Go see what’s going on

"We’ve gotten this far. We’re not running away like some of those cowardly 'heroes'!" You declare and head towards the center of town. Your colleagues follow your lead.

It’s only a short walk to the square at the center of town. You and your companions remain hidden in a narrow side alley and watch as the elves gather. In the center of the square is the flame-wreathed woman from earlier, now holding a wooden staff that is as high as her. Around her are seven wolves and over thirty elves, over twenty of them women. As you watch three more – two women and a man – arrive and join the group,

All of the main streets leading to the square are blocked by the town’s defenders, Several of the smaller streets and side alleys are also blocked. So far no one dares approach the gathered elves. Judging by the expressions you can see the 'heroes' are as confused about what’s going on as you are.

Another minute passes, during which five more elves join the group, and then the elf wreathed in flames finally moves. She lifts up her staff and then brings it down, striking the ground. A blinding light erupts from the point of contact, causing dozens of surprised shouts as everyone is blinded. The effect lasts less than a minute and then everyone’s eyesight – including yours – returns to normal, much faster than is normal. A few of the gathered defenders gasp in surprise as they discover that the town square is now empty!

"'Event Paused'? What the hell?" Exclaims a man. Several more do the same.

A bearded man dressed as some sort of cleric walks to the center of the town square and shouts to attract everyone’s attention. Once most people are looking at him he begins speaking.

"Everyone, listen up! The event is not over! I repeat, the event is not over! It is merely paused and will resume when one of the attacking monsters is discovered, or when the monsters resume attacking us. So make sure you travel in groups – being alone is just asking to get killed! This sort of thing has happened a couple of times already, and based on what we have learned so far the town will not reset and go back to normal until the event is actually over. So we need to find the surviving attackers and either eliminate them or chase them out of town." The man pauses, giving everyone a few moments to process the information they just heard. "Heal up, rest a bit, and then start looking. We’ll have to deal with the remaining invaders sooner or later. Better to fight them on our terms than on theirs."

"We should block the exits!" Shouts a man from somewhere to the right, out of your field of vision.

"Yeah, we don't want all of that precious experience getting away!" Agrees a woman, probably a barbarian but it's hard to tell since you can barely see her from your position. You roll your eyes at her words. Of course the experience is all they care about!

"Good idea." Agrees the bearded cleric. "Any volunteers?"

A few people lift a hand up in the air. You figure there must be more that you can't see because the bearded guy in the center nods in approval.

"Good. Now let's move, people! Every moment we waste here talking is a moment those elves use to prepare for their next attack!"

With that the improvised meeting ends and each group of 'heroes' goes its own way. You and your companions move away from the square and back into the narrow alley, where the shadows will make it easier to remain unnoticed (or so you hope).

"Well, that was unexpected. What do we do now, boss?" Asks you the blonde. Once again everyone is waiting for your decision…