(5e) Something to Call Home: IC Thread

[Phelan Boots]

Valgerda Brynjolf - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Watch

As the body of the guard crashed through the wall, Valgerda sprang up with her shortsword in hand running to the hole to get a peek.

Well that was unexpected. That bolt is huge! Jotunn perhaps?!

Just as she got to the hole and got a glimpse outside, she felt hands grasp her arms and drag her back.

That must be Reynard...

[CelestialBard]

Wood strewn about, blood pouring from the guard's body, Skype went into action once more. Just can't catch a damn break, can I? Quickly surveying the field, she calculated the odds. No one's come inside yet, they don't know I'm here. I can maybe get one of these people out of here. The gnome was too far to grab and tuck under her arm while the other patrons seemed to scatter to the winds.

The bard caught her eye again. She had pushed her lute back over her shoulder and drew a blade, walking towards the splintered hole. What the hells? Weaving through the room at face pace, Skye grabbed the musician by the arms and tugged, pulling the girl back much easier than anticipated. She dragged her to the side room where the elderly halfling should've still been partaking in her drinks, attempting to stash the storyteller for the time being.

"I don't know if you're under a spell or just plain stupid, but whatever speared that hulking man through the door is certainly going to show it's ugly mug soon enough and I don't intend to be here when that happens. Make better decisions if you want to survive through this, too." Skye then realized she had maintained the vice grip on the other girl's arms for an extended amount of time and quickly released the grapple. Her hands began to tremor as she turned and peeked around the corner, trying to judge the intensity of the situation.

[Aardvark 001]

Reynard Greyscale - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Watch

Before Reynard could form any clear impressions about the group, the whole room erupted into chaos. Reynard stared at the bolt. His thoughts were no longer groggy from the mead. The rush of battle cleared his mind. Something that big would probably punch through his chain mail without any problem. This called for careful thought. But first, he had to do something about the crowd.

Everybody get down now! he bellowed, drawing his sword and striding to the wall where the guard hung limply, impaled by the bolt.

Reynard threw his hood back, hoping to intimidate the crowd into backing away from the direction that the bolts came from. So much for secrecy. He turned to Hurbert. Have you got a back door to this place? Or a cellar?

[Phelan Boots]

Valgerda Brynjolf - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Valgerda found herself suddenly hurled backwards just another bolt flew past her face. The next moment she was up against a wall with someone ...the Lurker? almost shouting at her.

"...under a spell or just plain stupid, but whatever speared that hulking man through the door is certainly going to show it's ugly mug soon enough and I don't intend to be here when that happens. Make better decisions if you want to survive through this, too."

A spell? No, her magic was exhausted for the foreseeable future. As Valgerda began to process what the Lurker was saying, a wild spark filled the bard's eyes. What some might first mistake for panic, as she frantically spoke it became clear, the visible golden light in her eyes was nothing less than pure fury.

"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, LURKER! IF THESE ARE JOTUNN WE FACE, THEN THEY ARE CERTAINLY WITH HIM. I MUST DEFEAT THEM, I MUST RECLAIM THE HORN. IT IS THE ONLY WAY...

Valgerda's voice filled the inn with rage as she shouted. Realization of where she was, and that she was spilling her secrets to the world, began spread across her face, and her voice faded away to barely a whisper.

"I must know if these are giants."

[Dain Broadbeam]

James jumps straight up as the guardsman comes flying through the door. And here I thought I was having a bad day. I guess it still might end up as bad as his... Grabbing his quarterstaff he runs over to the fallen guardsman. I guess the war has come for us after all. Please not be a god damn hugh crossbow bolt...

[Shinimasu]

Colette - The Dancing Swan Under Siege, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

The moment that man had come crashing through the door it was like time had slowed to a crawl for her. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. This was Middlerod of all places, literally out in the middle of nowhere. There was no military advantage to capturing it. It's most valuable exports were grain and sheep. Why was this happening?

Dimly she could hear the shouting in the background as various people all tried to do everything at once. Someone was shouting about giants. She could hear Reynard, as if from very far away, shouting at people to get down which seemed like a capital idea and she ducked behind a table. One of those bolts would kill her. She reached into her alchemist's satchel, fingers closing around a little bottle of Alchemical Fire. She could feel the glass heat up slightly as the mixture inside reacted to the heat of her hand, the minute something tried to point a crossbow in her face she was chucking this at their head and running.

She glanced over to make sure Gindlewin was alright. "Get under a table or something, don't just sit there."

[OneFamiliarFace]

Gindlewin - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour (w/ Welsker)

When Colette looked over, at first it appeared that the gnome had disappeared. At a second glance, she saw him already huddled underneath the table. He was gesticulating wildly and tittering. Had he gone mad so quickly? Then she saw the even tinier creature at Gindlewin's feet. He seemed to be having an argument with... a weasel?

"<Weasel>Yes, yes, 'some hero I am.' Still, you are more likely to go unnoticed, and we need to know what is going on! I just imaginify you out there and then back!" Welsker, the Fey Weasel, Dark King of Ferretonia, seemed to finally agree. With that, Gindlewin picked up the dark velvet creature, crawled to the nearest window and peeked out. Not seeing anything in the commotion, he concentrated for a moment and Welsker became a two dimensional child's drawing, then disappeared, then reappeared on the roof of the next building over to get a good vantage.

[Fishybugs]

Evodine – The Dancing Swan: 2nd Watch

Evodine steps back from the opening, no apparent danger barging through the door. She leans over to check on the status of the guardsman. The size of the bolt sticking out of him did not bode well, but she had seen people take some pretty serious wounds and not get taken out. She leans down and checks his pulse, then grabs some towels to help staunch any bleeding. She secures the bolt so it doesn't move around inside him and cause any more damage than it already has, then checks his other vitals. Is he breathing? Does he have a pulse? Skin pallor?"

[Trevethan Norn]

Evodine – The Dancing Swan: 2nd Hour

The poor man of the city watch never had a chance; he was affixed to the heavy oaken door more firmly than any joiner could have wished. His rib cage was now spread wide open by the 6 inch diameter bolt which had heralded the entrance of something fierce to Middlerod. Unfortunately for Evodine, her instincts to immediately render aid placed her in the path of a second incoming shaft. With no notice but the bright scream of wind rushing past its vanes, Evodine was thrown violently back into the common room as the doorway itself collapsed. Shrapnel flew everywhere as she lost consciousness beneath a table some 20 feet from the doorway.

James - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

James, who had likewise had altruism or, at the very least, curiosity in the forefront of his mind barely had time to note that this was the largest shaft he had ever seen. The head was embedded nearly 6 inches at least into the heavy oak door and had split it it nearly in two. The broadhead on it must have weighed 30-40 pounds at the least. Made of solid wood and iron and fletched with gigantic red and black feathers, the titanic bolt would have inspired without its grand entrance. Barely had these thoughts finished percolating into the mind of the young warlock when he was peppered by fragments of door frame from the explosive force of the second newly arrived projectile. He staggered backwards, gripping his side as several particularly large skewers of wood lodged themselves deep into his right side and upper thighs.

Skye - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, LURKER! IF THESE ARE JOTUNN WE FACE, THEN THEY ARE CERTAINLY WITH HIM. I MUST DEFEAT THEM, I MUST RECLAIM THE HORN. IT IS THE ONLY WAY...

Valgerda's voice filled the inn with rage as she shouted. Realization of where she was, and that she was spilling her secrets to the world, began spread across her face, and her voice faded away to barely a whisper.

"I must know if these are giants."

The serious tone with which the bard pronounced her belief about the current threat made Skye want to both cry and laugh hysterically at the same time. Giants?!!! Giants are myth and fairy tale. They only came from the mountains and the forests many leagues from here, even in the stories. Skye, whose natural inclination was to flee through the back door, was shamed by the eagerness of several of the newly acquainted to fight whatever lay in wait.

Skye screamed back, "What could possibly have brought giants to Middlerod?! All we get is bandits and thugs, this is some cruel invention of the Black Talons no doubt, meant to cow even more under their..." She realized she was venting about a well-respected mercenary outfit that was seen as keeping the peace, and quickly stopped her panic-driven tirade.

Colette - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Colette had turned to give advice to the gnome, but it seemed that he needed no such warning; he was muttering and waving his fingers in odd patterns at a weasel which she could have sworn looked momentarily regal and cowardly at the same time. While the was the middle of nowhere, it seemed the amiable gnome was prepared to do something about the recent disturbance. Colette lost sight of the weasel only to spy it, or one which looked much like it, on the roof of the building across the way through the open window on the inn wall.

Why did the gods always make arcane discoveries so hard? All she wanted was for the gnome to assist her with her brother's mystery, and suddenly the whole town seemed under siege. Knowing in her heart that the gods were not so fickle, and that her timing must have merely been bad as usual, did nothing to calm her racing mind.

Valgerda - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Finally! Valgerda felt alive as she only did in Bragi's most epic songs. Perhaps my mother's advice was not so ill-given. If the jotun are indeed assaulting this place, perhaps there is some great secret here that Loki is also attempting to wrest for his own deceptive ends. In her great joy at the thought of testing her might against the enemy of her people, Valgerda's eyes swept across the shattered wreckage of the front door as it was caved in by a second incoming bolt.

The young woman who had so effusively admired her skill as a skald was blown inwards and thrown more than 20 paces across the room, out of view underneath a table. It seemed to Val's mind that unless something was done for her quickly, the woman would not be able to have any songs sung for her honor. Others were injured, including the man named Shadow who was blown away from the door in a cloud of shrapnel and sparks. This was a very real attack, and whatever she may have known about battle, Valgerda also internally doubted very much that she could best a Jotun in single combat. She would never have admitted that to anyone, of course, but the fact remained.

Reynard - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

It seemed that being a half-orc was nothing compared to the devastation wreaked by the massive bolt. Reynard had seen siege-work in his quest to become a knight of valor, though only from a distance, but he was quite sure that these bolts did not come from ballistae; after all, he had seen no encircling army, and siege engines would have made no sense for an assault on such an openly planned town. Reynard was accustomed enough to the sound of battle, however, to hear the keening of a second incoming shaft, and threw himself to the side. Shrapnel bounced off of his armor, but he was unharmed as the quivering bartender pointed to the kitchen. "I, err, the inn has a safe room master, but we cannot fit all of these guests in it..." The diminutive bartender was scratching at his ginger hair as if he had lice, "Whatever shall we do?! My inn is being demolished by Gond-knows-what!"


Gindlewin - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

The quick thinking wizard was terrified, but also exhilarated. He had never been in a fight before, and something of the song sung by Valgerda, the bard, must have stuck inside his very core. This is exciting! I must see what is going on. Not personally, of course, but you will do just fine Welsker.

Despite the weasel's understandable reticence, he finally acquiesced to being sent across to the roof of the opposing building. Gindlewin was relatively safe behind this thickly constructed table, and his curiosity was killing him. He would only be a moment - just long enough to see what was going on outside. As he closed his eyes and the terrified weasel's perception came into rather shaky focus.

Directly down the street that terminated into the Dancing Swan a large herd of stampeding cattle, hogs, and draft horses seemed to be driven by a large group of even larger humanoids. The weasel's rather poor eyesight could not make out race or identity at this distance, but the fact that they were the cause of the commotion was reinforced as two of their number paused in their livestock driving efforts to carelessly toss two torches into the stables before skewering two shapes in the town watch livery. Smoke began to stream out of the low-slung building as Gindlewin watched in horror, caught up in what the stabled horses must be experiencing at that very moment.

The horror was diverted as the rising flames caused the gnome to cast his vision even further down the road. Fire too, was rising from the area of the brewery and stables, though the ferret cannot make out much more. The whistling and crash of a projectile much like the shaft which had riven the inn drew Gindlewin's eye further down the street. Much further beyond the melee, 2 titanic shapes revealed themselves to be the source of the bolts, as each periodically raised and lowered some type of construction which could only be intimidatingly large re-curve bows. Those bolts were being fired seemingly at random, striking into street and into buildings on either side of the main pike. Random though they were, they were effective against whatever they smote.

Gindlewin turned his gaze away from the devastation in front of him and noted that the street that runs perpendicular to the previous street was filled to bursting with fleeing animals, refugees, and the few fighters brave enough to try rushing to the assistance of the guards. Should even he have wanted to enter that dangerous melange of life and death, there would be no room to enter.

[Shinimasu]

Colette - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

As the second arrow shattered the doorway she felt like her nerves were on fire. Like her body was moving independently of brain as it raced trying to make sense of her situation. The door was blocked, made impassible by debris from the caved in section of roof, unless there was another way out of the inn it would almost be literally shooting fish in a barrel. Colette had no faith in the roof or the walls ability to stop projectiles the size of small trees, they would punch through the thatching like it was wet paper. The windows might provide a route of escape provided you didn't shred yourself on the broken glass, but they let out into the streets. Out into what was sure to be sheer pandemonium. Escaping the unknown danger only to be trampled by the panicked townsfolk.

She was barely aware of reaching Evodine's side until she felt the still warm blood on her knees as she knelt down beside her, hastily rummaging through her things for something that would help. Trying to figure out what was most in need of mending. The answer appeared to be "all of her" though, the only thing Colette could tell for sure without risking further damage was that some things had definitely been broken and that there was a frightening amount of blood and she was losing color quickly.

"Damn it damn it damn it...." she let out a litany of frustrated swearing, pulling out a vial of something brilliant blue and slightly shimmery that smelled strongly of lavender and willow bark. Popping off the cork and tilting Evodine's head back as much as she felt safe doing she poured the tincture down her throat, keeping a close eye to make sure she didn't aspirate the potion instead of swallow.

She watched with some relief as she saw the flow of blood begin to slow and color return to Evodine's face. Some of the bones snapping back into place with an uncomfortable crunching sound. It wasn't perfect, she was still clearly injured, but it would be enough to give her a chance to get out of here. Colette patted the side of her face briskly, attempting to rouse her faster. "Come on, come on we're not dying just yet. Pull it together."

[OneFamiliarFace]

Gindlewin - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Gindlewin came back into his own senses as Welsker returned to fantasy. He was shaking, but whether with fear or excitement, it was difficult to tell. He straightened his robes a bit to look more dignified and began to step out from under the table when the second bolt crashed into the building. He was peppered with debris but managed to hold his footing and, for now, his courage.

In the wake of Reynard's getting everyone motivated to stay down and quiet, his light voice carried a weight it only had thus far during legal proceedings. "Nearly a score of invaders that I can see. At least two giants!" For emphasis, he pointed at the bolt. "That is their arrow. They seem to be deliberately causing chaos and are driving a stampede this way. They are burning buildings. We cannot stay here!"

[Phelan Boots]

Valgerda Brynjolf - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Watch

Valgerda's rage at being pulled back from the window quickly left her when she saw the other woman's body thrown back in to the room.

I have to remember that these people are not the Einherjar. They don't spring back up when the fighting is over. I'm not even sure how vulnerable I am on this plane, but I suspect I'm looking at the answer on the ground there.

As she was contemplating this, she heard Vinr's voice pipe up, and confirm her theory. He sounds so official... Her mind made up, Valgerda decided she'd had enough of playing target practice. She wanted to fight back, but vengeance might need to wait until she was stronger. Still, she had to see the Jotunn, she had to know.

"Perhaps you're right Lurker, we are not in a position to fight back. We must escape, but I must see one. Please help me?"

Skye felt the request in Valgerda's words down to her bones. As Valgerda got up, she began beating candles out, and turning off lamps. She turned to the group and then the inn keeper to speak.

"Snuff the lights, the Inn is lit up like a bonfire, it is no wonder they are shooting at us. Hubert, is there a back way out? Some people can hide in the cellar, but I need to see these giants."

As she's speaking to the gnome, she grabs her pack from behind he bar, ready to be pointed in the right dirrction.

[Dain Broadbeam]

James - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

James look down at the massive bolt with disbelief. The next thing he knew was that of a blinding pain from his right side. Looking down he noticed large wooden splinters protruding from his body. Can this day stop getting better?. Taking in what the statesman said about the status of the town he hobbled towards the bar after the bard, an "Au" escaping his lips every time he used his right foot. Arriving at the bar he turned around and look at all the panicking patrons milling around, shouting and screaming. Pulling out one of the splinters with a grimace he started to mumble an incantation. The next words he uttered easily rose over the clamour of the other patrons "How about listening to the nice Half-Orc. GET DOWN!"

[Aardvark 001]

Reynard - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Hurbert! The safe room. Where is it?! Reynard snarls in exasperation as the gnome simply cowers in front of him. He draws his greatsword and turns to Valgerda. I shall come with you. Jotunn or not, this inn cannot take much more of this.

[Trevethan Norn]

Skye - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

"Perhaps you're right Lurker, we are not in a position to fight back. We must escape, but I must see one. Please help me?"

Skye was completely taken aback by the request from the warrior poet; no one had ever truly trusted her as an orphan, and she was not accustomed to being asked to go into the way of danger by someone she had just saved. Her anger at nearly dying earlier in the day, possibly dying now, and the fear of not understanding the situation made Skye incredibly tense. "You think you can face giants?! That GUARD thought he could face giants! I am not having you die when I just saved you! Please, if you must look at whomever is attacking, perhaps you ought to do so from another vantage point? There is a back exit through the kitchens if you would just follow me." She turned to run and was confronted by the panicked townsfolk still in the bar. While her instinct was to run and hide for another day, it seemed her new acquaintances were made of different stuff.

Not a single one of them had turned to run. Instead, they had all tried ushering the innocent to safety. Skye was chagrined but still indignant that people would think so little of saving their own hides. She thought quickly, and in one smooth motion pick-pocketed the last drunk sitting by her. He did not have much, but a quick heft of the purse told her that the man was relatively well-to-do; there had to be at least 2 gold pieces inside. In a loud voice she cried, "One gold piece to the man or woman who finds everyone a way to safety! May I suggest the back entrance?!"

There is no crofter, no matter how dire the situation, when offered more gold than he would earn in a ten-day to escape with his life, who will not immediately comply. The panic of the room was still palpable, but several of the sober individuals ran to pick up a few of the trestle tables and began stacking them against the remains of the shattered door. It would not stop something capable of shooting those shafts, but it would definitely hamper any smaller attackers and give the occupants of the inn some cover. The rest bolted for the kitchens as fast as they could, not caring who was trampled. Several of the barmaids were tossed roughly aside as the larger and more aggressive drunks made a mad dash through the serving door.

[Trevethan Norn]

James and Reynard - Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd hour

James and Reynard both had their eyes on the bartender as James had roared just as futilely as the errant knight. The normally genial and ebullient gnome was a complete wreck. It seemed that bar fights were understandable, but this appeared to be the first time his bar had been raided. Hurbert coughed and spluttered at the request to let others use the inn's safe room, "But, but, my faaamily!" he wailed. With a scream of terror as another impact shook the front wall, the ginger bolted to the staircase faster than Reynard could have credited as possible. While Reynard sneared in disgust and unlimbered his brand, James was not as quick to dismiss the fear of the gnome; after all, it was entirely reasonable to have your insides turn to jelly in the midst of your first attack by giants. He was, however, very curious as to why the gnome had gone up the stairs, rather than back into the kitchen. If the gnome was concerned about surviving and making it to the safe room unless..

[OneFamiliarFace]

Gindlewin - Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd hour

Gindlewin sighed and seemed suddenly older than he had before. "Friends, I'm afraid that we are seeing the downside of having swords. It makes problems seem too simple. These creatures are not such as we can deal with. Getting the townspeople out should be our first priority. Reynard, what do you know of this saferoom? Is it even large enough to fit us all?"

[Dain Broadbeam]

James - Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd hour

James looked on with a puzzled look on his face as the gnome raced UP the stairs What in the name of Tymora.... Out loud he says to Reynard: "Help the people down here, I'll check on the Gnome," before he hurries after Hurbert. His face twisted in a painful grimace as each step sends a new jolt of sharp pain up his right side. "Dammit dammit dammit". As he rounds the last corner of the stairwell he is filled with a moment of surprise as he just glimpse a heel disappear behind closing panel. Wha..
Oh. Hehe.. Au James chuckles. Right, laughing hurts too, great.... He pokes his head around the corner and shouts down: "I *think* I found the safe room he was babbling about. It's over the common room." He then turns his attention to the wall. Now, where's the opening mechanism... Before him is a stone partition of a landing swan. Hum, landing swans, dancing swans, could it be?. A few quick manipulations to the partitions confirmed James' suspicions as the swan was transformed into a dancing swan, quickly followed by a puff of air as the panel pops out. James almost giggled, his pain briefly forgotten as he attempts to push it, but instead of going in as expected, by pure chance his slight off centre push made the panel slide. It moved with surprising smoothness to one side. A safe room with a well oiled mechanism? Now that's odd. Interesting. The room in front of was in fact not a large safe room. Poking his head through the opening he spotted a tunnel. An exited shout escaped him: "Eureka!"

[Fishybugs]

Evodine – The Dancing Swan: 2nd Hour

Evodine finds herself suddenly on the floor several feet from where she awoke. The room is in a shambles, and the inhabitants are in chaos. She blinks a few times to clear her head. She sees the group heading up the stairs. "But...the way out is..." She looks around a bit, confused. She follows the few she saw up the stairs, assisting any of the others in the room who will allow her to.

[Shinimasu]

Colette - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

"Wait don't try to walk you're..." Colette sputtered out as Evodine staggered to her feet and began moving up the stairs, "still injured." She finished flatly, "like herding cats I swear."

Still Gindlewin was right and since it seemed like several of the others had the upstairs well and truly covered she got to her feel and followed the press of the crowd towards the back of the inn. Thankfully she found no giants, less thankfully she found what was more or less a dead end. High stone walls around a lot in the back, currently full of people emptying into the alleys to either side. She couldn't see them but she could hear the bellowing of panicked animals. Children crying. Every passing second had her wishing more and more fervently that this was some sort of nightmare. That she would wake up any second in her bed and everything would be normal.

She lingered a moment before turning to head back inside, seeing nothing that would significantly hinder or help their efforts. It was good to know the option was available but she also wasn't about to try and cut and run while people were still in trouble.

[Phelan Boots]

Valgerda Brynjolf - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Watch

After watching the innkeeper and the man named Shadiw run up the stairs, Valgerda realized she should be able to get a better vantage point up there. As she raced toward the stairs, she called back to the half-Orc, "Reynard, we should be able to see them from one of the upper rooms! Up the stairs and straight at the first door she could see. Trying to force her way in with her shortsword, she was quite surprised at the quality of construction of this particular door. Huh, they don't really train you to break down doors in Valhalla... She looks are to see the man named Shadow giggling in front of what appears to be some passageway.

[OneFamiliarFace]

Gindlewin - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod, 2nd hour

Gindlewin sighed. He didn't quite see how going upstairs was a prudent course of action. Still, getting trampled in a frightened horde didn't seem intelligent either. In his most lawyerly voice, he tried to calm the people and keep their heads down until a place could be found for them.

[Trevethan Norn]

Skye - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

It seemed that most everyone had lost their minds. No sooner had the skewered individual before her been healed than she was running off upstairs. Her healer paused on her knees, stunned, and muttered something that sounded vaguely like cats. She paused for but a moment before bolting for the back in the only sensible action of the evening. Seeing no reason to stay in the common room, and followed the curious lady with the bulging bag as she sped through the kitchen and peered out into the stockyard.

While her new acquaintance looked outside and idled on the threshold, Skye very carefully sidled out behind a nearby stack of barrels. She never occupied a back-lit door longer than could be helped. As her nerves calmed slightly from the feeling of being in cover, Skye took a careful look around the yard. It dawned on her that she had never seen an inn quite so well constructed, even in Iriaebor. She had not noted it during her stay in the town, being more concerned with drink, work, and avoiding notice, but this inn was practically a fort in many aspects. Where normal stock yards would have perhaps a split-rail fence to prevent loose animals from wandering, or even a small wood fence of five or six feet, this inn was entirely built of stone, including its 10 foot high external walls. Not only were they strongly built, but the iron spikes, broken glass, and other detritus atop the wall, which she had mistaken for artistic garbage, now seemed to serve another purpose.

What else have I missed? she had a good look at the outside of the inn, she realized that very little wood - while present in abundance on the inside - was actually exposed to the weather. Turning her eyes from the inordinately well-assembled inn itself, she considered the walls once more. If she did not know better, she would have glossed over the walls due to the scrap and supplies stacked hastily against them. However, she was in a mood to find shelter and her mind noted that the majority of the provisions were of stout construction. The barrels, boxes, and other paraphernalia were placed with nearly consistent height to form what could be used as a walk-way around the circumference of the entire enclosure. An average person standing on the goods would have 4 or 5 feet of protected wall which could be looked over with only an exposed head

Skye was drawn back from her observation with a final look at the stables by the screams she heard echoing in the alleys and the back street bordering the inn. She could hear rushing footsteps, though she could not see much beyond the peasants rushing through the gates on either side of her. It seemed that much off Middlerod was in a panic. Above all, she heard a bone-chilling horn and guttural war-cries. Orcs!? Raiding so far north?! Skye had heard enough stories from her Black Talon comrades to recognize the distinctive sound of the orc celebration of battle for their god, but she had never heard that the raiders had pushed quite so far past their southern raiding grounds. The news was chilling to her bones; orcs rarely raided in anything but overwhelming strength, preferring complete victory. What could they possibly have that could fire something so large?

Rayne & Ozuel - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

A hard night of drinking for Rayne had turned into an early bed as her companion had aided her up the stairs to their second-story bedroom. She absolutely should not have tried to match the mercenary captain drink for drink from the second hour of the afternoon until nearly midnight. She certainly should not have boasted about her ability to drink Calimshan firewater through her nose; while it made for an impressive show, it always ended up with burning and bloody nostrils. However, try as she might, Rayne had a very hard time being in one place on land for too long, in too sober a mood. She had only come here at Ozuel's insistence, though the sorceress had undeniably picked the most mundane and safe places on their journey. Ozuel's talent at remaining in the most boring of places irked Rayne's need for adventure, but it also meant that she had a fatter purse while still making progress towards the ocean.

It would have been faster on the river many leagues to the north, but seeing it had made her have nightmares of the sinking of her ship. Not to mention, Rayne's last choice of a stopping point had ended with the small village inhabitants chasing them out with pitchforks and many a close arrow. It seemed that magic was not accepted in all areas, particularly when evidenced by non-humans.

Rayne's turned over in her sleep and pleasant memories of the escape from one tight pinch with her runaway noble elven companion suddenly became gory and horrifying; She heard the first ballista bolt impact the ship as her captain screamed. Prepare to be boarded! Swords men, defend the Star! She knew what would happen next. The second bolt took him clean through his torso, and a half-dozen men with him, as it swept a steal net across the deck in its wake. The ship began to heave more violently as cold fingers tore at her, shaking her. Someone screamed from her side, "Rayne, wake up! Rayne, the inn is being attacked!"

Ozuel shook her sailor friend with all her might as the half-elf tossed in her nightmare. It was a miracle that her companion could sleep through the loud cracks and screams issuing from outside, but that was nothing compared to the terror that she felt from the loud sound of battering and splintering at the door to their domicile. She could see flames through the windows; it had been too common an experience in her recent life for her to not recognize the orange and yellow glow, even in the early morning light. This was no dawn echoing off the low clouds. She hurriedly tossed an incantation of mending at the door, watching metal splinters force themselves back into their places within the iron banding. A resounding chopping sound echoed from outside, and her work was completely undone as she could see that the banding had begun to buckle. Oz turned to her friend, "Rayne, wake up! Rayne, the inn is being attacked!"

[willowedc]

Rayne - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

"The abyss?" Ryane growled as she twisted to land on her ass and not her face, as she was suddenly pulled from her perfectly comfortable bed. "Oz,” she groaned as she collapsed backward onto the floor. “If you wanted to go party down stairs, just go, you're a good looking woman. I'm sure you'll have a great time. Anyone gets too handsy, blow 'em up,” she grumbled as she made to roll onto her side, so she could go back to sleep.

Her hand reached up onto the bed, as she searched blindly for a pillow. There were few appealing things about being land bound, but one of the major advantages were pillows; nice, soft, fluffy, pillows. Her hand stilled as she heard the unmistakable sound of wood fracture.

“Wait,” she said as she closed her eyes and shook her head, in an attempt to displace the fog in her mind. “You said, attacked. The inn is being attacked,” she repeated back as she finally looked toward Oz.

Oz was crouched, with her crossbow aimed at the door. Her sea blue eyes were trained on the door, and her usually amused expression was one of intense concentration. It was the same intense look that Rayne only saw when Oz really was ready to blow it up. “Right,” she muttered as she slipped her hands under the mattress and removed her longswords.

Instead of her usual fluid grace, Rayne tripped over the corner of her bed as she took a step, and slammed head first into the door. With a low groan of pain, and a silent shake of her head, she pushed off the door so she could stand to the side of it. She glanced at Oz and couldn’t help the embarrassed blush that flooded her cheeks and spread out to her ears as she mouthed, Sorry!

Rayne held her swords confidently, as she absently wiped the blood dripping from her nose onto her sleeve. ‘I really need to lay off the Calimshan firewater,’ she thought, as she readied herself for bloodshed.

[Aardvark 001]

Reynard - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Reynard cursed. He had run up the stairs after Val and struck the door when her sword failed to open it. His blade had splintered the wood but the iron bands still held it together. He heard voices coming from the other side. Open up! he shouted, pounding on the wood with his fist. There are giants attacking the village. We need a good vantage point.

[Shinimasu]

Colette - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Coming back to the Center of the Inn Colette found the main room significantly emptied, most of the occupants having fled out the back door. Gindlewin was still present and she wasn't sure if she should be relieved or distressed by that.

"Come on we should probably foll-" she was cut off by the loud crashing and banging from upstairs from something that sounded distressingly like metal on wood. "I swear on any god who happens to be listening, has everyone lost their minds?! What are they doing up there?!" Picking up the hem of her robes she took the stairs in twos until she reached the top, gawking at the sight of Reynard and Val and the half broken door, and Shadow cackling to himself by an open doorway whose contents she could not see from this angle.

"Listen it seems your brains have all been replaced with cabbages or have you forgotten there are giants and gods know what else descending on this village and we need to leave immediately. Stop messing with the doors!"

[Dain Broadbeam]

Shadow - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

James stood with his head into the opening listening to the echo of his shout with a big grin on his face until his attention was pulled away by what sounded as metal hitting wood. He pulled his head back and looked with a quizzical expression at the bard and the knight trying to knock down a door. "Um, guys, the Gnome went through here," he paused as a muffled voice came through the cracked door. "aaand I think there's someone in there,"
"Open up! There are giants attacking the village. We need a good vantage point."
"fair enough, but didn't Gindlewin give an apt description of the situation? And no, my brain has not been replaced by cabbage. I have in fact found a safe way out" The last bit he added half as a reply to the newly arrived Colette. He looked over her shoulder towards the stairs as he finished ""lastly, any more of you coming? How is it downstairs?"

[CinLee]

Ozuel shakes her head on the way to the door putting away her crossbow. If they just wanted to us the window why didn’t they just knock? Nodding to Rayne, Oz opens the door. Window is that way, Oz gestures back over her shoulder. Looking around at the strangers crowding the hall, Oz’s ears perk up. After grabbing her pack and throwing a few loose things into it, Oz strolling over to a young looking teifling. Oz extends her hand and flashes a smile. Ozuel, is the name and did I hear you say something about a way out. I think a safe way out is just what we need. Glancing back at Rayne, Don’t You agree?

[Aardvark 001]

Reynard - The Dancing Swan, Middlerod: 2nd Hour

Reynard's face broke into a relieved grin. Well done, Master Shadow! I knew Hurbert was hiding something. He turned to the elf and bowed quickly. I beg pardon for the intrusion. I did not know that the room was in use.

He let the elf pass him and went to the window, giving another brief greeting to the room's other occupant. In the back of his mind he felt uneasy. He always felt uneasy around elves and half elves, although with the latter at least he found some sympathy. There was something in the way that they looked at him...

He flung open the window and peered out, trying to assess the situation and see if there was any way to stop the attackers.

[willowedc]

Rayne collapsed back into the wall as Oz opened the door to the party assaulting it. Her gaze stayed focused on the people outside their room. From her vantage point she could see, two human women, a male tiefling, a woman whose race she couldn’t identify, and the male who’d been attacking the door. He was taller than she was, by more than a few inches. He had green tinted skin, blue hair, and orcish features, ‘half-orc,’ she recognized.

When a deep masculine voice said, “I beg pardon for the intrusion, I did not know this room was in use.”

She snorted derisively as she muttered <elvish> “Yes, because an occupied room, at an inn, at the break of dawn, while the village is over-run with refugees, is an unexpected occurrence.” She could tell from the slight embarrassed tinge on his cheeks, that he understood her muttering.

She also noticed a burst of resignation in his gaze, as he offered her a generic greeting. She was familiar with the look hidden in his eyes, it was the same one she had; an underlaying readiness to always be prepared for the worst from people. ‘Smart,’ she thought to herself.

As Oz packed her gear, she noticed his bearing, ‘Noble, curious.’ The fine quality of his clothing, the sound his well made armor made, the way he shifted to the side, to allow Oz to leave the room, all spoke of an intimate familiarity with wealth, privilege, and gentile manners. ‘Even more curious.’

As he ducked into the room, she caught a glimpse of the variety of weapons he carried. When he brushed passed her, and headed for the window, her hands tightened around her sword hilts. She continued to lean insolently against the wall beside the door as he threw open the window, and looked out over the village. Her amber eyes narrowed, and she moistened her lips with her tongue, as he exposed the back of his neck to her.

That was the moment she heard Oz’s voice, “Ozuel, is the name and did I hear you say something about a way out. I think a safe way out is just what we need.”

Rayne pulled her attention away from the half-orc, and turned her head as she glanced toward her friend. She met Oz’s sea blue eyes and her brief moment of murderous contemplation, faded away.

“Don’t you agree?” Oz said as their gazes locked.

Rayne groaned as she pushed away from the wall. “Need?” she replied, in a raspy voice. “Hardly, but I will admit it would be useful. I have no desire to be killed in this land locked village, surround by swine, and farmers.”

Rayne settled her sword belt over her hips, and sheathed her blades with an aggressive “thump”. She smiled to herself as she noticed the half-orc’s hand twitch unconsciously in response. She tossed her pack onto the bed, and tied her two pillows to the bedroll. She paused, only for a moment, before she snagged one of the pillows from Oz’s bed and tied it to the top.

After settling her pack, and ensuring access to the arrows in her quiver was convenient, she lifted her longbow and crossed the room. With a jaw cracking yawn she glared at the bard standing in the doorway, in hopes getting the woman to move out of her way. Once she was in the hall, she stood behind Oz and the tiefling.

“I’m guessing this is your safer way,” she stated, as she rested her hands on her swords. “It sounds deadly out there. With people making sudden movements above the average roof line, it’s bound to become deadly in here sooner rather than later, ” she commented, as she moved Oz out of her way. She brushed passed the tiefling. “I’ll go. Oz, don’t fall too far behind. You can always greet them once we’re clear of the inn.” She entered the dark passage, with an excited gleam in her amber eyes.