Mayor Raven sat in counsel with the adventurers, considering the words of the fell messenger about the fate of Vogler.
“I think we must do as they ask to save the town, “ said Raven.
Cudgel shook her head.
“No, I’ve seen what destruction even quartered troops can wreak upon an occupied town!”
Becklin nodded too at this.
“Cudgel speaks the truth my honored mayor. The counsel of Sir Asterius may be our best at this point. We must prepare the town to evacuate. To make toward Kalaman, down the river with all haste.”
The mayor seemed stunned.
“But to leave our home…how could it come to this? Only yesterday morning we were fishing off the wharf without a care.”
“Honored mayor, though our hearts may yearn for softer times, now we must fast our threats with cold steel,” said Fallon. The mayor paused, then nodded in silent agreement.
“Well put bard!” Said Cudgel, “Now I must find a way back out of this town to my regiment. We can attempt to draw away the enemy to give you time to flee,” she turned to Becklin, “Seeing a Solamnic knight among our ranks may give them some pause. Would you ride out to battle with me friend? As we did with Ispin in better and younger times?”
“Indeed I will, my old friend,” said Becklin. She turned to the adventurers. “Now by my reckoning it is at least a full day since you slept and there is still much to do. Rest for a while, then help us gather the townsfolk to tell them of the danger.”
The party rested and ate for perhaps an hour then, still drawn and tired, they went out to knock on doors and call the people to the village circle. Gringle went to the wharfs, turning fisherman back as some went to work for the day.
Asterius’ tongue slipped as some villagers asked about the purpose of the meeting and he mentioned the threat of the army. He managed to calm the people enough to go hear out the mayor.
Once all were assembled in the village circle, the mayor announced the impending danger to the town, and told them that all needed to prepare to flee Vogler. They would leave that evening, under the cover of night.
“And why should we believe this?” Asked a surly voice from the crowd. Pompous Lord Bakaris, who Asterius and Gringle had managed to shove into the water during the Kingfisher festival fishing contest the day prior, was the speaker. Asterius rolled his eyes and shook his horned head with annoyance.
“This army paid the traitors that slaughtered your folk at the battle yesterday. They have no scruples and will destroy this town if given the opportunity. Leaving is the only way. If you wish to stay behind to greet them Bakaris, then no one will oppose you,” Asterius said.
The Minotaur’s words calmed the crowd, and the townsfolk began to disperse and gather up what few possessions they could carry. The adventurers also noticed that some boats lay unused or in disrepair and helped townsfolk to press them into service to be able to transport the entire population at once.
Cudgel found them soon after.
“I need some help driving off those soldiers up on the cliffs overlooking the gate so I can get back to my camp and get ready for the holding action with Becklin.”
The adventurers immediately began to attempt to scale the wall, but even Gringle was unable to find purchase. Glancing up at Thornwall keep and the “gnomeflinger” above, Asterius had an idea. Shortly afterwards he was hurtling through the air. His horns speared one of the soldiers in the chest, killing him instantly and giving Asterius massive whiplash. Gringle and Fallon flew through the air close behind, popping the shoots on their narycrashes. They made quick work of the soldiers.
Cudgel and Becklin rode off, but before they left Becklin asked Asterius to give her squire a box stored in Thornwall keep if she didn’t make it back. At this point, the adventurers had been awake for almost thirty hours, through the events of the Battle of High Hill, over the long night, and until midday and were exhausted. They went to Thornwall keep and all took a well deserved long nap.
When they awoke, they found the village loading into the boats in the fading light of the sun. The sunset was beautiful, lighting up the western horizon in purples and reds.
Suddenly a messenger on horseback came galloping from the direction of the gate.
“The dragon army has divided in two! They are upon us!” The rider was cut down by a creature, leaping from a nearby rooftop. The light of the sun began to fade faster as the dark silhouettes of winged creatures began to leap off the cliffs and glide down into Vogler…
This section I largely ran straight from the book. The major realization I had was how tight the timeline is. There really isn’t much time for the players to take a long rest from the beginning of the Kingfisher festival until even after the invasion of Vogler. This is fine by me, but they were definitely feeling squeezed for resources. But it’s very evocative of an actual battle, with the stress and mounting pressure building up. I don’t think they’d sit the upcoming fights if they hadn’t rested though.
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