It had been several days since the group had cleared the basement of the old hall to the east, and though at the time their return was full of quietness and confusion of wounds and exhaustion, By that night, the whole town had heard the scourge that was the red cloaks had been vanquished.

That night, the party at the stonewall inn could be heard, and all people at least came through, offering praise and thanks. Sildar seemed in his element as he spoke to each member, telling them that he had organised a few trustworthy men to retrieve the items from the former base.

Trilena and Tolben seem equally in good spirits, though the party had them busy. Everyone, from sister Garale, Karg the blacksmith and even Harbin came, congratulating the group on their bravery, offering them free reign of the ruined manor.

On more than one occasion that night, snotic could be seen quietly talking to Karg, both excited about something unknown to them

---

The next few days seemed a blur, with each person doing their own thing. The noted absences were Snoric, who rose early and came back only for an evening meal with the blacksmith, only to leave again and come back once night had well and truly fallen.

The first day also saw Osmon on his own in his room, identifying the magical items. The next day, himself, amalia and meridian scoured the documents of the lair

Most was generalised, but they came upon a note that is signed with a black spiders symbol.



It's on the fourth day that Sildar bit the group to meet at the townmasters hall.

---

<OOC: Welcome to Chapter 3

Please note what you have been up to the last few days>

Once they were safe in town, Yana took her share of the treasure to the nearest priest, to get her old age reversed.   It was such a relief, and she realized how much she took her youth for granted.

Yana wasn't much for parties and carousing, but she put in an appearance, just to maintain ties with the community,  at least for now.
Otherwise,  she worked to search the redcloak compound, checking every nook and cranny.   She'd also spend time relaxing with her sister,  and cleaning up and replenishing her possessions
This message was last edited by the player at 06:02, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Allura is amazingly quiet and spends time with her sister and will donate what money her share is to help heal her sisters ageing and Snorics. She also spends some time with Amalia during her prayer time.

When the celebrations take place, she will be there to raise a mug of ale though she is more subdued instead of her usual snarky and boisterous self.

She will help bury the wood carver after making sure the family got him back from the cold ravine.

Everyday she will practice and drill with both sword and spell till she is tired from her exertions.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Amalia spent some time with the local clergy, preparing to assist with the funerals of the victims of the red cloaks.

She helped Osmon go through the papers recovered in the hideout and giving names to the authorities if any are found to have made deals with the red cloaks.

She prayed every night, with Allura, not to convert her (she'll ask if she wants to), but to help her come to peace with her near death experience.

She offered to the group to repair any equipment that needed it.

Her rare free time after that is spent sleeping late and soaking in hot baths!

Elated by the crushing defeat of her captors, Meridian gratefully attended the celebration for the success of the people who’d freed her. Dressed in a gauzy sapphire gown, her hair looking like a silken sheet the color of midnight, Meridian flitted through the party like a dazzling butterfly. She smiled and laughed along with the group. The Redbands were eliminated, and they could all breathe more easily for it.

When the opportunity came, she lifted her chalice of Elven Summer Wine. “May I toast the brave men and women who rescued me from that dank cell? I didn’t relish ending my days in that sad cluster of old brick and dust.” Delicately painted lips curled in a lovely smile. “Thank you all! A toast to the Saviors of Phandelver! Hurrah!”

The third day…_

Two days later, Meridian accompanied Amalia & Osmon in poring through the papers. “I hope you both don’t mind my company, but after Darwin’s treachery, I have a personal interest in this matter.” Between Osmon’s spell and her own expertise, they soon discerned the nature (and value) of any enchanted items. “My, what lovely parting gifts they left!”

Meridian eyed the defensive items with special interest. Turning to Amalia & Osmon, she gestured at their bounty. “I would gladly accept one of the defensive items, if you’re so willing. My spells help, but the nature of my magical talent prohibits wearing anything heavier than cloth. Of the potions, I will defer to your companions, if I may have just one of the healing potions.”

The weapons mostly looked suited for the fighters among them. “As for the weapons, may I have the dagger or the bolts? The scrolls could help your friends. Since I found my own gear, I also recovered a scroll that negates needing the others.”

A delicate eyebrow arched with a soft chuckle. “I cannot lie, I would like the Wand. However, I am hardly the only spellcaster here, and you all suffered mightily in reaching my cell and killing our mutual enemies. I defer to group discussion—and will—in allocating the Wand, Staff, and Cloak.”

The note intrigued her. With a smirk, she added, “How do you two feel about ruining the rest of ‘Lord’ Albrek’s life?”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:28, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

While the others celebrated their victory, I slipped out to retrieve Edgar before seeking somewhere quiet to work. It takes some time but as I had promised that morning, Edgar was once more flying out into the night in his favourite form, frustrated from being cooped up in an empty tavern all day.

That done I lay the items out I had gathered after our confrontation with the Red Cloaks, laying each out carefully on a cloth next to some cleaning supplies. Next I laid down my ritual cloth and went through the motions to summon Simon.

"Thank you for coming. Would you please clean these while I work?"

The silent, invisible figure moved passed me, gently picking up the hand axe and got to work. I had better do the same. Taking out a small, paper thin, iridescent monocle from its protective case at my waist putting it to my right eye and begin a careful analysis of the cloak taking careful notes of what I find.

It takes over two hours to finish going through all the items, given the deplorable condition of some of the items I had to stop part way through to re-summon Simon to finish cleaning them, but it was not like I was going to sleep anyway. I had taken skills my parents taught me to develop precision and focus and I had used them to kill. Worse the spells I had learned to help me escape a bad situation had been used to make me an accessory to multiple murders. I had always known what those spells could be used for but I was finding the reality difficult to deal with. Fire was such an awful way to die and those rendered unable to defend themselves were arguably worse off.

What I had told Darwin was true, mercy is a often misunderstood and what Solgran had done was a mercy. Those thugs would likely have suffered a far slower, more painful death if turned over to the tender mercies of the angry villagers; especially after they learned of the wood carver's fate. However, I cannot even think of it as vengeance since the Red Cloaks had not wronged us other than some minor unpleasantness. It is good and necessary to stand up to bullies but too lash out in self-righteous outrage only leads to a destructive cycle of more and more brutal reprisals. Hopefully with all of the Red Cloaks gone from here this particular cycle can go no further.

Stretching the stiffness from my muscles I regathered all the items and headed back to my room at the inn. Fortunately, by then the party was dying down, though I could not see Snoric anywhere. Settling down on my bedroll, alone in the dark room I let myself feel the emotions I had been repressing all day and lay as still and as quiet as I could while the tears flowed. It was a long time before I fell asleep.


The next morning I awoke after only a few hours of sleep, cleaned myself up as best I could, and gathered the items I had researched the night before and went downstairs to the main room. Over the next hour the rest of the party, except for Amalia who was likely sleeping in as was her preference, stumbled down for breakfast.

"I am glad you are all here." I said standing up and clearing the table and laying a clean cloth down before laying out the items we had recovered yesterday. "It seems Tymora was in a good mood yesterday and blessed us with her favour and I return these to you to distribute as you see fit. This," I point to the crystal topped staff that had been wielded by the enemy leader, "I am keeping for myself."

"This," I say picking up a highly polished gold amulet with delicate celestial runes picked out in platinum surrounding a small ruby in the dead centre of the amulet, "can be used by a divine spell caster to focus their spells and more easily call on their deity for aid." [OOC: Amulet of the Devout (Uncommon)]

"This cloak," I say picking up the cloak of plain looking grey wool of surprising softness and durability, "will protect its wearer from both physical attack and dangerous effects." [OOC: Cloak of Protection]

"This ring," I say picking up a copper ring with two white stoats stamped into its face and its inner band lined with soft white fur, "will allow whomever wears it any equipment they are wearing to withstand extreme cold temperatures." [OOC: Ring of Warmth]

"These bolts," I point at one of the bundles of crossbow bolts with broad heads with acid etched runes along their forward edge, "are designed to release a jolt of force when they strike their target sufficient to knock over the target." [OOC: 15 Crossbow Bolts, Walloping]

"While these," I indicate the other bundle of sleeker more streamlined crossbow bolts, "Are more accurate and hit harder than standard crossbow bolts." [OOC: 10 Crossbow Bolts, +1]

"This," I point to a sturdy wand with a small clear crystal embedded in its tip, "releases bolts of force that unerringly track their target." [OOC: Wand of Magic Missile]

"This is called Darkbyte," I gesture to the slender handaxe sitting on the table, its dark blade seeming to absorb the light rather than reflect it, "it is lighter than a typical handaxe and drains the vitality of those wounded by it." [OOC: Handaxe with the finesse property and causes an additional 1d6 Necrotic damage]

"This is Thunderstrike," I look pointedly at Allura and gesture towards the heavy maul sitting in the centre of the table, its flanged head designed to subtly look like a thunderhead, "is of exceptional quality making it both easier to wield and hit harder and can release a wave of energy that can blast those caught in the effect away from the wielder." [OOC: Maul, +1 and as an action the wielder can cast 1st level Thunderwave]

"And finally this dagger," I point at the bone dagger, "was ground from the tooth of an adult black dagger and secrets a potent acid." [OOC: Dagger, +1 and causes an additional 1d4 acid damage]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

Yana nodded appreciatively
"Well done, Osmon.   Those crossbow bolts look like something I'd make good use of, though I'd be more than willing to share with another sniper."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:07, Wed 16 Mar 2022.

“I won’t lie, I thought of you when I saw those bolts earlier,” Meridian said, leaning toward Yana. “Their shape and heft looks designed for a hand crossbow. Are you proficient in such?”

Yana frowned
"Ah. that's a good point.  For powerful magic, i could certainly learn.   A more easily concealable weapon is always useful "

Snoric sat quietly in the corner, looking like he'd had little to no sleep, which was in fact true for the last few nights.  Yet as the gnome nursed his second cup of coffee the grin he wore threatened to crack his face in two.

He watched in interest as the items were described.  He considered the cloak but then looked in a different direction.  "I have been training with the shortsword as there are times that Ultio is too noisy or I'm forced to fight up close.  I believe I could train to be equally proficient with the handaxe if nobody else favours that weapon."

"Feel free Snoric, you have certainly earned it."

Allura watched as they divided things amongst them but other then the occasional comment she was mostly passive.

If there are no complaints, the gnome pulls the handaxe towards himself and tests it's balance in his hands.  He'd been practicing the thrusts of a short sword but felt changing to the chopping of an axe would not be too difficult.

He placed the axe down and looked around.

"When we are done here and have a moment, I have something I'd like to show you all.  Something I've been working on the last few days that I'm very excited about.  It's at the blacksmith's."

As she familiarized herself with her new hand crossbow, Yana nodded to Snoric
"Of course, my friend, we're always interested in what you've been working on.  Lead on."
A bit of a tinkerer herself, though specializing in locks and clockwork gears, Yana was definitely interested in what the Artificer had been working on.

Meridian held the Wand of Magic Missiles, feeling the internal pulse of magical energy within the device. She stood it among her gear with a satisfied smile. “A simple, yet effective, spell. Especially helpful in whittling down an enemy or two from a safe distance.”

As she said so, her fingers ran over the Cloak of Protection. Again, Meridian smiled, this time almost apologetically. “Speaking of safety, I truly could use the protective power of this cloak. My spells will prove helpful, but to use them for our benefit, I cannot wear traditional armor. I am sorry if I appear greedy, but I vow to use my gifts in service of you all if I may keep this.”

As per her habit when she was not adventuring, Amalia had spent most of the night awake, praying.... which amounted to a late rise in the morning. Blurry eyed, the purple haired lass got down in the common room, Ophelia on her shoulder and yawned widely, rubbing her eyes to try to see clearly. Stretching her arms, she scratched an itch in her hairs then got to the bar, where she ordered breakfast. Still yawning, she picked her bowl of oatmeal and slowly migrated to the table with the others, trying to keep her eyes opened has she dropped on the chair.

Why are mornings always so bright? I definitely prefer the light of the Moon!

Digging into her meal, she noticed the furry ring with the 2 hermines on it.

That's pretty, is anyone taking that? I'd be delighted to see what you have to show us, Snoric... can I eat first?

"Of course you can.  I should probably do so myself." It occurred to the gnome he really hadn't eaten that much in the last few days.  Even when he's stopped for dinner he'd been too excited to eat much.  Now the thought of food made his stomach rumble.

Solgran spent the days helping to bury the dead redcloaks, and then clean their hideout as a base for themselves. When he wasn't working, he ventured off into the woods where he would commune with the spirits that he now found himself tied to, or wandered about the town speaking to every person he could find about castles or ruins, orcs or the name "Cragmaw", and whether or not anyone had any information whatsoever. Once they discovered the letter in the hideout, he also began asking around about the name Iarno.

---

Solgran watched Osmon go through the many items that they had looted from the red cloaks, impressed at how many magical items the thugs had managed to get their hands on. A few of them caught his eye, offering a lot of different potential. One item clearly stuck out from the rest as being suited to him more than any of his companions. He had not used a maul for quite some time, but the properties that it possessed made it quite appealing.

He leaned his sword up against the wall and went to go and heft the large hammer to get a feel for its weight. "It's definitely different. I can see the appeal, though. Unless someone else has been eyeing the storm here, I think I'd like to try it out for a while and see how it feels."

"I'm sure we could all benefit from more safety. Malice and Allura are there in the front lines with me, taking blows from enemy warriors so that others won't have to. If we're performing our part well, Meridian, you won't have need of such protection as often as one of those two. Particularly Malice. Especially with a new wand that will help you remain effective from afar."

When Snoric made his announcement, Solgran was intrigued. He didn't understand any of the things Snoric did with his science and magic, but they were intriguing. "A bite to eat, and then a grand reveal? It is shaping up to be a good day."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Allura seems to come out of the haze a moment.

"Solgran is right those on the front lines tend to get the most bloodied among us. Perhaps the amulet then or something could be sold for another protective device."

She then looked to Snoric, "I look forward to it, you seem so excited. I wonder if it will be as loud as your unusual wand."

“So, that’s one ‘Nay’, then?” Meridian couldn’t quite resist a smirk. “Anyone else?”

"I don't mind who takes the cloak."  Snoric offered.  "Obviously it would be useful but I find my shield coupled with the enhancements I've made to my armour keep me relatively safe."

"Of course, that's on those few occasions enemies have got past the furious might of our front line!"  He raises his now drained mug of coffee to Malice, Solgran and Allura in turn before turning and waving it towards whomever was most likely to bring him more coffee. . .and take his food order.

Enjoys breakfast and looks around at her companions. Unconcerned really at the moment about the distribution of the items. It was good to see her sister and even Snoric looking youthful again. She wondered briefly about something the priestess had said.

"That banshee, do they have the same effect on people ?" She looked to her sister and Snoric to clarify.

Malice looked at the item handed to her, the others knew she followed a god and could probably make use of it. "While I can use this, it doesn't compliment my abilities very much. I would be able to make the most use of the cloak, seeing as I'm frequently up close and personal with the enemy. Unlike Amalia, I do not possess the strength to wear heavy armor without slowing down the group. Since there are several people laying claim to the cloak, I will leave it to a vote to decide who obtains it. I am not entirely unreasonable...most of the time that is." Malice returned the smirk that Meridian had displayed just moments ago.

"Everyone else seems to have found an item that suits them.  Makes sense you take the cloak Malice.  You put yourself in harms way more than most of us."