Burik, as you're leaning up against the wall, a chill runs down your spine. You can't quite place it, but something feels...off. You meditate on it a moment, but it passes, and you head back to your companions at the bar.

Brask, you're completely focused on your ale. You've had drinks at plenty of taverns in plenty of towns, but the beer here is simply divine. Even as someone without particularly discerning tastes, this stuff is fantastic. Crisp, refreshing, flavorful. You glance over at Burik but can't really get a read on him, so you go back to your drink.

Xyrfaen, being the most disciplined of the group, you focus up and start to study those around you at the bar and nearby tables.

OOC: I'm away for most of the weekend, so we'll pick up Sunday night / Monday morning.

Brask takes it a bit slower on his next ale, relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.  No matter, something will turn up.  There's always coin to be made in the big city.  Too many rich idiots in one place.

Xyrfaen eyes glaze over a moment as he focuses his attention to the interior of the inn, going from conversation to conversation to pick up familiar methods of speaking. He keeps completely motionless as he catches something interesting, but then suddenly perks up when the sound of a scream reaches his ears. "There's something happening outside, I'm going for a look." he says, not offering any further explanation as he shoulders past Brask and makes his way towards the door and the sound of the scream, his clawed hands ready to reach for the weapon on his back.

OOC: Anyone following Xyrfaen? Or will you guys stay inside the tavern? Up to you.

Burik will down the rest of the drink and then follow Xyrfaen out, resting his hand on his hammer as he does so.

Brask initially stays where he is, but as he sees Burik headed out as well, he follows, still holding his ale and hoping for some decent entertainment.

Xyrfaen hurries out the door and looks toward the direction the screams came from. His keen perception leads him around the building next to the tavern - some kind of textile shop, he thinks - and into a back alley between avenues. As he turns the corner around the building, he's jolted by the scene before him. There are bodies everywhere. What looks to be two priests are slumped over against a brick wall, both with their heads removed. Xyrfaen sees one lying nearby like any other motionless trash, still leaking blood onto the soil beneath. The other bodies still have their heads, and there are at least seven or eight of them. All wearing black robes, it looks as though they've been dispatched of in various ways. One is clutching his throat, purple and wide-eyed, curled up in the fetal position. Another looks as though he was flung up against the brick wall, now face down in the dirt with a crushed skull. And quite a few...almost all the others, in fact, are on fire. Xyrfaen squints as he looks up the alley, scanning the burning bodies. As his gaze reaches the far end, through the flames and smoke, he sees two black-robed figures leaning over someone. They look up and catch his glance for just a moment, promptly turning and fleeing out of sight between the next two buildings.

Just then, Burik catches up and starts to take in the ghastly scene. Brask arrives a few seconds later, slowly sipping his ale as he walks as to be certain not to spill it. 

"See if that one is still alive, and call the guard!" Xyrfaen cries out as he sees Burik and Brask arrive at the scene, pointing at the body the two figures were leaning over just moments before. "I saw two of them flee, I'll try to follow."

With two quick steps forward he pulls his weapon from his back and spreads his wings wide, doing his best to angle up in the narrow alley. A pursuit from the sky would give him the advantage, but he would have to catch up quickly if he did not want to lose track of them immediately.

Just what I needed, Brask exclaims happily.  He drops his drink and races after Xyrfaen, hoping the aarakocra will lead him to some amusing prey.

Xyrfaen tries to angle up, but the awkward alley makes it difficult to fly as efficiently as he is used to. The neighboring shop has clotheslines hanging up and a balcony on the top floor jutting out into the space. He does get up above the roof, though, and starts scanning in the direction the two figures fled. Roll investigation.

Brask looks up and cocks his head, realizing following the Aarakocra might be more difficult than he initially thought. 

Mechanics:

Burik will cast Spare the Dying quickly on any that look like they could be on the edge of death, heading after Brask after. He'll come back and check on them later.

Xyrfaen, you get above the rooftops and immediately start scanning the potential alleys and streets the two figures could have gone down. Flying over them, you only notice a single sleeping woman, bundled up in dirty blankets. There are doorways in every alley, leading to who knows where - shops, residences...maybe a secret hideout. One of the alleys has an open sewer grate. Another, an open door, hanging off its hinges. Xyrfaen can't find the figures, and eventually determines they couldn't have gone further than he's inspected - at least not out in the open.

Burik, as you run down the alley, you find the sole survivor of the fight at the far end. As you lean down, you realize it's the high priest you ran into earlier that evening. He's been slashed - once deeply across the chest, another across his arm. His robes are dark red, stained with his own blood. He's beginning to cough and vomit up blood and bile as you cast Spare the Dying, although you're not sure it will be enough to save him. 

"Hold on", Burik will then run until Brask can be seen, "Brask! Xyr! Have you got them!?"

If he's told they lost them, he'll quickly return to the fallen man, casting Cure wounds ( 9 ) and shouting for Brask to help him get the priest back to the Inn.

(Going to be away for a little over a week, so if I don't manage to post, just post for me if I'm holding it up)

Xyr returns to the alley where Burik is aiding the wounded man, pulling in his wings to descend. Just as before, the cramped walls are causing him some difficulty, but he does manage to land safely, albeit with a harder crash than he intended. Picking himself up from the ground, he shakes himself free of some of the dirt and looks to Burik and Brask.
"Too many places to hide. If we intend to follow, we will have to do it the old-fashioned way, just follow their tracks."

He then turns to the wounded man. "How is he, will he live?"

Brask is doing his best to keep up and not get lost.  Where is he?

Perception 20

You've all congregated back at the far end of the alley, where the fallen priest is attempting to recover. Burik's spell has helped a little, it seems - at least the priest isn't dead already. It seems as though something more serious is going on with him, though. Yes, there's the deep cuts which have been mended a bit by the cleric, but he's sweating profusely and is falling in and out of consciousness. As Brask steps closer, he gets a whiff of something that doesn't quite sit right with him. He leans in toward the priest, and the smell seems to be coming from the wounds. Brask, roll a medicine check. Everyone, let me know if you want to bring the priest to safety and/or try and track the suspects. 

Brask sniffs loudly:  Medicine 0

He definitely wants to track the suspects, but someone should save the priest; there might be a reward!

Xyrfaen cannot help but be annoyed by the situation, and the lack of guards at the scene. "We should bring him to the church. If he lives, perhaps he can tell us who did this. Will he live if we carry him?"

It doesn't seem like carrying him could make things worse, at least. You look around, and realize you're two long building lengths away from the street - and Xyr's incredible perception is the only reason he even heard the screams. Plus, there were way fewer guards in this district than in the others. There is the gentle hum of hustle and bustle coming form the main road, though.