"So long as he's re-gagged and has no allies to speak of in town, it should be alright... But just in case, we should see about a rotation of guards, seeing as the Townmaster has not that quite yet. I'm willing to take first watch if need be. Though, uh... a moment." Vondal had to lean the staff against a nearby wall for a second and free his hands to search his person.

Eventually producing Iarno's spellbook, he passes it along to Sildar. "For safekeeping for now. Come the morning you'll need to set about other arrangements. Perhaps even convince a local or two to help with the watches until you can see him dealt with as is due for him." He then looks to Nif and Adrom. "Though I know two are probably of mind to make the same sacrifice of time, not all of us should miss the initial festivities and all that's due our return. So please, allow me this last duty. And when Sildar thinks its time, we can switch off as needed. Easy Peezy." He flashed a weak smile, before it turns sheepish as he looks back up to Sildar. "That is if you would allow it as well. All this is, uh, a not exactly proper I imagine, now that the fugitive found his way into cell."

"If you are sure it is alright, Vondal, I think I had better go back to make sure that Uncle Karl hasn't got himself into any trouble, and that Nundro and Gundren are doing OK." Assuming that he gets the nod from Vondal, Nif then heads back up to the inn.

Adrom puts a hand on Vondla's shoulder. 

"Just give a call if you need me" 

And he walks with Nif back to the Inn.

Sildar puts Iarno's spellbook in his belt and places a hand on Vondal's shoulder. "There is someone at the party I can ask to come back and keep watch for the next few hours. Let's all of us return to the party. This is a night of celebration, and really, you're the guests of honor." The dwarves give the old soldier a questioning look. He laughs, ushers the dwarves into the street, and keeps talking as they walk back toward the inn. "So much good has happened to this little town lately. Namely, the oppression of the Redbrands has been eliminated by you. They named me as the reason for Phandalin's upward swing, but it really is thanks to you. I was sent here by the Lord's Alliance to find out what was going on and to discover the whereabouts of Iarno. And now, you have accomplished that as well. And you saved Gundren and his brother." Vondal then relays the story of finding Wave Echo Cave and shows Sildar the staff with the spider atop. Sildar takes the staff and looks at it. "A black spider. This must have been the individual Iarno was working with." He laughs again, stopping just outside of the Inn and handing Vondal the staff back. "You've perhaps put an end to all of this — not just in Phandalin, but all over this part of the Coast." He smiles at the dwarves. "Are any of you interested in joining the Lord's Alliance? We could use more people like you."

The door to the Inn opens, and the halfling woman Qelline Alderleaf steps out before stopping abruptly. "Oh," she says, then giggles. "Didn't know you were there. Sildar, they're looking for you."

A tiny halfling boy squeezes out beside his mother and runs into Nif. The boy falls on his butt and looks up at the Duergar. "Hey!" Carp says, not angrily, but in surprise. Then, his eyes widen. "I know you!" He jumps up and runs back to grab onto his mother's hand. "Look, Ma!"

"I see," Qelline says, smiling. "I've got to get Carp home," she says. "It was good to see you all again."

"Aw, Ma!" Carp complains.

The halflings head up the road, and Sildar leads the group into the Inn. It's much more quiet than it was when the party first arrived in town. Gundren is standing on a table in the center of the room and telling the tale of the last few days. Karl has heard it from the beginning, from Gundren's and Sildar's capture by the goblin ambush, to how Gundren was separated from Sildar and taken to the castle and questioned by the bugbear who called himself King Grol, and finally to how he was rescued by the party and escorted to Wave Echo Cave.

As Vondal, Nif and Adrom enter, Gundren waves them over. "Come, friends, everyone wants to hear everything."

Nif smiles at Vondal and Adrom, assuring them that they are both better storytellers than he will ever be. The former street thief takes the stool next to Uncle Karl and accepts a pint to sip on while listening.

Vondal and Adrom take their places in the center of the room, quiet at first. But then as people start asking questions and prompting more and more stories, they both open up and feel more comfortable. Vondal, of course, has to start from the beginning. Adrom interjects here and there how he ended up a prisoner in the same cave as Sildar. As the story unfolds — the Redbrand hideout, the banshee's hut, the old mage and his pet zombies, the young dragon at Thundertree, orcs at Wyvern Tor, the old druid castle in the forest, and finally Wave Echo Cave — everyone is enraptured. As the dwaven pair finishes, there is silence for a good five seconds before a loud belch draws every eye toward Karl.

For as much as he likes to complain about Vondal's mouth, Karl's quite impressed. He grins. "That's a good lad," he says, giving the gold dwarf a wink.

The room explodes in a cacophony of laughter and cheers.

A little later, Karl, Nif, Adrom and Vondal are sitting at a table when Gundren and Nundro finally are able to join them. It's reminiscent of being back at the Brawling Bard, but then there is a little bit of sadness at the lack of Tharden, Bron and Einar. But Adrom is twice as loud as all three of them, so that's good.

After the moment passes, Nundro says Gundren should go ahead and tell them. Gundren smiles. "We still have a lot to do back at the cave. We'd like you to help. We'll gladly cut you each in for 10 percent of the mine’s profits. What do you say?"

Before anyone can respond, Sildar steps up to the table. "You know, that big manor house up on the hill that the Redbrands were using as a hideout is empty now. We'd love to keep you around for a while. How about we give it to you to fix up so you have somewhere to hang your hat? I won't be able to stay in Phandalin forever, and with Harbin Wester gone, the town will need a new Townmaster. Think about it," the old soldier says before turning and walking away.

"Townmaster," Gundren says, looking impressed. "That's a pretty big promotion from working at Stillwell’s factory."

And so ends Echoes of the Past, the first tale involving Bron, Einar, Karl, Nifeltay, Vondal and Adrom.

About six months after the party has moved into their new digs and are enjoying retirement, three strangers arrive in Phandalin. They are led by an old Tortle festooned with blue tattoos and carrying some sort of staff, he is accompanied by an elderly one-legged half-orc dressed in full plate with a proud militaristic bearing. The orc’s shield is emblazoned with a pair of white hands bound at the wrist with a red cord, and his longsword is also tied in his scabbard with a similar red cord. Around the half-orc’s neck can be seen a medal emblazoned with a purple dragon. The third member of the party is a youngish bugbear carrying not much more than a very long pike.

The tortle opens the door to the Stonehill inn inn and walks in. He is greeted by Toblen who, as it is the middle of day, is just pottering around polishing glasses and straightening chairs and tables, etc. “May I get you a drink good sirs” he asks. The tortle bows and says “you may call me Dr Arbutaveyu and these are my collegaues Father Pat, a servant of the Broken God, and Pokim. If you could make a pot of tea it would be very much appreciated, Pokim will have a glass of milk and Father Pat would I’m sure appreciate an ale.” After the drinks are brought the tortle takes a sip of the tea and sighs with appreciation. He then pulls out a notebook and flicks through it before looking up at Toblen “do you know where I can find a dwarf known as Uncle Karl. I’m told he lives locally. My patron the Lady of Mysteries has a task for him.”