Arso gives you a faint smile as you stand in front of him. "I am a simple man and I know life can be hard if you are dealt with lousy cards, so..." he shrugs "...I don't like to waste any chances I get from the fate. You are very beautiful and I think I could like you... Besides you remind me of someone I knew some time ago. You have the same eyes..." he gives you a sad smile as one of the guards stands beside him.

"Apologies ma'am, but we need to take him away..." says the guard. He takes Arso's arm and leads him to the stairs out of the basement.

"But... Wait..." Cerau stutters as she steps forward after the guard. She glances back at her new friends and then back to Arso and the guard. A choice. Follow the man who looked at her in a way noone else had or stay with and fight with this new group of friend's for the good of the people. But what if he knew her father...

Another step after the guard. This is why she left but it's not what is right. "Eurus!" She calls out after Arso, her father's name bringing with it a wave of emotion. "Did you know him?" She hopes that he hears as he is taken away.

As Cerau speaks her father name, she can see his eyes go wide open as well as his mouth with a sudden surprise. As the guard leads him up the stairs, Cerau hears Arso's voice: "Yes, I know him..." 

Sudden screech of the door closing behind you covers any other words he could have spoken. 

"Well, that place is secure, for now..." loud voice of Escobert is heard in the cellar "Perhaps you need to have some time to rest? Are you hungry?"

Cerau stands still and staring. “He…” Her voice trails off with a sob. Why did I wait to ask? I could have learnt so much more. She turns reaches up to clutch the necklace at her neck and releases the spell Guidance on herself, hoping to find some comfort in her father’s god.

She merely nods as Escobert offers food and rest. It had been a long day.

It took you a few minutes to clear the basement. Each of you was asked several times if you need any medical assistance. Many pats on the shoulders were given for a job well done. Although it's close to eleven p.m., nobody in the keep thinks of getting any sleep. Guards are constantly watching, town folks are gathering on the courtyard coming from and going back to the tower... 

For about an hour you were left undisturbed and harassed only by the brief gazes of the townsfolk and the guards.

After some time, a stable boy came to you with a steaming jug and a few tin cups. 

"Pardon me, good sirs..." he looked at mostly female group getting a bit red on his face "...I mean ma'am's... Ladies?" he looked with hope "I brought coffee... Would you like some?"

Behind him, you can see one of the guards coming towards you. 

"Sorry to disturb you, the governor asks for your presence..." he says cordially. He takes a look at the jug with desire, but shakes his head.

OOC: If you want to, you have an opportunity to do some preparations, take some rest (that time can be counted as a SHORT REST), eat something or do something else. Once the guards requests your presence, you are free to take a mug of coffee with you if you choose so.

Swan's sharp gaze follows Arso's every move as he sneaks glances at Cerau. Her brow furrows in concern, and she wonders what the man's intentions are. But as the two exchange words, she sees that there is something deeper at play than mere curiosity. There is tension there, a history that she can't quite put her finger on. Sensing that it's not her place to interfere, Swan decides to keep her distance and give Cerau space. She knows that if Cerau wants to talk about it, she'll bring it up.

"Thank you, I will take one." Swan says to the boy, takes a coffee, and prepares to meet the governor. 

Sabynn would find a place close to the others to rest, drinking som water from her waterskin after offering her new freinds to drink, mentioning the importance of staying hydrated in a scholarly but well-meaning tone, smiling shyly at Swan as she comes up to the blonde warrior.

As the boy comes and collects them, the white-haired elven maiden stands up and is ready to follow him to Governor Nighthill.

The coffee is hot and has a strong and rich taste. The boy quickly leaves as the guard, leads you to the tower. This time you enter via main entrance.

The entry hall as well as the grand staircase are filled with people. you squeeze through the crowd at moderate pace sometimes stepping over somebody's legs. People try to get any kind of sitting place to rest or to calm their nerves. 

Whenever you pass, all voices in the area get silent and eyes follow your moves. As you pass by, the people start talking again... 

Moving up the stairs, you get to the first floor. The foyer is also filled with people - some sleeping on the benches by the walls. Some lining up to the kitchen on the left and getting a meal. You are led to the library with double wooden door.

Inside, by a small table sits the governor. He stands up as you enter. 

"Well... It is good to see you! I must say, you have impressed me. Getting two mercenaries... I can only imagine it was hard for you but, by gods, you have made it!". He speaks clearly hyped and happy.

"But there are things that worry me. The swords you got, although one is a lieutenant, doesn't give us that much of insight in what is really going on... We know they were raiding villages and settlements  but we are the first "big" town..."

He paces slowly around the chamber. "What do you think? Could we trust their words? Do you have any idea what is going on in here?"

 Sabynn glances shyly over at Swan and Cerau, hoping they have gained some insights into the motives of the raiders.

Cerau had been relatively quiet while they waited, but now looking up she smiles at Sabynn and turns towards the governor, her brows pulling together as she tries to puzzle the day’s information together. “Trust is a strong word but I cannot see what Arso would have to gain by lying now. He did mention that the elf named Leosin was one of the black robed figures. But I find it hard to grasp why he warned of an incoming attack if they were a part of the raiders.”

Being honest with herself, she couldn’t quite grasp the level of violence and destruction in the first place or imagine what would possess a person to align themselves with a dragon. And more puzzling still, how did Arso know her father? She had to speak to him somehow. Maybe her new friends could help.

The governor looks at Cerau rubbing his chin. "You might be right... There are still many pieces missing to have the full picture and perhaps we will never get them all." he says picking his steaming cup and giving it a sip. You can see he is very tired. His face and body shows it more than clearly. "Well, the good thing is we got most of the residents into the keep, but we are missing about thirty... The worse, we have no idea they are hiding or are dead..." he adds with a grim voice. 

OOC: please everyone roll perception check with your next post.

Swan nods in agreement with Governor Nighthill. "Yes, it's a difficult situation. But we have to do what we can to protect those who are still alive." She glances at Sabynn and Cerau, feeling the need to protect her companions. Then she looks back at Governor Nighthill. "I have a feeling there might be more the story. Leosin might not truly be the part of the raiders, or he doesn't agree with what they are doing." 

Perception: 20 

Standing back a bit, letting Cerau and Swan do the talking, Sabynn nods in agreement with her new friends as they speak, curiosly glancing around the library for any books on the subject of dragons.

Perception: 22

The governor Tarbaw Nighthill takes a step back and looks at come of his books "There might be..." he says quietly as if talking to himself. He takes a sip of his drink.

Swan: 

"Well, the night is not over yet but I think you can have some rest now. We are quite safe here I think." The governor turns to you all. "I am not able to give you a bed for tonight as all are taken... I am also afraid we may be even short on blankets, but if you need anything, let me or Escobert know and we will do our best to help you."  As he ends, he takes a step to Cerau.

"My lady, this is very uncomfortable to me to touch this matter, but is it possible you may know one of the prisoners?" Tarbaw looks deep in Cerau's eyes. His are dark brown, and in dim light look almost as black as coal with faint flickers of candle light reflected in them.

“No.” She replies, quickly caught off guard by the direct address. Casting her eyes down she continues, “I mean yes but not personally. I think he may have known my father.”

She sighs, exhausted and wondering how to navigate the complicated relationships at play here - between individuals, between factions, between towns. “But you can trust me completely. My purpose is to serve and I wouldn’t put you or your people in danger.”

She turns to her friends with an open smile, her hair sweeping around and falling slowly back onto her shoulders, “I believe there is possibly more good we can do here together.”

Perception: 24

Sabynn nods in agreement with Cerau. "I don't think we are in need of more rest until the threat outside these walls is dealt with. I admit I am new to these lands but a dragon raiding a town like Greenest in conjunction with this host of raiders surely could pose a dire threat to the whole region, we must know more about who they are and their wicked intentions." She says in a firm voice, then stepping back again, looking at Swan and Cerau.

The governor Nighthill gives Cerau a smile "My lady, in these parts, trust is as hard to get as coal, but once it's given, it's more precious than diamonds. People here have always helped one another and without trust, that would not be possible..." he takes a deep breath and speaks slowly looking in the blue eyes of Sabynn, amber eyes of Swan and gray eyes of giant Tyto. "You all have given me no reason to neither doubt your actions nor intentions...". He takes a look at Sabynn again "Yes, this are quite unusual circumstances and let's hope we can dig into the roots of this calamity."

Cerau:

"If possible, Governor Nighthill, I would like to speak to Arso when the danger has passed. I believe he might..." Cerau trails off and with a sharp in of breath looks to the door of the library. "Does anyone else hear the sound of a bell?"

Moving past her friends, Cerau moves back into the foyer, trying to find a window. My companions didn't seem to need rest but there was only so much magic she could channel from Selûne each day. To rush out into the streets and possibly come face to face with a dragon was folly. But what other choice is there?

The governor squinted his eyes "The bell? What..." He ends suddenly and keeps quiet for a few heartbeats.

With the sudden silence, you all can hear faint yet desperate ringing of a bell. His eyes suddenly went wide open with horror "...by gods, we are under attack!" he shouted moving to the side of the wall and grabbing his sword. Without hesitation he moves out of the library and moves as fast as possible towards the foyer, rushes next to Cerau and runs down the stairs.

“I’m coming too!” Swan's heart skips a beat as the governor's expression turns to horror and the sound of a bell fills the air. The urgency in his voice is unmistakable, and without a moment's hesitation, Swan follows suit. She swiftly exits the library, her hand instinctively reaching for her spear as she moves with determination. Adrenaline courses through her veins as she races after Governor Nighthill, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.