Isolde snorted. "Not bad. But the enemy was in disarray, without leadership. Kobolds, nothing more than vermin. The men among them, deranged. Had they skirted our line, children would have died."  After a moment, she scowled more deeply, then softened her tone. "But we fared not badly. You are a remarkable archer! ... Remind me of your name." Pause. "If you would? Please?"
___

To Kathra, Isolde answered promptly. "I'll join you, priest. But perhaps the authorities here have some perspective on this onslaught. And I'd like to hear what answers the wizard wrests from the prisoner."

The party locates Governor Tarbaw Nighthill inside the keep. He is a human male of about sixty years. The right side of his face and head are bandaged, his right arm hangs in a sling, and his light blue tunic is stained with his own blood. He is talking to a shield dwarf with knotted, tangled, bright red hair when they approach.

"I commend you for your heroics at the gate," Nighthill says as they approach. "Escobert and I were just discussing the situation we find ourselves in and were hoping you would be willing to provide further assistance.

"And I see you managed to capture one of the raiders. Excellent work! Guards, lock him up. We'll question him shortly."

Once the prisoner is out of earshot, Nighthill continues, "The raiders have isolated the keep from the town with encircling groups of guards, but they haven't organized an attack. I suspect they don't intend to attack the keep; they seem to be only interested in loot. The real danger is to the town and those people who didn't make it into the keep before it was cut off.

"We're hoping you could slip back into town and help people who are cut off. If you're stealthy enough, you should be able to make it out of the keep and back again without drawing the raiders' attention."

The shield dwarf speaks up, "Aye, good work so far. With yer help we might have a chance to survive the night. There's an old tunnel beneath the keep that runs to the bank of the stream. I'd say it's the best bet for sneakin' townsfolk into the keep without runnin' the gauntlet of attackers watching the gates. I can show ya how to get there if yer willin' to help."

"I heard one of you mention wanting to rescue more people," Nighthill says. "So, you ready to be heroes?"

"Ready to do what needs done," Isolde said, sizing up the dwarf. "As all Shield-Maidens do."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

Inanah grinned at Isolde's straightforward manner, it reminded of her friend Rurik. "The name is Inanah Nightbreeze, shieldmaiden of the Glibhammers." Then she continued with more seriousness. "If 50 years in the army hasn't taught me hit few kobolds, then I don't know what would. After the first shock you did well enough also."

***************

Kathra's suggestion suited her better than hiding in the keep so she nodded.

***************

When the leaders suggested going out to save more people, she spoke, "Show us this tunnel then, and even if we are not supposed to fight, could I get few arrows to restock my quiver?"

As the others began sharing names and giving introductions, N'Rell offered his own. "My name is N'Rell. I would rather you use that than 'Wizard'. That title is a poor representation of who and what I am, but there is little time for explanation. If we survive the night, I am sure we will learn much more about one another.



"I'll help but I'll be wanting to question the prisoner before going back out. Mainly, I want to know who is in charge of this raid."



"No sense rushing out blindly only to be taken by surprise."

The druid raises a hairy, pierced eyebrow at Isolde; at her & her readiness to volunteer, then crosses his arms.

"We would, and I can't stress this enough, love to be the heroes and saviors this town needs." he gave a forlorn sigh "..but our coin purses are so light."

Classic Dekarrak generosity of spirit right there.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:57, Thu 14 Feb 2019.

Hasan listens to Nighthill and Escobert describe the situation. He nods in the affirmative when asked if he is willing to help but says nothing.

When Bencor asks about payment, Hasan can feel his face start to grow warm and his muscles tense, but he still remains silent.

Isolde turned to Bencor and said matter-of-factory: “Mine is not. I’ll hire you. What is the going rate for a lackey?”

Inanah wasn't as disapproving of Bencor's mention of gold as the others seemed to be, she just thought that it came at the wrong time. As heroes and saviours they would have had better position for bargaining, than when the leaders were stressed and worried. And if they died doing the saving, having gold in their pocket wouldn't help at all anyway.

"Perhaps we should concentrate on getting people to safety first and then deal with other matters. I don't know if we have time to interrogate the prisoner, although I would also want to know if he knows anything useful."

Bencor fixed Isolde with a withering stare and gave her proposition the attention it deserved; he turned away to Inanah. He listened to the elf's points and tilted his head in concession. "Of course, apologies."

"N'Rell," Isolde said, trying out the strange name that sat oddly on his tongue. The adjacent consonants did not work well for her. "I, too, think we should know what the raider knows. How long do you need?"

"If he cooperates, then I will not need much time. If he does not... then I will need even less time." His tone was not sinister or malicious with the implication. It was simply matter of fact.

"Nature can lend me a charm of the fae folk if iron maidens and white hot pokers fail." he adds helpfully.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Fri 15 Feb 2019.

Isolde scowled, not happy at the mention of hot pokers, but she nodded, appreciative but maybe a little skeptical of the alternative that Bencor offered. "Let's be at it then." Apparently, the shield-maiden intended to accompany N'Rell at the questioning.

"I would like to be present at the questioning also, if we are taking the time to do it before going out. It might give some insight into their minds even if the prisoner refuses to talk." Inanah nods to Bencor, "Perhaps starting with honey and ending in vinegar would be better than the other way around."

"We will start your way, then. We can get a measure of his loyalty."

Hasan follows the others as they prepare to interrogate the prisoner.

"You can question him," Nighthill says. "But I'm going to be there with you."

He then leads the party to where the prisoner is being held, chained to the wall with two guards standing nearby. The prisoner sneers at them as they approach.

"Hullo sirrah." Bencor greeted the prisoner cordially and business-like. Without much ado he waves and twists his hand, muttering a simple prayer over the raider in the language of dryads and nymphs. Maybe the feywild's enchantments would work, even in a place of chains and iron.

DC Wis save DC 13
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Sun 17 Feb 2019.

Kathra excuses herself from the questioning to look in on whatever injured and discomforted are in the keep, both to do the work of any cleric, but also to get a sense for how things have been inside, assure herself that there's no political funny business going on, that the Lord is truly let all flee into safety and not just certain groups or classes, etc.


Investigate (-1) roll : 10
00:29, Today: Kathra Silvernode rolled 10 using 1d20-1 ((11)).

Leaning on the wall, Inanah fixed the prisoner with a steady gaze. She was here mostly to listen, but if needed she would help Bencor and N'Rell. They didn't have much time, but the prisoner didn't need to hear it.

Isolde stood back, scowling with her arms crossed, to witness the interrogation. She wondered what could make a man fight against his civilization at the side of kobold-vermin. She left the questioning to N'rell and Bencor.

The druid cast the hex, then he said "Ugh-" like something had just occurred to him, Bencor turned to N'rell and whispered to the wizard.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Mon 18 Feb 2019.

N'Rell simply shook his head in response to Bencor and then extended one arm in a sweeping motion to point towards the prisoner.

Dekarrac canted his head to N'rell and approached the prisoner wearing a smile of solidarity. "My friend, you've done well." he put a hand on the man's shoulder and the other hand on his own heart. "I am also of the Cult, and you, you've been chosen for a bigger task."

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the prisoner Bencor cast a conspiratorial gaze around the dungeon, over the faces of the party before resting on Greenest's leader.

In soft tones he continued "Look at this 'Governor', Tarbaw Nighthill. He's weak. He hasn't protected the folk in his care. His town is burning to ashes, and the great dragon circles his teeny, little fort even now. Just a little push is all that's needed to plunge him to despair. Tell him, tell them, the doom that awaits them. They won't believe me. They will believe you."

21:19, Yesterday: Bencor Dekarrac rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Deception vs Prisoner /w Adv.

21:20, Yesterday: Bencor Dekarrac rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Deception vs Prisoner /w Adv #2.


One couldn't be sure how the other adventurers would react to Bencor knowing the affiliation of the raiders and not volunteering it earlier. Probably a souring of the little trust he did have. But now the druid had revealed he was better informed than some wandering tree hermit.