Rose looks at at each of the new arrivals as she thinks on what Selûne has planned for them this time. Just before the silence gets a little awkward she speaks up. Ah yes well, we could certainly use help. As my fiancé said, we arrived a little too late to save all of the town. As such we have been busy cleaning up. The surviving townsfolk fled to Neverwinter, we have friends going there now to tell them it's safe to return home. I would like to have most of the gore cleaned up before they arrive. We've done most of the burials but I'm sure we can find a use for you. If you stay there may be more work in it for you once the townsfolk return. 

Luckily for Root's smoke-show, the wind was mostly dead, allowing it to continue. Yeah, don't put this on yourselves. This, if anything is more on us, than anyone else. And.. Not everyone's dead. We found out that some of the townsfolk had time to escape while the few fighters that were here already, Including Ja'ree here.  she says, pointing to the Tabaxi, and giving him a comforting pat on his shoulder held them off. Gwen chuckling as she realized that she an d Rose more or less said the same thing. Even as she spoke, one of the few tree's in the middle of the town, still having a bit of a snowcoat, likely loosened by the fires and just ever so slowly readusting itself ... finally gave out, as a large pile hit the ground with a loud, hefty pop about ten feet away from Fallan, and causing the pinebranch to shake and stutter as it knocked a few more patches to repeat that process before finally ceasing.

Mm.. but yes.. sate my curiosity, what was it that brought you folks to Phandalin in the first place? Or were you just passing through to elsewhere?

As Root sets a hand to Bell's head, she leans slightly towards him, enjoying the pat between her antlers as a dog might enjoy a scritch between its ears.  it seems to distract her momentarily from the hellscape around them.  She then watches intently at the reenactment in the smoke above root's head.

When Fallan bumps in to her and apologizes, Bellerain responds quickly.  "Oh, no worries..."  Concern then enters her eyes as she observes the halfling's reaction.  Bell lowers herself into a squat and twists her forearm back and forth, causing the liquid in the jug strapped there to slosh.  "You alright Fal?  I'm willing to share if it'll take the edge off."

As Bellerain concerns herself Fallan's well-being, she leaves Root to answer the questions.

"No, no, no, nothing to drink, gotta stay sharp, gotta stay alert... well, is it GOOD? Sure, just a bit, what the heck?" is what Fallan says to Bellerain's offer of stiff drink. But no sooner had she agreed to something hopefully calming did she nearly jump out of her skin as the large snowdrop hit the ground with a thud, unseen by her as she focused on Bell's jug.

"Did you hear that? Did you see that? What was that? Nope, nope, nope, can't do that drink. Gotta stay ready. Thanks anyway." Her head almost on a swivel, she rotates her head and turns her body to try to take in a complete 360-degree view of her surroundings, which was still as dreary and sullen as any burned out town would be.

Rose glances at the other halfling, clearly on edge and frightened. Rose approaches her and offers her hand to shake. What was your name again? I'm Rose. You can relax, its safe here. As long as I'm around I won't let anything here hurt you. Rose smiles kindly at the fellow halfling, hoping to calm the girl without having to resort to magic. Selûne brought you all here for a reason, I'm sure that you'll be safe here despite appearances.

Gwen looked towards where the chunks of snow had fallen, as soon as she saw the new halfling all but quiver the moment it occurred. Though Gwen wasn't sure why the halfling would be frightened of it. She almost knealt down but all things considered, Rose might not mind it but Fallan might consider it condescending. Yeah, it's fine here... As .. morbid as it is to say, the only living things within atleast a couple miles of us right now are those gathered here. Come on, lets go inside. It's still cool out here, and atleast if we're in the cellar there's only one place something can come from right?

Ja'ree nodded, with a silky-smooth 'hmm-hmm' Yes, quite safe. Enough for us to have slept there the last night or two. We're really only waiting for the Phandaleers to return, before we figure out our next step. It's unfortunate that Gundren was found among the dead.... this comment reminding Rose that Gundren Rockseeker, was found, weapon in hand not far from the entrance to the Inn & Tavern, Reminding her further that the map was still in her possession. Aye, and speaking of, they should be returning by the morning if what Burgee said was true. Gwen said with a warm smile despite the cool air. Making her way towards the cellar of the Inn, to start prepping the cauldron they had set up in there the other day both to eat with and keep the area warmed.

Despite her best efforts to spot some unseen enemy, Fallan see's none coming.

However, Ja'ree asks once more I realize I'm being rude by pressing.. but as I asked earlier, what made you all come here? Well other than Bellerain who did answer.

Smoking the last bit, Root takes his pipe tapping the ash out. He places it back in his bag watching the others “Right my apologies, we’ve actually been following the horde. We heard about them coming down from the north of the tri boar trail. We had hopes of joining the fight but I guess we arrived to late.”  Root looking around see that a lot of work still needs to be done “What else did you all need help with? We saw the pile of bodies Orcs coming in. Surely there must be a lot of work needing to be done with only you three here.” 

Rose shifts focus off the other Halfling and back to Root. She quickly looks around the town and says Well, we are finishing up the burials, so we could use help clearing debris if you're not opposed to a little physical labor. Once the townsfolk return we could possibly use your help with something else...but that's probably best discussed later.

Bellerain grins widely as Fallan is about to accept the offer of drink, and then twists he mouth in disappointment as the halfling is startled off.  She takes a swig from the jug herself, and then turns back to the others as Gwen invites them inside.  "Yes, no reason to loiter about out here.  We can chat more inside." At Rose's mention of work, Bell nods.  "I'm not good for too much heavy lifting, but I'll help where I can."

Root looks back at the pile of Orc corpses "What of the Orc's? Are you not going to bury them?" 

Rose looka towards the pile and considers the question. Well, I'm no expert on Orc culture, so I'm not sure if they even observe any burial rites. That said I had been planning mass cremation. I don't really have any expertise to back up my guess but I would assume Orcs burn their dead if they do anything at all. As long as some sort of burial rite is done their souls will be sent to Selûnes embrace and that's good enough for me.

Fallan shakes her head, more to clear it than due to the cold. Almost as if having come out of a stupor, she finally responds to those around her.

To Rose: "I'm Fallan. Thank you. Thank you so much. I am always grateful to those attempting to keep me from being hurt - especially when they think things are safe. One never knows."

To the group: "Oh, we MUST bury the dead. Put them to rest, whether they have souls or not. I'll help with that as long as we do this together. Sooner rather than later. Let's get them into the ground! AFTER that, warmth in the cellar sounds wonderful." Scurrying over to the mound of bodies, she adds: "Shovels? Do we have shovels? Or how will we break the ground?"

With more vigor than seen so far, the halfling gives an urging wave of her arm as if to command the others to follow her to where the work is to be done.

"You alright Fallan?  The bodies aren't going anywhere or anything... I figured you'd want them burned anyways just to make sure some necromancer can't make use of them."  Bell smiles warmly.  "It's been a long trip... why don't we take a breather before working up a sweat."

Ja'ree grunts at the mention of the orcs, his cats eye slit thinning as he scans over them. Shaking for several long moments before punching into his own palm, inhaling deeply through his nose, and exhaling, slowly, Calming himself. This is true. Light them on fire, and give them a preview of their afterlife. Even if we did know their traditions, and I know Rose will disagree with me, I wouldn't give them their rest anyway, after .. this. If they had been the more honorable clans, maybe, but this? This was just a marauding band, out to take as much as they could from the world before they died. Sorry if I sound bitter, but even a monk can lose his temper when he has lost a friend.

Ja closed his eyes as he attempted to fully compose himself. Forgive my indiscretion. he said as he moved towards the cellar himself, while Gwen had stopped once his outburst began, and Fallans plea came through. It's OK to feel things Ja'ree.... We .. understand. How about this uh.. Fallan, was it? Let the others get some rest and get to know eachother in the warmth of the cellar, and I'll help you set the bodies on fire. There's plenty of useless wood lying about, and only a few more orc corpses  left to move from the manor path. So I help you finish that, and they go enjoy themselves.. sound like a fair trade?

"Um, sure, I guess. You'll be here with me while the orcs are burning? We can do that. Ever burned orcs before? I haven't. Can you SEE their souls leaving as they burn?" While the halfling isn't fond of excessive manual labor, and wonders just how much heavy wood she'll have to move, she would rather not have to be looking over her shoulder at this pile of bodies.

As the others head to the cellar, Fallan asks Gwen: "IS there a known necromancer working in this area?" the concern dripping in her voice.

Gwen couldn't help but to giggle a gaggle .. just a bit. Of course I'll stay out here with you. And no, I haven't I'm a bard, not a mortician. Though I haven't had much chance to use my talents out of combat lately. And I don't think you can see anyone's  soul leaving their body Fallan. she says as the others who wish to mingle in the cellar go that way, and anyone who doesn't stays above board to either help or observe. Looking around, as she considers the situation, and crossing her arms, putting her lips into a 'hmmmm' expression that heavily leaned to one side only. How about this Fallan, I'll grab the orcs that weren't already here, and you just grab some easy kindling. I  don't plan to make a pyre, so just throw something that will burn in the mix. As for necromancers? No none that we're aware of, though I'm pretty sure I heard something about a Banshee up in Conyberry, down the way.

"Yeah, yeah, that's what I used to think too. Or at least if you saw something, you would think that it WASN'T the soul - which would only be worse, right?" Fallan tries to keep her eye on Gwen as she begins to gather up any wood or other combustibles anywhere nearby. Upon returning with an armload and dumping it near the pile of corpses, she asks Gwen quizzically: "Banshees. Those are supposed to be the souls of dead elves or something, aren't they? Died and became EVIL or something like that? Is that right?" She stops, stands somewhat still (shifting her weight from foot to foot anxiously), and eagerly awaits Gwen's response.

Rose nods to Gwen and gestures for Bell and Root to follow her as she leads them towards the burnt inn they had been staying at. If you all are sticking around for the night we should get you set up. We've been staying in the cellar. Its not ideal but it's better than freezing outside. If you don't mind my asking, whats wrong with your friend back there? She seems a bit on edge doesn't she?

Root following Rose will look back at Fallan “Fallan, be careful of the fire. Let Gwen lit the mound okay.” As They begin getting closer to the cellar Root will answer Rose in hush tone “Hmmm, I am not quite sure. To be honest we have only been traveling about a week or two. Me and Bell have been together for a few months now. I don’t have proof nor, has Fallan come out saying but I think she’s running from someone.” Scratching his chin “She is a good person though with pure intentions. This I am sure of.”

Rose nods understandingly. I see, so you all hardly know each other then. Well, as long as you all bare the mark I'll be sticking around. So I'll do my best to keep you all safe. Anyway if you need help unpacking anything just let me know, I'm more than willing to help and stronger than I look.