Almost arriving, you reach a corner that on the right leads to the direction you are looking for, and ahead to a bridge that leads to Middle Dura. From between two towers ahead, emerge three hippogriffs flying in your direction zigzagging across bridge piers. They turn around above your heads high enough not to hit them but low enough to give you and others around you a scare. They are big and beautiful and are being ridden by figures you at that distance cannot identify. They turn left at high speed to the way you're going. You notice that figures that mount the hippogriffs hold blunted lances and the one behind tries to hit the one in front of him, but he can't. They fly very fast in what appears to be a fierce chase weaving between towers and bridges.

Paladin takes a bare few seconds before waving, then whooping and cheering. 

"Skyblades!" Bryn calls out as the hippogriff riders zoom by, jousting in the air between towers and walkways. "I love watching these informal matches when they happen to pass near by! Rylia, didn't you sing an epic ballad once with this sport as a backdrop for the story?"

Brother Coltinar cheers on the combatants, “Well done good job.  Yeeeee. haaaa.”

Braxiel has little interest in the revelry but barriers himself into his books.  

"Oh yes! That was a good one - a ballad of two lovers," Rylia says. "There's the part where they meet in secret and end up with a fabulous view of a Skyblades match."  She looks over at Bryn with a bright smile. "I'm surprised you recall that one. I think I only sang it that one time." Her attention had been focused on the hippogriffs and their riders from the moment they passed appeared until they were out of sight. This was actually the first time she'd ever seen a Skyblades match of any sort. She'd written the song just based off another book that had mentioned the sport. 

"Where do you suppose they're going? Wouldn't it be fun to ride one of those things!" she exclaims once they're gone from view. 

"It must be immensely difficult to steer and hold onto these beasts," judges Arr impressed by the manoeuvres. When the riders first approached, Arr instinctively assumed a defensive position but they relax when it becomes clear that there is no threat.

Paladin rushes up to the attic, steel feet making thunder in the room as he moves. 

"Halt, villain! I am come to end your terrors by word or force! I shall not be moved from the course of the righteous!"

Arr follows Paladin, though, with less confidence and slightly confused. Still they want to help their friend, but doubts occupy their mind, 'How do we know that they want our help? Who are we helping? The killer or the one being killed?'

Brother Coltinar says, "Hail shop owner.  How can we assist you?  My name is Brother Coltinar."

"Who are you talking about?"

Brother Coltinar comments friends, "Detain anyone trying to leave until we are sure there is no wrong doing against this shop owner."

Brother Coltinar perception:  18 in log.

Coutinar hears noises coming from the attic that sound like a struggle, but hears no voices other than the one heard earlier.
Hears something big breaking, like a vase or some pottery.

"Hey! Down here! A little help with those damn rats would be appreciated" The voice says.

"Well, that answers my question if maybe the person was just rehearsing lines for a play or performance!" Bryn exclaims as he follows the others down the stairs (to a space between floors? An attic is normally up - the highest space under a roof and above living/working areas), rapier and dagger drawn and ready for a fight.

Brynn goes toward the noise cautiously, weapons drawn. The dark wooden spiral staircase leads down to a dimly lit basement with no natural light. It is possible to see some things overturned, a shelf on the right overturned and held by the wall and several pieces lying on the floor.
Ahead a female warforged brandishes her sword as she is being attacked by two giant rats.

OOC it is a basement, nor an attic :-)

Arr takes his broken pipe and the meat cleaver from his pack and moves to assist the shopkeeper.

(Arr and Paladin went to the noises not necessarily up, if it was in fact down)

As Arr descends the last step of the stairs, right behind Brynn, a giant rat that was hidden appears on his right side and attacks him.
Attack: 10 Damage: 6

// --- DM The attacked creature must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or contract a disease. Until the disease is cured, the target can’t regain hit points except by magical means, and the target’s hit point maximum decreases by 3 (1d6) every 24 hours.---//

//---DM Brynn and Arr got in the struggle
Coltinar heard the noises and were on the top of the stairs when Brynn and Arr pass by him quickly

The others can decide if heard or not the noises ---//

//--- Initiative Rolls---//
Brynn --> next (you have one opportunity attack in the Rat that attacks Arr and your action)
Arr
Rats (1)
Coltinar
Rylia
Rats (2)
Paladin
Braxiel
Rats (3)
Rust

Arr hisses at the rat that’s biting them. (Immune to disease)

Paladin jumps forward to bring his weight in behind the hammer, attempting to crush a rat. 

"Quell thine hunger for blood, beast! You'll find none here!" 

Attack: 7 Damage: 8