Glancing around the keep, the party of two see frightened faces of children, women, and men of all ages. Some are crying, and others have a look of determination. The woman whom they rescued runs to another and embraces. “Oh, I was so worried. I got the kids out okay,” she says. “Where is Bob?”

“I don’t know, but I would not have made it without the help of this beautiful gnomish girl here,” gesturing toward a small person carrying a bow on her shoulder almost as tall as she is. Nimby sits alone in a corner avoiding eye contact with anyone. After a moment, a dwarf walks in from another room, his beard the color of rust, keys dangling from his hip, and a sword in his hand. He asks if anyone in the room is willing to assist in repairing the western gate of the keep. His eyes look desperate.

Meanwhile, Issa has left the group to wander the building. She finds stairs that lead up and up and up to the roof. One lone woman stands overlooking the chaos. The sun has set, yet the whole city remains visible due to several roaring fires scattered around. The woman’s dark skin glows in the orange light. She has curly white hair, and her right arm is in a sling. “My city is burning,” she says calmly yet with a tear rolling down her cheek. She looks directly at Issa, “I am Cassie Nighthill, governor of Greenest. Who are you? Is it fate you have come on this day, or are the gods mocking us?”

“I am Issa. How can I help?”

The two look down and see a group of raiders with torches approaching the temple to the north, and another group approaching the mill to the South. Cassie points, “In the temple are dozens of my people hiding. If it burns, they die.” Then she pivots south, “That is the mill. We keep the food of the harvests in there for the colder months. If it burns, we will starve come winter. I believe my guard captain Sir James Escorbert is readying a group now downstairs. Can you assist him? Perhaps together you can save both buildings.”

“We will,” says Issa, and she takes her leave of this queen. Back downstairs, Zelena, Nimby, and two men have volunteered to assist Sir James. The group enters the courtyard of the keep and finds several lizardfolk and drakes who have broken through a hole in the gate. Drakes are like dragonic dogs. After dispatching these raiders, the group finds scrap wood around and nails it up while firing ranged weapons through the holes at the next wave of invading raiders. After a couple rounds of combat, the keep gate is again secure.

-This session had an unexpected twist for me. Foolishly, I was not expecting anyone to explore the keep before the captain entered the scene, but it gave me a chance to be creative. I am not great at roleplaying conversation, which actually helped with Cassie’s character building. She is a straightforward determined woman who has seen some shit and cares deeply for her people.