Chapter 3: The Lonely Tower

As soon as he has cast the spell he jumps down to the mud below to create space for the others. He struggles through the mud as quickly as possible, heading for the Night Blade guards, intent on securing the sleeping guard before the spell wears off. He waves acknowledgement to the prisoner when he hears him.

Alfrey’s eyes meet the Prisoner’s, and though he wants to help the man, concern for the dying Night Blade overtakes him. He calls back towards his companions "This man needs help", gesturing towards the prisoner. He then moves towards the injured bandit as quickly as he can through the mud. At the man’s side, he tries his best to keep the mud now covering his lower half away from the open wound and removes his gloves just in case they are contaminated as well. "No time to clean off" he mutters to no-one in particular as he begins to apply first aid.

With his rudimentary knowledge of medicine Hilmar is impressed with Alfrey's first-aid skills, "Neatly done," he remarks with respect, but in a low voice "and swift as well, he should be fine now." He ties both prisoners' wrists behind their backs, binds their ankles together and gags them. He moves the weapons away and removes the leather armour and uniforms. "I wonder if this key might unlock the manacles from the prisoner," he whispers. He sees that something in the sack is moving. He lifts the burlap sack carefully, placing it down gently. "Too heavy for a cat. Could be a dog," he murmurs. Overome by curiosity he carefully opens the top of the burlap sack, peeking inside but keekping his face at arm's length from the opening of the bag.

Naeris had suggested returning another day with back up from the town militia but the opportunity to sneak right into the Night Blades’ lair was too good for the party to pass up. Who knows what they would find.

After crawling through a putrid drain, Naeris finds something more unpleasant - a foul, slimy pool. She‘a surprised to find the thought of bathing in the hot springs attractive! She’ll rinse off in the river after this but a hot soak would be welcome too.

But first, so much is happening. She’s a bit late out of the drain but no thought of avoiding the mud because they must subdue the guards and now rats! She’s not used to thinking of animals as enemies but these seem changed by their awful surroundings. They’re a mangy and aggressive pack, not shy foragers. She’ll have to help kill them if they don’t run away like any sensible creature.

Seeing the living wave of creatures suddenly swarming over his friend, Alfrey instinctively snaps into a spell-casting stance. A searing light flashes through the swarm, which he hopes will impede their attack somewhat. Then, in an effort to draw their attention away from Hilmar, Alfrey moves up the muddy tunnel to the west. As he steps past the Night Blade who originally carried the bag he hisses indignantly, "Rats? What possessed you to carry such things?!", but he does not wait for an answer.

Kaa chuckles at the rats swarming out from the bag.

"Don't let them run up will you?" He says to Alfrey, then grabs his axe and hurls himself at the rodents.

Hilmar stifles a scream as the rats bite - trying not to alert other Night Blades with any noise - with just a groan of revulsion. He casts Mage Armour on himself.