"Fly, you fool!" you shout at the janitor, as your group goes speeding past.

There's a moment after you speak where you're able to see the man's face clearly. His features betray a complete lack of recognition for the line you just ripped off - either it loses something in the translation, or this is one fellow who's never read the modern classics. Just as your stride moves the man out of your visual field, you see the shadow expanding out from the mouth of the corridor, and the janitor's head turning slowly in its direction. Then you're past him, making for the nearest stair that leads down to the ground floor of the atrium, and the doors to the outside world.

From behind you, there comes a scream. It goes on, and on, and on - and then you hear a crash, as of a mostly-plastic cart being overturned and spilling its contents all over the floor, some of them crashing down with the tinny ring of low-grade metals, others giving off the distinctive clatter of plastic containers, and the rest producing a great liquid splash. The ongoing scream dopplers away in a different direction, before it's abruptly drowned out by a muted thunderclap and a pulse of magic.

"You cannot paaaahhhh!"

A high-pitched squeak and a wet splat punctuate Ambrose's self-introduction. You hear the old wizard spit out a curse of the non-mystical variety, and then you're clambering down the stairs, making far too much noise to hear anything else.

Altria - who, by dint of you having her in a bridal carry that lets her easily look over your shoulder, saw her mentor's inglorious arrival - buries her face in her hands and tries very, very hard not to laugh. From the shaking and squeaky snickering, it seems to be a battle she is destined to lose.

In short order, your little group reaches the ground floor. You've barely taken a step towards the door when there is a brilliant flash of light from the upper level of the atrium, followed by a howl of pain and fury. The receptionist-type person sitting behind the front desk falls off his chair at the sound, and you hear human shouts coming from several directions.