Aug 12, 2025 12:10 am
Some suggested that they hold the meeting in the tavern (The Stag at Sunset), some said town hall would be more appropriate, but in the end, Sister Inna prevailed, and the meeting was scheduled in the chapel.
The sun droops in the heavens as the village of Hillshire gathers. Oswing the chandler is first, as always, to pick out the best seat in the chapel. The Godric and Aelfwyn, the weavers. Walter the stonemason, Osbert the tanner, and Hawise the tavern keeper. The crowd grows, as does the noise in the sacred edifice. Old Hobb Puddlefoot plunks down in his usual pew and stretches his feet out in front of him. Several newcomers to Hillshire join the meeting as well: Orm, Lillit, Ivar, and Llewellyn.
Once the room is full to bursting, Sister Inna emerges to stand in front of the crowd. Nikkghak slips out behind Inna to take a position along the side wall.
Sister Inna waves a hand in the air, "Thank you for gathering my friends and neighbors. Let's get started."
Cuthbert, the blacksmith, cups his hands around his mouth and shouts: "'Bout time, Sister! We've been waiting. You started the meeting late!" His wife places a hand on his arm and gives him a stern look.
"I truly apologize. I know that the news has troubled all of us. I may not be dealing with these recent events as well as others. I know that I..." Inna's voice catches, tears pool at the edges of her eyes. She shakes her head and straightens, "I'm sorry. We need to do something to recover our captured loved ones. We cannot allow this demonic faction to pollute our valley. We need to launch an expedition to rescue them."
Margery, the baker, stands, "Yes, but we don't even know where they took them." Several other villagers nod and then turn to look at Sister Inna again.
"That was true," Inna waves to Warin, "but Warin has some information that he would like to share. Come on up, Warin."
Warin the trapper stands slowly and waves off Inna's request to walk to the front. "I can speak from here. You all know me. I spend long bouts of time in the wilds, hunting and trapping. Recently I was tracking a deer north along the mountains and happened upon a group of robed individuals outside of the huge cave there." He looks around the crowd. "Some were guarding and several crews were carving ornate columns around the mouth of the cave."
Sister Inna coughs. "After talking to Warin and several eyewitnesses we believe that this is the same group that stole our friends."
"But what do you want us to do about it?" Cuthbert shouts.
"I am hoping that several brave souls will volunteer to travel north, find this cave, find out lost loved ones, and return them to the village." Sister Inna scans the crowd, searching for eyes with bravery, with the glint of adventure, those who would protect the weak and helpless. She crosses her arms.
Some of the village look around, others look towards the ground; the silence grows.
The sun droops in the heavens as the village of Hillshire gathers. Oswing the chandler is first, as always, to pick out the best seat in the chapel. The Godric and Aelfwyn, the weavers. Walter the stonemason, Osbert the tanner, and Hawise the tavern keeper. The crowd grows, as does the noise in the sacred edifice. Old Hobb Puddlefoot plunks down in his usual pew and stretches his feet out in front of him. Several newcomers to Hillshire join the meeting as well: Orm, Lillit, Ivar, and Llewellyn.
Once the room is full to bursting, Sister Inna emerges to stand in front of the crowd. Nikkghak slips out behind Inna to take a position along the side wall.
[ +- ] Sister Inna
Cuthbert, the blacksmith, cups his hands around his mouth and shouts: "'Bout time, Sister! We've been waiting. You started the meeting late!" His wife places a hand on his arm and gives him a stern look.
"I truly apologize. I know that the news has troubled all of us. I may not be dealing with these recent events as well as others. I know that I..." Inna's voice catches, tears pool at the edges of her eyes. She shakes her head and straightens, "I'm sorry. We need to do something to recover our captured loved ones. We cannot allow this demonic faction to pollute our valley. We need to launch an expedition to rescue them."
Margery, the baker, stands, "Yes, but we don't even know where they took them." Several other villagers nod and then turn to look at Sister Inna again.
"That was true," Inna waves to Warin, "but Warin has some information that he would like to share. Come on up, Warin."
Warin the trapper stands slowly and waves off Inna's request to walk to the front. "I can speak from here. You all know me. I spend long bouts of time in the wilds, hunting and trapping. Recently I was tracking a deer north along the mountains and happened upon a group of robed individuals outside of the huge cave there." He looks around the crowd. "Some were guarding and several crews were carving ornate columns around the mouth of the cave."
Sister Inna coughs. "After talking to Warin and several eyewitnesses we believe that this is the same group that stole our friends."
"But what do you want us to do about it?" Cuthbert shouts.
"I am hoping that several brave souls will volunteer to travel north, find this cave, find out lost loved ones, and return them to the village." Sister Inna scans the crowd, searching for eyes with bravery, with the glint of adventure, those who would protect the weak and helpless. She crosses her arms.
Some of the village look around, others look towards the ground; the silence grows.
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