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The next morning is quite a change - there is a sense of hope, that you may be able to survive this after all. The addition of various Eagle Watch support staff and soldiers helps to give the few guards that you had a much-needed break from their rigorous watch schedules. Kimroth is kept very busy feeding everyone, and the inn starts turning into a bustling place again - almost like things are back to normal, as long as you're inside of the walls.
With a solid breakfast under your belts - Kimroth breaks out bacon, fresh eggs (who knows where he got them), buttered toast and jam, even some grilled onions to go with the eggs, for those who like that sort of thing - you feel like you have a new appreciation for what you can accomplish and that it may be time to start looking toward retaking more of the city from the minions of the Abyss.
Your prisoner is kept in a special room under constant guard; nobody is allowed to talk to him or go in or out of the room without prior approval, and when he's fed or his chamberpot is emptied it's always with at least two guards, in case he has some kind of hidden mind-control magic. He seems quite happy to be your captive; he gets to relax and eat your food without contributing anything. A very passive-aggressive evil, in a nutshell. You do learn that he is a cultist of Baphomet, as he brags that the cult has infiltrated every part of the Crusaders and that their work led directly to the fall of the town. Whether this is true... you have no way of knowing.
Irabeth busies herself with keeping the Eagle Watch organized and checking over supplies and weapons. She drops off some extra arms with Merlin and dispatches one of her logistical officers to assist him in starting to set up the forge in back so that it can handle weapons and armor - a task that will take some time, as there's still a lot to move and manufacture, but which will pay dividends in the future.
With that out of the way, Irabeth corners Iomenna and says, "Thank you for sending help - we're in a much better position here. We need to figure out what to do next, though. I was thinking of perhaps a scouting expedition to the grand temple, see how bad the damage was."
Kimroth gestures with his one arm and says, "You know, the noble quarters in the old city, they have - er, had - their own private guard. Mithral armor, magical weapons - that kind of thing. Could be useful."
The priest who was in Defender's Heart when all of this started says, "We're also not too far from an orphanage. While it's not practical, protecting the most vulnerable members of our community should be high on our list, because our moral conviction is what sets us apart from the legions of demons."
Sario will look at the children with her, then back up at Irabeth.
"I will go to the orphanage, seems like the least we can do. More Adults would help as well, people who can help out with the labor and up keep of this place."
She will move over to the planning table, "We should get the smithy up and working first, it is not my trade but fixing and repairing our equipment should be our first act."
Kelly breaks away from helping clean up breakfast. "The orphanage? Is it still standing? It's been a couple days, what if the demons have found them? Her eyes widen in horror at the thought. "Fancy weapons and temples can wait, we need to go now!" She hurries off to gather her gear.
Merlin nods in agreement.
If the children can be saved...
In her corner with Irabeth, Iomenna nods thoughtfully. "I think it would be good to check on the Temple, to be sure. What I'm more immediately concerned with, though, is trying to make sure our own surroundings are somewhat secure. I've heard some of the others talking about an orphanage nearby. I think we should see if there are any kids trapped there. We won't exactly gain a lot of strong hands from that, just more mouths to feed in fact. But they need help. If they're still there, that is. What do you think Lady Irabeth?"
"If your team can handle the orphanage, the Eagle Watch and I can keep things safe here," says Irabeth to Iomenna. "We could take turns - that way each team can rest and recuperate, guarding the home fires, while the other team is out working on missions."
The young priest says, "The orphanage is really not too far - just about five blocks southwest, near the gate at the wall. Er, I guess the gate is gone, but the orphanage might still be there?"
Kelly returns quickly, as she doesn't have too much to carry. "I remember I got a look at the gate neighborhood earlier. The buildings looked mostly intact, but that was yesterday, I think. Maybe the day before? I can't remember how long it has been. Feels like forever..." She comes back to the present with a shake of her head. "Anyway, we got no time to lose!
"No we don't. We should move out now to maximize our daylight" Darya says securing her gear.
Merlin picks up his shield and heads toward the door...
Iomenna fetches her hammer from a nearby table. The haft has been replaced, and Merlin's smithy's mark is burnt into the wood near the head. Iomenna had watched Merlin work, studying how he had shaped the have perfectly so that the hammer's head would fit securely and not slip off in the heat of battle. She had learned a good bit about crafting weapons from the man, and she hopes to help him in keeping everyone's weapons in good shape as they continue to work through the disaster that had befallen Kenabres.
With her newly repaired hammer in hand, Iomenna steps toward the door. "Alright everyone," she says, "There's an orphanage potentially full of helpless kids out there, and it falls to us to give them as much safety as is possible these days. Let's get out there and do what we can! Irabeth, thanks to you and your knights for keeping watch of the Heart. We'll return as soon as we can." With that, Iomenna turns to open the door and follow Kelly's lead to the orphanage.
"Let's just be sure to have a plan when we go in, call me paranoid but if there are demon cults in the city then some of them could even be setting the place up as a trap precisely for people like us," she pointed out as she fastened her cloak.
"Let's be honest; paladins rescuing orphans is a pretty well-known cliché. Wouldn't be the most creative trap out there, but a trap doesn't have to be creative to work."
"Are there any supplies we should grab before we go?" asks Azura.
Kimroth says, "We did some organizing and people have brought out stuff that they managed to scavenge. We could probably arrange trades with some of the survivors. Or heck, just loaners for tools and weapons, if needed. You're keepin' us all alive, after all."
"You know what I say about traps, the best way to deal with one is to spring it." Darya says with a chuckle. "I agree though, Luci, we should watch out for some kind of trick." she says more solemnly.
"Trades, huh? Any chance someone could trade some armor with me? This parade armor looks nice and all, but it's not exactly the best steel. So, Kimroth, what kind of deal do you think we could work out?
Kimroth says, "The Eagle Watch knights brought back some pieces. I bet with your buddy's help at the forge you could build a reasonable set of something - a breastplate, maybe, or a chainmail suit with padding. Keep bringin' in food and I'll call it even!"
Iomenna smiles at Kimroth. "Seems reasonable to me! We'll back shortly with some orphans and some food." She turns to the others, "You all ready to go?"
"Absolutely." Darya says standing ready at Iomenna's side.
Kelly is packed and ready at the door, bouncing slightly with impatience. "Yes, ready! Let's go lets go!"
Sario will say good bye to the children, stroking their head gently and promising to be back.
"There are more friends here now children, I will be back soon, I promise."
Sario turns to her new friends.
"I am ready as well, lets be off."
Merlin peeks through a crack in the boarded up window to see if any threats are evident.
Guidance, please.
From the outside, the orphanage is a squat two-story building of stone. Probably it doubles as some kind of shrine to a lesser deity or Empyreal Lord who looks after orphans - and likely it houses, clothes, feeds, and educates such unfortunate children.
Now, the stone is scorched in places. Wooden shutters cover the windows, closed and latched . The front door is likewise closed and barred on the inside, though there doesn't seem to be a lock .
Merlin spots no traps around the stairway that leads up to the landing with the front door...
Once she has the go-ahead from Merlin to confirm that there aren't any traps present, Iomenna slowly ascends the stairs, her hammer held loosely at her side, but ready to snap into position if a threat should present itself. Once she reaches the landing, she leans against the door jamb and, reaching to the center of the door with the hand nearest the wall, will knock firmly on the door. "Hello," she calls out in a voice just above a loud whisper. "Hello, is anyone in there? My name's Iomenna bet-Melkiel. I'm here with some of my friends. We're survivors from the demons' invasion. Soldiers of the Crusade, to one extent or another. We're looking for other survivors to see if we can help. Hello? Anyone there?" She pauses to listen for any kind of response.
Sario will go up behind Iomenna, having the much larger woman's back and watching for anything that could be a miss.
Darya moves herself into a position to interpose herself between Iomenna and any potential attack, her blade drawn as she scans the area.
Merlin also approaches the door. He begins searching for wires and such.
Guidance, please.
Kelly keeps close to the others, watching the street for any movement.
Luci moved up with Iomenna to the door, eyes scanning the area for dangers.
You carefully search the door, and Iomenna knocks and announces your presence.
Faintly, through the door and the window slats, you can hear the tiny sobbing voices of several children. You hear some kind of hushed whispering but can't make out the words.
Then after a few moments, an oddly-pitched voice shouts, "WE'RE CLOSED!"
Sario's face screws up at the sound of the voice, she moves towards the door and presses her ear against it.
See looks at the group behind her, "I think I now have a chance to fulfil a promise I made to those children. I think this is the man who was trying to abduct them from their home when I found them."
Sario looks back at the door, "We are just here to rescue the children, we have found a save haven outside the city and wish to take them there. Please let us in."
Iomenna's face grows grave as Sario explains who she thinks is inside. "We'll follow your lead on this one, then. Seems pretty clear that this guy needs to be taken out, though. Everyone stand ready."
Sario nods at Iomenna. Looking back for Merlin then motioning him forward.
Sario whispers. "Can you see if the door is locked? If so can you pick it?"
The door is not locked, but it is blocked in some way. Furniture, maybe?
Merlin begins searching around the building for another way in.
Guidance, please.
Sario will follow Merlin, motioning for the rest to follow her so they cannot be over heard.
"We must get in to save the children, if the 2 I rescued are right this "Bad man" will be handing them over to the demons or the cultists."
The building seems to have only the single front door. The windows are small, but if you smashed the shutters, a small person could get in or out (like Kelly).
Merlin frowns. The soldier shakes his head.
I am afraid that we will need to make some ruckus.
If he has any children in there,
than I am afraid that bashing down the door may be all the time he needs to do something horrible.
Merlin sighs.
I am able to grow larger, if, we think that will speed up the process.
"I can slip in one of these windows, if we can get one open quietly." Kelly says, "Or maybe if we create a diversion."
Sario will go back to the door, motioning for the others to help Kelly. Once they are ready to open a window Sario will pound on the door again.
"Ser I would like a word, I think we have talked before and I would like to do so again. Are you the invisible "bad man" that was attempting to take some children from their home 2 days ago? If so we really need to talk."
"Oh hey! It's the lady who ran away!" says the nasal, annoying voice from inside after Sario speaks up. "Haha! You took away two of my slaves, but I have plenty more! Now go away before I do something awful to one of them!"
Away from the door, where Sario is trying to speak with the "bad man," Iomenna offers to help Kelly find a quiet way into the building. "Maybe I could quietly pry some of these boards or shutters off one of the windows in the back and help you slip in that way. Then you could either get some of the kids away from the man or give him some kind of distraction so we can get in to help take him out."
Merlin positions himself in front of the door.
A determined look set on his young face.
I will break this door down....soon!
Guidance, please.
The voice inside shouts, "I already warned you! Try anything funny, like breaking my door, and I do something awful!"
One of the children's sobbing rises to a frightened wail very suddenly.
"I'm not messin' around!"
Iomenna checks some of the window shutters. They are latched, but could probably be unlatched with a slim bar or wire - the sort of thing you'd find in a thieves' tool kit. She could break the shutters, but that would be noisy - there's not a readily apparent way to do it without the wood making a loud cracking sound.
"Just break it! I'll go in and get the door open. I'll send the kids to the window!" Kelly climbs up to the windowsill and starts pulling on the boards.