With a plan set into motion, the group started moving the crates to best utilize space. Solgren and Allura found within the chamber a stash of half cooked meat that was neither wolf or goblin. The two went below and with some coaxing, calmed the wolves enough to release them one by one, keeping them distracted with the meat. The wolves, with less hunger, were calmer, and once released, disappeared into the forest without incident.

The next stage saw the group move the crates from the cave end to the entrance. By this time, darkness was aproaching and the group decided to take the evening there within the shelter of the cave. Though dank, with a fire, the group, with Sildar managed to have a pleasant night, giving Osmon time to memorize the spell while gundren's companion spoke of times the two adventured together.

Night fell, and with rations, the group took turns in watching, sildar included <OOC: You can now have the benefit of a long rest>. Morning dawned with a light mist, the sounds of wolves howling in the distance. A light warm breakfast was had before Osmon cast his spell, and the group loaded what they could on the disk, the rest being carried with some difficulty. The trip back, though not as slow while coming, was not as fast as it could be, and by the time you found the wagon, it was mid morning. Luckily, the ox were in the same place, a little wet, but still eating grass.

The wagon was unloaded of the original items, and then packed with the bigger things in first and the smaller items around them. Though a tight squeeze, the gear fitted in, and though the ox grumbled at the added weight, it was highsun when you set off for your original destination

Phandelvin

---

It was late afternoon when the rutted track emerges from a wooded hillside, and you catch your first glimpse of Phandalin. The town consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings, some built on old fieldstone foundations. More old ruins—crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars—surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past. Most of the newer buildings are set on the sides of the cart track, which widens into a muddy main street of sorts as it climbs toward a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town.

As you approach, you see children playing on the town green and townsfolk tending to chores or running errands at shops. Many people look up as you approach, but all return to their business as you go by.

Sildar, seeming much more at ease arriving in the town, smiled. “My friends,” he says, “let us secure lodgings. I’m told the local inn is very quaint.”

---

OOC: Welcome to Phandelvin and chapter two people.

You have a choice of what you want to do.
- Deliever the goods of Gundren to Barthen’s Provisions
- deliever the goods from the cave to the lionshield coaster
- Go to the local inn, known as the stonehill inn
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:15, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

With the added weight in the cart, everybody walked, even Yulin, and it was with relief that the town appeared in sight. Having seen better days, there was still life there and Amalia smiled when she saw the children, not a lot younger than she was. But while she had left the shipwreck site a young pup, the days spend with this group had made her grow in ways she couldn't have imagined. Blessing Selune for the journey, she heard Sildar's words and pondered.

I agree that some accommodations would be nice and it is getting late. But should we not deliver the goods? I would not like for someone to steal both our shipments and deny us the satisfaction, and compensation, for having completed the task. I suggest that Yulin could go secure rooms for us while the rest of us goes to deliver the goods. Do you know both locations, Sildar?

She stretched her arms over her head. Her suggestion would mean more work today, but she was ready to give a last effort to get those deliveries out of her hands.

"I completely agree with Amalia, let's finish our task and turn the goods in, see to getting these other things to that other company while you and Yulin get us lodgings. I could get you some coins for me and my sister."

Sildar smiled as Amalia spoke. "I don't know exactly, but do know the inn is in the center of town. I was told that Barthen’s Provisions is a little past it on the same road. The lionshield coaster i know not, but they should have a sign, like their symbol" He pointed to the painted insignia a shield with a blue lion in the middle

He looked at Yulin and nodded. "We can secure rooms for us all if you want to finish up."

Ever the pessimist,  Yana had been honestly surprised that the wagon and ox had rekained where they'd left them, especially overnight.  Leaving the animal alone with wolves on the loose, even recently fed ones, seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.
However,  the city girl had to admit that the plan worked, and she had taken the reins to drive the wagon towards town.

During the discussions in town, Yana nodded in agreement
"Yes, let's take care of business before seeing to our lodgings. No sense hauling things around longer than we need to."

Allura was happy to have more time with her sister and walked along with her as they brought Gundren's items to their destination and looked for signs bearing the Shield and Lion.

At the first sign of passerby on the road in Phandalin, Malice casually walked up to them. "Excuse me, sorry to bother you, do you happen to know where the Lionshield Coaster is located?"

---

21:26, Today: Malice Baenrret rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Persuasion. (Because I'm a drow. If it's not necessary, then ignore it.)

Whistling softly to get Edgar's attention I point at the symbol of the Lionshield Coaster before launching him from my arm. Hopefully he will find it quickly.

Edgar Perception: 15

As the group approached, they found a boy in a field of sheep. He was staring at the group, mouth open. He had never seen a gnome, much less a drow, yuan ti or a tiefling…..and to have them ask a question, he was wide eyed. He pointed over his shoulder. “Main road…..on the left…..if you reach th, th pe square, you’ve gone too far.”

The group couldn’t help but be amused, until he spoke again “Your not here with the read cloaks, are ya?” He had a tinge of worry and fear in his voice at the question

"Who are the red ? cloaks."

Allura said lowering herself to look at the boy.

"Thank you kindly, young man. What is your name?" Malice paused long enough for him to answer before continuing, "My name is Malice. It's a pleasure to meet you. Do not fear, we are not here with the red cloaks. Have they done something to you or someone you know?"

---

OOC: 22:58, Today: Malice Baenrret rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Insight.

Yana wanted to mind her own business, but couldn't help but speak up.
"A word of advice,  young man... in the future , you might want to be more subtle,  when asking about Red Cloaks.  We aren't with them, but if you were talking  to actual Red Cloaks,  they might be offended by your attitude.  Bullies look for fear, so try not to show it, if you can help it"

Solgran smiled at the lad's reactions. He remembered the the first time he had seen people who weren't simple human commoners, too. The world was full of wonders for those who'd never stepped far outside the family farm. His smile faded when the boy asked about the Red Cloaks, and the mood made an obvious shift.

To feel the boy's mood and how genuine the info is that he gives us about these red cloaks.
01:23, Today: Solgran Farnzythe rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Insight.

Turns to regard her sister a moment before turning back to the boy.

Seeing the unease the boy showed, realizing she was probably the closest in age with him, she quickly called on Selune to help her and  she squatted near him.

Please do not be alarmed, as you can see, we are not from around here. We are not aware of the Red Cloaks, what can you tell us about them? If they bother you, maybe we can help?

13:39, Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Amalia persuasion.

13:38, Today: Amalia Firnam rolled 2 using 1d4.  Amalia Guidance.

Nope.... why is the cleric the party face? lol

Snoric had been busy with his tinkering the whole trip and mostly kept to himself.  He spent a lot of time playing with his pistol, adding new features, coupled with arcane chants that made little sense, even to those practiced in the arcane.  Whatever he was doing the gnome finally seemed happy and stopped adding to his pistol, instead performing similar 'upgrades' on his armour.

Determined to be able to better defend himself, Snoric had acquire one of the short swords and a shield from the goblin hoard.  He begged the more martial types to help him train with the blade and shield whenever they rested.

Upon reaching town, knowing the others had the cargo delivery well in hand, Snoric gathered up all the junk he had collected from the goblin cave, old rusty blades, nails, anything metal and of no real use and headed off into town, agreeing to meet them at the inn later.



OOC: Given I may be out of commission for a few days I've got Snoric working on a new project.  His pistol now sports some sort of longer attachment on its barrel (almost looks like a silencer for ooc purposes) and he's added strange metal attachments to his studded leather that makes no practical sense.

Anyone who helps trains him in swords will find he's not great.  He's fairly dextrous but lacks proficiency.

AO will handle Snoric if any big adventure hooks occur and I'm not available.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Sun 05 Sept 2021.

The young man looked at the group as they spoke. When Yana warned him, he looked a bit sheepish, and looked around. Then he spoke softly. “They came about a month or so back, and cause trouble for the town. Bullies the lot of them”

He looked back towards the town, then the party. “You’ll see what I mean soon enough.”

He then went about tending the sheep, occasionally looking back towards the group.

As the wagon moved into town, the group looked out for the lionshield coaster. Before long you come up the road, and see hanging above the front door of this modest trading post is a sign shaped like a wooden shield with a blue lion painted on it.

Allura lets the group move on for a bit staying behind with the boy.

"Want to see some magic ?" She smiles.

She holds up her hand and like a puppet makes it open like a beak having the caw of a crow burst forth.

Then she causes tremors in the ground around them and changes the glow of her eyes to different colors.

"Alright I better catch up with the others." She caused a clap of thunder.

She then turned, "You have a good day."

She headed back to join the cart and her companions.


Various uses of Thaumaturgy

Yana thanked the boy for his help, working to remember his face.  Normally, she'd be too focused on her job to worry about some random townie, but if there was some kind of town wide confrontation gearing up, it was good to know whom to trust.

She gave a half smile at her sister's magic act.  It was something she'd seen many times, but still never failed to pique her interest.  She was looking into studying magic herself one day, after seeing how useful it was to Allura, though she might prefer to do it the old fashioned way, with books and practice.

Taking the reins, she helped get the cart to where it needed to go.

The boy watched the group leave, seeing allura remain behind, he watched as she used magic. The boy jumped and looked horrified as she used it, walking away quickly, allura smiling all the while.

As the group made their way to the merchant house, parking within the entrance with the wagon, and entered, Yulin and Sildar volunteering to watch the cart. You enter and see a room, separated with a back door. In it were shelves of gear from weapons, armor and goods. Amendg them is a woman, arranging what stock she had mumbling, as she hears you, she turns around. The woman, in her mid thirties, had brown hair tied back, with dark blue eyes. Her clothes, breeches, a tunic and boots, were more for practical use.

She frowned at the group, noting the various races. “Can I help you?”

Allura was surprised that the boy was horrified by the brief magic show she put on just for him. Her eyes returning to normal. She trailed along after the group letting them travel ahead she pushed her old self back behind the façade again.

She was silent as she walked perhaps she was better off joining these Red Cloaks after all.

Yana gave her best smile, fake though it was, to the woman and nodded.
"Good day, ma'am.  My friends and I had a run in with some goblin thieves out in the woods, and after we dealt with them we happened upon a large pile of ill gotten merchandise.  I have been told that it might have come from here.  Are you missing anything?  Perhaps something lost on the road from Neverwinter?"

The woman’s eyes lit up as yana spoke, the woman going from distant to almost excited. “You’ve got some goods….does it have the logo of this place…” She pointed to a sign in a desk, the shield with the lion.

“We’ve all lost supplies here from neverwinter….I was waiting on a shipment that was due last week. I figured it gone.” She came over, looking at you all, and held her hand out to yana. “Name’s Linene Graywind, master of the Phandevin post. If ut’s my gear, I will gladly reward you…can you show me?”

"Certainly, Linene. My name is Solgran, and these are my companions..." Solgran made introductions for all, and helped the merchant to see the various goods that had been recovered.

Yana nodded with a friendly smile.
"Yes, ma'am, those are indeed the symbols on the crates we recovered.  If you'll follow me, we'll take you right to them.  Right outside in our wagon."
The locksmith led the merchant to the merchandise outside.

Amalia had stayed with the wagon when Yana and Solgran went inside to talk to the shopkeeper. While they were talking, she approached Osmon and told him.

That little boy was terrified of the Red Cloak, what are your thoughts about it? This place has seen better days, should we get involved, after rescuing Gundren? I for one would like to know more about this group. I don't like bullies, I guess it runs in the family.

Waiting for the tall mage to answer, she saw the other two humans of the group come out with a brown haired woman to inspect the content of the chariot.

Malice wasn't much welcomed in polite society due to her drow heritage, especially in smaller towns and villages. As such, she too stayed outside with those who guarded the wagon. She didn't want to ruin their negotiations by being present.