The little boy looks at Inglenook and says, "My name is Tommy!" he wipes away his tears and looks at how big Travis is compared to the gnome and himself. He smiles with Inglenook and Travis' words. "Maybe someday I can be a hero and save people like you guys!" Then, he frowns slightly and goes, "I don't know where they took mommy, daddy, and sister. Mommy made me hide, but she was making a loud scrape noise over there." He gestures to the wall by Kiari and Cale.
Kiari and Kale would see footprints in the cellar's dirt floor and, and some do not look human. More than that, there is a set of footprints that is fairly large! Kiari would spot Lillian's message, which just reads "SEEK THE KEEP! DRAGONBORN!"
Kirari sees the message and to the boy she says, "Your mother is a wise woman. She's given us a clue." She moves just close enough speaking this to touch Inglenook on the shoulder and recast guidance for him as she turns back to the wall to share the message with the others. "She seems to be telling us to go back to the Keep. But is it where they are taking her? We should be able to cut back through to it via the Sally Port?"
Travis pats Tommy on the shoulder again and rises, his size and height all the more apparent. Though he's not sure he's a hero, he nods at the boys words. "I am sure you will go far in life," he says to Tommy before turning to regard the message that's been found.
"Hmm," he says. "So the enemies we seek are led by a dragonborn. I wonder if they have been taken on the overland route to the keep. We might be hard-pressed to follow them that way, given the numbers they have out here."He pauses, trying to think through their options.
“Of course we will!” The professor’s voice comes from the back of the group. “Have no fear young man. My friends and I will go save your family as soon as we can. Do you know how long ago they left this cellar?”
Kirari takes out one of the parchments used by the raiders to note targets and flips it over using the reverse and her Cartography Tools to sketch out the area. She making notes of what they discovered and where, with as accurate a map as possible should they not have time to discuss in detail with authorities. She rolls this back up quickly, tucking it in her pack and slips back out of the cellar door quietly to keep watch above alerting one of the others as to where she'll be, but not wishing to disturb the discussion with Tommy.
"If we go back to the keep via the sally port then we'll be inside it, and the dragonborn - with Tommy's family - will be outside. Going to be hard to mount a rescue like that" says Cale.
He goes quiet for a moment, struggling with the dilemma. Rescuing the kid's family sounds like a suicide mission, with so many unknowns and no tangible reward. Right now he has secured his key target - a cultist for Nightill - and wants to collect on that. But how to support that option without coming off like a jerk? There seemed to be a certain...dividend in being a hero...
"But the sally port does seem our safest option, and our best chance of being alive to help the family. Prof, what do you think?"
Travis looks down at Tommy by his side, hears the eagerness and concern in the boy's voice. "We are going to find your family," he says. "And we will keep you safe."
He looks to the others, knowing that what he is about to suggest will make things a little more complicated and dangerous. "I think the boy needs to come with us, wherever we are headed. We cannot leave him here alone any longer."
Tommy looks brightly at Travis and the others. "Yes, take me with you! Can I have a sword? I can fight these bad guys, too!" The boy, who can't be much more than 5 years old tries to stand on his toes to look as big as possible. "It was a while ago when they left, but I am not sure...I heard drums as they walked away. Are we going to the keep? I hear there is a super scary dwarf there who eats goblins for dinner!"
Thaddeus shakes his head at Cale “I agree, where we are going is hardly a safe place for a child. If we have time we should escort him to the sally port gate and send him to the keep that way? Or perhaps ask him to continue hiding in the cellar?”
Kirari keeps close to the cellar door so she can hear the discussion, watching carefully above for any activity then slips back down as they discuss direction. She approaches Tommy carefully softening her expression but trying to look very serious kneeling down and looking the boy in the eye. "I will give you my hammer, but its not a toy, I've already used it to kill one of those things. You don't wave it at anything you don't mean to hit and you let one of us do most of the fighting? Use it only for defense? If you can give me your word of honor? You can keep it if you don't break your word, once we make sure its ok with your mother and father?"
She glances around at the others raising an eyebrow hoping they'll go along with what she's saying. "Maybe Tommy is strong enough to join the others at the Keep? There are a lot of scared kids there and he's tough. He could reassure them and stand guard with them there. Let them know they can trust Nighthill to take care of these raiders. He's tough young man, they'll believe him, not like another grown up telling them stuff. He's been out here, he knows." She steps behind him a little standing him tall and setting the hammer in his hands. "I'll have the other one see?" She says showing him another identical hammer. "They're like a pair, making each other stronger. No matter how far apart they are. Tommy, give me just a minute? You practice a little with the hammer, make sure its the right one for you. I can let you try out the other one if you think it'd be better."
She steps away from him briefly discussing quickly with the others a plan to rush for the Sally Port, get him through the tunnel and back inside, returning and finding them. She shows the map she's drawn up. She has healing, Relentless Endurance for herself (saves if brought to zero to bounce back to one hp), and spare the dying should anything happen to him. She also speaks Draconic, has one of their maps and a necklace in case she needs to pretend he's a prisoner. The main disadvantage she sees is that she's the only one with the key, she could hide it just inside the gate within reach if they need to get back through. (The hammer she offers him is 2 lb so he should be able to handle, maybe with a little difficulty. Same weight as a carpenter's hammer.)
Tommy's eyes widen, and he says, "Wow, first a magic cube and now a real warrior's hammer!" he struggles with holding it and then holds his hand over his heart to make a solemn promise to Kiari, "I promise I will only use this hammer for good and never do a bad thing with it like play fight and will only use it to defend the people of Geenest." He pauses and screws up his face in deep thought. He says, "I want to join your group as a junior warrior, but it would be great to tell the other kids I have met Escobert the goblin eater at the heep....I mean keep!" He smiles at Inglenook, bows to Kiari, and then salutes Travis. "Ready for battle, sir!" He makes a somewhat humorous warrior with his shaggy mop of hair on the top of his head, and he is clearly wearing one on hist father's shirts, which is far too large.
Kirari grins at the little warrior and then looks at the others. "May I take him to the keep? He'd be a great fighter with us, but a stronger help at the keep. It'd be good to let Escobert see him in action giving the other kids courage."
Hoping to encourage Tommy to this action, and feeling this would be a much safer place for him to be. Again - will go with group - they could argue they need him with us should they object?
Travis looks down at Tommy as he pledges his brave oath. The stern-faced warrior turns his head away from the boy for a moment, and his visage almost seems to crack for a second--there may even be a hint of moisture in his eyes, though it is hard to tell.
He clears his throat, then nods at Kirari's suggestion. "The keep is threatened, Tommy,"he says to the boy. "Your people need you. Though I am not your commanding officer, I am telling you to go there, and I am telling you to always remember your vow, today and every day." He turns his head away once more, winces once, exhales loudly, then seems to be himself again.
Inglenook agrees that the keep is probably the safest place right now for Tommy. It's between a rock, a hard place and a dragon but there's not much of a better choice.
"Tommy, you must stay with us and do as we ask ok? It's dangerous, and whilst you are brave I think you should let us handle the dangerous situations." He then whispers in Tommy's ear, "to be fair, I'm going to rely on these others to do most of the fighting anyway. I'm not keen on getting too up close to it!"
"So, are we ready?? Cale, could you do what you do best and see what we can expect up ahead?
Tommy nods and salutes the party with his hammer. "I promise on my honor that I will stick close to you all," Tommy says to Inglenook. He pushes up his long sleeves, which immediately slide back down his arms, and holds his hammer at the ready. He moves close to Kiari to head out.
“Hurry back Kirari and try to catch up with us as soon as you can. We will need all of us working together to have our best chance of making it through the day. If you run into trouble… scream.”
Kirari nods quickly at the others, then suggests a couple adjustments to his father's shirt to keep it from tripping him. "Out we go, quickly and quietly. We need to move fast." She says very seriously. She glances at the map quickly to decided on best route back to Sally port and through. She climbs up through the cellar glancing about again assessing if the moonlight will be sufficient for Tommy to see for now, then waves him up and they both head for the Sally Port.
Summarizing a little so as not to dominate the thread. She uses the trip to teach him a little about staying out of sight, moving quickly and avoiding distractions but not slowing to do so. She will use guidance on him frequently as he tries to 'be quiet', etc. To encourage him and keep us from being noticed. She pushes him a little speed wise to get to the tunnel where she considers it safer for him. Goal is quickly through to the Sally Port, unlock and relock keeping the key in case the other end is now locked. She will use her light cantrip for him within the tunnel and listen before continuing on the other side. Looking for Beatrice, Escobert or someone else similar to turn the little soldier over to explaining quickly what she's told him to continue his confidence. Following this, reverse her travel back to the cellar then try to track the others.
Kiari and Tommy's trip back to the sally port is fairly uneventful as they move quietly in the moonlight along the stream, but the eerie glow around the keep from the torches still remains in the distance.
For Kiari:
After a few yards entering the tunnel, Kiari is almost tackled by Beatrice who is running at full force toward her. She stops at the last moment, thanks to the light cantrip, and says, "Thank the gods I found you so quickly! There is a dragonborn at the front gate, and he has demanded to see our champion! He wants to square off against one of the heroes who have been taking out the cultists and kobolds behind enemy lines. He has hostages, including a family, and he says he will release them if someone can best him in one-on-one combat. I told Escobert and Nighthill that I would fetch you. What do we do?" Tommy interrupts and says, "Are mommy and daddy and sister with you? I am trying hard to be brave, but I don't think I can beat a full grown dragonborn by myself." Beatrice pats Tommy on the shoulder but shrugs to indicate that she has not seen Lillian in the keep. They both look to Kiari.
Kirari nods to Beatrice, "I will fetch the group and bring them back through quickly. Tommy go with Beatrice, she will take you back through to the keep where you can wait for your mother, father and sister. Escobert will be there and will likely have orders for you." She glances at Beatrice hoping she can relay this to keep him distracted. She gives Tommy a hard look. "Remember, follow orders and only for defense. You gave me your word." She scoops up a rock and casts light on it. "This will last you an hour for light, but keep it hidden when you don't need it." She hands Tommy the rock, and disappears back through the tunnel and towards the group. Using Dash Actions to get back to them as quickly as possible.
The little boy looks at Inglenook and says, "My name is Tommy!" he wipes away his tears and looks at how big Travis is compared to the gnome and himself. He smiles with Inglenook and Travis' words. "Maybe someday I can be a hero and save people like you guys!" Then, he frowns slightly and goes, "I don't know where they took mommy, daddy, and sister. Mommy made me hide, but she was making a loud scrape noise over there." He gestures to the wall by Kiari and Cale.
Kiari and Kale would see footprints in the cellar's dirt floor and, and some do not look human. More than that, there is a set of footprints that is fairly large! Kiari would spot Lillian's message, which just reads "SEEK THE KEEP! DRAGONBORN!"
Kirari sees the message and to the boy she says, "Your mother is a wise woman. She's given us a clue." She moves just close enough speaking this to touch Inglenook on the shoulder and recast guidance for him as she turns back to the wall to share the message with the others. "She seems to be telling us to go back to the Keep. But is it where they are taking her? We should be able to cut back through to it via the Sally Port?"
Travis pats Tommy on the shoulder again and rises, his size and height all the more apparent. Though he's not sure he's a hero, he nods at the boys words. "I am sure you will go far in life," he says to Tommy before turning to regard the message that's been found.
"Hmm," he says. "So the enemies we seek are led by a dragonborn. I wonder if they have been taken on the overland route to the keep. We might be hard-pressed to follow them that way, given the numbers they have out here." He pauses, trying to think through their options.
Tommy follows Travis and says, "Will you all take me with you? Will you go and rescue my family?"
“Of course we will!” The professor’s voice comes from the back of the group. “Have no fear young man. My friends and I will go save your family as soon as we can. Do you know how long ago they left this cellar?”
Noob
Kirari takes out one of the parchments used by the raiders to note targets and flips it over using the reverse and her Cartography Tools to sketch out the area. She making notes of what they discovered and where, with as accurate a map as possible should they not have time to discuss in detail with authorities. She rolls this back up quickly, tucking it in her pack and slips back out of the cellar door quietly to keep watch above alerting one of the others as to where she'll be, but not wishing to disturb the discussion with Tommy.
"If we go back to the keep via the sally port then we'll be inside it, and the dragonborn - with Tommy's family - will be outside. Going to be hard to mount a rescue like that" says Cale.
He goes quiet for a moment, struggling with the dilemma. Rescuing the kid's family sounds like a suicide mission, with so many unknowns and no tangible reward. Right now he has secured his key target - a cultist for Nightill - and wants to collect on that. But how to support that option without coming off like a jerk? There seemed to be a certain...dividend in being a hero...
"But the sally port does seem our safest option, and our best chance of being alive to help the family. Prof, what do you think?"
Travis looks down at Tommy by his side, hears the eagerness and concern in the boy's voice. "We are going to find your family," he says. "And we will keep you safe."
He looks to the others, knowing that what he is about to suggest will make things a little more complicated and dangerous. "I think the boy needs to come with us, wherever we are headed. We cannot leave him here alone any longer."
Tommy looks brightly at Travis and the others. "Yes, take me with you! Can I have a sword? I can fight these bad guys, too!" The boy, who can't be much more than 5 years old tries to stand on his toes to look as big as possible. "It was a while ago when they left, but I am not sure...I heard drums as they walked away. Are we going to the keep? I hear there is a super scary dwarf there who eats goblins for dinner!"
Thaddeus shakes his head at Cale “I agree, where we are going is hardly a safe place for a child. If we have time we should escort him to the sally port gate and send him to the keep that way? Or perhaps ask him to continue hiding in the cellar?”
Noob
Kirari keeps close to the cellar door so she can hear the discussion, watching carefully above for any activity then slips back down as they discuss direction. She approaches Tommy carefully softening her expression but trying to look very serious kneeling down and looking the boy in the eye. "I will give you my hammer, but its not a toy, I've already used it to kill one of those things. You don't wave it at anything you don't mean to hit and you let one of us do most of the fighting? Use it only for defense? If you can give me your word of honor? You can keep it if you don't break your word, once we make sure its ok with your mother and father?"
She glances around at the others raising an eyebrow hoping they'll go along with what she's saying. "Maybe Tommy is strong enough to join the others at the Keep? There are a lot of scared kids there and he's tough. He could reassure them and stand guard with them there. Let them know they can trust Nighthill to take care of these raiders. He's tough young man, they'll believe him, not like another grown up telling them stuff. He's been out here, he knows." She steps behind him a little standing him tall and setting the hammer in his hands. "I'll have the other one see?" She says showing him another identical hammer. "They're like a pair, making each other stronger. No matter how far apart they are. Tommy, give me just a minute? You practice a little with the hammer, make sure its the right one for you. I can let you try out the other one if you think it'd be better."
She steps away from him briefly discussing quickly with the others a plan to rush for the Sally Port, get him through the tunnel and back inside, returning and finding them. She shows the map she's drawn up. She has healing, Relentless Endurance for herself (saves if brought to zero to bounce back to one hp), and spare the dying should anything happen to him. She also speaks Draconic, has one of their maps and a necklace in case she needs to pretend he's a prisoner. The main disadvantage she sees is that she's the only one with the key, she could hide it just inside the gate within reach if they need to get back through. (The hammer she offers him is 2 lb so he should be able to handle, maybe with a little difficulty. Same weight as a carpenter's hammer.)
Tommy's eyes widen, and he says, "Wow, first a magic cube and now a real warrior's hammer!" he struggles with holding it and then holds his hand over his heart to make a solemn promise to Kiari, "I promise I will only use this hammer for good and never do a bad thing with it like play fight and will only use it to defend the people of Geenest." He pauses and screws up his face in deep thought. He says, "I want to join your group as a junior warrior, but it would be great to tell the other kids I have met Escobert the goblin eater at the heep....I mean keep!" He smiles at Inglenook, bows to Kiari, and then salutes Travis. "Ready for battle, sir!" He makes a somewhat humorous warrior with his shaggy mop of hair on the top of his head, and he is clearly wearing one on hist father's shirts, which is far too large.
Kirari grins at the little warrior and then looks at the others. "May I take him to the keep? He'd be a great fighter with us, but a stronger help at the keep. It'd be good to let Escobert see him in action giving the other kids courage."
Hoping to encourage Tommy to this action, and feeling this would be a much safer place for him to be. Again - will go with group - they could argue they need him with us should they object?
Travis looks down at Tommy as he pledges his brave oath. The stern-faced warrior turns his head away from the boy for a moment, and his visage almost seems to crack for a second--there may even be a hint of moisture in his eyes, though it is hard to tell.
He clears his throat, then nods at Kirari's suggestion. "The keep is threatened, Tommy," he says to the boy. "Your people need you. Though I am not your commanding officer, I am telling you to go there, and I am telling you to always remember your vow, today and every day." He turns his head away once more, winces once, exhales loudly, then seems to be himself again.
Inglenook agrees that the keep is probably the safest place right now for Tommy. It's between a rock, a hard place and a dragon but there's not much of a better choice.
"Tommy, you must stay with us and do as we ask ok? It's dangerous, and whilst you are brave I think you should let us handle the dangerous situations." He then whispers in Tommy's ear, "to be fair, I'm going to rely on these others to do most of the fighting anyway. I'm not keen on getting too up close to it!"
"So, are we ready?? Cale, could you do what you do best and see what we can expect up ahead?
Tommy nods and salutes the party with his hammer. "I promise on my honor that I will stick close to you all," Tommy says to Inglenook. He pushes up his long sleeves, which immediately slide back down his arms, and holds his hammer at the ready. He moves close to Kiari to head out.
“Hurry back Kirari and try to catch up with us as soon as you can. We will need all of us working together to have our best chance of making it through the day. If you run into trouble… scream.”
Noob
Kirari nods quickly at the others, then suggests a couple adjustments to his father's shirt to keep it from tripping him. "Out we go, quickly and quietly. We need to move fast." She says very seriously. She glances at the map quickly to decided on best route back to Sally port and through. She climbs up through the cellar glancing about again assessing if the moonlight will be sufficient for Tommy to see for now, then waves him up and they both head for the Sally Port.
Summarizing a little so as not to dominate the thread. She uses the trip to teach him a little about staying out of sight, moving quickly and avoiding distractions but not slowing to do so. She will use guidance on him frequently as he tries to 'be quiet', etc. To encourage him and keep us from being noticed. She pushes him a little speed wise to get to the tunnel where she considers it safer for him. Goal is quickly through to the Sally Port, unlock and relock keeping the key in case the other end is now locked. She will use her light cantrip for him within the tunnel and listen before continuing on the other side. Looking for Beatrice, Escobert or someone else similar to turn the little soldier over to explaining quickly what she's told him to continue his confidence. Following this, reverse her travel back to the cellar then try to track the others.
Kiari and Tommy's trip back to the sally port is fairly uneventful as they move quietly in the moonlight along the stream, but the eerie glow around the keep from the torches still remains in the distance.
For Kiari:
After a few yards entering the tunnel, Kiari is almost tackled by Beatrice who is running at full force toward her. She stops at the last moment, thanks to the light cantrip, and says, "Thank the gods I found you so quickly! There is a dragonborn at the front gate, and he has demanded to see our champion! He wants to square off against one of the heroes who have been taking out the cultists and kobolds behind enemy lines. He has hostages, including a family, and he says he will release them if someone can best him in one-on-one combat. I told Escobert and Nighthill that I would fetch you. What do we do?" Tommy interrupts and says, "Are mommy and daddy and sister with you? I am trying hard to be brave, but I don't think I can beat a full grown dragonborn by myself." Beatrice pats Tommy on the shoulder but shrugs to indicate that she has not seen Lillian in the keep. They both look to Kiari.
@DM
Kirari nods to Beatrice, "I will fetch the group and bring them back through quickly. Tommy go with Beatrice, she will take you back through to the keep where you can wait for your mother, father and sister. Escobert will be there and will likely have orders for you." She glances at Beatrice hoping she can relay this to keep him distracted. She gives Tommy a hard look. "Remember, follow orders and only for defense. You gave me your word." She scoops up a rock and casts light on it. "This will last you an hour for light, but keep it hidden when you don't need it." She hands Tommy the rock, and disappears back through the tunnel and towards the group. Using Dash Actions to get back to them as quickly as possible.