Despite the demon's best efforts, though, it's pretty hard to effectively storm the manor when they have to get past a pit and a puddle of Grease and a wall of angry people with weapons. The pit goes down after a few moments, but by then most of the strongest demons have already been dealt with, and Blai's party and the Count's guests can take down the survivors. Everyone on the front lines has taken some injuries, and one of the nobles is grimacing at a particularly nasty-looking wound from the unusually large schir, but no one is actually dead.

When that's done with: "Do we need my channel here and now or can we make it to Defender's Heart to catch one there?"

"Please, my good sir, allow me."

He takes a few steps towards the door, raises his hand in the air again, and — channels? At least, it certainly feels like a positive channel, and it seems to be healing people? His eyes dart around the room, assessing the remaining injuries, and then he channels a second time.

???

Nenio has retrieved a small notebook and is frantically scribbling notes.

"Without a holy symbol," Blai remarks after sorting through remarks that include "but you're evil".

He brushes a lock of hair out of his eyes. "I have never cared for the gods, and the feeling, so far as I have been able to determine, is mutual."

"Do you happen to know how it is you can channel anyway?" Blai inquires.

He stares impassively at Blai. "I suppose I have always had a special talent for healing."

Scribble scribble scribble. "Subject appears to be disturbed by questions about his unusual abilities! Hypothesis—"

Lann elbows her.

He will leave further impertinent questions to Nenio. Did all the demons come in or are there more to mop up if they look outside?

There are no demons in the immediate vicinity of Daeran's house.

"Thank you for your contribution to ridding the city of demons," Blai tells the count. "If you'd be willing to do more of it they remain denser than anyone would prefer."

He looks around his ballroom and sighs. "I suppose I can hardly remain here under the circumstances. Very well; I suppose I am willing to accompany you for the time being."

"Wonderful! I look forward to making further observations of your magic, boy!"

.......if he's not going to complain about the lack of titled address Blai supposes he will not take it upon himself to make that among the 1.6 things he can get through to Nenio today. "Will your retainers accompany us - or, no, I suppose in... two or three hours?... the Delay Poison will wear off -"

His last nearly five hours by now, but for all he knows the Select will use that as an excuse to conscript his guests. 

"I expect the others can't be too far ahead by now. Perhaps my guests would be willing to do me the favor of accompanying them to the Defender's Heart?"

(The other nobles nod.)

...Huh, Korbinian isn't Evil anymore. There... is probably not a good way to bring that up.

Blai consults the map. "We can perhaps detour past the Tower of Estrod for a look at the place on our own way back to Defender's Heart; I think everything else we had in mind is a bit more out of the way to hit before dark."

"A wise suggestion! The Tower of Estrod houses many artifacts and documents of tremendous historical significance."

"Pretty sure right now it mostly houses a bunch of demons."

"It is the latter quality which brings us there today, yes, kindly do not attempt to go looting, Nenio."

"Artifacts can still be of intellectual interest even if I do not take them into my personal possession!"

"Please allow me a moment to gather some additional supplies, Select." (There's a slight touch of displeasure in the way he says 'Select.')

He ducks out of the ballroom, but does in fact return a minute later with a number of potions and scrolls.