CH 10: The Tharkadan Towers

[Jerrard]

Sturm looks around at the group, and then feels the strength fade from his body. "I do not like it, I should be there to protect you." He lowers his head. "But the Measure states I should take care of those that need protecting. We need Goldmoon safe, I will stay."

He moves painfully towards Riverwind. "You are in Charge my friend. Guide them well, and do not engage the Dragon."

With that he staggers over to Goldmoon, keeping Brightblade hidden he sits nearby, covering himself in a blanket.

[Nuke]

Sturm looks around at the group, and then feels the strength fade from his body. "I do not like it, I should be there to protect you." He lowers his head. "But the Measure states I should take care of those that need protecting. We need Goldmoon safe, I will stay."

He moves painfully towards Riverwind. "You are in Charge my friend. Guide them well, and do not engage the Dragon."

With that he staggers over to Goldmoon, keeping Brightblade hidden he sits nearby, covering himself in a blanket.

"Thank you my friend, we will stay out of trouble." turning ti the rest, "What time must we be ready?"

[Jenara]

"I am ready.." Laurana answers simply.

"Me ready too, me go, me see dragon." Magpie pipes up.

[Nuke]

"What time is the visit normally? is what I meant." Riverwind looks a little embarrassed, feeling bad for not communicating clearly enough.

[JadedDM]

"Very soon," Maritta says. "In fact, we should start preparing to leave now, if we don't want to arouse suspicion. So who is coming and who is staying here?"

[Jenara]

"I will come." Laurana says, checking her gear and hiding what she can.

"Me too!" Magpie says, grabbing her arm.

[JadedDM]

Maritta looks down at the 3'10" gully dwarf. "She might be difficult to disguise as a human, at that height," the seamstress points out.

[Jenara]

"Yes, you need to stay little one, stay with Sturm and keep him safe." Laurana agrees, stroking the little dwarfs hair.

"Me stay?" She pouts, "Me stay and protect big warrior?"

[JadedDM]

"If I may make a suggestion," Elistan adds. "It may be wiser for you to wait until morning, when the women bring the children breakfast. This will allow me time to finish the Disks, and give you all a chance to rest up."

[Jenara]

"Elistan, you are indeed wise, we should rest." Laurana agrees and turns to the group. "Riverwind, should we rest, and heal up just a little? We have food, and here is shelter the children and the armies will be there when we wake up."

[Nuke]

"Yes, we want to visit during the appropriate times. And some rest will do all of us good."

[JadedDM]

The party beds down, keeping to the back of the cell so any passing draconians don't notice them. Elistan does not put down the Disks of Mishakal until he is finished. He reads them, disk by disk, like a man possessed. He does not even eat, drink or sleep. But somehow, he appears just as refreshed and energetic as if he had plenty.

After a very long, refreshing rest, morning finally greets them with a massive gong that can be heard from all over the fortress. It rings once, then twice, and finally a third time before dying down completely.

"What was that?" Tika asks, worried. "Were we discovered?"

"No," Maritta says. "That means their armies are moving out. Good thing for you guys. It means this place will be pretty deserted."

"Moving out? Moving out where?" asks Eben.

"Qualinesti," Gilthanas says grimly. "Time is no longer on our side."

==========

The party regains 1 HP back.
The party eats one consumes a day's worth of food and water. (Eben shares with Gilthanas.)

It is now the 1st of Autumn Twilight (October), Morning Watch (6:00 AM).

[Nuke]

"Damn, I assume that woke the Dragon. How do we get the children away? Is there a hallway the Dragon cannot fit through?' He asks of Maritta

[JadedDM]

"Pah, you needn't worry overmuch about Flamestrike," Maritta says. "The poor critter's more than half-mad. Her own children were killed in some great war or other and now she's got it in her head that our children are her children. I don't know where his lrodship dug her up, but it was a sorry thing to do and I hope he pays for it someday!" Shaking her head, she goes on. "T'won't be difficult to free the children. She always sleeps in late regardless of noise. We often go in, feed the children, take 'em out for exercise, and she never stirs, the poor thing. Just so long as you stay in disguise and don't provoke her, she won't be any problem, I promise."

[Jenara]

"Then we have failed to protect Qualinesti." Laurana says with bitter tone to her voice. "The plan is unchanged, we go to free the children, and find the men, perhaps with the army gone we can take their supply from them, restrict them, my home is already gone, I hope they all got out in time.." She bows her head, not looking at Gilthanas.