First Response

Surgery. Which Serena apparently doesn't do. So I guess Fox.

Serena clutches her fox totem to her chest for a moment, then gives it a kiss and tucks it back into her pouch.  Then double-checks it's there.  Sure, she could always requisition a new one if something happened...  But any witch worth her salt would rather die before losing her totem.

Serena guides Talina up and over the buildings.  It would be no trouble for her to whoosh off and leave her partner in the dust, but she holds back and goes at a reasonable speed, a light on her broom flashing bright colors.  It seems like there's an unusually large number of gargoyles flying around tonight.  They move accommodatingly out of the way as the witches are passing.

They arrive at the scene soon enough.  There's a 5-story apartment building that is very, very much on fire.  From a casual glance, it looks like most of the tenants are probably evacuated - a large crowd is gathered on the sidewalk nearby.  A pair of fire engines are just arriving and setting up.  A pair of burly orcs are the first off, getting the hoses set up quickly.  There's an elf standing on the back of one trucks.  Looks like a wizard - he's using summoning magic to call out a water elemental to help fight the fire.  A few humans with breathing apparatuses are getting ready to search the building for anyone else inside.

Serena's got a small rebreather in her pack, just in case.  But it's not very effective and doesn't last too long.  It's just a backup for when she doesn't want to use magic.

From up here, she can't see anyone obviously trapped in the building...

(A) Fly down and confirm the situation with the firemen
(B) Ask members of the crowd if they know whether anyone's still inside
(C) Use Detect Thoughts (level 2 spell uses remaining: 4) to scan the area
(D) Use Gentle Breeze (level 1 spell uses remaining: 4) to protect yourself from heat and smoke and head inside
(E) Use Summon Monster III (level 3 spell uses remaining: 2) to call out a Blink Dog to look for survivors
(F) Use Summon Monster II (level 2 spell uses remaining: 4) to call out a Hell
(G) Use Summon Monster II (level 2 spell uses remaining: 4) to call out a Water Elemental to fight the fire from above
(H) Use Blood Scent (level 3 spell uses remaining: 2) to smell for anyone injured
(I) Fly from window to window and look inside
(J) Ask Talina for ideas

"Scanning!" Serena calls to Talina.  Her hand goes to her totem as she starts reciting a magical incantation.  As Detect Life activates, Serena can sense the others ahead of her.  The building's small enough that she's able to search most of it at once, but she darts around to a few more points, just to make sure.  "...OK!  There's... someone on the third floor, northeast corner."

"Third floor, northeast corner," Talina repeats.  Serena knows without looking that Talina's not repeating to her, but using a spell to deliver the message to the wizard below.  The wizard flashes a few sparks in acknowledgement.

"Another... 1st floor, near the back entrance.  Um...  If there's a basement it's clear.  Probably.  There's 3 on the top floor, moving... looks like they're going down a staircase.  Slowly.  Below-average intelligence, probably young teenagers."

Talina finishes echoing the information.  "OK.  They say they've already got eyes on the target on the first floor.  Oh!  Remember that spell won't show anyone that's unconscious!  What now?"

(A) Let's split up!  I'll go after the three up top.
(B) Let's split up!  I've got the one on the third floor.
(C) Stay with me, we're going after the group of three.
(D) Stay with me, we're going to the third floor.
(E) I'm going to try scanning another way, too! (pick one from the previous list)

(1) Blow your way in through the ceiling
(2) Blast through a wall
(3) Find a nice, safe window
(4) Go in through the front door and work your way up

(Also you have the option to request info on a spell, come up with your own ideas, etc, etc)

"I've got the top 3!  Get the one on the third floor, and watch for signs of anyone we missed!"

"Understood!"  Talina's already moving, flying to the side and through a window.

Serena starts looking for a way through the ceiling.  Way in, way in...  Serena's not exactly an expert and demolition.  She doesn't have a way to just blow the ceiling away.  But there may be a way to deal with that.  There's a small exhaust vent nearby.  Too small for her right now, but that sure won't stop her if she doesn't let it.  It looks like it probably lets out close-ish to where the life signs are coming from.  This isn't a huge building, but... going through a window would still put her in someone's room and she might end up losing just as much time.


(A) Use Enlarge Person (Level 1 - 4 remaining) and Bone Fists (Level 2 - 3 remaining) to blow open a hole
(B) Use Reduce Person (Level 2 - 3 remaining) to shrink and go through the vent
(C) Summon a big monster to smash a hole! (Level 3 - 2 remaining)
(D) Turn into a puddle of sentient mud and shlurp through the vent (Mud Witch - 6 minutes remaining)
(E) Uh... window!

D because I dont really want to pound a building while its already unstable and on fire. Plus sentinel mud best mudd? We will find out.

Serena sighs.  She hates this trick, but she can't help but admit it's effective.  She concentrates on her totem, reciting a few words.  Her body and gear start to fall apart, collapsing into a thick, goopy puddle on the ceiling.  She starts to make her way into the vent, sensing her way forward until she finds a duct out.  She drops through, splashing onto the ground below.  It takes her a moment to re-gather all the goop into one cohesive whole.  When she's completely sure she's all together - too many horror stories of people reforming with parts missing, ugh - she starts to coalesce back into a human shape, then solidify.

Serena fights back the urge to vomit.  Bleh.  A quick check... yeah, she's all there.  Gear, too.  She picks herself up and looks around, then goes back to crawling.  So hot.  And the smoke's already thick - no surprise, this is the top floor.  It's pretty hard to see.  She looks around, and can tell she's in someone's room.  The apartment door's right nearby, and the three figures should be just a few feet outside.

...Serena's been trained for this, but this is her first time doing it for real...  She shudders as she realizes there's no safety net.  No, I can do this!

Serena reaches for her totem and tosses it to the ground.  It springs to life, bursting into its true form.  Her foxy familiar stretches, floofy tail wagging.

"We've got work to do.  Ready, Sosa?"

"Yip!"

First thing's first.  Gotta do something about this heat and smoke.

(A) Use Gentle Breeze to give a little resistance to the heat and smoke (Level 1 - 4 remaining)
(B) Use Aura of Purity - It'll remove all smoke in a small area, but not really help with the heat (Hex, 6 minutes remaining)
(C) Ignore the heat and use the regulation rebreather
(D) Call out to the three
(E) Send Sosa to scout; use Share Senses to see through his eyes (Level 3 - 2 remaining)
(F) Use Blood Scent to search for anyone that might be unconscious or injured (Level 3 - 2 remaining)