Entry #3: Out of fire and to the Inn - blasted guards

We proceed to search the goblin bodies and find a red and white leather whip, 2 deer antlers, and racoon pelt, in addition to the usual weapons and armors.
 
The farmers are surprisingly still asleep through all of this, so we proceed to dispose of the goblin bodies by moving them to the edge of the forest. We write a warning to the goblins saying "Do not enter - goblins killed on site". With some of my remaining time I meditate, staring into a goblin eye that I took from the leader but nothing is gained, as I am rather tired after our fight. We sleep until noon and then chat with the farmers, who bring us food once again. Millivent said they have lived on the farm for the past 2 decades without many attacks from them. When they would attack they would just take basic items. They do certainly seem more organized. I mention to the party that it seems that with this Cult of the Dragon, they are sending the goblins out to find more dragon artifacts. Before we head back to to talk with that Harper fellow, we decide to train the farmhands in the use of weapons so that they can defend themselves. Jean Marie heads up.
 
The farmer is kind enough to provide us with transportation back to town (Phlan). We get in around 8 and head for the tavern, Madam Friona's Tea Kettle. On our way into town, the guards stop us and try telling us that there is an entrance fee. I don't recall such a fee but I am not certain on whether the guard is telling the truth or not. Draxon, on the other hand, glares at the guards and says "play your tricks on someone else". I step in to say "is this how you would treat your neighbors? My family has been here for a generation. One guard, named Jaxsen Shalbag, was being very stubborn and would not budge. So Draxon and Jean Marie proceeded to intimidate him, but only his friend, Queth WIllowboots, ran away, saying that he doesn't want to get into more trouble. But Jackson Shalbag, the main guard still persists. As he is bringing his whistle to his lips I create 10 gallons of water above his head which slows his action enough to allow Draxon to steal his whistle. I then freeze the water on the ground as he falls prone, and we move on, hearing his threats behind us.
 
We arrive in the tavern! Franklin is a good jig dancer, as the other party members are dancing. Jean Marie walks around carousing, seeing what information he can find. Draxon, Franklin, and I sit for a meal and drink. We chat with the lovely innkeeper who said she will put out a word to our harper friend that we would like to catch up with him.
 
We stay for a few rounds of beer, we are feeling a buzz, Franklin gets dancing, Jean Marie singing, Draxon playing instruments.
 
After spending a nice night in Phlan, we meet once again in the corner and see the hooded harper. We sit down and chat and the harper confirms that the purple-robed figure is with the cult of the dragon. He expresses great concern that the goblins are working with the cult, and he asked us if we found any dragon artifacts while we were there. I show him the leather shield with a dragon scale in it, and he tells us that he (and the harpers) are afraid that the cult may be trying to create a dragon-lich, which would spell utter destruction for the area. After asking us where the cave is located (we told them there were some indications of dragon activity in the cave), Franklin uses his cartography skills to explain the location of the cave. On the gentleman's way out, he confidentially give us his name, Zefander - but only refer to him in public as the Harper. He said to check back tomorrow for more, as he needs to check with others to update them.
 
The inkeeper 's daughter Reece, hands us a note and it says: "Your room and board for the next week have been paid in full, courtesy of Lenah Desanea. - Madame Freona (the inkeeper)." Reece says that Lenah is part of a popular family tied to some famous heroes from the past. They live in the nobles courters.
 
The next two days are uneventful and we occupy ourselves by…