Gilbert dismounts and shakes his hand heartily. "Gilbert, nice to meet you. Where did the rest of our brothers go?"

It had all happened so shockingly fast. The darkening of the sky. The cataclysm. The running, screaming people. The abrupt death of the soldier. There was blood on her hands and blood on her clothes. She barely recalled struggling her way through the crowd to heal the man's horse, closing the equine's wounds with her magic. She'd assisted the struggling steed to its feet as people flooded out of the city around her, fleeing the destruction. As the falling rocks and tremors in the ground had increased, Quill had accepted the man's offer to help her escape the city. She'd swung up behind him on the pitch black mare and they had ridden out of Elturel. 

And now it was gone. The proud, populous city had been reduced to rubble. And not even that. It was a dark pit. A hole in the ground from which the chill of death emanated. Quill looked blankly around at the people as they rode past. There were so few. So few compared to the population of a major city. How many had been trampled as they tried to run? Crushed beneath the boulders that reigned from the sky? Trapped by wreckage in houses or buildings with no escape? Her hands were trembling, Quill realized, clutching her blood-stained fingers into the dark material of her cloak. She was probably in shock, the analytical side of her brain reasoned.

"We need to find someone in charge." She said quietly, speaking to the companion, whose name, she realized, she didn't know. "We need to find out what happened and if we can help the people that are left."

He had made it out of the cataclysm that devoured the proud city of Elturel. Still astride his steed Damian turned to watch the crater which now marked the place where the city had stood. He would gloat over the fate of the Elturel, but the image of the woman with the child kept clawing at his mind. He had tried to look for them as he left the city, but he hadn't seen them, their fate unknown and considering he himself barely had escaped the chances they had made it out was...bleak. What was this? Compassion? A sentiment for the weak, or so he had been raised.

Damian suddenly became aware again of his companion sitting close behind him, the blue-skinned tiefling that had cured his mare and likely saved his life. It was a debt that would not be easy to settle. "Yes, of course, someone in charge." He answered the tiefling, steering his steed between the groups of wounded people gathering on the ground around them, trying to find someone who could give them answers. His first thought had been to take them both far away from the destruction but he had now realized that he had been witness to an event of immense magnitude. He too had to know more about what had happened, his father would expect him to, and even more importantly, his patron would.

"My apologies, I haven't introduced myself. I am Damian Ravenshade of Baldur's Gate." He said, turning his head slightly as he spoke, speaking in a calm firm voice. "You have my gratitude for saving my steed, I am greatly in your debt. Please allow me to escort you, at least until we find out what has happened here." It was a novel feeling to him having someone sitting behind him like that. He had always been alone on his steed, always.

As Quill and Damian ride around on the horse, they spot two Hellriders, Gilbert and Woad, talking to each other. Nearby, Harlan emerges from the tunnel he was in through a hole in the ground.

All around you, the people begin to disperse leaving the crater behind. Some of the people started heading southeast towards Berdusk. However, most people started along the road, heading west, towards Baldur's gate.

"I'm Quill." She said. No fanfare, no surname or house affiliation, no place of origin. Just... Quill. "And you're in no one's debt, least of all mine. But I would appreciate your assistance while we search for someone who can tell us what happened..." She trailed off, having spotted two men in armor, one of whom was leading a mount. Hellriders. She recognized their armaments and insignia from her time in Elturel.

"Excuse me!" Quill called out, then dismounted clumsily from Damian's horse, practically falling under the animal's hooves as she slid from its back. She regained her footing after a moment, then headed toward the Hellriders at a quick pace. "Excuse me." She said again once she'd reached them. "Please, gentleman... Do you have any idea what has happened? Is there a plan for the refugees from Elturel? Is there somewhere I can report to assist with the wounded?"

"Quill." Damian murmured as the blue-skinned tiefling hasted off to talk to the two hellriders. He wondered what infernal bloodline she belonged to, but there was nothing to suggest she served an infernal master. Damian gave the hellriders a quick glare. They seemed less dismayed than he would have anticipated considering the city they had sworn to protect had just  been obliterated in front of their eyes. No matter, they could still be privy to important information regarding what had happened.

Damian turned away, discreetly calling his servant Azrael from his hellish pocket plane. The imp was invisible of course but Damian knew he was there now, fluttering around him, giggling evilly. "We must gather information about what has happened here." Damian silently messaged to his familiar, using their telepathic connection. "You must be discreet Azrael but we need to know what made the Champion implode and take all of Elturel with it. Our master will expect us to find this out. This is an opportunity Azrael, let's make the most of it." He continued, sending the tiny devil away to spy for him.

Noting an old man emerging from a tunnel Damian then rode up to the hellriders, realizing they were both likely lowly grunts as neither of them seemed to display any insignia identifying them as anyone of importance. But then again, these were perhaps the sensible ones, successfully having saved their own hides as their superiors stayed and died with the city they had sworn to defend. He stayed back, listening intently to what the hellriders had to say for themselves, letting Quill do the talking, for now.

Orith had finally made it out of the gates and to safety with the tiefling woman and helped her find a group that was heading to the safety of Baldur's Gate. Afterwards he stands for a moment, taking it all in. The whole city, gone..., just like that. It would have been hard impossible to imagine if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes. 

He had only been employed in the guard there for a few months, but he had enjoyed his time there and truly hated seeing bad things happen to good people. He began to wander amongst the people standing out, looking in to the city they once live in, when he saw two Hellriders nearby talking. Wanting to understand what just happened, he makes his way over to them and waved.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but I'm one of the newer guards in the city. Does anyone have an explanation for this? Is there any information or word from higher up? I'm just trying to make sense of it all.."

As Quill and Damian ride up, Woad says "Orith, glad to see you made out. Work with the other guards to setup an encampment for those that wish to stay nearby. You (pointing to another guard) locate and gather water. You (point to yet another guard,) you're charge of setting up tents and shelters." Seeing the two guards with looks of shock he goes over to them, pats their backs and says "We'll be fine. We have to be strong. I am confident in each and every one of you (looking at those standing by)." In a louder voice he calls out "Villagers, if you want to stay here we are setting up a camp. If you are leaving to another town, be sure to get some water and keep track of those in your group. Don't lose a single soul. There has been too much lost this day."  
Walking over to Gilbert, "We need to check for survivors and send them here. (pausing for a moment) We also need to find out what the bloddy hell happened here." 
Woad starts to survey the devastation and look for survivors and for clues.

Investigation: 22
Perception: 20

Damian frowned as the older white-haired hellrider seemed to ignore Quill's question, instead adressing a dragonborn city guard, then starting to give out orders to other city guards. Damian was confused over the chain of command but considering the circumstances that chain had likely been shattered and the hellriders was perhaps considered above the city guard i Elturel.

"Apologies, you seem to be in charge..." Damian started, riding closer to the white-haired hellrider. "...I am Damian Ravenshade of Baldur's Gate, perhaps I can be of some assistance." He continued, trying to catch the hellriders attention. "But as Quill here already asked..." He said, motioning to the blue-skinned tiefling standing by his pitch-black steed. "...can you tell us anything at all regarding what has happened, and why?"

Woad looks at Damian and Quill and says "There will be time enough to figure out what happened. First is peoples safety. Night will be on us soon enough. " Pausing a moment and in a more personable tone he says "I wish I knew what happened. You both seem like a smart strong folks. You are herby deputized into the city watch. First order is, do either of you have healing magic or otherwise? If you do, please go with that man and he will get you setup in a medical tent. If not, please start investigating around and lets see if we can figure out what happened."  Other guards walk up with injured citizens. He turns his attention to them and starts to treat their wounds before sending them to the medical tent. 

Seeing some kind of order being established, Harlan makes his way over to the group of guards and civilians coalescing around the two Hellriders.

"Excuse me, excuse me!" He works his way through the group to the one giving orders [Woad], and grabs in desperation the folds of whatever coat or cloak Woad is wearing.
"What is happening?" he asks a little manically. "The city has been destroyed, how?! And what am I to do? I was just starting to feel at peace here, and now that's gone."

The city watch? Would that organization not be defunct with the city obliterated? Even if it wasn't, Damian strongly doubted the hellrider had authority to deputize anyone into the city watch and was about to scoff at the statement, but decided to play along, for now, as this new position could possibly be an advantage in his search for answers. "And if anyone for some unexplicable reason would like to know who would deputize a Baldur's Gate patriar into the elturian city watch, who would I refer to?" He asked the white-haired hellrider.

Then seeing the scholar with the untamed white beard join them he stifled a chuckle. "Apparently we have to seek our own answers. Prepare to be deputized." He said, looking down at the slight, short man. "As I am no healer I will continue investigating then, shall I?" He turned and said to the white-haired hellrider.

To Harlan "Its normal to feel that way. For now we are setting up emergency shelters, please go over there." He points. 

He takes a sign and turning to Damian "Look Smart A$$, if your not going to help in a time of emergency, go some where else. If you press further you will be a nuisance and be handled by the Hellriders accordingly." 

"I apologize if I was in any way out of line hellrider, I was merely asking for your name, and as I mentioned I am ready to investigate as you ordered." Damian said with a slight bow to the hellrider.

"Woad"

Gilbert stands, hand on the pommel of his sword stands lost in thought as Woad handles the organization of the camp and orders it into a semblance of organization. He comes to himself as Damien and Woad talk. "We appreciate your offer of help Damien, since you asked politely, my name is Gilbert Evarden, and I belong to the Hellriders who's duty it is to uphold the Creed. Unfortunately we have no more information than you do as to the tragic events of this day. This man here is Woad, also of the Hellriders. Perhaps if we work together we can figure out this mess and maybe keep some people alive in the process."

"Woad, Gilbert." Damian said, nodding at the two hellriders. "I will return and report as soon as I find out anything of significance."
Damian then steered his mount away, but waited to escort Quill to wherever she chose to go.

With the Hellrider-- Woad-- offering direction and orders, Quill simply nodded. She wanted to help. He was giving her an opportunity to do that. The survivors of the catastrophe were scattered and chaotic. Fear and desperation was rampant. If she could provide any kind of solace to those that remained, whether it was healing their bodies or easing their minds, she wanted to do so. She'd taken a step back, in the direction of the medical tent that the Hellrider had directed her to when an order man [Harlan] approached them. He was clearly agitated. As they all were, Quill acknowledged. Truthfully, he had every right to be scared. 

"Sir?" Quill asked, walking to the older man [Harlan] and gently taking his arm. "I understand that things seem bleak at the moment but the city guard and the Hellriders are working to establish order. I'm sure we'll have answers soon." She patted his arm, offering a reassuring smile, then released him. "Until then, we need to do what we can to assist those who fled the city. I intend to make my way to the medical tent to assist with anyone wounded during the evacuation. You seem quite able-bodied. Will you join me?" She left the decision to him, turning and heading in the direction of the healing tent. The sooner she began, the more she could contribute.

"Able-bodied?" Harlan mutters half to himself as the blue tiefling walks away. "Ahaha, I suppose. I have a body, this meagre corporeal form. But it isn't the body that matters is it? No, I should be far away from those who are trying to heal."

He pauses, seeming to take stock, then rubs at his forehead with the ball of his hand. "It's so quiet. So many voices lost..." 

Turning to the two Hellriders he continues "The patriar mentioned deputization? I would not wish to go that far, but I would like to assist in some way. Though I know not what.. I cannot fight, and I cannot heal. My expertise is in matters arcane, though I doubt that will be of any use here, and I am no mage or wizard."

Damian watched as Quill turned and headed in the direction of the healing tent, slowly riding after her. "You are good and brave for helping these people but this catastrophy will surely attract vultures like bandits and plunderers within long." He said as he came up beside her. "I will not leave you here Quill, but I hope you will find the self-preservation in you to leave with me before this place is overrun the enemies of Elturel."