Choice 1. Search the inns?

Fingers twitched hungrily on the hilt of his longsword, he warily eyed the inns on the right side of the street, wondering what else could be found? Not that he wanted to stay here any longer than he had to, but he was curious to learn what had happened to this place? Even in a city this small, there had to be survivors.

Gaze shifted along the long row of inns that were roughly of the same size and shape, he noticed that most were untouched by war besides a few scorch marks on their plastered walls, whereas the third in the row, the largest of all five inns, had the looks of a battlefield. The thick pools of dried blood congealed together around a dry fountain, carved from marble, and depicting an Honor Blade of all things. The familiar greatsword that was strapped to the back of a powerful minotaur, given plate armor, and stood in between ornate wooden colonnades that led up towards great double doors, and through a garden that was littered with bits of weapons, armor, and vials.

Whatever had happened here, it seemed that the King's Guard or whoever else that was trying to hold this place, had taken refuge inside the inn. Which strangely enough was called the Highlord's Table.

Lips curled into a tight smile at what he might find inside, he noticed the others waiting for him, and spoke over his shoulder, "we should take a look around."

Guiram, the golden-haired elf with light green eyes, gave Gregor a sour glance, and pressed a knuckle into his brow. "Be careful, round ears, we still do not know if the threat has passed us by."

Head nodded in reply, not that he much needed his advice, Gregor headed towards the Highlord's Table, when he realized Selese had followed him, and wondered if she was meant to watch his back? Or watch him. The usually silent half breed with the round ears of a human, and the v-shaped features of an elf, had smooth tanned golden skin, bright blue eyes, and a way of walking that made it seem like she was dancing.

Mouth quirked into a wry smile at the thought of being shadowed, he could feel the familiar hunger for battle, and made his way across the empty streets, past the low hedges that guarded the flamboyant courtyard, and through the colonnade. The detailed carvings etched into the wooden columns, sinuous and beautiful as it went round and round, revealing the oldest story of the world. Life, death, and then transformation into something else.

Booted feet thudding into the paved grey stone, he paused in front of the fountain, seeing the intricate details that had gone into shaping this life-sized statue, when Selese stopped beside him, and murmured, "Her name was Sunfire."

"Wait, this was a female?"

Half smiling at his surprise, she nodded her head. "Sunfire was the first to come to Orkeylium's aid, during the Time of Rebirth. She and her brothers are the reason the King's Legion exists. Foreign protectors willing to give up their lives for a chance to create something better in the world."

Blue eyes filled with a feverish light that he did not like one bit, Gregor circled the fountain, and walked towards the huge oaken double doors marked with scratches, and a broken handle. The blood-soaked floorboards that seeped out from underneath, making him draw his longsword, before he glanced behind him.

Selese, her face returned to its impassive state, nodded her head, shortsword in her hand, and thrust the door open. The common room as he had expected, empty and scarred by battle with broken chairs flung across a spacious room that could have fit a small army. The tables that had been drawn up at the back near the staircase, formed into a barricade, and riddled with hundreds of spears. Like the courtyard outside, weapons, armor, and equipment lay scattered all around.

(Head for the staircase.)

Head nodded for Selese to take the kitchens which opened up behind the counter on the far right, he strode towards the barricade of tables, and pushed his way through. The raw stench of decay and death so strong in the air, he was forced to cover his mouth, and walk across floorboards so drenched in blood, they looked to have always been that way.

Breathing ragged as he tried not to gag on the smell, he climbed up the wooden steps, his blade clutched tight, when he thought he heard a scraping sound above.

Mouth dry as he licked his lips again, he rushed up the last few steps, and rolled forward, coming up in a crouch, longsword spinning, and found nothing. The hallway above silent with a railing on one side, and dozens of rooms that ran further in towards a corridor.

Gaze turned to look back down at the common room, he let out a muttered oath as he saw the star and triangle, painted with blood across the entire surface of the floor like some huge symbol. A symbol that would not have been visible to those below.

Heart thundering a little faster, he again heard the scuffle of movement, and quickly spun around following the sound into the corridor, his footsteps light as silk. The rooms on either side of him, ignored for the moment as he tried to listen for the sound, a light scrabbling noise that sounded a lot like scratching.

Light pouring in from the window at the end of the corridor, he waited again, a part of him uncertain, when it came again, much closer.

Sword all but quivering with anticipation, he moved towards the left side where he thought he had heard the sound, and thrust the door open with a bang. The goblin that lay on the small bedroom floor, half crushed beneath a stone statue that must have sat on either side of the chamber, and made Gregor smile. "Well? What do we have here?"

Yellow eyes widened with fear as the goblin tried to move again, he stared up at Gregor, and held up it's arms. "Pleassse nooo hurt! Owef azrae rotece!" It's wailing cry, guttural and loud, when booted feet thumped into the hallway outside, and he looked up to find Selese in the doorway.

The half elf who must have heard the creature's cry, immediately flushing red with cold fury, and leaping forward.

(Stop her.)

Too many questions yet unanswered for him to be satisfied, Gregor knew he had to act, and sped forward on the balls of his feet, and blocked her sword thrust with a parry that sent her stumbling sideways.

Blue eyes livid with rage, she cried, "You cannot let it live! It is a creature of darkness! It will deceive you! That is all they do! Lie, steal, and kill!"

Claws frantically scrabbling at the floorboards, the goblin tried to wriggle itself free, its skin scraped raw and bloody, the bedroom floor marked by its many failed attempts. Whatever this creature was, it was no longer a threat.

Sword still pointed at Selese, he nodded his head to the doorway. "Best if you leave." And for a moment her eyes blazed again, and he thought she was going to attack him, before she glided out of the room, her back straight.

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Releasing a heavy intake of breath at the thought of having to deal with another infuriated woman, angry with him for reasons he still did not understand, he turned his attention back to the goblin. The sharp-faced knife-ear with dark green skin, stared up at Gregor with golden eyes, and a long crooked nose that flared each time it breathed.

"What happened here?" he asked.

Long ears vibrating with what he assumed was fear, the goblin licked its dry cracked lips, it's eyes darting for the doorway, when it whispered, "Onzter."

With no idea what that could mean, he sheathed his longsword, and knelt down beside it. The stone carving that trapped the creature's midsection, another likeness of Sunfire, but cruder with sharper angles and lines. The second statue that had stood on the other side, smashed to the floor in heavy chunks. "Tell me!"

Yellow eyes darting for the door again, the creature panted for breath, and tried to move, when Gregor slammed his fist down beside it. "Tell me!"

Only for the creature to jabber, "please no hurt." Probably three of the only four words that it could speak in the Coroleyan tongue.

Not sure what else he could do besides cut off a few limbs to get some sense out of it. He opened his mouth to demand an answer, when he heard soft footfalls in the hallway, and before he even had a chance to react, arrows flew past him. The goblin who had no chance to defend himself, dead in an instant with an arrow to the heart.

Scowling as he felt the knot of bubbling white-hot rage inside, Gregor wanted nothing more than to cut Selese down, dismember her body into a hundred little pieces, and watch her die slowly.

But instead he forced himself to take a deep breath, and growled, "why? We could have learned something."

Face impassive, the elf looked away, her lips pursed tight. "It's kind do not know the meaning of mercy, why would I show it anything less."

Confused even more by her answer, Gregor wondered at the deep dark secrets she carried, but that was not really his concern. The only thing he wanted to know was if this place was safe for the children?

With that heavy thought in mind, he left the inn behind, and returned to the streets, where he found Guiram bent over some rubble, when he gazed up from his search. "Find anything?"

Head tilted with a glare at Selese who had followed him out, he replied, "I'm not sure. Do you know what 'onzter' means?"

Eyebrows drawn in consternation, the elven warrior shook his golden head, before he said, "Come on, let's gather the rest in, and push on."

+1 Morale.

Move onto the next Scenario.

(Let her kill him.)

Her shortsword shearing through its throat in a single smooth motion, causing blood to spray into the air as Gregor took a step backward. Well, so much for learning anything here, he thought ruefully. But then what were the chances a goblin would know anything?

Feet turned back towards the doorway, he started out of the inn, when he heard sobs come from behind him, and looked back to see the elf on her knees, tears rolling down her cheeks. And a part of him knew he had made the right decision. Anger such as this needed a way to escape, and he doubted anyone here would mourn another dead greenskin. Still, he would have liked to know what had happened.

With that heavy thought in mind, he left the inn behind, and returned to the streets, where he found Guiram bent over some rubble, when he gazed up from his search. "Find anything?"

Head tilted to look at Selese who had followed him out, Gregor replied, "No," and thought he saw her face flush red, her long ears quivering imperceptibly.

Eyebrows drawn inward in consternation, the golden-haired warrior took one last look around, before he nodded. "Come on, let's gather the rest in, and push on."

Move onto the next Scenario.

(Take a look in the kitchen.)

Head nodded for Selese to take a look upstairs, Gregor thought it a better idea to check the kitchens first, if only to make sure their way out was clear.

Longsword held at the ready, he strode towards the bar's counter on the right, the kitchen itself straight behind it, while all around lay scattered tankards, trays, and plates, his footsteps careful to disturb none of them. Not that he believed anything could still be here, but better to err on the side of caution.

Feet slowed as he reached the kitchen's wide double doors, he thought he could smell the acrid stench of sulfur, before he thrust himself inside. The thin wooden doors flapping inwards to let him in.

Sword poised to strike, he scanned the chamber, which like most kitchens, had a full pantry at the back, that he was surprised hadn't been raided, along with a long rectangular table covered in pots and pans, and large metal cook pots grown cold that sat underneath chimneys.

Everything was as it should be, except all the knives were missing.

Seeing no real reason to linger here, he swung round to leave, when by chance he looked up, and had to hold back a gasp.

Still wet with crimson blood, a message was scrawled onto the ceiling, "ShE CoMeS..."

With no way to understand what it could mean, he stared up for a moment, when he heard a screech from upstairs.

(Follow the noise.)

Mouth tightened at the sound, he snapped his jaws shut with a click, and raced out of the kitchen, before bounding up the stairs. The rooms that lined the corridor above, all closed except for one.

Not needing to know which one the sound had come from, he galloped towards the open doorway, and saw Selese wiping her blade on her sleeve. The goblin that lay trapped beneath a stone statue on the bedroom floor, dead, with a neat sword cut across his scrawny neck.

Eyes widened slightly at that, he asked, "what happened?"

And she simply shrugged her shoulders as though it were nothing. "It tried to attack me."

Finding that extremely hard to believe, what with it pinned to the floor, Gregor had to admit that there was no point in staying here. Even if he had wanted to question the creature it was dead now.

With that heavy thought in mind, he left the inn behind, and returned to the streets, where he found Guiram bent over some rubble, when he gazed up from his search. "Find anything?"

Head tilted to look at Selese who had followed him out, Gregor replied, "No," and thought he saw her face flush red, her long ears quivering imperceptibly.

Eyebrows drawn inward in consternation, the golden-haired warrior took one last look around, before he nodded. "Come on, let's gather the rest in, and push on."

Move onto the next Scenario.

(Let the elf take care of it.)

Not really seeing the point in charging up the stairs when chances were he would be too late anyway, he reconsidered the pantry, and went to grab some food.

Belly full by the time he left, he saw Selese come down the stairs, and offered her a smile. So the she-elf was still alive? That's good, since he would have had a hard time explaining how she had ended up dead.

With that heavy thought in mind, he left the inn behind, and returned to the streets, where he found Guiram bent over some rubble, when he gazed up from his search. "Find anything?"

Head tilted to look at Selese who had followed him out, Gregor replied, "No," and thought he saw her face flush red, her long ears quivering imperceptibly.

Eyebrows drawn inward in consternation, the golden-haired warrior took one last look around, before he nodded. "Come on then, let's gather the rest in, and push on."

+3 HP.

+2 Morale.

Move onto the next Scenario.