The Heroes Strike Back

"A gutsy move," Ander says with a nod, "At the least, it should get you close at the least."

I feel mysssself a bit consssspicuoussss perhapssss I would be better off in another role? The former sheriff needsss ressscuing ssstill if I'm not misssstaken.

Pageflap boss along with Sulprax. He hovers his pen over a blank sheet of paper, clicking his beak in a manner that makes it sound like a heavy lock being released. Perhaps they can get the NightBlades guarding them to release them into the party's care?

Ralavaz thinks some more on what Sulprax and Pageflap say.

"The drinking contest will definitely cause a distraction, making a rescue mission a lot easier."

"I think I'd be of more help with the rescue attempt," Ander says.

Pageflap gives a nod to Ander, then hands the Tankard of Soberity to Ryvid. He shakes his head while saying "Poison," telling him that while it will help him with the dirty, dirty cheating Pageflap fully endorses, it won't protect against Gardren cheating back. He looks towards Ralavaz, wondering if the Night Lord would be the type to do that.

"I would love to take a crack at Gardren but I think I'd better help with the rescue."

Ryvid takes the tankard "I do not fear poison, nor death; if that is the course Gardren wishes to take, his body will fall before mine." he responds to Pageflap stoically "I'll leave the cart, it will help carry those you are saving away. I ask for all the cloaks though; the more I have, the more capable I appear."

Pageflap takes off the NightBlade cloak he put on and hands it to Ryvid, conceding that he has a point. He hops onto the back of the cart and continues copying down ritual spells into his book. It's four hours to town, so he should have time to do so and forge the note to release the prisoners.

The party heads back to Whitesparrow on the wagon, cargo still in tow. The gargoyle sighs a heavy sigh and resumes its lonely watch over the valley.

After nearly four hours, you find yourself cresting a hill just outside of town. The path you are on slopes down the hill and fords a small river, and then leads to the center of town. You can see many of the buildings are burned; still standing is the Summerspring Inn, the Evershady Tavern, and the Raishe's temple. From within the Summerspring Inn, the sounds of revelry and debauchery flow. Three Night Blades can be seen at the entrance. In the distance, the massive cyclopean ebony hand reaches from beneath the bowels of the earth, reflecting starlight in the dark.

In the center of town is a ring of heads on spears, belonging to the fallen Heroes of Whitesparrow: Aegar, Barendd, Iman, and Raishe.

The Keep is further north and isolated from the town upon a steep hill. You can see torches lit on the battlements and shapes moving along them. There are five cages suspended from the battlements, but it is impossible to make out who is in them from this distance. Most the rest of the details are obscured in darkness or behind the surrounding fence and foliage of Keep's garden. A path runs up the south face of the hill into the Keep's dark garden, through a gate which is swinging in the wind.

Ryvid removes a flask from his robe and fills it with drink from one of the remaining barrels, corking it an putting it back. As they near the town, he tosses the cloaks over his shoulder, dunks the tankard in the barrel to fill it, and nods to Kit as he hops off the wagon.

I sssuposse we should have a plan. Would either of you want to ssstart with trying to pick the locksss of the prisssonersss ressstraintsss or should I plan on usssing my maul as a lockpick? Sssubtlety hasss never been my sstrong sssuit.

Indeed, my sibilant associate! The script! Kit turns to Ryvid. Tell me, my dear shepherd, how shall I relate to the Night Lord your method of dispatch? If I am to portray the villainous Skeetz, how did you come to best my compatriots, and how is it I managed to survive? He pauses too briefly for anyone to respond before continuing. Though young Skeetz has, in the past, proven himself resourceful on that front. Mayhaps I begged for my life, offering you promise of audience with the golden-masked ruler of these brigands. A wink and a nod to let my master know I have lured yet another foolish adventurer into a trap.

Kit again pauses, appearing to grow maudlin. He moves next to Pageflap and grips his shoulder. I say, old man, it fills my heart to see you again. I had thought you lost along with the rest of our friends. Though I wish I had been there, it is good that you have revenged them upon the damnable Skeetz. The rest will soon follow. You have become, noble Kenku, the beacon of our friends, the burning torch in yonder turret, shining as a comet of revenge, a prophet to the fall of all our foes!