House in the Woods, Bushes
Theodoric and Varrys make a quick dive for the bushes. Soon enough, you see who was coming. A procession of some twenty or so individuals stop. There are four horses with them pulling a wagon carrying a covered cage. Half the individuals appear to be men-at-arms with pink cloaks and hoods while the others are wearing a full garb of pink and symbols of Saras indicating priesthood. This is strange to both of you, as typically the robes of Saras priests are simple browns, greys, beige or black depending on location or order or position. You have never seen such a garish color associated with Saras, or the strange hoods and cloaks they wear. One man, who you notice is actually wearing a dark blue and without hood or cape or any associated symbols, begins to say orders. "Our guards have been attacked, likely by monsters trying to get our cargo or stop our plans! You two, quickly get the cargo to safety! The rest of you, check out the surrounding area, see if you can find the tracks!" At this point, you realize that your chosen hiding space will almost certainly be chanced upon until you hear the screams from inside the house...
House in the Woods, Indoors
As soon as you round the door to the inside of the house and move towards the door, Bierstout again moves to open it. This time, however, it opens inwards not by your own hand, but by a man inside. The door with the image of a woman is open, a man opening it to meet you face to face in the same garb and gear as the men you slaughtered. Another guard is visible out of a hole in the ground with a spiraling staircase carved out of the earth leading downwards. Before you can make a move, they react quickly and rush down the stairs, shouting, "A monster and a dwarf have breached our stronghold! Quickly, rally the men!" From down the hole you can hear a hurried commotion of movement, and from behind you can hear more men rushing to enter the stronghold. Outside, just as the men seemed clear they would chance upon your hiding place, they quickly move to the house where Bierstout and Boris entered.
Barleyville
As you descend into the now unfamiliar landscape, you see no signs of survivors. Here and there a cow or a stray chicken are loose and wandering about, and occasionally you spot a few dead animals and citizens, but no one living or breathing. As you make your way down the natural lines of descent, you notice that a dark and heavy forest has sprung up where a town once was. Trees are sprouting through or inside of houses, bushes and tall grass sprung up where once there was clear well-traveled road. Eventually, when it seems that everyone has just disappeared, you hear the sounds of commotion. In the town center, the survivors have gathered and murmurs and commotion are about. The vast majority of the village dwellers appears to be here, including the dwarf clan who have gathered all to one side, somewhat away from the humans. The humans are surrounding a makeshift podium of the rubble of a collapsed house, atop which the town mayor, Bard Dezzick, stands. He appears to be saying something but you cannot quite make out what. What do you do?