The arrow leaves the string and with wobbling move, just as a snake flies towards the back of the kobold. As he is getting through the bushes, the arrow follows. Suddenly, when he was just getting through, the arrow has entered the spine and the lifeless body was left in the bushes.

OOG The combat is over.

The woman falls to the ground tired and the three children go around her giving her a hug. Moments later her husband limps and sits on the ground next to them giving them all a hug as well.

While kissing one of the children, she takes a look at all of you.

"Thank the gods you were here, but who are you?"

Wiri immediately makes for the innocents—the man, woman, and children. Conjuring the mage hand to temporarily hold her staff, she asks the children, “Are you alright?” She smiles, though her face is filled with worried concern. She decides to let one of the others respond to the spear-bearing woman’s question.

The half-drow crouches down to the children. “Little dears,” she says, kindness spread across her face, “are you injured? Any of you?” She the turns her gaze to the man and to the woman with the spear. She stands again, taking back her staff from the conjured mage hand, which immediately dissipates. The half-drow looks over the four of them for injuries, then looks around to ensure no enemies are approaching.

Perception! 2

"My name is Swan. We're travellers, and we saw the dragon attack Greenest. We want to help." Swan says, resting a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder. Her long, blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail, revealing her handsome features that exude both strength and gentleness, warmth and compassion in her amber eyes. She asks gently, "Are you from the town? What's the situation there?"

The woman looks tired for sure. Her clothes are a bit messy, but apart from this, she looks fine - just as the children. The man has a few cuts and bruises - one quite big on his left leg. When Wiri gets closer, the children hug their mother as hard as possible. "Don't worry... shhhh..." the woman calms them "They will not hurt you" she adds looking at every one of you in turn. A moment later she speaks slowly. "My name is Linan Swift..." she pauses looking at the man "...and this is my husband, Cuth and our children. We were trying to reach the keep, but they cut us off." she says looking at the tower few hundred feet away.

Her husband grins as he shifts his weight to take the weight of the injured leg. "The Keep... This is our only chance." he says looking at the children. "Escobert will not let anyone near the gates as long as there's a single breath in his lungs. The bell was rung calling everyone to the keep when we have heard that creature roared and smoke rose in couple of places."

"There are parties of these creatures..." Linan points to one of the kobolds "...they came from the north I think. I saw them coming down the hills in groups but there are humans, elves and dwarves too." 

As he says this, the sudden noise fills the sky above. The sound of the whistling wings of the dragon flying several dozen feet above you. The children grab their mother and cry in terror. Even you, with an atavistic reflex, feel the hair on your neck stand on. The dragon moves a few hundred feet east, gives a loud roar and turns right and starts to make a big circle around the burning town.

"If it were under other circumstances it would have been a pleasure to meet you all," Cerau says with a sad smile on her face. "My name is Cerau and I come from a long line of healers. I will do what I can to help. I planned on picking up a new medicine kit as I came into town as my supplies are bare but I can still have a look at that leg quickly if you would like." Cerau will look at the leg, wash it with water and rip some fabric off from her shirt to use in place of a bandage if needed. Medicine check to attend to the wound and stop infection/bleeding 23.

Cerau works quickly and with confidence as years of training guide her hands. "Why would this Escobert do such a thing? Would it be safer to leave town until the danger passes instead?"

As the dragon passes overhead, Cerau looks to her new companions for assurance, her heart beating fast. It's not the same dragon, it's not the same dragon. She chants in her head as she again tries to focus on the injured man and his family.

While Wiri sees to the children and Cerau good takes care the wounded man's leg, Sabynn moves slightly ahead hiding and keeping watch for more raiders coming this way, and if she can see a reasonably safe way up to the keep from where they are now by the stream, Y'landrothiel helping her out, giving the others a reassuring nod as she passes them. With both awe and fascination she watches as the dragon passes overhead, trying to determine it's intent with attacking this town.

Stealth: 20
Perception: 20
Y'landrothiel perception: 23
Insight: 19

"It definitely IS a pleasure to bump into you all..." says Linan "...But we need to move. They will get here sooner or later." she looks around as if expecting another pack of kobolds to appear.

Cerau, you manage to stop the bleeding. The stream has provided you with plenty of clean water to wash the wound and you managed to stop the bleeding with some improvised bandages. Please note, this is temporary and will need to be redone with proper supplies. For sure he needs to keep the weight off that leg not to risk reopening the wound. 

As Cerau has mentioned Escobert both Linan and Cuth look at each other surprised "What do you me..." starts Linan but Cuth interupts her laughing "No... you don't understand... Escobert is the castellan of the keep. He ordered to gather everyone in the keep and to defend from there..." he explains "...when the Franklin's boy reached me, he passed Escobert's order to gather in the keep. He told us the town was being surrounded so, it was quite logical to get into the keep."

Sabynn moves like a cat without a single stone rattling under her feet, however smoke coming through the area blocks the vision for both Y'landrothiel and herself. To see more, she would need to go up from the stream bed into the town. The intentions of the dragon remain a mystery.

During a brief discussion with Linan and Cuth, they intend to reach the keep at all costs, but it is clear, they will have a hard time to get there without any assistance.

They claim, the fastest way would be through the stream bed and up the hill (yellow) or by dome houses (red). The problem is children and Cuth may need serious help to go that way. The easiest (in terms of terrain as they follow roads and paths) yet longest ways are (blue and green) run through the streets of Greenest. Those are also the most dangerous ones as these areas will be attacked first in their opinion. 

You are close to red X mark on the map.

Swan notices the discomfort of the children as Wiri tries to help them. She wonders how much of it was from their freight from running away from the dragon, and how much of it stems from their fear of drow. Her lips press into a thin line, but she decides not to comment on it. It’s probably her being too protective again. Despite the initial apprehension towards Wiri, Swan has come to trust her over the course of their travels.

“Escobert sounds like a very honorable man.” Swan says, with earnest admiration. She continues, "The keep is our best chance for safety, but we need to be careful. The dragon is circling overhead, and there are groups of kobolds roaming the area."

Swan listens closely as they discuss their options for getting to the keep, weighing the pros and cons of each route. "I suggest we take the stream bed and up the hill," she offers. "It may be a difficult climb, but it will be the fastest way and give us cover from the dragon's sight. Tyto knows the area well and he can lead. We'll need to help Cuth and the children, but we can make it if we work together."

The white-haired elven maiden smiles briefly and nods in agreement with Swan, ready to take the rear guard as the group proceeds along the stream bed and up to the keep on the hill.

Narr sees the family is being well tended to and so he stays back from the group, not wanting to crowd the poor folk. He practically dives for cover as the dragon sweeps overhead, but catches himself at the last second. Not wanting to look foolish. Which he then realizes is foolish all by itself.

"Ya think to much." He thinks.

With one boot he nudges his dead kobold and tries to come to grips with the killing. He thought he would feel badly but he doesn't. The creature had been judged. And harshly. There's the end to it.

He looks away toward the town to keep an eye out for anything else threatening as the group tends the wounded, all while listening to the conversation. 

Talking back over his shoulder, he asks Linan,

"Did I hearr ya rightly, lass? Are ya sayin' that there are humans, elves and dwarrves aligned with tha kobolds?" That's disconcerting. How can we tell frriend from foe?"

He agrees with Swan,,

"Tha strreambed has served us this far. Let's stick wuth ut. Stay out'a sight as long as we can. We won't be able ta rrun with tha wee ones in tha group so best ta avoid confrontation."

He continues his lookout but also he keeps his eye open for any sign of the chapel. He still has a duty to perform and Sir Gorant would not look kindly on him if he failed in such a simple task.

((keep a lookout and also look for any sign of the chapel  perception  20

"He is as honorable as it can get, and it can get pretty far if you are a dwarf." Cuth chuckles and his wife soon follows with reply to Narr's question. "This is what Franklin's boy has told my husband." and he continues "That is right. apparently there were some man seen up the hill with those lizard things... So I guess it's just a matter of time they come here too."

A few moments later, everyone gets up. Linan gets her broken spear and a shield. Cuth still limping tries to get one of the children (two girls (10 & 8) and a boy (6)) on his arms, but he has to put it back due to his injuries.

Narr

From this point of view there is no chapel, shrine nor temple visible.

OOG I presume you have chosen the yellow route? Are you choosing speed or stealth in your movement tactics?

Narr looks up along the streambed, considering.

He turns to Swan,

"If ya ask me, we need ta be cautious now. Let's sneak up along tha crreek. If we get in'a fight we could be overwhelmed an it would be tricky ta retreat with an injured man and small childrren."

He looks up at the sky. 

"An' there's tha drragon..."

Wiri smiles again at the children, returning to the group to look at Narr. Her expression appears weighed down by sorrow, understanding, and, perhaps, a granule of shame. "The highest elf can have the lowest intentions, just as the lowliest goblin change the world for the better. I've too much experience with wavering morality of the feytouched, even those who've thrived in purity of the sun." Though the words spoken seem accusatory, no trace of judgment or bitterness carries through the half-drow's tone. 

She steps toward the limping man and spear-bearing woman. Looking to Swan, Wiri states, "I agree. The stream path is the best option. Cuth and the children should remain betwixt us. Marauders--whether kobold, elf, dwarf, or human--will have to contend with us as the children's sword and shield. I can shore up the rear guard."

"That was beautiful Wiri," Cerau says as she smiles at the delicate woman. Cerau's eyes sparkle as she recognises an ideal in the woman that her father used to share. I feel in my heart that Selûne would approve of that statement.

"I will follow along the stream bed if that is the decision of the group. I do not think I am stealthy enough to scout ahead for danger but I am stronger than I look and can carry a child with me." Getting down onto one knee and smiling gently at the children she says, "I can protect you, if you would like."

Cerau then turns her gaze to Narr, "Let's just hope we don't draw it's attention. We seem to have a capable enough group here to get out of trouble if that is what it needed."

You have moved down the stream. The terrain is rough due to slippery stones and bushes but the running water makes any noise you make less distinct. As you have reached the bend, you can see the keep directly in front of you.

Slightly to the left are some town buildings, most likely a farm. To your right, a big, walled building. The stream is not deep here (a feet or two) but pretty wide (ca. three to four feet).

One of you has notices some movement in the vicinity of the blue marked building. Do you want to investigate this or would you like to try and pass it by quietly?

Y'landrothiel quietly flies up to the building, peeking through a window to make sure there are not townsfolk being caught in there.

Y'landrothiel perception: 17

Swan notices movement around the building and her instincts kick in. "There might be someone trapped inside by the kobolds," she says, her voice low and urgent. Maybe not just the kobolds. Linan just said there were people working for the dragon too. She’ll have to come up with a way to refer to them, dragonites, perhaps.

Not wanting to get too close recklessly, given that her clanky armor will likely give her away, she turns to Sabynn and asks quietly, "Can you see anything?" Swan knows they need to be cautious, but time is of the essence. They need to act quickly to rescue whoever might be in danger.

Looking up at Y'landrothiel and the building, Sabynn turns to Swan and whispers back, finishing with a faint smile. "Y'landrothiel is up there now, we will soon know if we have reason to go up there or not. If it is simply the dragon's minions looting I suggest we stay our course to the keep. But...you better decide."

Y'landrothiel sat quietly on the fence nearby looking with curiosity at the building. It is a simple town house. One story high, with an attic, the roof covered with straw. The hay stack behind it is beginning to burn.

Sabynn only:

 From behind the house you can see three small kobolds (marked blue) screeching to each other. They are checking the surroundings of the house. Your position is marked red.

The distance between the your group and the kobolds is about 30 feet.

"Yes, townsfolk trapped inside the building, and three kobolds over there." The white-haired elven maiden whispers to the others, readying her elven longbow to take them out swiftly and silently at Swan's signal.

Stealth if needed: 16