As you approach to pass, you realize it a pair of children standing in the middle of an otherwise lifeless street. The taller is a young girl, and you recognize her as the one who had waved at the group. The shorter of the two, a young boy, is weeping and clutches a stuffed doll.
After shushing the boy, the girl turns to you shyly and responds, "G-Good morning! Please help us! There's a monster in our house!"
"A monster you say?" Dravos stops dead in his tracks, squatting to get on the girl's level. He smiles at her warmly offering her and the boy a ration, "What is this monster?"
At the sight of food, the children's eyes grow as large as saucers. The boy quickly snatches the ration, dropping his stuffed doll on the ground in his haste. He hugs the ration tightly to his chest.
"T-thank you! My brother is always so hungry, and it has been a while since we have eaten," the girl says, a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment on her face. She continues, "Our mother and father trapped the monster in our basement, but we still hear the terrible howls coming from below!"
She then points to through the trees and peeking through the boughs, you spot the top of a tall brick row house, its grey shingled roof barely visible through the fog.
Internal conflict visibly crosses the girl's face before she shakes her head at Dravos. "Mum told me never to touch any strangers..." She thinks for a moment, "... but I can show you the way to our house!"
She turns to Gram with concern, "I haven't seen Mum and Dad, d-do you think they are in trouble? You don't think they are safe?" At this, the little boy's eyes large eyes begin to water and a whimper escapes from him.
The girl quickly takes him by the arm before he can start wailing, "Come on Thorn, let's show them where the house is and maybe they can help us and look for Mum and Dad too!"
The pair of them set of through the trees towards the roof, glancing back to see if the party is following.
Dravos chuckles, "Smart lass. Your mother taught you well." He follows behind them, lessening his stride to keep behind them, not paying any attention to the rest of the group.
(( TipsyPixy and Treewy, are you still with us? ))
The girl glances back, her expression worried as she loses sight of Gram, but she seems comforted Dravos' presence close behind them.
The children navigate through the trees slowly, carefully avoiding the gnarled roots and overgrown thickets, the boy still clutching the ration to his chest. The air is damp and earthy.
If Orland says nothing, Gram offers him an alternative.
“I am sorry Orland, but children need help. How about you continue onwards to the town, and I will catch up with you alright? If you decide to rejoin us at the household, you will be welcomed. I will see you in a little while.”
Waving to his compatriot, Gram jogs up to join the group, glancing back at the lonely figure standing there before giving the girl a gentle smile.
The girl shakes her head, "The howls aren't like any of the sounds Rufus makes. Not as..." She pauses, searching for the word, "Not as growly."
The boy looks at Relicta with wonder in his large eyes at the offer. He manages to take two steps towards her before the girl pulls him back by the elbow.
"Thorn! Are you trying to get us both in trouble? Remember what Mum says: no touching any strangers!" She reprimands him sternly, waving a finger at him in disapproval. The little boy puffs his cheeks in protest and stomps towards the house sulking.
The girl gives Gram a small wave as he comes back into view.
The trees gradually part, and after following the children for a few minutes, you arrive in front of a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar.
Dravos follows softly behind them, shimmying past the partially open gate. He glances back at the rest of the party before turning his head back and studying the house.
The girl stops just short of the gate, extending an arm to pull the boy to a stop as well. Turning to the party, the girl says timidly crossing her arms, "I-It's not that we're too scared of the monster to go in, we just want to stay out here and get some fresh air!"
Gram: You notice that the windows on the ground floor are very clean, not a speck of dust on the panes. As you look scan upwards, the windows grow dustier with each floor. Although it is daytime, all the windows appear dark, almost tinted as if not to allow sunlight to peek through. After observing for a few minutes, you do not see any movement.
As the group continues on their way, Gram gives a friendly nod and says,
”Good morning!”
As you approach to pass, you realize it a pair of children standing in the middle of an otherwise lifeless street. The taller is a young girl, and you recognize her as the one who had waved at the group. The shorter of the two, a young boy, is weeping and clutches a stuffed doll.
After shushing the boy, the girl turns to you shyly and responds, "G-Good morning! Please help us! There's a monster in our house!"
"A monster you say?" Dravos stops dead in his tracks, squatting to get on the girl's level. He smiles at her warmly offering her and the boy a ration, "What is this monster?"
At the sight of food, the children's eyes grow as large as saucers. The boy quickly snatches the ration, dropping his stuffed doll on the ground in his haste. He hugs the ration tightly to his chest.
"T-thank you! My brother is always so hungry, and it has been a while since we have eaten," the girl says, a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment on her face. She continues, "Our mother and father trapped the monster in our basement, but we still hear the terrible howls coming from below!"
She then points to through the trees and peeking through the boughs, you spot the top of a tall brick row house, its grey shingled roof barely visible through the fog.
"Lead us there lass, and we'll see what we can do." He offers her his hand when he stands up.
Worriedly Gram steps forward.
”And where are your mother and father? Are they safe from this monster? It’s not breaking out is it?”
Internal conflict visibly crosses the girl's face before she shakes her head at Dravos. "Mum told me never to touch any strangers..." She thinks for a moment, "... but I can show you the way to our house!"
She turns to Gram with concern, "I haven't seen Mum and Dad, d-do you think they are in trouble? You don't think they are safe?" At this, the little boy's eyes large eyes begin to water and a whimper escapes from him.
The girl quickly takes him by the arm before he can start wailing, "Come on Thorn, let's show them where the house is and maybe they can help us and look for Mum and Dad too!"
The pair of them set of through the trees towards the roof, glancing back to see if the party is following.
Glancing over to Orland, Gram says,
”I know we’re here to get you help, but I cannot in good conscious let them suffer this. Could you come and help this before we continue?”
Dravos chuckles, "Smart lass. Your mother taught you well." He follows behind them, lessening his stride to keep behind them, not paying any attention to the rest of the group.
(( TipsyPixy and Treewy, are you still with us? ))
The girl glances back, her expression worried as she loses sight of Gram, but she seems comforted Dravos' presence close behind them.
The children navigate through the trees slowly, carefully avoiding the gnarled roots and overgrown thickets, the boy still clutching the ration to his chest. The air is damp and earthy.
Relicta quietly surveys the area as they travel, taking note of where they are going so they can find their way back if needed.
"The monster, what kind of howl, like a dog?" She offers to carry the boy on her shoulders/piggy back ride. "When did you last see your family?"
Survival check: 19
Athletic check to carry the kid: 14
Diatrix Thistletop'Trixy'-Halfling Bard
If Orland says nothing, Gram offers him an alternative.
“I am sorry Orland, but children need help. How about you continue onwards to the town, and I will catch up with you alright? If you decide to rejoin us at the household, you will be welcomed. I will see you in a little while.”
Waving to his compatriot, Gram jogs up to join the group, glancing back at the lonely figure standing there before giving the girl a gentle smile.
The girl shakes her head, "The howls aren't like any of the sounds Rufus makes. Not as..." She pauses, searching for the word, "Not as growly."
The boy looks at Relicta with wonder in his large eyes at the offer. He manages to take two steps towards her before the girl pulls him back by the elbow.
"Thorn! Are you trying to get us both in trouble? Remember what Mum says: no touching any strangers!" She reprimands him sternly, waving a finger at him in disapproval. The little boy puffs his cheeks in protest and stomps towards the house sulking.
The girl gives Gram a small wave as he comes back into view.
The trees gradually part, and after following the children for a few minutes, you arrive in front of a tall brick row house that has seen better days. Its windows are dark. It has a gated portico on the ground floor, and the rusty gate is slightly ajar.
Dravos follows softly behind them, shimmying past the partially open gate. He glances back at the rest of the party before turning his head back and studying the house.
Gram follows, looking up at the windows in search of movement or signs of life.
Perception 18
The girl stops just short of the gate, extending an arm to pull the boy to a stop as well. Turning to the party, the girl says timidly crossing her arms, "I-It's not that we're too scared of the monster to go in, we just want to stay out here and get some fresh air!"
Gram:
You notice that the windows on the ground floor are very clean, not a speck of dust on the panes. As you look scan upwards, the windows grow dustier with each floor. Although it is daytime, all the windows appear dark, almost tinted as if not to allow sunlight to peek through. After observing for a few minutes, you do not see any movement.
Dravos smiles and nods, "We'll be back in a bit." He knocks on the door, glancing at the party.
Gram resists putting a reassuring hand on the children’s shoulder. “Of course, we’ll be right back!”