Princes of The Apocalypse: Chapter 3--Prison Break

[Daos]

Iroas looks around for any kind of key for the cage, including on the bodies of the dead.

[GravityEmblem]

The key is hidden under one of the piles of gold.

"Wait, why would they hide it under...something people would want to take?" Savra wonders.

[Daos]

"I'm not sure," Iroas admits.  "But I suspect those bandits weren't all there."  He half wondered if some kind of hallucinogenic mushroom grew in these parts.  It might explain their weird behavior.

Taking the key, Iroas approaches the bear cage.  If it is still asleep, he will very quietly unlock the cage so it can get out on its own, then gesture for the others to take the loot back to the hippogriffs.

[GravityEmblem]

Iroas unlocks the bear cage without waking the bear inside. Savra and Migor help him carry the gold and weapons to the hippogriffs.

"Those were pretty weak bandits," Savra remarks as they fly back to town.

[Daos]

"Yes," Iroas agrees.  "It was very odd.  By the way, how much coin did we end up collecting from their cave?"

[GravityEmblem]

"Uh, 94 copper, 34 silver, and 13 gold," Savra lists off.

[Daos]

"Not exactly a king's ransom," Iroas notes.  "In fact, Killi Hut-hut offered us more than that for this job.  They weren't very good at banditry, it seems.  Well, regardless," he says with a shrug.  "At least we can afford room and board for a short while now."

[GravityEmblem]

When they get back to town, Killi is waiting for them in the town square. Upon confirming they've completed the job, he pushes a bag of gold into their hands and backs off into an alley, maintaining eye contact all the way. Savra shudders.

[Daos]

Disturbed by the encounter, Iroas does his best to split the coin up between the three of them.  Each will get 31 copper, 11 silver and 11 gold.  The left over silver and copper piece (one each) he uses to buy a round of drinks as they discuss their next move.  "Well then, now that we aren't in danger of starving--at least for a few days, anyway--what should we do next?" he asks the others.  "Return to Red Larch and meet up with those people we freed?  Or return to Feathergale Spire?  Or somewhere else entirely?  I don't think we'll have much better luck at the Sacred Stone Monastery than last time if we return now."

[GravityEmblem]

Savra taps her chin and thinks aloud. "Well, what would we do in each case? The Feathergale, we're concerned that they may be involved with a cult of air. What happens if they are? Do we fight them all? Talking to the delegation would be safer, and we could ask about those attack sites you found--figure out what really happened."

[Daos]

Iroas nods.  "Good idea.  Let's make for Red Larch in the morning then."

[GravityEmblem]

"It's a four hour journey by Hippogriff, so we can leave at dawn and be there before lunch!" Savra says excitedly.

The three arrive in Red Larch without incident. As they touch down, a Dwarf they recognize as Bruldenthar scurries out of the town's tavern to meet them.

"You again!" he shouts, pushing a random halfling out of the way. "Did those dastards meet the grisly fate they deserved?"

[Daos]

"No, I'm afraid not," Iroas admits.  "They proved too much for us, and we barely escaped with our lives.  We weren't able to find your missing companions, either.  But we have not given up on them.  We decided to regroup here for now, and plan our next move."

[GravityEmblem]

"Ah, yes, you see, I might have a tip for you!" he says, full of bluster. "I've been asking around, and it seems those awful pirates who were paid with my books? They happen to have a base at Rivergard Keep!" he declares with pride. "And I could pay you a handsome sum were you to retrieve them! ...when, uh, I get it from back home."

[Daos]

"Rivergard Keep, you say?  Well, I suppose it's as good a place to start as any," Iroas says.  "Whereabouts would we find this keep?"