When you follow Sildra into the front office of the Barthen's pawn shop you see Wester, black shades, black boots, black suit, black cowboy hat. Despite his best efforts they're still covered in mud and dust. He's literally got CORPO tattooed across his chin in a barcode. What a sellout.

Bar4 has been trying to cover why there's a D20 parked in the loading dock and why there isn't paperwork with Wester's permission.

But when Sildra rolls in she immediately takes charge. "Mayor Harbin Wester, I am Sergeant Sildra Hallwinter, Anteris Alliance. Your savior. Phandalin has been far too long without a sheriff. I'm here to set things straight."

You can see Wester buckle under the authority. "Sergeant Hallwinter, a pleasure. Thank you. I hope you last longer than the last sheriff." He has the slightest tone of animosity, like he didn't mind that the last sheriff has been permanently off duty.

Sildra: "I read the reports. Sergeant Mason Jamoa was strung up by replicants calling themselves the Redbrands. Where do the Redbrands claim their HQ?"

Wester: "Tresendor Manor at the east hill. They've begun renovations. They also took over the Sleeping Giant Bar at the bottom of the hill."

Sildra: "I will deal with this problem. Have you heard from Captain Iarno Albrek? He was to meet me here yesterday."

Wester: "I have heard nothing." That seems to be the truth.

Hayes stays in the back, helping to cover this and hide that and make sure nothing out of the ordinary seems, well... out of the ordinary.  He keeps an ear turned to the front office in case their unexpected visitor starts wandering, but it seems that Sildra has that part of the situation under control.

"Just so we're clear on our objectives here, Sergeant. If we've got murders on the loose here in town, where does dealing with the Redheads fit in the priority list as compared to our current mission?"

"Entirely up to you." She nods to Jarod. "I've got to find out what happened to Iarno. With this town's lack of guards, you are free to act as representatives of the AA, if you deal with the Redbrands I'll make sure the town has the budget to reward you fairly."

Wester grimaces at the thought of paying you. Grimaces at no longer being in charge.

Jarod smiles at the man, then looks back Sildra, "Alright, let's go rescue the OG G, then."

“Yeah, we’d better bail Gun out.” Pause. ”What are ‘Redbrands’?”

"Redbrands are Replicants. These ones were hired by the Nezznar Company to rennovate the Tresendor Mansion. Usually Redbrands stay out of trouble, but these ones are taking advantage of our town's lack of security. They offered to cool it if I paid them, of course I don't negotiate with terrorists. I'm very glad you're all here. Although it would be unwise to harm them, Nezznar would notice. Your presence alone should keep them away from pestering the civilians."

"Replicants have no right to hassle anyone. On my authority of the Alliance, if any of you come across any Redbrands away from the manor, use your discretion: lethal force authorized."

Sildra nods to all of you.

"Great great! Wow wow wow. Now why don't you all get some rest at Stonehill Inn so you can be tip top?" he nods, "You know..." winks and nods, "For that thing you're supposed to do."

Indeed, it's now about 9am and it's been a long ass night. A long rest is overdue.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Mon 09 Aug 2021.

"Why not the Shrine of Luck Resort and Casino instead??? Be sure to mention I sent you for a good discount. Also...you seem like your'e not afraid to get your hands dirty. I do have a well paying job involving some dirty hands. A gang of orc have been terrorizing the Triboar Trail east of town. Their HQ is an old Costco. Can't miss it."

Couple of things: orc are this world's version of mad max bad guys. Chrome spray paint, certifiably insane, monster trucks, flame throwing guitars. Costco went out of business when Acquisitions Inc. began delivering bulk by drone.

"Naptime, then save the Gunner?"

"Big fan of naptime," chimes in Daniel, stretching his arms and flexing his shoulders after all of the totally-not-illegal stuff he totally wasn't doing in the back room.  "And then business as usual, eh?  Save the Gun-Man, save the world."

His ears perk up even further at the sound of the various hotels.  "Please tell me they have coffee."

Either Harbin Wester, Mayor, is completely clueless to the illegal stuff, or he doesn't care.

You all head out of the loading dock and down the muddy and pothole ridden tarmac of Phandalin toward the biggest decision of your life:

The rundown Stonehill Inn, or the shiny neon of the Shrine of Luck Resort and Casino.

While not much for conversation, Yvonne isn't much interested in long decision making processes either.  She simply turns in the direction of the Casino and starts walking that direction as if it was the only choice she had.

Jarod heads straight over to the inn. He'd rather get some sleep and head out of town than waste the time in a casino.

“Yvonne…fuck it. She’s a grown ass woman.” Ember cast a regretful glance toward the casino, then accompanied the boys toward the Inn. She felt a pleasant high from the “Magician’s Apprentice” she’d smoked earlier. Perfect send off for a nap.

Hayes watches Yvonne break for the Casino, then looks back to the others, then back to Yvonne.  "Hey, if you hit the jackpot, don't forget about your travel buddies," he calls out, with an accompanying double-thumbs-up.  "Love to go there myself, but I'm wiped."

"Not my worst night's sleep, but I'd give it a gold star for participation in the contest. Is everyone ready to go fetch Gun-dizzle?"

Roxy hasn't checked in since you last saw her at Bar4's.

“No,” Ember said with a quick shake of her head. “Has anyone seen Roxy? We shouldn’t leave one of our people behind.” She tired to remember where she’d last seen Roxy. “We need everyone if we’re gonna save Gun.” Time to find their missing BardBot.

OOC:

15:55, Today: Ember rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Investigation: Find Roxy.

Hayes looked around as Roxy is mentioned.  "How hard can she be to find?  She's not exactly subtle, you know.  My guess is she's at the Casino, living it up."  Still, he seemed concerned at her absence - she was first at the hotel when they all met, so punctuality was kind of her thing.

Sadly, tracking people was not Daniel's thing, so he pretty much just stood around looking confused.

---

15:43, Today: Daniel Hayes rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Investigation (Where's Roxy?).

Meeting back up with the group at the arranged time Yvonne seems a little bit less tired, and isn't covered in dried blood any more, but otherwise she is dressed about the same.  ”I didn't see her in the Casino, but I don't think you could search that place with a hundred people for days and not find any one person.”

Ember notices Roxy coming out of the Phandalin Miner's Exchange. Once Roxy notices she's been noticed, she smiles and waves and jogs over.

"Sup yo??? We ready to roll out? Save that guy who thinks he's gonna save the world?"

Hayes blinks and looks at Roxy, holding his arms wide as if to say where the hell did you just appear from?.  "Damned if we're not gonna try," he replies.  "Ready when you are."

"Then let's roll." Jarod waits for no further discussion before heading out and mounting his bike.