Carver pondered the girl's question for a moment. "Heavy? I suppose it is, but not so bad once you begin to see the benefits," he responded, unsure if he was still talking about armor. "Truth is, I can't imagine I could ever do anything else. I was raised in a monastery - every day I prayed, trained, read, bettered my body and my mind until the Knight Commander deemed I was ready. Past a certain age, of course, I would have been allowed to leave, but... I never wanted to." He smiled fondly at the memories of his youth, particularly the phrase he now repeated that one of his teachers had been so fond of. "There's so much wrong in the world. One man can't fix it all, but... think about how much he'll do if he tries."

He shook himself out of his nostalgia and stood up. "Apologies, you didn't ask to hear my life story. Are you feeling well, my lady? I should think our companions will be returning shortly."

The woman in black was still here, he realized with a start. He shouldn't have lost track of her. Careless. She could have hurt someone while he was pontificating. He'd have to do better to keep an eye on that one.

Alula listened contentedly as Carver talked about his early life. She wasn't sure why, but even the voices kept quiet as he spoke. Listening to him speak so fondly of events of his past made her feel strangely happy. She might not have memories of the past, but he did. It must be nice, to think on the before and expand upon. And while she felt like she should have been jealous or sad, she wasn't. She tipped back her hat, as if trying to see better through hazy eyes.

"The kindness of one has the ability to grow in the sunshine and change the lives of many."

She smiled softly, pulling her hat back down over her eyes. She felt fine, in fact she felt more levelheaded then normal. She figured it had something to do with him being a paladin.

"I am...quite alright..." She spoke slowly, as if confused. She was surprised that she was feeling so stable. "I am...eager...to begin this...adventure."

Suki sighed as she watched mostly everyone split up to go shopping for supplies. "There's not alot one can't get without gold." Muttering softly to herself with a bemused smile, she glanced slightly at the paladin, internally frowning as she noticed that his attention seemed to be on her.

Choosing to pass time doing something else, she started walking off in the direction of the marketplace. However, unlike the others, she wasn't shopping. She had stayed in one place for long enough, so she was starting to worry about possible religious members locating her here.

As Separ exited the store, feeling like a chump after what happened with the shopkeeper he ran into the cloaked girl. Separ couldn't help but smile when he saw her, and it even made him temporarily forget about what happened in the general shop. Sure, he barely knew the girl, but he was glad that both she and all the others had agreed to stay in the group. Separ could finally start his own adventure. Separ immediately walked over to the cloaked girl. "Hey, how's it going? I managed to buy us some tents and sleeping bags, as well as a medkit and backpack. Are you out shopping to, if so can I accompany you? Though, as of now I have no money." Separ glanced from side to side before sighing. "Please don't ask, I'd rather not talk about it." He exclaimed before looking once again at her. "So are the others with you, or are they still near the tavern? and umm, what did you want to buy?"

Vis looked got up from his crouched position and took the bobbin of thread from the man behind the counter, stowing it in his leather backpack. He had no idea what he was going to do with it but he felt it would become useful at some point. He looked down to the gnome, "Nithe buy, yeth now we go tho buy bread." Unfortunately, Vis didn't know where the baker's district was but he could find out. Looking for the nearest permanent structure, the facade of a small temple, he approached it and rested his hand on the windowsill testing it's sturdiness, it seemed to hold. Vis clambered up, putting his hands on the heads of saints and gargoyles and ascending the face of the temple until he was near the top. He hold on with one hand and leaned away from the face of the temple, Vis saw plooms of white smoke and deduced that was where bread was being made. Climbing back down he returned to the gnome and walked with him to the bakery and purchased stale bread for two coins a piece, buying 8 in total.

Suddenly, guards started running through the streets. Upon first glance, one would assume they would be running after someone and most likely the people who caused trouble at the local tavern. But the guards kept running, and as they drew closer, you could tell they weren't running after, but away. Screams started to fill the streets as kobolds (small dragonfolk with no wings), goblins, men wearing chainmail and black tunics, and even an ettin (two-headed giant) started to swarm the village, destroying and slaughtering everything in sight. The goblins set fire to the stands and the ettin destroyed many houses and even the tavern. A dark silhouette of a man on a horse could be seen amongst the smoke in the distance.

Furnace furiously pondered the meaning and intent of this group.
He saw them break, tear and burn the stands, carts and houses.
Two huge heads sharing one body came storming past him, massive flail in each hand.
As he crashed trough several stands at once, splinters and raw materials flew trough the air.

Deconstruction

It dawned on Furnace what they were doing. They were harvesting materials for the forge.
He saw creatures armed with swords and clubs run to the creatures from the village and hit them until they stopped screaming.
Was this a fight? Or could they also harvest life?

"A life is cut short so another can begin. Lives are lost in the forest of life to allow the young to grow."

Was this what the tired girl had predicted?

Either way, Furnace was exited by this development. Much to learn.
And in the spirit of learning new thing Furnace took the wrapped package from his back and let the cloth fall to the ground.
With two hands and significant effort he held aloft an orcish broadsword.
It was about his size and looked right at home between the flails, blades and axes of the newcomers.
With care and calculation he mimicked the lumbering brute's movements as he rand after him, then past him, then into a stand.
With as mighty a swing he could muster he brought the heavy blade down upon the wooden board.
The thin plank snapped instantly, causing copper and tin trinkets to fly everywhere.
As Furnace was showered in shiny but function-less pieces of metal he looked behind him at the two-faced giant, looking for confirmation that he got it right.

The ettin was about to slay the little one when he had suddenly attacked on of the stands, this caused the ettin to think that the little one was one of them and so he nodded and continued his rampage.

Furnace trembled a little as he regarded the judging eyes of the towering creature.
The ettin nodded approvingly. He did it right. He was learning so much today!
Happily Furnace followed and continued to smash barrels, poles and carts along with the brute and a growing group of other creatures his size.
They did the same. When he jumped, they did. When they struggled to reach up to the thatched rooftops with their torches, he kicked a barrel over to them so they could stand on it. This was going great.

That moment he remembered the barkeep, and how he had displayed so much fun cutting the friend collector, clearly he loved a fight.
As they were near the tavern Furnace ran ahead of the band and smashed the wooden door open.
He pointed inside and yelled at the rampaging group. "In here! There's good fighting and food in here!"

As Vis walked out of the bakery, sixteen coins lighter and with 8 loaves of bread under his arm, screams echoed out from the other side of the market and people started running away from the direction of the comotion. The owner of the bakery, a woman in her thirties steppes out to see what was going on, Vis turned back to the bakery and ushered as much people inside as possible, he turned to the owner and yelled over the commotion, "Ith there a bathement thoo thith bakery?!"
She thought for a moment and nodded, grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him to the kitchen, she pointed to a large slate preparation table, "It's under there!" she yelled as what was going on outside was getting closer. Vis groaned with frustration and pushed all his mass against the table, whincing as it grated across the floor, exposing a dusty trap door. When the table was no longer obstructing it, Vis opened it up and climbed down, it was large and could easily hold everyone in the building. He climbed back out and yelled into the main room for everyone to get into the basement, they did as they were told and when the trapdoor shut and everyone was inside, Vis pushed the table back over the hatch and he heard rough voices from the front room. He drew his rapier and escaped through the back door, he'd be back for the people in the basement.

Even moments before the attack Alula's soft and comfortable smile suddenly turned into an expression of extreme horror. She took stumbling steps away from Carver. She appeared to double over slightly, frantically pulling down her hat and covering her eyes as if she was trying to block out the horror filled visions.

"Misfortune does not come in drops it comes in storms. I can see the clouds gathering upon the horizon"

This voice was different from her normal, lazy, speech. But it was also far different from the commanding and dominant voice. This one sounded calm, almost wise and knowing. But the voice didn't match Alula's expression of pain and dread. Her entire body seemed to be shaking, a bright glow emitting from her eyes and from a source within her robes.

She spoke in a grim voice, suddenly looking up at Carver with fear. She could see the monsters on the horizon.

"Please ser Paladin you have to go! Something is coming it's not safe here!"

It was strange, she didn't seem to be talking about the monsters destroying the town. She nearly collapsed onto the ground, gripping her staff in an iron fist. "And when it comes they will come."

Furnace noticed the iron friend and tired girl still standing where he last left them.
They were looking at him. Or they were looking at the large group of creatures working hard on harvesting stone, rock and coal. Or the disagreeing cries of people running and hiding everywhere.
Why did they do that? Was it part of the harvesting ritual?
Furnace waved at Carver and Alula.

Suki glanced over at Separ, before nodding. "Yes, I was about to go an search for supplies to purchase." A complete lie, but on the other hand, she didn't have to tell the man what she really was planning on doing. However, before she could accept or decline his offer of accompanying her, the destruction occurred.

Quickly turning around to look in the direction of the noise, she noticed the creatures rampaging through the town. Knowing she should run, and just abandon everyone else to their fate, she ended up glancing at Separ. Could she also abandon her newfound companions? They might get in her way, but they might also be of use in dealing with the church.

As she was pondering, she noticed the hazy image of a man on horseback beyond the wall of smoke. Perhaps he was the key to this attack? "I'll be right back." Quickly speaking, she ran down the nearest alleyway, taking many of the winding turns rapidly. she never slowed down, until she had reached her destination. Although looking like the dead end of every alleyway, this one was on she had visited earlier. Quickly reaching into one of the crates, she pulled out her scythe.

Carnage, destruction, and panic. The citizens of Ravenwood were fleeing in distress as what looked like a small army began to siege the town. Buildings collapsed, some were set on fire, and screams could be heard in the distance. No doubt was left in Separ's mind that people were getting both killed, tortured, possibly even taken prisoner. Separ clenched his fist tightly, he wanted to help bring this to an end, but in his mind he knew he could not take on that many enemies. He thought about his master and cursed under his breath knowing he had already left to go home. If he was here, then maybe...

Lots of people started to run past Separ, bringing him back into reality. Separ had to do something though, and that's when he remembered the General Shop's store clerk. He quickly turned around and rushed towards the door pushing it open so hard that the door slammed against the wall. The store clerk who was insulated from all the noise started to yell at him but quickly realized something big was going down. "You need to get out of here lady, there's a small army destroying Ravenwood." The store clerk quickly agreed and started to grab a few close supplies before running towards the door and exiting the building. Separ slammed the door shut as both of them left the store. That's something I can do, but that's about it. Staying any longer than I need to will be a bad idea. However as the shop keeper left he heard the cloaked girl say, "I'll be right back." He spun around to find that the girl was already turning into an alleyway. Separ couldn't leave her alone though, they needed to stick together if they wanted to survive. "Hey wait up!" He yelled as he took off after her.

The cloaked girl was fast, and while Separ himself was also fast his injuries from earlier had left him feeling a bit tired. Catching up would have been much easier if he was at his full potential. Separ started panting as he turned down another corner only to find that the girl had disappeared. He had lost sight of her. The sound of a building was heard collapsing not to far from where Separ was standing. This isn't good, if they find me or that girl we'll have to fight our way out. Still Separ persevered and turned down a corner, only to then realize he was completely lost. He was afraid to call out to the girl though, knowing it may attract attention from unwanted people. Just where was that girl?

Smashing through the flimsy wood that was the back door, suddenly the commotion in the bakery grew more intense as the raiders figured someone had just left the building. Quickly surveying the location, Vis saw that he led himself into the back yard of the bakery and it was enclosed by high wooden fences with sharpened tips, 'Is this a bakery or a fort?!' he yelled mentally, looking franticly for a way to escape. Turning back to look at the bakery, he saw his exit strategy; tucking the style loaves of bread into his bag and securing the buckles, he made his way to the wall and began climbing it, using windowsills and cracks in the mortar and bricks as hand and foot holes as he ascended the face of the building.

Once on the shingled roof, he heard the raiders burst into the backyard and bark in confusion, wondering where the escapee had gotten off to, not knowing that Vis was above them. Taking no time to think he began running along the rooftop, looking around at the scene of carnage going down below him, he jumped the gaps between buildings as he ran. From his vantage point, Vis spotted the paladin and the girl in the pointy hat, still near the tavern and to his left were winding alleyways where he heard the echo of running. It seemed the fighting hadn't reached that part of town.

Not concentrating, Vis was struck by an arrow in the left shoulder and went tumbling down the left side of the roof he was running on and fell off the edge, smashing into the cobbled streets below. The impact jarred his frame and he could hear the sickening crack of bone as his shoulder and side hit the ground, staggering to his feet he retrieved his rapier from the floor.

"Where do you think you're going pretty boy?" Vis snapped his head to the left and saw that a raider had emerged from a side street to confront him. The raider was decked in chainmail and held a bastard sword in one of his brutish hands. Vis' got shakily to his combat stance, his rapier held in front of him. The raider charged and Vis turned and ran.

Alula fell to her knees, pressing her forehead into the ground. Her hat had fallen off her head and onto the ground, no longer providing any comfort for Alula as she pressed her palms over her eyes. Even with her eyes covered and shut visions danced behind her lids, voices and phantom sounds assaulted her senses. She let out a final cry of pain before a powerful burst of light encompassed her.

Once the light faded, and anyone looking directly at her had given their eyes a chance to recover, Alula was no longer on the ground in pain. Alula was barely even there anymore. She was now floating slightly above the ground, her robes and hair lazily flowing around her, as if gravity no longer was applying their force to her.

Her eyes were glowing, but with much more intensity. She took no measures to cover them as they stared, unblinking, at the crowd of monsters. Not only her eyes were glowing, however. Even more shocking and noticeable was her skin. It was as if every vein in her body had begun to admit a bright glow, looking like cracks long her flesh.

Alula, or at least what she had been reduced to, looked around. She first noticed Carver, raising her now glowing staff as if to aim a projectile attack, but her other arm lifted up, pulling the arm with the staff back down. She spoke in a regal and calm voice that echoed through the area.

"Do not harm the ones the girl has grown attached to."

The arm holding the staff rose up twice more, as if wanted to go against this command and harm Carver regardless, but it eventually stopped. Alula looked away from Carver, into the crowds of attacking monsters. Without even wincing or bracing herself she lifted her staff, aiming it into the mass of creatures, hoping to hit as many as possible.

Out of the tip of the staff blasted a bright beam of moon energy. It was bright enough to be seen for a mile, and was very attention grabby as well as deadly.

In an instant Carver's sword and shield were in his hands. There was no time to think, no time to pontificate on why this attack was occurring. Now was time for action.

Carver cast his eyes about him. The situation was bad. Townspeople everywhere in absolute disarray, enemies approaching from all angles and running roughshod through the town, an ettin smashing up just about everything. What was more, two helpless strangers were already in his protection - he couldn't leave them behind to mount a defense for the town.

'Helpless' maybe wasn't the best word for Alula, though. He watched as she exploded into blue light and fired a beam of energy into a crowd of attackers. No time to think about that, either. For now, it would just have to make sense, especially as the light show seemed to have attracted a small horde to their position.

Carver grabbed his helmet from his bag and shoved it onto his head, flicking the visor down. "Alula! Furnace! Kelvin! Stay behind me!" He shouted as he brought his shield forward and raised his sword up behind it. "We're going to find the others!"

He had to hope they would listen. "In the name of the sun!" he shouted, and surged forward at the fastest pace he could muster, into the throng of foes.

Alula cast a glare down upon Carver as he commanded her to get behind him. It was rather lucky that the man wore armor, any bare skin would have soon felt itself burning. She did not care at all about the safety and life of Carver or the two other she found herself suddenly allied with. All that mattered was that Alula was kept safe. That the vessel was kept safe. A voice spoke though Alula, her expression still one of anger.

"We do not see why we must keep behind a worthless human."

A second voice spoke, expression changing to a more playful one.

"We do not see why not, the view is quite fine from up here."

The voices began arguing with each other, constantly speaking over each other.

"You disgust us! please don't hurt them. He is a paladin of the sun for morishacks sake! he will not harm us. If anything he will just get in the way!"

By now Carver was half way to the horde, moving at the comedic speed of a snails pace. Alula sighed, raising her staff yet again and firing another beam of searing light into the horde. It was fired dangerously close to Carver, perhaps as a sign of aggression.

(8/10 moonbeams remaining)

Furnace went into the tavern and watched as goblins and kobolts smashed up the place.
The barkeep stood alone against a small horde of assailants. Shouting angrily as he waved his sharp knife around.
Furnace was glad to see everyone in a fighting spirit, he felt like he was starting to get it.
Suddenly the room lit up bright. Pale light pierced trough the open windows and doors and threw longs shadows on the rubble that wasthe interior of the tavern.

Furnace looked outside to see Alula hover in the air, flashes of divine power lashing out from her body.
He saw coils of lightning run over her skin and her piercing eyes negative to his own.
He intended to go and see up closer, but suddenly she released a massive blast of energy into the horde just outside.
Furnace had to dive as the blast singed the house and came bursting through the windows.
He stared at the devastation it wrought, carefully he looked outside to see even more.
She was looking at Carver again as he called his name. Furnace had given to it him with reason, he supposed he should come.
Making sure not to stand between the groups of targets he made his way over to the middle of the square where the other 3 where.

Though she had grown more voices Alulah seemed calmer than before. No, more confident.
Furnace gawked at the power she was emitting, he got closer and studied her.
He held his hand up before her, not touching, not in the way, just to draw her attention as carefully as possible.
As with holding molten steel. The state in which she has most potential is the most dangerous one.
He waited until he met her gaze.
"That looks awfully strenuous."

Alula watched as her two beams tore holes in the horde as well as the town itself. She didn't really care where her destruction was laying. If she destroyed the town in order to destroy the monsters, so be it. At first she hadn't noticed something as small and insignificant as the gnome standing slightly off to the side, but he was recognized as one of the girls companions. Alula looked down upon Furnace with a smug grin. The voice that spoke this time used a cocky tone, like an older sister trying to show off to a kid.

"Strenuous? Hardly. This is a piece of cake."

She leaned closer, dangerously so. Close enough for Furnace to feel waves of energy emitting off of her.

"You wanna see something cool kid?"

And without even waiting for an answer Alula shot off another beam, whizzing dangerously past Carver, aimed right for the Ettin.