25.

The troops we helped are now with the rest of our army, to the east of the hole that used to be the city of lost names. Above it, is the dark temple, flying. They will be going to Kalahmann, but they are bigger so will take more time to assemble.
 
We can start heading back now. Our troops have been fighting for a long time, and we need to let them rest. Darrett approaches us, while staring at the citadel. He suggests that after we all rest, we should move ahead of the forces, get there, and let the Marshall know what is coming. We agree. The city itself is not up there. I tell him there is a skeletal dragon attached to it, but he points out that we see about 12 of them, there. It is commanded by Lord Soth. He sent word ahead to relocate the transport to the cove east of here. We agree to go, and bring some familiar faces to validate our story with Kudgel and Rukeldust. Kudgel can carry the fargab. We offer him good luck. He also offers Clistrin because he is a good guide.
 
The next morning, we head east. We are now familiar with the terrain, and Clistrin helps guide us through the easiest paths. Waah wants to help warn the people at Heart's Hollow, but I assume that the mayor will know about this. We spend the day walking, and later spot 3 crimson dragonelles with riders, in army armor, and they are trying to capture a wasteland dragonelle, only 30 ft away. We help him, but are worried about engaging in combat.
 
I go and remove the net for the net, and it looks at me, and then leaves. The riders and the dragonelles are now attacking us. We defeat them, and then continue heading east.
 
We find the ships at the rendezvous spot, and the captain recognizes us. He lets us on board, and we start to sail back that same day. We get to rest, and are blessed with a favorable wind, and make it quickly back to Kalaman. We get there, and are ushered to the council room. Marshall welcomes us, and we give her the summary of the citadel that is coming this way. We are all worried, and are now planning what to do in the meantime. We are introduced to the governor Thren, who was sitting at the mayor's chair.
 
Our best plan is to try and meet the citadel ahead of time, outside the city. It is a sneaking mission, where we would try and delay the citadel.
 
We go to tell the Marshal, and she says that Kalaman has been holding their own, but that we are losing to the Dragon Army. What they feel are major attacks, she thinks the Dragon Army is simply a test. They have flying units, troops and dragonelles. They have been making ballistas, 1-3 for every 60 ft. She has ordered all troops to return, and shore up the defenses. I tell her our plan, and that we were able to sneak into the City of Lost Names that way. Waah wants them to help us make disguises, and maybe we can have dragonelles as mounts to enter, and take it down from within. She says that the weak point of our plan is being able to fly into the city. We need the mounts. The bottom of the citadel is riddled with caves, tunnels, and we can probably go in that way. We used the distraction to get in. Can we do that?
 
Runkeldust may have something to help us. We would like the help of the dragonelles, but we need help getting to them. As we are speaking to Runkeldust, and they are looking for us. We go and see. He tells us that we have a reputation, and there is a situation at the west trade gate. Apparently there is a captain preventing refugees from entering the city, and it needs to be looked into.
 
We go see, and the portcullis is down. The captain is there with 8 soldiers. We approach, and Waah asks if there is a reason why he is not letting the refugees in? He says that it is because we don't have room for all of them, and that there are reports of dragon army soldiers who are able to perfectly take the guise of any person. Can Arinona find a way to see that? She cannot. We tell Vendri about this, since it is her decision.
 
Next, we need to see if we can get a few scrolls of fly. Otherwise, we'll be dependent on the dragonelles to fly to the citadel. After Arinona goes to visit a black-robed mage, we see 1 wasteland dragonelle with two riders. They land on the castle buttress. We get closer, and see that the riders is wearing silvery armor, and the other wears leather. We run up there, and want to see them. They are Clistrin and Darrett. I recognize it as the dragonelle we released from the cage in the city. These two are very happy to see us, and we chat.
 
Darrett says that Clistrin found the dragonelle after leaving us at the ships, and allowed him to ride it, and they were able to get reasonably close to the citadel. The whole thing is riddled with caves. So the plan can yet succeed. Clistrin offered him a ride. But they are not alone. The dragonelle has friends, who are not here, but are close. We have a way in!! We tell them what the plan is, and what is going on, and our plan. But now we have a possible way to enter the citadel. We are still hoping to do that before the citadel gets here, so that there is the distraction of the attack, like when we were able to enter the city of lost names. He says that if we plan to use the dragonelles, he can find the rest of them and help. If they are willing to do it, that may help.
 
Now we have a plan. After the dragonelle rests, they will go and try to recruit more dragonelles. From over near the castle, there are alarm horns. Uh-oh. Vendri is already there, issuing commands. The west facing ramparts are busy. In the distance, we can see a tangle of soldiers out there, thousands of them, dressed in red and black. They are raising their standards within our sight. It is out of reach, but its there. They are rolling up war machines. Flying over those in tight formation are more dragonelle riders. We also see the violet fire, and the reanimated corpses in violet. We need to go.