Once they made within the outskirts of town, Rose signaled for them to slow, and held her finger to her lips to signal them to be quiet . She led them slowly and carefully from behind one piece of cover to the next, this one a cart, this one a small garden wall, the next a few barrels beside a larger building . After flitting from spot to spot, they finally got close enough to peer into the village square .
All of the buildings surrounding the square on the other three sides from theirs were on fire, and even at a decent distance, the heat was almost too intense for Jack to bear . Standing in the middle of the square were about a dozen humanoid shapes, decidedly taller and larger than a human, with one standing significantly taller than the rest . While it wasn't possible to make out all of the details, the creatures had hunched postures and hyenlike faces, the tips of their hands and feet ending in powerful claws . They all held weapons of some variety and wore armor, with the exception of the largest, which was draped in long robes and held what looked like the trunk of a small tree, roots up, as a staff .
Jack recognized the species immediately, and Rose confirmed he was right .
"Gnolls . And led by a pack shaman, by the looks of things . " She said . She motioned for everyone to take cover back behind the barricade they were peering around .
"There are 10 of the fighters, plus the big one who's definitely a spellcaster . How do we want to do this?" She asked .
"Well, I think you and I can take the fighters, if Ellie can handle the shaman . " Jack said .
Advertis.e.m.e.nt"I agree . Do you think you can handle the big one, El?" Rose asked .
Eleanor nodded, although Jack noted a vague sense of unease she was trying very hard to hide . "I think so . I can certainly try . "
"Be careful . Don't be stupid and get yourself killed . If you need help, call for it . " Rose said, and Jack nodded in agreement .
"There's no reason to act tough if you can't do it alone . I'm scared s.h.i.+tless, but I won't let anything happen to you if I can help it" He said .
"I'll help with the big one . " Madeleine spoke up .
"No, no you will not . You're not a fighter . You stay here and hide . " Rose said, shaking her head .
"I wasn't asking for permission . I was telling you what I am going to do . " Madeleine said simply, and looked at Rose with a flat expression that seemed to unnerve the larger sister .
"You could get seriously hurt, Maddy . We can't keep you safe if you won't stay out of sight . " Eleanor said .
"No one will see me . I promise . " Madeleine said, her face still a blank mask . For some strange reason, Jack absolutely believed her .
"I say let her . I believe in her . She's a smart girl . Smart enough not to do anything stupid, anyways . " Jack said, causing Eleanor and Rose to both give him looks that indicated he clearly wasn't helping right now .
"What? I'm not wrong . " He said .
Finally, after a long sigh, Rose relented, and shrugged .
"Fine . Do whatever you want, Maddy . Just be careful, okay? I can't promise you we can keep you safe if you're out there . " She said .
"I know . " Madeleine said .
"Okay, so we know who is doing what . What's our actual plan?" Jack asked .
"We need to get the jump on them . Kill as many of them as we can before the fight starts . Otherwise this could go very badly for us . "
"I think I've got an idea . . . " Jack said, motioning the other three closer .
After a few moments of explanation, Rose nodded and turned towards Madeleine .
"Are you sure you'd be okay with doing this? It'll be dangerous, and you could get seriously hurt if something goes wrong", she said, looking at her sister with a mixture of uncertainty and concern .
"I'll be fine . " Madeleine said simply . "They won't be able to catch me . "
"Are you sure? If they do . . . "
Madeleine grabbed Rose's hand and leaned in towards her, her face intense . "That won't happen . Trust me . "
"Okay . If you're certain . " Rose said . She turned to Jack .
"Let's do it . "
Jack nodded .
"Alright then . Places, everyone!"