-----Strolum looked about a bit nervously and muttered, “I be a’thinkin’ Sol wanted us t’organize these people in case th’ goblinses come back.”
-----Garrison, who looked worse the wear with his injuries, said, “For now let’s see how many gather here. I still see people coming this way. We don’t know how many are able-bodied and how many need healing.”
-----“Still,” Rinda said suddenly, “let us start drawing them closer.” Looking at the woodsman, she directed, “You and our three warrior friends help gather those who can stand guard together. Let’s have those who can’t fight stay by the inn. Its structure seems sound and if danger does not hide within, we can house some of the sick there.”
-----Nodding, Garrison confers with Strolum, Dilton and Pil. As they start calling for those who are armed to come to them, Rinda casts an eye toward Whisper.
-----Whisper inclined his head towards her, but did not lower his hood.
-----He pointed East, flashed up his hand to show spread fingers, pointed at himself, and then half turned, and pointed South.
-----“Dawn is not so far off now,” Rinda said with a solemn expression, “Please wait until Raven and Sol return. In this wild country you should not hunt alone.”
-----“The town of Black Bog lies to the south,” Jyan suddenly spoke up. The young man had walked up after observing the exchange between Rinda and Whisper. “Some of these humanoids may have gone there seeking orders from the humans in command,” he adds.
-----Suddenly angry words erupt between Garrison and one of the freed prisoners. A man standing a half-head taller than the woodsman talks about pursuing the humanoids in the dark. Garrison argues that the wounded need time to rest and daylight to show tracks.
-----Leather creaked as Whisper shrugged. He turned his shadowed face to regard the young human as he spoke, then gave him a single nod.
-----Shifting his attention, he began to observe the argument between Garrison and the tall ex-prisoner.
-----“It would do no good to send the few of us that are here now after hobgoblins that are on the run in the dark,” Garrison can be heard addressing the younger able folk gathered in the village square. At least a hundred of the raggedly dressed men (and a few hearty looking women among them) hefting weapons listen to the woodsman as he speaks. Over the last few moments, the ranks of the freed prisoners had swelled as the last few of the prisoners had made it here.
-----Grumbling can be heard among them as if not in total agreement with what Garrison is saying. “When the hobgoblins were routed, I saw many of them running in different directions. I say at this time we should defend what we have here rather than run into the night and ambushes that they may set up for us,” the woodsman continues.
-----A man standing a half-head taller than the woodsman speaks up and says, “Nay, I say! ‘Tis toward the river they would run! We should draw as many of us as we can and see how many of the orcs and hobgoblins we take with their backs to the river!”
-----Shaking his head, Garrison responds, “Hear me, please! Many of you need time to rest! The sun will rise in the next hour or two!”
-----It is at this time that Raven approaches from around the side of the inn. Many of the older people that were held in the inn are moving around looking for loved ones. From the other side of the inn, Sol and Lovan ride in.
-----Whisper cocked his head to the side. He knew what drove the taller man, and those who were in the crowd. That was all too obvious. But they were not thinking clearly.
-----Liberating the skin containing the herbal milk mixture from his satchel, the Wood Elf took a mouthful, and let it slowly seep down his throat. Sauntering forward, he resecured the skin, and stopped to stand easily just behind and to the right of Garrison, his shadowed face looking up at the tall man.
-----Slowly guiding Thunder through the mass of people at the square, Sol stopped his steed by Garrison's side, nodding once to Whisper in passing. He pauses a moment to take in the mood of the moment before calling loudly, so those around could hear with ease, "Th' orcs are in disarray an' will be unlikely t'organise enough t'worry us. Th' hobs have lost their leader as well an' have lost a huge amount o' troops... again it's unlikely they'll be return anytime soon, if at all."
-----The Gorian glances skyward once, as if silently fare welling the parting storm, before speaking again, "Garrison is right. Ye all need t'look t'yer people's immediate needs a'fore ye worry about th' foe. Fer now, those o' ye who think they've th' energy t'chase th' hobs down can use that initiative t'find supplies, like food, blankets an' anything else yer wives, children an' elders might need. Tonight ye've tasted freedom, so fer now see t'yer own an' rest up. We'll discuss yer option again after midday if yer willing." Again Sol pauses, this time to let his words sink in, turning to Garrison after a moment to say, "I'll need ye an' Strolum t'organise those who do want t'be helpful into proper groups so they don't all scatter around. Set some t'finding those supplies an' a small amount t'seeing that th' main streets have some sort o' barricades. If any have th' strength t'keep watch fer a while, that'll be needed too. We can't relax vigil at anytime."