Lothlién isn't really late, but is certainly the last one to join the group. However he orders just some milk, bread and butter for breakfast, eating quite quickly. Soon enough, he's ready to meet the Townmaster
Xarrothwakes early in the morning. A full ritualistic draconic prayer to Bahamut takes place in the morning; of thanks for another day, thanks for the opportunity he has this day and thanks for his ability and birth.
He heads downstairs, giving greeting to everyone who turns up and present, while digging into a hearty breakfast. When people are ready, he's more than happy to get moving to see the Townmaster.
The four of you walk over to the twonmaster's hall. It's wooden roof is supported by stone walls and the belltower in the back makes it easy to find. The front door is closed, but there is a job board right next to it. It has three posted notices, all of them in common and written by the same hand:
1) Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.
2) A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.
3) The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.
At the bottom of the job board there is another notice: "For more details about the jobs, ask Townmaster Harbin Wester directly. He may be found at his home, three buildings east of here".
Xarrotheyes up the behests, "I see, perhaps this place is taking the dragon's arrival with the correct levels severity." He turns to the group, "In truth, we shall aid the townsfolk, the midwife first and the dwarvish folk second."
He places his hand on his chin and a smile curls, "Though, to say I am not curious what the gnomes hold in their establishment would not be complete dishonesty..." He drops the smile, "But I think we must help the townsfolk."
"Other than being a few miles from town, does anyone know where this midwife lives?" lia asks, glancing over the board. "Or where this place the dwarfs are digging is?" She looks to the others. "We may need to do some talking to people to find out where to go, but I too agree those should be our top priorities."
Walking around the town you easily find Barthen's Provisions. Run by a balding human close to fifty years of age, the store employs a couple clerks and has adventuring gear on display. Elmar Barthen is familiar with the area and while he doesn't have a proper map, he gives you easy to follow directions Unbrage Hill, where Adabra is currently living in an old windmill and to the dwarven ruins. The midwife comes to him frequently for ingredients and he was able to overhear the dwarves when they bought enough supplies to last them a month.
Umbrage Hill is five miles south of Phandalin, and the dwarven ruins are ten miles southwest of the windmill, at the base of the Sword Mountains. He doesn't know where the gnomes live, but thinks that the townmaster should know, as he has visited them before. "But good luck getting him to go with you" he says "no one has seen old Harbin out of his house since the rumors about a dragon started".
"Maybe we should talk to Harbin before we leave the town. Even if he doesn't come, he probably can tell us how to get there... and we should be able to go around the three places before coming back here. What d'y'all thing?"
"Hmm..." Lia says, considering. "What if we need to escort one, or both of these others back here?" She asks. "Might be a good plan to just get those things accomplished, then come back here, prior to going to the gnomes." She shrugs though. "It would also be a waste of effort if we had to walk back south again, if the gnomes are in that area." She nods then, biting her lower lip for a moment. "You are right, I suppose a stop by the town master's place is warranted, if nothing else than to know the location of the gnomes before we hike all over the place."
Rhok running through the notices in his mind, "sounds like the midwife is the only one that would need an escort back, the dwarves only need the warning taken to them. We could face the dragon during any of these trips, it would make sense to get any information we can, and to let the Townmaster know we are embarking on these trips."
"Sounds like we're agreed to head over to his house? We can then begin the trips"
You walk up to Townmaster Harbin's house. It has a well kept front garden, and it's bigger than most homes in Phandalin, but nos as big as the townhall or the inn. The front door is shut and after knocking on it you can hear a voice from inside calling out "if you are a dragon you should know that I'm just skin and bones, please don't eat me".
Harbin Wester sounds scared, but still in control of his mental faculties. He agrees that taken the warning to Adabra and the dwarven prospectors should take priority over gathering magical contraptions from the gnomes. "I wish you all the best going out there" he says in a very businesslike tone "I would normally go with you, but circumstances beign what they are, Imust stay here to ensure that our city keeps running smoothly". Without opening his door, he slides a parchment under it.
It's a crude map of the area surrounding Phandalin, noting the windmill on Umbrage Hill directly south, Gnomegarde to the southeast. In a different hand you can see a later addition marking the dwarven excavation to the south west. There are also markings for a goldmine to the north east, a place called Axeholm even further south and a small town named Leilon on the High Road near the coast to the west.
Lothliéntakes a look at the map: "It's better than I thought. Umbrage Hill isn't just our priority, it's on the way to anywhere else that interests us." He's ready to depart whenever the other are ready.
"Let us be off then." Lia announces. She starts walking towards the inn, but pauses. "Do the rest of you have a mount?" She glances to the group. "If not then I'll leave mine where it is, and not be the only one mounted."
Rhok looking at the map, taps a finger on his chin "It also gives us an initial chance to be able to see the dragon from a distance. I would guess, the highest peak would be coldest, and it's closest to the gold mine. Might be favorable to a white dragon for a liar, and it's horde"
"Agreed Lothlién, lets head out to umbrage hill if we have all that we need for the journey"
Rhok verifies that the group has the necessary documents needed for the umbrage hill trip
Xarrothhuffs, flames flashing from his nose, "The leader of this town is coward?! Clearly he knows nothing! Why, Falkyss the Onyxscale, marched from her very home with the civilians in tow. Together they protected their homes from a blue-scaled fiend. Bah!"
The dragonborn turns to the others, adjusting himself, "Right, yes, to Umbrage Hill. A sound plan."
The two hour hike to reach Umbrage Hill is uneventful. There are no clouds on the sky and the air is clear. You spot a couple deer, but they run into some bushes, making a few birds take flight.
The hill is on a clearing. You see the backside of an old stone windmill at the very top, surrounded by a rusty iron fence. As you walk uphill near it, you notice a large winged monster with a spiky tail bashing the front door on the other side of the building while roaring "smell food! want food!".
From the second floor a woman's head appears out of a window and yells "A little help?!"
Lia recognizes the beast as a manticore and remembers that the tail spikes are their most dangerous feature and that, while it looks like a monster, sometimes you can talk with them.
OOC: that was the nature check for Manticore information.
"These things aren't too smart, but they can talk and be reasoned with." Lia says as she starts into a trot. "Watch out for their tails though, they are very dangerous..." She then moves quickly towards the windmill. when she is closer she will call out.
"Oh hey there!" She shouts. "We saw a couple deer back downt he trail, you might still be able to catch them if you hurry!"
"A foul creature?! What business does it have with this windmill? It seems to distracted by its stomach... Shall we attach at once? To try and send it back to its lair?"Xarrothspeaks, flexing his finger causing flashes of flame and whisps of cold to dance around his hands.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Let's follow Lia on this, but be ready in case the arguing goes downhill" Lothliénsays to Xarroth, before catching up with Lia. "Yes, she's right! They looked quite fleshy.. deer meat is delicious, isn't it?" he says to the monster.
Persuasion: 4
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Lothlién isn't really late, but is certainly the last one to join the group. However he orders just some milk, bread and butter for breakfast, eating quite quickly. Soon enough, he's ready to meet the Townmaster
Xarroth wakes early in the morning. A full ritualistic draconic prayer to Bahamut takes place in the morning; of thanks for another day, thanks for the opportunity he has this day and thanks for his ability and birth.
He heads downstairs, giving greeting to everyone who turns up and present, while digging into a hearty breakfast. When people are ready, he's more than happy to get moving to see the Townmaster.
The four of you walk over to the twonmaster's hall. It's wooden roof is supported by stone walls and the belltower in the back makes it easy to find. The front door is closed, but there is a job board right next to it. It has three posted notices, all of them in common and written by the same hand:
1) Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.
2) A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.
3) The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.
At the bottom of the job board there is another notice: "For more details about the jobs, ask Townmaster Harbin Wester directly. He may be found at his home, three buildings east of here".
Xarroth eyes up the behests, "I see, perhaps this place is taking the dragon's arrival with the correct levels severity." He turns to the group, "In truth, we shall aid the townsfolk, the midwife first and the dwarvish folk second."
He places his hand on his chin and a smile curls, "Though, to say I am not curious what the gnomes hold in their establishment would not be complete dishonesty..." He drops the smile, "But I think we must help the townsfolk."
"I agree with you, Xarroth", says Lothlién. "We should start by the nearest task".
"Other than being a few miles from town, does anyone know where this midwife lives?" lia asks, glancing over the board. "Or where this place the dwarfs are digging is?" She looks to the others. "We may need to do some talking to people to find out where to go, but I too agree those should be our top priorities."
Rhok nods "agreed, we should warn the midwife first. Perhaps there might be a general store that could have a nap of the area?"
Perception check 5
OOC yikes, I'm +4, so natural 1
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
Walking around the town you easily find Barthen's Provisions. Run by a balding human close to fifty years of age, the store employs a couple clerks and has adventuring gear on display. Elmar Barthen is familiar with the area and while he doesn't have a proper map, he gives you easy to follow directions Unbrage Hill, where Adabra is currently living in an old windmill and to the dwarven ruins. The midwife comes to him frequently for ingredients and he was able to overhear the dwarves when they bought enough supplies to last them a month.
Umbrage Hill is five miles south of Phandalin, and the dwarven ruins are ten miles southwest of the windmill, at the base of the Sword Mountains. He doesn't know where the gnomes live, but thinks that the townmaster should know, as he has visited them before. "But good luck getting him to go with you" he says "no one has seen old Harbin out of his house since the rumors about a dragon started".
OOC: you can buy any item costing up to 25 gp. from the "other adventuring gear" section of the basic rules here (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/equipment#OtherAdventuringGear).
Lothlién:
"Maybe we should talk to Harbin before we leave the town. Even if he doesn't come, he probably can tell us how to get there... and we should be able to go around the three places before coming back here. What d'y'all thing?"
"Hmm..." Lia says, considering. "What if we need to escort one, or both of these others back here?" She asks. "Might be a good plan to just get those things accomplished, then come back here, prior to going to the gnomes." She shrugs though. "It would also be a waste of effort if we had to walk back south again, if the gnomes are in that area." She nods then, biting her lower lip for a moment. "You are right, I suppose a stop by the town master's place is warranted, if nothing else than to know the location of the gnomes before we hike all over the place."
Rhok running through the notices in his mind, "sounds like the midwife is the only one that would need an escort back, the dwarves only need the warning taken to them. We could face the dragon during any of these trips, it would make sense to get any information we can, and to let the Townmaster know we are embarking on these trips."
"Sounds like we're agreed to head over to his house? We can then begin the trips"
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
You walk up to Townmaster Harbin's house. It has a well kept front garden, and it's bigger than most homes in Phandalin, but nos as big as the townhall or the inn. The front door is shut and after knocking on it you can hear a voice from inside calling out "if you are a dragon you should know that I'm just skin and bones, please don't eat me".
Harbin Wester sounds scared, but still in control of his mental faculties. He agrees that taken the warning to Adabra and the dwarven prospectors should take priority over gathering magical contraptions from the gnomes. "I wish you all the best going out there" he says in a very businesslike tone "I would normally go with you, but circumstances beign what they are, Imust stay here to ensure that our city keeps running smoothly". Without opening his door, he slides a parchment under it.
It's a crude map of the area surrounding Phandalin, noting the windmill on Umbrage Hill directly south, Gnomegarde to the southeast. In a different hand you can see a later addition marking the dwarven excavation to the south west. There are also markings for a goldmine to the north east, a place called Axeholm even further south and a small town named Leilon on the High Road near the coast to the west.
OOC: spoiler contains the map image.
Lothlién takes a look at the map: "It's better than I thought. Umbrage Hill isn't just our priority, it's on the way to anywhere else that interests us." He's ready to depart whenever the other are ready.
"Let us be off then." Lia announces. She starts walking towards the inn, but pauses. "Do the rest of you have a mount?" She glances to the group. "If not then I'll leave mine where it is, and not be the only one mounted."
Rhok looking at the map, taps a finger on his chin "It also gives us an initial chance to be able to see the dragon from a distance. I would guess, the highest peak would be coldest, and it's closest to the gold mine. Might be favorable to a white dragon for a liar, and it's horde"
"Agreed Lothlién, lets head out to umbrage hill if we have all that we need for the journey"
Rhok verifies that the group has the necessary documents needed for the umbrage hill trip
OOC: If needed, investigation check 4
Currently playing: Rhok Skatu - Another Dragon at Icespire Peak
Xarroth huffs, flames flashing from his nose, "The leader of this town is coward?! Clearly he knows nothing! Why, Falkyss the Onyxscale, marched from her very home with the civilians in tow. Together they protected their homes from a blue-scaled fiend. Bah!"
The dragonborn turns to the others, adjusting himself, "Right, yes, to Umbrage Hill. A sound plan."
The two hour hike to reach Umbrage Hill is uneventful. There are no clouds on the sky and the air is clear. You spot a couple deer, but they run into some bushes, making a few birds take flight.
The hill is on a clearing. You see the backside of an old stone windmill at the very top, surrounded by a rusty iron fence. As you walk uphill near it, you notice a large winged monster with a spiky tail bashing the front door on the other side of the building while roaring "smell food! want food!".
From the second floor a woman's head appears out of a window and yells "A little help?!"
Lia recognizes the beast as a manticore and remembers that the tail spikes are their most dangerous feature and that, while it looks like a monster, sometimes you can talk with them.
OOC: that was the nature check for Manticore information.
"These things aren't too smart, but they can talk and be reasoned with." Lia says as she starts into a trot. "Watch out for their tails though, they are very dangerous..." She then moves quickly towards the windmill. when she is closer she will call out.
"Oh hey there!" She shouts. "We saw a couple deer back downt he trail, you might still be able to catch them if you hurry!"
Persuasion: 12
"A foul creature?! What business does it have with this windmill? It seems to distracted by its stomach... Shall we attach at once? To try and send it back to its lair?" Xarroth speaks, flexing his finger causing flashes of flame and whisps of cold to dance around his hands.
"Let's follow Lia on this, but be ready in case the arguing goes downhill" Lothlién says to Xarroth, before catching up with Lia. "Yes, she's right! They looked quite fleshy.. deer meat is delicious, isn't it?" he says to the monster.
Persuasion: 4