Skiaceq's feathers ruffle. As he suspected, Leosin was definitely investigating this cult. He remembers the vague letter which drew him here. It communicated no impending dread, only concern about possible dangers in the region. Otherwise the stories and fussing common to any family.

A great invisible claw takes hold inside Skiaceq's chest. That his father sent for him at all meant the situation was dire. If the letter was so cryptically vague, then Leosin must have been worried about the letter being intercepted and implicating his own son. He'd been trying to protect Skiaceq even while calling him for help. The claw grips his chest tighter. "Father..." mutters Skiaceq, "please be alive."

Returning his attention to the dwarf, he squawks urgently, "Where is the entrance to this tunnel?"

As Quarion moves the spyglass toward the city square, the first thing that catches his eye is a glint of moving purple and gold near the center of the square.  Several robed figures seem to be arranged in a circle, with a barricade of wagons around them.  Quarion thinks he can make out an insignia in the gold trim on one of the robes.  It is hard to say from this distance what the insignia is, but its shape is not inconsistent with that of a dragon.  He doesn't know exactly what the alleged dragon cultists look like, but if he had to guess, it might be a lot like this. 

After a few seconds, a group of four Kobolds, two with wings, one riding a large lizard, and another carrying a staff of some kind, approach the possible cultists, who part their circle to let them inside, where a large chest of gold sits open, filled nearly to the brim with shiny gold pieces and gems.  The kobolds pour some coins and trinkets from a sack they're carrying into the chest.  This is presumably the loot collected from the raids on the houses and estates in the city.

The governor chimes in, "Do you see it? Where they're taking our possessions?"

Quarion holds up a finger as if to say 'hold on a moment', and continues to watch the scene in the square.  Behind the circle of cultists, Quarion can just barely make out a half-elf male in the darkness, badly beaten, with bruises on his face.  He looks to be a monk, based on the bloodied clothing he's wearing.  A moment later the kobolds head out of the circle of cultists and into the shadows toward the monk, but they are intercepted by a large figure with draconic features, but not a member of any race Quarion has seen before, as far as he can tell. The creature is humanoid, with blue scales and a large horn in the center of its face.  It is wearing a few pieces of spiky purple and gold armor and carrying a spear.  It is flanked by two other draconic figures, who appear to be more familiar black dragonborn.  The arrangement of their facial ridges bears a striking resemblance to those of Urokris.

The blue creature appears to shout something to the kobolds, gesturing with his spear toward the keep.  The kobolds who had been heading the opposite direction make submissive motions toward the creature, and turn to gather some weapons from near the chest.

"Gentlemen, I believe we've found the stash.  Several chests, full of all sorts of treasure, I assume much of it stolen from the residents here. They're not making much effort to hide it, but it is well protected.  More of those robed figures we encountered on our way here, and several kobolds.  There's also a creature I don't recognize.  Similar to a dragonborn, but not like any I've seen before. Blue scales. Urokris, have you encountered anything like this before?" He describes the scaly blue creature's features to Urokris.

"There are several others as well; a number of red and green dragonborn --- these ones the usual sort --- who seem to be assisting our scaly blue friend. As much as I'd like to recover these fine people's things, I daresay we'd be thoroughly outmatched if we charged in now.  However..." Quarion hesitates a moment, "a few of the kobolds may be heading our way soon.  We should be vigilant. Some of them may be magic users. Governor, I assume your men are positioned to defend the keep from a siege? We would be happy to assist, of course."

He thinks about it for a moment, remembering the strange stories his brothers in arms would tell each other in camps while resting from a long day's march. Half-dragons, a strange mix between humanoids and dragons. The reason why a dragon would ever mate with a lesser creature was never really of import in the stories, but rather what the half-dragon would always do and what they looked like. The creature that Darvin described sounded a lot like those that were talked about.

"Half-dragons," he says then spits on the ground, "abominations, I say. If there are more kobolds coming we should get ready to fight." With that he turns and begins walking toward the gate, pulling his greatsword out from its sheath. He was still somewhat vexed that a kobold had gotten a good shot on him with a stone and he wanted, for his sanity's sake, to tear them to pieces for it. Not one for fighting, he was, and yet hold habits were starting to crawl their way back into his life.

The dwarf looks incredulously at Sciaceq. "You're just as strange as that Leosin. What? You want to insult my father's handiwork as well?!?! Why would you want to go to that tunnel? It only leads to the outside of the castle; we can't afford to unlock it for anyone right now. I have the key, but if you want to go through it, you'll need Governor Nighthill's permission."

Party:

At Urokris's words, Governor Nighthill adds in, "So that creature was a half dragon? I think I saw him skulking on my estate when this attack first started. He was with that damn dragonborn!"

"Governor," Quarion begins, "if you were leading a raiding party toward the keep, where would you attempt to enter? Those kobolds could be on their way at any moment; it might behoove us to station our party near any points of weakness in the fortifications."

"By the way," he says, turning to Urokris and Valji, "where is our flying monk friend?  Urokris, you were with him, weren't you?  Did he say what he was getting up to?"

 Nighthill thinks a moment before responding. "The portcullis is the main way in or out of the castle. There's also a sally port to the side to let us counterattack anyone who attempts to break down the portcullis. As far as I'm aware, that's all there is. If you've met Escobert, he would know better  than I... He's served as Castellan since before my grandfather's time."

"Well, I suppose it's worth paying Mr. Escobert a brief visit on our way down there.  Are we all agreed that we should get in position to stave off these pesky creatures? We should try to reunite ourselves with our friend Skiaceq first, though. It'd be unwise to go into a fight short staffed... unless you're a halfling monk, that is. I suppose you'd probably fight with two eighthstaffs in that case."

Urokris and Quarion make their way back down to the entrance with Valji trailing behind them.The courtyard seems a bit quieter now: The body of the guard has been moved, and the majority of the soldiers have gone in to the barracks you presume is located somewhere in the castle. The heavy portcullis is left mostly unguarded, though two guards are posted next to the wench and switch which can be used together to raise and lower the gate as necessary. The majority of the remaining guard are the archers you saw surrounding circling the walls to protect from overhead attacks. The civilians are still crowded in various clumps around the courtyard, and you can see Linan and Cuth with their children near the wall. The children seem to have fallen asleep in their parents arms overwhelmed by the anxiety of the evening and the relief of seeing their father safe, If bandaged.

Ahead, Skiaceq is having what appears to be quite a heated discussion with Escobert. At least on the dwarfs part.

As the group approaches Skiaceq and Escobert, Quarion says, "Just the two we were looking for! Talk about killing two birds with one stone!" Aside, to Skiaceq, "No offense, my friend."

"I'm dying to hear what the two of you have been discussing, but I'm afraid there is a matter of some urgency.  We were just speaking to the governor atop the wall, and spotted a group of kobolds we think are set to try to attack the keep. The guards seem to be spread a bit thin, so we should position ourselves to provide assistance. Escobert, my friend --- or do you prefer Mr. The Red? --- if you were a kobold raiding party, where do you suppose you might try to penetrate the keep's defenses? Do you know of any way in apart from the main portcullis?"

Escobert diverts his gaze from Skiaceq to speak to Quarion. "Don't worry; no one's going to knock down these gates without us hearing about it." He walks over and gives a knock on the heavy wood of the portcullis as if to demonstrate. "There's also the old Sally Port and the tunnel which this one was asking about. It's well hidden and comes out near the stream. No one should be able to find it... proper dwarven engineering, despite what your friend  here seems to think. And on this side it's locked by a heavy gate for which I have the only key. Our biggest concern right now is attacks from above. Did you see tha dragon? I've not seen the like of it in the century and a half I've watched over this castle."

Urokris goes down towards the dwarf with Darvin, his head still a mess with thoughts of battle. "We can take care of them instead of your guards, of course we may also need a bit of coin considering we'd be putting ourselves in danger, especially since one of us almost fell during our retreat."

Persuasion: 7

Skiaceq is startled to see his earlier companions appear, but pleased to discover their goals align once again. He was intending to scout the tunnel and return to hire help, but this is much more convenient.

Growing impatient, he squawks at the dwarf. "Where does the tunnel lead? I need a precise location. You must help me. If I do not find Leosin, tonight's attack will not be the last." He looks to his companions. "Do you have a map of the region?"

Persuasion: 17

Attempting to play the role of peacemaker, Quarion places one hand on the shoulder of the angry dwarf, and the other on Skiaceq's wing.  "Let me apologize. My friend here is not from around here," he tells Escobar, "and so is not as familiar with the especially skilled craftsmanship of the dwarves in this region. I'm confident your tunnel is most sturdy." Recounting the description of the group of kobolds he had spotted, he continues, "One of the would-be raiders appears to be a spellcaster of some kind, however, so it may not be only mundane methods of entry we need to be worried about."

 "Who is this Leosin?" Quarion asks Skiaceq, remembering overhearing him use the name once before.

"Since you seem to have the portcullis and sally port guarded well enough, how about you let us into the tunnel and we'll make sure nothing is there. I'll even cast an alarm spell so that everyone in the keep will know if anything other than our party approaches the door on the other side. This way we all get what we want. Come on...how can you say no to this face?!" Valji says, ending up with a big smile for the dwarf.

If they do manage to get into the tunnel, Valji will take 10 minutes to ritual cast alarm just on the other side of the door (inside the tunnel) and exclude his companions from setting it off.

Skiaceq regards Quarion, feeling apprehensive toward the question without quite knowing why.

"A researcher of dragons," he reluctantly replies. "He is here—or was. He will know what is happening."

"As useful as that would be," he says, "how useful are the archers on the wall? And how many of those kobolds did you see approaching, Darcin? I seem to have forgotten to ask that, but would they be enough for the men on the walls to handle? As much as I would love to appease my draconic instincts to fight, if they can handle the kobolds, perhaps we can sneak by them and go and attempt to rescue this Leosin?"

"Fine," Escobert concedes. "I'm not sure why the tunnel is so popular lately. First that monk Leosin comes and asks about it, now you all want to see it? Well, better safe than sorry."

The redhead dwarf keeps rambling on as he walks you to the castle tower and down into the basement, "Governor Nighthill made me show that old monk the old tunnel. Asking if it was made by Kobolds. Kobolds! Can you believe it? The nerve! My father, Escobert the Grey, led the crew that built this castle, and dug this tunnel with his own pickaxe!" You see a heavy metal door on the far side of the room. There are boxes stacked around it, and judging from the dust patterns on the floor, the boxes had recently been moved away from it.

The Red gives walks up to the door and pulls the keychain off his pants, fumbling through the keys. He opens the door, which leads to a dark tunnel. Turning back to the adventurers, he begins, "As you can see..." He pauses for a second, mutters under his breath and then grabs a torch out of a nearby box, quickly lighting it and holding out to the tunnel. "As I was saying... As you can see, this masterful tunnel could only be made by a dwarf! Now, to answer the dragonborn's earlier question,  this passageway goes south directly to the stream bed. It lets us have access to water in a siege. Of course, we haven't needed it in well over a century, so the room has been used for storage since."

Make an Intelligence(History) check

History: 14
(bootleg disadvantage) 20

Skiaceq becomes stock still. Adrenaline and worry had driven him until this moment. Staring into the mouth of the tunnel, Skiaceq experiences what a non-Aarakocran might call a "falling sensation". His feathers bristle rapidly. He can almost feel its breath, this earthen maw creeping forward to swallow him up.

The dwarf's words are a distant hum to him in this state. When the torchlight illuminates the interior, a small measure of the paralysis recedes. Skiaceq thinks of his father, and pretends that his feet are moving on their own. He steps forward past the dwarf and enters the tunnel.

Skiaceq:

"So, what are we gonna do lads?" He asks as he takes a step towards the tunnel referring back to the question he asked before the dwarven man revealed them this tunnel.