Restrained as she is, the woman doesn't stand a chance of resisting Hildr's strength. She lurches forward as she's pulled close, going up on her toes to keep from tipping over. "Whoa. Heh. You got it." She says nervously, shaking the barbarian's hand. "Nothin' but loyalty from us."

"I'm Dorra. These three are Artur, Pete, and Rhuda." She says, turning her head to look at each of the others in turn. "Pete don't speak much. Artur...Well you've already talked to him. And Rhuda will give you all his money gamblin' if you put a little spirit in him."

"We'll see what we can do." Gawain says, ready to head to the town's keep with Gallant. "Everybody get along while we're gone, yeah?"

Crannoc, trying to understand the dynamic that is occurring between his companions and the bandits, as a zoologist might study the social behavior of a troop of monkeys, is a bit distracted.  But he does his best to find a copse of trees off the beaten path where the rest of the group can rest and wait.

Crannoc Survival plus Guidance:  10 + 3 = 13

Hildr assists Crannoc, seeking a spot that might afford concealment from the road, or at least a vantage point, and a nearby source of water.

Help, enabling Crannoc to roll again.

Crannoc is slightly taken aback, but grateful at Hildr's help.  She had seemed out of sorts lately and he hopes this brings the pack together.

Survival reroll for advantage plus same Guidance if allowed:  16 + 3 = 19

(He still does not quite have the "city-dweller" social courage to ask her what might be bothering her.)

With Hildr's sharp eyes aiding him, Crannoc is able to find a comfortably shaded area off the road where they won't be bothered or seen by passing travelers. 

Meanwhile Gallant and Gawain head into the town, beelining for the keep at the center. There aren't as many people out and about as when you left. With the day winding down, most are within their homes with their families or at the tavern. 

You're greeted by a single guard at the keep's gate again. He looks surprised to see you again so soon. "Back already? Gods that was quick. Escobert and Nighthill are up in his office at the moment, remember where you're going?" He lets you in, and you make your way into the tower and up the stairs as you remember. 

Midway up the tower, you stop at the door leading to Nighthill's office, giving it a few good knocks. After a moment, he appears in the doorway, eyes lighting up when he sees you. "Ahhh, Gawain and Gallant! Excellent to see you again, we were just discussing the benefits of your group earlier. Come in!" He lets you inside, and you see Escobert nod in greetings from one of the chairs, a smoking pipe in his hand. "So, do you have an update for us?"

Gallant takes a deep breath, “Thank you for your hospitality at this hour. We have some troubling news.” Looking at Gawain for a moment, Gallant looks back at the two towns people, “We have successfully made to the tower and removed the head of the Bandits, A man by the name of {Forgot the name, will update later} he was a mighty warrior with the ability to create a black shadow from thin air, even though adept in fighting in the dark could not see their own limbs. When the battle was down, we heard a horrific creature wail from the base of a well. She had superhuman strength and none of our attacks did any try damage to her. She was able to regenerate in mere seconds. With all of our might we did not stand a chance of defeating her so we ran and sealed her in the Bandit leaders chambers. 

We have converted some of the bandits to help us take care of this horrific creature but we have not accounted for 13 of the sunless gang. Our hope is that you equip us with any magical items and powerful warriors that you may have on loan so we can vanquish the true foe of Greenest.” Looking back to Gawain, “Gawain can feel in any detail I may have missed in this unsettling turn of events.”

"The leader wasn't Calavaz as you expected." Gawain says, beginning to fill in the gaps of Gallant's story. "We found him in a prison cell within the tower. It seems he came to try and talk down the new leader of the Sunless, who turned out to be Galdren, his brother."

"As for the creature within...A vampire of some kind, though perhaps not one at full strength. In either case, we aren't really equipped to directly deal with something like that. We can talk strategy on it later, it may be that we just escort whatever masons you have to more permanently seal her within the chamber."

"And yes...We have convinced some of the former Sunless to aid our cause. The extra muscle will be helpful, especially if we intend to deal with that creature in the tower. I can assure you, we'll keep them under control. And any trouble they cause I'm prepared to take responsibility for." He adds, helping Gallant persuade the governor and castellan.

22

Nighthill and Escobert listen quietly as you both explain what you've found. The governor goes wide-eyed as you speak of the creature underneath the tower, while Escobert furrows his brow. After you've gone, Governor Nighthill lets out a long sigh. "Well...That wasn't quite what we were expecting. A bleeding vampire you say?" He shakes his head, crossing his arms as he begins to pace the room. 

"It's good that you've managed to decapitate the leadership of the Sunless, I'm...Happy to hear Calavaz has had a change of heart. As for the rest..." He casts a glance at Escobert, who clears his throat and takes over. "As far as these other bandits you've captured are concerned. I'd personally rather throw them in a dungeon and toss the key. You say you can make use of them and keep them in line, that's fine. But if they cause trouble you'll be in a cell right next to them."

He thinks for a moment, then slowly nods his head. "We've got some room in the barracks. We'll house them there, some of my boys can keep an eye on them at night. They surrender their weapons at the keep's gate though." 

Governor Nighthill gives a quick nod of agreement. "Your methods are strange Gawain and Gallant, but if they work, you'll hear no criticism from me."

"You've given us a lot to think about. I'll need to talk about some options with Escobert here concerning that undead creature you left in the tower. Bring the rest of your group into town and rest for the night, we can discuss more in the morning."

"I think they've been properly motivated," Gawain replies, raising an eyebrow. "Thank you trusting us with this. We'll brainstorm with the others and come to you with our ideas tomorrow." If Gallant has nothing else to add, he'll turn and make his way back down the tower, heading back out of town to where they left the others.

Once they're reunited with the rest of the party, he updates them with the conversation they had with the governor and Escobert. "Good news. Our new friends get to stay. They'll be disarmed, and housed in the keep's barracks."

"Also they want to see us again in the morning. So if you have any ideas on how we might deal with that thing in the tower, that'd be the time to bring them."

Crannoc nods, readying himself almost wistfully to head into the town of Greenest after a few blessed (though sometimes frightening) nights outdoors.

"For the undead abomination in the tower, we all saw its wounds began to heal.  I do not know how to stop that, other than enough combatants to inflict wounds faster than it can regenerate.  Also, it seemed as if non-magical attacks did less harm than one would expect, whereas magical attacks had full effect.  I still wonder if we could have worn it down by repeatedly knocking it down he hole while attacking at range.  But this was the safer option."

Crannoc pauses.  "Almost... almost, I had the ability to try to... turn the undead horror, and had hoped briefly that a different cleric, perhaps Calavaz could have done what I could not.  Someone with better divine magic than I might still be able to.  I will tell Nighthill and Escobert this."

"Hear that?" Hildr slaps Dorra a bit too forcefully on the back. "You and your mates have been enlisted. Welcome to the Greenest Expeditionary Force. To the barracks for some proper chow!"

Gallant pleased by the events and having a great partner like Gawain, speaks up, “I believe fire might be a good option for this foe. I have heard tale that fire can cleanse all forms of abomination like her.”

Dorra winces as Hildr's hand slaps her across the back, forcing a smile onto her face. "Wonderful. Looking forward to it." They surrender their weapons to you before entering the town, unwilling to hand them over to the guards. You leave them at the keep's entrance, and are told that the only way they get to leave the barracks is if you come get them.

Finally, you're able to return to the Dragon's Roost, where a hot meal and comfortable beds await. 

The next morning you wake and gather in the tavern's common area briefly before heading out to the keep. The same guard is manning the gate as the last time you came through, and he gives a friendly wave as you pass by.

After making your way up the keep's tower, you find the door to governor's office open, where Nighthill awaits behind his desk.  "Ah wonderful, you're here just in time." He says as he finishes off writing on a piece of parchment. There are small bags underneath his eyes, and overall he looks a little tired. "Escobert and I were up quite late last night, trying to come with a solution to our new problem."

"But first I'd be glad to hear some of your thoughts on this...Vampire in the tower."

"As I said last night, I think for at least a short term solution we head back with some masons and supplies to brick up the entrance as soon as we can. And make sure we do it all in broad daylight. We may not be able to kill her right now, but we can at least make sure she doesn't bother anyone else in the area." Gawain says after moving into the governor's office

Crannoc steps forward and repeats more or less what he had told the others while Gawain and Gallant had departed for town, with a couple additions.

"For the undead abomination in the tower, I do not think it was an actual vampire or we would all be dead or its thralls (or both).  It was likely something less, yet still undead and formidable.  This Galdren and she seemed to be mates," (Crannoc means this in the animal sense, not in the friends sense).

"Galdren bore a magic mask which allowed him to see in the darkness that he cast.  We lost this mask when we knocked him down the deep hole in his 'throne room' to his death.  A deep hole where his undead beloved's coffin lay.  As she broke out of her coffin and screamed at us in rage upon seeing Galdren's fallen corpse, she began to climb relentlessly up the walls of the hole as if she were a spider.  As we began to attack her, we all saw her wounds began to close almost immediately. I do not know how to counter that, other than throwing enough combatants against her to inflict wounds faster than she can regenerate.  Also, it seemed as if non-magical attacks did her less harm than one would expect, whereas magical attacks had full effect."

Crannoc gives everyone a rueful look. "Almost... almost, I had the ability to try to... turn the undead horror, and had hoped briefly that a different cleric, perhaps Calavaz, could have done what I could not, but no. Someone with more powerful divine magic than I might still be able to."

He sighs.  "I do wish to speak in favor of giving Calavaz a chance at redemption if your townsfolk allow.  He does seem truly remorseful and changed to me.  Wishing to make amends with his life.  He had gone back to talk his brother (Galdren) out of it and was imprisoned for his efforts."

Hildr reminds the others of the tunnel at the bottom of the pit: "A mason might not be enough." She also informs Nighthill that Galdren's "throne room" contains the bandits' plunder: "You'll find most, if not all, of your stolen loot in there." Notably, Hildr does not offer her own services in retrieving it, although honor would require her to do if she were requested.

"I see," the governor says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We may consider your temporary solution Gawain, if only to buy us more time to find a more permanent one." 

He listens intently as Crannoc gives his own summary of the situation, brow going up in shock at the mention of Galdren and the creature's apparent relationship. "I can speak to our local clerics on both matters. To see if they may have enough power to turn such a beast...And to see if there is room for Calavaz at the temple. They do much good for our town, if he truly wishes to make amends, that would be the place to start."

"Ah. Our citizens belongings are trapped in a room with some vampiric monstrosity. Quite the quandary." He lets out a long sigh, leaning back against his desk.

"You all have done wonderfully so far. We never expected you to have to deal with something like this...Nor do we necessarily expect you to do it now. Escobert has some old friends in Elturel. Paladins I'm told. He has sent messenger birds to beseech them for assistance. Still, even if they agree, it will be weeks before they're able to arrive."

"If you think you're up to the task and you can come up with a solid plan to hold this beast back in the meantime, we'll give you whatever resources you need for it."

"Otherwise, we'd like you to track down the rest of the Sunless, make sure they stay out of the Greenfields for god."

Iris rubs her temples, feeling as tired as Nighthill looks. In honesty, she hadn't the faintest idea of what to do. "We could try sealing her away as Gawain suggested. But I wouldn't go back there without as much firepower and muscles as we could muster."

"At minimum, a lot of holy water and a lot of people."