"I agree, there is no way we can take this camp and the monk is probably the best witness we can find. I am not looking to fight the two half-dragon's at the moment as we just do not have the strength to take them. I wonder if we can use the treasure as a way to get the mercenaries to turn on their employers. I would assume they are only "loyal" as they have been promised to being paid, what if a certain group started to spread rumors that they will never be paid. And then on a final note, if we get a chance to destroy the eggs we might want to take that opportunity." Naroth says.

Toc nods to both Taviel and Naroth. "I think we are in agreement. Our top priority is rescuing the monk. I think we should also check on the other prisoners. Leaving them behind to die in a labor camp is unacceptable. Once we do a rescue, we could try to come back and destroy dragon eggs, or steal back treasure, but those seem less vital at this exact moment. Taviel, I know you'd like to get your hands on an egg. We can maybe come back and try after we rescue some prisoners."  Toc begins drawing in the earth a rough sketch of the camp.  "So, do we know where the prisoners or the monk are being kept?  If so, we can plan our jail break."

(DM: did any of us learn where either prisoners or the monk are being kept in the camp?  Do we know the rough layout of this place?)

Taviel looked at Toc with disbelief: "You ... are serious?" Sorceress never really fancied herself as a "character reader" but to miss by that much - that was a new record! So far Toc seemed to be practical and carrying about their mission, not "random acts of suicidal kindness". "You truly suggest to organize a heist for - gods know how many prisoners, half of which might simply want to prove themselves as true converts and alert an army of bandits and fanatics with half dragons in it? All of it instead of, you know, finishing our mission? That we were sent here for?"

She looked at others: "Are we really doing it?"

Prisoners. The cultists’ prisoners are kept in a large hut near the front of the camp, close to the guard tower. Currently, only eight prisoners are in the camp, not counting Leosin. During the day, they are put to work under guard by four dragonclaws. At night, they are shackled to a post in their hut to prevent escape. The shackles are secured by a single chain and lock that can be opened with a key carried by one of the guards or with thieves’ tools and a successful DC 10 Dexterity check. The chain can be broken with a successful DC 20 Strength check. Five of the prisoners are from Greenest, and the other three are from earlier raids against hamlets and small farming villages to the south and east. There were more prisoners at one time, but many have died from overwork and mistreatment.

Slopes. The sides of the plateau rise sharply, while the floor of the hollow slopes up gradually toward the east. A long ladder is lashed to the cliff so guards can reach the upper guard tower.

The cliffs have handholds and footholds for climbing, so no die roll is needed under normal circumstances. If characters are in a hurry, a successful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check is needed to make the climb without falling. If characters are concerned about keeping quiet, then a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Stealth) check ensures that no rocks break loose and rattle down.

Tents. The raiders live in circular huts made from closely spaced wooden or bone poles covered in hide, mud, and sod. Huts vary in diameter from 10 feet to 25 feet, and in height from 5 feet to 10 feet. (Symbols on the map represent clusters of tents.) Those in the mouth of the hollow (level 1 on the map) are crudely built and decorated with animal skulls. These are occupied by kobolds. Cultists occupy the huts on level 2, which are sturdier, cleaner, and decorated with painted designs representing dragons. A few tents on level 2 are set aside for prisoners.

The large tent in front of the cave, where the treasure is stored, is set apart from the others by an open space. It is reserved for Rezmir, Frulam Mondath, Langdedrosa Cyanwrath, and Azbara Jos. An honor guard of four veterans and four guard drakes keeps watch around this tent day and night. They don’t sleep at their posts, they don’t fall for tricks, and they don’t listen to stories or pleas. Their job is to keep everyone away from the tent, and they are fanatical about it. Only acolytes and adepts the veterans know by sight and by voice are allowed to approach.

The monk is tied to a stake at the back of the camp, near the large tent. He has been severely beaten, and he has been denied food and water in an effort to break his spirit.

"I think we should rescue who we can."  Valen speaks up.  He glances around at the camp filled with enemies with a shake of his head though.  "I fear that we will die in the attempt though, if we try to do too much. and it is better to get what information we can back to the townfolk."

Naroth suggests, "Why don't we start with rescuing the Monk in the middle of the night and then go from there. As much as I want to rescue the others, I just don;t see how we can do that and finish our mission."

Toc seems to consider each party members point.  He then speaks calmly and deliberately, "Well, strictly speaking, I believe we have completed our mission. Our mission was to come investigate the rumors of attacks. We now know a sufficient amount of detail to report back, for certain. The monk does seem like he would be helpful, since he does seem important and could thwart their desire to break him, for whatever reasons they have. That could be important. So, I agree, let us start with the monk. But, if we can at least attempt to rescue the other eight, if we have successfully rescued the monk and have not yet been detected, I would prefer that. If you all would prefer to get a head start with the monk, before I attempt to rescue the other prisoners, I would agree to that as well.  Either way, I believe we must send what we know back to our leaders.  I will send my familiar with a message detailing everything we know, in case we do not escape. Taviel, is attempting to free the monk first acceptable to you?  Do you agree our original mission has been completed?" 

Taviel's face flushed with mix of anger and embarrassment: "It's not like I do not want to free those poor people, or was going to leave you behind if you try to rescue them alone! But we have a mission and must see it through, no matter what." She gave one more stubborn look and added a bit softer: "Yes, if you can send a full report - I would consider our mission complete."

As if shaking off the unpleasant part of the conversation, she switched discussion to the the practical details: "So, what' s the plan then? The monk is right by the tent of big bosses. And guards there are true fanatics of the worst kind. We can not just take the monk and run. Any ideas? Some distraction still can help. Replacing the monk with someone else would be good too. May be even the dead one. The problem is to get close enough."

Toc nods, "I did not think you intended that. I'm glad that we can agree on the mission and I did not assume any ill will in your comments, just an honor bound intent to complete your mission, which we all respect. Now, with four guards and four drakes, this makes it a very complicated proposal. Honestly rescuing the 8 prisoners near the front seems like childs play in comparison. We have the whole camp between us and the exit, or at minimum a cliff. And animals that I presume will catch our scent, even if we try to disguise our looks with magic."  He sits in thought for a few minutes. "I have two proposals.  The first, we wait for one of the four leaders to be somewhere by himself. Perhaps at the latrine, and try to capture him. With magic, and his clothes, it's likely the drakes will be thrown off, and the guards for sure, and we just walk over, grab the prisoner, and drag him away. However it relies on us being able to jump one of the leaders and them not raising the alarm.  Troublesome at best unless anyone has a spell that can render an area silent."  He glances about the group to see how this idea sits with everyone.  

"My second idea would be to attempt to sneak along the edge of the cliff to get close enough to him without having go through the guards, use magic to untie him from a distance, and then rush in and rescue him while the rest of the group fights a rear guard retreat. This sounds like certain failure.  Just brainstorming."   He sighs. 

"I suppose the last idea is a distraction. Perhaps a majority of the group breaks the main prisoners out, in secret, and two people hide and remain behind.  When everyone finds out about the prisoners being rescued, perhaps they are distracted enough to leave the monk less guarded for a few moments for those two people to get him. This one feels very prone to failure." 

He sits considering.  

"I suppose one last option is to push a rock down the cliff above the treasure tent.  It crashes through, people run to the area to help check on the leaders, the soldiers and drakes try to keep everyone back, while trying to see if their leaders are hurt, they turn that way, we steal the monk and make a break for it."  He shrugs.

"You know, one last idea. Instead of a leader, we take out one of the veteran guards at the latrine and impersonate him, and use him to go get the monk.  Either of those require some acting skill, because we won't be able to talk without them recognizing our voices.  Any of these ideas sound attractive.  Any other possibilities to add anyone?"

Germain patiently listens as the others debate back and forth for awhile before quietly speaking up, "I've already sent Vilrana back with a note giving them the location and rough numbers, so that part is already handled. But it would be a good idea to send them the additional information we've acquired, the leader's identity and their general plans. Did anyone happen to catch where they're headed next? As for the rescue plans, I believe I can sneak in and get the monk, as well as heal him enough to get him moving. Perhaps best to do so by scaling up (down?) the cliff at the back of the camp at night and have you all ready to help us run as soon as we retrieve him. If it appears we are discovered, simply set as many tents on fire as you can, that tends to draw attention as well as hinder the ability to see at night, giving us time to get away. As for the others, I believe the townsmaster would be interested in their condition and would be in a position to act on our information and send troops to battle them directly to rescue the people as well as retrieve their stolen goods. The facts are simply that we may be able to rescue them all, but likely would not be able to escape with them all. So we must rescue the one we need, and perhaps come back with more people for the others. Right now, the information we've gathered, and the information the monk may be able to give us, is more important. We may lose a handful of lives, but we will save other towns from going through what Greenrest has."

Toc sits silent for a few moments. When he speaks, it's with great care, "It is a tricky thing, to weigh the value of lives in such a way. But I have heard everyone's opinion and we will rescue the monk and return him to Greenest. Germain, you believe you can scale down the cliff, evading the site and hearing of the guards and the smell of the drake's, heal him, and flee with him?  This is a confident statement. If you feel strongly in yourself, then it's as good as any of the ideas. I will be amongst the tents ready to cause chaos if anything goes awry."  

Germain will smile slightly, "Obviously I can guarantee nothing, but I am capable of such a thing. We will find out tonight how it will go, you are welcome to come with me if you'd like. I simply meant that I can do this, not that I should do this alone."

Toc nods, "Very well.  I blew our approach last time, and I'm not much of a climber. I'll be in the tents, but close by, so I can either rush to battle to assist, or light fires to distract."

"Plan sounds good, but I suggest we all stay close to each other as the only thing can guarantee is if we split the party up any plan we go with will be doomed to failure." Naroth says.

"How about a compromise?" Taviel was not big on compromises, but Toc said something, that, though looked more like an evil act, could work for the better. "I agree on fire as a distraction" (you can not get wrong with the fire!) "But we might better time it and coordinate all of it. For example, we can unlock the prisoners and show them the way to freedom - the side of the plato, but not escort them to Greenest. While they are escaping, in a different part of the valley - I suggest closer to the treasure cave, between that and the monk - a fire will start. If I am not mistaken, Valen has the ability to create some smoke cover? Or fog? Looks the same anyway. If so, then that cover, placed closer to the monk, would help to free him unnoticed, while the guards would think the smoke is a result of the fire. While they are busy putting fire off, we are leaving. How does it sound?" (The part where escaping prisoners will work as an additional distraction, she left out, but it was mentioned before, was not it?)

(What time is it? Assuming this plan would work best in the middle of the night, would we have time for a long rest?)

"I can indeed create fog." Valen agrees.  'I can also give some guidance to our climber as he does the dangerous part of rescuing the monk."  He adds on.  "I could even create the fog directly over the large tent, allowing you to just flee with the monk and not have to try to climb back out of there.  Just let me know how and where you want the fog to appear..."

"Do not think we can do all of this together - prisoners and monk are in different places, and diversion should be a bit aside too. How about Germain and Valen go to the monk. Naroth frees the prisoners, and Toc and I are igniting tents that a bit aside from both to distract and make a cover for the fog, so to speak? We can meet again at... I don't know - the place of our last fight?" 

Toc considers, "I bet that they consider the monk a valuable prisoner and will use their resources, such as the drakes and any dragons...to pursue us, rather than the other prisoners. This will likely give them a good chance at escape.  I agree. It's probably safer than if we tried to escort them.  Naroth, there is a spot here in camp where the latrine is, I will meet you there after you free the prisoners, and I set some fires. Then hopefully we can head back to the rest of the group and not get separated." 

"Solid plan, sounds good, even if we are splitting the party, we have an intelligent plan that should cover all our bases." Naroth agrees. "Let's move out when darkness arrives."