleans the sweat from his face the way she has seen Lady Gavrantha do, and attempts to emote the same compassion.

After that she has done that, she says "Lady Vestra, you have no doubt seen a much different side to the city than I. You seem a wise and cunning woman. What would be to gain from attacking your child? Help us identify the culprit, who may be someone who would want to see your family harmed, and I'll track the miscreant down." She grits her teeth and looks at the boy and the other victims. "Before they attack again."

She pleads the mother to help with the wide soulful eyes she practiced while begging on the street, yet watches to understand her response.

In horror Uhlskah pushes his hand out towards the girl, hurriedly composing the gnomic verse, delivered in heavy metal rhythm:

"Flee the flames,
Live your life!"

He is squeamish about catching the girl. "Is she infectious?", he wonders. But hopes falling to the rough floor will be better than pitching into the furnace.

Using Majestic Word encounter power with Improved majestic word feat to slide her off the furnace plus any healing the power + feat offer. Healing surge up to 4HP plus 4 temp HP for feat - could be useful when falling to the ground!

Kirrian shoves the papers into his pocket and squeezes through the hole in the wall. He gives a sharp whistle that tells his guardswoman and familiar to follow. When he enters the room he quickly stands, ready to face danger, but after taking moment to look around the room he gives Kilth a puzzled look, "Wha'are ya doin' lad? Observe and report, OB-SER-VE and RE-POR-T!"
He takes the cloak off his shoulders and places it on the crying girl, then he and Grindylow help her into a nearby chair.
"Now what is going on?

It is clear from Uhlskah's annoyed expression that he has registered Kirrian's words, but first of all he keeps his attention on the girl,

"Don't worry, little lady, we're not going to hurt you, and we'll make sure you don't hurt anyone else. We're here to help."

Once he is sure the girl is calm, he moves to the other side of the room with Kirrian, and whispers irritably at him, keeping his eye on the would be suicide.

"What I observed was our key witness escaping here, and about to pitch herself into this furnace. I thought a live witness would be a better report than a charred corpse, Sir Gnome."

Asterion bows towards Lord Istraud's departing back. He glances in Ravastine & Lady Vestra's direction but decides not to join them for now so he can reorder his thoughts. Keleem Rynekel may or may not have been the target of the attack. Nothing helpful nor suspicious from the parents. There is a possible witness or suspect which Kirrian and the drow Uhlskah are tracking down. Where the hell is that guard Vardos? He should have reported back here by now! And when the devil is Keleem going to wake up? Asterion takes a deep breath to control his impatience. He longs to be out there doing what he does best instead of being cooped up here babysitting this dandy.