Fanfare and Failure

The trip to RelAstra should have taken 4 days, but instead took 9. Everywhere the heroes turned, someone was there to welcome them, congratulate, and thank them for everything they have done. Finally, arriving at the city, it looked like everyone turned out to welcome and cheer them on.

Waiting for the party at the gates were some familiar faces, Michael, Rard's trusted friend and 2nd in command, Alec, and Harbek the dwarf. After some additional fanfare, the party was whisked off to a council room at the castle.

Settling into the council chamber, Michael told them what had happened since they last saw he and Rard.
• With the element of surprise, the city was fairly easy to retake. As you surmised, most of the damage to the castle was a result of the retaking of the city.
• Once the city was secured, people from all over the countryside flocked to their banner and before they realized it, they had retaken most of the surrounded territory.
• A large colony of dwarves also joined the fray and have been invaluable.
• A little over a month ago, a massive force of dragonborn and elves exited Grandwood forest and almost doubled their forces
• With such a massive army at his disposal, Rard achieved victory after victory, constantly pushing the enemy back , regaining territory, and freeing hundreds.
• 2 weeks ago, tragedy struck. Rard was leading a small strike force, attempting to infiltrate a Yuan-ti stronghold. If they were able to capture or even kill the leader, a disciple of Zehir(snake God), the Yuan-ti would retreat and they would save countless lives.
• Instead, the party was captured. Most were killed immediately, but Rard was transported to the island prison of Asperdi.
• Richard arrived less than a week ago and has slipped into a deep depression. Even your arrival here could not bring him hope.

Michael pled, "Will you help us? Harbek and I are able tacticians, Alec is an excellent leader, but Rard…lets just say the people would follow him into the abyss if he led them there, and they'd return victorious!"

There was some hope:

• Michael volunteered the following: "There is a tower here, you probably noticed it on the way it, the Spire of Ariel, it is rumored to hold much ancient information. We do not believe anyone has entered it in generations. We have not had time nor resources to try to gain entrance to the facility, but hope you will be able too."
• Speaking up, Alec says; "We have recently learned there is a boat that will be carrying a torturer to the island prison soon. It will be departing from a hostile location far north of here. None of our ships are fast enough to intercept it. If we could capture him, he certainly has information that could help with breaching the defenses of the prison"