(LOL)

When Droknin holds high the severed head of old King Grol, the hobgoblins pause.  The goblins gasp, while a small, familiar voice from among their ranks whispers, "Told you so."

Then the one with the wolves steps a few paces closer.  "So you have slain Grol.  No surprise.  Grol was old and weak.  It was only a matter of time before he was replaced."  Then he turns to the other hobgoblins.  "The old bugbear is dead.  Now Targor Bloodsword leads the Cragmaw Clan!"  There are some grumbles, but none of the hobgoblins raises any challenge.

Then Targor turns his attention back to you.  "You have eliminated the old fool, and for that I am inclined to let you leave... but you have Cragmaw property.  Return the dwarf prisoners to us and the rest of you may leave in peace."  He twists the leashes, eliciting an angry growl from the two wolves, as if to impress his point.

[They seem appreciative but not intimidated by Droknin's words.]

"Targor Bloodsword? More like Targor Bloody-Stool... Is that really the best you can do? Even he'd be a better choice.", T'laren says, pointing at the loudest grumbler.

Droknin puts the King's head back into the bag, and drops the bag on the ground close to the unconscious Dwarf. He calmly starts to walk toward the new Cragmaw leader. While he goes forward, he smiles his signature broad Leonin smile, making sure to show his canine prominently. With the King's blood on his paw, he draws two sets of horizontal stripes across his face.  "I beg to differ my good sir, the Dwarf is not anyone's property." He addresses the leader. When he is about 35 ft from the closest Hobgoblin, he stands tall and gives a great guttural roar. Large and very sharp claws sprung from his Leonin paws. (Rage) "If you wish to retrieve your property. Come and get him."

Bark-panther jumps down from the tree he had climbed, coming forward halfway between Droknin & T’laren and Targor.  He takes a deep breath and gives a full throated roar, raising up on his haunches for a moment, then coming back down and pacing back and forth, baring his teeth frequently, his threatening intent obvious.

Intimidation : 11

 At T'laren's derisive sneer and Droknin's defiance, Targor stands tall and smiles.  "On them, Cragmaws!"  He releases the two leashes and the wolves make a pair of bounding leaps forward.  

Just then, Bark Panther drops down from the trees and gives a full-throated growl.  

The two wolves skid to a stop, nearly trip over each other, then tuck tail and flee in the other direction, churning up dirt and grass behind them.  "Hey!  Get back here!" Targor snarls, but soon the wolves have vanished into the forest.

At the same time, the gaggle of goblins seems to have fled the field, leaving just the 6 hobgoblins remaining.  Their numerical advantage has been cut significantly.

Targor takes another step toward you, taking his longbow off of his back... but the others hesitate.  Targor does as well, looking back, than at Droknin, then back to his troops.  "Grrr... So be it.  Get out of here.  And don't let me catch you in Cragmaw lands again.  There are going to be some changes around here...".  He withdraws, bringing the other five with him.  As they retreat toward the entrance to the keep, you here him grumble something about 'whipping those cowardly goblins into line.'

You are free to depart the Cragmaw Keep, without further violence.  But you find yourselves deep in Neverwinter Wood, after dark.

(Back to Thundertree?)

((Is the king's head our proof for the dragon? Sounded like she wanted something to add to her hoard...))

(Good point. Unless someone wants go back. I don't believe there was anything worth to bring back.)

After they are sure that they are clear from the hobgoblins and all is quiet, Bark-panther transforms back into beaten and battered ole Barkas Reedfellow.  “Whooooee.  That was a closeun.  You fellas mind if we rest up here for a short bit before we continue?  I feel like a tiny ant that got caught on the bottom of that hobgobbo’s shoe and jus got the piss and tar beat out of it.”  He sits down for a moment, rubbing his jaw which is obviously swollen and bruised.  

“We never got much time to talk back there, by the by.”  Barkas begins to pull out a map and stretch it out on the ground, holding it reverently.  “I didn’t see this comin.  Not at all.  Map didn’t show me your arrival at all.”  He keeps looking at it at all angles, turning it around, looking at the sky, and then just sits, looking at you and really examining who he’s with.  ((Opportunity for a short rest here?))

Quote from Wolfy911 >>

(Good point. Unless someone wants go back. I don't believe there was anything worth to bring back.)

 ((The king's morningstar and the possible red wizard's book were two possible items of note, but T'laren was securing the hallway, think Barkas was the only one who made a search of the room, and they weren't of interest to him, so think we left them behind.))

T'laren is injured, after getting smacked around by the king, but he's pushing through. "I'd be up for resting and catching our breath a bit, as long as we're sure the hobs haven't mustered their courage to come after us."

(Sorry guys. Rest is fine for me.)

Quote from Twombley >>

Barkas finishes gathering up the things he found and nods to Droknin, following and ready to leave this place, glad that he is making it out alive.  “Let’s getouttahere.”

[I interpreted this as Barkas having grabbed all of those items, even if he vocalized a lack of interest in them.]

Keashirryl is willing to post a watch if the rest of you want to sit down and take a short rest.  She is also busying herself trying to waken the unconscious dwarf, so he won't need to be carried.

((Okay, good!))

Barkas takes a short rest, mending his injuries, rubbing the bruised and beaten areas.  “So, where are we headed again?”  He consults his map, frequently looking up at the sky.  

((He uses all four of his hit die for 28 points of healing during the short rest.))

((T'laren used 1 HD and is now 1 shy of full health.))

"Barkas, how do you feel about dragons?", T'laren ask from his position by a tree, the wood elf inspecting his arrows.

"To answer your question, we are headed to a ruined town called Thundertree. Have you heard of such place?"" Droknin will help Keashirryl the Dwarf up if necessary.

The hour-long short rest passes without incident, with the stars passing by slowly overhead on a clear night, where they are visible through the branches of the trees.

******

Keashirryl manages to get the unconscious dwarf roused and back on his feet.  She introduces Gundren Rockseeker to Garrin, Droknin, Barkas and T'laren.  She explains to him some of what has gone on in his absence.  [For some of you, this may be helpful exposition as well.]

Keashirryl had been part of a team hired by Sildar Hallwinter a week ago to bring a wagonload of supplies to Phandalin.  Sildar and Gundren had ridden on ahead but were waylaid by goblins loyal to the Cragmaw Clan.  Keashiryyl and her companions had fought their way through the goblin lair and rescued Sildar, only to learn Gundren had already been relocated to a 'Cragmaw Castle.'  The location of this castle being unknown to them, the survivors continued on, escorting the wagon and the wounded Sildar to Phandalin.

Once there, they were once again set off course when the appearance of an adult white dragon over Phandalin sent the town into an uproar.  The rest of the crew Sildar and Gundren had hired abandoned the mission, most likely from dragon-fear, though they all had excuses.  Keashirryl alone continued to see to the rescue of Gundren, soliciting the aid of Droknin the leonin, and then later Garrin the warlock and T'laren the elf-warrior.

First, they liberated the town of Phandalin from a gang of brigands who had set up a base under the ruins of the town's old manorhouse.  Their scheme was aided by a Doppleganger who had replaced the town's mayor.  This same Doppleganger than tried to replace Sildar Hallwinter, but the shapeshifter was cut down at the same time the group had dispatched or driven away all the brigands.  Their leader, a wizard called Glasstaff, managed to escape.  They found documentation suggesting these brigands were in league with the same goblins who had attacked Gundren, and that they all answered to someone called the 'Red Spider.'

Moving out, seeking more information on the mysterious Cragmaw Castle, as well as leads on the location and motivations of the White Dragon, the part set out with a new guide, a goblin captured at the brigand lair.   This 'guide' proved less than helpful, as the party reached the Neverwinter River halfway across the forest before they realized she was completely lost.  They followed the river downstream to the ruined town of Thundertree, where they paid visit to Garrin's old friend, a local Druid.  Along the way, then encountered a bizarre group of dragon cultists, there to solicit the friendship of a young Green Dragon who had taken lair in a ruined tower.  While in town they parleyed with the Dragon, which suggested a partnership against the White Dragon, while the druid gave them proper directions to Cragmaw Castle.  From there, they led their assault on the goblin castle, ultimately slaying King Grol and freeing Gundren and Barkas.

 Gundren Rockseeker, bruised and as battered as Barkas, listens to the tale.  He seems to take it all in stride.  Then he looks to the rest of you.  "I owe you my life, it seems.  I am not one to ignore such a debt, but time is short and I am needed elsewhere.  I must make haste for Phandalin.  Sildar, if he is still there, can tell me more of what has happened in my absence.  And I can tell him worse - our plans our compromised, and an enemy knows the location of the mine.  Moreso - already knew it.  I need to check on my brothers."

"If you plan to head north for Thundertree, I wish you well.  But I have no interest in dragons right now."

Keashirryl clears her throat, standing up to her full height, purple tiefling skin shimmering faintly in the starlight.  "I am afraid I have little enough interest in dragons myself.  And my mission is still Mr. Rockseeker.  I will go with him to Phandalin and see that he arrives safely."

From behind, Garrin steps forward.  "I'm afraid this whole escapade has been a reminder... adventuring is for the young and the stupid.  I am neither.  It is high time I got myself back to my niece's mill and had a proper vacation.  If you lot make it back to Thundertree, tell Reidoth I advocate for retirement."

Gundren nods in appreciation, seeing he will have a proper escort back to town.  "The rest of you... if you make it back to Phandalin soon, look for me there.  There may be more business with these goblins, brigands, and their hidden masters yet to be settled.  I might have work for you, yet."

Droknin looks at Keashirryl  and Garrin. "Best of luck to you. I do hope to see you again in our travels." He then addresses the Gundren. "Worry not Mr. Dwarf. We just have to finish a minor business with a dragon at Thundertree, and we should be heading back to Phandalin to take care of the REAL threat. The white dragon that is causing fear in the town." Says a very calm Leonin with this tail (now back to normal) weaving behind him.