"Of course if there is a chance of saving this man Alfonse Kalazorn then we should take it," Aranea agrees. "We are bound to run into orcs on the way if they are as widespread as the town master suggests. I am ready to head out whenever you are. I have a room at the inn. We can stop there before heading out if you need to gather your supplies."

Aranea adjusts the straps of her backpack. After leaving the inn for the day, she brought her supplies with her, not knowing if she would be needing them and rather having them with her than being without during a crucial moment.

"A hot meal to go? The warm bed and cold ale will have to wait, it seems.", T'laren says ruefully with a smile to Droknin and  Barkas.

After Harbin Wester again welcomes Aranea to town, thanks Droknin and T'laren for their continued aid (and passes Barkas a wooden pail to spit into) the party departs.

In the center of town stands a large, newly built roadhouse of fieldstone and rough-hewn timbers.   The Stonehill Inn, which T'laren and Droknin have visited before and where Aranea currently has a room.  From out in the street, you can hear that the common room is filled with locals and travelers, talking and eating.

Just past the Stonehill Inn is Barthen’ Provisions, the biggest trading post in Phandalin.  Its shelves stock most ordinary goods and supplies, including backpacks, bedrolls, rope, and rations. The place is open from sunup to sundown.

In the other direction, the Lionshield Coster is open for business.  This building is owned by the Lionshields, a merchant company based in the city of Yartar over a hundred miles to the east. The company ships finished goods to Phandalin and other small settlements throughout the region.  Unlike Barthen's, this shop deals in weapons and armor.

Next to the Lionshield is the Phandalin Miners Exchange.  Miners come here to have their valuable finds weighed, measured, and paid out. The exchange also serves as an unofficial records office, registering claims to various streams and excavations around the area.  The exchange is run by Halia Thornton.  T'laren and Droknin might remember she wanted to buy the  longsword  Talon from them, and was a bit irritated when they talked themselves out of the deal.

In the main plaza is a shrine to Tymora, goddess of luck, as well as a handful of tents where travelers not lucky enough to snag rooms at the Stonehill are braving the cold weather.

"I'm going to head to Barthen for rations, I can pick up some for you too.", T'laren offers.

((I have 7 in my pack, think I stopped keeping track somewhere around the time Droop got us lost, so will just rebuy some fresh for the trip. T'laren's good on arrows, but overlooked a quiver, so he'll want to pop Lionshield after hitting up the general store and buy that and see if they have anything else interesting.))

Barkas tags along with T’laren, saying “Dya think they have any barley and hops there?  I need some provisions, I’ll head along with you.”  Barkas will restock his rations and look for brewing materials for his favorite brew, Goat Scrotum Ale.  It has quite a kick and will grow hair on your chest.  

((That's a real homebrewer beer name! I work part time at a wine and beer shop that sold homebrew supplies until last year, I'm sure we had someone who named a beer something like that!))

"Not sure, but probably the best bet in town, or would know who does."

"I will stop by the weapons lady. I see you later. Perhaps we can get some rest later and leave at first light." Droknin announces to the group. Once he arrives at the Lionshield Coster he introduces himself again.

"Greetings Ms. Graywind. I am hoping that perhaps you can help me help this town. I just donated a good amount of gold to the townmaster, and I asked him to hire folks that would defend this town. Are you also in the business of training men to wield weapons effectively?" He gives the store owner some moment to digest his request.

At Barthen's provisions, they do indeed carry Brewers Supplies.  It's not terribly uncommon for folk out here to try to make their own homebrew, especially prospectors who spend a lot of their time isolated up in the hills.  As Barkas doesn't need the actual equipment, he is able to select a few basic ingredients he is missing for 9sp.

T'laren can add to his rations.  The shop has a large, fresh supply.  Each daily ration is 5sp.  Barthen's also sells quivers, which cost 1gp.

[Barthen's Provisions obtained one of the last large shipments that came into town before Orcs and Goblins began hitting the roads.  Characters can purchase other adventuring gear here, with the exception of items that cost more than 25 gp. (For prices, see the Basic Rules.) ]

At the Lionshield Coster, Linene Graywind, the proprietor, is perplexed by Droknin's words.  "I'm afraid we can't offer training.  This is just a merchant outpost.  But we do have excellent weapons available.  With our lost shipment returned to us [*in events that occurred offscreen, prior to the start of this campaign and Droknin's arrival in town*] we should be able to outfit a small local militia, if the Townmaster wants to make the arrangements."

[The Lionshield coster has the following weapons available: daggers,  handaxes,  javelins,  shortbows,  spears,  shortswords, and longswords.

They have the following armors available:  leathers, scale mail, ring mail and shields.

(For prices, see the Basic Rules.) ]

((From Barthen's T'laren will buy a ten-day's rations and pay for that quiver that he totally already had this whole time. He'll pick up a pair of daggers from Lionshield Coster.))

With a warm smile, Droknin bows slightly to the shop owner. "My apologies, for some reason I thought that you might be a master at arms. Please forgive me. I will inform the Townmaster where he can outfit the folks that he is able to hire to defend the town." The Leonin is about to take his leave, when T'laren comes into the store.

"Droknin.", T'laren says with a nod.

"Merely wish to purchase a pair of daggers.", he says to the shop keep, and hands over the coinage when they are provided. 

"Shall we find the others?"

[If there is no further business to take care of in town, the party can gather up and depart for the long walk toward the western reaches of the Triboar Trail and this Orc problem...]

((Nothing that comes to mind, other than if a hot meal is being served at the Stonehill, T'laren would be in favor of grabbing something to go if we're hitting the road immediately. Given the 25gp limit at the general good store, can I assume that healing potions or the like are not available? Either way, I'd like to grab a healer's kit retroactively from the general store.))

[No potions or other magic items available for sale in Phandalin, unfortunately.  No problem on the healer's kit, though.  Just knock off the gold and add it to your sheet.]

((Done, and good to go, I think.))

Aranea has been waiting at the inn for the others to return from their errands. She pays the innkeep for a hot meal before they set out on the road and sits at a table eating quietly by herself. She notices many of the townsfolk giving her curious stares. Her garb is quite different from these frontier folk. For one thing she dresses all in black, and that tends to stand out. For another her clothing is of a slightly finer make than is available in Phandalin. While not rich, the warlock receives enough of a salary from the Watchmen to keep herself comfortable in the city.

When the others return to the inn, she will invite them over to her table. "One last meal before we hit the road?" she asks. She winces slightly as she realizes her choice of words might sound a bit ominous.

"Unfortunate it'll only be the one, but when one finds their services in demand, certain concessions may need to be made.", T'laren says by way of agreement, slinging his pack to the floor and joining Aranea's table. He'll order whatever sounds hot and filling, a stew and bread if they have something of the sort on offer for the day. The wood elf eats rapidly and methodically, offering little in the way of dinner conversation, and when his food is gone and tab is paid, he'll stand up and gather his pack up, ready to depart.

The Stonehill Inn is serving up big bowls of green onion and dumpling stew for lunch today.

The tables and bar counter are all packed with miners and locals alike, swapping tales.  Much of the talk centers around the White Dragon, but there is also some idle catching up and gossip, as miners from different camps compare notes and complain about their foremen or how happy they are to be heading home for the season.  Your group doesn't gather undo attention, but for the initial looks Droknin always encounters from strangers, along with murmured questions about how big Tabaxi are supposed to get?

Barkas purchases 6 additional rations with his shopping and he purchases a sling in the Lionshield coster.  After he exits, when walking on the street, he touches three rocks and says some odd words, picking them up and putting them in his pouch, patting it.  He loops the sling around his belt to keep it ready.  

Back at the Stonehill Inn, he picks up on Aranea’s words and says out loud, “Last meal?  Hope not!  Hope it goes down easy and doesn’t give me the trots though!  Hah!  Eat up and drink your fill everyone!  Sure will be harder on the road, but I’m looking forward to getting out under the stars and outta this town for a bit.  Need a walkabout to clear my mind.”  Barkas dips a roll in the soup and digs in heartily.  If he sees any glances toward Droknin, he turns around and gives them a glare, letting the soup dribble out along his beard..

Aranea can't help but smile at Barkas' words. The dwarf is a character, she thinks, but he is very likeable. The others she is not so sure about yet, especially T'laren. It is clear he doesn't trust her. He has some sort of chip on his shoulder regarding law enforcement perhaps. Maybe he had a bad encounter with a guardsman. For now she wouldn't pry. It was more important to be able to work together to solve the problems facing Phandalin.

She finishes her stew. For a small establishment such as the Stonehill Inn, it is surprisingly good. She must remember to give her compliments to the innkeep. Next she downs the rest of her cup of water. Most patrons of the inn are drinking various types of alcohol, predominantly ale or beer. Aranea doesn't abstain from alcohol, but she would prefer to keep a clear head before they head out into certain danger.

"Poor choice of words," she smiles at Barkas.