Vigan

The goliath bows his head in respect. "Your loss pains me, and will be avenged."

Drawing himself up to his full height, he introduces himself. "My name is Vigan Kalukakanu, although amongst my tribe I am known as "Ironfist". I am a member of the Lord's Alliance, and my masters therefore have an interest in keeping the peace in these lands. My companions likely have there own motivations for being here, but we will assist you in any way we can."

"Our need is the safe return of our townspeople," answers Torem. "I fear they fled the cloud giants and ran straight into the hands of the goblins to the north of us. How else would these scum know to ransack Nightstone?" 

"Ironfist, we've not crossed paths with any from the Alliance, but we know they stand fiercely against this new menace brought about by the giants," comments Sydiri. "We find comfort in whatever aid you...and your friends...now offer." 

Carrow 

Watching the exchange between the others the ranger kept his distance, people weren't too accepting of Half-Orcs especially after being on edge like this. The guards told a somber tale and he was happy to help but a few things didn't make sense to Carrow. These men made it across the bridge easy enough now why did they not secure the drawbridge after the giants left, and the lady, how exactly did she die in the keep. Carrow steps forward hood drawn about his face. "I have some skill at tracking humans i would be willing to help find the people of Nightstone" he pauses a second trying to read the guards, so many questions where to start "I too am sorry for the loss of this towns lady, please, how did she die?" 

Andor

Having watched the initial conversation from a slight distance the sorcerer interjects. "I think something we can do for all of us is close that drawbridge, if any more goblins decide to show up we won't have any problems picking them off from the guardtowers and I doubt the cowardly little devils will try and scale the walls." Looking beyond the guards he adds "The other thing you might want to consider before we go rushing off after your townsfolk is how are you going to get back over the bridge, we could help you make a ladder of some sort?  But once this is done we will definitely go and look for the rest of the village, we couldn't let them suffer out there at the hands of the goblins."

"Buried under rubble," replies Torem somberly to Carrow's question. "The keep was heavily bombarded by the cloud giants and the Lady was caught by falling debris. We did what we could...attending her wounds for many, many hours..."

The guard then turns to Andor, but only two words come out of his mouth, "We could..." 

He is interrupted by the unexpected sound of horses' hooves--many of them--that comes from outside the village. The sound grows louder and louder, and thirty seconds later you can hear the horses and their riders outside Nightstone's gate. The sound of indistinct chatter reaches the party's ears. Then, suddenly, a loud male voice calls out, "Lower the bridge! Friends of Nightstone are here! Hello, I say! Lower the bridge!"

(OOC: The drawbridge was raised very soon after the battle with the goblins came to an end)

Andor

"Oh yes I forgot you raised it already, good work" he says patting Vigan on the shoulder, or as close as he can get "I think we should be careful - let's look down from the guard tower before we open the gates, we know the Zhentarim agent was expecting company, until we know for sure let's not assume anything."

He heads off to the tower unless stopped.

Rixton:

I follow Andor but climb the ladder of the other tower. 

Ladrian

"I can help you, Carrow. But I don't know if it's a good idea to split in smaller groups... We don't know exactly what's out there." Ladrian says, resting is shortbow and moving closer to Carrow. He then turns to the guards: "Is there some type of bell call you use here? Something to signal anyone that listens that it is safe to comeback? Perhaps the same bell call you use for mass at the temple or any other festivity? Something with a specific rhythmic and cadence." 

Carrow

"I agree friend" nodding "the pack is stronger together, careful reconnaissance and intelligence gathering must be done before any move is made" 

Upon hearing the calls from outside town the ranger turns to the guardsmen dropping the hood from his head "Torem gather the other guards and have them meet us by the main gate, i would like to show whoever is outside that this place" He gestures to Nightstone itself "is not for the vultures to pick apart just yet" Expecting trouble Carrow heads off to climb the southern tower and provide whatever ranged support he can for the others. This could be the reinforcements that cryptic letter warned of, we cannot be tricked into giving this town to such an organisation for mere profit, these are peoples homes, i do hope the others see this the same way.

Vigan

The goliath sighs, and walks back towards the drawbridge. Getting busy in this village all of sudden...

He looks up at the towers adjacent to the entrance to the village, awaiting any indication that the male voice outside belongs to a friend or foe.

Rixton:

I reach the top of the tower first and look out at the men and their horses below me. "Ho there," I say. "Who calls themselves friends of Nightstone?"

Sydiri shakes his head in response to Ladrian's question. "Unfortunately, no. We have arranged no such signal."

Torem seems entirely comfortable with relinquishing control of this new situation. Following Carrow's suggestion, he and and Sydiri hurriedly return to the keep while the five members of the party ascend to the roof(s)of the respective guardtower(s) where, from behind the crenelated battlements, they see seven humans--five male and two female--on horseback. The two women and four of the men have cloaks of varying shades of brown draped over their leather armor. Crossbows and scimitars seem to be the weapons of choice. The fifth man is clad in studded leather armor and, like his companions, has a scimitar on his hip. His hair is dark; so too is his skin, and he has a noticeable scar running down his right cheek. His position as the leader is immediately apparent.

When he sees the faces of the party members atop the guardtowers, the leader of the group flashes a smile and says to no one in particular. "Good afternoon! I would address you as guards of Nightstone, but your manner of dress tells me that such a greeting is unfitting. As friends of Nightstone, we hope all is well behind these walls." 

After a brief pause, he continues, "I am called Xolkin, and I lead this small band of fighters. We are en route to Daggerford but have heard this village might be in need of assistance. Your presence at this gate might confirm that it seems." 

(I am imaging Rixton in the North drawbridge tower, if that jives well enough with the narrative.)

Andor would have gone to the closest one so the south tower. 

Rixton (North drawbridge tower):

"I'm afraid you've arrived too late, good sir," I say. "Nightstone is no more. It has no people: Only goblin corpses remain. No Lady: She succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack. And, sadly, no Nightstone. We haven't agreed on a new name for the place yet. I favor Deephole. What do you think?"

Rixton:

"Although," I say before anyone can answer, "I admit that five feet isn't all that deep. Shallowhole just doesn't sound all that impressive."

Rixton's response creates a bit of uncertainty in the seven riders. They look at each other with eyes narrowed. They exchange a few words under their breath, but from the top of the towers the party members can't make out what they are saying. 

The one who identified himself as Xolkin nudges his horse a bit closer to the north tower. Speaking to Rixton, he says, "You speak of the destruction of this village, and then you make lighthearted jests about naming it something else?" 

One of Xolkin's fellow riders growls, "Tell 'im to lower the damned gate, Xolkin. They've no right to keep us out."

Xolkin quiets his companion with a motion of his hand. He then speaks again. "You'll have to forgive me for doubting your sincerity. And surely you'll understand why I will not simply ride off to Daggerford and leave Nightstone under your watch."

Rixton:

"But five feet is a good start," I continue breathlessly. "If the townsfolk ever return, they could make it into a deep hole. Of course, then you have a real safety hazard right in the town square. No one wants to raise a child in a town centered around a death trap..."

Rixton:

"Ah," I say after catching my breath. "But that brings me back to the point: What need have you to enter? There is nothing left to protect."

Rixton:

I can see they are unimpressed, so I lean forward on my right forearm, showing the little flying snake wrapped around my bicep. It ruffles its wings a little. "I'm sorry if my tone is a little unclear," I say, making my tone more serious. "What I am saying, Xolkin," I say, emphasizing his name to ensure he is paying attention, "is that there is nothing here for you now. If you continue on, you might meet up with our friend still."

Deception: 16