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."

Auriel waits for Glevith to finish speaking, and then says, "This is no suicide mission. Our goal is to help as many as we can escape the city, but we need to reach the Lord Regent as well. I don't know if Phlan can ever recover from this, or if there's any way to drive the beast off. But we can all agree on one thing: Ector Brahms must be kept safe for that to happen. As long as there's even a chance he lives, we have to seize it." He pauses, "Is there a way you could help us with that as well?"

Hex notices Hildigrim's horrified expression as she talks and raises a brow with confusion. Had she said something wrong? Perhaps she had divulged something he intended on keeping secret. Either way, she decides to stay quiet and let the other's speak first, lest she say something wrong again. She was never much of a diplomat.

Carl gives a knowing wink to Glevith, catching the drift.  “Righ.  So, gather up survivors, the important folk to gather for a counterattack and retreat, getting out through the sewers.  We’ll meet back here tonight and get away.  Now, any idea where to look for ‘em?  We must step lively and silently, and times a tickin’.”  

"Is there a way you could help us with that as well?"
Now, any idea where to look for ‘em?

"No, and no," Glevith says as a matter of fact, no menace nor amicability in his voice. "We have one chance at retreat, and I am fully occupied with it. I will meet you here at nightfall, if you wish to join us."

Glevith shakes each of your hands before turning back to his war table. "I wish you luck," he adds.

For Hildigrim:

Hildigrim slides his hand into a pocket after his handshake with Glevith before giving a nod of the head in thanks. "Nightfall it is," he says.

The halfling turns to look at each of the others, and if they seem obliged to leave, he leads them back out into Scholar's Square.

As they walk, he carefully removes what he put in his pocket and tries to look at it without alerting anyone else.

For Hildigrim:

Hildigrim scowls at the paper, then folds it and hides it away again. Once they get back to the Laughing Goblin, he'll discuss it with the others.

DM:

Auriel nods to Glevith and shakes his head. The man is right to focus his efforts on providing the refugees with a way to escape, yet the paladin can't shake the feeling that leaving the Lord Protector behind won't be a good decision. Clenching his jaw at the thought, he wastes no more time and follows Hildigrim and the rest toward the Laughing Goblin.

"Perhaps Knight Aleyd will have useful information when we return—something that might allow us to rescue the Lord Protector as well," he tells the others.

Hex silently shakes Glevith's hand and walks out with the rest of the party. She nods at Auriel, hoping for the same. "Evacuating as many people as we can is something at least." 

For Hildigrim:

Aya Glenmiir's wards seem to have done the trick, as you feel your mind drifting; the closer you get to the Laughing Goblin, the more distracted you become. If you were alone, you may be distracted enough to forget your destination entirely, but together, you find the inn still standing and the square emptied of all but corpses. Aleyd has not returned when you arrive, giving you a chance to rest and discuss your conversation with Glevith.

Inside, several weary faces snap up in your direction when you enter through the door, most of them quickly relaxing when they see who it is. Imizael still sits next to the covered body of Fat Mar, while Aya Glenmiir and the rescued dwarf sit at a table in conversation. The common room is less crowded, as some seem to have moved upstairs, but many still linger, sitting in nervous tension.