Oct 24, 2024 4:21 pm
"I would also ask why this group, armed and armored, were together at this spot," adds Aanbo, hoping a quiet voice might dissuade others from anger.
"They came with crossbows and spears," one of the elves agree. "That doesn't seem innocent."
One of the other villagers, carrying a staff, squints at the elves. "You seem awful keen on defending these strangers, for someone who arrived in town so recently yourselves."
"They're in cahoots!" Donavan the dwarf interjects, pointing and waving with Chase's bow for emphasis. "They're probably adventurers, too!"
The man who'd brought the stick of firewood and was now helping to gather the bodies stands up. "Is there something wrong with adventurers?" Heavily armored Donavan lowers the bow and steps back. The man addresses the crowd. "You all know me. I used to be an adventurer, and I've lived here for years. Will you listen to what I have to say?" The man carrying the staff says, "Go ahead, Alan. We're listening."
Alan the former adventurer nods and thinks for a moment. Then he begins, "All of us heard the yelling about kidnapping, destroying the town, and all that. We came running to see what the fuss was about. Some of us came in our bedclothes, some of us grabbed what was at hand," he gestures at old Ollwin, who is carrying a rolling pin, and then waves his own stick of firewood wryly. There's a couple of chuckles in the mob. "Some of us had arms and armor to hand, as it's part of their job," he gestures to Grover, Donavan, and Hulbar. "My point is - and what I think this dwarf is saying - that we didn't have time to dig out weapons and armor and get kitted up to come here. But these men here," he gestures at the row of dead neighbors, "They did. They came here looking for a fight."
"They came with crossbows and spears," one of the elves agree. "That doesn't seem innocent."
One of the other villagers, carrying a staff, squints at the elves. "You seem awful keen on defending these strangers, for someone who arrived in town so recently yourselves."
"They're in cahoots!" Donavan the dwarf interjects, pointing and waving with Chase's bow for emphasis. "They're probably adventurers, too!"
The man who'd brought the stick of firewood and was now helping to gather the bodies stands up. "Is there something wrong with adventurers?" Heavily armored Donavan lowers the bow and steps back. The man addresses the crowd. "You all know me. I used to be an adventurer, and I've lived here for years. Will you listen to what I have to say?" The man carrying the staff says, "Go ahead, Alan. We're listening."
Alan the former adventurer nods and thinks for a moment. Then he begins, "All of us heard the yelling about kidnapping, destroying the town, and all that. We came running to see what the fuss was about. Some of us came in our bedclothes, some of us grabbed what was at hand," he gestures at old Ollwin, who is carrying a rolling pin, and then waves his own stick of firewood wryly. There's a couple of chuckles in the mob. "Some of us had arms and armor to hand, as it's part of their job," he gestures to Grover, Donavan, and Hulbar. "My point is - and what I think this dwarf is saying - that we didn't have time to dig out weapons and armor and get kitted up to come here. But these men here," he gestures at the row of dead neighbors, "They did. They came here looking for a fight."