Assuming all went to plan, it's then perhaps this time that the gentle slapping of oars against the water announces the arrival of Rhogar and Krom, as the pair finallly reaches the tunnel with Kazri, Chill, and the more misfortunate souls. "Any luck finding them, Lady Kazri? Chill? Or do you require more assistance?" He'd ask but moments before pulling into view.

As Rhogar and Krom regroup with the others, the dwarf rapidly gets off from the boat "Finally on solid ground again" says to himself as he walks towards Chill and Kazri.

Noticing the poor state of group of people around them, Krom takes out from his backpack the alchemy jug and after uttering the command word, he immediately begins to pour beer to the poor folk. "Drink, drink, this will warm you."  

The couple takes the offered rations. Soon others come out from behind the wall. As Krom and Rhogar catch up to Chill and Kazri 5 total people are found.

They have introduced themselves and told you that they are the servants that have been held captive by the cult.

They are Lanthis Alderdusk, Speaker Crannoc’s 64-year-old assistant, notary, and scribe. He seems feisty and spry for his age and even the poor living conditions 

Elprekt Norbrav is an effete, tall, skeletally thin, 55-year-old who is the speaker's butler.

Mylbara Norbrav is Elprekt’s stout, 45-year-old wife and the speaker’s Dwarvish translator.

Tam Sharf is a mute, 30-year-old who was the speaker’s housemaid.

Dassir Ravenscar is the speaker’s shy, 25-year-old dogkeeper.

The food and beer is most welcome and you quickly determine that besides the poor treatment they are all in decent health.

The spell on Chill and Kazri runs out.  And while it will take a while to ferry everyone to the other side of the cistern by boat it is eventually competed when you are ready to do so. 

"Yes Mr. Nimbatuul. We could use all the help we can get. There are folks in need of aid here." Kazri replies to Rhogar, then she tries to make a mental note of all the names she was introduced with in this room. When everyone is by the exit, Kazri goes up first to make sure that there are no danger.

"Rhogar, take myself and Kazri back first. We will secure the entrance while you finish ferrying the others back. From there we can make our way back to the speaker. We need to clear the rest of the keep before we are sure it is safe to turn over to the speaker."

"Sounds like a good plan Chill." nods to dwarf as the tabaxi illustrates their plan. "I'll guard our rear while you and Kazro secure the entrance."
After introducing himself, Krom helps the Speaker's servants as they one by one gets on the boat "What can you tell us about the tiefling woman that made this floor her lair? Have you hear her saying anything?"

"Hmph. Worry not, friend Chill. On the sailing over here I'd recovered enough to bend the weave in our favor." Rhogar assured the Tabaxi alongside a toothless smile. "And if you and these fine people here are of a mind, do carry at least some across while you're at it. And I'll see to piloting the boat." He'd further assert, and though curious to hear the response to Krom's question, the dragonborn is immediately switching gears in recasting his spell upon his allies before seeing to boating matters.

(OOC: Can't remember if I remembered to convert slots before for more sorcery points, so retroactively added a use of some sorcery points for the previous twinning before doing the below)

-Converting level 2 spell slot into 2 sorcery points.
-Twin Cast (3rd level)Fly, spending remaining 3 sorcery points.

Kazri makes sure the top of the entrance is clear, then let chill come up.

(Would Kazri and Chill fly all the way to the top of the entrance?)

Chill nods to the others.  "I think besides a few stragglers we've taken care of most of them. I say we head all the way up and make sure the others are still locked up.  Then we can reunite the speaker with his staff and set the rest of the castle in order."

He thinks for a moment.

"There are still cultists in town as well.  They were guarding the remains of the dragon. Who knows how many others are still out there. But first things first. Let's clear the castle after we get these people up."

While having the fly spell Chill would go over the wall and let Velynne know what is going on and make sure no one else is trying to get back to the castle.  He'll also check on the prisoners. 

(Talking about Velynne. I wonder if she would know anything about the frozen effigy.)

"Perhaps we can also ask Oli to enter the castle to help secure it." Kazri goes up first, to make sure the coast is clear, then she follows Chill.

Chill and Kazri fly up the ladder and back into the guard tower.  From there they are back in the courtyard.  Out in the courtyard they find Vellynne and Oli coming in the main gates.

Vellynne calls over to you.  "Been busy eh?  I've kept an eye on you and what was happening inside the keep.  A couple of these guards attacked us but Oli here made short work of them.  They didn't fancy tackling an owlbear and an old lady.  We were just coming in to make sure the rest of the place was secure.  My familiar will watch the front and alert me if anymore guards come along. We'll hold the gate for you."

Chill makes sure the kennel is still locked from the outside and it is.  No sign anyone escaped.  You can here low voices whispering inside but you can't make out what they are saying.

A few minutes later Krom and Rhogar come out of the tower with the freed servants of the speaker in tow.

Krom pats Oli's head as Vellynne informs the group of their encounter with some of the guards "Good job Oli."
"Thank you for your aid Vellynne."  says the dwarf scanning the courtyard. "I doubt that we will find more cultists willing to die for a lost cause in the remaining chambers of the castle, but as Chill and Rhogar said, it's better to take a look anyway."

“I could stay in the courtyard with Oli and Ms. Harpel, and make sure that  you will not be disturbed.” Kazri pets Oli as well. Telling him he did a great job. 

"Much appreciated, Vellynne! But before we going wandering off, we may yet want to have a peek inside the shed, and make sure none are yet conspiring to escape. Or worse." Rhogar grinned. "Though their odds of escape are next to nil, better safe than sorry, as Brother Vixix would say!" He added with more a chuckle to his voice while making his way over to the kennel, and would readily unbar the doors and open the doors.

Gorrah takes the opportunity to fly over and alight on the dragonborn's shoulder, and eagerly waggled her tail in anticipation of putting its shortly to use. "Still behaving in here?" Is Rhogar's immediate question along with a hard stare at the cultists.

"If those inside the shed are still there they probably are conspiring to escape.  I mean, I would if I was in there with them.   But they can't and even if they do they can't get past an owlbear so I'm not too worried about it."

Chill heads for the broken doors after Rhogar checks on the prisoners. He'll head for the speaker's office, checking on the unconscious tiefling on the way. 

At the sound of the unbarring of doors to the kennel the sound of voices inside stop.  Rhogar swings the door open and looks inside.  The cultists inside glare at him but give no answer.  But they still look to be secured as they were and there are no signs that any have made any effort to escape.

Satisfied that they are still secure Rhogar closes and bars the door again.  With that done Kazri chooses to stay in the courtyard with Oli and Vellynne. 

"I will keep an eye on your companions," Vellynne says, though not explaining how, "and let you know if they need your aid." she says to Kazri.

Chill, Rhogar and Krom then reenter the keep.  They find Kadroth still unconscious, though for how much longer?  It must be near an hour now? 

The speaker is also fairing well and has nothing new to report.  You are able to reunite him with his staff and he brings them into the room with him.  

The main floor is also quickly cleared.  The other two rooms consist of a kitchen, where the cook, a human named Karou Salafan, still works.  He was one of the speakers original servants.  "They kept me around cause I know fifty different ways to cook and prepare knucklehead trout." The other room is a room is for servants to rest, bathe, and clean their uniforms, and the furnishings reflect as much.

As much as Rhogar had half a mind to drag Kadoth off to be with his fellow bound up cultist, and had even begun reaching out to do the very thing, something gives him pause midway. Though hard to see given the nature of his eyes, they'd dart about subtly in his skull as if pondering something, before then with a frustrated huff, the dragonborn snatched up the bound tiefling and held him over the shoulder. If asked of his intentions, Rhogar answers with a note of mild frustration to his voice, "Just in case we need him to uncover something."


With that said as hopefully answer enough, things press on as they were meant to from there. "Right. That's the main floor for now, though at this point, I doubt we'll find any more ruffians hiding about, I must admit... But that said, mayhap, my friends, we'll find at least some clue as to the identity of that tiefling that flew off before and her business with his whole mess." Rhogar comments, before if not during the ascent up the stairs to renew the search on the second level starting with the left and northern most room(C13).

"I'll keep the hammer ready just in case" says Krom to Rhogar as the dragonborn picks up the bound tiefling. The dwarf, as the group climbs the stairs to the second floor, walks behind Rhogar paying particular attention to Kadoth.
"I bet that the cultists did not expect to lose this castle so soon, so hopefully we should be able to find some clues upstairs." adds Krom as they walk.

Chill nods in agreement.  "Yeah, I think the rest of the castle will be quick to secure."

He heads up ahead of Krom and Rhogar, being the scout that he is, to check ahead.  He also has the keys taken from Kadroth and can unlock any locked doors they find.