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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hewligan" data-source="post: 4507907" data-attributes="member: 19688">Into the nightEvening falls. Jovik can feel the tension in the air, and knows that the kids can sense it. He keeps them occupied, showing them simple tricks, prestidigitation of the kind he learned as a kid himself. Card tricks, coin flicks, sleight of hand, and memory tricks. They seemed to view him as some sort of wizard of great power by the end of the night, unaware that there was a true sorcerer of some power in their midst.When they finally slept, the night was already pitch. Farmer Woldrack poured each of the men a triple shot of a strong, local spirit made from grains. It tasted smokey, deep, and not altogether bad at all. His wife retired to be with the sleeping children, as the farmer once again, for the fourth or fifth time, checked over each and every shutter."Of course, now that I have asked you to stay, it is unlikely that they will come. I just sense it. By Desna, I sense it."When Jokad asks him if he is going to sleep, he raises a single eyebrow, and moves towards the doorway to retrieve a large shovel that sits there."I might not have a fancy weapon, but I reckon I can do a bit of damage with this!"He moves to sit at the table by the hearth. You can see the tiredness in his eyes. You get the distinct impression that perhaps this is not the first night he has sat here while his family sleep.And so you prepare. Jovik and Kael move to the barn, taking the ever burning torch and a couple of thick throws. Jovik calls first watch, and Kael lies under the blanket, covering the torch with a bucket to stifle the light.Kael is asleep in minutes. He was tired. The fresh air, the long walk, the strong liquor...Jovik looks out from the loft. Boy it gets dark out here. A thick weave of clouds shroud the sky, snuffing the light from the moon and stars, and leaving the land under an oppressive, almost electric sense of complete darkness.Jokad sits with Farmer Woldrack and Danth. They play some cards, talk of simple things, and then agree, when the time draws to midnight, to take shifts. Danth pulls the first, seeing the exhaustion in the face of Woldrack. The farmer lies before the hearth and is quickly asleep, albeit his body turns and moves with unease as dreams tear at him. Jokad looks up at Danth as the young Shoanti tries to get comfortable on the simple stone floor."Lets pull just the two shifts - let him sleep the whole night if nothing happens. I think he needs it more than we do" he offers. Danth cannot help but agree.And then he is alone in his thoughts, the silence broken only by the gentle breathing of his friend, the barbarian, and the distressed whispers from Farmer Woldrack.------And then they came.</blockquote>

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