Antru joins the group as Sora asked. "I'll see what I can do to find the dwarf" He says in response to her request. Followed by. [Language unknown: "Cared a tr eende ainoermen ta forat anreur. I ma p enosho oneartstroutshe hasthutin k ee ck atrut hisprelin. Est ststi m stil ndar alleradin ur iv thaforman ingnt licktr. Anyhouugh olro Te usdin m antdi hi tr tont undourres p larlindin. P sheei tio atenceive."]

As he was about to depart, Allycat made his suggestion of finding Bross. "Him and the hot headed lass would both be useful. Lets see if she can be reasoned with, or if she is always so brash."

With that Antru walks towards the infirmary, as its the last place he remembered seeing the dwarf.

Alleycat raised his hand as he walked off, to acknowledge that he had heard Sora's parting comments. "Look for the Tiefling -- got it," he called back over his shoulder, without turning around.

~~If she survived the fighting outside the walls, that is. I lost track of her at some point during the battle, and I have not laid eyes upon her inside the keep.~~

On his way to look for Bross, Mekkar happened to pass the Halfling who had ventured outside the gates with Sora and the others. He also recalled that that the Halfling had made his cart available during the retreat to the keep, and that it had been instrumental in getting some of the wounded to safety.

Alleycat realized that some people dismissed Halflings out of hand because of their short stature. But he had known some in The Shadows, and had learned to respect their big hearts and competent ways. ~~Indeed, their small stature and elusiveness made them even more effective than some of their larger brothers and sisters at some of the jobs that we undertook,~~ he remembered.

The Waterdhavian waved to the Halfling. "Master Halfling -- I am sorry, but I never heard your name in all the hubbub -- please join us for the governor's planning session at the noon hour."

When Antru caught up with him and spoke about bringing the hot-headed Half-Orc into the group, Mekkar shrugged. "I am not sure about her. She is an eager fighter, no question about that," he mused. "But she will need to learn to control herself better than she did earlier today."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:32, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

Taria nods, "That is another way, yes. Effectively."

Sora nodded at the woman. "We haven't had the training you have, so please....keep it simple, expecially with Tarbaw. Think on the spell he used, and the description of Alaric and him breaching his mind...the more prepared, the better. Come with me - perhaps Tarbaw has a library that can help."

Sora, looking at the two men and grimaced. looking at Antru, she spoke the elven language. [Language unknown: "K n evfoei, nt ousck at k hatev setstaare strthiwer wa et hi oerromsom sheredeau ee ainis a ekatse. Ur il testa o sefind, resha o os ate bleichorelin wer enatlo."]

She turned to go to the governor. "Let me see about the loud mouthed lass - i want to talk to her in person before we make that decision, right now. Meet here five minutes before noon."

She then makes her way to the governor - hopefully she would het audience with the woman who almost ruined everything

Faim bows toward Alleycat and says,

"My name is Faim, I would be glad to join you. I have some plans of my own that may be incorporated."

He then puts away his journal and falls in line with the others.

Alleycat pursed his lip thoughtfully as he wondered what plans Faim could have that might involve tangling with a dangerous-looking Half-Dragon or a Kobold magicker of significant power. But he kept his thoughts to himself and nodded to the Halfling.

"Excellent," he replied. "We shall be glad to have you join us, provided that you do not shy away from blood and bare steel -- hopefully our steel and our foes' blood, but I have noted that Tymora is not prone to handing out Her boons to one side only."

After a short pause, he added "I answer to 'Alleycat', by the way."

The Waterdhavian craned his neck and looked around. "Also, I'm on the hunt for that big farmer who goes by the name of 'Bross'. Would you happen to have seen him lately? Since we got back inside the gates, I mean."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

In reply to Bross Tallcut (msg # 197):

The scribes checked their lists, Bross' kin were not on it.

"They are not among the returned, but they were also not on the list of the fallen. Hopefully they left the festival before the attack"

was the best they could offer.

In reply to Sora (msg # 205):

"You may visit her. She is not welcome when we meet. Hargrin's swineheard friend is slower but has more sense. She will remain in the cell."

He looks at the nearest guard. "Hector, escort the lady to the prisoner and relieve Billy, he had family return from the festival and will want to see them."

Ned stands off to the side near Antru, watching quietly.

Bross asked after Taria's folk for her, (presumably gets the same, or similar, answers), then goes to share the "news".

Not knowing was... not agreeing with him.

[ooc: I figure this would get Bross in the others' vicinity]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

In reply to Bross Tallcut (msg # 211):

Before too long, Alleycat spied the man whom he was seeking, who had just stepped out of one of the keep's buildings.

"There he is," he muttered to Faim.

Raising a hand and his voice, the Waterdhavian called out "Hoi, Bross! Bross Tallcut!"

---

OOC: This assumes that Faim is still in Ac's company. If that is not the case, I shall cheerfully edit. :)

Hargrin had watched the prisoner exchange in frustrated silence, glad to get their people back but knowing the town would suffer for draining their treasury like that. And for what? What use had monsters for the currency of civilization? Then again, there had been that dragon- they were supposed to like treasure, right?

The dwarf turned away, disgusted, when GreySky charged out to 'challenge' them and almost upset the apple cart completely. If they did manage to salvage the situation, the rescuees would need seeing-to after their ordeal.

Thus it was the Antru found Hargrin in the infirmary as-predicted, checking over the freed prisoners with some of his brethren."Ah, Antru!" He raised a hand to wave briefly between patients, summoning what smile he could. He quite liked the colorful elf- and he seemed a dab hand in battle to boot. "Did I miss any more excitement?"

"You've need of more excitement?" I should think we all had enough." Antru manages a smile and lends a hand where he could. Not that he was much use for such thing. "Master Bitterbrew, it has been an interesting turn of events. The exchange went smooth enough. And the horde is moving on for the moment. Lady Sora has asked that we join Master Nighthill for a meeting around noon hour. I think she would like to meet near the gate a bit before then." He was being mater of fact about the information. His father had always said that Dwarves were plain spoken and had little use for flattery and charm. Having not been around dwarves often, Antru tried to act in accordance.

Bross, just off to go deliver the news [whichever it turns out to be], heard his name being 'bandied about' (as his aunt used to say).

It was Alleycat, who liked being called "Alleycat". Bross wasn't sure what to make of the man yet. And Faim (Who was actually named 'Faim') was with him. Something about Faim made a man think things over. He decided this wasn't much of a time to start picking favorites, and walked over.

He greets Alleycat with a cordial "Mister Alleycat, Mr. Faim. What news?" and a serious expression.

"Governor Nighthill will be convening a meeting at the noon hour to discuss what needs to be done next," Alleycat replied to Bross's question.

"We are trying to have all of us who ventured out with Sora to take part in the prisoner exchange in attendance. Sora has requested that we meet at the main gate shortly before noon."

"Plus, Antru is trying to find Hargrin, and I am to look for Melody. I am not sure of Catrina's status as of yet -- whether she will be joining us, that is."

"That said, have you laid eyes on Melody since we entered the keep?"

Sora simply nodded to Tarbaw and his orders, pleased that she was allowed to see the woman. She followed the guard to he cell, thinking what she would say

The meeting with the Governor made sense: "I'll be there."

"'Antru?' Oh, 'dumbox'.... He should try the temple- if he's not there, they'd know where he is..."

About Catrina, Bross (who was prepared to second her) nods, grimly. "Grim days. Leaving a strong fighter locked up as the place comes down about our ears... it doesn't seem wise. I may askthe Governor, myself..."

When asked about Melody, Bross (who never caught her name) figures out who they mean. "' Melody'. With the...?" [makes a spiraling gesture with one hand beside his head, indicating horns.] "We spoke once, during the fight, when she called me.... 'lover boy'?... but not since. I thought she was with you lot."

"She couldn't still be out there...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

"That's the one," Alleycat said when Bross made a gesture signifying horns on the head. "The red-skinned Tiefling."

"And aye, she was with us for a while -- there was a group of us who were headed for Hargrin's booth, in the hopes of sampling some of his brew, when the Dragon appeared. And everything went downhill after that, as you know."

"I believe that she survived the battle, but with all the smoke and confusion . . ." Mekkar shrugged his shoulders. "I lost sight of her, and have not seen her since I have been inside the walls of the keep."

The Waterdhavian grimaced. "Even if the governor's scribes are starting to make lists of the survivors, I feel certain that they would begin with the local people -- 'tis only right, after all. And I believe that she was a visitor to the area, come to town for the fair, like many of us. So I doubt that anyone would have made note of whether she has survived, or not."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:53, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

Faim nods, then speaks quietly to Allycat and Bross,

"That sums it. Listen, I have been thinking about this predicament, and I am no prophet and have not studied the tactics of war, though I have picked up a thing or two.

The way I figure it, there are one of two outcomes to all this. One, after they get what they want, they leave. Seiges are expensive, and unless they plan on trying to occupy this town as some sort of regional foothold, they already have gotten what they want.

But, that is assuming that the only thing they want is coin, which does follow a sort of logic, what with the dragon. On the other hand, if they wanted to completely destroy the keep, and lay waste to the rest of the town, they have created the ideal situation. They have concentrated all of the people here and drained it of its treasure. So, although they have nothing to gain in the traditional sense, the may also have nothing to lose.

I do not have a solution to this potential problem, but I do have an idea. Tarbaw mentioned a secret way out. I am thinking that during the next exchange I can secret myself out, maybe with Alleycat, he seems a sneaky chap, and infiltrate their ranks. I can magically disguise myself for a time, and I'm figuring I can make myself look like a kobold.

If we divine that they are going to attack, we can send a signal, or perhaps find some other way to cause them trouble.

Or, perhaps the rest of us, The Heroes of Greenest, or maybe The Greenest Heroes, or the Saviors of the Siege, I'm still work shopping the name, can leave through the passage to either be held in reserve for a flank, or to protect the way as an emergency exit.

If they just leave, anyone who has infiltrated them, or who can follow stealthily behind, can lead the others for an ambush, if such is desired. Or to burgle the burglars.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

In reply to Faim (msg # 220):

Alleycat found himself impressed with Faim. Obviously the Halfling had put a good deal more thought into their present situation than the Waterdhavian himself had.

"Good thinking, Faim," Mekkar said, with a nod of his head. In this instance, he meant what he said.

"I have no idea how this conference of the governor's will play out," he continued. "It could be that he already has decided upon a plan of action -- if so, I assume that he will explain it, and request volunteers."

"But if it is appropriate for us to give voice to our own ideas, I encourage you to do so."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:37, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

"Aye." Bross said, with a bit less solid footing (he heard the work 'workshop' in there, but it didn't seem to be about any guild-business Tallcut had ever heard of). He did visibly approve of 'burgle the burglars', though.

"I wish you luck of the sneaking- 'blending in' isn't for us all, of course." Bross continued to them both, sort of putting his hands palm up in a 'see?' gesture. (He didn't seem to be bragging. He did seem to be quite large.)

"I was talking to Billy the Neck. He's the guard with the..." (he squats his neck down, as if to squash it- he's apparently taken to visually describing people, today) "...good fellow. Anyway. He says there's but fifty guard in the town, but near on two hundred strong fighting hands in the militia. I can't picture a plan that doesn't have those kind of numbers in it, somewhere..."

He catches himself. "But as you say, Mr. Cat, that's for later. At the meeting."

"While we're finding folk...did you see Taria, on your way? I have... well, not 'news', but word to bring her."

"Taria?" Alleycat echoed Bross.

"I believe that she and Sora were discussing some magicker doings over in the direction of the main gate."

"That was probably, oh, . . . half an hour or so ago, so she might've moved on by now. Mayhap you can still find her -- but if not, I'm pretty confident that she'll be showing up for the governor's meeting."

Sora walked out of the keep after her meeting, chewing g her lip in thought as she walked absently. She thought of what was happening....the people here were looking to her for answers, for leadership.  Sora closed her eyes at the inner thought.

Things moved fast, but she was equipped for it.

She stopped in the shade of the wall and leaned against the wall....now she waited for the meeting.

There wasn't much time, so Bross made the most of it.

Thanking Alleycat and Faim, he took his leave.

Just three stops.
----

Shoulders forward, head-down, he moved on and inadvertently shouldered into one of the locals [This is my attempt to do the  keep Ned in the game" moment. Since this is Bross' first time 'meeting' him, it's gonna have to be vague, for a minute I'll try to 'fix it in post'.]


"Whoa- whoa, there. Careful. Sorry, didn't see you there.... you alright?" [If there's any more conversation, it'll go here.]
----
Tracing Taria down, he asked a short moment to talk to her.

"Pardon me, ma'am, but I took the liberty to ask after your family, when asking after mine." he begins, in a hushed tone. "They weren't among the captives, but neither were they found... otherwise. I hope your kin are safe." (This is clearly an important matter for him.)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Fri 28 Jan 2022.

Bross will find Taria right where Sora left her, waiting nearby to the governor in advance to the upcoming meeting. She looks deep in thought perhaps considering the events that have transpired. "Oh, thank you for checking. I had no worries about them, I know they were home. I am more concerned about the morning. They probably haven't heard of the attack or the horde. They'll probably be packed up and on the road back to town just before dawn. If there are patrols of the drakes or kobolds, that could be an issue."