(Unfortunately, Cordelia is distracted by the pleasant atmosphere and her usually keen mind is unable to identify the source of this sensation)

Perspicacious, as you speak to Thosn, her eyes widen suddenly at the mention of the Pretender's name. "You SAW him? How did you escape?!" She looks at you sadly, "Oh, my poor Rog. You have endured so much for our cause. I am-" she turns to you, eyes clear, "I am proud to be your friend." Thosn then reaches into her pocket and removes a small, thin metallic disc. It's made of pewter, and scratches have scored one surface to form a simple arcane symbol. She say, "Yes, I passed the note to the priest, hoping that it would reach you in your quarters beneath the arena. When I learned that you were instead taken to the human medica... I feared the worst."

Thosn holds the disc out to you. "Take this- it is ready. I have practiced using it on the arcane wards surrounding some of the lesser manor houses on the other side of the bridge. The priest tells me it will work just the same." She looks at you, determination and strength flashing in her eyes. "I will accompany you, but should something befall us... I think it is more likely that you will reach the gate alive. Please, you must open the gate and free what little remains of our people!"

(Perspicacious, do you take the disc?)

Perspicacious's eyes widen, realizing the course that Thosn is suggesting they take. She gingerly takes the disc, and feels the weigh of it in her hand before securing it in a pocket (pouch? Something with a button or latch? Whatever Rog has available) so as not to lose it. "Thank you... Thosn. Maybe you should meet my companions? They may be willing to help. Why don't you come and inform them of the current situation. And don't spare ANY details. If you have a more secure location, we can meet there too."

As you say that, Perspicacious, you begin to notice that unheard sound, as well. It begins to slowly build, a steady, single tone like a tuning fork growing more and more powerful. There's no way to ignore it, now, but astonishingly, neither Thosn nor any of the patrons in the Underway seem to notice that anything is amiss...

Suddenly the world lurches. You all are rocked in your seats as what feels like an earthquake causes the room around you to shudder.

And just like that it stops. No one in the restaurant seems to have been bothered by either the sound or the quake. Nothing is amiss (save each of you, looking somewhat more disheveled than you did a moment before). The only evidence you have that something has happened is that initial, soft tuning fork sound just outside of hearing. There's no way to tell inside the Underway where it could be coming from, but on top of the roof...

Perspicacious, the sky over the arena (clear to your sight roughly a mile to the north of it on the bridge) appears deeper and darker than it should. To those of you in the restaurant, you suddenly sense that darkness, as well. Looking southward and slightly up, the ceiling of the Underway becomes transparent to your sight. Hovering above the arena, you see yet another impossible sight: Vasht is there, broken fragments of the novascope surrounding him in his characteristic angelwing swirl. He is curled nearly into a fetal position with legs asymmetrically extended toward the stadium below.

Cordelia and Gordra, the STR-DST lights up like a Christmas tree. The second Perspicacious touched the pewter disc, a shrill alarm issues from the device as a torrent of small readings appear before its screen. The one reading you understand is fluctuating WILDLY: 85%, 0.05%, 66.3% 7.02%... and on, and on. Jean, your sword begins to ring in response to the tuning fork sound, almost as though it has reached some harmonic frequency. If you were to pull it a ways out of its sheath, you would see the symbol of the tower burning at the base of the blade.

Amaruve, in addition to the chaos that only your party can sense, something is CLANGING your beast sense's alarm bells. Roll perception or nature (whichever is higher) with advantage, Amaruve.

Jean did indeed do just that. Her jaw dropped and she fervently whispered "Tymora, oh Smiling Lady, Goddess of Good Fortune bless us, fools and sinners all, that - whatever this is - may roll in our favour."

Cordelia tries to brush off the strange sensation as she reads Dusty. Its haywire reading perplexing her further. What is going on?

The human observes Jean fiddling with her sword and seeming to swear (or pray? Cordelia isn't sure) at whatever she sees. "I don't suppose you just found the answer in your sword sheath...?"

Amaruve stands and faces Vasht's form. He sniffs with his keen senses. (Perception: 22)

(with a 22...)

Amaruve- the dragon centipede has found you. You need to move NOW.

Amaruve is no longer a cat.

He shifts into the form of the Wild Hunt, unconcerned of the nearby witnesses, he is almost human. "He's here... Run!" He holds his clawed hands out and mutters a single druidic word, "Lasrai" to Produce Flame, ready to hurl it at the approaching monster. Where is it coming from?

(I wonder if Cordelia will recognize him.)

(I'm mobile with limited access to editing tools. Will clean when I'm able)

The appearance of a great, shaggy bear person in the middle of the restaurant caused a number of gasps and shouts of surprise. A great shaggy bear person Conjuring Flames, however, results in  the panicked clearing of the underway inn. 

That's fortunate, because no sooner had the table next to you cleared than the window behind it burst inward in a shower of wood and broken glass. The monster forces its head into the dining room, grotesque black eyes scattered across its surface. It clacks its black pincers and screams.

Perspicacious, from your vantage point you can just make out the body of the dragon centipede curling from the bridge's underbelly into the window. The bulk of its mass is still outside, and its surface is shifting much as the Pretender did before he transformed. Thosn grabs your wrist- "He's using the lab! He's drawing on the life force of our kin to maintain his form! We must stop him!"

Everyone roll initiative!

Centipede dragon: 4

Thosn: 8

Amaruve hurls his Ready flame, hitting 22 for 4 fire

(Initiative: 17)

The centipede roars, taking 8 fire damage from Amaruve's hurled flame

 Initiative: 3

Gordra is furious, he was just about to try some scientific experiments on these tavern folk. He's going to head out there and give this Pretender a piece of his mind. Right after he burns him to ashes. Burning Hands (dex save 13 or 17 fire dmg)

Initiative: 14

Also, thank you to Thosn for finally making sense of something and giving clear instructions.

(I think I'm weaponless as they took them away when we escaped. So on my turn I wish to Help Thosn to attack the centipede, which is a bonus action as a Mastermind, and I need to be within 30 feet of the monster, so I'll move if needed. As my action, I'll look for a weapon, anything, but preferably a bow of some kind, since Rog is good with one. Investigation, if needed: 7)

(my apologies, AP. If your objective ever seems excessively obtuse, please feel free to ask for clarification!)

Quote from Adaxter >>

(my apologies, AP. If your objective ever seems excessively obtuse, please feel free to ask for clarification!)

 I should apologize! That was actually in character, as Perspicacious is tired of not getting straight answers from anyone. This feels like a relief, a clear task that she can drive to completion on. Bring on the centipede!

(oh, sweet. Kick its ass!)

Edit: I completely forgot about my plan for standard initiative rolls moving forward. I'll get it next time!

Thosn sees you searching the roof for a weapon. She smiles, then holds her hands out, moving them through the air as though shaping clay. She nods, then  tosses something your way.

It's a longbow, quickly molded from shadow- so light it almost bounces out of your hand. It's rough around the edges, but it should suffice. 

(Empty bow: Normal longbow stats, but requires no arrows. Attacks deal force damage instead of piercing)

Initiative: 16

Cordelia (I know Ru is busy): 15