"That shouldn't be a problem. Shall we say five percent, two month term?"

Sildar nods. "Quite fine. And, if you wouldn't mind holding on to that money for me, I would appreciate it. It wouldn't do to carry such a large sum around town in my purse with such undesirables lurking about. I'll stop by for a withdrawal whenever I need to."

"Speaking of money," Rudo interjects, "there's also the matter of our pay?"

"Of course, of course, please forgive me." Barthen hurries off into a back room and returns a few moments later, carrying a large leather pouch. He drops the pouch heavily onto the counter, then opens it and begins counting out stacks of gold coins. Soon there are six gleaming stacks resting before the party. "Ten gold each, for a job well done. Thank you, friends."

Rudo reaches out and scoops up his stack first, smiling broadly. Then Zhaquadan, Steamknuckle, Willow and Stumpy each step forward to claim their wages.

Barthen turns to Sildar. "And you, my friend? You were also involved in the wagon guard, were you not? Fair wages for honest work."

"No, but thank you. I was traveling ahead with Gundren, and wasn't involved in the wagon detail. It wouldn't be right to accept pay for a job that was actually done by the ones who saved my life. They deserve every copper."

Nodding, Barthen sweeps the remaining stack of gold coins back into the pouch, ties it up, and begins carrying it back out of the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Thu 07 Apr 2016.

"Just a moment," Rudo interjects again. "While you've got Sildar's bankroll there, perhaps we could settle his other debts as well?"

"Of course, of course," Sildar replies, waving off another of Willow's impending grumbles at Rudo. "What was the deal? Five gold for escorting me to Phandalin, and..."

"...eight more for wiping out the goblins and the bugbear," Rudo finishes.

He smiles at Barthen. "Really, the townmaster here ought to pay us extra for that one, considering the public service we did for this town."

Sildar's patience with Rudo seems to be wearing a bit thin. "I think my payment for that service will be quite sufficient, indeed." He nods to Barthen, glancing at the coin purse.

"My four friends here, aside from Stumpy, were involved in the actual rescue," he explains. "So each of them should receive the full 13 gold. Stumpy himself was kind enough to grant me passage on his wagon, so he should also receive his fair payment of five gold for the escort."

Stumpy seems a bit surprised and taken aback by the unexpected reward for his contribution. He says nothing, but gives Sildar a small nod of thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Mon 08 Aug 2016.

Barthen happily counts out five more stacks of gold coins, pushing each toward its intended recipient. The party members accept their payments with muttered words of thanks. As he doles out the coins, the shopkeeper tallies, "13 gold times four parties, plus five gold for good Stumpy, comes out to 57 gold in total, reducing your remaining balance to 243." Sildar nods.

Barthen ties up the pouch, hefts it from the counter, and carries it back out of the room. A moment later he returns to the counter. "So. Welcome to Phandalin, my friends. I wish that we could be meeting under happier circumstances. But now that you're here in my shop, how can I serve you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:04, Mon 08 Aug 2016.

"I would like some rations please.   Something preserved that can last me about 5 days or so. "

"Not a problem. Trail rations run half a gold per day. I got whatever you need. Anything else?"

OOC: Barthen's Provisions stocks basic supplies and adventuring gear. Anything costing 25 gp or less from the table on p.150 of the PHB can be purchased here.

Zhaquadan selects 5 days worth of trail rations and puts 3 gold on the counter saying "Thank you my friend.   You can keep the change.   By the way when was the last time you saw any of the Rockseeker brothers?  Have you seen any wizard types come through here lately,  suspicious characters of any sort? "

Barthen gives Zhaquadan a shrewd look as he collects the gold from the counter. "Funny you should ask that. There was this one wizard type, don't recall his name exactly, Albert something or other...stopped into town on Lords' Alliance business, yes..." He glances briefly at Sildar before continuing. "And that was about a couple of months ago. Only saw him the one time, then I guess he must have left town. Haven't seen him since..."

Barthen trails off as a thoughtful frown clouds his face. "Odd, that couldn't have been more than a few days before those bloody Redbrands showed up in town." He looks back up at Zhaquadan. "Never did see that fellow again. But then there's their leader, the one they call 'Glasstaff'. Some kind of wizard, that one too. None of us have ever seen him, but the bandits themselves talk about him all the time, like he's some sort of boogeyman hiding up there in the manor house, and they might let him loose on us any time we refuse to bend over for their blasted shakedowns." He grimaces in anger.

"But then you asked about the Rockseekers too, right? Yes, Gundren's brothers, Nundro and Tharden, haven't seen them in a tenday, but they should be due back here any day now for a resupply. Especially when their brother doesn't show up on schedule. Poor blokes, who knows how they'll take the news of their brother being captured by goblins?

"Not sure exactly where they are now, but then of course they'd keep the mine site a secret. If the Redbrands ever found out about that claim, then those dwarves would be as good as dead."

Barthen turns around and begins rummaging through the shelves behind the counter for Zhaquadan's trail rations.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Tue 12 July 2016.

Sildar replies as Barthen returns with a small parcel of rations for Zhaquadan. "Albrek. Iarno Albrek is his name."

Barthen looks puzzled for a moment. "Indeed. So you know him?"

A look of realization then appears on his face. "Of course. The Lords' Alliance. You both came here on Alliance business. So...forgive me for prying, but is he specifically your business here?"

"Yes. He was sent here two months ago to establish order in the name of the Alliance. He was supposed to send word back to Neverwinter once he had settled in here, but we never heard from him.

"Sounds like your town could really have used his help with these Redbrands. Odd coincidence, though, that he disappeared right before they showed up..." Sildar strokes his beard with a skeptical frown.

"I'm afraid I can't help you there, but I'd wager my shop that the Redbrands were somehow involved in his disappearance. Maybe they even followed him here. That Glasstaff...who knows with those wizard types. Maybe they were old enemies."

"Yes," Sildar replies. "I'll have to have a word with these Redbrands, right after I have a word with Wester. Get to the bottom of all of this." He holds out his hand, which Barthen firmly shakes. "Thank you, my friend. You've been most helpful."

Rudo interjects. "Face it, Hallwinter. Your friend Albrek is dead. The thugs cut his throat the day he showed up here. And you know it."

He smirks. "As luck would have it, though, I just finished a job and happen to be in need of further employment. Seeing as this town is peopled with nothing but spineless peasants and weaklings, I'd say right now I'm about the only real option you've got. Unless you happen to know of some other place up here in Bumpkin Hills where seasoned professional warriors can be found for hire.

"Forget about Albrek. Asking around town about him is a pointless dead end that will only warn your enemies you're coming and give them time to set up a trap. Let's just kick in their door and kill them all."

He nods at Barthen. "You heard the man. They're a bunch of dirty criminals destined for the noose anyway, and that's if they're lucky. Five gold pieces per body, and I'll stack the corpses so high you could rebuild the town wall with them."

Rudo chuckles. "And that's one way to give pause to any would-be goblin raiding force."

Sildar stares at Rudo throughout the dwarf's monologue, a cold expression on his face. "I thank you for your offer, master dwarf," he replies when Rudo finally finishes his sales pitch. "Perhaps I may take you up on it...eventually. But I will keep my own counsel, thank you, about the value of conducting a thorough investigation. In the meantime you may await my summons in the local tavern, or move on in search of more immediate employment, as it suits you."

Rudo shrugs. "I'll stick around for a few days. There's got to be a wench or two in this town in need of a good scrubbing by Rudo's legendary broom handle."

Willow shakes her head, grimacing in disgust.

Zhaquadan collects his rations and says "many thanks friend" turns and nods to his companions and leaves the shop to casually explore the rest of village on the way to the manor.