Sparlock's Hoard of the Dragon Queen

"A map?" Darvin says to the priest. "May I have a look?"

[insert possible map examination here]

"I think we should assume the raiders will give chase regardless," he says. "We managed to make it here unseen, though with a group this big getting back is sure to be a much larger challenge. As my companion said," gesturing toward Valji who is trying to keep the door intact, "there's a tunnel we can use to get back into the keep. All I can say is that we have to try, and that the four of us will protect you along the way to the best of our ability.  What's certain is that if they stay here, they'll be dead as soon as they break down that door. But perhaps I should hold on to that map for you, in case it is of strategic value to them, as you suspect."

OoC: Suddenly, a scroll of Pass Without Trace falls from the ceiling. Unfortunately since none of us is a Ranger or Druid, nobody can use it. Dangit!

Skiaceq examines the parchment over Darvin’s shoulder, paying less attention to its contents than to its age and make. A plan is already forming in his mind.

To the priest he says, “Do you have any scrolls like this? In similar condition, and a scroll casing? Bring them here, quickly.”

Then to Darvin, “Can you tell what they hope to find with this? A general direction?”

"I just might," the priest says, "Give me a second and I'll go check the library." He disappears for a minute before coming back with a scroll case and another scroll of about the same age. A glance at the front of the scroll shows a title. "Farming and you: From seed to mill with the blessings of Chauntea"

At this point, the civilians are mostly gathered together, the small crowd murmuring with discontent and fear as the pounding at the front door continues.

When Valji completes his casting, he will return to the group and say, "We need to hurry up and get moving! Squee, we'll get this group moving and you bring up the tail. Will that give you time to make your decoy scroll? If not, tough!" the gnome finishes with a smile and a wink at the giant bird-man.

Skiaceq returns Valji’s wink. His eyes widen and his head feathers stand, the Aarakocran equivalent of a smile. “It will be enough. Be ready to fight; if they are clever, they will divide.” He studies the real scroll carefully, attempting to determine why the cultists desire this scroll and where they might head when they retrieve it. Then he slips the decoy scroll into the casing and follows behind the group, watching for patrols.

(will add insight roll in a bit... can’t get to my PC atm)

As the group is walking, Darvin falls back to walk next to Skiaceq. "What do you make of that map? Looks like it's highlighting the way to a cave. I can't tell if they're interested because it will tell them how to get there, or if they want it back because they don't want anyone else to know where it is. Either way, maybe we should check it out after we get these people to safety."

OoC: Is insight appropriate here since we're trying to interpret a map as opposed to reading a person? If so, Darvin will help Skiaceq.

OoC: I had to think about this one for a second.... I think the appropriate check would probably be Intelligence[Survival], since you're interpreting (as opposed to following) a map. Lissandra will help, but it shouldn't be that hard of a check anyway. Speaking of which: 15

The map is in a similar hand to the maps found in the secret tunnel. Lightly drawn over the top in a different hand, you can see some of the major features of the city, but the majority of the map seems to be of kobold lair under the city, the closest entrance of which is in the woods to the south of the temple. Near a number of the other entrances are scribbles across passages in the same hand as the overlay of city features, most notably over the tunnel leading into the small room you found earlier. You surmise that these passages have collapsed over time. Whoever had this map was making their way to a large chamber deep in the tunnels. The size and shape of this chamber is distinctly different from the other kobold tunnels.

"Oh! We need to check all of these other entrances - looks like the tunnel we used isn't the only one in this town! I wonder what these scribbles mean? I wonder if we missed something in our tunnel? I wonder when lunch will be?" the gnome muses as they walk quickly to the entrance of their tunnel back to the keep. He keeps an eye out for trouble or the kobold patrol...

Skiaceq’s stomach sinks into his feet as he realizes where he must go. “Ahh...on second thought...” He looks to the others, hoping someone will volunteer for the decoy mission or suggest a new plan.

"Why don't we stick together, focus on getting these people to safety for now, try to keep the map safe on the way? We can investigate the tunnels afterward," says Darvin, guiding some townsfolk toward the trees where the group had kept themselves concealed on the way to the temple. On the way he waves his hands toward the trees on the opposite side of the temple and mutters something in elvish. Suddenly the group hears crunching leaves, footsteps and idle chatter emanting from that direction [ minor illusion ]. "That might buy us a bit of time, anyway," he says.

Esker

(OOC: Assuming we get to the tunnel entrance safely? Once we get the townsfolk in safely, we can examine the map more closely and see if there is a way to this deeper section through the tunnel to the keep that we missed before. Otherwise, as a group we can decide if we want to press on towards one of the other entrances or take a rest…)

After around 4 minutes, the party collects together the civilians and heads out. 

As the villagers are attempting to climb the wall, two winged kobolds emerge from the woods to the south of the wall, flying towards the source of the sound. After a minute, you hear the sound of a horn in the distance, and two kobold shapes soar about the forest, heading around the wall in opposite directions.

Most of the civilians are on the other side of the wall.

OoC: Are the kobolds still far enough away that just pressing on and trying to get everyone over is feasible, or does it look like that'd be a long shot? If I'm reading your post correctly, at least some of the kobolds are coming toward us? Or are they just flying around scouting the area?

There is only one winged kobold approaching your direction. You think that the people on the inside of the wall could flatten up to hide, because they're on the outside of the perimeter. The civilians will definitely be seen if they do nothing, but may be able to hide in the foliage if you want them.

OoC: I guess I think the PCs would have split up, probably two of us going first and the other two going last, so that there weren't groups of civilians left defenseless... sort of fox-chicken-and-grain-crossing-a-river style. I'll say for the purposes of this post that Darvin is taking up the rear, so he'll direct the lagging townsfolk, but I assume he can't talk to the leading group without attracting attention.

When Darvin spots the winged kobold approaching the group, he raises a hand to the group of townsfolk who haven't yet scaled the wall to tell them to stop. "Be still. There's a kobold coming from that way," he says, pointing across the wall and to the north. "Press yourselves against the wall and be silent, so it doesn't spot you. I'm going to try to pick it off before it can attack."

Drawing an arrow from his quiver, Darvin takes aim toward the urd, and readies himself to fire at it, as soon as it's in [non-disadvantaged] range.

Attack: 25 Damage: 5

[In case unseen advantage applies, here's a second attack roll: 15]

Anyone else going to do anything before the Urd arrives?

Every nerve in Skiaceq's body hums with alertness as Darvin's arrow takes flight. If the beast lives, every patrol in the area will descend upon these survivors. Combat risks giving away their position, but Skiaceq cannot permit that urd to escape. Wings uncanny silent, he surges after the arrow.

Unarmed Strike: 20 Damage: 5; Bonus Attack: 20 Damage: 4
(If advantage: 13, 16)

The moment the urd is dispatched, Skiaceq carries it quietly down into a bush before swiftly returning to the group.

Stealth: 20

Valji, leading the civilians over the wall, keeps them corralled in the bushes on the outside of the wall. He moves along and comforts the children, many of them bigger than he is! But Valji is an adventurer, and even though his visions of the world's doom haunt him every night, he must be the brave one now. "Don't be scared - be brave. And quiet. But mostly be quiet. We'll get you to the tower soon!"

The urd never saw what was coming. First the arrow strikes it, and as it is falling from the blow, Skiaceq comes in and finishes the job with uncanny speed. After bringing the body down safely into the brush, the party is free to continue unhindered.