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S7 (9/12) : Negotiations with Sildar, Davnan's Stories, Diffusing a "Bomb", and Dealings at the Lionshield Coster

General Summary

As the evening sun began to set, we found our adventurers in the central marketplace of Phandalin. Jun Sheng and Davnan Solnen woke, stretched, and slowly clambered out of the wooden cart onto the cobblestone common as Eve Noir took their place for some rest of her own. Excitedly, Cassidy Ore informed Jun and Davnan of all that had transpired while they were asleep in the cart. She made mention of her initiation into the Harpers, the charge given by sister Garaele to bring the silver comb to Agatha the banshee, and spoke of the long lost spell book of the wizard "Bowgentle".

Davnan quickly pulled a mess of notes from his backpack, thumbing through them fervently and exclaimed,

"AHA! I knew that name sounded familiar!".

Davnan went on to tell the group everything he had researched about Agatha the banshee in the past.

"Agatha the banshee was once a human madly in love, who would have followed her betrothed to the ends of the Realms, but met a bitter end. It is said now that she is a spirit who spends all of her days in a cave desperate to return to her lover, but unable to find peace, as her betrothed has since passed to the other side. She is so desperate, in fact, that she even pursues his living heirs, searching for a way to return to the land of the living. There have been reports of the living communicating with her, but most often to their peril if she sees them as any kind of threat to her or to her pursuit."

(Davnan surprising the group with his obscure knowledge of Agatha the banshee)

After the party's impromptu school lesson from Davnan, Cassidy noticed Sildar Hallwinter from across the marketplace and briskly walked to greet him. They exchanged pleasantries and Sildar told Cassidy that he has mustered about half the funds he feels will be needed for their future endeavor to retrieve Gundren Rockseeker. Sildar mentions says that he would be happy to pay each of the adventurers 45g each for such a mission. Warhun's golden scaled ears perked up at the mention of coin.

(Warhun's dragon greed begins to come to the surface)

Sildar then noticed the adventurers have a new party member in Davnan, and began to backtrack his original offering of 45g per person to account for the gnome, stating 38g per member is more appropriate if the party is now six. Warhun sneered and exclaimed plainly,

"Its 45g or nothing."

Sildar, anxious to find the whereabouts of his dwarven ally, decided to make a slight concession to Warhun...

"Well, I suppose....if your new gnome friend proves to be a valuable asset to the expedition, 45g each should be fine. But if he proves to be troublesome, 38g will have to do."

During Warhun and Cassidy's exchange with Sildar, Davnan had once again cozied up to our fighter Jun to ask questions about the adventurers and how they all had come together. Opening one eye and peering at Davnan now that his quiet meditation had been interrupted, Jun replied matter-of-factly,

"I gave you my answer at Barthen's Provisions, why ask me again?"

Seeing that his charms had apparently faded from Jun's mind, Davnan chose to change the topic and try to entertain his new acquaintances with a story from his younger years.

"Well, then I guess its time you heard the story about the fish then isn't it?"

Davnan's eyes gleamed, obviously excited at the chance to weave a tale.

(Davnan spins the yarn of his "glory days")

Meanwhile, Tector Ozolith perused the shops of the marketplace, making small talk with the locals, and ran into Narth Terzin (Edit?) who the adventurers had spoken with at Stonehill Inn. Tector asked Narth if he has heard any interesting rumors circulating Phandalin lately. Narth told Tector,

"Not too much really, just the usual complaints about the Redbrands hassling our townsfolk. They are really just a thorn in all of our sides. I have heard some rumblings of a strange power around Phandalin, and some whispers about the mines, but I can't make heads of tails of what that might mean. Perhaps Darrin Endermath, the old adventurer turned farmer might know something? He's usually found at the Inn with a pint in hand. I suppose people HAVE been coming back into town with injuries lately, like that sister Garaele and Castodia Leatherblade. Maybe she knows more about it. But...IF the Redbrands were the one's who hurt those women....who in their right mind would maim someone as beautiful as Castodia Leatherblade?"

Narth then unrolled a tattered parchment he pulls from a small satchel under his booth and showed it to Tector.

"I drew this of her before her accident...I don't think she saw me staring....but see what I mean? What scoundrels would hurt something so easy on the eyes?"

(Narth's voyeur "commission" of EDIT Leatherblade)

Tector stared wide eyed at the parchment for a moment, then wide eyed at Narth, gave Narth an uncomfortable and awkward "thumbs up" as he slowly backed away to rejoin his friends.

(Tector's mother had warned him about talking to strangers)

Having bid farewell to Sildar the group heads towards their destination of the Lionshield Coster in hopes to inquire about upgrading some of their armors and weapons. Halfway to the Lionshield Coster, the group was once again confronted with a ragtag group of Redbrand ruffians who seem yet again determined to give the party a hard time. Confronting Cassidy and Warhun, the gang asked where the group is heading and what they were up to. Customary to her demeanor, Cassidy politely told the ruffians that they were simply passing through town on business and were heading to the Lionshield Coster before leaving, with a slightly veiled threat in her words should the ruffians give them any trouble. Warhun whispered to the group,

"I really hope these fools don't remember me...",

Almost as if the Redbrand's had heard his whisper, one of the ruffians calls out to Warhun after remembering a mission they had been on together for the Redbrands in the distant past.
(Yet another run in with the Redbrand yokels)

"WARHUNNNN!!!!! Long time no see you devil! We weren't sure where in the Realms you had run off to! Where do you think you're going?"

Warhun begrudgingly replied, "Just passing through. Not looking for any trouble..."

Encroaching into Warhun's space, the most obviously intoxicated ruffians sneered, "Well look who's a big man now! With all your cute little friends and your fancy clothes too!"

Noticeably infuriated, Warhun snarled under his breath within earshot of his companions, "I could take three of these bastards out with just one breath..."

(Warhun isn't exactly someone you can just insult and get away with it)

Knowing Warhun's temper, and seeing the writing on the wall, Tector bowed his head in prayer and quietly called upon the Armor of Agathys to protect him, bracing for a brawl. Taking Tector's cue, the overexcitable Davnan swirled his hands creating a dark purple vortex around them, thinking that the fight had already begun. Everyone in the party but Warhun (whose eyes were locked onto the ruffians and had cinders fuming from his nostrils) shot Davnan a wide eyed glare, begging him with their gazes "don't be a madman!". Davnan knew how to take a hint, and drew back his witch's bolt. Without hesitation, Davnan closed his eyes and chanted in an ancient language unknown to the the rest of the party.

"CHING CHANG! PING PONG! DING DANG! LONG DONG! GIVE-A-DOG-A-BONE-A-RONI, NOW YOU'RE JUST A DUMB JABRONI!"

(Brain juju, courtesy of Davnan Solnen)

The intoxicated ruffian blinked twice, looked around himself not quite sure of where he was, looked back at Warhun, and smiled.

"You know Warhun, we really don't feel all that great about our falling out in the past, and we don't want any trouble really either. Go ahead about your business. Just don't give us any problems down the road, else those old debts resurface ey? Whatta ya say?"

Warhun, surprised at the sudden turn of tone, shrugged.

"We're good" he stated simply.

Cassidy seeing a chance to make a clean break for the Lionshield Coster, beamed the ruffians a manufactured and wild eyed smile.

"Well this has been just....just.... great, really! Super duper! Nice to see you gentlemen! OK BYEEEEEE!!!" she exclaimed as she grabbed Warhun's hand and practically dragged the group out of the vicinity of the thugs.

(Cassidy doing her best not to freak out)

Upon arrival at the the Lionshield Coster, the group spoke with Jamercy Lacteren the shopkeep, informing him of the adventurers findings in the Cragmaw hideout, and that they had brought them back in hopes of a small reward. Content with the inspection of the goods, Jamercy gave the adventurers 25g to split, which made rewarding jingly noises when our party dropped the coins into their pockets.

(Inside the Lionshield Coster, Phandalin's most recognized armory and weapons dealer)

Davnan wasted no time in demanding the shopkeep to fulfill an order. Unfortunately for Davnan, the Lionshield Coster didn't carry either the ball bearings or the water flask he had needed. Next, Jun attempted to barter away the groups newfound 25g in hopes of a shiny new spear. All four other adventurers (excluding Eve as she was still in the now empty cart outside) slapped Jun upside his head and pointed to the sign behind the counter which read "Sharp Spears: Only 1 Gold Each!". Jun laughed out loud, muttering something about his old age. Jun paid Jamercy, and donned his shiny new spear proudly.

(Jun enjoying his newly purchased weapon of choice)

Tector then questioned Jamercy about the Redbrand's, wanting to know what was being done about them in Phandalin, and if there was anyone the group could speak to about mounting a resistance against the Redbrands. Jamercy, somewhat defeatedly, had little to say.

"Yes, it sure would be nice. I even have some of them in the back room right now drinking and making a mess of the place. But, the truth of the matter is, while you get to go on with your lives outside of Phandalin after you muscle them out, I will still have to wake up here in the morning and deal with the consequences. The nobles who used to protect this settlement are long gone, and even though it pains me to say it, the Redbrands's are all we have. Sure, they're a blight upon Phandalin, but unless you have a suggestion about how to protect us all when the chips are down, I don't know how to help you. My suggestion? Talk to Castodia Leatherblade... and avoid the the Sleeping Giant. There's not much else to say."

Feeling the weight of Jamercy's words, the adventurers took their leave of the Lionshield Coster. Despite the gravity those words, our adventurers pressed on. With a new weapon found and the weight of the rewards of their work jingling in their pockets, they stepped back into the dimming light upon Phandalin's marketplace with smiles on their faces and a strong desire to see what the night had in store for them yet.

Report Date
13 Sep 2020

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