Xander will identify the two vials with bright red liquid. He does this by dipping the tip of his dagger into the vials and sampling a drop.

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
136dmgPotions are an exception; a little taste is enough to tell the taster what the potion does

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Both of the potions give you a calm, renewed feeling as you taste them.

Potion of Healing x2 (restores 2d4+2 hp)

what luck, healing potions. Let's hope we don't have to put them to use.

Fortunate indeed,  I hope this marks a shift to the better in our fortunes

Dakath remains silent, confirming what he knew to be already true in the direction the goblinoid leader went.  He was sure that his trail would not be that hard to pick up.  Collecting the gold Dakath distributes it evenly among the group.

"Does anyone recognize the lions crest, it would not be bad to return it to it's rightful owners.  If not I am sure we could find someone to purchase the items for a little extra coin."

"The symbol, I believe, is that of a merchant in Phandalin. I've visited there once before."

looks like we have a buyer then.  What do we do next? Do we track Klarg or continue on in the cave past the bridge? Sounds like there could be others held captive down there. Hard to get goods out in an unsecured cave too

Teranthvar picks up the small statuette of a frog made of jade stone with tiny golden orbs for its eyes.

I wonder if this is special in anyway.

Teranthvar hangs on to the figurine and awaits any objections.

I think it would be somewhat irresponsible leaving captives here to their fate, so who's leading us into the dark over there?

No objection from me, I'm happy to have a share of the gold Talin makes sure he has all his belongings I am ready to move on and find the captives

Then we explore deeper. I can be on the front lines if no one else is able. It's not my preference but I can stall them a bit to give the back line a little space. 

xander draws his dagger and wand

I think we should go over the bridge up here instead of doubling back to that nook we passed on our way in. Klarg had to have gone that way.

I second the suggestion to go over the bridge. I’m still not feeling great so i will bring up the rear

Perhaps Dakath would like to take the lead? ... Although, maybe this is a good opportunity for one of us to scout a little ahead while the group rests a little longer?

it maybe better to scout but I feel like we are short on time.  The more we delay the worst our chances of saving any captives. The greater Klargs lead on us. We gain nothing by resting, come friends, we need to move

Marching Order: Dakath, Teranthvar, Xander, Melathos, Talin

Having decided to cross the bridge of the upper section, the group pushes forward with their healthiest members in the lead, realizing that they had not a single melee-combatant left alive. Unless you count Teranthvar and his rapier.

Across the bridge lies a narrow pathyway that curves west and south, leading to a larger opening further down. The group moves slowly and cautiously, wary of other goblins that might be lying in wait. Instead, they see the corpse of Klarg lying on his back, with the shafts of three goblin arrows sticking out of his chest. The unexpected sight both increased caution and eased it, and Dakath finally moved forward when he saw a note next to the corpse.

As the group pushed on into the room you find that the large cave is divided in half by a 10-ft high escarpment. A steep natural staircase leads from the lower portion to the upper ledge and the air is hazy with smoke from a dying cooking fire, and pungent from the smell of poorly cured hides and unwashed goblins. Soiled bedroll are laid out around the fire but there are no signs of the goblins.

Dakath, Xander, and Melathos secure the area while the others go to examine Klarg and the note. The note looks like it was written by a child with arthritis, "Yeemik thanes yu for dedd Klarg. Yeemik is nu leeder. Is thanes, Yeemik leds yu all lif, an leds yu has humon."

As the note-readers question what human the goblin Yeemik was referring to, Dakath spots a human man lying wounded against the far wall of the upper section of the cave. He is bound, clearly beaten, and only barely conscious. Those of you who interacted with the dwarf who hired you, Gundren Rockseeker, recognize this man as Gundren's companion, Sildar. The one who was riding the other horse you found ambushed on the road.

Teranthvar follows closely behind Dakath taking in the environment and Klarg's corpse. He drops his guard a little bit until he notices the badly beaten man. He taps Dakath's shoulder to get his attention and points.

Perhaps that's the captive? I'll go see it he is still alive. I hate to dip into our spoils, but we might need one of those potions.

As he doesn't see any imminent danger, Teranthvar starts walking towards the captive, rapier drawn.

The potions are from the stolen supplies. This man was tortured. He deserves one of the vials. Lets get him patched up and maybe he has some information that can help us piece together what to do next.

That Yeemik got a good head on his shoulders, long may he reign!

I'd like to see us remove Yeemik's head from his shoulders! Talin moves swiftly to Sildar to untie him

Frustrated at his lack of ability to pursue Klarg and allow a menace to escape Dakath keeps watch while the rest attend the injured human.

The man was clearly beaten and tortured while he was here, and only barely hanging on to life. Xander administered the potion and watched as wounds closed and bruises mostly faded away. The man appeared to be somewhere in his fiftieth year, and looks as though he a rather seasoned fighter, showing that he likely fell purely to being outnumbered rather than out-skilled.

"*cough* When Klarg came and commanded the goblins to fight, I felt hope followed by despair, knowing how many of them I'd seen. When they killed him and simply walked away, I had no idea what to think, but hoped it would lead to freedom. Thank you, friends. The goblins caught us on the road."

"They brought me here, but they were looking specifically for dwarves under orders from one they called the Black Spider, so Gundren was taken elsewhere. He and his borthers, Tharden and Nundro, have located the entrance to a place called Wave Echo Cave. Gundren had a map leading to the entrance, but the goblins took it and sent it to a place they called Cragmaw Castle. I don't know which castle they're talking about, but someone in Phandalin may know."

"This isn't the first time we've heard of people being ambushed along the road, which is why we hired you to move the goods. One of my associates, a man named Iarno Albrek, disappeared two months ago. I came hoping to investigate his disappearance. I must get to Phandalin to look into Iarno's disappearance, to see if I can find whether he was also captured by these goblins, or if something else is at foot. The goblins stripped me of everything I own, but if you can escort me to Phandalin, I will requisition gold from the Alliance once we reach town, as reward for your rescuing me."

Xander looks to the group for a half second then

We would be happy to escort you to Phandalin. This Black Spider is worrying, useing the goblins as a proxy. Kidnapping, torture and pillaging all for Echo caves... We'll do what we can, all the better if some coin comes our way

Feeling the effects of the potion wearing away the majority of the damage he had taken, Sildar struggles but manages to get to his feet. "Well, you have my gratitude. That potion worked wonders, but it boggles the mind how it can make you feel so much better yet still terrible at the same time."


With Sildar rescued and the goblins cleared out of the cave, you've successfully completed the first dungeon. Congratulations on not getting yourselves killed! Well, most of you.

Now it's time to decide on your next steps. What do you want to do with the goods in the cave? What do you want to do with the oxen and cart full of supplies you were already escorting to Phandalin? What do you want to do about Gundren? Where to, dear players? Feel free to discuss IC or in OOC.

We should returned to the wagon and deliver it as we were hired to do Talin coughs as he speaks, still not quite feeling 100% after that I’m open to suggestions

I know a little place with the best lamb stew you've ever had in Phandalin

Xander offers

Scene