The henchman shakes his head, "not s'posed to discuss things like that in the open." He says as Xarianwalks away.
Evelynand Xarian As you step out onto the wooden porch of the inn, you immediately see a panicked man running across the town plaza. A group of small blue-skinned and scaly humanoids with brandished daggers chase after him - you recognize them as kobolds. The man and his pursuers disappear between two houses on the other side of the square. You can hear distant (but slowly growing closer) screams from nearly all directions. You also see the telltale glow of fires to the south, east, and west.
A group of 6 figures - 4 clad in robes and 2 wearing leather armor enter the plaza from the southwestern road. You slip back inside and close the door before they spot you.
With the door having been opened for so long, some of the patrons nearest it take notice that's something wrong. "W-what was that out there?" You hear one of them call out.
Xari looks hard at Knot as the henchman clearly reveals that he knew in advance about whatever attack seems to be happening outside in the town.
With the door having been opened for so long, some of the patrons nearest it take notice that's something wrong. "W-what was that out there?" You hear one of them call out.
The big man turns back to the crowd, finding that he is far calmer than he should be. "Nothing good, friends. Thinking you all best stay safe inside."
Thinking that he remembers Hadrian knowing Elvish, and guessing the two elves almost certainly do, Xari switches to clipped Elvish for the rest of it.
"City looks like it is under attack. Right now. Kobolds, maybe cultists, men at arms. Townsfolk running for their lives. And this guy," he gestures at Knot, "...this guy knew about it but was supposed to keep it quiet, which means the tiefling lady knew about it." Xari pauses thoughtfully.
"So did you know about it?" The big man looks pointedly at Aimon, then sighs. Turning back to those he entered the Bent Bow with, Xari continues:
"We need to get back to make sure Mary and Andy are all right. Sooner the better. Might take some fighting, or maybe sneaking to get there."
Evelyn is quiet as they step back inside the inn, closing the door. She looks over her shoulder at the patron who had spoken up. "Nothing." Without another word she starts moving to the windows of the inn, closing whatever shutters or curtains they may have. As she returns to the others, she's a bit surprised to hear the goliath of a man start speaking elvish. Yes, he certainly looked like he had a bit of their blood in him...But he certainly didn't seem like he was raised as one of them.
A curt nod signifies that she agrees with most of what he had said. There was a part of her, an older part of her, that wanted to simply run. Abandon these people in the inn. Abandon the people in the town. Just head south and try to pick up the trail of the person she actually cared about. But another part knew he'd hate for it. Damnable man.
She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking. When she opens them again, she also slips into elvish. "What about the people here?"
The richly-dressed elf raises his hands in a show of innocence.
"I've got as much as an idea of about what's going on out there as you do, friend," he says honestly, eyes wide with worry as he replies in his native tongue.
He turns back to Knot and would try to draw the large man into a private huddle.
If the man joins him, Aimon lowers his voice to a hushed whisper, "Look, you're absolutely right not to discuss it in the open, but it's just you and me now. Maybe I can help Lady Vareeza with her requirements if you can tell me what's going on."
He peers over Knots head to the innkeeper, "A mug of ale for my fine friend!" he adds to sweeten the deal.
"Cultists?"That in particular sticks out to Hadrian, and he looks up at Xarian as his eyes go wide with shock. "There's more of those demons? I thought we killed them all!" Realizing his voice had been growing louder, he speaks quieter. "Why would they even come here? What they wanted, it's done isn't it? She's out. Can't they just pray to the damned sky?"
He looks around the tavern, noting how uncomfortable and concerned some of the patrons seem to be growing. Evelyn was right about that, they couldn't just leave the place undefended. "We can have them barricade the door after we go. Get Mary and Andy. Then come back and lead them all...Somewhere. Out of town into the woods maybe?"
The patrons do not look at all convinced by the assurances given by Xarian and Evelyn. Though no one gets up to check for themselves, those near the door begin to speculate quietly amongst themselves. Word begins to move through the rest of the tavern. The panic will set in soon.
Aimon The burly henchman huddles up with you, listening eagerly like a good friend might. The innkeeper gets you a mug of ale, though she has a suspicious look on her face now. Knot wags a large finger in your face. "No talkin' 'bout plans. Mistress'll turn you inside out." Even ensorcelled as he is, the big man's fear of your tiefling patron seems to far outmatch your charm. Having met the woman twice now yourself, you can understand how it would be very hard to get someone to willingly contradict her orders. "I should be goin' now." Knot says, rubbing his hands nervously. "Gotta get back to the camp."
Knot is smarter than he looks. Perhaps smarter than me. He probably would've known better than to drink from that gods-damned goblet, Aimon thinks to himself with a barely perceptible frown.
"Very good," he says, still whispering. "That was a test. You passed! Lady Vareeza will be very pleased. You should get back to the camp and see what else she needs doing. I'll be along there to deliver her item in the morning." There's a short pause while he rubs his chin pensively. "Gosh, I've forgotten where it is! Remind me?" he tries his luck one more time.
"Cultists?"That in particular sticks out to Hadrian, and he looks up at Xarian as his eyes go wide with shock. "There's more of those demons? I thought we killed them all!" Realizing his voice had been growing louder, he speaks quieter. "Why would they even come here? What they wanted, it's done isn't it? She's out. Can't they just pray to the damned sky?"
He looks around the tavern, noting how uncomfortable and concerned some of the patrons seem to be growing. Evelyn was right about that, they couldn't just leave the place undefended. "We can have them barricade the door after we go. Get Mary and Andy. Then come back and lead them all...Somewhere. Out of town into the woods maybe?"
Xari thinks a moment, continuing in his clipped Elvish. "Don't know if they're the same cultists, Hadrian. Or even cultists at all. Just had robes. Can't say as I remember the ones we fought last night having kobolds and men at arms with them, or some tiefling lady planning to attack a whole town."
The big man looks around at the increasingly agitated patrons of the Bent Bow. Part of him wants to stay and protect them as Evelyn asks about, but...
He shakes his head. "From the screams far away, I'd say a lot of the town's under attack. Can't protect them all. At least the folks here have a chance at safety in numbers. Might make the attackers pick a different target. Mary and Andy are by themselves. We should get them. Now."
Xari walks to the bar and flags down the Innkeep, trying to get her attention for a quiet word (in Common). "There's trouble out there. Whole town, maybe. Thought you should know. Do you have a back entrance? We left a mother and daughter alone together in a house a minute away."
He puts two gold pieces on the countertop. Still quietly in Common: "Round of drinks for anyone who wants to stay safer in here and drink it."
Hadrianfrowns. He knows that Xarian's assessment is logically correct, but that doesn't make him agree with it any more. "Can't protect them all." It wouldn't stop him from trying.
While the big man goes to bar, he taps Aimonon the shoulder and quietly says to him. "See if you can get your friend Knot to leave his mace behind with us, eh?"
He joins Xarian at the bar, drawing his dagger from his belt and putting it on the bar top. As his companion does, he lowers his voice to speak to the innkeeper. "Sorry. It's not much of anything, but it's better than nothing. Might be able to get you something more." He adds, glancing at the redheaded elf and his charmed friend (If Aimon is able to get the mace from Knot, he also leaves that with the innkeeper).
"If you have a cellar, I'd fit in as many people as you can. The ones who won't be of much help in a fight. Anything else you have laying around that can be used as a weapon, start arming people yeah? Break off a broom handle. Meat cleaver."
With a glance at his friend, he then adds: "Once we have our friends somewhere safe, we'll find help for you or come back ourselves. Just hold this place down like a fort."
Aimon Knot looks down at you, a slightly confused look on his face. He seems about to correct you on something, then shakes his head. "Mistress stayin' in the big one. South from the west part o' town. Four hours or so. Lookin' for the big nose rock."
Xarianand Hadrian The innkeeper look at you with what is at first an amused grin, thinking you might be joking. As she registers the seriousness of your tone and expression however, her smile is quickly wipes away."Oh hells, you aren't kidding are you?"
She looks between the big man and the black-haired nobleman for her moment. Then sighs, shooing away the gold coins on the table. "Down the hall and on your left, through the kitchen." She says in reply to Xarian's question of another way out.
"Aye, I've got a cellar. But lots of these folk have family out there. Can't promise they'll stay."
Grabbing the dagger, she stashes it in apron pocket for now. "I'll wait to break the news after you leave. Unless they've already got him, Governor should be in the keep center of town. If you can make it there, tell him to come save our asses or he's never getting free drinks again."
Aimon smiles broadly at Knot and claps him amicably on the shoulder.
"You're a good man. Quick now, hurry back."
But before Knot leaves, Aimon gestures to the mace hanging from his waist.
"Can I borrow that? It sounds dangerous out there. You're big enough not a soul will give you trouble, but me? I could do with something to scare them off."
Evelyn waits patiently until it's time to leave, listening to the hushed conversation around her. As Hadrian begins to gather whatever miscellaneous weapons he can to leave for the people at the inn, she wordlessly unhooks her sickle and leaves it on the bar as well.
Xari takes back his gold from the innkeeper and, in the spirit of the gestures his companions are making, leaves one of his javelins upon the bar. He listens to her describe the keep in the center of town and makes sure he knows how to get there later when needed.
"The keep. Might be the safest place. We should try to bring as many people there as we can. We just have to collect a helpless woman and child first."
What am I doing saying what everyone should do? I'm just an upjumped gutter rat. But the new Xari has become unmoored from the old one, ignoring the doubts in his own head. With the city under attack and the red star shining outside and life and death so easily reversed for us 'clay children', what does it all really matter? Might as well do what needs doing. Don't know why this governor hasn't sent men to gather everyone at the keep already...
When ready, he moves with Hadrian, the two elves (if Aimon joins) and Rox to the back entrance, down the hall to the left, through the kitchen...
As they prepare to leave, Hadrianbeckons to the redheaded elf, Aimonwasn't it? That sorcery of his could come in handy...
"I'm not sure what your plan is...But if you come with, we can help protect you from that tiefling problem of yours. She still has what, two of those thugs with her? Strength in numbers friend."
Aimon "Well..." The burly man looks hesitant, but ultimately takes the mace out of his belt loop, handing it to you. "Don't get it too bloody." Unless you stop him for anything else, Knot ambles out of the front door of the inn.
Everyone (if Aimonjoins)
Following the innkeeper's directions, you cut through the kitchen and exit through a door on the west wall. You step into relative darkness on the gravel road, which is lit in small squares by light filtering through the windows of nearby buildings. The gravel road here runs in a loop, with a large tree in the center. Six buildings including the inn run around the outer edge. The road leads out to the west - nearly a direct shot back to the home you left Mary and Andy at. You see a few torches dropped on the ground in front of the northernmost home on this loop of gravel road, ~ 70 feet from where you stand now. The door is open, and through the windows you can see figures moving about through the rooms. Two still shapes that couldn't be anything but bodies lay on the front lawn, tossed onto the grass just outside the door.
The inn blocks your view of the east, but to the south and you can see orange light dance across the sky as more and more fires go up.
Aimon does indeed follow the capable individuals who stepped in on his behalf, if only because he does not fancy wandering the town alone while it is under attack, possibly by the woman who had every reason to extract a pound of flesh from his hide.
On the way out of the tavern, he donates Knot's mace and his own dagger to the growing pile of weapons atop the inn's counter. "Hope that pays my tab," he says with a wink to the woman behind the bar before hastily following the others out the back.
Upon seeing the two bodies ahead and the ominous, orange glow rising up all around the city, Aimon's usually charming smile fades and is replaced by wide, worried eyes.
"Who is doing this? And why?!"
His mind briefly goes to the family storehouse, imagining flames licking up its walls, but he had no intention of going alone to check on it, and he felt certain his new companions had other priorities.
As they step out onto the road, Hadrian takes a moment to rub his eyes. Briefly the irises of his eyes flicker to a pale color, before settling back to violet. Slowly, he becomes aware that out to a certain range, the darkness simply doesn't bother him. The mark on his arm itches.
He marks the bodies on the ground to the north, and the figures rummaging through the home. Would they find a similar scene at Leosin's home? That thought set a new flame of urgency beneath him. "Questions for later. Keep moving."In the next moment, he grasps a longsword in his hand. He looks for a way west that will keep them out of sight, around the backside of buildings, in the shadows of trees, or by whatever cover they can find. When they move again, he keeps his eyes peeled for more groups of these raiders.
Evelyn's pupils dilate slightly as they step into the night's air. The glow of fire and the smell of smoke make an old fear swell to the surface. Slowly, she breathes in and out.
As it seems like they might try sneaking their way to their destination, she briefly takes stock of their little group. Her eyes stop on the big man. The druid reaches up to tap him on the shoulder. "Try not to make too much racket with that armor of yours, yeah?"
Aimon falls in behind the others as they lead the way through the village. He's unsure where they're going; he's just glad to be away from Lady Vareeza and her henchmen. His vibrant green eyes dart from shadow to shadow, the slightest movement or sound making him startle.
Stealth: 4
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The henchman shakes his head, "not s'posed to discuss things like that in the open." He says as Xarian walks away.
Evelyn and Xarian
As you step out onto the wooden porch of the inn, you immediately see a panicked man running across the town plaza. A group of small blue-skinned and scaly humanoids with brandished daggers chase after him - you recognize them as kobolds. The man and his pursuers disappear between two houses on the other side of the square. You can hear distant (but slowly growing closer) screams from nearly all directions. You also see the telltale glow of fires to the south, east, and west.
A group of 6 figures - 4 clad in robes and 2 wearing leather armor enter the plaza from the southwestern road. You slip back inside and close the door before they spot you.
With the door having been opened for so long, some of the patrons nearest it take notice that's something wrong. "W-what was that out there?" You hear one of them call out.
Xari looks hard at Knot as the henchman clearly reveals that he knew in advance about whatever attack seems to be happening outside in the town.
The big man turns back to the crowd, finding that he is far calmer than he should be. "Nothing good, friends. Thinking you all best stay safe inside."
Thinking that he remembers Hadrian knowing Elvish, and guessing the two elves almost certainly do, Xari switches to clipped Elvish for the rest of it.
"City looks like it is under attack. Right now. Kobolds, maybe cultists, men at arms. Townsfolk running for their lives. And this guy," he gestures at Knot, "...this guy knew about it but was supposed to keep it quiet, which means the tiefling lady knew about it." Xari pauses thoughtfully.
"So did you know about it?" The big man looks pointedly at Aimon, then sighs. Turning back to those he entered the Bent Bow with, Xari continues:
"We need to get back to make sure Mary and Andy are all right. Sooner the better. Might take some fighting, or maybe sneaking to get there."
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Evelyn is quiet as they step back inside the inn, closing the door. She looks over her shoulder at the patron who had spoken up. "Nothing." Without another word she starts moving to the windows of the inn, closing whatever shutters or curtains they may have. As she returns to the others, she's a bit surprised to hear the goliath of a man start speaking elvish. Yes, he certainly looked like he had a bit of their blood in him...But he certainly didn't seem like he was raised as one of them.
A curt nod signifies that she agrees with most of what he had said. There was a part of her, an older part of her, that wanted to simply run. Abandon these people in the inn. Abandon the people in the town. Just head south and try to pick up the trail of the person she actually cared about. But another part knew he'd hate for it. Damnable man.
She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking. When she opens them again, she also slips into elvish. "What about the people here?"
The richly-dressed elf raises his hands in a show of innocence.
"I've got as much as an idea of about what's going on out there as you do, friend," he says honestly, eyes wide with worry as he replies in his native tongue.
He turns back to Knot and would try to draw the large man into a private huddle.
If the man joins him, Aimon lowers his voice to a hushed whisper, "Look, you're absolutely right not to discuss it in the open, but it's just you and me now. Maybe I can help Lady Vareeza with her requirements if you can tell me what's going on."
He peers over Knots head to the innkeeper, "A mug of ale for my fine friend!" he adds to sweeten the deal.
Persuasion (if applicable): 22
As the others do, Hadrian speaks in Elvish.
"Cultists?" That in particular sticks out to Hadrian, and he looks up at Xarian as his eyes go wide with shock. "There's more of those demons? I thought we killed them all!" Realizing his voice had been growing louder, he speaks quieter. "Why would they even come here? What they wanted, it's done isn't it? She's out. Can't they just pray to the damned sky?"
He looks around the tavern, noting how uncomfortable and concerned some of the patrons seem to be growing. Evelyn was right about that, they couldn't just leave the place undefended. "We can have them barricade the door after we go. Get Mary and Andy. Then come back and lead them all...Somewhere. Out of town into the woods maybe?"
The patrons do not look at all convinced by the assurances given by Xarian and Evelyn. Though no one gets up to check for themselves, those near the door begin to speculate quietly amongst themselves. Word begins to move through the rest of the tavern. The panic will set in soon.
Aimon
The burly henchman huddles up with you, listening eagerly like a good friend might. The innkeeper gets you a mug of ale, though she has a suspicious look on her face now. Knot wags a large finger in your face. "No talkin' 'bout plans. Mistress'll turn you inside out." Even ensorcelled as he is, the big man's fear of your tiefling patron seems to far outmatch your charm. Having met the woman twice now yourself, you can understand how it would be very hard to get someone to willingly contradict her orders. "I should be goin' now." Knot says, rubbing his hands nervously. "Gotta get back to the camp."
Knot is smarter than he looks. Perhaps smarter than me. He probably would've known better than to drink from that gods-damned goblet, Aimon thinks to himself with a barely perceptible frown.
"Very good," he says, still whispering. "That was a test. You passed! Lady Vareeza will be very pleased. You should get back to the camp and see what else she needs doing. I'll be along there to deliver her item in the morning." There's a short pause while he rubs his chin pensively. "Gosh, I've forgotten where it is! Remind me?" he tries his luck one more time.
Xari thinks a moment, continuing in his clipped Elvish. "Don't know if they're the same cultists, Hadrian. Or even cultists at all. Just had robes. Can't say as I remember the ones we fought last night having kobolds and men at arms with them, or some tiefling lady planning to attack a whole town."
The big man looks around at the increasingly agitated patrons of the Bent Bow. Part of him wants to stay and protect them as Evelyn asks about, but...
He shakes his head. "From the screams far away, I'd say a lot of the town's under attack. Can't protect them all. At least the folks here have a chance at safety in numbers. Might make the attackers pick a different target. Mary and Andy are by themselves. We should get them. Now."
Xari walks to the bar and flags down the Innkeep, trying to get her attention for a quiet word (in Common). "There's trouble out there. Whole town, maybe. Thought you should know. Do you have a back entrance? We left a mother and daughter alone together in a house a minute away."
He puts two gold pieces on the countertop. Still quietly in Common: "Round of drinks for anyone who wants to stay safer in here and drink it."
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Hadrian frowns. He knows that Xarian's assessment is logically correct, but that doesn't make him agree with it any more. "Can't protect them all." It wouldn't stop him from trying.
While the big man goes to bar, he taps Aimon on the shoulder and quietly says to him. "See if you can get your friend Knot to leave his mace behind with us, eh?"
He joins Xarian at the bar, drawing his dagger from his belt and putting it on the bar top. As his companion does, he lowers his voice to speak to the innkeeper. "Sorry. It's not much of anything, but it's better than nothing. Might be able to get you something more." He adds, glancing at the redheaded elf and his charmed friend (If Aimon is able to get the mace from Knot, he also leaves that with the innkeeper).
"If you have a cellar, I'd fit in as many people as you can. The ones who won't be of much help in a fight. Anything else you have laying around that can be used as a weapon, start arming people yeah? Break off a broom handle. Meat cleaver."
With a glance at his friend, he then adds: "Once we have our friends somewhere safe, we'll find help for you or come back ourselves. Just hold this place down like a fort."
Aimon
Knot looks down at you, a slightly confused look on his face. He seems about to correct you on something, then shakes his head. "Mistress stayin' in the big one. South from the west part o' town. Four hours or so. Lookin' for the big nose rock."
Xarian and Hadrian
The innkeeper look at you with what is at first an amused grin, thinking you might be joking. As she registers the seriousness of your tone and expression however, her smile is quickly wipes away. "Oh hells, you aren't kidding are you?"
She looks between the big man and the black-haired nobleman for her moment. Then sighs, shooing away the gold coins on the table. "Down the hall and on your left, through the kitchen." She says in reply to Xarian's question of another way out.
"Aye, I've got a cellar. But lots of these folk have family out there. Can't promise they'll stay."
Grabbing the dagger, she stashes it in apron pocket for now. "I'll wait to break the news after you leave. Unless they've already got him, Governor should be in the keep center of town. If you can make it there, tell him to come save our asses or he's never getting free drinks again."
Aimon smiles broadly at Knot and claps him amicably on the shoulder.
"You're a good man. Quick now, hurry back."
But before Knot leaves, Aimon gestures to the mace hanging from his waist.
"Can I borrow that? It sounds dangerous out there. You're big enough not a soul will give you trouble, but me? I could do with something to scare them off."
Evelyn waits patiently until it's time to leave, listening to the hushed conversation around her. As Hadrian begins to gather whatever miscellaneous weapons he can to leave for the people at the inn, she wordlessly unhooks her sickle and leaves it on the bar as well.
Xari takes back his gold from the innkeeper and, in the spirit of the gestures his companions are making, leaves one of his javelins upon the bar. He listens to her describe the keep in the center of town and makes sure he knows how to get there later when needed.
"The keep. Might be the safest place. We should try to bring as many people there as we can. We just have to collect a helpless woman and child first."
What am I doing saying what everyone should do? I'm just an upjumped gutter rat. But the new Xari has become unmoored from the old one, ignoring the doubts in his own head. With the city under attack and the red star shining outside and life and death so easily reversed for us 'clay children', what does it all really matter? Might as well do what needs doing. Don't know why this governor hasn't sent men to gather everyone at the keep already...
When ready, he moves with Hadrian, the two elves (if Aimon joins) and Rox to the back entrance, down the hall to the left, through the kitchen...
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
As they prepare to leave, Hadrian beckons to the redheaded elf, Aimon wasn't it? That sorcery of his could come in handy...
"I'm not sure what your plan is...But if you come with, we can help protect you from that tiefling problem of yours. She still has what, two of those thugs with her? Strength in numbers friend."
Aimon
"Well..." The burly man looks hesitant, but ultimately takes the mace out of his belt loop, handing it to you. "Don't get it too bloody." Unless you stop him for anything else, Knot ambles out of the front door of the inn.
Everyone (if Aimon joins)
Following the innkeeper's directions, you cut through the kitchen and exit through a door on the west wall. You step into relative darkness on the gravel road, which is lit in small squares by light filtering through the windows of nearby buildings. The gravel road here runs in a loop, with a large tree in the center. Six buildings including the inn run around the outer edge. The road leads out to the west - nearly a direct shot back to the home you left Mary and Andy at. You see a few torches dropped on the ground in front of the northernmost home on this loop of gravel road, ~ 70 feet from where you stand now. The door is open, and through the windows you can see figures moving about through the rooms. Two still shapes that couldn't be anything but bodies lay on the front lawn, tossed onto the grass just outside the door.
The inn blocks your view of the east, but to the south and you can see orange light dance across the sky as more and more fires go up.
Aimon does indeed follow the capable individuals who stepped in on his behalf, if only because he does not fancy wandering the town alone while it is under attack, possibly by the woman who had every reason to extract a pound of flesh from his hide.
On the way out of the tavern, he donates Knot's mace and his own dagger to the growing pile of weapons atop the inn's counter. "Hope that pays my tab," he says with a wink to the woman behind the bar before hastily following the others out the back.
Upon seeing the two bodies ahead and the ominous, orange glow rising up all around the city, Aimon's usually charming smile fades and is replaced by wide, worried eyes.
"Who is doing this? And why?!"
His mind briefly goes to the family storehouse, imagining flames licking up its walls, but he had no intention of going alone to check on it, and he felt certain his new companions had other priorities.
As they step out onto the road, Hadrian takes a moment to rub his eyes. Briefly the irises of his eyes flicker to a pale color, before settling back to violet. Slowly, he becomes aware that out to a certain range, the darkness simply doesn't bother him. The mark on his arm itches.
He marks the bodies on the ground to the north, and the figures rummaging through the home. Would they find a similar scene at Leosin's home? That thought set a new flame of urgency beneath him. "Questions for later. Keep moving." In the next moment, he grasps a longsword in his hand. He looks for a way west that will keep them out of sight, around the backside of buildings, in the shadows of trees, or by whatever cover they can find. When they move again, he keeps his eyes peeled for more groups of these raiders.
Perception: 17
Evelyn's pupils dilate slightly as they step into the night's air. The glow of fire and the smell of smoke make an old fear swell to the surface. Slowly, she breathes in and out.
As it seems like they might try sneaking their way to their destination, she briefly takes stock of their little group. Her eyes stop on the big man. The druid reaches up to tap him on the shoulder. "Try not to make too much racket with that armor of yours, yeah?"
[Action]: Guidance on Xarian for Stealth.
Xari grins a rueful thanks at Evelyn. "No promises."
Agreeing with Hadrian's stated need to press on towards Leosin's home, he signals the others ahead as he brings up the rear.
I guess the silver lining of these bastards lighting the city up with fire is that Hadrian and I might not suffer from lack of darkvision as much...
Xarian's Stealth at disadvantage due to his scale mail plus Guidance: 10 + 3 = 13
Inge(Barbarian2):Krayveneer's After the Fall| Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles| Xarian(Fighter2):NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric4):Vos' Beyond the Veil| Soren(Druid5):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft| Nivi(Rogue4):Raiketsu's CoS| Ophelia(Sorcerer4):Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(Fighter6):NotDrizzt's Simple Request| Toa(Barbarian6/Fighter4):MrWhisker's Dark Lord's Return| Sabetha(Monk3):Bedlymn's Murder Court
Aimon falls in behind the others as they lead the way through the village. He's unsure where they're going; he's just glad to be away from Lady Vareeza and her henchmen. His vibrant green eyes dart from shadow to shadow, the slightest movement or sound making him startle.
Stealth: 4