Rum looks across to the northern most house and nods to the girl, before leading Herbs and Spice to a suitable spot to leave the cart, where it was unlikely to attract attention and be set upon. He then unhitches the horses and leads them to the house, allowing any townsfolk to show him the way, help or even take over.
Once done, he retrieves Gary and Penelope, if Ro has not taken care of her himself, and moves them both into the house also (or hands them across to one of the townsfolk if they are helping).
Only then does he look to follow Lelith into the mist and scout the enemy himself, assuming she has not yet returned.
Sorry lets go of Lelith's hand and looks back at her as she follows Greko toward the house. She looks over her shoulder, long and hard at Lelith, unsure of what to do now that she's been separated, properly separated, from the woman who had filled such a huge hole in her life.
As the two of them enter the house, they're struck by the way the windows are already barricaded from the inside. The stacks of furniture that are positioned to be pushed against the doors and bigger windows. The pile of wood next to the chimney which seems to be stuffed from top to bottom with split logs. Candles flicker, lighting the darkened interior of the farmhouse to observable levels. An older woman comes walking through a door, muttering something as she approaches. Her arm is wrapped with the arm of another woman, younger than her, visibly heavy with child. She walks humped over and is breathing hard.
"Oh Goddesses, tell me those idiots outside haven't started trying to hide refugees now!" The old woman blurts when she sees Sorry and Greko. She leads the mother through the room, making her walk the whole way. "I'm busy. You two need to figure out how to take care of yourselves, hmmph. Go on now, get your dirty prying eyes off her! She's busy too!"
The younger woman comes in behind Sorry, carrying the plates Oten gave her.
Ro allows Rum to take Penelope to the house where the other mounts are being stored. Following Rum's instructions, the elf-dwarf heads to where other villagers are setting up barricades. Walking up to the least occupied person, Ro asks, "Is there anything I can assist with? I'm quite the handy person."
"Pull down boards." The woman Ro has approached says. She has a mouthful of freshly smithed iron nails sticking from her teeth. "Hold 'em, nail 'em up. Or if you're handy, go build some traps or something. Or...you know magic? Set some magic traps. I don't know what to tell you mister. All I know is they're coming and we're here until that baby is born then hopefully we can go. Just gotta last that long."
Ro breathes out a mental sigh of relief. So there only here until the baby's born; good they've still the mind to survive.
Ro snaps and Prim appears. Ro tells the small hummingbird, "Keep watch over the perimeter, should any of the dead start breaking down our barricades our makes way into this village alert me immediately."
The wizard pauses a moment and thinks, "You know what, wreak some havoc as well. Thin out their numbers." Ro casts Dragon's Breath on Prim, allowing the hummingbird to breathe fire. Excited by the draconic empowerment, Prim flies off. As the villagers and other bandmates perform their duties, the occasional sound of spewing fire can be heard as Prim swoops down towards crowds of the dead and assaults them with her dragon's breath. Ro keeps this spell active for its full minute duration.
As Prim barbecues the dead, Ro looks to see what materials are available for him to build a possible trap. He'll walk around to see what things currently aren't in use and asks the woman what materials they can spare for him.
(Note: Prim keeps out of reach from melee attack and has the flyby ability which prevents attacks of opportunity on her when she flies away from an enemy's reach.)
In the distance, there are moans and screams from the oncoming foes as fire lances down from the sky. The fog lights up as Prim makes two passes, left to right, then right to left, singeing the undead as they shamble toward the farmhouse...
Lelith came back looking annoyed. She did not relay any of the information gathered during her scouting, Rumble was only slightly behind her and he was far more talkative than she. She was quick to find Sorry near Greko, she warmly welcomed the Kokiri into her arms before letting her hold on to her hand. "Has she given birth yet? We don't have much time. The horde is not something we can hold against in any realistic manner"
"I may have a solution," Lelith spoke to Greko and Ro. "I can transport us all, including the mother and her daughter to my... homeland. Temporarily. With the mother and daughter in no danger, these people can evacuate immediately. The horde is far too slow to catch up to them. The woman safely delivers in my home, we can rest for some time while we wait for the horde to disperse or go elsewhere and reappear here or somewhere nearby."
"Not yet." Sorry says, watching as the woman emerges from one door, led by the granny woman, as she continues her shambling walk through the house. "Seems she's having some trouble. I mean...she's been laboring since last night, I think they said."
Sorry listens to Lelith's plans, as does the young redheaded woman and some of the others who are starting to move into the farmhouse.
"Far too slow..." One of the older men says. He runs a hand through his scraggly beard. "Girl, you don't even know what you're up against. Those things out there may look slow now...but if they decide to run you down, they can. You don't have to believe me. On their own, they're quick as lightning and they don't stop. They don't get tired! Listen, and understand! They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop... ever... until we are dead!"
Lelith turned a withered and baleful glare into the old elf speaking to her.
"And?" Lelith spoke dismissively, a sneer twisted her lips into undisguised contempt. "You are prepared to die here protecting that labouring woman. Where did that bravado go now? You can't give up but you can't fight either. What will you do then? Lie down and die? We are already doing the best we can for you. Take your chances and try to survive. The least I can do for you all is guarantee the pregnant mother and her daughter's safety. The only reason which binds you here in this ranch. You already know that staying here is a death guaranteed."
"Also refer to me as 'girl' again, and I will skin you alive and wear you as a coat." Lelith whispered to herself, barely keeping it on the down low or else she'd have said it outloud while strangling the poor old ef. It was unwise to antagonize them when she wanted them to move on quickly. Lelith took a long deep breath to calm her emotions before speaking again. "Are there any objections? If not, then scram already. The sooner you run, the better."
Even if her companions ended up disagreeing on using the Amulet of Planes to get the mother and daughter to safety, these people didn't really need to know that. With them out of the way and running, the horde would most likely descend here and they were likely to fight it for some time until the woman delivered her baby. It was far easier to protect two persons than an entire village's worth of people and the horde would be delayed either way so they would have time to get to safety. Lelith tried to convey this the best she could to her party without the people knowing.
Ro takes in all the information Lelith shares and considers her plan. "Hmm, it sounds like a decent plan, but only if everything proceeds as we'd like. There's quite a bit of room for chaos to throw a wrench in our plans. The amulet itself does not guarantee us passage to your intended location, so there's the risk of being sent somewhere even more dangerous. Once the woman has birthed her child, we'd have to wait a while for the horde to disperse or relocate, which that in itself isn't a guarantee, and we simply don't have that sort of time to spare. On top of all that, should we teleport to the proper plane, wait the proper amount of time, and manage to teleport back to here safely; we wouldn't be able to simply leave the mother and her newborn afterwards... I fear there are too many variables that could ruin things..."
The wizard places a pensive fist up to his lips has he continues to ponder the ranger's plan. He keeps himself open to any suggestions and the other bandmate's feedback.
"The mother and her daughter can be left to the care of my family. They will not refuse me this favour." Lelith addressed one point of concern before speaking of another. "As for the risk... I will not lie and say there are none. However, we have far better chances with it than facing the horde outside and the risk is something we can do about. I am not one that is most attuned to the ways of magic but you are. With your assistance, we could significantly mitigate the risks and ensure we arrive where we intend to go."
Rum arrives back and catches most of the conversation going on.
"What we saw was enough to realise that some wood and nails are not going to be enough to protect anyone. The horde of undead out there is under the control of something that can enable them to act as one foe, one monstrous being. Friend Lelith and I saw that when Prim attacked from the sky. A multitude of the undead coalesced together to form a huge limb that struck out at Prim".
"Ask yourselves, fellow Embers, why would that horde, with such power and intelligence controlling it, be heading for this Ranch. I do not think it a stretch to determine it is not. This place is just in the way. It hails from the direction of Hyrule Castle, and it has set a direct path to Kakariko Village", he says, piecing together his theory as he goes.
"We know that the royal family were planning to escape and head there. They are a far more likely target for this effort. But even if it is not targeting them, are we to let all that have fled to Kakariko fight this evil whilst we hide?", he says pausing for a moment before continuing before anyone can respond.
"There were some creatures among the horde that had a red aura. Friend Lelith attacked one, and when it was hurt it let out a scream that you likely heard, but dozens of other creatures also screamed at that moment. It may be they are the key to defeating the horde. Friend Ro or friend Oten would likely know better than I, were they to observe the effect".
The older Elf bristles as Lelith says her piece, then sneers at her.
"I didn't ask you to stay, so you can get the **** out if that's the attitude you have." He says, his voice dropping, low and venomous. "Of course we want the help, but just because you evacuate her and that baby doesn't mean the rest of us are keen to run out of this house and get slaughtered you stupid *******."
He points at her.
"You threaten me again, and you may as well get to killin' me, because I won't lay down for some clown who walks in like she's suddenly got all the answers, you got that, girl? I don't know how to lay it out any planer for you; that is suicide out there for sure. You will not get away on foot."
The older man listens to the conversation, to Rum's description of the red creatures. He shakes his head.
"That's no good. They don't control the horde. We've been calling those things Redead. They're tough. Real tough. Way tougher than the other things. They can take a real pounding and keep going. But worst part is that if you kill them...they lay down...and next time the moon rises...so do they. And that scream, oh goddesses..."
He shudders.
"The scream can stop some people in their tracks. They're unable to move and then the Redead grab them and then..."
Rum looks from the old man to Lelith. For one with such a silver tongue, she has an unerring knack for riling people up. It was at times like these that he truly missed Yam. She hadn't been with them long but she had proven very useful when it came to dealing with people. Within and without the band.
He listens intently to the information the old Elf gives them about the horde, feeling a little foolish for assuming they would be naive to it's ways and not asking them earlier.
"Sir Elf, your knowledge is very useful. I am aware offence has been caused, but it should be dealt with when more time permits. Maybe the Redead are not the ones controlling the horde, but I get the sense they are important, maybe a focus. Something is certainly controlling them all, some power animating the bodies. It is possibly something that you have not seen as yet, something that keeps it's distance", he says looking around to see if anyone seemed to get a spark of recognition that might help.
"As for the Redead rising with the moon, I am impressed you have managed to kill some, you have my respect for that. Did you use mundane weapons? Did you use fire or magic?", he asks.
"I have one more suggestion as well for how we can deal with them regardless. Between Kakariko and King's Landing, we have information that there is a large expanse of the Nothing. That would be South of here. We could try and lure them that way, divert them from their current path directly into it. We would need to get it's attention of course", he says optimistically.
"As always I will follow the will of the band, should we decide to stand or flee, but I do not advocate fleeing myself. Not until all hope is lost. The Great Dragon teaches courage, teaches to stand against evil and to protect the righteous. I could not abandon these folk and stay true to those teachings, although I understand we have a greater purpose right now".
"Hoh, is that so?" Lelith spoke in a low voice, her eyes had a dangerous glint to them. Almost murderous. She was obviously furious but that fury was cold. "We are here to help, are we not? And yet what do I get? Condescension from a scared old elf. You know what I am and why I act the way I do, I know you do as all elves are able to recognize my kind. You've heard my threat and my attempt at keeping it down and you still acted on it. People have already been running to Kakariko Village and King's Landing. They certainly can, why can't you?"
"I'll tell you and them why." Lelith gave an eerie smile as she swept her hand over the people gathered here for emphasis. "You are a scared old elf, your prime is already past. You are afraid you will be left behind to die alone so you want to tie down the others with you here no matter the danger. The main reason, the pregnant woman being at risk, is no longer sufficient with what I had suggested. Now, you are grasping at straws. You already understand this, the others as well, staying here is guaranteed death. Running gives you a chance of survival. Me taking the mother to another realm? That would guarantee her and her children their survival and it would ease the conscience of those who had gathered to protect her. But you don't want that, do you? When a chance is offered for you all to escape, you want to squander it for them."
Deception Check : 1d20 (19) + 13 = 32(Lelith seeks to convince the people of her words and plan and have them turn on the old elf)
"You know, there's one thing we are known for among all of the elves. Once we give our word, we do not break it," Lelith slowly but deliberately unsheathed her rapier which made a distinct 'schwing' sound. It was the unproper form of drawing her rapier as she dragged the blade through the length of its sheath, it can dull the blade if done repeatedly but the sound was unmistakable across all cultures. "I will give you a chance, apologize right now and I will only split your tongue instead. Your speech will be impaired but it will heal eventually. Otherwise... I hope you won't miss your skin."
A low growl emits from Rum’s throat, inaudible to anyone else, but a sign of his frustration.
In truth he had been expecting this moment for a while, having seen how Lelith’s personality seemed to sway from one extreme to the other on their travels. Not to mention how she was with Sorry. The fact it has happened now at such a time sensitive moment is unfortunate.
Now he just wants to see how far she will go. Was it all a show, or was she really capable of maiming or killing one of the very people it was the Twilight Embers purpose to save.
If any of the others look to him, he will discreetly hold his palm up to signal they should wait also.
Ro's usual approach of analytical passivity flew out the door as he listened to Lelith's sharp words. He was appalled by his friend's behavior, and though he saw Rum's gesture to wait, the elf-dwarf could not allow things to continue.
"Lelith, that is enough!!!" Ro scolded Lelith with a tone he had never used on any member of the Twilight Embers before. The elf-dwarf placed himself between Lelith and the old elf, his face red with anger and his fists clenched with frustration.
His own outburst caught himself off guard, and so the elf-dwarf took a deep breath to compose himself. "You will not threaten these people. I have learned to tolerate your extreme behaviors out of respect for how your kind reacts to emotions. But I will not allow it to become an excuse to do harm to those undeserving."
Ro takes in another breath and exhales, allowing the tension in his fists to dissipate, "I know you mean well in saving the mother and her child, but you have crossed a line. These people have dealt with this danger longer than we have, and they may have ample reason to retort against the suggestion to simply flee. They are scared, Lelith. These people need hope and reassurance, and both of those things cannot be forced down their throats."
The eld-dwarf stares intently at Lelith. He waits to hear her response or that of any of the other bandmates.
"What are you going to do about it, Ro? Hm?" Lelith spoke with her eyes narrowed at her smaller companion. "Are you going to attack your companion, your friend, who fought with you every step of the way to here?"
"I do not care for either their hope or reassurance, that is not within the purview of our goals and overarching mission. I offered a solution, a chance for survival over certain death. Whether they can find hope in it or not is not something I care to give," Lelith's voice carried no warmth, it was cold and biting. "I have given up everything to fight for this world despite the wishes of my family and people, I answered the Child Empress' call from another realm, crossed the length of Fantasia, sailed a great ocean, crossed the length of the Hylian lands to here, and I nearly gave my life three or four times to this cause over the course of the perilous battles we faced in our journey. I stared straight into death, the glaring red eye of a Guardian with a mere longbow and arrow. Tell me, what have I held back for myself when I gave all I could for you? For them? No one can point at the riches I now hold, for I fought to earn them in blood. Who among you believe that they have fought harder for me than I have for them? All for the sake of your lives!"
Lelith's hand swept around the crowd for emphasis. "I did not come here for a scared old man to demean my status and call me a little girl, to provoke me further even with warning and full knowledge of what I am! I was the first to step here to help them while the others were squabbling about morality and other pointless topics in a time of crisis. And I have made a promise, that which I cannot break even if I wish to. The least the man will suffer is a split tongue for the insult given into me after he apologizes, one that he can heal. That is far more merciful than most of my kind would give. Yet after all that, here I am still willing to fight."
The older Elf nods at Rum as the Tabaxi tries to smooth over the mess that is building..****y for it to become even more inflamed from there. He practically bristles as Lelith's fiery rhetoric continues. He listens to the argument between the teammates, and then looks around at his family and the ranch hands who have remained to help them in their time of need. A younger Elf lays a hand on his shoulder. The girl, her brows furrowed, steps next to him.
"Then we don't need you." She says. He throat rises and falls as she says this, knowing she's sealed her fate. The old man trembles for a moment, clearly intimidated by Lelith's words, but then sets his jaw.
"You were still shitting in diapers when I was leading the assault down the Hole. Ever heard of the Hole? The Hole that opened below Hyrule? The one that let in the Aboleth? I won't be pushed around by some pup whose mother's milk is still on her breath."
The rest of the hands and family began to gather around him.
"You have nothing to prove to her, Poppa." The girl said. She took his hand.
"We don't need you." He said calmly and in solidarity with the girl, still visibly shaking, part in anger, part in fear. Then he turned his back on Lelith and company and spoke to those assisting him. "Someone get that old lizard out of the house. Turn them to the night. Let them see how they fair crossing Hyrule Field with those things out there."
Rum looks across to the northern most house and nods to the girl, before leading Herbs and Spice to a suitable spot to leave the cart, where it was unlikely to attract attention and be set upon. He then unhitches the horses and leads them to the house, allowing any townsfolk to show him the way, help or even take over.
Once done, he retrieves Gary and Penelope, if Ro has not taken care of her himself, and moves them both into the house also (or hands them across to one of the townsfolk if they are helping).
Only then does he look to follow Lelith into the mist and scout the enemy himself, assuming she has not yet returned.
Stealth: 16+8=24
Sorry lets go of Lelith's hand and looks back at her as she follows Greko toward the house. She looks over her shoulder, long and hard at Lelith, unsure of what to do now that she's been separated, properly separated, from the woman who had filled such a huge hole in her life.
As the two of them enter the house, they're struck by the way the windows are already barricaded from the inside. The stacks of furniture that are positioned to be pushed against the doors and bigger windows. The pile of wood next to the chimney which seems to be stuffed from top to bottom with split logs. Candles flicker, lighting the darkened interior of the farmhouse to observable levels. An older woman comes walking through a door, muttering something as she approaches. Her arm is wrapped with the arm of another woman, younger than her, visibly heavy with child. She walks humped over and is breathing hard.
"Oh Goddesses, tell me those idiots outside haven't started trying to hide refugees now!" The old woman blurts when she sees Sorry and Greko. She leads the mother through the room, making her walk the whole way. "I'm busy. You two need to figure out how to take care of yourselves, hmmph. Go on now, get your dirty prying eyes off her! She's busy too!"
The younger woman comes in behind Sorry, carrying the plates Oten gave her.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Ro allows Rum to take Penelope to the house where the other mounts are being stored. Following Rum's instructions, the elf-dwarf heads to where other villagers are setting up barricades. Walking up to the least occupied person, Ro asks, "Is there anything I can assist with? I'm quite the handy person."
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
"Pull down boards." The woman Ro has approached says. She has a mouthful of freshly smithed iron nails sticking from her teeth. "Hold 'em, nail 'em up. Or if you're handy, go build some traps or something. Or...you know magic? Set some magic traps. I don't know what to tell you mister. All I know is they're coming and we're here until that baby is born then hopefully we can go. Just gotta last that long."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Ro breathes out a mental sigh of relief. So there only here until the baby's born; good they've still the mind to survive.
Ro snaps and Prim appears. Ro tells the small hummingbird, "Keep watch over the perimeter, should any of the dead start breaking down our barricades our makes way into this village alert me immediately."
The wizard pauses a moment and thinks, "You know what, wreak some havoc as well. Thin out their numbers." Ro casts Dragon's Breath on Prim, allowing the hummingbird to breathe fire. Excited by the draconic empowerment, Prim flies off. As the villagers and other bandmates perform their duties, the occasional sound of spewing fire can be heard as Prim swoops down towards crowds of the dead and assaults them with her dragon's breath. Ro keeps this spell active for its full minute duration.
As Prim barbecues the dead, Ro looks to see what materials are available for him to build a possible trap. He'll walk around to see what things currently aren't in use and asks the woman what materials they can spare for him.
(Note: Prim keeps out of reach from melee attack and has the flyby ability which prevents attacks of opportunity on her when she flies away from an enemy's reach.)
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
In the distance, there are moans and screams from the oncoming foes as fire lances down from the sky. The fog lights up as Prim makes two passes, left to right, then right to left, singeing the undead as they shamble toward the farmhouse...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Lelith came back looking annoyed. She did not relay any of the information gathered during her scouting, Rumble was only slightly behind her and he was far more talkative than she. She was quick to find Sorry near Greko, she warmly welcomed the Kokiri into her arms before letting her hold on to her hand. "Has she given birth yet? We don't have much time. The horde is not something we can hold against in any realistic manner"
"I may have a solution," Lelith spoke to Greko and Ro. "I can transport us all, including the mother and her daughter to my... homeland. Temporarily. With the mother and daughter in no danger, these people can evacuate immediately. The horde is far too slow to catch up to them. The woman safely delivers in my home, we can rest for some time while we wait for the horde to disperse or go elsewhere and reappear here or somewhere nearby."
"Not yet." Sorry says, watching as the woman emerges from one door, led by the granny woman, as she continues her shambling walk through the house. "Seems she's having some trouble. I mean...she's been laboring since last night, I think they said."
Sorry listens to Lelith's plans, as does the young redheaded woman and some of the others who are starting to move into the farmhouse.
"Far too slow..." One of the older men says. He runs a hand through his scraggly beard. "Girl, you don't even know what you're up against. Those things out there may look slow now...but if they decide to run you down, they can. You don't have to believe me. On their own, they're quick as lightning and they don't stop. They don't get tired! Listen, and understand! They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop... ever... until we are dead!"
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Lelith turned a withered and baleful glare into the old elf speaking to her.
"And?" Lelith spoke dismissively, a sneer twisted her lips into undisguised contempt. "You are prepared to die here protecting that labouring woman. Where did that bravado go now? You can't give up but you can't fight either. What will you do then? Lie down and die? We are already doing the best we can for you. Take your chances and try to survive. The least I can do for you all is guarantee the pregnant mother and her daughter's safety. The only reason which binds you here in this ranch. You already know that staying here is a death guaranteed."
"Also refer to me as 'girl' again, and I will skin you alive and wear you as a coat." Lelith whispered to herself, barely keeping it on the down low or else she'd have said it outloud while strangling the poor old ef. It was unwise to antagonize them when she wanted them to move on quickly. Lelith took a long deep breath to calm her emotions before speaking again. "Are there any objections? If not, then scram already. The sooner you run, the better."
Even if her companions ended up disagreeing on using the Amulet of Planes to get the mother and daughter to safety, these people didn't really need to know that. With them out of the way and running, the horde would most likely descend here and they were likely to fight it for some time until the woman delivered her baby. It was far easier to protect two persons than an entire village's worth of people and the horde would be delayed either way so they would have time to get to safety. Lelith tried to convey this the best she could to her party without the people knowing.
Ro takes in all the information Lelith shares and considers her plan. "Hmm, it sounds like a decent plan, but only if everything proceeds as we'd like. There's quite a bit of room for chaos to throw a wrench in our plans. The amulet itself does not guarantee us passage to your intended location, so there's the risk of being sent somewhere even more dangerous. Once the woman has birthed her child, we'd have to wait a while for the horde to disperse or relocate, which that in itself isn't a guarantee, and we simply don't have that sort of time to spare. On top of all that, should we teleport to the proper plane, wait the proper amount of time, and manage to teleport back to here safely; we wouldn't be able to simply leave the mother and her newborn afterwards... I fear there are too many variables that could ruin things..."
The wizard places a pensive fist up to his lips has he continues to ponder the ranger's plan. He keeps himself open to any suggestions and the other bandmate's feedback.
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
"The mother and her daughter can be left to the care of my family. They will not refuse me this favour." Lelith addressed one point of concern before speaking of another. "As for the risk... I will not lie and say there are none. However, we have far better chances with it than facing the horde outside and the risk is something we can do about. I am not one that is most attuned to the ways of magic but you are. With your assistance, we could significantly mitigate the risks and ensure we arrive where we intend to go."
Rum arrives back and catches most of the conversation going on.
"What we saw was enough to realise that some wood and nails are not going to be enough to protect anyone. The horde of undead out there is under the control of something that can enable them to act as one foe, one monstrous being. Friend Lelith and I saw that when Prim attacked from the sky. A multitude of the undead coalesced together to form a huge limb that struck out at Prim".
"Ask yourselves, fellow Embers, why would that horde, with such power and intelligence controlling it, be heading for this Ranch. I do not think it a stretch to determine it is not. This place is just in the way. It hails from the direction of Hyrule Castle, and it has set a direct path to Kakariko Village", he says, piecing together his theory as he goes.
"We know that the royal family were planning to escape and head there. They are a far more likely target for this effort. But even if it is not targeting them, are we to let all that have fled to Kakariko fight this evil whilst we hide?", he says pausing for a moment before continuing before anyone can respond.
"There were some creatures among the horde that had a red aura. Friend Lelith attacked one, and when it was hurt it let out a scream that you likely heard, but dozens of other creatures also screamed at that moment. It may be they are the key to defeating the horde. Friend Ro or friend Oten would likely know better than I, were they to observe the effect".
The older Elf bristles as Lelith says her piece, then sneers at her.
"I didn't ask you to stay, so you can get the **** out if that's the attitude you have." He says, his voice dropping, low and venomous. "Of course we want the help, but just because you evacuate her and that baby doesn't mean the rest of us are keen to run out of this house and get slaughtered you stupid *******."
He points at her.
"You threaten me again, and you may as well get to killin' me, because I won't lay down for some clown who walks in like she's suddenly got all the answers, you got that, girl? I don't know how to lay it out any planer for you; that is suicide out there for sure. You will not get away on foot."
The older man listens to the conversation, to Rum's description of the red creatures. He shakes his head.
"That's no good. They don't control the horde. We've been calling those things Redead. They're tough. Real tough. Way tougher than the other things. They can take a real pounding and keep going. But worst part is that if you kill them...they lay down...and next time the moon rises...so do they. And that scream, oh goddesses..."
He shudders.
"The scream can stop some people in their tracks. They're unable to move and then the Redead grab them and then..."
He stops talking...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Rum looks from the old man to Lelith. For one with such a silver tongue, she has an unerring knack for riling people up. It was at times like these that he truly missed Yam. She hadn't been with them long but she had proven very useful when it came to dealing with people. Within and without the band.
He listens intently to the information the old Elf gives them about the horde, feeling a little foolish for assuming they would be naive to it's ways and not asking them earlier.
"Sir Elf, your knowledge is very useful. I am aware offence has been caused, but it should be dealt with when more time permits. Maybe the Redead are not the ones controlling the horde, but I get the sense they are important, maybe a focus. Something is certainly controlling them all, some power animating the bodies. It is possibly something that you have not seen as yet, something that keeps it's distance", he says looking around to see if anyone seemed to get a spark of recognition that might help.
"As for the Redead rising with the moon, I am impressed you have managed to kill some, you have my respect for that. Did you use mundane weapons? Did you use fire or magic?", he asks.
"I have one more suggestion as well for how we can deal with them regardless. Between Kakariko and King's Landing, we have information that there is a large expanse of the Nothing. That would be South of here. We could try and lure them that way, divert them from their current path directly into it. We would need to get it's attention of course", he says optimistically.
"As always I will follow the will of the band, should we decide to stand or flee, but I do not advocate fleeing myself. Not until all hope is lost. The Great Dragon teaches courage, teaches to stand against evil and to protect the righteous. I could not abandon these folk and stay true to those teachings, although I understand we have a greater purpose right now".
"Hoh, is that so?" Lelith spoke in a low voice, her eyes had a dangerous glint to them. Almost murderous. She was obviously furious but that fury was cold. "We are here to help, are we not? And yet what do I get? Condescension from a scared old elf. You know what I am and why I act the way I do, I know you do as all elves are able to recognize my kind. You've heard my threat and my attempt at keeping it down and you still acted on it. People have already been running to Kakariko Village and King's Landing. They certainly can, why can't you?"
"I'll tell you and them why." Lelith gave an eerie smile as she swept her hand over the people gathered here for emphasis. "You are a scared old elf, your prime is already past. You are afraid you will be left behind to die alone so you want to tie down the others with you here no matter the danger. The main reason, the pregnant woman being at risk, is no longer sufficient with what I had suggested. Now, you are grasping at straws. You already understand this, the others as well, staying here is guaranteed death. Running gives you a chance of survival. Me taking the mother to another realm? That would guarantee her and her children their survival and it would ease the conscience of those who had gathered to protect her. But you don't want that, do you? When a chance is offered for you all to escape, you want to squander it for them."
Deception Check : 1d20 (19) + 13 = 32 (Lelith seeks to convince the people of her words and plan and have them turn on the old elf)
"You know, there's one thing we are known for among all of the elves. Once we give our word, we do not break it," Lelith slowly but deliberately unsheathed her rapier which made a distinct 'schwing' sound. It was the unproper form of drawing her rapier as she dragged the blade through the length of its sheath, it can dull the blade if done repeatedly but the sound was unmistakable across all cultures. "I will give you a chance, apologize right now and I will only split your tongue instead. Your speech will be impaired but it will heal eventually. Otherwise... I hope you won't miss your skin."
Intimidation Check : 1d20 (15) + 7 = 22
A low growl emits from Rum’s throat, inaudible to anyone else, but a sign of his frustration.
In truth he had been expecting this moment for a while, having seen how Lelith’s personality seemed to sway from one extreme to the other on their travels. Not to mention how she was with Sorry. The fact it has happened now at such a time sensitive moment is unfortunate.
Now he just wants to see how far she will go. Was it all a show, or was she really capable of maiming or killing one of the very people it was the Twilight Embers purpose to save.
If any of the others look to him, he will discreetly hold his palm up to signal they should wait also.
Ro's usual approach of analytical passivity flew out the door as he listened to Lelith's sharp words. He was appalled by his friend's behavior, and though he saw Rum's gesture to wait, the elf-dwarf could not allow things to continue.
"Lelith, that is enough!!!" Ro scolded Lelith with a tone he had never used on any member of the Twilight Embers before. The elf-dwarf placed himself between Lelith and the old elf, his face red with anger and his fists clenched with frustration.
His own outburst caught himself off guard, and so the elf-dwarf took a deep breath to compose himself. "You will not threaten these people. I have learned to tolerate your extreme behaviors out of respect for how your kind reacts to emotions. But I will not allow it to become an excuse to do harm to those undeserving."
Ro takes in another breath and exhales, allowing the tension in his fists to dissipate, "I know you mean well in saving the mother and her child, but you have crossed a line. These people have dealt with this danger longer than we have, and they may have ample reason to retort against the suggestion to simply flee. They are scared, Lelith. These people need hope and reassurance, and both of those things cannot be forced down their throats."
The eld-dwarf stares intently at Lelith. He waits to hear her response or that of any of the other bandmates.
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
"What are you going to do about it, Ro? Hm?" Lelith spoke with her eyes narrowed at her smaller companion. "Are you going to attack your companion, your friend, who fought with you every step of the way to here?"
"I do not care for either their hope or reassurance, that is not within the purview of our goals and overarching mission. I offered a solution, a chance for survival over certain death. Whether they can find hope in it or not is not something I care to give," Lelith's voice carried no warmth, it was cold and biting. "I have given up everything to fight for this world despite the wishes of my family and people, I answered the Child Empress' call from another realm, crossed the length of Fantasia, sailed a great ocean, crossed the length of the Hylian lands to here, and I nearly gave my life three or four times to this cause over the course of the perilous battles we faced in our journey. I stared straight into death, the glaring red eye of a Guardian with a mere longbow and arrow. Tell me, what have I held back for myself when I gave all I could for you? For them? No one can point at the riches I now hold, for I fought to earn them in blood. Who among you believe that they have fought harder for me than I have for them? All for the sake of your lives!"
Lelith's hand swept around the crowd for emphasis. "I did not come here for a scared old man to demean my status and call me a little girl, to provoke me further even with warning and full knowledge of what I am! I was the first to step here to help them while the others were squabbling about morality and other pointless topics in a time of crisis. And I have made a promise, that which I cannot break even if I wish to. The least the man will suffer is a split tongue for the insult given into me after he apologizes, one that he can heal. That is far more merciful than most of my kind would give. Yet after all that, here I am still willing to fight."
"Step aside, Ro," Lelith spoke softly this time.
Greko quickly steps outside to check on his companions. He sees they are huddled around coming up with a plan, he smiles waves and heads back in
The older Elf nods at Rum as the Tabaxi tries to smooth over the mess that is building..****y for it to become even more inflamed from there. He practically bristles as Lelith's fiery rhetoric continues. He listens to the argument between the teammates, and then looks around at his family and the ranch hands who have remained to help them in their time of need. A younger Elf lays a hand on his shoulder. The girl, her brows furrowed, steps next to him.
"Then we don't need you." She says. He throat rises and falls as she says this, knowing she's sealed her fate. The old man trembles for a moment, clearly intimidated by Lelith's words, but then sets his jaw.
"You were still shitting in diapers when I was leading the assault down the Hole. Ever heard of the Hole? The Hole that opened below Hyrule? The one that let in the Aboleth? I won't be pushed around by some pup whose mother's milk is still on her breath."
The rest of the hands and family began to gather around him.
"You have nothing to prove to her, Poppa." The girl said. She took his hand.
"We don't need you." He said calmly and in solidarity with the girl, still visibly shaking, part in anger, part in fear. Then he turned his back on Lelith and company and spoke to those assisting him. "Someone get that old lizard out of the house. Turn them to the night. Let them see how they fair crossing Hyrule Field with those things out there."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York