E2 - Deception at the Depository

The party's meeting with Funzbar at the Depository Tower becomes more than they bargained for.

General Summary

Gate Pass is on fire. Armed with wyverns and dragonbombs, the Ragesian army have begun their assault, focusing their efforts on lighting buildings on fire to maximize panic and chaos, while the bulk of their force engages the Gate Pass guards at the Western gate. The denizens of the city are in a full panic. Folks are running out of their burning homes, people are being burnt and trampled, and bodies are beginning to stack up. The party, after escaping the burning Poison Apple pub, find themselves right in the midst of the chaos. Jack, Myetharia, and Bryn were knocked down the fearful hoards of fleeing citizens, but found their shaky footing, as the party made their way through the throng to the Depository. They stopped to help those they could along the way, including a father with several children saved from a burning house and a woman trapped a few stories up. They weren't able to help a wealthy man looking for his weasel though. Finally arriving at the Depository, a fifty foot tall structure built of smooth exterior and surrounded by a gated wall, Torrent presented the credentials to be allowed in. The group found themselves surrounded by tall lockers, containing who knows what, in a room with a circular staircase. There, they were greeted by a gnomish man, not especially attractive, with a long, dripping nose. He introduced himself as Funzbar, the person they were to meet. He greeted Jack as Peppin, and asked them to follow him. Jack did so, but realized something was amiss. Summoning his Unseen Servant (whom he calls Gil) and commanded him to swipe the top of Funzbar, revealing a taller individual to be in disguise as Funzbar. The illusory magic dropped, and a tall, well-built elvish male dashed away from the party. They pursued the elf until they were separated by a shiny talking orb that shot painful light rays at the party. Some members stayed and fought the celestial familiar, while others snuck past to follow the elf. Though they pursued him to the top of the roof, the elf attempted to doff magical potions. One was snatched by Rayland, which turned out to be a Potion of Spider Climbing. However, the elf eventually was able to drink a potion that allowed him to fly, and he escaped the party, floating to the ground, his celestial familiar following him. Dismayed, Rayland headed back downstairs, Winry tried to break into one of the lockers and was interrupted by Myetharia, Bryn began checking for injuries, and Jack stayed on the roof, surveying the battle. The party regrouped inside the Depository, where a group a guards broke in to assess the situation. They found several unconscious guards, an equally unconscious Funzbar (the real on this time), and a dead guard who had been burned, presumable by the same familiar the group fought earlier. Awakened, Funzbar found a ring that belonged to Peppin, and understanding that Torrent had it, he told the group what they had come to hear - "The school stands ready." He then encouraged the party outside, where they could talk further.