Tylaerys looks a bit worriedly for Cheddar to join them, glad that all the others are gathered back together at least, trying to make sure Wink and Grouse are both safely aboard the cart.
"Let's escort the cart out of town and back to Noah’s Mill. I think many of us could use a breather before going back in again. I still think we should try to make it to the keep eventually to see what we can do to help. Maybe they too need help with evacuating before the dragon razes the keep completely." She says to the team, then keeping a good look out for more approaching threats as they make their way west out of town.

Perception to spot new threats: 23

Jararaka follows alongside the wagon but doesn't get on it. She hears a distant rumbling of thunder, strangely calming because she knows this is a voice from her deity, as they retreat from where a dragon of lightning wrecks havoc. This warning of storms is followed by divine gifts, Jararaka feels a little more revitalised as the group emerges victorious against the bands of kobolds. Her scales are very faintly illuminated by the divine electric magic surging within her.

To Tylaerys, "eh, at this rate I don't think there'd be much left to help... but why not."

As they go, she calls to the emerging villagers, "don't brave the storm before you are ready, lest you want to get fried! Leave now unless you think you are up for-" she points to the general direction of destruction, "-that!"

Perception also to keep an eye out (+ guidance): 13 + 3

Cheddar: 

 Cheddar only, Religion check DC 12:

"hhmm.." Cheddar thinks to himself. "If I were something that halflings would keep but a dragon might want, where would a halfling hide it?" he asks himself silently.

Cheddar, knowing he doesn't having alot of time starts to work as fast as he can. He starts looking for spots out of the way or a hiding place around the pulpit first then around the statues. 

"This is just like what Master had be do for him." he muses as he looks. 

Investigation: 7

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel sits cross-legged in front of the temple, trying to assess the amount of injury she sustained. She's trying to wrap the bandages around her arms to hide the arcane sigils that no longer shed white glow. It feels like she has imagined the event of her sudden transformation as she rubs the base of her neck to locate the remnants of skeletal wings. Nothing.

"Master? Do you have a master, Mr. Shredder?" She overhears the solitary musing of the fellow feline adventurer and asks with an amused expression. Peculiarly, the pace of her movement seems enhanced as if she's been using the mass of her body to cut through the air while neutralizing pressure that can hinder her movement. A trivial trick, but it's difficult to achieve the effect.

Does she notice something important about the exterior of the temple?

Perception 13

Cheddar, you look in all the seemingly obvious hiding places... under the altar... at the base of the statues... but other than some decorative banners with religious symbols, you find nothing.  If there is something special about this place, you can't seem to locate it.

Jenviel, taking in the grounds, this looks to you like an old estate that has been converted into a temple for halflings.  It is of modest decor but well maintained and seems to be a source of pride for the community.  Certainly, when danger reared, the local halfling rushed here.  But you do not spot anything unusual, valuable, or strange about this place.

Tylaerys, the sounds of conflict are different now.  No more do you hear cries of battle... instead it is the splintering of wood and breaking of glass.  The dragon has not appeared since you saw it attack the ballista, and there are no foes to be seen near the wagon... for now.

"Cheddar! Jenviel! We are leaving!" Tylaerys calls out back towards the temple as the rest of them are making their way towards Noah's Mill.

"I know there is something here." Cheddar mumbles to himself. "I can feel it in my whiskers."

Cheddar takes a last glance around and bounds out the door.

"Coming!" he yells out as he does so. 

Jirel finally returns to the group from the shadows. Her breathing still appears laboured, however her demeanor has been calmed. The goliath's eyes which were once hungry to feast on prey were now sweet like honey once more. She runs her fingers through wild hair, taming some wild strands then adjusts her furs and secures her stray weapons. Although worn and softened post battle, the blonde stepped with fierce confidence looking to round up any stragglers. She was not afraid to defend this pack until they were safely returned.

"Is there something else Sir Cheddar?" Jirel checks in on the tabaxi as he zips by. Felines were curious creatures were they not? To run potentially towards danger on the inside by himself piqued her own curiosity. She was willing to assist, however wouldn't press should the group be pressing forward.

     Finn tiredly looked up and saw Jirel was back.  Her frame was hard to miss and a welcome sight.  Soon the Tabaxi was bounding back as well.  Finn looked left, looked right, and it seems all were accounted for, plus a boatload of hobbitses… err, halflings.  Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths was gone, but with some quiet time and concentration Finn was sure she could woo her back…  She’s finicky but Finn knows what treats she likes.

     “So, strategic retreat then?” Finn calls out, putting some of her skills to use to make it sound peppier and more encouraging than she felt.  They’d done good but she didn’t think it was wise to press their luck…

"Yes, we fall back, most of the fighting in town seems over. Now we can only hope the keep will hold, but the dragon may have left now, leaving the plundering to it's kobold minions." Tylaerys calls back at Finn. Gathering with her flock, only Jenviel missing now, calming down after all the exertion, the Half-Elf allows the pain to be felt, feeling roughed up and exhausted, and in dire need of a rest before returning into the fray, in fact most of the newly formed team of brave volunteers to come to the aid of the townsfolk of Greenest seemed like they could do with some recuperation before returning for more heroics. She also planned to have another word with their prisoners to better plan their next move. She looked back again towards the temple one last time, hoping Jenviel was not lost to them.

Jenviel Tsumara

Jenviel blinks rapidly then squints to adjust her vision so that she can take in as much information as possible about the exterior of the structure. After all, she's been accustomed to the feeling of being surrounded by sages who always deserve her full attention. She has subconsciously picked up the habit of examining everything to make a visual image for later recall.

She is snapped out of her dissociative behavior and suddenly starts to blush like a child caught during a mischievous activity. She will immediately move closer to the wagon to check out the conditions of the kids. But, her mind is still occupied by the thought of paying a quick visit to the old estate.

"I think we should look for any survivor who might be left alone inside the temple. Besides, I wonder what might have compelled the dragonkins to choose this place as their landing point."

"Not at the moment Lady Jirel." Cheddar says as he passes. "There's a mystery here that needs solved, I can feel it in my whiskers." 

Cheddar makes his way back to the main group, guiding any halflings that need help as he goes.
"I couldn't find anything." he tells the party as he gets to them. "But this stuff doesn't happen out of the blue. especially where a Dragon is involved." 

Cheddar spends his time helping the best he can. 

As the brave group is all gathered up again following the cart out of town, Tylaerys glances back at the devastation behind them. "Judging by what the cultists said to the old man we helped as we first arrived in Greenest the dragon's minions are here to plunder and loot, not only the temple of Yondalla but the whole town, which is likely what is happening at this very moment. It might just be that they hoped to find valuables in there. The reinforcements were likely called for by the cultist with the mirror when they could not breach the temple walls at first. If the temple was their primary target I'm sure we would have found the attacking force insurmountable." The Half-Elf suggests to Cheddar and Jenviel to tone down the importance of the temple itself. "And I'm sure Cheddar would have noticed any stragglers still inside the temple." She adds to Jenviel with a reassuring smile.

The halfling women and children are loaded into the wagon.  A few of the men, and some of the human townfolk who have gathered must walk alongside for want of room.  The crowd murmurs a host of questions.

Why has this happened?

Who would do this?

What is to be gained by burning our town?

Have we angered a dragon?

Where are we to go?

This last question is echoed by the two caravan guards and the young bugbear at the reins.  They raced to town expecting a fight, but now have a wagonload of refugees.  They question you if they are to retreat back to Noah's Mill?

The halfling cleric also approaches the six of you.  "Thank you... all of you," she says, looking apologetically toward Jararaka.  "It was a blessing from Our Lady that you turned up when you did.  Kobolds usually aren't a threat, but in those numbers I could not have protected my parishioners."  She pulls back her hood and lets her long brown braids out.  "I am Rosri Rosewater, known here as Sister Rosri, priestess of Yondalla."

"Some of you look hurt.  Can I provide you with some healing?  It is a small token of our appreciation.  I can offer to heal two of you.  But I must keep the rest of my Goddess-given spells in reserve.  While my people go to safety, I shall make for the keep and see if I can be of any help to the defense."

     For lack of anything more constructive to do, Finn plays her flute.  Sings a song or two.  Light and airy fair that can soothe while also melting into the background and occupy the mind without actually engaging it.  

     "If we want to make another run into town we could send the wagons on to Noah's Mill while the the fighters returned to town," she suggested during a break.  She had found a little of her courage regained and perhaps a bit more vigor than she even realized she had.  "Though I'd also not argue against a bowl of warm slop and a chair to slump in for a few hours."  Her eyes looked to Jirel, undoubtedly their most capable fighter, and then to Tylaerys who seems at least willing to step up and make decisions when nobody else does.  Finn tried to silent gauge which option they thought best so that she could support their decision...

Hearing the murmured questions around her, Tylaerys speaks up. "Brave people of Greenest, the dragon and it's minions came to your peaceful town to plunder. No one of you is to blame for the tragedy that has befallen you. You must seek refuge at Noah's Mill now, they are ready there to take care of you. Your homes can be rebuilt in time, but you still have your lives and those next to you. Together you will persevere in this dire hour." She calls out in an attempt to comfort and bolster the refugees will to survive.

Persuasion if applicable: 6 Another roll if advantage is given from some source: 25

She then turns to the two caravan guards and the young bugbear at the reins of the wagon. "Yes, the refugees are going to Noah's Mill, and your important mission is to escort them there." She says in a somewhat commanding tone.

She then turns to the cleric of Yondalla. "Good to meet you Sister Rosri, I am Tylaerys and these brave people are Finn, Jararaka, Jenviel, Cheddar and Jirel." She says firmly, pointing to them in turn. "We saw the attack from Noah's Mill and wanted to help. We want to do more and your healing would be most appreciated, perhaps most needed with those two." She says, looking at Finn and Jirel. "We are considering trying to reach the keep to see what we can do to help there, but please say if you believe there are other places our help would be needed."

She then turns to the brave rescue team. "With the healing granted by Sister Rosri I suggest we return into town, maybe to the keep itself. I know no one could ask more of you but there is still lives to be saved in that keep." She says, pointing back to the keep on the hill, lit up in the darkness by the fires all over town.

Jararaka stays towards the tail end, as far from the crowd as possible. Heading over to rejoin the group, she drops the stolen crystals into the hands of a random honest-looking halfling in the wagon as she passes by. "Eh, now that your home's not really great to return to, that should be worth some gold. For food and stuff. " She clears her throat and in her most serious voice, (which is not very serious), says, "this is the gift from the Azure King, Ny'rath himself. Remember it well, the Storm honours those who persevere." And she slips away before they can say anything.

She grumbles a little when Sister Rosri thanks them, but her tone is not severe, "not very chuffed to know you think I'm in the same league as the kobolds, but you're welcome." To the suggestion of going to the keep, "well, yeah, even if there's nothing to be found I'd rather tag along with this group than go with the displaced. Noah's Mill's going to be packed."

Jirel stands tall at the back, keeping an attentive eye from her vantage point. With much discussion floating about she falls silent, allowing things to play out and individuals to express their thoughts first. The goliath would shift occasionally with a grunt, trying to turn a blind eye to her wounds. Though, it was obvious from the blood coating her arm, she had sustained a fair amount of damage. Although she had not fallen unconscious like Jenviel and Finn did, Jirel was close. She was much too stubborn to advocate for her own medical care, figuring the other two women would need it more. However, Tylaerys’ observation brings attention to the fact that the giantess was in fact the most wounded. The blonde would hold her nose up in wild warrior pride, while also holding her arm in a way to invite the cleric to assist. She’d mutter a tender and genuine thanks to the priestess for her administrations.

”I intend to finish the fight.” Jirel declares, rolling her shoulders back. If Sister Rosri was going to press forward and trusted that the flock was safe to return with the rescue team, so did she. The goliath was not going to turn back from the fight. She brushes by, following the brave halfling and firmly focusing on the task ahead.

"Oh Mother, you above all value the protection and safety of your people.  Here me now, and aid these souls who took up arms in defense of your halfling children.  Salve thier wounds, that they may continue to take the fight to these marauders.  I ask this of thee," Rosri whispers, and places a hand on Finn and Jirel.

cure wounds on Finn:  4

cure wounds on Jirel:  9

The wagon begins to rumble back down the road toward Noah's Mill.  Do you keep the two human prisoners with you?  Or send them back with the wagon?