You are also struck by the memory of a young, blonde rogue, who left your company much more recently, with only a few soft words to Azmaria.
Captain Ronald leads Natanja, Cernan, and Lesith, as well as one of his officers carrying the sack and the axe, toward the Lord Mayor's estate on the edge of town.
Bob leads Aeryth, Eli, and Sister Azmaria, along with Gina, towards her Uncle Max's carpentry shop.
Kaya returns to the stables to update Marius, Poterol, Shyness, Kiwyn, Arabeth, and Chap.
"I shall return to my church to make preparations and warn the people."
Father Peter looks at Gina.
"Should you or your Uncle ever need assistance, my dear, remember, the Church of St. Pelor is open to you."
He turns to Sister Azmaria.
"I hope we will see each other again, under less dire circumstances."
Finally, Father Peter addresses the whole group of you.
"Thank you all for your work in uncovering and fighting this great evil.
I pray that good shall triumph in this land!"With that, he heads off towards his church.
Sister Azmaria smiles at the offer. It is the requirement of our order to work closely with all local churches. I would like that.
turning to Gina, i think we need to get to your Uncle's place.
"These flashes, we're dropping off like flies. How are we supposed to stop an army with so few?"
Cernan is happy to spend the next few days smithing silvered arrows, or overseeing their manufacture. (He doesn't actually know weaponsmithing, but maybe after another level or two)
"So what's our next step then? The town has been warned, all are on the alert for the creatures of the abyss and the hells. Is the consensus simply to wait for a potential attack or do we go on the offense and try to gain the upper hand before things get more out of control?"
Mind all of you, I don't know the best coarse of action or even where to begin more because I am woefully unprepared for what I fear we are going to face. I am concerned time is working against us faster than we can assess."
Bob leads Aeryth, Eli, and Sister Azmaria, along with Gina, towards her Uncle Max's carpentry shop.
When you arrive, you enter a gate, leading into a front yard filled with gazebos, benches, and other assorted examples of woodcraft. A bell on the gate rings, and a sweaty, muscular-yet-lean man emerges from the shop, wiping his hands on an apron.
"Welcome!
He smiles at the group of you, and his face lights up when he notices the girl with you.
"Gina? Well, this is a surprise!"
His eyes scan your group quickly, as if expecting to find someone else...
"Uncle Max!"
The small girl charges across the front yard, flings herself into the man's arms, and starts sobbing uncontrollably.
"Gina, dear, what's wrong?
Max kneels to hold the incoherent girl while looking up at the lot of you, concerned and questioning.
Gina just keeps crying, finally letting it all out.
"Well, uh, you see, Max... These here folks have some real bad news."
Bob's eyes shift to Sister Azmaria, Aeryth, and Eli, hoping that one of them will update Max...
"Indeed. The sad thing is we have no reason for the actions we've seen and no idea who might be motivated to do so..." Arabeth sighs slightly.
"But, I do think we've done our best bringing this information to the authorities here. Perhaps we can simply begin by asking questions of those here about the place we've come from? The better to create a picture of things before the tragic events unfolded?" Arabeth ponders. She does offer Chap a reassuring smile.
"I've met an Elf who kind of talked the way you do..." She says some what wistfully. Then nods,
"Though, the knowing of the why and such is also something to try and figure out. If nothing that we can do more than guess as to what might be about to happen. As they say, 'Knowing is half the battle'..." And she shrugs her shoulders with a rustle of her great feathered cape.
"Captain, in case we can be of any assistance, please consider my friends, and me, as willing to provide anything we are able. I am really worried about the safety of this town, after seeing what happened in Endurance."
"True enough," Marius agrees. He wasn't sure he was qualified to protect anything, given his record thus far, but he wasn't past trying. "We might not be an army, but we're something. Bound together by blood, even. There's something to be said for that. We're stuck with each other through thick and thin, whether we want to be or not. No sense sticking out heads in the ground and denying it, as weird as it may be."
The image of his ancient ancestor having relations with an angel popped back into his head. Marius shook his head and tried to scrub that thought from his head. As funny as it might be, that was probably a sure way to put yourself on the heavens' shit list.
Your Catfolk companion floats into the stable building, drawing stares from those passing by outside.
"Greetings, cousins. Arabeth, Chap, I hope you have rested well. The Captain of the Guard and the local priest have been updated. Some of our cousins have gone with the Captain to inform the Lord Mayor. Others of our cousins have gone to return Gina to her Uncle Max. They will likely be returning here later to spend the night. Perhaps we shall have another enlightening dream.
As for you all here, I would suggest more fully informing Mrs. Treekeep of the threat and the possibility of using bells, nets, and flour to combat it.
However... Kiwyn, I would request that you accompany me on something of a journey. I have a hunch that I'd like to follow that may assist us all in this quest ... and I could perhaps use your unique assistance."
Kiwyn looks at Marius, Poterol, Shyness, Chap, and Arabeth.
"I guess I'll see you guys later. Take care and stuff."
"Sorry to get your hopes up Kaya. Sleeping in the wagon did not go as well as even lowered expectations would have allowed.
But you're right, a visit to the Treekeep's might be in order, if not only to make sure they are safe and guarded, but to quell the roaring hunger in my stomach."
"Good luck on whatever secret errand you're running and God-speed your safe return."
"Max Gelthis." a flat monotone voice comes from behind a bizarre blank mask. "I fear that we have some unfortunate news about your family and that we must ask your cooperation and discretion. Gina will need to live with you from now on, until she is grown, unless you are unwilling to raise her or consider yourself incompetent to do so."
Eli pauses and looks around, carefully, looking to see if there are any others beyond his group and the Gelthises nearby.
"We have discovered that Endurant has been extinguished both literally and figuratively. The only survivor we were able to discover was Gina herself. She lived by hiding under a bed it seems, low enough to escape death through smoke inhalation and avoiding the attentions of the monsters that killed the others and set fire to the houses. My apologies for the grim news." he states without emotion.
"We are in the midst of making preparations to fend off any potentially similar issue with Vigilent. I do find it less likely considering the disparity in size but we are being cautions nonetheless. Regardless I wish you to know that we are doing our best to eliminate the threat."
"Some grub sounds a lot better than babysitting the stables." Marius glances down at Rex, whose ears had perked up at the mention of food. He smiles and pats the wolf on the head. "Rex agrees."
In the fenced-in front yard of the Gelthis Carpentry Shop with Uncle Max, Gina, Bob Treekeep, Eli, Sister Azmaria, and Aeryth...which is indeed rather private at the moment...
Uncle Max, still holding the crying girl, gapes up at this strange masked man, not quite comprehending his words.
"So... you're saying... my brother and his wife...?"
Kaya and Kiwyn head off on their mysterious journey.
Chap, Shyness, Marius, Poterol, and Arabeth take any easily portable valuables (coins, jewelry, etc.) with them and leave the rest of the Endurant goods on the wagon in the care of the stable hands.
You head next door to the Green Tree Inn.
As you enter the front door, a teenage boy wearing an apron, holding a club, and trying to look tough scrutinizes you before nodding his approval at your entry. He startles somewhat as Rex passes by.
Various townsfolk are eating here at tables, but you notice the atmosphere is more tense than usual, and the windows are closed.
Alice Treekeep notices your entry and hurries over to greet you.
"So, what's the latest news? What's going on out there? Is Bob okay?"
Arabeth nods to the young boy in recognition of his efforts. At Alice's question she waits for others to speak, unsure herself as how best to discuss things...
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Azmaria steps forward. hoping that her presence alone will help keep Max at ease. while Eli does speak the truth, sometime his delivery is not always the best.
Mr. Gelthis, I am Sister Azmaria, a demon hunter from the city of York. I am very sorry, but what Eli says is quite true, and I am afraid that all of your family in Endurant have indeed fallen. but still rejoice that God has spared Gina here. God has plans for Gina.
she kneels before Gina to speak with her. Gina, you are not obligated to learn to fight demons like I do. but if that is a path you feel called to do, I will help guide you. but for now, it is best that you stay with your Uncle. be there for him. the first lesson my order teaches is compassion and caring for others. Your Uncle will need you now more than ever. So pray every day and God, and the Saints, will guide you down the path they need you to go. and give you the strength to accomplish it
looking back to Max, Your Niece needs you as well, pray with her, guide her and protect her. God has brought us to her and then her to you, she is a gift. The sorrow you feel today will give you strength tomorrow.
Alice gestures to a nearby table for Shyness, Arabeth, Chap, Poterol, and Marius.
She brings you a platter of meat, potatoes, and carrots and a pitcher of watered-down ale, with five mugs.
Alice hangs around your table, curious to hear if there is any other news or anything else she can do for you.
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Gina nods at Sister Azmaria through her tears.
"Thank you. You are good. I will miss you. I want to see you again someday and learn to fight monsters!"
"So, you folks rescued Gina after a fire destroyed Endurant?
Well, thank you. I don't know what else to say, but I can't thank you enough."
Uncle Max hugs the girl tighter.
"And you say it was monsters or demons or something that started the fire? And no one else survived?"
Max seems to want to disbelieve what he's hearing. He's probably not quite sure what to do next.
"I am not, but with God's help one can stand against anything."
The front yard of the Gelthis Carpentry Shop with Uncle Max, Gina, Bob Treekeep, Eli, Sister Azmaria, and Aeryth...
Eli pauses for a moment before answering, looking at his companions.
"They have been honored as best as we could, given the circumstances. We are sorry for the dark news." Eli explains, flatly.
"Though small consolation we have this small gift to assist the two of you." he states, pulling out the money they'd agreed to give Max. "This is some of what we could recover from Endurant." he adds emotionlessly.
"Ah, thank you. This will help."
Max accepts the money, but seems more preoccupied with the crying girl and the news.
Bob turns to Eli, Aeryth, and Sister Azmaria.
"I'll stay here with Max for a bit. You three can head on about your business. It sounds like you've got a bunch of preparations to make. If you get back to the Green Tree Inn before I do, please remind Alice about the bells and nets, and tell her about the flour thing. I'll give Max those suggestions, too. And, I'll be home before nightfall."
Meanwhile, on the other side of town...
Captain Ronald leads Lesith, Cernan, and Natanja, as well as one of his officers carrying the sack and the axe, toward the Lord Mayor's estate on the edge of town.
You approach a large, ornate manor house, set back behind a tall hedge with an iron fence. The guards at the gate snap to attention when they notice Captain Ronald approaching. They let you inside without much fuss, although Natanja's fiery hair and Lesith's glowing halo certainly get second glances.
Captain Ronald speaks to a butler, and your group is shown into a side room to wait.
The Captain looks at the three of you.
"Let me talk first."
After a few minutes, a tall middle-aged man with angular features enters the room, wearing rich furs despite the warm season. He seats himself in a large cushioned chair, surveying the lot of you with displeasure.
"Yes, Ronald? This had better be important."
"Of course, Sir.
Sir, if my information is correct, it seems that the entire town of Endurant has been recently burned down, with only one survivor.
Also, it seems several small fiendish monsters had a hand in this destruction.
I would like to ensure that a similar fate doesn't befall Vigilant.
The Captain gestures at Lesith, Cernan, and Natanja.
"These are three of the travelers who brought us news and evidence of Endurant's destruction."
The Lord Mayor's eyes widen, and one of his eyebrows shoots up.
"The whole town destroyed completely?
What evidence do we have of this other than the word of some strangers?"
Captain Ronald gestures at the officer holding the distinctive bear axe.
"In addition to bringing back an axe I recognize as Mayor Daniel's prize possession, these travelers also brought back a young girl they rescued from the ruins, the niece of one of our local carpenters, Max Gelthis. The girl claims that little monsters killed everyone."
The Lord Mayor's other eyebrow shoots up, then his eyes narrow.
"If the town indeed burned down, how do we know it wasn't an accident of nature..."
He glances suspiciously at the three of you, and particularly at Natanja's hair.
"...or even the work of these travelers? Just because one over-imaginative child claims monsters were involved..."
Lesith winks at the captain and lets him talk.
"We have evidence, Sir."
He gestures to his officer, who reluctantly starts pulling one of the imp corpses out of the bag.
"Here are the corpses of the fiendish enemies these travelers fought and killed at Endurant."
At first, The Lord Mayor recoils with a slight shudder at the gruesome sight of the imp corpse, then leans forward, fascinated.
"Well, well, well. Who'd ever have thought? Look at that thing. It's hideous!"
"Yes, sir, but the worst of it is that these things can turn invisible, fly, and sting you with a debilitating poison before you know what happened. They're much more dangerous than a traditional soldier or assasin. I've already ordered the men on high alert and double duty, but I'd like additional resources to combat this threat."
The Lord Mayor seems to consider the Captain's words, but his eyes wander to Lesith, Natanja, and Cernan.
"What were you three doing in Endurant anyway? And how did you escape the fire yourselves, if no one else did?"
"Oh, of course. Here, have a seat."
Alice gestures to a nearby table for Shyness, Arabeth, Chap, Poterol, and Marius.
She brings you a platter of meat, potatoes, and carrots and a pitcher of watered-down ale, with five mugs.
Alice hangs around your table, curious to hear if there is any other news or anything else she can do for you.
Arabeth smiles in thanks at the food provided. As Alice continues t hover Arabeth invites the woman to sit with them a while.
After initially sating the worst of her late morning hunger Arabeth turns to Alice with a faint smile, the better to lessen the darker aspects of the things she says.
"Sadly, there is little actual knowledge we can tell you about what we've found." And the memories darken Arabeth's countenance for a moment as the things she's seen replay themselves through her mind.
"There will be rumor flying soon enough." And she shakes her midnight tresses at how folks always seem to love to speculate on things.
"We found much sadness and woe. Though there was one bright glimmer amongst the evil that we found. I wish I could allay people's fears, but in truth we have no real knowledge of the 'Why' of the things happening of what we've found. Only the aftermath. It is seeking the source that we go about now... Trying to bring to light any that would cause such troubles and seeking to prevent such bad things happening again...." Arabeth blushes, realizing she's been talking a lot and her gaze drops back to her meal again as she tries to think ahead of anything more she has to say.