Chill let the tip of his crossbow drop slightly as he watched Kazri drive her sword into the dragon and end its rampage. Seeing, even from his distance, the eyes go dark he breathed a sigh of relief.

It was done.

He slowly moved forward, the weariness of the fast march and the battle slowing him down. He gave the others a smile, but at the words of the others it failed.

There was still work to be done and other cares and concerns.

He moved off with Rhogar towards the closests buildings on fire. He would lend any aid he could in putting the fires out, tired as he was.

"You are of course right Rhogar, our celebrations can wait a little bit more. Our work here is not ended." replies the dwarf nodding in agreement to the dragonborn. Krom gives a long glance at the construct before following the rest of the group.

(Maybe Krom could study the dragon?)

With the dragon defeated you move into the village to aid with the damage of the buildings and helping tend any injured people you come across. In short order bucket lines are formed to douse the flames. Additionally any magic that Krom can use in putting out fires and making small repairs is put to use. It is several hours later when most of the immediate work is finally done and you have an opportunity to rest.

The day is spent, in travel, fighting and now recovery and aid to the village.  The townspeople are grateful to you for the defeat of the dragon as well as any aid that you have given to the people during the disaster.

You are offered rooms in the The Uphill Climb, the tavern/inn near castle. Any questions about meeting the speaker are put off and you are told that tomorrow such things can be addressed.

Congratulations, you gain a level!  Level up to 10, long rest and post when you are ready to continue!

(OOC: Huzzah for the level up~ And thank goodness we gets a long rest. T.T)

While the aid Rhogar could provide hadn't been nearly as much as the dragonborn would've liked, that hadn't stopped him, let alone slowed him down in giving it his all to provide what strength of arms and magical mending remained in reserve without hesitation. The sight of his fellows doing much the same in their own way further bolstered his spirits, banishing the dark clouds that hung over his mind. Having thoroughly exhausted himself in the end, Rhogar, though still a touch guilty, could do little to disuade any words of thanks or looks of gratitude from the townsfolk. So instead met them with nods or soft grins before respite is found in an offering to stay in the tavern. Any thought of questioning the speaker all but non-existent by the time his head hit the pillow...

Come the next morning, Rhogar nearly missed the changes to his being at first. But as feelings of envy from Gorrah began seeping into his still half-asleep consciousness as he went about his usual morning prep, the dragonborn finds himself taken aback seeing the more reflecive luster to his scales, and the faint bit of electricity that appeared to flow through them whenever he focused on reaching out to bend the weave for a spell. "... Hmph! Well would you look at that, Gorrah? Seems I'm finally starting to coming into my own power proper." He mused aloud, earning himself a nip at the chin and some sarcastic mental remark from the psuedodragon. He laughs it off however, and instead went down to the main area of the inn to see and possibly wait for his fellows for a well earned breakfast, and to discuss plans going forward with clearer heads.

Kazri wakes up on the next morning tired from helping the town all night, but feeling good that they were able to save the town. She also feels more "courageous", and that it somehow, the feeling now emanates from her along with her other protections granted by Helm. She figures that it must have been the fight with the dragon, and her resolve to not let her friends down that allowed her not doubt herself for even a moment.

She quickly dons her armor and goes to check if all her colleagues are fine. She remembers Master Krom said about the Knight of the Black Swords. She could also use some breakfast after a hard day of work.

After several hours of tireless putting out fires, mending as much as he could buildings and furnitures and providing healing to the injured, Krom eagerly joins the rest of the group at the Uphill Climb and after a quick, but satisfying dinner takes his leave for a long awaited rest.

The next morning, the dwarf as he awakes still feels some of the exhaustion from the previous day, "Maybe I'm getting too old for those kind of things." murmurs to himself as he checks the status of his armour and hammer. "Bah, get yourself together Krom! You are a Firebeard and a Firebeard always finishes what they have started no matter what." says with a grin.
"Today we may get the chance of meeting with the speaker, he may be affected by some malady or curse, but Mordadin's willing, I should be able to counter such harmful effects."
Before joining the rest of the group downstairs for breakfast, Krom prepares several hymns of abjurations.

Tired exhausted worn out from the day's events you quickly fall asleep in your rooms at the inn. After a good night's rest most of you feel refreshed. However Chill still feels some of the lingering effects of the exhaustion from the day prior. (still has 1 level exhaustion) After meeting up in the common room for a breakfast you make your way to the castle to ask for a meeting with the speaker of the village. Vellynne has joined you though has kept fairly quiet. She is not aloof or anything like that. She is grateful for the aid given to her and is also still suffering some exhaustion from the prior days events. She is willing to follow your lead.

As you approach you once again get the chance to study the Caer. A sturdy, stone castle devoid of warmth and ostentation squats atop the cliffs overlooking the town and the frozen harbor. Warding the castle entrance are thick, battle-hardened wooden doors. Four cylindrical guard towers have wind-worn flags bearing the town’s heraldry fluttering above their tiled, conical roofs. These towers are connected by icy battlements and parapets. Atop the castle walls and within the guard towers, torches flicker.

Two lowered iron portcullises and two sets of closed wooden doors seal off the castle. At the door stand a couple of guards as well as another, a tielfling, you have not seen before.

“Greetings Fellowship of the White Cloaks, that is the name of your band is it not? My name is Kadroth and on behalf of all of us here in Caer-Dineval we offer our gratitude for your aid yesterday with the destruction of the dragon and saving our village from destruction. How may we further aid you?”

As the group walks towards the castle, Krom still feels the lingering effects of the long march and the fight. "Another day and I'll be good as new." says the dwarf to himself.

"Yes, we are called the Fellowship of the White Cloaks" replies the dwarf as the tiefling addresses the group. "Glad that we could help the citizens of Caer-Dineval." Krom pauses a moment before saying "And speaking of helping people, we are looking for the Speaker of Caer-Dineval, I have heard that he is ill and as Smith of Moradin, I would like to visit him and hopefully assist him."
Krom studies carefully the tiefling as he speaks to him.

Insight 13

@DM

Chill, exhausted as he was, spent the day helping the citizen's of Caer Dineval.  He had no magic of his own but had natural abilities and strengths that improved over time.  Even in the fight he found he was honing his skills with the crossbow Krom had made for him.  Was it the excellent build or perhaps even enchantments the Smith had put on the weapon? Chill didn't know but he was getting better with it.  

After the long day he fell into a dreamless sleep.  The following morning he was still tired, the effects of the day prior still lingering.  He followed behind the others as they headed for the castle.  He didn't speak but he watched the tiefling with interest. 

Insight (passive 18) 9

Upon sighting the Tiefling, although a well dressed one, Kazri's hand instinctively goes for the hilt of her sword. Thankfully she manages to stop herself from further action. Now, not exactly sure of what to do with her hand on her sword, she just says "Greetings." She waits for the gentleman to respond to Krom's question.

"Ah yes, Speaker Crannoc Siever.  He is very ill and he is unable to see visitors at this time.  He does, however, offer his deepest gratitude to your band for their aid in these trying times." Clearly than tielfling is politely barring you access to the speaker, and perhaps even the castle itself.

If the party wishes to pursue or push against his "politeness" make your statement and then make a Persuasion check with advantage.  Any one of you may do this.

Having been half distracted looking for something or someone in the area during opening greetings and remarks, Rhogar finally snapped to attention at the 'polite rebuff', and narrowed his eyes at the tiefling without really meaning any hostility by the look. But in this instance, there's no subconscious attempt to counteract the natural intimidation that came with his physique and race. In fact, Rhogar actually took a step closer to the tiefling, and gave a wide but mayhaps overbearing feeling smile.

"Mayhaps then we might then be of assistance in mending these ills? You've seen or hopefully by now certainly heard first hand accounts of our prowess in the field of battle against the mechanical abomination, yes?" He asks, though hardly spared the tiefling a moment before briskly carrying on. "Needless to say, and doubly so, as you strike me as wise tiefling, Kadoth, but both of us know that might alone would not and was certainly NOT enough alone to see to its end." He asserts. "... Such powerful magics and resources at our disposal is... something we would offer freely in further return of the kindness and understanding your people has shown us following the battle. So, I ask again on behalf of my fellow cloaks... Would you do us the small further kindness of visiting the speaker and at least try to do what we can?"

(OOC: Assuming everyone is okay with me doing the roll, I left it in spoiler. If not, we can freely ignore it.)

After all the group has done for people of Caer Dinevel, the tiefling's polite rebuff takes Krom by surprise. The dwarf is about to say something in reply, but he immediately stops as he sees Rhogar stepping in.
"Well said my friend" thinks Krom as the dragonborn finishes his statement.

Chill watches quietly from the back but does spare a few moments to look around.  Entering the castle, on his own in the cover of darkness would be easy.  For his companions?  Perhaps not.  But they would cross that bridge as they got to it. For now he only considered plans that may come in handy in the future if their current course of action was further thwarted. For now he rubbed his nose to hide the smirk that came unbidden as he watched his dragonborn friend assert himself into the situation. 

Kazri finds that her hand may have been right, not without purpose. She holds the hilt of her sword firmly to indicate that she means business if necessary.

A very quick look of annoyance flickers across the face of the tielfling who then clears his throat.  His mannerisms clearly change so that it is obvious that recognizes that you will not so easily be turned away.

"Very well then, I will see if I can arrange a brief meeting with the speaker.  Please follow me."  He gestures to one of the guards who opens the door and the Kadroth leads you into the castle.

You cross the courtyard that you were in during your first visit to the  castle.  Footprints in the snow lead to various doors along this courtyard’s perimeter, including a tall double door to the keep, with its unwelcoming row of arrow slits and barred windows on the upper floor. To the east of the double door is a small, single-story building with a slanted, snow-covered roof. West of the double door are two unused merchant stalls with torn canopies. Tucked under some icy stairs in the northwest corner is a slender wooden hut with a crescent moon carved into its flimsy door.

There are far fewer people now, as any refugees have been sent back to their homes now that the threat of the dragon has passed.  You see a couple faces you have seen before but do not know their names.  You also see Runa and Brakkis who nod in acknowledgement to you as you pass by. You follow Kadroth to the tall set of double doors and here he stops and turns to you.

"Please wait here and I will make sure the speaker is able to see you."

He then enters and leaves you for the moment.

Chill

Kazri nods back at Brakkis, and specially Runa. She looks at her a few more second, trying to figure out her intentions. (Basically are they friends or foes at the moment, and if she's hiding something the party are not aware of.)

Insight: 9

Krom smirks a little bit at the tiefling changes of heart "Please lead the way." replies as he slowly follows the rest of the group inside the courtyard. The dwarf absently nods at Runa and Brakkis as he focuses his attention on the crescent moon symbol. Krom murmurs an hymn of guidance trying to gather further information about its meaning.

Religion or History: 21 + Guidance 3

Chill watches everything.  Clearly Kadroth didn't want them coming in but Rhogar's insistence forced his hand.  Chill quickly notices the guards who are watching them.   

He casually mentions this to the others after Kadroth goes into the keep.

"We are being watched from above.   Things don't seem so friendly as they did before.   Perhaps they got what they wanted from us and now wish us to move on.   We aren't one of them,  these Black Swords.   Something smells rotten here."