You are all being brought back to the keep, faint at first, but with every yard closer to the keep, you can hear cheers of the townsfolk. Although fire is still burning in some of the places, noone seams to be bothered, but rather expressing their happines this night is coming to an end and for surviving.

As you pass the gate, you all are greeted with loud cheers and multiple pats on shoulders, although in case of Tyto on his arms rather than shoulders.

Despite general demand on the first hand description of the duel that saved the hostages, Escobert leeds you to guard quarters. 

"Have some sleep... Gods know you need it and you deserve it more than anyone else."

You have several beds at your disposal and even Tyto could fix one that would hold hin if he put two close enough.

OOC: if you plan to do anything before going back to sleep, please let me know. Otherwise, here's what has happened in the morning and you can treat this as a long rest.

When you wake up, the sun is high in the sky and it must be past noon already. The keeps gate is wide open and only a single guard is on the walls. Most of the refugees are already gone as well as Escobert and the governor. There are few injured people who still need medical attention in the main hall, but they are being taken care of.

As you pass through the hall and the courtyard, one of the maids approaches you and with a slight bow speaks "Good day to you. Would you care for refreshments or a healthy breakfast?"

Before she goes to bed, Swan retrieves her parchment and quill to finish her letter to her brother. She tells him what she saw happen in Greenest, the dragon's assault, the attack of the kobolds, the mysterious figures in their purple robes, and her experience with the dragonborn, Langdedrosa Cyanwrath. As the final words, she asks him if there's anymore information about the Cult of Dragons, hoping that he might shed light on their motivations and their plans. Sealing the letter and pressing her signet ring on the wax seal, she asks around to see if anyone knows a way of sending the letter. 

As Escobert has directed you to the guards room, he also offered to have it sent once the things clear out. "I'll join my report as welland the governor will also want to share his thoughts once we know more..."

That ends the night. 

The morning has welcomed you with fresh fruit and scrambled eggs with bacon and bread with handfull of butter. Simple yet tasty meal. 

Swan is approached by a stable boy who bows to her "M'lady, I... I was asked to tell you, your letter has been sent but the earliest we can expect the answer is somewhere next week... If we are lucky that is...".

Once you are in the Keeps courtyard, you are approached by a man you recognize as of the guards. He walks to Tyto. 

"Forgive me, sir... ...but we may need your help... Or permission perhaps?" You can clearly say he is uneasy talking to you.

"One of our warehouses was burned at night. We have some stored in the keep but we lack some to have our future safe. Is it possi... Would you like to go hunting with us?"

Cerau wakes early the next morning and busies herself in the courtyard, assisting the practiced healers with changing bandages and keeping the wounded company. In the moments when she is quiet, the work of her hands blow her thoughts back to home. Mother sent me away to find answers but I seem to have floated into a new current with these companions. I always thought I would follow in my grandmother's footsteps but I think I can see myself being happy in this life of heroism. Maybe father will be proud of me when I see him... if...

She looks up from her task of rolling fresh bandages as Swan enters the courtyard, hoping that she will be invited for the adventure as well.

As Cerau is watching the experienced healers and assists them, she cen feel someones presence. When she turns, she can see the elderly healer. He has the same robe on his body, gray beard and piercing yet tired green eyes, that have seen a lot on this world.

"Feeling needed, my dear?" he asks passing her giving her a brief look and with a pleasant smile he says "Be careful what you wish for... But if the old mans words have any value to your ears, let me tell you, you are doing fine..." He reaches to his bag standing on a table and is checking various vials. "Can you tell a curious old man one thing though?"

Tyto stepped closer to the guard until his giant stature towered over the man and mere inches were left between the man's face and Tyto's torso.

"You want to go hunt the creatures of the forest? And you ask me for my permission? You ask me for help?"

Tyto's deep voice was without emotion, and so was his face - until he looked at the guard with an amicable smile and lowered himself onto one knee to look the man into his eyes. 

"I will not give you permission. I have no right to grant or deny you the right to hunt, so long as you do it to sustain yourself and your own. I am one of the Grove Keepers, and I protect the forest and its inhabitants - but even though the memories of men are short and most of you might have forgotten it: You are still creatures of the forest yourself. As for my help: That I can do. It will be an honor for me to accompany you, and maybe I can teach you a thing or two."

The guard stood for a moment in silence, however with the words of the firblog his face has changed. Worried at first, he smiled at the end.

"Good." He put his palm on the shoulders of the kneeling giant. "Let's move then..."

He and three other man went south east, in the direction of the forest. Small talk is absent at the beginning however with every step taken the moods are getting better ant the men more talkative or at least more relaxed in the presence of the giant... 

A sudden question stirrs the mood "By gods... What has happened here?"

Few hundred yards past the stream you have crossed yesterday, you get to the huge patch of trampled grass. The earth is torn with marks of giant claws and a few crushed bodies lay on the ground.

(Please make a perception check)

Tyto paused mid-laugh. Something big had done this, but he needed to get a better look.

Perception check: 13

Tyto:

From what Tyto have seen, this must be a place where the dragon was angered some of the attackers, what you have witnesed earlier that night.

The hunters, who accompanied Tyto argue at first among themselves about the number of bodies. There are two... No, at least three bodies as Tyto has counted five legs.

The clothes are matching the black robes of the attackers you have seen earlier but the final proof was the strangely shaped knife. Exactly the same shape with red gem set in the hilt.

The main consensus among the party is something needs to be done with the bodies.

"What do you want to do?" Asks one of them. "Pick every piece by hand?"

"We could just leave them here..." One of the youngest one suggests, but is immedietly huffed upon.

"Perhaps someone could put some kind of barrow above them?" Suggest the other, however that is to be decided later.

You finaly reach the woods, and although you do not have much time to stalk your game, please make two rolls (with advantage) to see how the hunting will go.

"Be careful what you wish for... But if the old mans words have any value to your ears, let me tell you, you are doing fine..." The healer disrupts Cerau from her daydreaming and a warmth comes to her cheeks at his compliment. "Can you tell a curious old man one thing though?"

"That depends what the curious old man wants to know," Cerau says with a smile. The cheeky tone in her voice surprises her. Cerau, he is a healer and an elder. Don't let the heroism go to your head.  "I mean yes, of course."

Cerau sees Tyto leave with the men out of the corner of her eyes and while she had been waiting for the others to be ready to go, it hadn't occurred to her that she could follow her own lead at this point in time. That she could go and see Arso. She bows her head, looses a breath from her chest and lets the thought go before looking up at the elderly man.

Cerau:

"I hope you will forgive my curiosity, yes, but I have noticed your necklace..." He says still sorting out some of his bottles and ingredients "Would you mind telling me, how did it end up up here, yes?" He points to Ceraus neck. 

Swan:

As you go out to the courtyard, you notice Tyto leaving with few hunters, Cerau near the stables, that serve as a sick bay... 

Apart from this, the keep looks like everyone went back to their daily business. The forge is filled with sound of hammers striking red hot steel plates, and the keeps walls are manned with two of the guards.

Although you feel much better than before you went to sleep, the whole body still hurts, as if you worked very hard the whole day. Every muscle screams for rest, yet you know, it would not make much difference. It is better to walk it off.

As you wonder around, one of the townsfolk approaches you. He is a quite tall man, aged about twenty five or thirty years old, with a plain walking stick in his hand. He is dressed in a similar fashion as others, however something is not adding up in the way he is dressed.

"Good day to you..." He speaks quietly. "I recon you are the hero everyone is talking about?"

Tyto picks up the dagger, wraps it in a piece of cloth, and puts it in his bag. When the group decides to leave the bodies for now and come back later, Tyto agrees, but for the rest of the trip he dwells on his thoughts...

Survival roll to hunt #1: 14

Survival roll to hunt #2: 25

Swan takes a moment to assess the man who approaches her, her amber eyes locking onto his inquisitive gaze. "I am Swan Alexander," She replies with a nod, acknowledging the description he offers, though she wouldn't call herself a hero. "You are looking for me?"

Tyto:

That was a good hunt. Not the best, but a good one in any way. Two bucks and a few wild turkey may look like nothing in comparison to a whole town but that would be enough to prepare a stew for everyone who was hungry leaving the preserved food tor the dark hour.

OOC: Please make a survial DC 15 check.

As you are returning to the town with your game, the sun is high in the sky. The moods are quite well, just like after a good hunt and your fellow companions are praising your skills, especially stealth, what is not what you'd expect from someone of your statue.

Swan:

You cannot tell if the man is confused or scared (If you want to be certain, please make DC 13 Insight check), but something is not right by your eye.

"Yes, I hope you can help me..." He says looking back his shoulder. "My mas.. my friend is missing... And I am afraid he was taken as a prisoner during the attack. It should be the highest priority to find him and to set him free, if possible..."

His voice sounds shaky, as if he was panicking.He keeps looking back his shoulders and as soon as he notices Escobert and the governor talking and walking your way, he grabs your arm and takes a step closer "Will you help me?"

Survival DC15 Check: 18

As Tyto is coming back from the hunt, something draws his attention.

At first, it is just a broken branch of a one year old pine, but with his knowledge, no animal would possibly break it in such way... As he is taking next step, he stops suddenly. The place where he wanted to put his foot has a foot print. A strange one - three toed, clawed foot... There is a second one... And the next one... Between the steps, there is something being dragged... A stick? A tail! Those are kobold tracks!

Couple of feet further, he finds some other tracks - human like this time, or at least belonging to someone who had heeled boots.

The tracks are fresh, at least couple of hours old. They were traveling at this point due north.

Tyto turns around to the villagers and speaks to them in a hushed voice

"Stop right there. See these? These are tracks of kobolds, and I believe of a human. They likely belong to the ones who attacked your town. We need to get back and round up some adventurers to investigate this. Be very quiet, for they could still be close..."

Insight: 20 

Swan senses the man's anxiety and concern, his grip on her arm revealing his urgency. She looks back at Escobert and the governor approaching and then back at the man.

"I understand your worry," Swan says calmly, trying to reassure him. "I will do my best to help you find your friend. We must first inform the governor about your friend's disappearance. He will surely organize a search party to locate any missing citizens." She glances at the approaching figures and then back to the man, giving him a supportive squeeze of the hand. "Rest assured, we will find him."

Tyto:

As you warn the townsmen about the tracks, everyone stays silent. They ready their bows and one of the men approaches. 

"Looks like you are right..." he whispers. "Many people... and carts... They are heading to Birch Meadows I would say... I think, we need to tell this to the governor Tarbaw as soon as possible." he gives you a concerned look.

Swan:

You are unsure why he is so anxious. Definitely he is full of mixed emotions. As the governor and Escobert are getting closer, the man turns to you and says "Thank you... I will..." but at the same time you can hear the governors voice.

"The hero of Greenest is never alone!" he speaks with joy in his voice. He stands between you and the man putting his arms on your and the mans shoulder "How do you feel, my lady? I see it takes much more than a dragon to take you down! And that reminds me..." he reaches to a small satchel on his belt. "Please accept these as a small token of my personal gratitude..." he hands you two potions of healing and a second later he exclaims "BY GODS! We will have an annual fair in your honor! Your and your friends ofcourse!" he looks around but doesn't appear to find anything he is looking for. "Well, I need to have a word with you and your friends. We need to think of the next course of action..."

Cerau:

The healer chuckles "I know, I know... I am an old, nosy prick, yes..." he pauses for a moment seeing Cerau being a bit hesitant to talk about the item. "...but I was curious if you have already met her?" he gives Creau a sly look.