Session 1: Make contact with Bhjurba's Den

The guard is completely impressed with the party, and he readily accepts Yrsa's offer.

"Dang, you really gave it to those bastards! Pirate or not, you're good in my book! Once we finish our patrol, I'll meet up with you guys at the main gate of the tower. It shouldn't take too long out here, just gotta make sure these dead slaves don't pop back to live somehow."

The guards resume checking the dead, not aware of the hidden slaves yet.

The guard thinks for a moment, then nods his head in agreement.

"Yeah, that's probably for the best, especially since it's getting dark."

The guard stabs one last body, and then signals the group to move back to the tower. Once the party starts to leave, you hear a shriek from the hut.

SQUAWK! "Hey! Hey! Don't leave me! I help!"

"Make it quick, little lady. Best not Keep Bhjurba waitin'."

As Leilara approaches, the bird creature looks up at her quizzically.

SQUAWK. "I will help! I know lots! You ask, get answer. Unlock first."

"Eeh, I'm not sure leaving her alone out here is the best idea. I'll stick with her just in case, Gonzo here will take the rest of your party to the tower. If he doesn't leave you in the dust anyway, sometimes he forgets how long his bloody legs are."

The tallest guard steps forward, and offers a muffled greeting though his helmet.

"Mmpfo! Mhmf fway."

He points down the road towards the tower, and the party follows his lead once he takes off in that direction.

...

After a 10 minute walk, the main party arrives at the tower wall. The walls must have been originally constructed with gleaming white stone, but they have turned grayish-yellow over time. There are lights within the tower, but not in any of the surrounding buildings.

Gonzo signals the gatekeepers, and party enters without any problems. Once inside, the other guards head towards other sections of the wall, you figure they are headed to relieve the crew currently manning the walls. The town behind the walls is cleaner, but still shows signs of the revolt. Looking closely you can see some bloodstains on the ground, and some structual damage to some of the buildings. There is a sparsely lit pathway to the tower, which Gonzo is pointing at excitedly.

"Mphfurba!

He takes off again, probably expecting the party to keep up with him.

Hearing Yrsa's statement, Gonzo stops to wait.

"Mmm, mmphi mppnda mmmfin mmahoot!

You can't decipher exactly what he is saying, but you think it's a story about how he once found a scorpion in his boot. His posture has clearly become more relaxed inside of the tower walls.

...

Leilara's magic missiles easily break open the cage. The bird makes some sort of noise in protest but is ultimately unharmed. Once free, the large bird stretches its wings and hops up on a high shelf inside the hut. The bird looks to be about three and a half feet tall, with an impressive eight foot wingspan. It's reptilian tail wraps around it's body, much like a cat's.

It's surprisingly large! How did manage to fit inside that cage?

"Thank you! Thank you! Do you want wish?" SQUAWK

It cocks its head from side to side while it speaks to Leilara.

The bird chortles at Leilara in a bird-like manner, and it swings itself acrobatically through the air.

"A joke! No magic!" SQUAWK "Cage was small, I was big!"

Shortly after the 'joke', a bushy beard pokes inside the hut.

"We better get moving little la- Whoa! What is that? You magicians create the strangest creatures, you'll probably love to meet Caulder..."

The guard steps inside and looks around, guess he's never been inside this particular stall before. However, the sounds of footsteps outside the hut silences any more conversation - even that squawking bird shut up. Some of the 'dead' bodies on the ground are no longer there, Leilara knows that the hidden slaves have relocated...somewhere.

...

Back by the tower, Yrsa continues her conversation with Gonzo.

"Mmm, mmfred mhe maymights mout mmof me! Mran mout mmf mhe mmarraks mif mo mants! Mfafafa!"

He notices Yrsa struggling with her boot, and offers a hand to help out.

Magnus slinks into the shadows, which isn't hard to do as the sun sets behind the tower walls.