There had been a number of odd fires around the city in the last few weeks. Many people thought that there might be an arsonist running amok. It certainly seemed reasonable as you starred at the large building currently on fire and ragging out of control. The screams of people trapped inside filled the air.

"...Okay," said Nonstop.  "Hurricane, I think this is mostly you seeing what you can do for the fires.  Grendel, try and get people out of the top stories.  Longbow, you and me, I guess we're getting people out."

He charged in, counting on his electrosensing to find people despite the smoke and flames, and praying that his stamina would be enough to get him through the fire safely.

A small bubble of air surrounded your head and you heard Hurricane's voice on the wind.

"Jeez, relax a bit, man. I can do a lot."

You sensed that the people trapped were on the floors above where the fire was raging.

Nonstop nodded and took off at top speed.  No time to waste.

The first floor above the fire was clearly the most dangerous, only one room had people in it and it was a couple of kids hiding in a bedroom and crying as they hid under the covers.

No time to lose-- Jake charged in, kicking down the door, and grabbed the children.

The let out a scream as you did and areas of the floor began to break apart.

(OOC: It now counts as difficult terrain and give me a reflex save.)

29

You manage to get to the window with no issue and as you climb through it, the entire floor gives away.

For a brief moment, Jake was envious of his father's ability to fly.  That would really be nice right now... well, he could jump pretty easily.  He kicked out the window, and jumped with the children to the ground.

As you landed, the kids' parents rushed over along with some paramedics.

"Here you go, kids," said Nonstop, handing them over, and then jumping back into the building to look for more people.

The rest of the people were easy to save and with Hurricane's help the fire fighters got it under control. As you head inside for one last check, you sense a strange energy coming from one of the apartments.

"Hey, something weird here, guys," said Nonstop.  "I'm taking a look."

...kicking down doors was his new hobby.  Besides, it might prevent a backdraft.

Once the door is kicked down, you see a nice clean apartment. One thing out of place was an old looking book floating in the middle of the living room, about six feet off the ground.

The hell?

Well, whatever it was, he was sure that he could take it-- he charged forward, grabbed the book and headed, once again, for a window and out.

Hey! Be careful with me, you brute! a voice spoke in your mind.

The hell?

"...well, you aren't in a burning building now," he started, and then paused.

"...are you the book?"

Yes, I'm the book. Tome actually, the book said in your mind.

"Right," said Nonstop.  "The book.  Just floating there in a burning building.  Did you have anything to do with that?"

No. Why would I? I'm a book. Starting a fire would be very stupid. My owner has disappeared, the book said in your mind.

"Just now?" said Nonstop.  "Or a while ago?"

It's been about a week, the book said.

"...right," said Nonstop.  "I guess I should loop the rest of the band in on this."

He signaled to the others.  A post-mortem on the fire was the kind of thing that the fire department was better at, anyway.

Grendel landed near you, carrying an old woman in a wheelchair.

"There you are, madam," he said as he placed the woman down.

"Thank you, sonny," the woman said as she wheeled towards the paramedics.

"Okay, crew," said Nonstop.  "So good work.  Also, found a magic talking book."

Grendel looked at the book.

"You hit your head? Maybe inhaled something weird?"

"This coming from the giant dude," said Nonstop.  "Tome, are you going to do the thing where you only talk when no one's around to make me look dumb?  Or maybe you want to say something?"

Fine, fine, the book said in your mind, and from the wide eyes of Grendel his too, as well as Longbow and Hurricane who just arrived.

"So there we are," said Nonstop.  "Hey, Tome, who was your, uh... owner, writer, best pal, whoever was paying rent on that apartment?"

His nam is...his name is...this is odd. I don't remember, the tome said.

"Okay," said Nonstop. "Do you remember anything about him?  Anything at all?"

There was a silence like the tome was thinking really hard.

He-he lived in the apartment? the book said.

"So we probably have a gender and a residence?" said Nonstop.  "What did he, like, use you for?"

I'm a tome of magic secrets, the book said.

"Cool, I guess," said Nonstop.  "I don't know anything about magic.  Any of you guys?"

"Nope," Hurricane said.

"Not a bit," Longbow said.

"Yes, by that I mean no," Grendel said.

"...right," sighed Nonstop.  "So, uh, are they going to be able to save the building?  Tome, what should we do with you if the damage is too great?"

"The fire fighters have it under control," Longbow said. "Who knows if they can save it?"

"Gotcha," said Nonstop.  "Want to come with us, Tome?"

I don't know what else to do, the tome said.

"All right.  We can, uh, check back with the owners of the building later," he said.  "So.  Back to the ranch, guys?"

"Okay, I'll get us back," Hurricane said.