Shadowthorn's Princes of the Apocalypse

"Definitely lighting that fire. My only other concern again is the other folk. If it don't look like we can get'em out whichever way the rest of ya'll want to head out, then the fire will have to be enough. I just hope if they ain't exactly as 'culty' as the rest of 'em, that whoever's left somewhere don't take things out on'em." Xanranzan admitted while rubbing the back of his neck towards the end of the little spiel.

"Though if we goin' out the same way ya'll got in, I don't think we aughta stick on the water fer too long during this escape. Ya know, in case they give chase and all that."

Kethra meets Mr. Tyde's gaze, smiles back and points to Xanranzan.

"I'll go to the kitchen and bring any barrels of oil and wines to stoke this fire," she suggests, "Rubin, you can come help if you want."

"Xan, I guess we'll leave those people in the laundry room to you. Next to Mr. Tyde, you've have been the most...people person out of all of us. Oh, you both should go! Mr. Tyde, what do you think about grabbing some material from that room, marking it up with some inks from Jolliver's office and replacing the keep's banner with the symbol of an enemy cult? The cultist said theirs is the hourglass looking one, so pick any of the other three that Xan wants to use."

(Assuming the grate leads to the same secret passage underneath the main hall, this means we've searched all the aboveground rooms in Rivergard Keep, right? And can I restock my spent torches here?)

Xanranzan expression brightens almost immediately on the spot. He looks next to Tyde, and if the man appeared willing to go along then the earth genasi fist pump the air. And if not, he more subduely nods in understanding, before regardless looking to Kethra. "Well, since we're gonna be burning things, my suggestion would be whichever one belongs to the fire guys. But, if we don't know the right symbol for that, then, uh... ah, frick. Go with the bowel one. The other 2 look like they could go to the earth one, cause one's a tippie or a mountain and the other is a upside down mountain with a tree. None scream fire to me, but could be wrong."  He suggests, shrugs, then inevitably finding his way back to the laundry room to start coaxing people out.

"I can help get things ready." Rubin agrees, still uncomfortable about burning the place, but the others seem set on it, so he goes along. "Just try to make sure any innocent people get out before you start it."

"I'm not that good with fancy knots, but let me know if you need any heavy barrels when I get back."

Kethra will go with Xanranzan back into the main hall to unbar the door and briefly check on the people inside since it's on the way to the food room.

(Waiting to see if they are still there. And if a persuasion roll would be necessary/possible.)

Rubin makes his way out, scouting the path the group plans to take, while the others finish up the last of the prep wrok for the fire.

The scared folk are still there, roll persuasion if you like.

Persuasion: 22.

Xanranzan puts on his best comforting smile and says, "I got good news and better news. The good news is, if ya'll not here of your own volition, now's a good time to skeedadle. Me and my friends here just finishing taking out the guards, and what I'm assuming to be the big boss of this here particular location. The better news is, if ya'll got a home elsewhere, well, yer in luck to have a couple strong escorts to see ya on yer way. So, how bout it? You folks ready to go? If so, pack up what'cha want from the pantry, and let's hop to it."

The people look frightened and unsure, but tentatively follow Xan out.

Seeing that the people don't mean any harm, Kethra starts peeling off the covers of barrels to look for oil or alcohol, then fill a sack full of food for the party, mainly the dried food on the ceiling but some of the cheeses as well.

Also if there are any spare torches here or in the main hall, she'll grab those as well.

Perception check if needed: 5 (If it's investigation it would be -2 to this roll.)

Xanranzan eventually leads them over to Tyde's set up, and helps them however he can in making their way over the wall. Only once the last of them are over it did he linger to make sure the fire got started, and Kethra would be able to safely make it to their exit point on the road to who knew where at this point. That, and keep a look out as best as he could without a torch or darkvision for any shapes beyond that might meant trouble for the escape.

"We need to find a place to rest." Rubin points out. "We've been going all night, so not sure actual travel is in our best interest."

(Wrong wizard.)

Scattering the papers in the Grand Hall the white haired girl walks into the keep's courtyard, carrying a sack of food in one hand and her other arm wrapped around an uncorked barrel of flammable liquid, making a trail leading back to the Grand Hall.

Quote from Mehmen >>

Only once the last of them are over it did he linger to make sure the fire got started, and Kethra would be able to safely make it to their exit point on the road to who knew where at this point.

Kethra drops the bag of food and waves to Xanranzan, revealing that she had completely stuffed her sleeves with crumpled papers, "So it's just going to be the two of us enjoying the fireworks, huh?"

Directing Xanranzan to lower the food down by the rope Mr. Tyde had set up, Kethra will set the barrel down in the weapon room by the wooden spears. Then working together with Xanranzan, she'll ask for his help to spread out the papers, arrows and crossbow bolts around the room so that the fire would easily spread throughout the room with their very flammable sheets and fletchings. Then when they're all done, Kethra takes one of the torches she found earlier and hands it to Xanranzan.

"Oh master of ceremonies, would you do the honors?" Kethra does a curtsy with her cloak and directs his attention to the oil trail on the ground.

(In case I don't react in time: Once the fire is lit, Kethra will escape to the other side of the keep using the rope after Xanranzan safely makes it down.)

As the group as well as the cultists’ kitchen staff climb down from the walls, a massive conflagration consumes the keep.  You can hear faint shouts of alarm within as you hurry away from the walls.

Xanranzan answers to Kethra is only a smile, polite bow, then a casual flare to it, see the oil lit before the two have to scamper over the walls. When the two eventually catch up to the others Xanranzan breathelessly says, "Don't know bout ya'll. As tired as some folks are, let's put as muuuuch distance as we can away from those fools before stopping off ya? Ya? Aight, double time, folks double time!" At that cheery sounding note, Xan jogs to the front of the group with food bag in hand to at least lead the initial rush away from the keep. At least until either exhaustion forced their hands, or the fire was but a distant glow over the horizon.

At which point, he'll look to Rubin, hoping the more shadowy figured was at least a better woodsman than the others. Because between the Blacksmith Apprentice, the Wizardly guy, Ex-Slave, and the gaggle of groupies, he didn't have much hope in the others. Well, except in the Half-Orc, who had been rather reticent to chime in it fill since their escape.

Now with her hood up, Kethra keeps pace with Mr. Tyde, keeping her voice quiet so the party can hear but the two newcomers won't.

"We don't even know if these two are refugees...can we question them before we keep going? I want to hear them speak and be sure they won't be calling out to the rest of the cult--or even any of the other sellswords Grimjaw hired--when we set up camp for the night."

One of the refugees speaks up.

"If you please, miss, we’ve no desire to go back.  We were captured with a caravan by those brigands, and forced to work as servants.  No desire to return to that, I can assure you."

If necessarry, Insight roll if the refugee is telling the truth: 5