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Sat 22nd Jun 2019 03:45

Arrival at Phandalin

by Nepheri

The trip to Phandalin was more eventful than I had hoped. Our employer, Gunnel, and her friend Silvar had travelled ahead for reasons not revealed to us. As we were about a day from reaching the village, we encountered what remained of their equipment as well as their slain horses. We ourselves were attacked by goblins almost immediately.
 
My three compatriots and I headed into the forest where we found a cavern that served as home and base for these creatures. Guided by my Goddess' willingness to vanquish them, I did what I could to both aid in the killing of the goblins, and in helping my party to stay alive.
 
In the cave, we found Silvar, whom we managed to free. He told us that Gunnel had come across a way to reach a cavern said to hold great magical power. [Really need a recap on the story here...]. As best he knows, Gunnel has likely been dragged to Cragmore Castle, wherever that is.
Silvar also mentioned a friend of his, a knight representing the Lords' Alliance, who was supposed to be in Phandalin but has vanished.
 
With Silvar's help and, I must admit, with the great advantage of the half-orc Hurgh, we killed the bugbear in charge of the goblins and made it out. That allowed us to reach Phandalin without any further incident.
 
I found myself met with mixed reactions, but for the most part friendlier than expected. One out of the two traders we talked too seemed to ignore my disposition and the other did his best to remain professional. Sadly, I'm not sure if either one would be ready to listen to the Raven Queen's message of solace at this time.
 
After handing back wares stolen by the goblins to Blue Shield Trading (?), and delivering the goods we were hired to deliver to (?) store, we were able to check into the local inn and tavern. I had the pleasure of meeting Pip, the son of the owners and, as it turns out, the best friend of (?). His mother seemed to disapprove of me at first, as I would expect a caring mother to do, but when she found out the next morning that I was the one who cared for Kilin, she warmed up to me. Once again this is proof of how being able to deal with death in a healthy way can bring happiness to the living.
 
That morning was also the first we heard about the Red cloaks. This band of bandits has apparently been harassing the village for quite some time. When we visited Kilin later in the day she informed us that the attacks have become worse over time and by now they were killing people.
 
Kilin, kind and friendly as always, took three of our group in while Rupert first slept in and then headed for the town hall. Besides telling us about the Red capes and their misdeeds she also told us about a druid who might know where Cragmore Castle is located, but sadly the man isn't presently available but instead is likely at Thundertree, the width of Neverwinter Woods this side of the Crags away. But her son could contribute even more useful information by being able to point out what is likely a secret entrance to the Red capes' hideout.
 
Ah, the Redbrands. They're human - at least as far as we know. Simple bandits by the sound of it, but a bit too well organised for my liking. They seem to show up from east of the village and might well have an old, presumably abandoned, mansion in that direction as their base. But them being human poses a conundrum for me. Are they meant to die? Or is it time for the villagers, sad as it might be? But prayer at the local graveyard gave me all the clarity I need. It's time for these bandits to die.
 
We were ready to attack through the secret entrance but decided to go look for Rupert, finding him and Silvar Hallwinter at the town hall. We also found the mayor who tried to convince us that dealing with an orc situation that was getting in the way of trade was much more important than helping his own village with the pressing matter of the bandits here. I gently tried to point out the issues with this reasoning, which he brushed off. And he seemed mostly confused when hearing the Raven's message.
 
Further detail about these Redbrands was discovered, however. There is a small tavern of ill repute at the outskirts of the town that they frequent. Eager to investigate, we headed there to find out more. But we were met with nothing but insults and futile attempts at intimidation by the four bandits seated outside. The rest of my group seemed ready to retreat and find a different strategy. But I needed them to fulfil my Goddess' wish to have these men dead. And so a summoned her flames, leading to a fight that ended the lives of the bandits. Judging by the looks of people as we dragged the bodies away, they weren't unhappy to see the men dead.
 
Exhausted and wounded we have returned to the Inn to get proper rest before we head out.

Continue reading...

  1. Business...
    11th of Uktar, 1489
  2. I'm ready for you, Raven Queen
    2nd Uktar, 1489
  3. You killed my father, now prepare to die
    2nd Uktar, 1489
  4. Dust to Dust
    1st of Uktar, 1489 DR
  5. Redbrands I
  6. Arrival at Phandalin
  7. Daddy Dearest
    1st of Uktar
  8. Day after
    30 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  9. Lawful Stupid
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  10. Saving private Rupert
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  11. Dead to me
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  12. Close to Harvest
    28 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  13. Recovery
  14. Insane Plans
  15. By the Book
  16. Dead feelings
  17. Disposed
  18. Dead Necromancers are the Best Necromancers
  19. Catching up
  20. Shipping
  21. Friendly or Not
  22. Unexpected Meetings
  23. Worlds Collide
  24. A very different city
  25. Festive Thornhold
  26. Thank you, my Queen
  27. Friends. Right.
  28. This is awkward....
  29. Landslide
  30. Dangerous Gnoll-age (sorry... the puns are spreading...)
  31. Cenceptions
  32. Seduction
  33. Wave Echo Cave II
  34. Wave Echo Cave
  35. Return to Phandalin
  36. Rest in peace, Declan...
  37. Crisis of Faith
  38. Thundertree II
  39. Thundertree I
  40. Path to Thundertree
  41. Orc hunting
  42. Redbrands III
  43. Redbrands II
  44. Far From Home
    ?? ?? ???
  45. Cold
    Tal'dorei, day 2
  46. Life, interrupted
  47. Hot and Cold
  48. The Dragon's Lair
  49. In the afternoon, we plan!
  50. A Song of Ice and Fire
  51. Celebration
  52. Relief is one hell of a drug
  53. Flight and Flutter
  54. Freedom of Movement
  55. At dusk we... do something?
  56. Pray for a quick end to our deception
  57. Catching up
  58. Fall
  59. Lizards in a hole
  60. Not Today
  61. Released
  62. A broken soul
  63. Skyfall
  64. Acid Falls
  65. Roped in
  66. Faith in Friends
  67. Insight into Emon
  68. A Calling
  69. Hypothetical 1: Healer (Ginny Di video)
  70. Hypothetical 3: Matchmaker (Ginny Di video)
  71. Hypothetical 2: Villain (Ginny Di video)
  72. For my Beating Heart
  73. Hypothetical 4: Prison guard (Ginny Di video)
  74. Hypothetical 5: Bard (Ginny Di video)
  75. Plagued Possibilities
  76. Visits in the Cloudtops

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 15:36, Nov 7 2024