"What plans? If you get the loot, what do they get?" Soar asks, not the least bit afraid of Tored's threats. 

"And you know how to handle yourself and people under your command, you could be a mercenary for any trumped-up lord, general, or bandit chief in the realms. Why pick this one? What else do you get from this? Are they taking common folk in captivity for anything... weird?"

She is not even acknowledging the threats, pretending like he is just a good friend who's had a bad go of things for a while and she's concerned for his well-being. You can't quite tell if she's sincere or deeply trolling him.

There is something more to what's going on here tonight, isnt there? Jalt looks at Tored. This is not typical behavior from dragon cults. This is an outright onslaught against Greenest. This is akin to war. He leans in closer to Tored. Who is Lennithon?

Soar, Tored looks at you with loathing which he manages to contain.  When he speaks, it is politely.  They gave us rules on looting.  Anything gold, they take and keep.  Jewels above a certain value too.  Anything else, we keep.  That's the deal.  And I prefer to be independent, but it's been slim pickings these last years.  Good thing about dragon cults is, they pay well and they don't stick around too long.  Works for me.

Lennithon is the dragon, replies Tored to Jalt.  The blue one, the one that was hear.  The cultists talked about it like it was a disobedient child.  I don't think that's who they served, if that's what you're asking.

Look, you want information, I want my hide.  I'm not answering any more questions unless you give me your word you will let me go.  You, and he looks directly at Soar, I reckon you're the type to keep your word, so I'm willing to make this deal.

Governor Nighthill scowls, but seems to look to you to take the lead.

Jalt looks at Tored again. Answer me this. How many people have you killed or stolen from tonight?

"Answer him, and then I will confer with the governor about what kind of deal we can arrange. It's his house you're in, after all." Soar says, with a quick glance at the governor. After Tored answers Jalt, she steps aside to talk quietly with the governor to see what kind of deal he might be able to actually make happen with the brigand.

Stolen from?  Dozens, I suppose.  Killed?  None.  Tored replies in a relaxed manner, as though he were not helpless and held prisoner.

The governor is unhappy with the idea of a deal, but will agree if the party recommends it.

Jalt glares at Tored now. Do you remember the order you gave to these men... to "kill these bastards?" You didnt kill anyone but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Jalt looks back at the governor. That is punishable by death, is it not? We have spared your life once, tonight. I think its time you return the favor.

I... I don't understand.  Will you spare me and let me go?  I will tell you everything if you do.  Tored seems desperate, and is allowing his fear to show more now.

"The four of us, trying to protect your town and your people, have had to kill more than zero. And there is nothing saying you can't let him go in a week, after all this has passed. What deal are you comfortable offering?" Soar says once she and the governor have passed out of Tored's earshot. She gesticulated her hands in a way that Tored might think she was advocating for a harsher arrangement.

We know nothing of our attackers, and we need to.  Desperately.  The governor glances at Tored, out of the corner of his eye.  I agree.  We will keep him prisoner for a month.  If any of the information he gives us proves false, he will hang.  Otherwise, a month from tonight, he will be released.  That much I can offer.

Jalt just stares at Tored as his desperation has come to a boiling point but says nothing. Instead he lets the silence fill the air as Soar and the governor conjure up a deal behind him.

Soar nods at the governor, thinking the deal fair. Seeing he does not want to interact with the brigand much more than he has to, she returns to Tored, trying to project more confidence than she feels.

"I can give you my word that the governor will release you if you tell him everything, and tell him true, right now. We'll be able to know if you're holding something back, so it'll go better for you tell the truth," and as she does this, she casts divine sense again, making her eyes pulse with a greenish light once more, setting off the skull inlays on her death knight armor menacingly. She glances briefly at Elspeth's devilish form, hoping she can also seem intimidating (if you want an intimidation roll, this is me asking for advantage: 9).

"I don't have the power here to save your neck if the governor decides you're not helping him know all you do about the attackers. But I have faith in you. Convince him. And live. And go free, once this maelstrom passes."

Tored swallows hard, and is silent for a moment.  All right, he says.  I told you most of what I know.  I'm not in their damned Cult, I just got paid by them, so I don't know anything about their big plans.  But I can tell you where they're basing themselves now.  We... they have a camp, you see.  To the south-east.  I can tell you enough to get your there.  He gives a brief description of the route, and some major landmarks that will help you.  The other thing is, what you mentioned, what the cult leaders were talking about - the eggs.  Dragon eggs.  I saw them, in the camp.  Under heavy guard, and they didn't like me snooping, but I got curious.  So, there you have it.  Are you going to let me go now?

"Once this passes, I have confidence the governor will release you. It might happen sooner if he sees you answering questions and going out of your way to be helpful. I sense you are holding some things back. I have faith that you will share them and possibly help save lives. How did they contact you for your services? How many have they hired? How many cult members have you seen? How big is the camp? Are their fighters and spellcasters stronger than what we've seen already? Do they have passcodes or customary greetings they'd look for if someone infiltrated the camp? And I would love any guesses on who the queen is, and if not, who seems to be in charge."

"Have you seen the queen they kept referring to?" Badger pipes up, "If the blue dragon was not the queen...who is?"

They contacted us through... well, friends I guess.  We, um, mercenaries, right?  We talk to each other, and have contacts, and things like that.  I thnk it was Jorrum who told me.  We were drinking one night and got to talking, you know?  They've hired a lot, maybe a hundred?  And there's a hundred of them, or more, all told.  They have some decent fighters, and a few magic folk - can't really say how strong they are.  You lot are the first to put up much of a fight.  No, no passcodes.  At least, not for us mercenaries.  And I don't know who's in charge, really; there's a few who give orders, that one in purple robes among them.  Don't know their names.  Don't need to know. 

I dunno who the queen is.  Some dragon?  I don't ask questions.  

They contacted us through... well, friends I guess.  We, um, mercenaries, right?  We talk to each other, and have contacts, and things like that.  I thnk it was Jorrum who told me.  We were drinking one night and got to talking, you know?  They've hired a lot, maybe a hundred?  And there's a hundred of them, or more, all told.  They have some decent fighters, and a few magic folk - can't really say how strong they are.  You lot are the first to put up much of a fight.  No, no passcodes.  At least, not for us mercenaries.  And I don't know who's in charge, really; there's a few who give orders, that one in purple robes among them.  Don't know their names.  Don't need to know. 

I dunno who the queen is.  Some dragon?  I don't ask questions.  

Elspeth leans forwards, visibly fustrated. "Surely, you've managed to pick up some information - what do you know about this cult? Where are they going next? What are they taking the treasure for? Have they been taking prisoners? "

I told you, says Tored.  I don't know their plans.  I'm not a member of their damned cult, why would they tell me.  I'm a hired hand.  Nothing more.  Are you going to keep your word or not?

We will keep our word, the governor says coldly.  You will spend the next month in a jail cell.  If anything you have said tonight proves to be a lie, you will hang.  I might put the rope around your next myself.  If all is as you say, you will go free - though penniless and unarmed.  Perhaps you can find more honest work in future.  Tored scowls and seems ready to say something rude, but thinks better of it.

Enough of this, the governor continues.  Unless you wish to question him further tonight?  I hope and pray there will be time tomorrow to test some of his claims.  

A guard runs up.  Sir, they are continuing to gather in front of the main gate.  I think most of them are there now.

I see.  I will come in a moment.  The governor picks a moment at his wounded face, before grimacing and forcing his hand down.  Take the prisoner away.  See that he is not harmed; there may be those in the keep who want to exact a just vengeance on his worthless hide, but I will keep my word.  Two guards salute, grab Tored and drag him away, still tightly bound.  Tored says nothing, but glares at you all, especially Soar, as he is removed.

The governor spits over the side of the keep, and then turns his attention to you again.  Not long after you left, a sizable number of attackers began to cluster in front of the main gate.  Not too near, and taking care to keep behind cover so my archers only got a handful, but the numbers have grown steadily over the last hour.  Dawn is not far off, and it may be they intend to make an attack on the keep, but that makes little sense, and there's no sign of siege equipment.  I can only wonder what they are planning, but perhaps you would join me and take a look for yourselves?

As Tored glares at Soar, she says "he is the law in this town, and we will both keep our words. You will go free if you cooperate and have spoken no lies that threaten innocents. You will not go to Kelemvor's warren tonight. That's what I'd call a good night, mate! If you need a reference for a future employer, I would be happy to provide one. Again I'm Soar, your friendly neighborhood death knight!"

She agrees to join the governor at the gate. She asks if anyone has a spare javelin she could use.