-----Within the hour, twilight creeps into the eastern sky. The dimness, however, reveals a still very overcast sky which might not break this day. A gentle breeze helps to soothe the harshness of the night and the otherwise muggy summer air.
-----As the light increases, the gray morning reveals a village that has seen abuse at the hands of the humanoid marauders. Many of the buildings show signs of vandalism whether it is broken windows, doors or ransacked interiors. Much of the grass that made up the village square had been torn or worn away by humanoid boots or large bonfires that had been set these past months. A house off to the north from the village square had been almost completely burned down in the chaotic battles that had occurred last night.
-----The gentle breeze ripples the torn and collapsed hobgoblin tents while wisps of smoke from the abandoned smoldering bonfires drift across the village. Luckily, in the surrounding countryside, nothing appears to move whether one looks toward the north where somewhere armies are engaged in battle or south across the river toward the further fell lands of Ravenhold.
-----It is just at this time that Garrison and Strolum with the help of Pil and Dilton finally organize those of the former mining slaves, who are willing, to form patrolling squads to watch the perimeter of the village. Though there are not enough crafted weapons to go around, all of the former slaves are armed with some kind of weapon, even if it means burnt pieces of the bonfires used as clubs. A few even stomach wearing chain armor that was left behind by some of the hobgoblins or taken from the slain humanoids.
-----Pil stands with a squad of ten at the eastern gate where some of the adventurers first entered the village. Strolum takes up a position with another squad among the trees on the western side of the village, watching the fields across which the orcish army was camped. Dilton and his squad take the southern side of the village keeping an eye out for activity toward the river, while Garrison supervises the squad watching the fields to the north.
-----The rest of the able-bodied men and women have just begun to search around the village for supplies and tear apart the remnants of the hobgoblin camp. These people who are now scavenging in the village number about one hundred ten and it was agreed that they would be later used in shifts to relieve those who watch the perimeter.
-----Many of the women and the children hang around the area of the inn using the building to rest and try to organize and cook what food is found.
-----Sol appears to be staying largely to the town square, taking his time to move in between the groups offering support where he can. When any of the people he notices or speaks to have any apparent injuries, he quietly directs them to Rinda, hoping the huntress can help ease their pains. By the time dawn begins to creep over the town, he moves about with a certain tint of weariness, but his eyes are still alight with purpose.
-----With no confrontation having occurred, Whisper retired back to the shadows, and took some time to scrape the detritus of the night’s action from his gear. He returned to the square with the dawn, hood still up, smoothly striding over to Sol Herron.
-----Having noted the fatigue in the human’s movements, Whisper waits patiently to be noticed, rather than draw attention to himself in his usual fashion.
-----It doesn't take him long to notice the elf's efforts. It is apparent that Sol is trying to keep an eye on everything that's going on in the square, as he works on deciding what best to do next. A soft sigh escapes the human's lips as he forces himself to relax, at least as much as he can, and he turns, armour creaking slightly, to ask Whisper quietly, "I'm guessing if yer not volunteering words, then we're not under attack. That's good. What can I do fer ye, friend?"
-----Whisper cocked his head to the side, and gave a slow nod.
-----Then, he pointed to himself with his thumb, before gesturing south, and lightly hitting the palm of his hand with his fist.
-----Sol's look is faintly blank as he stares at the elf for several moments. Hesitantly he asks, "Ye... want t'go hit something?"
-----Underneath the hood, Whisper raised an eyebrow.
-----In answer, he half shrugged. He pointed to himself again, and then gestured south. Though his throat felt raw, he spoke quietly. "Found... trail of... my quarry." He took a moment to swallow. "Must go."
-----"Ah." Unconsciously, the warrior's back straightened at the talk revealing its more serious tones. "Ye were chasing a warband o' some sort, weren't ye? Sounds like it's th' type o' thing that ye could use a few seasoned blades at yer side."
-----Sol frowned as he surveyed the throng of Kulendra's people about him. This only intensified as he returned his attention to the elf, "These people, I can't just leave them here. This area is too well traveled by Ravenhold's forces, an' it'll only be a matter o' time before more move through th' area an' notice th' town no longer under their control. I feel responsible fer 'em, through my part in freeing them, but... I haven't worked out what to do next. I have a feeling they may need t'be funnelled to t'other village we set free. As much as I do not want t'put that place under extra strain, it's better than leaving these folk o' Kulendra to th' wolves."
-----A grimace. "Sorry, I'm still working through it all in my head. What I mean t'say is, I need t'see these people safe first, an' it may be a few more days yet, but after that, I'd like t'be able t'help ye track those ye seek. If ye know which way t'head now, a little more time shouldn't hurt, an' ye'd fair better in taking yer prey down."