《LEUR: The Unsung Tales》Chapter 52: No Glory, Only Solace

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Dinner time arrives, and the party makes the trip downstairs where others are eating their food, barely a whisper to be heard. As their meals are served, Amadeo looks around. "It must have been worse than we thought."

"Alot of usss grew up here with family and friendsss. And alot of them ssso far have gone unaccounted for, or worssse, already on the listsss of the dead." One member pipes up, a woman with serpentine eyes and scaly bumps along her exposed forearms, hair tied back in a bun. As she speaks, Amadeo can see the hint of a forked tongue. "So yesss newbie, it wasss pretty bad."

"Hey, cut `em some slack, Sadai." Another member at the same table nudges the woman, who almost hisses in response. This one is also a female, with long pointed ears and brownish-red pigmented skin. Her head is shaved on both sides with a single strip ending in a top knot. "Sorry about her. Point is, we ain't seen devastation like this before. We're still waitin for more info before things get too gloomy, but some of us are gettin depressed a little early." The shaved head woman holds a hand out. "Name's Gran. This here's Sadai." The serpent woman waves but goes back to her drink.

Amadeo shakes Gran's hand. "Amadeo Ravenwood, at your service. These are my friends Hope of Loheim, Anastrianna Leyawin, and Tyrion Summerwind." The other three nod in turn, eating in silence.

"Frankly, I'm surprised you four made it through alright. That was a tough fight, even after the one who caused it flew off." Gran gulps down a drink of water from her flagon. "Bastard. I'd have beat him half to death and left the rest for the guildmaster. Got caught up saving Sadai from a small horde of thirty of the little undead freaks."

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"I had it handled, sssissster. You could have taken him, but you had to play the hero." Sadai hisses, though by the way she looks away, Tyrion deduces she may in fact be grateful.

"We actually went right to the source. We tried to fight back, but that man was...He was a force to be reckoned. We hardly stood a chance, honestly, but then Kiriel showed up..." Amadeo shakes his head. "Anyway, we're fine. Sore, but fine."

The doors to the hall open, and in steps Kiriel, who looks over the gathered crowd. "Everyone here?" They ask, silence being the only reply. "Good. Our first order of business is determining tasks. You're not required to help, and alot of this is going to be transport and burial, but for those of you-" Kiriel stops when hands shoot up. They're silent a moment, before nodding solemnly. "Very well. Some of you will be placed on transport duty. Others will help with burial and damage reports. I need everyone giving their all. There's no glory in this, but there will be some solace. Finish your meals and head out. Anything that can be done, do it. You're dismissed."

Several groups finish eating quickly and go. Tyrion watches table after table empty out, looking back to the party. "Alright. We'd best get started." They all stand, leaving behind half eaten plates, and exit into the streets.

The first thing to greet their ears is the sound of wailing. Children calling for parents, parents for children, friends asking for their loved ones to be returned safely. They pass groups of people checking bodies, looking to find those precious to them among the lost. "Gods..." Amadeo looks about. There's little sign of property damage. Some broken pots, some overturned stalls, but little else. The attack was fast and unexpected. The target was people, not structures.

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"Let's start working on it." Hope states matter-of-factly. "We've probably got a few days ahead, so just give it your all. There's no glory, only solace."

For three days, amidst the wails of the living crying for the dead, they bury those they can and burn the rest. And still the wailing continues, once a year, to this very day.

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