Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: Lost Mines of Phandelver

(Calithor, there was a map that just showed the Mountain's Toe Mine. It's relatively close to Phandalin. Kind of NE.)

"Not sure found is right, but we have our plan. Just waiting for a bite to eat then off to see Sildar to get underway," Rabbit explains to Margret. "Well, take that Don-Jon fellow to Mountain's Toe Mine first." 

"A fresh air will do us some good!Let's not waste then time eh?"and then he nods at Rabbit's Plan

Calithor slowly finishes his breakfast, examining the map from time to time in order to remember the salient details. When he is done he shoulder his pack and, with a final glance at the warm and comfortable surrounds, turns back to his companions. "Shall we?"

(( Happy to leave ))

(Bitesize never came back with food? But if we just assume it came and we ate, I suppose we can move on now.) 

Day 1

You all are served by Bitesized. You get whatever you ordered and Krull gets coffee and seltzer water with a type of bark sitting in it, for his hangover. Toblen tells Krull to drink the drink and chew the bark.

When you go outside the sun is just above the trees. A dark skinned man in a flat brimmed hat, overalls leather vest, shirt and coat. 

stands waiting impatiently, By Barthians.

   Two donkeys one pulling a small cart. 4 horses tethered to the back in full tack. Droop is sitting on the back of the cart wearing leather armor his usual clothes, backpack shortbow and scimitar. 

Outside, Rabbit spots the man waiting impatiently. "That must be Don-Jon," she says quietly to the others. "Why don't you guys go say hello. I'll join you in just a moment." 

She runs across to the shrine, slipping a gold coin from her pouch and trying to leave it at the shrine without anyone noticing. (Sleight of Hand: 7) She then hurries back to join the others. 

Calithor watches as Rabbit, as befits her name, runs off into the distance. He then turns and approaches the man.

"Don Jon, I assume? We were asked to escort you. Can you perhaps tell me a little about the route and the destination, so that we know what we might expect on the journey?"

Krull noticing Droop says in goblin 

 Turning his attention to their new employer and seeing how impatient is says "You to want to reach fast to your destination.We ll help "

Krull, Calithor and Margret

"Sildar, told me to watch the, horse thingies, for you." Droop replies in broken common, as he rolls his eyes.

"Aye! Mates, you're late." Raskin replies to the inquiries, tilts his head as he looks at a map and taps a brass and crystal device on a arm band. "Oy! We've got leave now. Got a bunch of hungry miners to feed."  You guys see that one donkey is laden with supplies, mining equipment and food. "We'll be heading northeast, the trail skirts the foothills of the Sword Mountains. We'll make it after nightfall since we're leaving so late."

"The cart, and donkey pulling it and horses are yours, course Mae's mine." Said, as he pets the unhitched donkey. Then he starts walking towards the mine leading Mae by the reins.

Rabbit you see the only ones about this early, is your group, and a farmer a mere dot in the distance tilling a field, Droop, Raskin donkeys and horses. So you succeed in being stealthy and slight of hand by default.  But you feel blessed.

But you turn and see that Raskin is already leaving.

Seeing the group leaving, Rabbit hurries back to join the others. "You weren't going to leave without me were you!" She nods to Raskin. "Rabbit," she says, a little out of breath from her sprint. "Good to meet you."

For the moment, she walks along after, not sure about the horses. 

Raskin replies to Rabbit 

"Sorry love, no time to wait. Names, Don Jon Raskin, But just call me Raskin." He continues walking. It appears there's no need for the horses at the moment unless you want to practice riding, or scout ahead.

"of course not! we where just waiting for you rabbit~" she laughs, turning to don jon "are there any possible dangers that we should know of?"

"Aye love just the normal thing that could happen on a hilly trail, unless that bloody dragon attacks. That's why you folks are escorting me." Raskin says 

"Oh yea, a dragon. No problem." Rabbit says.  She continues walking along, letting the horses follow along behind the cart.  "I'm surprised Sildar didn't say anytihng about your need to leave so early. We could have been on our way earlier. Sorry."  She isn't really so sure she could have been up much earlier, but it seemed like a good thing to say to impress this man. 

As they walk along a bit more Rabbit asks, "So what's out there at this Mountain's Toe Mine?  Do you have a shack or something up there? I take it there are a number of folks working the mine?" 

"Dragon?!What dragon? Is that the one I think?Does that dragon have white skin?" 

Krull checks the wagon and the horses ."Now those horses will be a target for this dragon.." Turning his attention  to this Don John tries to perceive if he has any fighting skills( 3 perception (natural 1 lol) )

"We will try our best Don John but its is best if you run fast in case this dragon attacks Unless you have fought dragon again"

Rabbit Raskin replies. "The dwarves, who work the mine live in an area they prepared for their selves love. I had a site, a Forman's cabin but it was destroyed by an Owlbear just recently. About a month ago so, I've stayed with them." 

Krull  "I haven't seen the dragon, personally that every bodies been talking about have you Mate?"

"The dwarves live inside the mine?  Interesting," Rabbit says. "There room for us there? Or we have to see to our own lodging? If we're there after nightfall I presume we'll move on in the morning."

"Aye it was a few weeks ago when we were dealing with the Redbrands. I saw him grabbing a horse and flying away.Big nasty this one!Hope we won't have to fight him soon"

Margaret shivers "dragons. . . big, scaly dragons! i hate them, hopefully we won't need to ever get near one." she comments with a sight. she summons her familiar, asking ot to be on her shoulder while she gently pets it's head "hopefully we won't need to fight anything at all, if luck is on our side."

For the first part of the journey Calithor contents himself with listening to the patter between his companions while idly tapping out a rhythm on his drum. He is curious about the man they are guarding, but also happy to be doing something that -- at least for the moment -- does not involve murder and mayhem. The talk of dragons seems like the common talk of all travellers. If it was not dragons then it would be giants, or demons, or some other archetypal monster.

At a lull in the conversation he approaches the wagon.

"So, Raskin...supplies for the mine, eh? I this likely to be a regular occurrence? Something we should plan for, or just a  single opportuniuty?"