"We're supposed to ask for Johan, I think." Lysithia says, rubbing Kelda's lower back as some small comfort as she takes in the devastation as well.
Kelda fishes the flyer out of her pack that she had gotten in Daedran and holds it up for him to see, "The man I talked to in Daedran gave me this flyer."
"Must've been Ewan...he never made it back," the old man grumbles. "Johan died two days ago. We have no gold to hire you, even if we wanted to."
The grief she feels is visible in her features, along with the guilt she feels for not being able to get there sooner.
Looking up at him she says, "I'm so sorry for all that you and Cooperton have lost. When I offered to help, it wasn't with the thought of what I could get out of you. If you would like us to try and help you, we wouldn't expect anything in return. It's the least we can do after all that has happened. Do you want us to try and help?"
"We've seen the impact of the goblins all over on our way here, nearly died a couple of times dealing with them, honestly. We're here to help." Lysithia says quietly.
The old man sighs. "Guess it's better to try and do something than just wait for the end."
He throws a rope over the wall. "Climb on up."
As the rope drops down, Lysithia makes sure to tug on it, checking that it's secure. "Do you want to go up first, love?" She asks Kelda, thinning it safest if their best armed person enters first.
Kelda nods, "Sure, I'll go first. That way, if someone needs help, I can just pull the rope up."
Securing her hammer to her back, Kelda takes hold of the rope and starts climbing up. Taking it a bit slow with all her armor and belongings weighing her down.
Once she reaches the top, Kelda looks down at Lysi and Tori, "It's not too bad, you just have to take your time. Come on Lysi, you're next."
Watching as her love climbs up, Lysithia straps her staff across her back, taking hold of the rope as she follows, doing a better-than-fair job of climbing her way up, before moving aside to let Astoria follow.
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Astoria takes her time climbing the rope, not used to such physical tasks.
When Astoria reaches the top of the wall, Kelda reaches out a hand to help her over the top of the wall and pulls up the rope after her.
Now that they are all over the wall, Kelda takes a look around at what is left of Cooperton.
Two big open areas have telltale signs that buildings used to stand there. Those were probably salvaged to make the wall that surrounds Cooperton. Most of the other buildings stand, severely damaged and unoccupied. The chapel is a mere skeleton of what it once was, but the two story building, which you identify as an inn, appears fortified.
"What did all of this?" Lysithia asks in shocked horror.
Kelda just tries to take it all in. Unable to speak from the sheer shock of the evidence of devastation the town suffered, Kelda just stands there quietly.
"Goblins," the old man answers, leading you to a set of stairs that head down. "All sorts."
"Like all different kinds of Goblins working together? I've never known them to be that organized before, but we've seen some pretty strange things lately. There has to be someone organizing them, or helping them. Whatever it is, it needs to be stopped." She says, thinking back to what Evert had said.
"Where can we be of the most use?" Lysithia asks, trying to determine what they need to do first.
The old man leans against the ersatz rampart. "If I knew any of the answers to your questions, I wouldn't be standing here. Johan was the hope we relied on and now that's gone. Most of us are holed up at the inn."
He points at the two storied building. "I suppose the most helpful thing you could do is convince us there's a way out of this and we're not just waiting for the end."
He shrugs and looks at Kelda. "The only thing we know for sure is that the goblins are coming from the forest. Ardin has to know something about this, but getting to his tower is a fool's errand."
"If there was a way to send a message to Erytheia, we could probably get some information. She seemed pretty sure that she would get back to the tower without too much difficulty," Astoria muses.
Teeko comes out of Astoria's backpack and starts squeaking insistently.
"My, you're certainly animated!" Astoria remarks. She turns to Lysithia. "Can you talk to him again? It seems he's trying to say something important."
"Okay! Let's see what you've got to say Teeko!" Lysithia says with a smile. Uttering a druidic incantation, she crouches down to stare, eye-to-eye with him as the magic takes hold, allowing her to speak his language.
"Hi Teeko! Do you know a way we can get a message to the tower?"
"No," Teeko answers. "But this is Master's home, before we went to the tower. Her family must be here."
"Okay, I'm sorry to see this happened to her home. We’ll see if we can find her family. Maybe we’ll even find out where she is.”
"I hope so," the weasel says softly.
Kelda looks at Lysithia, "What is he saying?"
"His original mistress' family lives here. Or at least they did, so finding them might lead to a way to reach out to the tower." Lysithia replies.
"Or maybe he just wants to see a familiar face?" Astoria guesses. "Let's head to the inn. I'm hungry...and sleepy."
She gazes up at the stars before rubbing her stomach.
Kelda nods, "He could just be homesick I suppose. How bout we eat and rest tonight, and then tomorrow we can start digging around for some information." Looking back at the elderly man, "I'm not sure if there's anything I can say right now that will change how you all feel, especially with everything you've been through. I will tell you though that I refuse to give up on fighting for our home. I refuse to lose hope, and just give up. I am sorry it took us so long to get here, but please...don't give up on us, or yourselves. There is still much to fight for."
Leaving him to think about what she said, Kelda heads to the Inn with her friend, and her love.
With a nod, Lysithia joins the others in heading to the inn.
The inn looks gloomy and ominous as you approach it. The silence of the town does little to remove your unease.
Kelda sighs as they walk into the Inn, the depressing atmosphere doing little to alleviate her own sorrow at seeing d
What had happened to the town.
Kelda looks around to see if there is anyone that actually works here.
An elderly man, slightly older than the one at the wall, snores in a corner with a tankard of ale in his hand.
Trying not to startle the elderly gentleman, Kelda moves a little closer to him and clears her throat a little loudly, "Excuse me, Sir?"
The old man murmurs as he shifts in his seat. He opens his eyes slightly. "Who're you?"
"Someone that is very sorry they didn't make it here sooner. I'm Kelda, this is Lysithia and Astoria. We have been trying to make it here for almost a week now, but kept meeting obstacles that got in our way and tried to kill us....several times. We're here now though, and we still want to try and help however we can. We've been traveling for quite a while though, and need some food and rest. If you have any to spare, I'll gladly compensate you for it." She replies, in way of introduction and explanation of what they're doing there.
"Oh, good, I thought I was sober for a moment there," the old man says with a sigh. He lifts the tankard to his lips and takes two or three gulps. "I don't run this place. Johan used to...now, he doesn't."
"Is there anyone who cooks or cleans around here?" Astoria asks.
"Mmm, that would be Muriel," the old man answers. "Check the kitchen. She's usually there."
Kelda's shoulders droop some more as they head into the kitchen. So much had already been lost, were they actually going to be able to help anyone?
Feeling more defeated and helpless now, than she did when she couldn't save Sophie from the gobblins on that day. Seeing what Cooperton had been reduced to, is almost more than her aching spirit can bear.
Stepping further into the kitchen she clears her throat hesitantly, "Ms. Muriel, are you back here?"
A bespectacled young woman sitting on a stool with a large book in her lap looks up at Kelda. Her eyes narrow in suspicion. "I am...who let you in?"