Venali sees the winged Kobold scramble to its feet, as it spots him. It spreads its wings and tries to take off, but not before Vak sees an opening.
He grabs the creature's wing and pulls it closer wrapping his dagger arm around it and withdraws it, pulling a deep gash across the creature's throat. It collapses even before it can beat its wings once, its blood flowing down the slanted thatch roof and dripping to the ground below.
Vak thrusts his dagger in the air, squeaking trimphantly!
The remaining hooded man looks at Hutch and scoffs: "What, wasn't your mother supposed to explain you all that?"
Look, you have a chance to tell us why, and under who's orders, you are here. If you divulge all the information you know about you being here, including names, no further harm will come to you. However, if you continue to be difficult I'll turn my back and pretend not to see whatever the half-insane human here does to you. But I'd wager whatever it is, you'd wished you would have died in a fight. Would likely have been much quicker. Vorrak moves up and kicks the mans weapon away as he speaks.
Hutch puts his Halberd on the ground and pulls out his dagger.
I would listen to the reasonable dragonborn there. Otherwise I will cut off your fingers one at a time... which hand is dominant? I learned in the Chill that that hand developes more nerves than the other so it could hurt more. Of course if you continue to be an idiot I could always go for a far more painful area.
As if to prove his point, he grabs one of the cultist hands and puts the edge of his dagger to his index finger.
Zilyana narrows her eyes, trying to get an idea both of the cultist's attitude and what he may try. Of course, as she hears the threats, she curses and comes closer to the group, deciding to try a different tactic. She waits until she is close to the cultist before grinning.
"It really would be a shame for him to ruin you. How about you tell us what you know of this attack? And then, maybe, we can see about putting those fingers to more... interesting uses."
"Well, I'm glad to see that scream did not come from you little friend." Venali gives Vak a wry smile before looking down at the dead kobold with the wings, "Did you know this one?" He bends down to look over what possessions the creature might have.
Upon hearing the conversation happening below he motions to Vak before turning and lowering himself off the roof. "I really don't think more death is going to help anyone here." He then turns to the cultist, "You are a member of the Cult of the Dragon, a follower of Tiamat. Am I correct?" He sheathes his blade and takes a step towards the man, "You don't have to die here, just tell us what you know." He gives Hutch a glare, "Not all of us are so primitive as to believe that a dead man is more useful than a living one."
Zillyana lowers her bow as the hooded man gives up, watching the party as they try to interrogate him.
”You know you have no reason to keep your mouth shut, right? Even if you don’t say a thing, we can easily find someone else who will.”, she says.
The priest, neutral on the issue of torture when it comes to mutilation (and not torture unto death, which is another matter of his Faith entirety) begins to pray over Hutch.
Evendur nods in satisfaction as Hutch's wounds close.
"Don't know him.", Vak shrugs "But is snooty uand Vak no longer serve Dragon Lady. Vak use opportunity." he looks very proud of himself.
The cultist looks around for a moment... "S#@&... alright, we're raiding to find loot for the hoard. The raid is under the command of Frulam Mondath."
"You did well Vak," Venali gives Vak a smile before turning back to the human. "You've been looting, so this isn't the first house you have broken into tonight? I would see the things you've taken so that they might be returned, and I think the local Lord would be interested in hearing what you have to say for himself. Especially about this Frulam Mondoth, but that can wait until we are off these chaotic streets."
He turns to Vorrak, "Could you see about tying him up? And maybe gag him as well if he decides he doesn't want to fully cooperate." He then walks back to the family hiding behind the house, magically removing the kobold blood from himself before rounding the corner, "Hopefully there won't be any more interruptions, we should continue moving to the keep."
Vorrack pulls a small amount of rope from his pack and moves to tie the mans hands behind his back and makes a tight knot with it.
Come along easily and I'll even put in a good word for you, who knows, maybe you'll get off easy.
"Should we see if there is anyone trapped inside this house?", asks Zillyana, knocking.
"Anyone there!? We defeated the kobolds trying to break in, we're heading to the keep now!", she says loudly, taking her thieves' tools and starting to pick the lock anyway.
"I've worked as a locksmith, once.", she explains, smiling innocently to the rest of the party.
The cultist does not put up much resistance and his hands are quickly tied.
Zillyanna inserts a lockpick into the keyhole and with a flick of the wrist, the lock springs open, she pushes the door open, but it quickly slams against something heavy.
A man's voice can be heard from within, clearly panicked: "Go away! We have nothing for you!"
Zilyana frowns and walks over to the door, to join the other elf with the same name.
"We're trying to get survivors to the keep and drive off the attackers!" She hopes they will listen.
My word as a priest and by the sacred name of Kelemvor - we are here to see your security and get you safely to the keep.
Hearing the commotion Venali walks over, with the family following him. "I'm sure he'd be more inclined to believe a familiar face over someone he's never met, during a dragon attack, after raiders tried breaking down his door." He says this dryly before turning to Linan, "If you'd be so kind so that we might get moving?"
Sir, as a mercenary I understand your predicament Hutch says all business Luke. Do you have any idea where your mayor is, we happen to have one of these raiding scum to put licked up and forgotten about. I would go hunt more, but my companions can't fight all day like I can. I suppose it's what I get for agreeing to take these green bloods with me when I heard of increased raids here. My company seeks to make money defending you folks.
As he is talking he gives everyone a clear "play along" look.
Cuth is just about to approach the door when you hear the groaning of furniture being moved, a middle-aged man with a scraggly brown beard and messy hair to match sticks his head through the door, looking around with eyes wide.
At this moment Vak, who is now wearing an ill-fitting bluish brown leather bandana, which appears to be dripping small rivulets of blood from its edges, drops from the roof, looking very pleased with himself.
The man startles and pushes the door close. "There's another one!"
"Would you believe he was a prisoner of them as well?" Zilyana asks when the door is closed, hoping the rather blatant lie will do the job.
"Look, he's on our side. He helped take out those who were trying to harm you. Does what he is change the fact he's helped saved you?"
The entire time, she's praying they don't notice what she is, because if they freak out at a lizard shrimp...
"No I wouldn't!" there's a hint of outrage in his voice but then Cuth chimes in: "It's true the little creature did help just now."
A few moments pass until the door opens again "If you say so... But please keep it at a distance."
The man startles again as he steps out the door and lays eyes on Vorrak, but he tries to maintain his composure. He waves to the inside and a dark haired woman and girl hesitantly step out of the shadows.
"We'll go to the keep and then we'll be safe." the man tries to reassure his family. The girl waves to the children of the Swift family and the younger boy returns the gesture.
While all this is happening Vak ignores the conversation picking the cloak off of one of the dead cultists and scooping up two of their scimitars.
Evendur is largely unconcerned with Vak raiding the bodies. He turns instead to pray briefly over each of the fallen men, biding them swift exit from this plane of existence and his prayers that their souls will reach Kelemvors realm unmolested.
come, the sooner we get to the keep, the better. . I hope.
He turns to Vak,
Well, Vak has the right idea. "Vak, that bandana is covered in blood. I could fix that for you, as well as that cloak, but I'm afraid it might be too large for you."
Venali nods to the man and his family as they leave their home before turning and walking over to one of the dead kobolds and taking one of their daggers. Shaking his head and wishing he had more time he quickly moves to the ambush drake and removes a few of its scales, cleaning them of blood with a flick of his finger before stuffing them into one of his many pockets.
He turns back to the group, "There are still a few weapons laying about, if it would make you feel more comfortable I'd suggest taking one. But we should really get moving." He turns towards the keep, "A larger group will be easier to spot, and harder to defend, but I feel we will be fine."
Vak, who does not seem to mind too much that his new attire is bleeding, nods eagerly and starts pilfering each human in depth. He eventually returns to Vorrak with two pouches containing gold and silver pieces total. He is now wearing one cloak wrapped around his shoulders several times, more as an oversized scarf , since he would just trip on it if he wore it properly. He has a scimitar sheathed at each side and one across his back.
"Lets get moving, i'm afraid we haven't seem the last of the kobolds."
When everyone is ready, Zillyanna takes the lead, staying a few meters in front of the group and trying to be alert and stealthy.
Venali takes the cloaks off of the other two cultists and stuffs one of them in his pack to fix later, "You never know, these might come in handy." He pulls out a couple lodestones from one of his pockets and as they walk he will be rolling them around in his palm as arcs of electricity jump towards the fabric, magically stitching the torn cloak.
Venali manages to procure six fairly large intact scales from the drake's back, almost enough to cover a shield, and a good handful of smaller ones.
The group continues onward toward the keep, which now looms over the few roofs still between you and it. The structure is set on top of a lone hill in the center of the village, overlooking a fairly wide, open space.
Zillyanna stalks ahead of the group scouting for potential trouble. She catches herself being distracted by distant fires and groups of raiders, but luckily none of them make any effort to stay hidden, or if they do, at least they also haven't spotted her.
Another large group of cloaked cultists is patrolling at the foot of the hill, Zillyanna counts eight cultists and two drakes stalking ahead of the group. Waiting for them to pass should give you ample opening to get to the keep's still open gate.
I am all for trying to sneak past them - we have these innocents to consider and I fear we could not protect them all while we are engaged - lets make a break for the gate.
"Good id-" she closes her eyes and facepalms as Evendur's chainmail makes a loud noise.
under his breath Vorrak mutters. It would probably be best to simply take them by surprise.
You are all cowards Hutch says but realizing if he stays in the open he will be the death of himself, attpts to hide.
"I agree, there is no time for heroics with this many lives at risk," he whispers as his eyes scan over the group before locking back on the cultists with their drakes.
The group takes cover, the now eight commoners follow. Evendur's armor clatters loudly as he ducks behind a building. One of the drakes perks up and scans the street, catching the attention of two cultists.
For a moment the three of them keep focused on the empty looking street before eventually turning and moving on. About a minute passes until the patrol has moved far enough for the whole group to make for the gate unnoticed.
"I think they're gone, lets go!"
Zillyanna takes a quick look at the two families to see if they were still safe and close, before taking the lead again. Bow and arrow ready just in case.
Go go go, Evendur urges the peasantry as he herds them to the gate.
Venali stuffs the mended cloak into his pack, and returns the lodestones to his pocket before quickly crossing the span. While waiting near the gate for the rest to cross he speaks to one of the guards, "I am Venali Auondril of Evereska," he flashes his signet ring before continuing, "I would speak with the lord of the keep. We have taken one of the raiders prisoner to be questioned at his leisure." Thinking about what a fuss Vak might cause, "The oddly dressed kobold is with us, and poses no threat to the safety of those in the keep. I assure you."
The group dashes across the open field and up the hill, finally reaching the gate
The guards quickly wave the peasant families through. The soldier approached by Venali eyes the elf up and down and then looks at the kobold and the prisoner. "The Governor will have the last words on that..." he then gestures for the rest of the party to enter. Ass they pass through the gate, the guardsman gives Vorrak a look not unlike the one with which he was looking at Vak.
The Keep is fairly small for a military structure, but still easily the largest building in the entire town, and the inside is busy with townspeople seeking refuge and the soldiers manning the battlements and trying to keep order in the courtyard. It's not too crowded to move around unhindered, but people are frightened and this reflects in the level of noise in the yard.
Just as the group enters the courtyard, a middle aged man with long hair and a well trimmed beard, dressed in decorated plate armor and a blue overcoat comes the other direction. The man gestures to the guards: "Close them! We cannot afford to leave the gates open any longer!"
Immediately the courtyard gets even louder as people get up and start protesting "My brother's still out there!" - "What about my family?!"
As the guards push the gate close and heft a heavy bar behind it, the man tries to calm the crowd, though even his powerful voice struggles to keep up against the noise: "The raiders are surrounding the keep, if we leave the gates open, they might attack, we need to close the gates! I will do anything in my power to have your families and loved ones brought to safety!"
Where is the leader of this town?! Hutch bellows above the crowd. He pushes his way through the crowd, drawing attention to himself.
My name is Hutch. I am a mercenary. I am willing to offer my services at a secretly reduced price to take on these invaders. I have with me a few strong warriors He gestures to the party [b] And we would be more than willing to aid you in driving these cowardly invaders out of your town.[b]
Behind Hutch Evendur buries his face in his hand, embarrassed.
Venali shakes his head before walking up to the man who came out, assuming him to be the governor. He gives a slight bow before speaking, "Venali Auondril of Evereska. I would speak with you when there is time, but as my... associate, says we are willing to aid you in any way that we can." He then motions for Vorrak to bring the captured cultist forward, "We have already captured one of the raiders for questioning, though their identity is not unknown. Though, perhaps we should speak of this away from the public ear."
Zillyanna taps lightly on Evendur's shoulder.
"Now we know how you must sound to him", she jokes.
The well dressed man turns to face the party: "Oh thank Chauntea!" he starts with a lowered voice "You are exactly the kind of people I need. You brought back two families safely too, and a prisoner on top of that!"
"My name is Tarbaw Nighthill, governor of Greenest. Come with me , there is much to be done before this night is over-" he looks at Hutch "And I promise I can reimburse you for your services."
Nighthill motions for two guards to apprehend the prisoner and pushing out of the still protesting crowd, beckons you to follow him to the guardhouse.
Stepping from the ward into the guard house you leave the noise of the upset townspeople behind you and in front of a heavy desk the governor stops and turns to you: "You already brought a prisoner for interrogation which is already valuable enough, but what do you know about the attackers?"
Zillyanna taps lightly on Evendur's shoulder.
"Now we know how you must sound to him", she jokes.
He looks at her incredulously. What?, he says in confusion but his powers of perception are such that he is able to pick up the conversation happening amidst the general hubbub and he falls in line behind the Governor as he leads the group to the guardhouse.
When the Governor asks the question the priest shakes his head, indicating his ignorance.
"They seem to be members of the Cult of the Dragon, followers of Tiamat. The fact that they managed to bring an actual dragon to bear against your town, along with the cloaks they wear seemed to be reason enough to suspect this, and was confirmed by the man we brought you."
He starts pacing as he continues, "Between what we got out of our friend Vak here and the man we brought you for questioning we know a bit more of their plan and who leads them, which thankfully does not appear to be the dragon. The man named their leader as Frulum Mondath, and Vak said that they work for a 'dragon man' named Cyanwrath. A 'dragon lady' was also mentioned, and according to Vak she gives orders to Cyanwrath. As for their goals here in your town, they were ordered to search out valuables to add to a hoard."
He stops pacing and runs a hand through his hair in frustration, before looking back at Nighthill. "Sadly, anything beyond this would be speculation. And whether or not they were ordered to kill those they encountered or just loot..." He shakes his head.