As the group travels following Escobert, Jalt places his hand on Breena's head and smiles at her. I'm glad you are ok little one. You were as brave as ever. And we're going to need a lot more of that, I'm afraid. We must be vigilant and steadfast in our actions. 

Soar thanks Lasani again and suggests that they split up the goodberries - one for her and three for each of the others.

She tries to wipe off the blood from the healed shoulder wound to try to keep others from worrying about her too much (she still hasn't had a chance to even notice the blood from the now-healed cut near her eye from the first battle of the night) and follows the dwarf to the governor, ready to hear what could be most helpful to help Greenest from what seems like endless threats to the town, the people, and perhaps the rest of the realms.

"Anyone know if that dragon's a girl? Maybe she's the queen?"

Elspeth blinks when she feels her wounds healed by the mere proximity of presence to the doe, startled, but is quick to yield the way to the rest of the wounded. Away from the crowd, she bows again to Lasani, to thank her for all she's done tonight. Then, she turns to follow the rest of the group, to see where next they were needed. 

She winces when the dragon passes over again, ducking down into cover.

"I hope that's not the queen." She replies to Soar. "It'll be hard getting a dragon to see reason. Of course, we need more information. Let's wait and see if the governor has any news " 

Governor Nighthill greets you all warmly; he has had news of what transpired at the Sally Port, and shakes each of you by the hand.  Thank you, my friends.  Greenest is in your debt.  His expression becomes more sober, and he adds:  And yet, immediately I must ask more of you.  Please, look there.  He points to a large building to the east of the keep, just about visible to you in the darkness, as spots of light surround it, and identifiable as a religious building.  The Temple of Chauntea; he says.  Many farmers and townsfolk fled there when the raid began; Chauntea has many followers here, and for a while the raiders seemed to leave it alone, but no longer, I fear.  You can see figures moving around the building.  (Make a Perception check to see more).

Our people have barricaded the doors, but it seems to me that the raiders are about to make an assault.  As I said, I can get you safely out of the keep.  But from here, I do not know enough about the situation.  All I can do is ask you to go there, find out what may be done, and save the people there if you can.  Will you do this?

Perception: 22

Jalt returns the handshake.. We have been healed, we may grow tired but I sense my friends know the severity of what has befallen Greenest. I think I can speak for them when I say that we will do this. My duty is to Bahamut. And her creation Chauntea and her followers as well. Jalt turns back to the party. I must go to that temple and save anyone I can. I... we must.

"Well what else were we to do, Governor? Let them take the keep? 'Sides, though we got banged up a bit we're fine now thanks to the real hero of the night, Lasani, who is friends with some sort of amazing magical deer baby who healed everyone in the hospital. Gods, that dragon's quite big isn't it?" Soar says before listening to the rest of his report on the temple.

She peers out into the darkness wither her half-elven eyes (Perception: 7)

"How close is this secret exit from the temple would you say? Meaning how far will we have to get the farmers from the temple to safety? And is there some way for your people to provide a momentary diversion away from the temple so that we can get in without getting swarmed? I am game to give it a try regardless - but we'll be more likely to get people out if we can draw some of these jerks away first."

Jalt can barely see anything in this darkness, but Soar can make out groups of attackers, maybe in threes, fours or fives, moving around the cathedral; these are similar to what you've seen before, kobolds and humans and a few others.

Governor Nighthill nods, the stream of questions from Soar actually reassuring his military mind.  Two hundred and fifty feet, more or less.  We can pepper them with arrows to provide a diversion; if we can agree a signal, I have keen-eyed guards who can keep an eye on you, and call an attack.  It will be no more than a distraction at this distance though; actually hitting those bastards is... unlikely from so far.  You might find other and better means of distraction when you are there, however.  If Brother Eadyan is there, speak to him; he's a Priest of Chauntea, and though I doubt he'll fight himself, he's a smart fellow and may have a few ideas.  Now, please go. I have a bad feeling about how many raiders seem to be headed in that direction.  Escobert, would you?

Escobert readies himself to lead you through the secret exit from the keep; if there's anything you want to say to him or the Governor before doing so, including agreeing a signal for any kind of long range diversionary attack, you can.

I do not see well in the dark Jalt proclaims If anyone else who can, will take point so that they can signal the guards to cover us, that would be ideal. He looks at the others Of all the things Bahamut has graced me with, that was not one of them. He lets out more of a nervous smile as he tries to bring a moment of levity to the situation.

Soar looks a bit closer at the area a little closer to the temple. "See there, where you can see the road rises to the side of the temple? If my friend here, Elspeth, sets that bare ground on fire (create bonfire), then do all you can to drop arrows on the biggest group you see near the temple. It might be better before or after we get the people out, we'll have to decide there. Well then. The rescue has begun!"

Soar follows after Escobar. She volunteers to go first because she can see well in the dark. "Perhaps one day Bahamut will light the way for you -- some of even our younger clerics can bring light to the darkness," Soar says with a comforting smile to Jalt, clapping him on the back as she trails Escobar. "But I'll have your back. Front. You know what I mean!"

And so, the dwarf Escobert leads you down the parapets and into the depths of the keep.  You move through what might be bustling kitchens under other circumstances, but the cooks and servants are either taking shelter with the civilians, or manning the parapets in armour.  You are then taken through a packed and heavily used cellar, then into a less used cellar, and then through an empty cellar and into a dark tunnel that has obviously been unused in decades or more.  Escobert carries a torch, lighting the way.  You make your way down the tunnel; the walls are increasingly damp, and the smell mouldy and unpleasant.  After a minute or two, you come to the exit; bars guard the way forward, though a door has been set into them.  Escobert puts his torch in a sconce in the walls, and fumbles at his belt, finally producing a large key which he uses to unlock the door, and then hands to you.  You will need this, but make sure the enemy doesn't get a hold of it; we've no need for more of them getting into the keep this night.  As he is talking, you notice that to the side of the tunnel about seven corpses have been laid in a pile.  Escobert notices your gaze;  Aye, a few of them were poking around when we tested this route earlier tonight.  We took them down, don't you worry, but don't lead others back this way if you can help it.  

You pass through the iron door, locking it behind you, and follow the rest of the tunnel; it swiftly emerges on the back of a river.  There are not many houses around, and no sign of raiders.  The cathedral is about two hundred feet ahead of you, down the river and a little back from the bank itself.  The night remains as it was; dark and overcast, and pitch black to anyone without darkvision (Jalt).

How do you wish to proceed?

 "Chauntea's temple. Of course." She glances over the parapets without actually looking at anything. "We'll save them , don't you worry about it." She shivers, turning away from the sight below and briskly follows along with her companions.

"I can take second place again." She offers. "Jalt, keep a hand on me or Breena, and we'll do our best to guide you. I'd suggest no light until we're ready to send a signal, though. If we can sneak past the attackers all the way to the temple it would be for the best, although it would be satisfying if we could give them a beating."

Soar thanks Escobar and agrees to take the key, stashing it in her sleeve. At the end of the tunnel, she takes another close look at the cathedral to see how many doors there are, if there are any low windows, and where there seem to be cultists - those torches they saw from the parapet.

"Shall we quietly make our way there down the riverbank, and then see if there's a door that is not getting as much attention? Anyone have any brilliant ideas? Other ways so distract them or deceive them? Otherwise let's get moving quickly and quietly. Oh, look right there, where the road rises a bit, that must be where they can see from the keep. El, if you put a bonfire there they will start shooting distracting arrows at the largest group of meanies they can see. Right now, doesn't seem like we need it but could be useful later when we're bringing people back."

The riverbank to me would seem the best bet. Jalt says Stay out of line of sight and try to circumvent their defenses. If we can get there without notice, we might be able take the temple and secure it and the people inside. Then try to take the people the same way we came, and use the bonfire as a distraction. He nods Yes, the riverbank, I agree Soar.

Together, you attempt to make your way towards the cathedral, with Breena leading Jalt through the darkness.  The dragon is fortunately distant, and there don't seem to be many raiders around, at least on the river bank as you head slowly and steadily east.

Everyone please make a Stealth check, with disadvantage if you are wearing heavy armour (Jalt and Soar).

10

Soar stealth: 16

Stealth: 22

Breena's Stealth check:  14

Silently, you make your way through the weeds that grow around the river; even your cleric and paladin manage to keep the noise of their armour to a minimum, and you manage to get close to the cathedral without attracting attention.

Now that you are nearby, you can see the large building is harassed by three main groups of attackers; all have torches, and so there's enough light for even Jalt to get a clear sense of what's happening.

The temple is a large, stone building, with a front and rear entrance, both barricaded.  At the front entrance, a large group is just finishing bringing up a improvised battering ram; they look like they plan to break down the front doors.  A smaller group is moving around the cathedral, shouting, taunting the people inside, making threats of what will happen to them if they don't surrender.  They make their way slowly, dancing and laughing and drinking; a mix of kobolds and humans, they take several minutes to do a full circuit of the building.  A final group is busy at the back doors collecting straw and setting it on fire; it's not clear if they're trying to burn through the doors or just hoping to create enough smoke to force the people out.

From where you are, you could probably reach the front door or rear door without attracting attention from the others.  As you watch, the first group make their first run against the main door with the battering ram:  it hits the front doors and they shake; they are holding, but they won't hold forever.  You have limited time to act, and limited ability to talk so close to possible detection.

What would you like to do?

The back door group is the smallest, from the description? About how many figures can we see moving in the smoke? (Perception: 12)

Soar silently points to the back door and takes a step in that direction, whispering behind her shield, "fewer threats; smoke hides." 

If the others nod and agree to try the back door, she'll try to help the group time the approach just as the big crowd circuiting the temple turns the corner out of view to give us the most time to get into the back door without too much noise.