Hearing his raider quarry issue an order, Rogram adjusts the grip on his blade, aiming with the flat side. "I'll help you out," he says menacingly.

Two-hand longsword attack: 24; damage: 10 non-lethal slashing? damage

Having done what he can for Thia Smoke will try to wipe some blood from his hands on the ground. Hang on Thia we will get you to safety soon. 

Unsure if she hears him Smoke turns his attention back to the raiders. He picks up his rapier once more and charges for the raider engaged with Thrax as he notices the one with Rogram is losing confidence. 

Still angered for what they did to Thia he holds his rapier like a spear charging to poke the raider Aarggh!

Movement: Moving to the raider attacking Thrax
Action: Rapier Attack: 23 Damage: 10

Thrax lunges forward again with his spear, hoping to run his opponent through.

Attack: 16 Damage: 6

Smoke blindsides his target, crashing into the raider sword-first and driving him to the ground, leaving an opening for Thrax to rush the remaining raider, still clutching at his wound. The raider blocks a strike from Rogram with his shield, but Thrax drives his spear through the opening in the armor left by the last strike. The man falls, disbelief the last look on his face.

The mill continues to grind, masking your labored breaths.

Yevele continues moving through the stream toward the mill.

OOC: Each character has gained 25 XP for defeating the raiders outside of the mill.

Rogram, Smoke, Thia, and Thrax have each gained 50 XP for surviving the ambush inside the mill.

Rogram sheathes his sword as he finally lets go of the magic altering his appearance. Without any malice in his voice, he reveals, "Well, I was hoping we might question one of these, but they probably wouldn't have told us anything anyway." He looks at Thia, then nods his head at her. "Is she going to make it?"

Yevele continues moving down the stream, hoping to reach her companions. As she moves further and further away from the keep, the young woman begins to worry about where they are. 'I would have thought they'd be on their way back to the keep by now. What happened? Did I miss them somehow? Did they get ambushed?'

As this last thought enters her head, Yevele slows down a bit and starts looking more closely at the bushes she is passing to see if their might be bodies hidden in the bushes or raiders laying in wait.

Smoke puts his rapier through his beltloop and rushes back to Thia. I think the bleeding is under control but she has to get back within the walls. She needs rest and perhaps more healing. 

He looks at his own agilty but not to strong body for a moment. Thrax, Rogram do you think you could carry Thia back? I will see if the outside is clear. 

Smoke then hurries to collect his daggers and moves out to the door quietly to peek outside, if he doesnt see anything he will step outside fully to look around and signal the others its clear to begin their return to the keep. 

Thrax nods as he stows his weapon and start to help Thia so they can make their way back to the keep. “Letsss hurry” he hisses quietly. “We don’t know when more of them will come looking, and we’re in no shape to take on another wave of these goonssss.”

Thia moans softly in her unconscious state.

After receiving the all-clear from Smoke, the party emerges from the mill with Thia's unconscious form and moves back through the brush at the banks of the stream, where a form rounds the bend a hundred feet away: Yevele, returning to see her companions carrying a few new wounds.

Rogram dutifully carries Thia in his apprentice blacksmith's arms, trying not to jostle her too much as they march back toward the keep's secret entrance. If she was awake, she would hear him mumbling questions and promises to deities he hopes are listening and loved ones he hopes are still alive.

Upon seeing Smoke, Rogram and Thrax carrying Thia, Yevele runs quickly to them. "What happened? Is she okay? Do you want me to look at her? I've some training in medicine. I shouldn't have left you to go back to the keep, I'm sorry!"

Thrax greets Yevele with relief "She will survive this injury, but we mussst get into the keep. We were ambushed at the mill. How are the others? Did the raiders launch another attack?"

"The keep is fine. When I left they had not been attacked yet. Was the ambush just for us, or were they expecting a larger party from the keep?"

While talking, Yevele will turn and head back toward the keep, slowly moving to the north side of the river to watch out any raiders coming from that direction.

"For us," Rogram answered. "At least, they were looking for five, we heard them say. It sounded like they were waiting for us."

"Well, that is good. If they're going to this much trouble to take us out, we're definitely causing trouble with their plans. And, the four of you caused even more problems for them." Yevele quietly responds as they make their way back to the keep.

Light from the cookfires of the besieging raiders casts an eerie orange pallor over the stream bed in the darkness of night. The chatter and laughter washes over the banks to linger with the rushing water. Outlined by the glow, the keep stands strong, and you are undisturbed along the way, reaching the entrance to the old tunnel in fifteen minutes, slowed slightly by the need to carry Thia.

The courtyard is the quietest it has been. Most of the guards have been dispatched to the walls or the parapet in shifts, and the activity has died down enough that almost all of the townsfolk trapped within have fallen into a nervous sleep. Sergeant Markguth is one of the few guardsmen in the courtyard itself, and after drawing his spear in reaction to your entrance, his eyes go wide. He reaches to take Thia from Rogram. "What happened? Governor Nighthill said the mill was a diversion. Did you find trouble on your return?" he asks. "I can take her to the infirmary. Maria is still awake and can tend to her."

Having reached the keep Smoke relaxes somewhat as he sees it as a safeplace. As far as thats possible anyway. Yes, please help Thia. 

He starts pacing the courtyard as he explains. We arrived at the mill to see some raiders pretending to burn the mill. A clever trap to draw us out. After a fierce battle it seemed like that was their purpose so Yevele ran back to warn you of a possible other attack while we were gone. 

His hands wave back and forth as he explains what happened. 

Just to be sure, we looked inside the mill to check for townsfolk. When the four of us were inside evil eyes peered at us from the darkness. We overheard them say they were looking for 5. A concerned look is now on his face as his tail droops down. They lured US specifically!

When they saw we noticed them they poured out of every hiding place in the mill. Endless numbers surrounding us as we stood back to back fighting them off.  His voice sounding more excited and his words quicken. The battle was long and hard, going on for hours.. he pauzes realizing they know how long they have been gone.. well it felt like hours. A spear finally took down Thia, thrown by what seemed to be a possesed raider so unearthly accurate that throw. Our weapons became heavy as we struck down so many of them. Staring death in the eyes but we stood strong and fought them off to the last one of them. 

He lowers his arms as the adrenaline of the story washes away. Now we are very tired and could use rest, hopefully Maria will be able to get Thia back to her feet. 

Rogram can't help but stare at Smoke as he weaves his tale. The tabaxi has a way with words! The half-dwarf slaps his fellow bard's shoulder in appreciation at the conclusion, then addresses Markguth. "I'm not sure how or why, but we've made a name for ourselves. There might be a way we can use that to our advantage, but my mind is too tired to think of one right now."

"You have certainly been helpful to us. I can imagine that these raiders are quite annoyed by that," Markguth responds. "I'm glad you returned safely. She will be in good hands," he says as he takes Thia toward the infirmary. "Most of the injured have already been attended to. It has been quiet since the attack on the sally port."