Oni looks at Jill and it seems like she is either concerned for him or annoyed at his arrogance. Oni has a moment of thought and looks at Jill, ”You’re right, I shouldn’t have run off on my own. That thing ran north, Grum or Natasha can you track it and see where it’s headed? Maybe we don’t pursue it now, but find it later when we’re ready.” As he talks his form changes back human and he sheathes his longsword. He looks back to Jill and in a lower tone says, ”Thank you.”

"North, as in the direction of the upper district and the town hall? Might I suggest we go now, rather than later? Presumably that's where we'll find the mayor, and if the demon is headed that way, we might want to bring its destruction to a halt sooner rather than later. I don't see that we can be much help with the spreading fire. The townsfolk in their numbers are more suited to that. We're more suited to the protection of the mayor and the destruction of this evil. "

Misha was looking in the direction it was heading. North. 

So. We CAN hurt it. Bane has provided a worthy foe.

"Demon has purpose. Heading to place specific." She turned to the others. "Come, we must follow. We stay together. Have no way to put out fire, but possibly can save people along the way - one time, in band camp, saw casters use water magic to kill fire. But we are few. No way to do so. We must press forward and kill demon. Gain much honor and glory. Come."

She took one last look back at the ruined inn, and had a mournful face.

"Goodbye, armor.."

She made a gesture to stick together, and began to walk north.

Oni silently nods his head in agreement and will follow the group towards the fiend.

The babau stands on top of the three-story town hall, holding the mayor by his nightgown over the edge of the shingled roof. The terrified villagers watch in horror as the demon begins to speak in a harsh, grating voice. 

"I speak for Mahu, Lord of the Abyss and Tyrant of the Nine Hells! Our Lord Mahu is not without mercy. Bow before him, and your king will be allowed to live." The babau pounds it's chest and howls to the night sky. "Bow before our Lord Mahu!"

((I really hope this works but there’s a slim chance)) Seeing this, before he gets out in the open Oni will use Mask of Many Faces to make himself look like the Mayor and walk out with his hands up. ”Please don’t hurt him, he is my protective body guard that disguises himself as me. Take me instead, I am the real Mayor! I don’t want anyone else to die for me!”

Deception: 22

The babau stares in confusion, first at the disguised Oni, and then at the halfling in his hands. 

"Catch him, then!" The babau croaks, hurling the mayor from the precipice and doubling over in laughter at his own wit.

Now that the Babau no longer has a hostage, Grum draws his bow and fires an arrow:

Attack: 25 Damage 4 + 3 (assuming it's been less than an hour since first casting Hunter's Mark).

Oh no. Oni sprints towards the falling mayor and will attempt to help catch him. Even though it might not help much, Oni will cast Mage Hand to help catch the halfling. ((Unless casting the cantrip means he can’t reach the falling halfling))

(Oni, it's going to take a good Athletics check to pull this off.)

((Ooh boy, a negative modifier will add to the fun, hopefully someone helps me)) and is this Athletics to get to him before he splats?

Athletics: 11

((I tried lol))

Is it too late for Jill to give Oni help in trying to catch the Mayor?

 ((For what it's worth, I thought the deception move was brilliant. Shame that the demon had no use for a hostage that wasn't the mayor.))

Quote from Xarboth >>

 ((For what it's worth, I thought the deception move was brilliant. Shame that the demon had no use for a hostage that wasn't the mayor.))

 ((Haha thank you, I wasn’t sure what to do if it worked but I wanted to try))

(Jill can make a move for the mayor as well, but after that he's a splat.)

Athletics:22

Jill catapults herself over Oni and manages to break the mayor's fall. The babau's laughter ends abruptly and it glares vehemently at her.

We'll begin a new combat round, using the same initiative order as when we left off. (Grum, I'll resolve your attack when you're up in initiative. Even though you expressly stated you were attacking the babau and I don't think that would fit into the time constraints.)

(So am I up first then?)

((Yes. How far from the ground is he? And would Jill and Oni be around 10 feet away from the tower since we ran to catch the mayor?))

Kelric takes aim once more with his shortbow shooting once at the fiend

Shortbow: To hit 18 Damage 7