Snippet #2533236

The Commander and those that followed, entered through the main gates of the fort. They were asked to dismount while soldiers brought the groups, horses and wagon to the Keep Stables. Here they would be safe from any thieving hands. "Please follow me into the Keep, I will bring you to my office where we can discuss the details of your mission here." He spoke. They would walk up to large wooden and wrought iron doors as the Commander pushed in. The inside the Keep looked better than the outside, the stone walls were intact and lit torches lined up and down the walls. There were many rooms in the Keep, but they would pass the main hall in to the foyer. From their wooden steps were lain on opposite sides of room. Further down the hall one can seen the entrance to the courtyard, were stone rubble littered the once grassy area.

"Up the stairs here we will enter the right hallway and enter the first door on the left." The Commander spoke as he walked up the staircase. He then entered his office, which was a large spacious room, with a fire place and an oak table. There was a book case littered with scrolls and books. There was a large hole the can been seen on the left side of the ceiling where scorch marks outlined the edges. "Sorry about the draft in here the Dragon really had a go with the place, but we are fortunate it did not come falling down." The Commander spoke as he sat behind the desk. "So then how may I assist you adventurers?" The Commander asked as he rested his elbows on the desk.

"I was told the Dragon attacked the place before it kidnapped the Princess, is that correct?" Randi asked.

"Yes that's true, but what of it?" The Commander asked.

"We need to know where it flew off to, it is important we find the beast soon before it does anything to the Princess."

The Commander then rubbed his chin, "Yes I see the urgency, but the truth of the matter is I have no idea where the Dragon went."

"But you must know something, it flew here before it kidnapped her and it must have flew past after it's deed was done!" Randi spoke raising her voice. "You must have saw something or one of your men did at least!?"

"Yes we saw the beast but it flew in during the night and completely took us off guard! We haven't the slightest clue from which direction it hailed!" The Commander spoke raising his voice but not in anger, but in attempt to defend himself.

Randi then grunted in frustration. The Commander rubbed his forehead as he spoke, "Look the only thing would could tell was that it may have come from the north, but I haven't the intel to say for sure." He then sighed. "I am sorry, it's been rough here the past few days. I've been trying to keep a whole community together and not to mention the bandits, and the lost commoners-" He was interrupted.

"Lost commoners?" Taethion spoke up.

"Yes, we've lost some civilians the night of the attack. We had to evacuate as many as we possibly could into the nearby woods. I would say it was foolish ploy but I had to save the lives I could. The Dragon didn't seemed interested in the civilians but more interested in us. It crippled our military presence here, for reasons I am not sure of. But, I do suspect it's up to something, because we are not the only base to have been assaulted in the past few weeks." The Commander spoke his words ominous. "So since I saw the Dragon's interest in us, I decided to have my distract it while we evacuated as many as we could. After the assault I had what was left of my troop and went to retrieve the civilians, but not everyone made it back. I only had a few of my men with them, and they said there was so much confusion, people ran in panic and they were difficult to wrangle in. I can only believe they are lost out in those woods some where!" "At the moment I can't spare any soldiers to go out there looking for them either and, ugah!!" He then sighed, "I'm sorry I shouldn't be bothering you with my failures, after all you have greater concerns to worry about." He spoke and then suddenly a soldier dropped in on them.

"Commander Saunter!" The Soldier yelled.

"What is the meaning of this soldier!?" Saunter yelled.

"One of the missing civilians! He entered on horseback and is badly injured!" the Soldier shouted.

"Where is he!?" He shouted.

"We brought him here to the infirmary!" The soldier responded

"Bring me to him!" The soldier nodded. "I am sorry but I must investigate this, excuse me." Saunter spoke as he exited the room.

Taethion head perked when he heard the word injuries. He decided to follow Saunter in case he could use his help. Yet the two soldiers took off at a running pace and Taethion had to track them down. He asked around about the Infirmary and one soldier led him there. Randi groaned at Taethion for just running off like that. Still it looked like she wasn't going to get much else out of here. Perhaps they should take their chances and head north.

Taethion found the infirmary and there Saunter was questioning the injured civilian. "Please, if you can muster some more words as to where they are." He spoke. The Civilian was coughing out blood, he didn't have much left in him.

"I can help with that." The Paladin spoke up.

"Huh? What are you doing here, I really have no time for you-"

"I can heal him and he can tell you more." Taethion interjected. "I am Paladin after all."

"A Paladin?" Saunter spoke confused. Taethion walked up and began to mutter his prayer and after a few moments a healing light covered the man and his injuries began to heal.

"Amazing, I don't know how to thank you." Saunter spoke.

"It's alright, anything I can do to help those in need." Taethion responded. After the light disappeared the man came to and made one last cough.

"Are you alright?" Saunter asked.

"Y-yes...thank you." The Commoner spoke.

"Thank the young man here, he was the one who healed you." Saunter spoke pointing to Taethion.

"Yes, thank you." "I suppose you want to know where are the others?" The man weakly spoke.

"Whatever you can tell us will be helpful." Said Saunter.

"You see, we, were lost out in those woods, a group of us ran off too far during the attack. We didn't think about the consequences, we were just trying to be safe, but...a group of bandits ambushed us, they captured us and put us into these wooden cages! We thought we were gonna be killed until their leader, he wanted to know where the gold was! But we told him, we didn't know anything about gold! He got angry and he killed some of the others and, and!" His speech was becoming increasing erratic when Saunter calmed him down. "Sorry, sorry, after he gave up asking us, he tortured me and then sent me here to give you a warning." The man spoke.

"What was the warning?" Saunter asked.

"Give him Andril's gold or else he will kill the hostages one by one." The man answered. "He even said he would have their bodies delivered to you, I am telling you he's a sick man! PLEASE! Don't let him kill the others! PLEASE, THEY STILL HAVE MY FAMILY!" He then coughed really hard.

"Quiet, quiet, rest now, we will get your family and those hostages back! I swear this!" Saunter spoke clasping the man's hand.

"Thank you." He spoke, the man in tears.

"You there, summon the men we are sending a rescue party into the woods!" The Commander ordered.

"Right away Commander!" The soldier then ran off.

"I am sorry, Ser Paladin, but I am afraid I have my duty to attend to. Tell your allies I am sorry that I could not be of much use, now if you will excuse me." The Commander then exited the room. Taethion wasn't sure what to do, but he figured he should return to the group and tell them what he learned. When the Paladin returned to the others inside the Keep he told them about the Bandit's threat. He then waited to see what they thought about the situation.