Vogler is lost. It was almost as difficult to convince Mayor Raven to leave as it was to fight our own way out. We stayed until the end, fighting backwards as we tried to get to the last boat. At least Katt and I were able to meet back up with Oskar and Yaevinn at the docks. No way we would have made it through without them. When we first caught site of them, we were surprised to see the massive chest they were hauling along with them. No time to ask about it, but I did reach up to make sure the small bag of gems and paperwork were safe inside my vest. Why the hells did they bring the whole chest? Thank Chislev I am bringing a little Wisdom to this group!
At the docks, the fight was on. I thought the dragon was going to be the scary part. Turns out I was wrong. Katt snuck up and dropped some flaming oil down its gullet. No more dragon. No, the scary part was the huge freaking ogre and his dragon kin pals. The ogre was crazy strong and every dragon man seemed to attack twice as fast as I could. They dropped Yaevinn. I got a massive hit in before they pounded through my dire wolf form and dropped me back into the middle of the combat. Not good. I am squishy.
Katt to the rescue and one very expensive healing potion later Yaevinn was back up swinging swords like he hadn't just had a sword in his own guts. Isn't magic wonderful?!? Aaaaand Yaevinn is back down again. Sigh. Wish we had held on to a few of those goodberries. By then, however, the tide of the battle had turned. Someone dropped the ogre at a distance while Oskar held off multiple opponents to give us time to regroup. His techniques are completely foreign. Nothing he is doing makes sense as he activates gadgets and mixes potions on the fly. No denying they are effective though. I know we will need to talk soon so I stay out of animal form and finish off the last of our attackers with a spell. Katt and I loot the bodies while Oskar hauls the now petrified Yaevinn towards the last boat. Katt and I loot the bodies and head up the gangplank. As we go, I look down and see a sword in the water. Is that Ispin's sword? I look closer. No. I guess just a random sword from some fallen soldier. We continue on our way.
As the ship leaves the dock I am already in prayer. After about 10 minutes a gull drifting by is pulled momentarily by my magic. We make eye contact and it flies back towards the town, already focused on delivering the message I have locked in for Cudgel. I hope she is still alive. Back to work and a half dozen messages are sent ahead to Kalaman. Warning them. Telling them to look to the smoke. Telling them we have many incoming refugees and to get ready. Telling them Silverload is coming so they at least know my name when we get there. May make it easier to speak to those in charge. Good thing to as we arrive only to find chaos and that Lord Bakaris has gone ahead of us to lie his way into prominence. The man is a useless idiot. Nice beard though.
We save some children. As if we weren't already heroes. Yaevinn hauls a rope out to a foundering boat full of kids. The townsfolk cheer although some of the parents do not seem too happy. I guess these were all the kids sent off to boarding school due to behavioral problems. I think I like them. My sort of people.
After saving the kids, running into Derret and catching up with a few others we head to the castle. I am a little confused about the plan. We should report in and let them know what is coming. I'm good with that. Katt seems to have her own agenda. I guess she really dislikes Lord Bakaris. We are able to get into the castle by pretending the real Mayor sent us. There is a lot of talking after that. I'm distracted and uncomfortable with all of the walls and stonework around me. Though we are in a tower above ground it feels too much like being in a hole. I imagine this is what Thorbardin feels like, may I never set foot in it.
We are finally able to give our report and Katt does her best to discredit Lord Bakaris once we get the chance to talk to Governor Mayatt and Marshall Vendrey in private. To my surprise the want to recruit us. Apparently Derret has already joined up. Yaevinn steps up and joins as well. The rest of us agree to help and the Governor sends us to the armory to get provisioned. Yay. Nice big set of platemail. Maybe I can trade mine for a loaf of bread or something. Or a bottle of whiskey. Kidding of course. A set of armor like that is probably worth 10 bottles. Time for a shopping trip and walk about this wretched walled city. I already miss the forest...