Thornwall Keep

   When Mery finally finishes speaking, Ser Becklin proclaims, “Breath, child!” half jokingly. But more seriously, she says, “That’s very concerning! Who is this traitor in Cudgel’s ranks?—If not Cudgel herself, in whom I have the utmost faith! As for capturing a prisoner, that’s excellent news!”

   After Mery trots off on Handsome, Coltan quickly follows, dashing as fast as his short legs let him. However, as he’s dashing, only about a minute after Mery arrives and says her piece to Ser Becklin, Coltan comes running up. He’s carrying a set of black splint armor with red highlights and a large dragon-headed badge of rank on the chest. On the pauldrons are similar insignia of rank and unit.

   “Oh my!” Ser Becklin says, seeing the dwarf run up, carrying the armor. “Ms. Mery, here, says you’ve captured an officer, but all I see is armor! Where’s the rest of the prisoner?”

   She holds up the armor and inspects it. “The make is very utilitarian and military—probably a standard issue. I see neither personalization nor emblazoning. Let’s see . . . 3.Lt.-D-2-V . . . Alright. Apprentice of Reorx,” she says the moniker with an air of reverence, and certainly no snark, “You seem in a hurry, so take that with you if you wish, but give me a moment.”

   She calls for Darrett, who comes running out of the keep and to her side, with a “Yes, Milady!”

   “Darrett, fetch me a screwdriver.”

   He comes back with one quickly enough and she uses it to unscrew the insignia from the pauldrons and cuirass. “There you go, Apprentice. Do with it what you will.”

The Prisoner

   Keeping her fingers interlocked behind her head, the Lieutenant follows your lead and you all walk back to Thornwall Keep.

   Eventually, everyone arrives, where Ser Becklin is waiting with Mery. If Coltan is headed to the smithy, they’ll pass him just as they arrive.

   “Prisoner!” Ser Becklin eyes the woman harshly. “Identify yourself and be truthful. Your army has created an emergency situation, so I will not waste time with games. Speak truth or be cut down where you stand!”

   “I am Lieutenant Dame Michelle Folketh, commander of the 3rd platoon, Drake company, 2nd battalion, 5th infantry regiment of the Red Dragon Army, Fire of Takhisis’s Invincible Conquering Forces. I have surrendered my arms to the Knight of the Greenshield, Ser Artanis Brightblade who has accepted me under his protection in exchange for my cooperation and capitulation.”

   Ser Becklin looks down at the insignia in her hand—3-Lt.-D-2-V —and back at the woman standing at attention before her. She then looks over to Artanis who is indeed holding two swords sheathed in black leather with red, metal damage-guards and buckles.

   She sighs and then motions for you all to come with her. “Follow me.” She turns to Darrett. “Darrett, go to the Brass Crab and . . .” she then looks to Mery, “Ask her to provide you two town guards, with an additional four to replace them in pairs on 6-hour shifts. If she asks, just tell her I need them for something important and I’ll explain it later . . . Don’t—don’t mention it in front of Cudgel or any of her Ironclad Regment. Town Guards, Darrett.”

   “Yes, Milady!” he says and runs off.

   With that, she leads you all into the keep and up to the third floor. She opens a door to a nice, if somewhat Spartan bedroom. Inside, you see a bed, a desk with a chair, and a chest of drawers, and a wardrobe. A single window, a cross-shaped arrow loop barely wide enough to put an arm through allows plenty of light into the room.

   “Lieutenant,” she says, “You may stay here and there will be two guards outside your room at all times. There are dresses hanging in the wardrobe and clean undergarments in the drawers. Change out of that gambeson and I’ll have it cleaned. You will be fed as the sun touches the horizon—if your army has not already invaded. You will eat with Darrett and me, then, but remain in this room. A bath will be drawn as the sun disappears. Knock three times, then sit at your bed if you need something, and one of the guards will provide it, within reason. Welcome to Thornwall Keep, Lieutenant. The desk has some parchment, a quill and ink. There is a small library on the fourth floor you may peruse if you wish. You are now a guest of the Knights of Solamnia.”

   Dame Michelle stands at attention and salutes. A gesture that that Ser Becklin returns before leaving the room.

   With that she leads you all out and shuts the door behind her. A few moments later, three knocks sound and Ser Becklin takes folded pile of clothing and gambeson from her prisoner before closing the door.

   It isn’t long before two Town Guards come upstairs and take up their positions. She locks the door with a large key and hands the key to one of the guards, who pockets it.

   “You two, speak not of anything you see, here, and don’t converse with the prisoner, but ensure her needs are met. If she asks for more parchment, provide it. Escort her to the library and guard her there if she requests it.”

   She turns to Artanis and says, “Ser Artanis, you buckle those swords around your waist and carry them with you. In the unlikely even we have to return them, you will have to have them with you. She’s technically your responsibility, but we’re in a situation where you can’t stay here to guard her—or guard over her.”

   “We must begin preparing for the evacuation, and there’s no time to waste!”

   She leads you back to the Brass Crab, where an expectant Mayor Raven, Cudgel, Jeyev, and other town elders are waiting you in Room 101.

   With the news that the Dragon Army Soldiers have been killed—the capture of the Liutenant is omitted—Cudgel and Jeyev quickly leave to get the Ironclad Regiment in position, north of town to hold off the Dragon Army for as long as they can.

   “I can’t thank you enough for all that you’re doing for our town,” the Mayor says to you all. “But now I need your help to prepare for the evacuation. We’ve got a little over 400 residents but only enough boats for 200 of them. I need your help in getting the other 200 out, as well . . . and then I’ll need your help convincing them to evacuate.”

   Fortunately, Mery was able to identify two methods that let you make up the difference. She and two others spend two hours persuading the residents to pull down their boats in need of simple repairs, boats collecting dust in their sheds, and even boats serving as decorations in homes.

   Three more of you spend two hours breaking down the pulley-system that frees up the rafts and small boats that make up the ferry crossing on the Vingaard River.

   Once all that is done and prepared, Mayor Raven gathers you in the town square, and sends several pairs of town guards to knock on doors and gather the entire town in the square with you.

   Colorful Kingfisher Festival decorations still cover the village circle and the festival stage. Unlike the day before, the people collected in the village center are somber, muttering in worried tones as Mayor Raven takes the stage.

   The mayor doesn’t mince words: “A dangerous army is headed for Vogler. The Ironclad Regiment will do what it can to defend our village, but we must be ready to flee.”

   Following the mayor’s report, the locals stand in stunned silence. Then their questions come in a wave of shouting, anger, and fear.

   It quickly begins boiling over, and the Mayor looks desperate for help calming down the crowd that threatening to turn riotous!