Orsin locks the window behind him and looks at the children in the squalor. Just like I used to be, he thinks solemnly. An instant later his expression flashes into a broad, warm smile.
He offers the children a low, exaggerated bow. "Many thanks, my lords and ladies. My company and I are your humble guests and if there is anything you require, all you need but do is ask."
Several of the little girls giggle a the bard.
"Ain't nolord,"one of the older boys says, he probably 11 or 12 but dreadfully thin. Like the others.
"I'll sh'r mi dinner" the smallest girl offers as she tucks her a one arm and legged doll on her lap.
"I'm 'mily...these 're mifr'nds." Her dirty little hand extends to Andrea. "Beasty's haven't found us yet. 'ot like las' place."
Takes the tiny hand in hers and lightly pats it. Hello Emily/Milly. I'm Andrea, and these are my friends. Andrea looks around the place again. You haven't been able to find a home safe from the beasty's Andrea tries soothign any worries the children might have of large armored figures in their midst. She offers her ration to help supplement their rat meal and casts 'light' to help brighten the area.
The look of panic hits several of the other children when the thought of sharing food strikes them.
Shinon chuckles at the offer. "That's very nice of you," he says kindly, smiling at the young girl. "But we all just ate! Right everyone! We had a nice dinner ourselves. So, go ahead and eat."
Shinon wishes he had some food to offer the kids but to be honest, until two days ago he was living on rats just like them and he still wasn't comfortable enough with the house in Grulios to try and take food from it with him yet.
Fiosa plops down and begins to tug food out of her small backpack. She unwraps all the food she has and starts to pass around some dried cured meet and few apples, a wedge of cheese, and loaf of bread. "Eat small pieces you don't want to be sick."
Shinon frowns and stands up, walking over and kneeling next to Janiven, whispering in her ear.
"These kids say that the shadow beasts haven't gotten in here yet, but it still wouldn't hurt to set up a watch of some kind. We should let Andrea and Orsino rest, and I wouldn't be surprised if Duncan's running low on fuel himself. Are you tired? If you want, I can take first watch, or if necessary I can stay up half the night and John can cover for me afterwards."
"We need to make sure this place is secured and defendable." Ermolos says as he pulls his great axe off his back. he begins to look around locating the only other entrance to the room. A broken stair case leading to wooden door on the first floor of the abadoned building.
Shinon winces. "Hey now!" he says, quickly standing up and putting his hands up. "Listen, we're not going to hurt you!" he quickly tries to reassure the children, before walking over to Ermolos and glaring at him.
"Not in front of the kids, okay? Put that away until you need it." Shinon will join him and examine the entrance.
Janiven whispers to Shinon:
"Well then, honored hosts, it seems as though you are stuck with us for the evening. How shall we pass the time?" Orsin's gives the children a bright smile, but his eyes betray a deeper pain.
Andrea sighs, thankful that Fiosa has saved her the embaressment of scaring little children.
Andrea turns to Emily. Are any of you hurt? Any boo-boos? Andrea tries drawing on the baby talk her mother gave her so long ago.
One boy shows you a bloodied foot that is wrapped in dirty cloth. His thin soled shoes were no match to the studded nails often found in the alleys. His foot is blackened and he has a fever.
A second girl shows you leg lateration she picked up a few days earlier running from the baker.
Several kids ahve black eyes and numerous bruises form the rough street.
Several kids have creeped a bit closer to the tall funny man with flashy clothes. His voice soothing.
"Stand on John and my shoulders, hammer that door shut" Ermolos discusses with Shinon.
Shinon groans. "Well, alright...just don't drop me." Shinon will climb up on Ermolos's shoulders and attempt to nail the door closed.
Andrea examines the boy's foot, now keenly aware of her lack of traditional healing skills.
Fiosa, can you clean this boy's foot? Andrea takes out her holy symbol and murmmers a prayer, sending a warm wave throughout the room.
2 out of 5 used
Janiven checks out the fruit cellar bringing Duncan with her. It is small walk-in room that is roughly 7 by 7 in size, the canning is long gone along with the wooden shelves that once hung on the walls. It's a bit cooler in that room. There is single wooden beam that looks the door.
"I'm sure you and Ermolos can rig a better lock with these three pitons that I have remaining. Perhaps a bold ito the door jam and floor.
The sound of howling can be hear with the rising moon.
It's going to be a long night...I feel that in my bones.
Shinon groans. "Well, alright...just don't drop me." Shinon will climb up on Ermolos's shoulders and attempt to nail the door closed.
Janiven hands the kids a full waterskin smiling, "you'll be fine tonight" They better be or this is where I die.
She then takees another water skin and makes a small puddle of mud on the floor. She grasps chucks of mud and begins to cake it along the seams of the window, so light does not escape. "No need to draw unwanted attention with the light from inside," she expalins to the children.
When the hideout is as secure as it can get Ermolos sits down and he looks at oldest boy and the pitted dagger he had in his lap. Ermolos slides one of his daggers out from its shealth and flips it so he is holding the blade. "Trade ya'
The hesitant boy looks at Ermolos as if it's a trick.
"Go ahead take it." Here let me show you as he pulls out a couple whetstones and gives it to the boy, "ya need to do this everyday, 'specially if its been used." He demonstrates the movements.
Ermolos works on the pitted blade.
Janiven hands the kids a full waterskin smiling, "you'll be fine tonight" They better be or this is where I die.
She then takees another water skin and makes a small puddle of mud on the floor. She grasps chucks of mud and begins to cake it along the seams of the window, so light does not escape. "No need to draw unwanted attention with the light from inside," she expalins to the children.
Orsin sits down cross-legged with the children. "Who wants to hear a story?" he asks as he pulls a stack of Pathfinder Chronicles from his backpack.
Orsin looks over his shoulder to the others, trusting that they know how to secure the building.
As the night goes on Duncan casts CREATE WATER to at least keep the kids refreshed and the skinsfull. He grabs some sleep and takes the graveyard shift, being the only one with Darkvision it made sense. He uses the time to mentally berate himself for being so stupid today. Before he rests he mentally readjusts to focus on being strealthy like Shinon.
As the night goes on Duncan casts CREATE WATER to at least keep the kids refreshed and the skinsfull. He grabs some sleep and takes the graveyard shift, being the only one with Darkvision it made sense. He uses the time to mentally berate himself for being so stupid today.
As the party sleeps, several of smaller children huddle nearby for the security. Most never knowing or barely knowing any adult that willing offered to help them.
After washing Milly's face with some of Duncan's water ,Andrea does catch some time for sleep, the exertions of the day catching up to her as she leans against the wall and wraps her robes around herself and slips into a dreamless sleep.
After Orsin reads an exciting, romantic Kyonin adventure story (and maybe also an Alison Kindler ghost story for the older children), Orsin grabs his eight hours, using his backpack as a makeshift pillow. He doesn't mind if anyone sleeps beside him for warmth.
During the first hour of the watch you hear hols, screeches and what sounds like an attack on some animal outside the building. The window moves and rattles, shortly thereafer.
The second hour has the door at the top of the fallen steps rattling wildly. Obviosly being tugged and pulled upon.
Shinon stands at the bottom of the stairs, vigilantly keeping his bow drawn and an arrow knocked, aiming right at the door and ready to loose the arrow as soon as any creature gets through.
The rattling stops he sound of heavy boots on the wooden floor can be heard. Sandy and dirty fals between the creaks and into the basement.
Shinon glances up curiously, trying to spot the source of the sound.
[dice=Perception to wake up!]1d20+4
Andrea you body stirs awake a the sounds of foot steps and sand coming from above. Peering out you eyes you see Shinon crouched int he corner looking up with an arrow notched. Duncan holdinghis bastard sword stare the Window down. Your maternal instincts trigger it's time to move the kids into the fruit cellar.
Andrea gets to her feet and hurridly whispers to the children, lightly shaking shoulders. Wake up children, Hush! Beasties are lurking outside. Everyone into the fruit cellar Andrea gets Fiosa up and has her aid in gathering the children into the fruit celler. Crouching in the doorway to the cellar, Andrea loads her crossbow and waits, a prayer on her lips...
Fiosa rollsover ot her other side.
Andrea decides to wake Fiosa up by groping her under the blanket. Fiioosssaaaa. Wakey wakey.
*Squoosh*
*Jiggle*
If that doesn't work, Andrea picks Fiosa up and puts her in the fruit cellar with the children.
She brushes your hand away mumbling, "I'm tired...not now.' her eyes pop open.
I'm sorry, Fiosa, but there is something up above us that rattled the door. It might be a shadow beast. We need to get the children into the fruit cellar. Andrea guides everyone into the cellar and takes up position before the door as before.
Until Everyone is safely downstairs, Duncan remains resolute. He has.no trouble seeing and will guard the children with his life.