"Anything here, boy?"
It looks as if though there has been a battle recently in this town. It appears there was some attempt to place wooden alls up to fortify the town, but the walls were destroyed, literally smashed into tiny pieces.
The town is completely vacant. A dark feeling washes over you all, and even Gerald doesn’t find any words to say. You suddenly the stench of death in the air, and you quickly find the source of the smell. There are several of the villagers corpses strewn about the village seemingly at random.
Extra for Lem – Lem’s hound stops and suddenly give a bark as it takes off into one of the destroyed houses. It stops at the back of the house and begins pawing at the floor and whining. Krular moving inside to be beside Lem stares at the ground for a moment and then says out loud, ”there is a latch on the floor, it’s hard to see but it’s there. It looks like a secret door…”
"Likely he heard something. Hiding survivors? Whoever triumphed here, wouldn't need to hide. Let's gather another blade or two, and see if we might help."
"P-p-please hurry. I don't like this feeling I'm getting."
Malwyn follows Lem and Krular into the building and looks at the trapdoor. " If you step back and ready yourselves perhaps I could open it with a spell... It could be trapped plus you never know what kind of diseases could be covering the latch. "
Malwyn casts Mage hand and uses the spell to attempt to open the trapdoor.
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one nonmagical, unattended object weighing up to 5 lbs.
Duration concentration
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You point your finger at an object and can lift it and move it at will from a distance. As a move action, you can propel the object as far as 15 feet in any direction, though the spell ends if the distance between you and the object ever exceeds the spell's range.
"O-okay, sorry."
Ice steps back and trains her bow on the trap-door.
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Gardsin would wait by the others watching as Malwyn attempts with his skills. The orcs weapons at the ready for anything that might choose to pop out. He only assumes the door is locked though...
Gardsin keeps on his toes all the while keeping a good alertness to what was going on around him
*EDIT*
The trapdoor creaks open on rusty hinges, and you hear a collective gasp from people gathered under. Dust rises from the hole and it takes a moment for you to clearly make out the scene before you. The trapdoor had covered a large hole dug out in the ground, and was most certainly not intended for its current use. There must be at least 20 people gathered into this hole in such a way that everyone is packed tighter than a travelers backpack. The people look absolutely terrified, and most are covered in blood, whether their own or someone else�s, you�re not sure. The people gaze up at you with fear and the women cradle their children close to their bodies.
Lem ponders only an instant, before speaking in tones that would be of command, if they were an octave lower, "We got here safely, we should get you out safely. We'll move quickly, but come out slowly, so no one gets hurt."
Malwyn holds his nose "Survivors, well that's good." he says to the group in general as he takes a few more step back from the trapdoor so he can't see all the people packed in so tight and shudders slightly.
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Gardsin Huffs partially in disapointment "Well Hurry up then.." He then takes leave of the building, first checking on Gerald and the cart before viewing nearby buildings for any sign of life (Mind you, not actually going into the buildings, more so just checking through windows, opening doors and glancing inside, etc.)
The people in the hole are terrified for a few more moment before responding to Lem. They slowly begin crawling from the packed conditions, looking around every which way as they do so.
Gerald looks pale for a moment and then shakes his head as if clearing away the shock. "Gardsin, unload some of the food from the wagon, these people will need it. No telling how long they have been down there. Lem, help get these people comfortable, we are going to figure out how to transport them back to Fort Steel Heart. The rest of you... just... Oh Tal this is bad."
Confused you notice what Gerald noticed. A child’s limp body has been dragged from the hole. The mother of the child looks as if though she has not slept for weeks, and she clutches her obviously dead child to her body with a surprisingly iron tight grip.
Seeing what Gerald was shaken by, and a moment later seeing Gardsin's evident distress at what he'd seen, Lem hoped to have activity be a solace. They'd likely had enough of idleness, these poor people.
"I need three who can count, to make separate counts of all here. You, you, and you.", Lem said, choosing his volunteers. "I want a count of each person, live or dead, that was in that hole. You all report to Malwyn, in the hat, and when he's done with you, back to me."
"Three more, you three, get me some water boiling, small pots are faster on small fires, we'll get some porridge up, and more water for the healers."
"Any healers? Any mothers? You, and you, that one there is Jessup, see what he needs to make ready, we'll be sending wounded as they show dire."
"The rest of you, please help any injured to make a line, hurt to healthy. Or stand in line in place of one who can't be moved. We've only got so many hands, we have to hold them.", Lem said, translating from hobbit wisdom.
Ice Eyes tries to keep her gut in check as the stench of death and decay overwhelms her. SHe manages it for a while, but a particularly strong gust of wind blows the smell in her face and she isn't able to stomach it any more.
The young hunter drops her bow and runs for someplace that she can toss her cookies in semi-privacy. After about a minute, she comes back, pale as death and visibly shaken.
"Th-this must be hell..."
Malwyn does his best not to look disgusted as the three counters approach him to report and he tries to arrange his features into something sympathetic. Which most likely makes him look like he's so disgusted he's about to cry. "Ah yes, you were counting how many people?... Ok. I think your supposed to tell Lem now, the halfling giving all the orders, yes him. Wait, tell me. What happened here?"
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The situation at hands brings a bit of sorrow through Gardsin. He runs a hand over his scarcely haired head as he took in the true sights around him. Gathering himself though and looking with a bit of pity at the fellows now pouring from the trap door, he returns to the cart grabbing out crates of food and beginning to ration it out to the poor souls.
Though was not great with the emotional comforting to the commoners he would give them as warm of a smile as his tusks allowed his lips to curl into