Gerrit looks around. Made difficult by the fact that his mind suddenly thinks how any of the hundred books on the sheleves could be the Paradise. Yet that sparks an idea. Maybe they could turn the rage against innocent targets. At least enough to save an innocent blinded man.
The man holding the lantern opens it and puts the book inside. The flame flares, pulsating up the cover, causing it to begin to peel. Oily smoke escapes from the book as it begins to blister. He tosses it onto the stacked table with the other copies.
The three men kick and punch the wretched robe figure. And one… one looks from the fire to the owner and back again. You can see the lunacy in his orbs begin to burn with an idea.
Colonel: to have surprise, you’ll have to roll Dex+Stealth+2. You’ll get one free attack if you succeed (no defense applies). Either way, if you attack, initiative will have to be rolled.
John tries to look deeper. Find the source of the ink. However, the more he looks, the deeper the ink becomes. The farther it’s reach is revealed. While the book was the focus, the effect leaked from the ceiling. Coursed down the night’s streets. Flooded into the nearby houses. And while it no longer seeped deeper, those effected were already stained.
John detects a magical effect 50 yards in radius. While it is cannot effect anyone new (even those that enter), those that were inside that radius when the power was activated will carry the effect (even if they leave the initial ‘blast zone’).
Roll Int+Occ to ID the magic.
The pencil skirted woman pushes her way through the thinning crowd. Her eyes wild, darting to the book and all around her as she makes her way forward to John, doing her best to stay sane in the chaos.
"What else can we do?" she asks him, her voice high and frightened as she tries to bear the knowledge that a story is trying to consume her and everyone around her.
She catches sight of the table, and the group beating down a screaming man, her eyes somehow going wider at even more horror.