Pounding on the door with his staff, Gilandiril calls out, ”Please! We were sent by Governor Nighthill to find someone named Eadyan! We’re here to help!”
Zat says ifthedoorislockeditsnotthathardtounlockitidoitallthetime and then hearing Gil plead with the men inside he whispers What if they don't open the door?
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Inside the only calm person in the room opens the door. Come in, come in quickly.
Getting you inside he will say that he is a priest of Chauntea, Eadyan Falconmoon. I am so happy you are here! So what's the plan? How do we rescue these people?
While you are inside you here the cracking timbers, the stones and sputtering torches that fly through the windows intermittently, the smoke rolling below th e ceiling and the cries of the townsfolk.
Rhen gets a look at the situation inside the temple and sighs, "We don't have a plan yet, priest. We came to see what relief we could provide and assess the situation. Give us a little time to organize and we will do what we can to get everyone to safety."
"In the meantime, the raiders trying to break in put up a stiff fight and our band has taken a few knocks. Do you have any healing resources left? I daresay we would have more luck rescuing everybody if the rescuers were healthy."
wecouldjustrunreallyfasttowardsthecastleright? deep breath We can run really fast!
As Ragar bleeds all over the floor, he looks pleadingly at the priest.
Heal us up, and we will escort you back to the keep.
When everyone is inside the temple and the door is closed and barred again, Gilandiril sits down heavily in one of the pews.
"I do not think any of us will make it back to the keep in our current condition, least of all Adrick," he says, inclining his head toward the unconscious dwarf. "We need a moment's respite and whatever prayers of healing Chauntea will answer."
Looking up at the smoke and the broken windows, he adds, "However, it is apparent that we cannot stay here long. Perhaps we could make a break for the tunnel we cleared earlier?"
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I am less concerned for my safety and more so to the good people of greenest.
Looking towards the injured Ragar and Gil, he brings forth a single golden grain of wheat and brushes your wounds. A breath of fresh Autumn air fills your nostrils and your once have closed.
With that I am afraid, I am too exhausted to call upon the Grain Goddess for anymore favors until I get some rest.
As the priest reaches toward Gilandiril with the grain, Gilandiril holds up his hand and shakes his head, then gestures toward the dwarf lying on the floor.
"Adrick requires Chauntea's blessing far more than I do. I have a feeling we are going to need him if we are to escort all of these people safely to the keep."
As Ragar's wounds heal, a surprised expression crosses his visage.
Thank you, priest! I am whole and ready to lead all of you to safety!
Rhen moves about the temple counting civilians and assessing their condition. He also keeps an eye peeled for any weapons or other forms of protection they may be able to use in a dash to the keep.
As Adrick comes to, Gilandiril leans over, smiling, and says, "Once again, friend dwarf, you have Zatqualmie to thank for keeping you from meeting the All-Father just yet. And you owe your swift recovery to the Great Mother and her faithful servant," he adds, indicating the cleric with a sweep of his hand.
With some effort, Gilandiril stands and joins the others.
"Eadyan, is there a way out of the temple other than the front door? If we can slip out quietly, perhaps we can make our way to the keep without being noticed."
Adrick groans as he rises and hears the Elf's words. "Aye, thank you all again for what ye done. If I had the night to rest, I'd use me own magic to help you Gil."
Fine, then, let's make for the tunnel.
Ragar moves to the door, peeking out to scan the streets that will make up their initial path to the tunnel.
Illcheckitforyouragardontworry! Zat exclaims as he dashes out of the Temple and down the street
So, we either make a break for it right now, or wait until that circling group passes and get out the front door.
Relieved that they made it to the keep without further incident and barely able to stand after their last battle and their flight to the tunnel, Gilandiril tries to find a quiet spot in the keep to get some rest until he and his companions are needed again.
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Around 400 AM
From the darkness, a creature strides into the dim light of the dying fires around the keep. Although it is shaped roughly like a human, it is at least seven feet tall, its skin is covered in blue scales, its fingers bear wicked claws and its face has the muzzle and reptilian eyes of a dragon.
The creature stops about eighty yards from the main gate of the keep and scans the walls, a line of kobolds fans out behind it. With their spears, they prod four human prisoners into the dim light. You make out a woman, a teenage boy in a blood-soaked tunic, and two children. Then the half-dragon creature hails the keep.
Defenders of Greenest! This has been a successful night, and I am feeling generous. Do you see these four pitiful, useless prisoners? We have no need for them, so I will trade them back to you. Send out your best warrior to fight me, and you can have these four in exchange!
Ragar smiles.
I will take him on.
Hearing the voice rising up from the gate, Gilandiril joins his companions on the wall, peering down at the raiders and studying their enormous, blue-scaled leader.
"Not a dragonborn… By the Lady, what is that thing?" he whispers.
He leans over the rampart and calls down to the creature. "A successful night? Only if you measure success by the amount of pain and anguish you have caused, vyshaan!" he shouts, recalling an ancient Elven insult.
Without waiting for a reply, he turns to Ragar and says, "I understand your desire... your need... to face this challenge, my friend, but how do we know that creature will keep its word?"
"I don't think we have any way of making sure he keeps his word. I do intend to get into a position where he will feel some pain if he does break it. Ragar, I won't interfere with your duel, but if the situation turns bad or he betrays your trust, I will shoot."
Ragar places a hand on Rhen's shoulder.
Thank you, my friend. Shoot true, if needed.
Ragar checks his armor, hefts his axe and prepares to descend to the duel.
Zat looks worried for his big friend and he dances around on both feet and wrings his hands in worry!
"Good luck, Ragar. May the Daughter of the Night Skies protect you."
As Ragar descends to the gate, Gilandiril joins Rhen at the rampart, preparing to unleash a spell against the dragon-man at the first sign of treachery.
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Ragar goes to meet the half-dragon in a neutral field of battle. A smile crosses the face as he sees Ragar step forward. He waves to the kobolds and he sets the children free but continue to stand guard over the woman.
Initiative
Langdedrosa raises his sword over his shoulder, Shall we begin? With that he rushes forward and throws a shoulder into the fighter followed by a swipe from his Great Sword
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You are bleeding out, and he delivers another jab to your ribs to ensure his victory (1 death save failure). He turns and lets the last of the prisoners loose leaving with his men.
The Governors Maesters are rushing to you but its going to be a moment before they can reach you. When the do they will stabilize you instantly and you will regain consciousness in hours with 1 hit point.
Is there anything else you want to take care of before you take a well deserved long rest and level up?
Watching Ragar dispatched so easily is such a shock that Gilandiril can only stare, dumbfounded, as the raiders release their remaining prisoner and withdraw.
Seeing that Ragar will survive and with the siege apparently over, Gilandiril once again tries to find a quiet spot in the keep to rest. Too exhausted to stand any longer, a hundred questions swirling in his mind, but satisfied that their efforts have prevented at least part of his vision from coming to pass, he begins his daily reverie at last.
Lady of Dreams, where will you guide me now?
RAGAR! Zat shouts and he shakes his fist at the large half dragon
yourgonnapayforthisyoumeanie!
Ragar wakes after he had been out for who knows how long. The last thing he recalls is the sword swinging towards him at a blinding speed.
If I had only gotten off a swing, it may have been that son of a whore that was recovering from his injuries now.
Darius stood a sullen guard outside Ragar's room. Everything had happened so quickly -- Darius sighed, and tried to clear his head.
He was still alive, and so many weren't. The guilt began to creep up on him again. His father had warned him that the Cult of the Dragon was up to some mischief. But Darius had suspected that they would use subterfuge and secrecy, as they traditionally did. And so he thought he had plenty of time.
Darius thought of Ragar nearly being split in two. Gods, he had been wrong. So very, very wrong.
A full frontal assault on a town! The Cult of the Dragon hadn't done such a thing since before the Spellplague, during the last Rage of Dragons. Since that colossal failure, the Cult had returned to its quiet, skulking ways.
This folly was firmly on his shoulders. He should have paid for a sending spell to his old colleagues in Candlekeep. Surely, they could have gotten word out to Greenest somehow.
So many lives lost...
Darius sighed, and continued to sulk.
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When you wake up you find that Adrick as left in the middle of the night without a word, perhaps the cult of the dragon scarred him away.
You here Governor Nighthill discussing with the other leaders that they want to know who was responsible for the assault, and why the town was a target. One man points out that they headed southeast and that their trail should be easy to spot. Seeing you eavesdropping, Governor Nighthill approaches you, I have a proposal; locate the raiders camp and find out where they are, how many of them there are, who the leaders are and where they plan to strike next. Do this and 250 gold coins for each of you.
TheyarebadandtheyhurtmyfriendragarsoIlldoitbutillalsotakethecoinsbecausetho searenicetoo! deep breath I would like to help. Zat says evenly
"Well, Governor, we know from our interrogation of the prisoner that the forces belonged to the Cult of the Dragon. I have studied this group and can tell you that traditionally the Cult seeks the creation of Dracoliches - essentially, an undead dragon that retains all of its former power. They venerate the wyrms, and believe that when they are free from their earthly desires that they can rule over Faerûn. With the cultists, of course, inheriting some of this power for themselves as their disciples."
"But traditionally this group operates in the shadows. An assault such as this is nearly unheard of. I'm a scholar. And I don't like leaving mysteries unsolved. So I also volunteer."
"As for payment, may I recommend a line of credit for now, so we can purchase better armor and weapons and be better outfitted. I hardly came into town ready to fight a war."
Rhen nods at Darius's words. "Indeed. Some better equipment now and supplies may improve our chances of success. From what the mercenary said, they may be operating over quite an area. He had heard a rumor they were searching for dragon eggs, Governor. Have you or any of your folk heard rumors about dragon eggs?"
I, of course will join the mission. I need to have another crack at the evil bastard that nearly split me in two.
Gilandiril awakens from a reverie filled with the same visions of destructions he has been having for months.
"Lady of Dreams, I do not understand..." he whispers in the darkness of the tiny chamber. "My visions have not changed. Have we not prevented these catastrophic events from coming to pass?"
With no answer forthcoming, Gilandiril gets to his feet and is relieved to discover that his head no longer throbs with pain and his vision is no longer blurred. Gingerly, he touches the spot on his temple where the last of the kobolds' sling stones struck and finds it still sore, but no longer tacky with blood.
Taking up his staff, he steps out into the keep to find his newfound companions. Before long, the sound of familiar voices--Governor Nighthill, Darius, Rhen, and Ragar--leads him to the meeting hall where they are discussing plans to find the raiders' camp.
"Forgive the interruption, but I believe there is more at stake here than the fate of one town. If my visions are to be trusted, this Cult of the Dragon may have set events into motion that will bring about the destruction of the whole of Faerun."