Kalador nodded and wondered about Arek's speech. Why had it affected him so. He said, "You are right Gwythe, let's go."

Released from the thrall of Arek's speech, Cedric now looked hard upon the crowd and then realizing that little would be gained from a direct confrontation, he turns and moved back into the building through it's kitchen entrance.  Striding through the kitchen, he emerged at last back into the common room.

"It would appear the best strategy at this time would be our departure."

The party congregated in the main room of the hostel and prepared to leave. Outside they could hear the crowd noise and Otis replaying, there seemed no immediate threat though if they did plan to leave time was of the essence.

Once again they could hear a door slam upstairs and the dog's renewed barking.

OOC: everyone is back in the main room with two tied prisoners.

"Grab the prisoners. We can leave them on the other side of the bridge. Time be against us, folks."
Collecting a handkeg of ale from behind the bar, Ronalt lifted a prisoner to there feet and walked them out the door towards the bridge.

Cedric waited warily by the door, sword drawn as he allowed the others to exit the building first.  Once satisfied that all were safely off towards the bridge, he fell in at the rear to stave off any objections regarding their direction of advance.

Gwythe hurries down the stairs as the others get moving, and with a short glance at the prisoners follows the party out the door. As he exits the building he keeps one hand on his sword, his eyes flitting from side to side to watch for danger.

Having handed over to Otis, Arek withdrew inside the building to collect his pack.
After ensuring the prisoners were adequately supervised, he motioned Yesil to lead the way....

Released from Arek's words, Yesil glared at Iviana and Tindoome as if she blamed them for her incapacitation.
"We move," she stated simply to the room as she headed for the door.
"Try to keep up."

Tindoome rolled her eyes and sighed immediately after Yesil wasn’t looking at her, she was annoyed not looking for more problems. Their were enough of that outside already, she followed along looking to stay in the center of the moving group

With a small shrug, Iviana shoulders her flail, and tries to keep up.  She keeps some distance between herself and Gwythe, in that, `not ready to start speaking to you again' sort of way.

Kalador followed Gwythe down the stairs. He looked quickly at the prisoners before heading outside. As he tried to keep up, he kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it should that become necessary.

Ronalt moves to the bridge quickly and then pauses to look back to the township to see if there will be any pursuit this day.

The party began to withdraw from the tavern with Yesil in the lead and Cedric as rearguard.  Taking the main entrance they manoeuvred behind the imposing bulk of the smith still trying to placate the crowd.   At the sight of the prisoners being lead off several of the crowd began to shout for their release.  The noise grew louder as Gwythe skulked into view, one female in particular screaming, "Murderer!" over and over again…

Otis's response was swift, "The rights or wrongs don't matter now Dala! Do you want Wat and Roger to die as well? They have undertaken to release them when across the bridge, if they do not hold to this so be it!" The smith turned to face the group his face showing exactly what he thought of them doing anything other than this plan.

Turning back to the crowd he held his hands up for silence and grudgingly the voices subsided.  As the party lead off towards the bridge one or two started to follow behind.  Again the smiths commanding voice held them back.

Leaving the village the party reach the bridge unopposed and cross safely.  Behind them they could see the mob barely held in check by the will of the smith. The prisoners held their bound hands out waiting to be released.

One thing seemed clear, whatever the parties actions regarding the prisoners, some would consider it 'open season' on Gwythe at the very least. Failure to follow the smith's instructions would likely increase this number and their potential targets.

Given the strength of the party and the fact they 'easily' dispatched Rentsch, one of the most powerful men in Nulb it was unlikely that pursuit would be immediate or at least overt.  Many in Nulb preferred the secrecy of night and stealth over strength.

Gwythe keeps walking as they reach the end of the bridge, looking to either side of the road.

"So do we release them or kill them?" said Yesil, being practical as ever.  "Oh and don't go too far Gwythe, if they start chasing soon we may need to offer you as a sacrifice."

With a distinct sigh, Iviana draws her short sword out - the one she carries, but never seems to draw, until now - and steps over towards the two prisoners.  "We let them go," she growls, "Because there is absolutely no reason to kill them.  Hold still," she advises Wat, and crouches down to carefully cut the bindings between his legs.  Once his legs are freed, she'll move to do the same for Roger.  "Get some friends to untie your hands when you're across."

Ronalt adds, "Sorry for the trouble we have caused thee both."
"Lets get on the road and see where it leads us to."
Turning away, Ronalt headed away from the bridge his eyes looking for signs of the lass's passage which had fled earlier.

The one named Wat shot Ronalt a filthy look and spat at his feet before darting back across the bridge followed by the second ex-prisoner.  Both weave about as they run perhaps fearing an arrow in the back or perhaps even one in the front.  The party could see even now some of the crowd surging into the Hostel.

"It leads to Hommlet." said Yesil in response to Ronalt's question, "We'd better get going and find someway to hide our trail."

Gwythe stops slightly ahead of the others and looks back at the crowd at the hostel. "Why would we go back to Hommlet? We came here for a purpose, surely. I'm not sure Hommlet would be impressed that we'd killed one assassin and then left."

"Ha! He wasn't a very good killer.... unlike yourself!" replied Yesil, "So.. we can no return to Nulb en ya don't want ta go ta Hommlet so where now ? and quickly!" she added looking back towards the village.

"There's a cave to the north west about three miles, and old druid named Riker lives there. That be our destination."
"We just need to get far enough down the road to Hommlet before we head for the cave." Ronalt replied in a low voice so that only his companions could hear.

Kalador was glad their final direction had been settled. Hopefully the mob wouldn't chase them to this cave. If they did, well he had some cold steel that he could introduce them to.

"Whatever might have been our purpose in coming to Nulb," Iviana points out to Gwythe, "I think it died with Rentch.  It will be very difficult to accomplish anything in a town where we will be, with fair cause, attacked on sight."

As Nulb falls behind, she adds, "Let us visit this Druid, then, and see if we can turn our sights towards the old temple itself," she suggests.  "I'd have liked to learn more before, but if there is evil to be found in Nulb...its roots will lie in the Temple."

With Ronalt in the lead, the party continued down the trail towards Hommlet.  After a few more miles he felt that they had gone far enough for pursuers to have difficulty knowing they had doubled back.  Finding a suitable spot he lead the group single file into the undergrowth at the side of the path and beyond into the thick close packed trees of the Gnarley.  Yesil, following last, made every effort to conceal their passage.  Between the efforts of the two of them it would require great tracking skill or very bad luck to betray their intentions.