The chest-faced things are surprisingly nimble. They lumber after the pair and attempt to follow them up the stairs, but their eagerness to give chase causes a pile-up at the bottom.

"I don't see any other option. Do you?" he replies tersely without looking around.

Once at the top, he kneels by the edge of the roof. Nyx lands beside him, alert and ready for his command. He concentrates on the steps he created but moments ago, drawing a quick, neat arcane circle with some chalk from a pouch on his belt.

There's a flash of violet light. Suddenly the steps begin to crack. The crumble into dust from top to bottom, destroying the only remaining way out of the alley.