"Anyone have a hand cart? Or knows where one is nearby"

Velyzia kneels down and looks over the wound, thinking she might be able to bandage it or something. But one look at it and she realizes she doesn't quite have what she needs to fix it here. "I can walk still." The man says, gently putting more pressure on the injured leg and taking an experimental step forward. "I just can't move very fast or far." 

"The keep kept us safe during a dark elf raid decades ago, when I was a little girl." The woman says,  "How far away is this caravan of yours?"

"How far away is the caravan?"  Xarian tries to think.  "It took us almost an hour to get here and we were moving fast." (post 25)

"Probably at least two hours to get back with everyone here, even if we find a cart.  And we're thinking the caravan is 'safe' because we think the raiders don't know about it.  But if the raiders notice it, it might not be safe.  Could be that the keep is better after all..."

The big man is clearly starting to get antsy, feeling the need to do... something.  Anything.  "Either way, we need to get moving.  Find a way to free the people in the temple.  With the door here broken, the family can hide in the old Crutchley house which the raiders already ransacked while we go scout the temple?  Then once we've freed as many as we can, we'll talk about whether to head back to the caravan or towards the keep."

"You guys argue, but lets get this done." Russel says frustrated with the lack of initiative, 

Apollo peeks out one of the windows as the others discuss, having already retrieved his glaive at this point. There were too many unknowns at this point, and it made trying to make a decision a paralyzing affair. With his free hand he rubs his eyelids, quietly letting out a sigh. Thankfully, the big man was talking a lot of sense. 

"I doubt the caravan is still guarded. The others have probably high-tailed it out of there. And if Osborn had any sense he'd also be hidden off the road, we'd have to find him first. Xarian has the right idea."

He looks to the woman, standing defensively over her family. "As he said, we'll move you to someplace the raiders aren't going to look for how, check out what's going on at the temple, then move you all to safety." 

Trystane scratches his chin, "You're right. Let's do that. Let's get moving. They'll might be back to check this house soon when they figure out that the call to the temple was just a ruse."

Zelvynia nods, ready to follow the group.

The woman grunts, "hiding in a house that's already been busted open?" Her eyes go to the door beyond you, similarly broken now. "Well it isn't like you've left us much choice." She closes her eyes for a moment, perhaps praying - or just mentally preparing for what's ahead. Bending down, she whispers some quick words of consolation to her children before standing up and moving to her husband's weak side to help him move quicker. "We're ready, lead on."

"Seems like the raiders are looting, not looking to kill.  Better to hide in the house that's already busted open and looted than busted and not looted."  Xarian's voice sounds sheepish as he realizes he might not really know what he is talking about.  And he is the one who busted their door to start with...

Trying to shake off his doubts, Xarian offers to fireman-carry the wounded man to the other house and tries to help get them situated and hidden inside.  Assuming that goes as planned, he musters back up with his new companions and prepares to move stealthily towards the church.

Trystane helps Xarian to move the man towards the new house as quickly as possible. "You must be silent and hide. If they notice any movements, they might come and check you out," Trystane advice caution to the family. From Osborne's house, Trystane takes a hidden position at a window and checks the street for more raiders. If it is clear for the moment, he looks to the temple to judge the situation there. 

As they briefly settle into the Osborne home, Kiya peeks her head out of a window next to Trystane, hoping to help spot any important details around the temple. "We should wait to see if that other group comes around this side so we can get a full picture of their number." She says quietly, referring to the one that had disappeared around the southern side of the temple. Presumably they had another one of those lizard creatures with them.

Russel says "Hold on now, lets check to see if the way is still clear." He sticks his head out to look around. perception 10

It's easier to get to the other house unnoticed. The woman - who begrudgingly introduced herself as Linan, shows you to a side door on the southern wall of their home. This allows you to take a direct path between the houses and off the street. While the merchant's sister-in-law doesn't have a similar door on the north side of the house, you're able to easily bust open a window and get everyone through.

You can still see the same group at the front of the temple, three humans and six kobolds. They're joined now by the three kobolds and four-legged creature you saw earlier and sent that way. The two groups of kobolds are yapping at each other excitedly. You watch for several more minutes. Eventually, the group you tricked begins to wonder off, walking back down the street to return to Linan's house.

A second group seems to be encircling the temple. A much larger and deadlier force. You can see three humans, ten kobolds, and two of those drake-like animals following them. They're strung out in a line, and it seems like they're harrying those inside through the windows.

Trystane tries to get a measure of how long it takes the larger group to circle around the temple, counting the seconds to the best of his abilities. When he has an idea of how much time they might have for a blitz attack, he comments it to the group and says, "From what I see, we can try to take out quickly the handful of kobolds and three humans, and then either retreat or fight the large group in a favourable position. Perhaps, in the temple doors? Or shooting through the windows. Or we first feel out our strength against these walking drakes against the one that only has three kobolds. I for one have no idea what we're up against. I'd like to get a taste first before committing to full assault on the temple."

« I could try to split them and lure them somewhere else, like I did with the kobolds. Who knows it might work a second time… » ponders Zelvynia.

"Before we act, lets see if there is another way in to the temple, other than the front. Maybe we can sneak the folks out, without having to confront such a large force." Russel says as he peers towards the scene.

Xarian grips his maul and looks determined.

"I say we ambush and take out the three kobolds and the big scaly thing as they get back to Linan's house.  Because if there's a bigger fight later, they would come running anyway.  But here we can probably finish them quickly while they are isolated.  Maybe surprise them from inside Linan's house."

He stands ready to put the plan into action, though of course ready in case the group decides something different.  Either way, he is shifting his balance from one foot to the other subconsciously, feeling the need to do something... anything to stand up to these bullies.

Zelvynia nods at Xarian. " I like this plan, divide them to crush them. Let's set up an ambush here and I'll bring half of the group that sits in front of the temple. Hopefully my disguise can still work. We ok with this plan ?"
She ties up boots and, still in the bandit disguise, ready herself for her new acting role

Trystane nods in agreement. “Reducing them piece wise seems the best plan,” he says preparing himself for the ambush. He’ll start with shield and loaded hand crossbow, with his melee weapons ready to draw. His hand crossbow is on a short leash fixed on his belt, so that he can just drop it once fired.

(May we have a map?)