Archibald silently heeded Talien's wisdom, drawing his bow as the crept ahead; he most certainly didn't want to be caught unarmed if this plan went south. He moved forward, stepping deliberately and focusing on his breathing.

Stealth 2: 15

Stealth 3: 17

Stealth 4: 15 

Lias formed up next to Kyrios at the back of the party, following as quietly as she could.

Stealth 1: 21

Stealth 2: 14

Stealth 3: 16

Stealth 4: 18

(Well done! Damn!)

Your group makes it to the Keep completely hidden! At one point Archibald steps on a loud twig, startling himself with the loud crack, and the whole troupe freezes. A Greenest native stumbles out of the hedges, glancing about and seeing Linan with you relaxes. He ushers 4 other townsfolk out of the bushes and they travel quietly behind you. Hearing no change in the surrounding chaos you continue on and slink around the Keep walls, noticing brigands charging about in all directions, but none focused on any task. The gate is closed, but Linan knocks in a pattern and states her name, family name, and that she has children and outside help with her. The gate opens slightly and allows the lot of you in; the guard then bars the gate and you hear him say "That's the last we can take. The marauders are closing in again and some of them looked organized for once."

Linan turns to you, "Thank you so much for all your help. The riverbed was a good plan, and I'm impressed we all managed to go undetected! There are a lot of those blighters out there!" She looks directly up to Kyros, "You mentioned the governor. Nighthill is probably about. Ask around and I'm sure he'll find you, he'll relish the help I'm sure." She nods to you all and walks away, handing her spear to a guard and hefting a small girl into her arms to whisper to her.

Upon entering the Keep, Talien looks to Kyros and apologizes, "It seems I was wrong, my friend. Splitting up probably would have resulted in trouble for some of us, so I am glad we were able to work together and devise a plan that ensured safety for all. It is..." Talien hesitated a moment, trying to find the correct words, "Refreshing, to be around such trustworthy and strong folk again. I have been traveling mostly on my own for quite some time." His gaze dropped to his feet for a moment as he let out a sigh.

Taliens mood shifted and his face became eager, as he listened to Linan. He bowed low as she nodded to the group and walked to her family. Standing upright again he turned to his new friends and said, "Now, shall we find the Governor and see if he has any supplies to help end this scourge?!"

As he spoke he felt something brush his leg. Looking down he saw a cat rolling at his feet. "Ah, it's good to see made it out alive Talien."  He heard the familiar voice purring in his head. "So far. And it's good to see you made it here before me, and in one piece I might add..."

"Of course I made it one piece, you think those Kobolds out there are smart enough to find me, let alone harm me? It's like you don't know me at all..." The cat sat up and began licking a paw, looking very pleased with itself.

Kyros placed a claw firmly on the Elf's shoulder. "Fret not, Talien, for indeed we made all made it here together safely. But time ever marches, and there is still a great menace on wing. Now to find the Governor.."

Kyros took a step and scanned the packed bailey before him, meeting only suspicious and frightened stares. A few faces, who had no doubt had seen them enter with Linan and the other citizens were more curious, but most of the soldiers and townsfolk flinched at his every move. Kyros sighed, realizing that for these people, he probably seemed a kin of those mongrel kobolds roaming the streets. 

He sought to move congenially as he questioned those nearby, but most just recoiled or ushered him to bother someone else.

"Can you direct me to Governor Nighthill?"

"Please, we seek an audience with the Governor." 

"Where can I find Governor Nighthill?"

With Kyros as the first to ask around about the Governor some of the townsfolk do indeed appear sheepish. However, after watching him make his rounds fruitlessly, a stout, heavy-set dwarf with knotted, tangled red hair and a distinct jingle of keys with every heavy step stomps over to the Dragonborn.

"For someone who may 'ave kin like the beast in the sky, you sure make yourself visible. Can't be you mean any harm to us, then..." the dwarf grumbles up at him. "I'm Escobert the Red; Castellan here in Greenest, and I see to the defense of the keep as well as its maintenance and *ahem* ins-n-outs, if you will." He grimaces up at Kyros, obviously not intimidated, but probably not impressed either. "C'mon then. I'll take you to see the governer. He's up on the parapet looking over the town. Bring yer friends," Escobert grunts and trudges off into the keep without waiting for your response.

Talien slips past Kyros, who looked like he was about to say something to the Dwarf, and smiled at him, “Cheery fellow, eh? I suppose we should follow him.”

"Talien-- oh, there you are! Lias! Archibald! The Castellan Escobert here is taking us to the Governor, Come!" Kyros calls to others as he starts forward, nearly stumbling into the Elf in the process, but sure not to lose sight of the Dwarf.

Escobert leads you all the way up the winding stairs of the Keep to the top trap door onto the parapet. There you see a middle-aged man with his left arm in a sling, his wrist wrapped in bandages with some of his own blood showing through. He turns at the noise of the party exiting the trapdoor and speaks to Escobert.

"Thank you, friend. Who might these folk be? More refugees?" He glances at you, sizing up the party. "Or more militia by the looks of it."

"Adventurers, Gov'nor. They're lookin fer you to lend a hand... er... hands, it seems," Escobert says dryly.

"Ah, then thank you for coming! I am Governor Nighthill, elected official of our little town. As you can see the marauders have begun to set up a perimeter and we're doing our best to defend our town. They seem more intent on damaging buildings, causing mayhem, and looting, rather than killing everyone. I have no idea who they are or why they are here, but the dragon showed up just before they all did, and that was bad enough! What can you offer?" The governor implores.

Kyros stepped forward at the Governors prompt, standing tall. "I am Kyros, my lord, of the Clan Draveskobrinzhao! A fighter by trade, skilled in arms and armor! Direct me wherever the fighting is thickest and I will run the brigands off if I don't cut them down first! Though it seems there may still be many citizens lost in the turmoil, and I worry for their wellbeing as much as I despise these villainous rogues.. Please, point me to where my swordedge may more freely express itself for our friends or against our foes!" He declared earnestly, the torchlight reflecting brightly in eyes.

Talien glances at Kyros as he speaks to the governor and smirks, "There he goes, rushing off into the thick of it still...noble fool indeed..." He thinks to himself, then steps up next to Kyros.

"My name is Talien, sir. We were part of a caravan that was headed here for trade and talk. When we saw plumes of smoke rising as we crested the hill, a few of us ran to help; we are those few." Talien gestures to the others in his company. "Please sir, some of us have taken some blows from the marauders on our way here and are in need of healing. I know now may not be the best the time, but if you have some potions or healers present, we would be more prepared to assist with your unwanted guests. Once we're healed, we can certainly offer some more hands to fend off the threats on the ground, and perhaps the large one in the sky... "

"As for the aforementioned guests, I believe my new compatriot here, Archibald, had heard of them before. Perhaps he'd be willing to shed some more light on the situation once we have some time for discussion."

Archibald nodded solemnly at the governor, "Greetings sir, were it was under better tidings. I presume you've seen the dragon circling your city, yes? Something tells me it's related to these rapscallions making a mess of your streets. I happen to be particularly interested in a so called 'cult of the dragon' and from the looks of things, their machinations are further in motion than the mere smuggling that I last knew they were involved in. Pray tell, what do you know of this group? I feel any light you may shed on the situation might be of tremendous use, not only to us, but also the town."

OOC: I don't know if it is appropriate to do this yet, but considering I'm skeptical of town officials who might know more than they're letting on, I'd try and do an insight check on whatever his response is.

Insight: 15

Archibald:

 “I don’t really know anything of what’s going on. All I know is we are being raided, there’s a dragon, and I was attacked early in the night by one these ‘cultists’ and am trying to organize a defense through the pain!” He exclaims exhaustedly. “One way we could find out what we’re up against is for you to capture one of them so we can learn more. Escobert could direct you out of the Keep without being detected, hopefully, and coming back through the same tunnel would be most beneficial.”

Kyros considered the Governor's words, the corners of his draconian face dipping. Leaving such brazen marauders alive was not a thing he had planned on doing. He sighed, supposing there was no other way. "Do you know where we might recover such an unwilling captive, aside from inviting them in through the front gate? And what of this tunnel? Where does it let us out beyond the Keep's walls?" Kyros asked, showing the barest signs of fatigue, his exuberance deflated slightly at the task that lay before them.

Talien nods to Kyros and Nighthill, "That seems a reasonable plan. Thank you for all of your information in this endeavor; however, most of us are in no shape to go back out and possibly face them head-on. Do you have potions or healing you can offer before we venture back out?" 

Governor Nightfall regards you and his eyes widen briefly, "Oh, yes, of course! My apologies! I've been so preoccupied that I didn't think to ask what sort of shape you're in to help us!" He turns to his Castellan, "Escobert, please lead them to the old tunnel so they may sneak past the barrage, and lead them past the clerics for some help." Escobert grunts, but nods agreeably.

"As for your capture, a low ranking commander would be best, but I suppose any cultist may be able to tell us what's happening. A purple robed figure was seen strutting about barking orders surrounded by a dozen or so well armed guards... I would avoid that posse if I were you. They seemed quite formidable. The tunnel will take you back out to the stream at the edge of town. It is only wide enough for one person to pass through at a time and hasn't seen use of late, though. Please, make haste. Any information we gather gets us closer to helping our townsfolk." He nods to you and turns back to look out over the town.

Escobert waves his hand and begins heading back down the hatch through the Keep. He leads you wordlessly through the halls and to a small, poorly lit room with red tapestries on the wall and several beds. A lone, white robed human is in the room and looks up when you approach. "Dosan, these folk need your help. We're in a hurry though." Escobert states flatly.

"Ah, hm, yes," the small man begins. "I can perform a quick ritual and spare two Potion of Healing for you." He raises his hands toward you, palms out, and murmurs for a moment. As he does so you feel slightly better and all heal 6 HP.

Escobert then begins tapping his foot, "We haven't got all night. Ready?"

"Thank You, Dosan." Kyros bowed his head to the Cleric, passing the potions to Talien to distribute. "We're ready, Escobert. Please take us to this passage."

"I do very much like the plan--" Archibald interjected "--but I was thinking it might be pertinent to discuss on the way how we plan to capture on of these cultists. I suppose knocking one about the head and tying them up would be the traditional approach, but we must be careful, we don't know the full extent of what they're capable of." Archibald reached into his tunic and produced Ball Bearings (bag of 1,000), he continued. "I'm not sure if these would be wildly useful, but we could try and trip up one of the cultists and capture them before they knew what hit them. Does anyone else have a suggestion?"

"Tripping certainly seems like a plan. My own skills are occasionally unpredictable, and I would hate to cause more injury than necessary." Lias nodded at the others. "Do either of you have a good sleep spell, or another suggestion?"

Kyros looked over the group before him as Escobert led them through the Keep, and shrugged in response to the Bard's query. "I know nothing of magic or the arcane arts, but I suppose, I could always club our prey with the pommel of my greatsword, should the opportunity present itself. Otherwise, I would be willing bait whatever trap we might lay out, since only fools would leave a fully armed and armored opponent before them unaddressed. Though, for such a ruse I would prefer to make use of a bow and some arrows," He addressed this last part Escobert, "if the Keep might perchance have one in spare?"