"My name is Firinn. You probably recognise Rionnag." Firinn calls, as his (rather unique) companion flutters above his head. "Please don't shoot, she's not dangerous. The password is Silverstrong." The hunter adds, the note he read from Irabeth coming back to him.
Lorena mostly stays silent and lets the others do the talking. She doesn't try to stay out of sight - that would arouse even more suspicion - but the less she says, the better. If challenged, she explains that she's just a traveller caught up in the attack, waiting for the others to step in and support her.
The man goes quiet for a moment as Firinn says the pass code, then you hear him answer Khaz.
"Kelris Bartel is my name, member of the Eagle Knights good sir." A young man steps out from behind some cover as do others, all lowering the cross bows. "Come a head and we will get you inside."
As the party moves forward Aniva comes out of cover, a few mumurs go though the assembled men and women. Kelris quiets them all with a look, he walks with you to the building.
"Where did you hold out till now?" He asks
”In short? We were at the square. Fell into caverns below Kenabres. Fought our way to the surface past a group of cultists and have been looking for safe shelter since. What is left of the city? The demons, were they pushed back or are they mustering still?”
"They have free reign of the city from what we have been told, we just got here a day ago from the western wall. I lost a few people along the way, we were ambushed by cultists." Kelris Says.
Defender's Heart is a large building of solid looking stone, Archers can be seen on the roof as they peer down to see what is going on.
"There may be rooms inside, Aniva will find someone special as well."
Firing stays silent, having spoken the paraphrase he seems to be done with introductions for now.
The doors to Defender's Heart are made of Solid Cold Iron, just looking at them makes you think this place is well build and lots of money was put in to it.
Entering you see that the Building for those who are not local has been coverted into an Inn, the main floor has a common room, a large dining room and a bar. Many people can be seen, some wounded some not, the mix of military personnel and civilians is apparent from the dress of people. A stair case winds up the back of the building, standing on the steps is a Half Orc Dressed in full plate, her eyes light up at the sight of those entering the building.
A noise can be heard from behind everyone as Aniva moves in and sees the Half Orc. Her smile widens as she tries to hobble forward at a Quick pace.
"Irabeth, I got your note." Aniva moves through the crowd as everyone knows who these two are moves out of the way.
”Thank ye. And Aniva, gods blessings be upon ye. It’s been a rough time, but ye’re safe now. I hope ye find ye’re other here.”
Then, to Firinn and Lorena. ”I, for one, am not done. There’s cultists behind all this. We know they came for this mace as well. I’ll be looking for a strong arm or two in here to make this right. Ye in?”
Lorena hesitates for a bit, but says, "Sure, I'm in. I don't have much else to do here anyways." In her mind, she adds, and I'm less likely to be killed in a crusader stronghold if I'm with a paladin.
Irabeth doesn't say a word to anyone just rushes over and embraces her wife. After a few seconds she turns to the group.
"Thank you for returning her to me, what happened?" Irabeth's face remains calm but her eyes betray the emotion she is feeling. "What do you know of what is happening in the city?"
Khaz bowed his head, respectfully. ”I am glad as well. She is a brave woman. Injured as she was, she offered no complaint as we fought our way through cultists, demons and other filth. But what has happened? We fell underground during the attack and had to fight our way to the surface. Any new ye could offer would be much appreciated.”
"My men and I arrived Yesterday Morning. We found people holding out in this place and have moved to fortify it. We have cleared some of the streets around here to give better sight lines on who is approaching." Irabeth looks at her wife. "There is room here for everyone to stay, is it just the 4 of you who made it out?"
Everyone in the room has turned to hear what you have to say, some children push their way through to get closer. One little girl is mesmerized by the giant floating butterfly, few keep looking at Lorena and then whispering to themselves.
Firinn sees the little girl staring at Rio and moves carefully through the crowd, trying to look approachable. His scared face and hands don't lend itself well to that but he closes none the less and kneels down.
"Would you like to touch her?" He asks, whistling quietly as Rionnag settles lightly onto the floor in front of the girl.
Firinn doesn't see an adult around the girl, there are many kids who don't see to have adults with them. The reality of the situation sets in on the group that there will be many Orphans now, many people who are also widowed as well.
The little girl reaches up a small hand slowly towards Rio, touching Rio the girl pulls her hand away just as quickly. The other kids see this and start to crowd around wanting to touch Rio as well.
A large burly man approaches the group, he is missing and eye as the socket is open and uncovered.,
"Sam McTucket, Owner of Defender's Heart. I have rooms fer ye all, no cost just have to pull your own weight and bring back supplies when you can." Sam puts out a big hand to shake all of yours. Once he gets to Lorena he smiles "A Tiefling eh? Never had an issue with yer people, yer safe here lass." Sam hands over a key to Lorena then 2 the men.
Lorena does her best to ignore the children, though she feels the stares and whispers. Hopefully the kids aren't familiar with her exact heritage; it's not something they should have to worry about at that age. Thankfully, Firinn and his big butterfly distract the children as the man approaches. Lorena takes her key with a small nod and grateful smile, and replies in a quiet voice, "Thank you. Hopefully everyone else here thinks the same way." The sooner she gets out of the public's eye, the better.
To the crowd, Khaz said:
"When we fell through the ground, we numbered nine."
Khaz looked over the crowd. They were all missing family and friends, and were eager for information about them. He took a deep breath and continued:
"Aniva, myself, Lorena and Firinn stand before ye. The mage Aravashnial and the nobleman Horgus have both been returned to their respective homes where they are safe. A man by the name of Terry and a half-elven ranger named Aerleth were with us, but we became separated from both. And...the mage Carson Whitaker fell in valiant battle against the forces that assail our city. If any here want to know more about anyone I have mentioned, I will do so."
AN older looking man moves forward as Khaz talks about the others that they have travelled with
"Aravashnial you say? Where did you leave him?" The man asks
”In a library. Saved some scholars from a traitor knight. The elf knew them, were part of his order. He’s safe there. Holed up and hidden. Though, his eyes were injured in the explosion in the square. Nay sure what powers the scholars had. But given that he insisted on staying there, I think he’s got a plan to remedy that.”
"It was called Blackwing." Firinn adds from his position amongst the children, whom he is lifting one at a time to sit on Rios back.
The commotion is hard to miss, and others start coming from elsewhere in the building to meet the new arrivals. One of those moving out onto the stairs is a thin, hard-nosed young man, who stops at the landing, looking out to see the new arrivals. "Khaz? Firinn? You're alive? You're ALIVE!" He starts down the stairs pushing past those who had to push past him while stopped on the landing.
He works his way across the common room and gives the dwarf a hug. "You must have figured out how to use one of those." He points at the axe and mace.
----
"I never thought I would say this, but it is good to see you alive, too, Lorena. Too many dead, too few friendly faces. Far too few." The smile he's been wearing breaks, but the look is sadness, maybe even regret, not his normal hard-nosed, cold look.
Lorena tilts her head at Terry as he reappears out of the crowd, a long way away from where they'd last seen him. "Thanks. I think. Good to see you're still alive as well."
"Still hard to kill." Firinn agrees, althpigh wjethe he means himself or Terry isnt wholely clear... "Good to see you again."
”Aye lad!” Khaz walked forward and slapped Terry on the arm. ”We feared ye dead when we got separated. It’s good to see ye again.”
"I know it ain't your style, Khaz, but you would be amazed what some well timed staying behind rocks can accomplish. I thought it a miracle when I reached the surface, 'till I saw where I was. Now, here's another, with you three returned safe and sound, too!" He says nothing to contradict that point, but you hear the suggestion of a question in his "three".
”Aye. Carson...didn’t make it. An orc, both a warrior and a mage. It came to kill Aniva. We tried to stop it. It...taunted me. Said that it would kill all of my friends first, make me watch. It...killed Carson. I couldn’t stop it.” He trailed off, the guilt evident in his voice.
Khaz took a deep breath. ”Terry. There is something at work here. What happened to Kenabres...we were betrayed. We’ve already fought cultists of Baphomet, who aided in the destruction. We’ve also stopped their efforts to get this.” He held out his golden mace. ”It’s a holy weapon that they sought to corrupt. I want to know why. I want to know who was behind this, and to stop them. But we can’t do it alone. You’re right, being quiet is not my style. And because of that Carson is dead. If we had checked out the building more thoroughly, he might still be with us. We need your help. Will ye join us?”
"So Blackwing Stands still that is good, the knowledge in there is invaluable towards the efforts to fighting the Demons. Could I trouble you to bring Aravashnial and the other librarians back here?" The man asks
Khaz turned towards the man with a tired and wary eye. ”That depends. Who’re ye to ask such a thing?”
"My name is Quednys Orlun, head of the Rift Wardens in Kenabres." The man says with an air of superiority. The man has an Eagle talon Tattoo on his face.
At Khaz's mention of cultists, Irabeth pipes up. "Did you see if they wore Heraldry on their clothing? Were they members of the Hammer of Heaven?" some hatred can be heard in her voice.
"Aye, could do that. Though we've got another with us. Name of Lann, think he should meet ye. He's a mongrelman. Him and his people helped us against the cultists. They looked like..."
Khaz detailed what the cultists looked like as best as he could, describing their manner of dress and choice of weaponry. He further told the man about the mongrelmen, both the good tribe and the bad one.
"...so while we go find yer elf, how about ye talk to Lann? Sure he and his people have a trove of knowledge of the early crusades, as well as what the cultists be up to under the surface. Sound good to ye?"
Irabeth listens to Khaz, "We should move upstairs I have a room that we are using to help us stage our take back of the city. Your friend Terry can be included and you can bring this Lann up with you." Irabeth sends someone out to bring Lann in since he didn't want to cause a commotion with his appearance.
Leading the group up the stairs Irabeth takes you into what would be a second floor dining room. The large table has a map of the city on it with pieces on it. A comfy chair is brought in for Aniva and food and drinks for everyone.
Quednys comes as well since he is the leader of the Rift Wardens and Irabeth is the highest ranking military personnel.
"Can you show us areas on the map where you have been? That way we can mark them off?" She then turns to Lann "Please tell us about your people and what you may know of what is going on."
Khaz waved over Firinn and Lorena. Huddling with the two of them, the party had soon showed what areas they had been to, and provided information about what they had seen and combated within them.
"So much of the nobel district is destroyed or has been razed." Irabeth says. "My Own home was an ambush spot to try to finish off my wife. I will tell you about that orc later." Irabeth says looking at Aniva.
"So you came out here?"[b] Irabeth points to the southern portion of the city map, [b]"Made your way along the eastern part of the city and ended up here? You also rescued Horgus Gwerm? I am astounded that he survived but he is clever and resourceful to say the least."
"Clever and resourceful? More like lucky. He just hid behind us and complained the whole time." Lorena doesn't note the irony of herself mostly not being of help at this meeting but instead complaining about Horgus.
"Go with you where? I'm ready to help where I can, but are you planing on just wandering about, or what?"
----
Once the invitation for a planning meeting is made, Terry looks relieved. "Yes, let's talk about details somewhere. Seems like a really good idea."
----
Speaking of less than helpful comments . . .. While the group shares their information, Terry listens and watches. When they start to wind down discussing what they've seen and where, Terry speaks, a sad note in his voice. "It looks so simple and clear on the map, compared to the mess and blood out in the city. Almost like none of the violence, destruction, and death matter. But they do, don't they?"
"Everyone get some rest and we will meet in the morning to discuss our plan to retake the city." Irabeth says.
Many of the People in Defender's heart retire for the night, the watch is changed, every third window has an archer in it and those out on the streets come in and new people go out.
Khaz went about doing something of great importance. Asking those in the heart if any knew of his family. He prayed that they made it through the invasion alright...
A few people have heard of some Dwarven clans being around the city, there is a Dwarven smith here but he isn't of the Cloudbreakers that anyone knows of.
Firinn does his best to be involved and sociable, but large gatherings still make him uncomfortable and being squashed in this closely together makes him think of the Kuthonite ceremonies. Unable to handle the closed nature of the building any more he escapes to the roof, where he and Rionnag sit, staring at the stars and enjoying the solitude.
Terry works his way into the crowd and finds a seat in the middle of the action, so he can think a bit. "They didn't choose to help you get out. Don't know if their efforts made things easier after you got separated or not. Don't really owe them anything. Do you? But you can't let the demons win. That's not how the story is supposed to play out. Nobody likes the guy watching from the sidelines. To get very far, they'll have to take the fight out into the Wound. Nobody's out there, anymore, not that matters. You already know that. No good reason to take those risks." His thoughts slow, as he looks around him, at a room full of people on the sidelines, hoping someone will find a way for them not to be simply fodder. "Don't owe them anything either. Not that much, anyway. But it ain't about what you owe them is it? It is about whether that child over there ever gets to stand in the sun and play catch. Or that one ever gets to play a game of tag that doesn't involve the losers being slaughtered. No, you don't owe them anything. But they're going to make you pay that price anyway, aren't they?" He looks up and glances around himself. "I need a drink. A big one. Several."
Even though she's been assured that she'll be safe and welcome, Lorena still feels the stares and murmurs wherever she goes, so she retires early to her room, undressing and stretching her tired body and wings, then sorts through her pack. She finds herself staring at the mysterious necklace she'd found as a child, tracing her hands over the fine silver chain. Suddenly she hears a voice: "You must not let them see this yet. You will know when it is time." Started, the tiefling looks around, but, of course, she's alone. Getting the message, she stuffs the necklace back deep in her pack and drifts off to sleep.
The night is not a restful one for Lorena. She is wracked with nightmares of helplessness and slaughter, memories playing back wrong as if the world was backwards. After a time, she finds herself swimming in a pitch black ocean, monsters hidden in the darkness circling underneath. Exhausted, she wades onto a small island, where she once again comes across the mysterious figure, unmoving, still cloaked in shadow and with her back turned, as if looking out into the distance. The figure whispers to Lorena, the sound bouncing around clearly in her skull: "Rest, child. I will take care of the nightmares." Then, everything fades into darkness, and Lorena wakes up, with the light of morning leaking in through the windows.
Terry Spends the Night sleeping on the bar and in a booth, Firinn and Rio spend the night on the roof of Defender's heart. A few guards come and go but none really stay as they assume Firinn will call out if he sees something. Lorena spends the night in her own room, waking a times from her nightmare, lighting a candle but drawing the blinds Lorena feels oddly safe for the first time in a long time. Khaz passes out, free of his Armor but carrying a heavier burden of what seems like a Sacred weapon of Bolka.
The morning comes with noise, nothing that you are used too in the few days that have happened. The noise of people talking and Children playing, the noise of guards going to sleep and those grumbling about having to sit sentry duty for the next 8 or so house. The common room is packed, people of all walks of life, the owner and whoever else serving breakfast. Irabeth is easy to spot as she is the only half orc around, that and many of the soldiers are reporting to her for what to do.
Despite his burdens Khaz slept, he hadn’t realized how tired he was until he had his armor off. He was surprised to wake with one boot still on...he had fallen asleep in the process of taking it off. Now in the morning he felt the weight of more than just his armor. The responsibility of his holy weapon. His worry for his family. The crushing knowledge of knowing that he would be expected to do his duty rather than to come looking for them, even though his heart screamed for him to find the fate of his kin.
The Dwarven Paladin walked over to Irabeth and saluted. ”Morning. Ready to do the good work.”
Jolting awake, Terry immediately regrets the movement. He opens his eyes wide, in his own mind, barely creating slits through his eyelids. Scrunching his face and groaning slightly, he gets up and starts moving to tend his assigned chores. Everyone who has been in this shelter for more than a few waking hours has assigned chores. Some it just keeps busy. Others make a positive difference.
Terry heads for the small stack of supplies and picks up one of the salvaged pieces of armor, moving to the workbench and begins mending this one piece. And then the next. He doesn't seem to remember the arrival of the others yesterday, or the expectation that he'll be joining them as they return to the battle.
Firinn awakens to the rosy fingers of the sun peeling back his eyelids. After popping his back after sleeping against a chimney he stretches, each joint popping in turn and yawns - feeling lighter than he has for some time. Despite these positive feelings however he still avoids going downstairs for as long as possible, enjoying the peace of being high up and away from the forming bustle of the streets below.
"We are just reviewing the reports the scouts brought in from yesterday." Irabeth says. "DO you have anything else to tell us that you found?"
Khaz handed over the letter. Once the Paladin had time to read he said ”Any idea who S.V. is? Also, this mace is the sword they mentioned. It...ah...shifted into this when I picked it up.”
Mechanically working on the repairs, struggling with dehydration, Terry suddenly stops, placing the piece he was trying to rivet a new leather strap onto on the workbench as he turns and looks back towards the main room. "Wait. Did that really happen yesterday? Are they really . . .." Terry moves back toward the main room, and starts looking to see if he can find the survivors of those with whom he fell into the darkness.