Session 8 - You are the Queen now Dawg

Summary
Tired got summoned away to a tent to help the injured. The rest of the group escorted a cart of goods and the driver to Castle Volistus. They were ambushed by a group of Drows on their way but the Drows were defeated swiftly and four of them were captured and hand over to Castle Volistus's guard captain. A quick chat with Anya followed shortly after the group rested in the keep's kitchen. Anya ponder what she would ask of the group as they spend their day off at the keep.

Dragon-free Zone
After acquiring the pass phrase, the group went seeking for anyone looking like they might be part of the resistance. The found some farmrs and some helping hands asking if they need food or drinks as they look like weary travellers. They all got situated aroun a table in a room, while they are waiting for food the person in charge of this village enters the room and greet them. Grace striked up a conversation with the man (Joe) and mentioned the pass phase casually, the man set down with the group and inquired what can he be of an assisstance and why is the group here. Grace informed Joe that they are seeking some people they have freed that might have come this way, and Joe said any enemy of the dragon can seek shelter at the castle of King Volistus (Roseberg family). He also mentioned that this is the family princess Anya belongs to and she has been seen passing through the village a few days ago. After a few exchange of conversation, Joe asked if the group can help transport supplies up north if they are heading to Castle Volistus. The roads have become dangerous with the increase of bandits, creatures and desperate hungry people. The group agreed promptly that they will help protect the transport cart and will try to speak with King Volistus about the situation. Ipakas altered his look with a spell to look like one of the person the group is looking for to see if Joe recognize him. He said that he's been pretty busy these last few days and might not have noticed these people as they travelled through.

Max offered to help Joe with the harvest and they set her to dig out some potatos. Grace patrol the paremeter to keep an eye out for safety, Ipakas wandered around town looking for anything out of the ordinary without much luck, and Min tried to teach the villagers how to do some stretches to help recovery from their farm work. During the feast that night, Max saw a little goblin child also present and was playing with the othre kids. She approached the goblin child and start to play fight with the kid. The other kid informed Max that the Goblin's mother was with the last travelling cart that got attacked and haven't been seen since.

Past Demons
The group traveled with the cart without incident until just after sun down, they spotted a burning cart ahead of them with someone calling out for help. The group approach the scene with caution, and as Max approached the burning carriage they were ambushed by a group of drows. Grace's bow string snapped shortly into the battle and he is convinced the Drows have cast some kind of spell to mess with his weapon. Ipakas asked one of the Drow who's house do they belong to, and the Drow answered with "Sabal of course". The battle didn't last very long, and 4 of the drows were captured and interrogated. Ipakas learnt that Sabal did indeed secured a decent amount of power over the drow court and is now sending people above ground to kidnap more unfortunate souls to be brought back as slaves.Hearing this, Ipakas advice the party that they should deliver the prisoners to King Volistus and try to pit the king against the drows. The group stacked the prisoners on the back of the cart and kept an eye on them as they traveled to the next farm.

As the group bunk down next to a stable, Min and Ipakas kept the first watch, heard a domestic from a farm house not far away. Someone got thrown out of the second floor window, then a levitated cloaked figure that seems to be wearing a bone mask and antlers float over to the dead body. With some hand gesture, the figure levitate the body into a carrige, gave the woman who open the door some gold (which she promptly dropped) and dissasppeared in a puff of smoke again. Hearing the coin hit the ground, Tired woke up and rush over to pick up all the coins the lady dropped (5 gold smeared with blood). In the morning, the group were ushered to move along by the farmers stating that something happened during the night and the group must leave. Ipaksa and Min put a mental note on what happened during the night and decide to finish escourting their prisoner first. As they approach the castle, it seems the castle is a bit damaged and there are plumes of smoke coming out of the courtyard.

The group left the prisoners with the captain of the guards and were taken to the kitchen of the keep to rest. Ipakas sent a message to Anya to inform her they are currently here in the kitchen."'Good day Queen Anya, it seems like you are in a bit of a pinch. If you would like to talk, we're in your kitchen.' - Ipakas to Anya"Shortly after, Anya appeared in the kitchen to speak with the group. They informed Anya that the Matherson matriarch was last seen heading to the capital but has left a farm completely massacred, and now there are Drow bandits in her land raiding her supply line and kidnapping people to be slaves. Anya seems visibly and understandably troubled by all of these news. She asked Delilah to show the group to their room and walked off pondering what she would ask of the group. Ipakas, Tired and Grace spends the day in the keep's library while Max look for a tavern or brothel and Min helped out with the injured and help enrich the close by crop lands.

Memorable Quotes
"The cold never bother me anyway" - Grace

Enemy tries to surrender "Well it's not up to me, it's up to a very angry woman" - Ipakas looking at Max

"Hey can I see that sword? hand me that sowrd and you can show Grace your push ups" - Min casting suggestion on Drow