"I am ready whenever you guys are."  Dain says with a shrug.

"There is a secret way out of the keep." The governor informs the group. "A narrow tunnel runs from the cellar beneath the keep to the bank of the stream. The tunnel is wide enough to allow warriors to pass through it in single file. In the keep, the tunnel is sealed with a locked ironbound door, and the stream exit is covered with a locked iron grate made to look like a sewer outlet." He pulls a key from his belt and hands it to the group. "This will unlock the door and gate, though neither has been used in a long time."

"See that building there?" He says then, pointing to a tall building a distance from the keep. "That is the temple to Chauntea. I would guess people would have gone there for safety, so it might be a good place to look for survivors."

The dragon appears to not be very involved in the battle.  You spot it flying over the city, but it does not look to be too interested in getting close or putting itself in harm's way at this point.

Theuban nods at the instruction, taking the proffered key.

"If we feel we have time, allow me a moment to set up the telepathic bond, as it will allow our scouts to range father ahead of us.  Governor, there is room for you to join the bond so you may stay appraised of our progress.  Once the ritual is complete we can depart."

He finds a clear area of the keep and instructs everyone including the governor to sit in a circle around him.  In the center of the circle before him he sets the egg of a bird and the egg of a lizard and begins to lay out silver thread running from each member of the circle to him in the center and from each member to the other.

Assuming 10 minutes is allowed for this to happen.  

The ritual set up and complete, a faint blue energy seems to run along the silver threads, and there is a confusing moment when each individual can hear the thoughts of everyone else.  It takes a half minute or so to acclimate to the new kind of noise inside your head, but having experienced it before it quickly becomes natural.

We are now ready to depart.  Governor, we will let you know when we have secured survivors and are on our way back.

"Ready as I ever will be, let's make our way to the temple as governor suggest and then go from there."

Art will nod and move to follow.

Mr.Black waits for the ritual, and then in a very business like manner heads for the tunnel. "I'll meet you folks at the gate..." as he trots ahead down the tunnel to scout out the exit, in a stealthy manner. 

When he reaches the grate, he'll prep it for the arrival of the group by getting some oil on the hinges.  He'll pick the lock as well so it's fully ready for them.  Oh, he might as well make sure it can open, assuming no monsters are around, he'll see if he can budge it open without making too much noise. 

The group heads down to find this secret exit.

Since the keep has never been besieged, the old tunnel has never been used. Barrels and crates are piled in front of the door.

You can clear the cellar door with a few minutes’ work. The lock is stiff but opens with the key. The disused tunnel is choked with webs but is otherwise clear.

Years of exposure and neglect have corroded the lock on the exit grate.

Mr. Black. Give me a thieve's tool check if you are going to pick the lock prior to the key being used.

Cobalt will wild shape into a Dire Wolf if he can fit and be at the rear for this. 

Thieves tool. I’ve never understood this, but you just get your prof bonus?  23. (Minimum 17). Do I add dex or anything?

ok. Plus dex. 

I get 21. 

Quote from NathanPizazz >>

Thieves tool. I’ve never understood this, but you just get your prof bonus?  10. (Minimum 17). Do I add dex or anything?

ok. Plus dex. 

I get 21. 

 The lock seems quite stubborn as you attempt to get it to open.  After some work though you get the rusted old thing to finally pop open though, the oil you added probably what gave you the ability to do so.  The gate lets out a soft groan as you open it, but the sound is covered by the sound of the stream nearby.  Glancing around you spot several cultists that appear to be searching the stream for any townsfolk.  They have not spotted you as of yet.

Mr Black stays well hidden 18. He studies the cultists as he waits for the group to arrive. (For the intent of impersonating then later.) what language tod they speak?  If he doesn’t understand it he uses his helmet to listen to what they say. 

(Minimum 27 on hide)

You see that two human cultists and 6 kobolds are searching the stream and the bushes along its bank, clearly trying to see if any survivors had hidden there.  They are moving along the stream towards the entrance to the tunnel, but there is a good chance they will pass on by, as long as there is no reason to think the sewer grate is anything but what it looks like.

Mr.Black will gently pull it closed and attempt to lock it.  He sends a mental back to the group, "Stay back for a bit. There's some kobolds searching here..."

"If we need to get to the Temple fast - with lives at stake and so on - why don't we use invisibility to make the run? Once in the Temple we can decide how to proceed." Rose was never the most patient one.

"I can cast Pass Without a Trace to assist us in this endeavor," Cobalt said in the telepathic link while as a Dire Wolf. 

(Staff of Woodlands allows me to cast it at will without spell slot so I plan on doing it as much as possible)

Mr.Black, "Lets just wait for these guys to pass, then we can go.  If we accidentally draw their attention to this secret entrance into the fort, it could be disastrous. I'll let you know when they're gone, then we can all group sneak or invis to the temple...." 

Art: "If we decide to utilize invisibility, I can provide it for three of us without difficulty."

Dain stays towards the back of the group, impatiently waiting for the all-clear.