3. Leaving Vogler

We head back to Vogler as fast as we can, with the impending news of the draconian army.
 
When we get back, we pull Sterling, Beklin, and Raven into a meeting. We tell them about what we saw. Raven says that there have been rumors of war coming from the south or east. I wonder how they got here so fast. We estimate that there are about 1000 troops, and Sterling remarks at how easily it would be to hide 1000 people in the green areas around us. I try and tell them that we need to move, or we need to start working on delaying the army.
 
Cudgel interrupts our conversation by bringing in Jeyev, her Lt. Turns out, her group of mercs had also heard of the betrayal during the re-enactment, and they took down the remaining traitorous mercs. But his scouts did stumble upon the army, and they were bringing the news to town.
 
Beklin says that we should expect an attack, and she gets a very dark and deep look. Of course, we all know we cannot stand up to a direct attack. We just lost many people, and most of the villagers are farmers. Some of the group want to consider how to make peace, and I must remind them that option does not exist for the followers of Tahkisis. Apparently, not all of us were aware that the evil goddess was behind all this, starting with the attacks we saw on our way to town.
 
We are interrupted again, this time by a villager who tells us that there is a messenger in red and black at the gate. We all go to see what the message is. A human woman asks us who is in charge, and hands Raven a letter.
 
People of Vogler,
 
By the orders of Belephaion, the Voice of Takhisis, you will quarter the soldiers of the invincible Red Dragon Army this night. Refuse and die.
 
This is the Dragon Queen’s will.
 
It is marked with her signet, in a spiral, a symbol of Tahkisis.
 
The mayor and Beklin want to evacuate. I agree, and I also want to try and set up defenses to delay the army getting to Vogler. However, I remember that most of the creatures we have encountered in her service have wings, which makes it much more important for us to focus on evacuating the city. While Raven and Sterling both want to wait and discuss, I think we need to send scouts to check our perimeter - I would not dare to make an empty threat towards a town if I did not intend to honor it. We also need to send a messenger to Kalaman, since we believe that that is the final destination of the army.
 
To evacuate, Mayor Raven says that sailing to Kalaman is fairly easy, so we don't have to worry too much. Worst case scenario, some people can grab onto something that floats, and very likely make it to Kalaman. Cudgel says that she can get her remaining mercs to help defend the town, but that she will need to leave the town, and pass the soldiers that we spotted on the ridge, plus the messenger.
 
Waah immediately suggests the gnome flinger! We go find Than, who is working like the town was not attacked during the re-enactment, nor is it under threat of being overrun by a draconic army. We ask him if his contraption works with all of us. He tells us that only one person can go at once, and it takes not too long to reload. But he mumbles something about not yet having it tested, which is different from what he says when we ask him if it is safe. When he hears us talk about using a spell to help us land softly, Than tells us that he has a device that will help slow down our fall. He calls it an Airy Crasher.
 
Well, Waah and Sterling both want to go first, but being gallant as always, Sterling lets Waah go first. The order will be: Waah, Sterling, me, Mal, and Arinona. We also will need a distraction, so that we can surprise the soldiers. I ask Cudgel, and she tells me she has an idea.
 
Waah happily (actually, too happily) gets on the gnome flinger, and is launched, but of course she gives me a hug first. I tell her to be careful, but really, I know she'll be fine. Both contraptions work great, and she lands safely. In the meantime, I see something being thrown up there, and I assume that it is Cudgel's distraction idea. So far, so good.
 
Sterling goes, but I see his balloon has some sort of issue. Still, he makes his way without too much trouble, except the clanking on the way down, and then the sound of the balloon deflating. Which means that the guards hear him, and then come find him. Of course, when challenged, the first thing he says is "en guarde." Since Waah was able to land quietly and hide, she sneaked up on some of the guards and helped Sterling. But 4 against one (the messenger did not engage, but galloped away!) is not fair, and they did make Sterling fall. Waah was also being attacked, but since it is my turn, I will help them!
 
I get on the contraption, land on my feet, and fall just in place to stab one of those jerks. Of course, I have to hide, but luckily Mal comes in soon enough to help his brother. Then Arinona joins us (without the falling contraption), and we end up defeating all 4 guys. Since the messenger got away, we know we have to hurry! Of course, I have to make sure that no one survived before we leave. We also got confirmation from Cudgel that she was leaving to get her mercs.
 
We take 4 swords from these guys to the people who will make a stand for Vogel. We then help as best we can to help the town evacuate. When we talk a bit more about how to delay the army from reaching Kalaman, I suggest we burn the village. No one agrees, even though it is THE most efficient way to guarantee that the army will not have a chance to rest from all the tears, sweat, and work of the people from Vogel. As we are doing all this, we are accosted by a noble jerk who thins that we should just stand and fight. He is under the impression that not only is he a great fighter, but that he is also a great leader and will certainly help us defeat all the enemies. I roll my eyes at him, and tell him of the actual issues that he'd face with this adversary. I call him a coward, because death is always the easy way out. He leaves soon enough, but I still want to kick him. Right between the legs.
 
Cudgel finally returns, and along with the mayor, they agree to delay the draconic army enough to support the evacuation. They want to try a show of force to discourage the attack. I think they are crazy, but Sterling jumps at the idea. I'm so relieved when Becklin tells him that our goal is to help save any remaining villagers. I'm ok with this goal. We can help save people. Better than standing against an army with at least 5 times the number of people. Becklin says that the Knights of Selumnia still have a reputation, one that may yet strike fear into the heart of the army. Sterling's eyes shine, and he offers himself as a squire. Becklin tells him she already has a squire, but she does request to speak to him privately, to ask something of him.
 
Sterling soon returns, I assume he did exactly what Becklin told him to. But we end up in the field, trying to save the villagers. The draconic army sends some monsters to terrorize us and the villagers, but we help as much as possible. We put out fires, we defeat these monster champions, and we get the villagers to the river, where they need to be. Becklin commands 4 small flanks. The lift flank is the first to fall, and the battle rages on. It seems like every time we start to do a bit better, their reinforcements come in, and crush us. There is only so much we can do against such a powerful enemy, and I don't blame these farmers and villagers for losing their spine once they see their friends and family slaughtered in the field. The right flank falls. Darrett is doing fine, but before we get on the water with the remaining villagers, I noticed a glint of madness in Becklin's eyes. She sends word to her officers that they should retreat, but she spurs her own horse forward, and starts to take down as many footmen as she can. I lose track of her as I help heard more villagers away from the mess.
 
If I can find Darrett later, I will have to tell him of her bravery.