Hildigrim’s gaze lingers on Hex a moment too long, his expression shifting in silent protest — cautious, then troubled, and finally horrified. How could she cast such a stone so freely, when its ripples might drown the Lord Regent himself? If that man fell, what hope would Phlan have left in the short term?

He catches Hex’s eye at last, forcing his features back into something more neutral, though the effort leaves his jaw tight. Turning toward Glevith, he folds his hands behind his back, the very picture of a Watcher weighing his words.

“What we really know,” he says carefully, “is that a great many innocent people are still trapped inside these walls. Every hour we delay, the slaughter grows. If you can put your contacts to work — to move families, elders, and children quietly out of the city — you’ll be doing more for Phlan’s survival than any whispered intrigue. Without that, we’ll be left with a bloodbath, and little else. We only just managed to rescue a cage full of folk who were destined to be sacrificed to the beast.”

Auriel nods along with Hex and Hildigrim's replies, then directs a question toward Glevith. "There's no way out through usual means, but what about the unusual ones? The Cult struck from the sewers — if they could move their forces through them, so could we. Unless they're still infested. Aya mentioned the catacombs as well. What else do you know of Phlan's hidden ways? Anything that could be turned to our use?"

Carl is sitting there in deep thought, musing.  He looks up and says “How far have your scouts ventured?  Is Podol plaza clear?  How close can we get to the Stonajow Gate?  Sewers could be done, aye, but if that’s the way they came in, I’m afraid we’d run smack into them, just as we descended.  We could head back to the Laughing Goblin and the docks, get out by boat.  I imagine they've focused on the bridges.  Access to the Iron Route and the Graveyards are probably shut off, right?  How shall we get out, once we do locate him...."

"As to what else we know... well this probably isn't news to you but there was supposed to be a meeting at Valjevo Castle with basically every important person in Phlan attending. Most of them are probably dead... except for the Lord Regent. What you might not know is that, according to Aya, he was at Stojanow Gate during the dragon attack due to a mishap - one that may have saved his life. Knight Aleyd wants to find him. She believes if we're to free Phlan from the Cult's grasp, we need him to lead us."

"Aye. Rumors are that dragon's killed every noble, guildmaster, and member of the ruling class. At least now the people have a few less heels to suffer under if the dragon can be forced out," Glevith replies.

"There's no way out through usual means, but what about the unusual ones? The Cult struck from the sewers — if they could move their forces through them, so could we. Unless they're still infested. Aya mentioned the catacombs as well. What else do you know of Phlan's hidden ways? Anything that could be turned to our use?"

"Indeed, from the stories I've heard, I've put together that the invaders came in both through the sewers and via ships that docked in port, though it would seem you know more of how so many made it without raising the alarm and how they're connected to the dragon," Glevith muses.

“How far have your scouts ventured?  Is Podol plaza clear?  How close can we get to the Stonajow Gate?  Sewers could be done, aye, but if that’s the way they came in, I’m afraid we’d run smack into them, just as we descended.  We could head back to the Laughing Goblin and the docks, get out by boat.  I imagine they've focused on the bridges.  Access to the Iron Route and the Graveyards are probably shut off, right?  How shall we get out, once we do locate him...."

"It might be possible to get out via the sewers. Of course, you're correct - that's the way many of the invaders entered, so it would take a skilled smuggler who knows his way around to escape that way," Glevith says with a wry smile.

“What we really know,” he says carefully, “is that a great many innocent people are still trapped inside these walls. Every hour we delay, the slaughter grows. If you can put your contacts to work — to move families, elders, and children quietly out of the city — you’ll be doing more for Phlan’s survival than any whispered intrigue. Without that, we’ll be left with a bloodbath, and little else. We only just managed to rescue a cage full of folk who were destined to be sacrificed to the beast.”

Glevith's eyes flicker to the Harpers' pin on Hildigrim's chest, then back to his eyes as he speaks. "There are a few ancient tunnels that don't connect to the rest of the sewers, except for two places. Chances are whatever is still down there will not be in them."

He pauses before continuing. "I tell you this because Phlan is lost. I'll not assist in a suicide mission against a very large, very real green dragon. If that thing is going to be driven off, it's going to take a tactical retreat and careful planning. Perhaps the Lord Regent can help with that, or perhaps he simply died with the rest of the nobility and it's a fool's errand to risk a rescue. Either way, if you're interested in fleeing, then return to the Cracked Crown at nightfall along with your cage full of folk and any others who would flee the town with us."