Dornikal replies to the questions,

"Looks to be a fire."

He nods in the direction of the fire.

"Best to make sure everyone is awake and be prepared should it come this direction."

He looks in the direction of the howls when they come and scratches at his stubble beard.

"What in Dumathoin's Blessed...?"

As he tries to identify what could have been making that noise.

Nature check: 20

Seeing Randy start to run back he gives him an inquiring looking.

"What's going on?"

Randy stops long enough to fill him in. "Get ready to move out when Ulmwin comes back. We've got a portal popping in and out and looks to be connected to the infernal planes.  Ulmwin is going to see if he can pin down it's location more precisely.  I'm going to tell the Tavern folk to barricade the place and be ready to fight in case some demon or devil shows up.  After that, we're going to see if we can shut the cursed thing down! "  He starts jogging back to the Inn again.

Dornikal looks surprised at the news and looks in the direction of the howl,

"Sounds like something has already come through."

As Randy leaves to head back into the inn Dornikal mutters as he walks further into the street looking in both directions,

"Infernal..."

As he says it he takes a deep sniff of the night air.

((Activating divine sense, though I doubt there is anything with 60' already. He is new to his paladin stuff so this more of a subconscious/instinctive first try.))

Ulmwin loops outward, and is able to spot three places where glowing flickers of flame indicate trouble. The nearest is northeast of the inn they are staying in, maybe a quarter mile distant. The second is to the east of the city, near the lower docks district, while the third is to the south of the city. There is commotion coming from where he understands the University to be, but if there is fire there, either it has been contained, or is within a structure and contained in that sense.

While nothing pings within close range, between Randy's conclusion about an infernal connection, and the howl that Dornikal knows is not from the throat of any wolf, normal or dire, he feels a sense of the sulfurous brimstone coating his senses like an oily scum. The term 'hellhound' flashes through his mind.

Randy arrives back at the inn, one of the nephews greeting him wide eyed at the door. His eyes only get wider as the ranger relays his cautions before returning to Dornikal, Coljin having caught up with him at this point and doing his darnedest to keep pace.

"I told Hank and Garvey to keep the boy safe and look after the folks at the inn.", he puffs.

Randy nods an affirmative. "Given what's going on, probably the best for everyone.  This is not going to be a situation for someone just learning the ropes."

The three of you convene on the street, scanning the skies for a flying Ulmwin.

Dornikal spits to the get the oily scum taste from his mouth.

"How big a fight we looking at Randy?"

Dornikal asks as he moves a short distance up the street in the direct of the howl, eyes tracking for movement.

Ulwin circles back to relay a full detail on the three positions he saw, and some potential trouble at the university, before going in further detail.

"I think we ought to start northeast from here, that's closest."

Randy replies to Dornikal. " I don't know.  Something came through and is big enough to cause a pretty good ruckus.  Even low level devils and demons can be a hand full for common folk."

Randy listens to what Ulmwin has to report. "Did you happen to see what's making the fuss?  I'd really like to know what we're going up against."

"Aye don't know why," Dornikal starts, "but something about the howl made meh mind jump to hell hound. Never seen nor heard one before so aye don't know...but by Dumathoin's light in the darkness aye knew it."

To Ulwim,

"Can ye lead us there, quickest route?"

Dornikal is ready to get moving and will head out with the others as soon as directions are given.

Randy racks his brain for any knowledge of hellhounds: Arcana :  21

((OO .  I honestly didn't expect much from that roll...))

Randy recalls having transcribed a treatise from a mix of draconic and dwarven (for the life of him still can't figure why the original author swapped between) into common that at least in part spoke of hell hounds.

It would be a mistake to think them merely dogs with fire, they possess an uncanny intelligence that allows for strategy and understanding, most even able to understand Infernal, though they lack the ability to respond vocally. If trained and under the sway of a more powerful fiend, they'd be able to follow more complex instructions than a pet.

Their hide is tough and durable, though not quite equal to chain mail, and they can easily outpace a draft horse, though a riding horse would leave them behind. 

Their bite is bad for sure, burning as well as piercing, but their howls are arguably worse, as they can exhale the flame around them.