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

As you battle with the giant rat Dale a woman (not the one you've seen) comes around the corner "Stop!" tearfully said, seeing the dead Chip.

Rabbit Initiative 23 

Calithor Initiative 22

Margaret Initiative 21 

Krull Initiative 18 <------

Chip Initiative 17

Dale Initiative 13

"Explain yourself woman !why stop?" asks Krull holding his attack 

She whistles, Dale comes and sits next to her "Cause, they were just protecting our home."

(Did we stop following initiative order? Or is it now Rabbit's turn because Krull and Dale took actions?) 

It's up to you guys. We can end combat,  or I can add the newcomer to the order And Dale doesn't move.

Rabbit shakes her head. "We called out. It was those two rats that ambushed us. We were only defending ourselves. But it seems like we need to figure things out here. Raskin says this is his mine. Now you all are saying this is your home? How can that be?" 

Calithor nods, "Indeed, madam. It is supposed to be filled with dwarven miners." He turns to Raskin to confirm.

"You can tell at least the truth cause our boss here didn't say about you" implying Raskin is not an honest person. 

Two more Giant rats join the woman, they stare at you with intelligence, almost, it seems keenly so. "Aunya, told me about how you pushed thru the door, when she tried to close it to, come and get me." 

Then, with the astonished look of being insulted

"Lying? how rude. I never said we've been here long. We were driven from our home by Orcs, then found our way here, "

At the mention, of dwarves, she tilts her head knowingly and wrinkles, no twitches her nose.

"We do have a few, dwarves, here. They attacked us then barricaded themselves in part of the cave. Why? I don't know, we were only exploring our new home. We weren't going to bother them, as long as they, left."

"Sorry luv."  Raskin interjects "But you folks need to vacate this mine. It's already owned. The Mountain Toe Company don't take kindly to claim jumpers!" 

"Hmm," The woman says as if she is open for negotiations 

Rabbit jumps in quickly, speaking to the woman. "You'll have to pardon Krull. He never was suggesting you were lying but more concerned about our employer."  She glances to Raskin a moment to indicate who she means. "It sounds like you may have arrived here while he was gone though. But how can you expect to take this as your home when there are already dwarves living here?" 

She then shrugs, "This does sound like a matter for the Mountain Toe Company though, which is not me. It seems we have delivered Raskin to his mine and fulfilled our end of the bargain." 

"Aye," says Calithor, nodding slowly.  "This is a task requiring a talented negotiating team, backed by other more direct persuasive skills."

His gaze moves from the newcomer and her rats, then back to Raskin. "And such things don't some cheap."

Sheathing his sword he moves a back a way down the corridor, waiting to see if Raskin will take the bait. "Perhaps it's time to collect our pay for the escort duty and return to town."

As you say this, the two Giant Rats transform into hybrid rat like humanoids. 

"Very well, he will make a good bargaining chip. Or even a new gang member." The woman says with a evil, smile "We offer the lives of the dwarves if you can get rid of a problem for us."

Raskin stands in dumbfounded silence

Calithor's eyes go wide and his hand moves to the hilt of his sword as the rats transform. He has hoped to shake down Raskin for a little more cash, not leave him to die at the hands of wererats. He sighs, and looks at Raskin, raising an eyebrow. "Feeling the need to re-hire us yet?" he asks.

"I would need to know more about this problem," Rabbit says. 

"To me since the dwarves lost the battle for their place ,earn you the right to live here..I don't like you threatening the dwarves lady..Attack us and  I ll take a trophy from you like I did with this " showing the eye of the nothic (18 intimidation  in log)

Raskin accesses the situation and the threat to his life "Creiky! I'll give you 500, gold to get rid of them."

As Krull takes out the deteriorating rancid smelling Eye.

20

It melts into a goo in his hands, the woman looks unimpressed. "We killed one last year, cause it's rambling, was giving me a headache." 

Ignoring the crusty Raskin

"There is a giant caterpillar that we can't seem to catch in one of the north caves. Would you be a dear and get rid of it please?"

"If we get rid of this caterpillar will you release the dwarves?like I said you earned the right to live here..as for that idiot you can keep him I don't mind..but the dwarves are no threat to you."  Krull  feels kind of disappointed that his trophy just melted .looking at it says "b..llocks"

Calithor pauses, he has no desire to work for the wererats who have likely killed the miners, nor does he have any respect for Raskin. But 500 gold is a lot, and it would be better to curry favour with the townfolk if possible.

Turning to Raskin he asks, "How many miners work here, including families?"

"No families here mate, but they were fifteen miners here."