"Yes," Hewelathan says, relieved to hear that the ships are not from the enemy.  Something occurs to him.  He asks,  "Does Captain Blythe and her ship still wait for us?  We should probably let her depart before we draw her crew and ship into a battle against real dragons!"  (Captain Blythe's ship was the one that was attacked by the dragonnel-riders from Firion's cult.)

Hewelathan also says, "If we have time, I would happy to have a chance to check on the dragonnels that we captured.  Still, we should strive to leave here well before Firion's cult attacks.  We cannot risk the soul shards falling into his hands!"

(OOC: To be clear, Hewelathan is proposing to take a day or two to go back to the town.  See off Captain Blythe's ship.  Maybe spend some time training the dragonnels?  Get a good night's rest at the inn, and purchase any gear we need for the next stage.  But if we don't want to risk the cult's arriving before we leave, Hewelathan is also willing to head to the Radiant Citadel right away.)

"Are there evil dragons coming here?" Nickeline asks, not because she didn't understand what Lord Akkron said, but because she doesn't want it to be true. She finds it shocking that the island even needs to be defended. "If they're flying over the sea, we'd not get much warning before they get here, especially if it's cloudy, and I'm sure Lord Akkron will have his hands full when that happens. Unless we've left already or there's some sophisticated early warning system in place, we'd be staying to fight a thousand dragons with Lord Akkron, or leaving for another dimension in an awful hurry. Either way, I'm glad Hilly and Perdita will be with us. I guess what I'm saying is I think we should leave sooner rather than later."

OOC:

Nickeline is essentially saying the same thing Hewelathan did. She could be easily persuaded to wait a few days before going to the Radiant Citadel.

"Let's stay a few days to recuperate, but indeed not stay to long than. I'd like to spend some time at the library aswell to read up on the casting of Wish. As well as the dangers of the Ethereal plane." Tamphalic says.

Very well, the lich says. You may stay here as long as you feel it is necessary.

He doesn't say much else, but simply brings you back to the settlement in his strange, ghostly carriage. Gorash decides to walk... he really wants to know more about Bridgette and her master. You can hear the conversation as you're walking... and Bridgette sounds genuinely shocked as she's finding out that apparently her tribe actually wasn't wiped out by the Dark Elves.

Eventually, you reach the settlement at just about the same time that the Baron's men are disembarking. A middle-aged nobleman, likely the Baron himself, is talking to one of the mages as you arrive.

Tamphalic strolls forwards towards the mages and, possible, Baron.

"Good day to you all, what a glorious sight such an armada, and as our allies no less." he says turning the nobleman "Are you Baron Ryder by any chance?, I'd love to hear about what is going on outside of this island?"

Nickeline joins Tamphalic in approaching the baron. "Baron Ryder, sir, I hear you are setting up as many ballistae on the island as humanly possible. I offer my assistance in that project, as a priestess of the Weaponsmith. I will help your people set up as many ballistae as gnomishly possible!" Nickeline will do just that if the baron accepts her help.

Hewelathan goes to check on the two dragonnels.  He's continue training the dragonnels to accept party members as riders based on the info from the book he found.  

But first, Hewelathan wants to talk to talk to Captain Blythe.  If she's still docked at port, he suggests that she should set sail and leave the group on the Shaded Isle.  "We have made contact with the Broken Lord, and he is helping us with our mission.  But, as you can see, he expects an attack on the island.  I can say that the least of these enemies will be like those dragonnel riders who attacked your ship the day we arrived.  Unless you want to be part of a great battle, you should set sail and get as far from the island as you can."

(Back from the dead... for now)

The Baron gives a curt nod as Tamphalic and Nickeline approach.

"Indeed I am," he tells Tamphalic with a half-hearted smile. "Unfortunately, the tidings from beyond these shores are not pleasant. My network has found evidence that Firion's cultists are moving in the shadows, bargaining with the evil dragons and other unholy creatures who seek only destruction."

He looks down at Nickeline for a moment, studying her with an appraiser's eye.

"I'm sure I speak for both myself and the Broken Lord when I say that we will take any aid that you can give us. Our undead friend is powerful beyond imagination, but he is still one man. I for one shall not leave him to hold back the forces that would consume this world on his own, and I will proudly stand with anyone else who wishes to stop the forces of darkness."

Captain Blythe is still here. She's significantly quieter than Hewelathan remembers her... it seems that this adventure was more than she bargained for. But as Hewelathan speaks, she purses her lips thoughtfully. When he's finished, she finally speaks.

"As much as I want to protect my men and my ship," she says slowly, her previous carefree attitude completely gone. "From what I have heard, it doesn't sound like it matters much how far I flee from this island if dark forces coming here succeed. I never once thought I would fight side-by-side with a lich... but I can't go now, not when I know that I could make a difference."

She does her best to smile.

"But if I survive this, I do expect some serious hazard pay."

(If anyone has any downtime activities they want to carry out over the next few days, tell me what you have in mind and I'll tell you what to roll. I assume that Hewelathan wants to keep training the Dragonnels, for which I will need an Animal Handling check. It can be made at advantage if someone wants to help him)

Quote from Mister_Whisker>>

Captain Blythe is still here. She's significantly quieter than Hewelathan remembers her... it seems that this adventure was more than she bargained for. But as Hewelathan speaks, she purses her lips thoughtfully. When he's finished, she finally speaks.

"As much as I want to protect my men and my ship," she says slowly, her previous carefree attitude completely gone. "From what I have heard, it doesn't sound like it matters much how far I flee from this island if dark forces coming here succeed. I never once thought I would fight side-by-side with a lich... but I can't go now, not when I know that I could make a difference."

She does her best to smile.

"But if I survive this, I do expect some serious hazard pay."

Hewelathan isn't great with compliments, but he sincerely responds, "That is very brave of you, Captain Blythe.  I'm sure that everyone will appreciate your help, and the help of your crew.  And you are right.  The enemy who compelled the changeling, Jarden, to replace the boy on your ship and who sent those cultists chasing after us on the the dragonnels has a mad plan that could doom the entire world if he succeeds."  That reminds Hewelathan of something.  He explains to Captain Blythe that he and Jodie and Korba have some new companions, the dragonborn and gnome who are talking to Baron Ryder, and a different paladin who rides a nightmare.  Their other friends -- like Rhaenys, the one who initially discovered the changeling on Captain Blythe's ship -- are still safe, but they probably won't be part of this fight.  

(If anyone has any downtime activities they want to carry out over the next few days, tell me what you have in mind and I'll tell you what to roll. I assume that Hewelathan wants to keep training the Dragonnels, for which I will need an Animal Handling check. It can be made at advantage if someone wants to help him)

(OOC: Correct.  Hewelathan is trying to ensure that the party has as many means as possible to confront the cultists if they attack from the sky again or if the cult has convinced evil dragons to join in the fight.  Just one check?  Or one each day?)

Hewelathan - Animal Handling: 25

Hewelathan is also happy to put his strength to use in helping the island prepare for an attack.  Of course, he points out to his companions: "Once we have had a chance to rest and recovere, perhaps we should head for the Deep Ethereal?  Firion's cult will have less reason to attack this island if we're no longer here."

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

(I will need an Animal Handling check. It can be made at advantage if someone wants to help him)

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Hewelathan - Animal Handling: 8

(OOC: Ugh!  This isn't really Korba's area, but let's say that Korba helps Hewelathan.  I couldn't think of anything else Korba would be doing.)

Hewelathan - Animal Handling: 11

(OOC: Sigh.  Let's see whether Lucky continues to fail him.)

Hewelathan - Animal Handling: 24

OOC:

One thing Nickeline would want to do is go to the blacksmith to adjust the mithral scale mail taken from the cultist to be gnome sized and to paint it orange.

She would try scrying on Firion at least once, but not before casting Augury to check whether it is prudent to do so.

For the rest of her time, Nickeline will busy herself with ballistae.

Hildegard will help Hewelathan with the dragonnels, using Perdita's powers of flight to help corral them to their exercises while Hewelathan teaches them cues from their backs. She also spends time chatting up Sir Steve (even though it just looks like she's talking to her armor in the local tavern), learning more of his history, and, of course, giving him long treatises on the deeds of the Seven Heroes and the importance of living a life of virtue. Fortunately or unfortunately for him, he can't leave the armor and is a captive audience.

And, of course, Hildegard spends plenty of time in prayer (always inviting Sir Steve to join her. He usually declines).

She agrees with Hewelathan. "You are right. If Firion's cult is coming here for your items, the more quickly we depart, the less threat Lord Akkron's people will be under. I think we should head into the Ethereal Plane as quickly as we are ready."

Quote from ConstancePhokas >>

Hildegard will help Hewelathan with the dragonnels, using Perdita's powers of flight to help corral them to their exercises while Hewelathan teaches them cues from their backs.

Once Hewelathan gets the dragonnels to accept him as a rider, he thanks Hildegard for her help.  The flaming steed probably helps keep the dragonnels in check, and it's helpful for Hewelathan to learn from someone who has experience riding a flying mount, even if Hildegard's mount doesn't present the complications of flapping wings and a sinuous body.

(OOC: Mister_Whisker - How far is it from Lord Akkron's tower to the port city?  I know that the party rode from the Temple of Boccob through the ruins in a carriage, but I don't remember whether that was just outside the port city walls or whether the tower was a mile or more away.) 

Tamphalic will spend most time in the library, trying to find anything he can about the wish spell, and maybe also a connection to the deep ethereal, just in case Wish works different in that part of the universe. He'll finally try to find a book regarding the dangers they might encounter in the Deep Ethereal.

Other than that he'll help the mages with setting up some protection spells for when the attacks start. To the rest of the party

"I would say we use a day or three to prepare fully, and rest aswell. Than we go into the Ethereal plane. Going quick is important, but being prepared well is more important."

Quote from Secretfool >>

He'll finally try to find a book regarding the dangers they might encounter in the Deep Ethereal.

(OOC: And maybe about the Radiant Citadel since it sounds like that's where we'll be going first?)

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

Quote from Secretfool >>

He'll finally try to find a book regarding the dangers they might encounter in the Deep Ethereal.

(OOC: And maybe about the Radiant Citadel since it sounds like that's where we'll be going first?)

 ((Sure^^))

Go ahead and give me an Investigation check for that.