Nick and Crito have a plan, and they're able to execute that plan, even if it isn't completely flawless. Thanks to Nick's connections they're able to procure enough frostbreath elixir to put out the fire, though upon hearing of the situation, the alchemist selling them the reagents says that multiple fires in a short span of time is very unusual for the area... especially magical fires! After that encouragement to look further, they're allowed into the stabilized but still-smoldering shop to search for clues. In a back room they find what they're looking for: an entirely hidden passage to a basement beneath the entire property. Unfortunately, it's loaded with magical traps... but more fortunately, they are both able to detect magic, so they know that traps are coming. The security runes throw literal fire at them (hope you have some leftover potions) as well as knee-high goblins that will not hesitate to pants anyone they can get close to, though there's nothing too dangerous. Some collateral damage is to be expected with all that fire being thrown around, though. Once the threats are dealt with, the remaining paperwork and tax returns (because even a criminal ought to do their taxes) point to one of the managers of the pizza place as the ringleader. After setting their trap and doing a bit of cartoonish chasing, Nick and Crito are able to round up the escaped fire salamanders in a fireproof glass container. The morality of this is a bit dubious, but it's for a good cause... and it's only temporary, hopefully. Using their abilities they find the mad manager trying to grab his money and run, and they pin him down; at first he doesn't see the fire salamanders as an active threat but then they start escaping from the box and setting his clothes on fire so he reconsiders his life choices and gives up. Yay!
For their efforts in not only stopping the fires, but securing the source of them and bringing the "arsonist" to justice, Nick and Crito receive $300 to be split however they see fit, as well as a 20% discount pizza coupon at the establishment when it reopens in a couple weeks. It's good for three months, too! The salamanders are given new homes, some being sold in Undertown as licensed pets, and others as part of a supernatural wildlife rehabilitation center. A few are also cut loose to run amongst the freakier wild animals in the state park but who's counting. Due to the difficulty of finding homes for all of the salamanders, Nick and/or Crito can take home a salamander as a pet since they can't be released into the wild, if they like. (The salamander will have its fire glands humanely removed though. It's for safety reasons.)
Sometimes, stories can become larger than life. Due to the creativity and thoroughness used in solving this quest, your characters have been granted titles.
Nick will be known in certain circles as "Nick the Flame-Tamer"!
Crito will be known in certain circles as "Crito, Conductor of Chaos"!
They may be recognized by NPCs in certain areas (Undertown, Spirit Realm occupants, some factions, etc.) who have heard of their deeds. These titles also come with the perk "10% off all pizza". (Unlike the coupon, this has no expiration or limitations.) While you can earn multiple titles, you can only have one perk active at a time.
You can determine exactly how this quest went down, and thread (or handwave it) as you please! If you decide to turn in this quest for gacha points, please reply to this comment with your thread once you have commented at least three times.
MISSION: SUCCESS
For their efforts in not only stopping the fires, but securing the source of them and bringing the "arsonist" to justice, Nick and Crito receive $300 to be split however they see fit, as well as a 20% discount pizza coupon at the establishment when it reopens in a couple weeks. It's good for three months, too! The salamanders are given new homes, some being sold in Undertown as licensed pets, and others as part of a supernatural wildlife rehabilitation center. A few are also cut loose to run amongst the freakier wild animals in the state park but who's counting. Due to the difficulty of finding homes for all of the salamanders, Nick and/or Crito can take home a salamander as a pet since they can't be released into the wild, if they like. (The salamander will have its fire glands humanely removed though. It's for safety reasons.)
Sometimes, stories can become larger than life. Due to the creativity and thoroughness used in solving this quest, your characters have been granted titles.
Nick will be known in certain circles as "Nick the Flame-Tamer"!
Crito will be known in certain circles as "Crito, Conductor of Chaos"!
They may be recognized by NPCs in certain areas (Undertown, Spirit Realm occupants, some factions, etc.) who have heard of their deeds. These titles also come with the perk "10% off all pizza". (Unlike the coupon, this has no expiration or limitations.) While you can earn multiple titles, you can only have one perk active at a time.
You can determine exactly how this quest went down, and thread (or handwave it) as you please! If you decide to turn in this quest for gacha points, please reply to this comment with your thread once you have commented at least three times.