You were still in the middle of the private discussion in the garden behind the main longhouse when the night air suddenly filled with the sound of many footsteps and quiet, exhausted voices.
Valir and Alucard's eyes flared bright at the main gate. The two golems did not attack, but they stood ready, sensing no immediate threat — only desperation.
A large group of roughly 324 refugees — men, women, children, elders, some carrying what little belongings they had on their backs — stumbled into the open space just beyond the gate. Their clothes were torn and dirty, faces gaunt with fear and hunger. Many bore fresh wounds or bandages. They looked like they had been walking for days.
Lukas stepped forward first, shadows curling protectively around him as he raised a hand to calm the golems.
"Who are you all? Where do you come from?" he asked, voice firm but not unkind.
One of the older men at the front — a weary farmer with a bandaged arm — stepped forward and bowed shakily, speaking for the group.
"We… we are from many different villages across the southern and eastern borders. Our homes were attacked by demons — huge hordes of them. They came without warning, burned everything, slaughtered most of our people. We are the few who managed to escape. We have nowhere left to go… no food, no shelter, no hope. We heard rumors that Eldenwood had been reborn… protected by a great Wish Djinn and his powerful companions. So we came here… begging for mercy. Please… if you turn us away, we will die on the road."
The other refugees murmured in agreement, many of them falling to their knees in exhaustion and desperation. Children clung to their parents, crying softly. The whole group looked broken and terrified.
Miya's fox ears flattened slightly, her tail lashing once in restrained anger. She whispered to you, "My lord… this smells like the Goddess's doing again. More villages destroyed to weaken us or spread fear."
Liora stayed close to Lukas, her expression soft with sympathy. "They have nowhere else…"
Lukas looked back at you, waiting for your decision.
The 324 refugees remained on their knees outside the gate, eyes filled with desperate hope as they stared at your group — especially at you.