A DnD Tale: Ghost in the Tower

It's Only Been an Hour

So we ended up with a bit more sessions to move the plot along. Awakening to a brand new morning they head into the town where they split up. The Silverhawks and Sphinx head for the dwarven smith to repair the sword... which they can't do due to the trade caravans not running since the roads are infested with bandits and the Lord Warden tries to fight of the threat. What they need is some dragon scales... which they could have taken from the dragons corpse, I'm an evil DM. Meanwhile the rest of the group have entered the wizards tower to get the letter translated. They do so and finds out that the Dark Lady is the vessel of Tiamat and operates from a keep near Winterhaven. Nimozaran warns them that they must stop this plan no matter the cost since the items she collected and ritual mentioned could be to let Tiamat roam this world once again, destroying all civilisations that exist in the wake of the chaos goddess. He also seems to recognise the tiefling in their company, but can't quite grasp where he have seen her. Not even his apprentice can help him. So they leave and head for the Silver Unicorn Inn to meet up with the others. They meet up and head for the Import shop to look for a job, but sadly, the caravans aren't moving meaning they have neither gods to send or caravans to guard. Although the store owner will contact them as fast as possible, he also hints them to the tower and the Upper Quays where a dwarf named Strongbeard can ferry them across. 

Since He Locked Her in the Tower

 The dwarf let one off his men ferry them across and the Silverhawks set up a camp outside the ruined tower. The rest goes in. The bottom floor has a ring in one of the stone slabs so the thief climbs to the top and uses a rope in a hook in the ceiling which they uses to pull open the slab, they tie it to a light stuck on the wall and climbs down to a secret room beneath the river floor. The floor is full of decayed corpses from the Bloodspear wars 90 years ago. Apparently the nobles hid below the floor, but somehow couldn't escape afterwards and starved to death. They find a hidden door and apparently footprints leading in and out. Barefoot human-sized to be precise. They open the door, illuminates the tunnel and enters... and behind them they hear a crash. Sphinx heads back as he guards the rear and the stone slab has fallen in place. There is only one way out as they know of and that is the secret passage. They walk for several hours until they reach the end of the tunnel. Another door, but this one radiates arcane magic. It's blocked by a spell which seems to have dwindled due to the passing of time, they deduce they must be back in Kobold Manor. They break the spell and enters the underground lake. All they hear is a gnawing sound. They try to be as stealthy possible, but it doesn't help and three grey wolves attack them. After a short battle they head back to town and stand in cue for the toll. The sergeant arrest them due to not existing in their register and they blab about how they crossed the river with the help of Strongbeard. The sergeant sees her chance and arrest them all for smuggling. They are brought to the dungeons below the Fallcrest keep and are soon joined by Strongbeard and the Silverhawks who just had come back from the island and was caught up in all of this.

The Time has Come

Apparently the roof gave way and the stone slab went back in place so they waited out the ferry since there is no support to lift it again. Strongbeard is furious and tells them that when he gets out of here they will have hell to pay. The guards arrive and bring them all to the throne room as the Lord Warden has returned. He takes payment from Strongbeard and let him go and ask the party how they were able to leave the town. Under much pressure they tell him about the secret passage below the tower. Kiera, the half-elven bard also mentions that she must get ready to perform so she and Despair prepares (Despair is bound to her with a magic collar so that she won't escape). The rest goes to bed as Kiera plays the night away in front of the towns nobles and important people.