Jurin sighs.
"Serra, just fart your way down. Watch."
Jurin makes a few arcane motions, and his hand lights up. Then he flies into the air and down the well.
"See? Of course, you're too fat to fit in the well..."
As Jurin flies down the well, a small gasp comes from below. The child tries again to look already dead, but it is too late; the flying man can see where he lays trapped on the small ledge.
Serra smiles at Kastor as he draws his wand of MM3 to cover Jurin as he flies down.
"I got you covered, Jurin. Don't you worry," Serra replies. "Nice to see you can fly via your own flatulence as well...or, as mom used to call it, 'a magic trick'."
Serra looks in, trusting his companions to keep his back safe.
Eli unsaddles himself, glad for a chance to stretch his legs. Approaching the well, and listening to Serra and Jurin josh each other, Eli peers into the well himself. Ah, the sound from the well turns out to be a villager after all...
Eli watches Jurin as he flits about the boy. As it becomes clearer how the boy will be lifted up and out, Eli debates the child's intent on being moved like a sack of potatoes. Should the boy prove unwilling, Eli barks at the child quickly to prevent anything untoward from happening.
Jurin holds out his hands and looks at the boy.
"You're not a fish, are you? If you were, you'd be down all the way. You're not a bird, or you'd be in the air. Maybe you're a scared boy? Nothing to be scared about now, depending on how you like your knights. Come with Jurin, we'll go flying."
Cole briefly leans in the saddle trying to perceive what, or who, has been found. He stays firmly in his position however and his eyes quickly wander the surrounding countryside for possible attack while everyone else is focused on the well.
Seeing nothing of note, he stews quietly and waits.
The countryside seems unnaturally still as Jurin and ELy try to bring the child up from the well. Unfortunately, the boy is so traumatized, that he will not reach for Jurin's offer of help, making things that much harder.
Jurin bums into the wall, once, twice, trying to get at the boy, but cannot manage to reach him. Instead, he tumbles into the pile of dead bodies, getting tangled in the rotting limbs.
The boy screams in spite of himself as the latest terror lands amongst the bodies with him.
Jurin grabs the boy and flies up from the pile of corpses as quickly as he can.
"This...seems...familiar."
Flying straight up he looks for a safe place to drop the child, settling on Serra as being the most likely to cushion his fall.
Serra positions himself to help the boy land, catching as necessary.
"Careful now, Jurin. You have plenty of flatulence left so you can do a nice placement rather than a drop."
Serra examines the boy in the sunshine.
Perception
The boy shrieks in terror as he summarily grabbed up and pulled free from his hiding space. His arms jerk, his shrieking stops and he rolls up into a ball once free and upon the ground. He makes no sound at all, but cannot still the trembling.
His hair is dark, though if that is dirt or grease or something else altogether different is anyone's guess. He reeks of death and bits of gore still stick to him even now.
Serra leaves the boy be for a moment, nodding to Kastor to watch over him.
"You're safer now, boy. Just take your time and calm yourself. You're going to need your mind with you if you're going to tell us what you saw," Serra coos to the lad while waving over Ely.
What kind of healer needs to be waved over at a time like this?
Serra facepalms, remembering.
"Ely! Ely! Maybe you can't see it, but there is a boy here who might use your help!"
Eli kneels down to get a closer look at the boy playing at potato bug.
"Use your eyes, boy. There's an army newly arrived. I'm sorry we were late. I'm sorry you've been left alone. At least let us look you over for signs of injury."
Beagan hears the all-too-familiar sound of a small voice squealing so large in fear. Unable to bring himself closer, he trots Xanthos forward, keeping watch for anything approaching, and putting some distance between him and the terrorized little one.
The boy, perhaps soothed by the group's assurance, trembles a little less, and whimpers a little louder, though he does not uncurl from his position.
"I know Kastor. He's hurt. He may never be a normal boy like you...but we'll do what we can for him," Serra assures his astute squire.
Serra casts detect magic, scanning the boy and well, to check if there is a magical ailment in either location.
"Ah... such a broken thing you are... you should have never wandered off... perhaps you'll listen next time..."
Eli looks over the boy, debating his condition. The lamb. It's just like the lamb caught in the crevice. Had to snap its neck. End its suffering. Eli shakes his head, and brushes away the flies as best he can. Would it be better to let him pass away, that we might preserve his body, until we could bring him back, I wonder. As the flies settle back down, he waves them away again.
His hand motions of brushing flies move to the child's forehead. Unable to think of anything else, Eli recalls the last time his own mind was at ease. He stops brushing, and let his hand hover above the boy's forehead. Let the heavens wait for you, little one.
Jurin floats through the air a little longer, then lands nearby.
"Probably the only one. Best I look for more."
He wanders back out to search the rest of the village while the boy is "comforted".
The boy's shudder cease for a few long moments, whatever Ely's done to him freeing him from terror's tight grip. When once it passes, he does not sink back into them, but stares off distantly, looking more disheartened than ever.
Jurin does not find anymore survivors; even the pets have either run off or been slaughtered.
Beagan will trot alongside Jurin as they search the remainder of the village.
"We were told the Wardstones needed to be brought down, or else situation would become even worse. I assume that was a correct trade-off, but I guess what-happened to this village might be an example of the downside of bringing the stones down."
He grumbles. "Demons seem to have a knack for backing us into corners, leaving us choices that have dire consequences, no matter what we choose. Someday, maybe we can turn some of the tables on them."
Serra looks at Ely with the child and is happy to leave the boy in his care.
I have my own burdens this day. Serra, as he mounts Dinner and readies to leave, thinks about the demon blood and ways to 'solve' the problem.
"Cole, you'll have to ask Ely what is going on there. I'm none too sure," Serra reports to Cole.
Sosiel approaches quietly, joining Ely in his triage. "Here, let me carry him to the commander. He'll need to decide what we do for the poor thing."
Cole looks the boy over, and shrugs. "We'll have to take him with us. We can't leave him here, and we can't send him back."
He looks unhappily at the cleric. "Sosiel, ask around the camp and see if anyone is willing to take charge of the boy. For now I'm leaving him in your capable hands. Do what you can for him; make him as comfortable as you can, see to it he gets fresh food and water, and report to me personally tonight with an update."
Eli looks down at the boy, observing the change in his demeanor. You... you saw her too... Now I understand... She's waiting for both of us.
"Here, let me carry him to the commander. He'll need to decide what we do for the poor thing."
"He might be..." ready to die... he might want to die... Eli pats Sosiel on the shoulder as he carries the broken bird away.
Eli mounts up, and joins his friends. He remains quiet as he contemplates the boy's options condition.
Jurin shakes his head.
"Demons play the long game Beagle. They're almost immortal, and the powerful ones have no problem sacrificing the weak to accomplish their goals. Look how much time we spent on that boy. Think a demon would do that? No, remember who we are and we can win."
"I'll take care of him Commander." Sosiel says, sadly. "But we'll need to slow our pace. He's fragile."
The boy weighs next to nothing, or at least it appears that way as the cleric lifts him, for he does not appeared hampered at all. It is not until reaching his horse that he sees the issue. Finally, he calls Ely over.
"I think the wagons will shake him too much. I can carry him, but I'll need someone to hand him up to me. Do you think you can help me?"
Cole frowns at the thought of more delay, but as Jurin says, it's what separated us from the monsters.
"Do the best you can. We'll all suffer the longer we're in the 'wound. Prepare whatever spells you may need tomorrow to give him strength for the journey."
Cole mounts his own steed and moves the party forward, mindful that the Cleric remain in or near the center of the group. As he lags behind, he slows the caravan to accommodate.
Damnit.
Eli comes when called. Approaching Sosiel, he turns his clouded eyes upon the child. His eyebrows raise, as if seeing the boy for the first time. "Whose child is this? He looks terrible. Of course I can help, but are you sure he can stand the horse's movements?" Eli picks up the child, and carefully elevates him into Sosiel's arms.
Serra thinks for a moment, considering Kastor's words (and his own) carefully.
"No, Kastor, this is not exactly like that...yet. This boy is merely sick and injured, a victim of the demon's violence, not a willing participant in it. We, as knights, must strive to protect those, like this boy, who cannot protect themselves," Serra responds.
"No, there shall be no knight's justice for this one, but knight's mercy and knight's aid. We are here to aid and protect those like him."
Sosiel blinks at Ely's odd comment. deciding the old man must be waxing philosophical, he answers in kind. "Ours, I suppose. The well may have done its worst, but he still lives, and so do we. That makes him ours." He brushes a hand over the poor boy's forehead, then continues, "But no, Ely, I am not sure. The captain commands it though. At least this way, I will be able to keep a close eye on him." If this was not quite the position Sosiel signed up for, he shows no sign. His horse picks its way slowly forward as the company moves out, and hums quietly to the equine as they move along. It seems to help his footing a little, keeping the gait slow and rocking, and free of any bouncy motion as one might find in a wagon.
The party is able to leave Vala's Gift by late evening, turning northwest towards the River, and the old Wardstone border. As noted previously by Beagan, there is no order now.
As predicted, Sosiel's burden does slow the party down and they are barely approaching the river as dark falls. Still, the men seem to be grateful for having moved away from the slaughtered town.
Cole frowns some more as they prepare to make evening camp. As he does his usual rounds he lets people know to expect rain tonight - and for their march tomorrow. He instructs Jurin, "Cook something special tonight, hot and filling. Might be hard to get the kitchen fires going with soaked-wet wood tomorrow night."
He tries to do his best to be supportive, but mostly he just moves through the camp quietly observing.
He sleeps little, as usual while traveling, but his sleep is restless and he is eager for an early start the next day.
"Sure thing Cole, we'll use the last of the goat before it turns bad."
Jurin begins humming to himself as he sets out the menu for tonight.
"Alright, let's get this together. Cook it all, we'll use the leftovers for breakfast. Light on the vegetables, use the rest of the fruit and the soft breads. Extra serving of rum to anybody not on watch, they'll need it."
Serra makes camp, has Kastor see to his armor and weapons.
He relaxes, sans armor and plus tassels, after the watch has been set.
Jurin sleeps for a bit and wakes earlier than usual.
He then begins wandering through camp, looking at people, measuring, weighing, thinking.
Serra relaxes and eats, confident that leadership would let him know if they needed anything. After all, that's what leadership does: makes things are taken care of. Like food, for instance. Or a watch order. Things like that...you know, leadershippy stuff.
Eli finds himself longing for a touch of dream, so turns in quickly, hoping to rise early for his meditations.
Cole, the confidant leader, walks strides through the area that night as he meets with various folks and watches over the camp during his chosen watches.
He assumes that his companions will keep what watches make the most sense for them and makes no mention of it. He trusts Jothinra will have the camp well guarded by paladins in any event.
That morning a growling stomach has him eating early, lips smacking at the good and plentiful food Jurin offers.
The destruction in the village and especially the boy's reactions hit too close to home for Beagan. He's a bit spooked and tries to rest. Too unsettled to sleep all the way through the night, he'll make the rounds in the middle of the night.
Jurin sits next to Cole as he's eating.
"Too many people, not enough food. Or we're too slow. Either way it's a problem. So, three choices Cole. Move faster, eat less, lose people."
He shrugs.
Jurin sits next to Cole as he's eating.
"Too many people, not enough food. Or we're too slow. Either way it's a problem. So, three choices Cole. Move faster, eat less, lose people."
He shrugs.
Cole looks levelly at Jurin. "Running short already are we? Or are you just planning ahead? I had hoped you'd have stocked enough for an extended trip, but I guess we brought just enough." Cole frowns.
"Moving faster doesn't seem to be an option, we're slowed at every step. Eat less? Have you seen what those paladins put away in a meal? I guess we'll have to lose people.”
Cole finishes his meal and gets up from the table and goes off to find the priest, Sosiel, and Jothinra. He explains the situation to them. ”So we have this boy who is slowing us down, whom we’re taking into danger, and now we’re running short of food - or will as time goes by according to Jurin.”
”The solutions seems apparent to me. Sosiel, you will accompany the boy back to town. Jothinra, I want you to send three of your men to accompany him on the journey. The four will then load up on food for the return journey back to the caravan - perhaps with a spare horse or two for the load. We’re slow moving and easy to track, you’ll catch up without too much difficulty I think as long as they ride hard.”
He looks at the two of them a moment, and reminds, ”This plan is not set in stone gentlemen. What are your thoughts?”
"I packed as much as they gave me. We've been delayed and now the priest isn't giving us the magic food, at this rate we're going to be short."
"Sir Cole, I agree with the assessment of the situation, but I disagree with the particulars. Vaenic is too valuable to the mission at hand to lose for an extended period of time. Is there any way that we can stabilize the boy enough to be carried in a horse-litter or something similar?"
"It is not vanity that makes me agree with Jothinra, Sir." Sosiel adds. " But perhaps a small handful of the paladins might take the boy back, carefully. We would have to give them some of our limited rations, but the would be better served than going forward and weakening when we need to be strongest. They will be able to avoid some of our detours, so should make it home the faster. I fear you will need me at the end, Sir, and I would not be able to catch up in time."