Jake looks at the studded leather these ruffians were wearing.  "Not very good craftmanship, but it appears functional.  I think I will take a set with me and clean it up a bit, maybe make a few alterations.  It would be a step above what I am wearing now."  Jake takes one set of studded leather and puts it in his pack.

OldMan to test the spell's effects asks the Ruffian "Hello old friend.  I see you are injured. Might we be of help for an old friend?"

"This simple cantrip I cast (Spare the Dying) only keeps the target stable.  They remain at 0 hp until they have finished a long rest.  So our subject is likely still unconscious and will remain that way unless healed.  If I heal him, he may remain combative.  Do you wish to restrain him and have me heal him to wake him?"

Sorry I've been MIA y'all. Getting caught up now. I didn't read Jake's spell closely enough but we'll say the ruffian is stable and conscious at this point. He is not currently bound and OldMan's spell has worked like a charm - he's your pet at this point (natural 1). The ruffian looks up at OldMan admiringly, "Master! I've missed you. These mean men hurt my feelings. I was just following the lead of my comrade; we do this all the time! I didn't mean nothing by it."

(Galben yelling to Oldman) "tell the ruffian to take his armor off and check his pockets for anything that might be helpful."

(Galben continues to loot the dead ruffian bodies)

OldMan glares annoyingly at Galben, "There'll be plenty of time for looting Galben.  How have you not changed to the rogue's guilds?"

Turning to the ruffian, OldMan smiles a big fake smile.  "I am so glad to know you are still an ally to my friends and I.  I apologize, I know it has been many moons since we've seen each other.  Remind me of your name.  Also, tell me about your acquaintances here.  Are there more of them around?  Are we in danger here in the street?  We have much to discuss but we want to do it safely."

"My name is Wally Erendan. And yes, there are more of us, but I think they are likely heading to the Sleeping Giant at this point in the day. You all seem like capable fighters, so I doubt you're in any danger as it is."

"OldMan, see if he's willing to share his leader's information?  Name, location, stengths.  And maybe see about that goblin that's supposedly working with them."

"Good point."

Turning to Wally.  "Oh yes, Wally it is so good to see you again.  I am glad to know your companions are going to get some refreshment.  I am sure they have earned it.  About how many of you are there in the Rebrands?  Also, your group has a leader named Glasstaff I believe.  What can you tell me about them?  I hear they have a great power.  I wonder if you've seen it?  There has also been tales of goblins in the Redbrands employment.  What do you know of this? We actually had a friend kidnapped by goblins but luckily we were able to help them escape."

"Oh no, Master! I am so sorry about your friend. Maybe I could be your friend instead? You're right that our leader is a human wizard known as Glasstaff; he's called that because his magic staff is made of glass. I don't know much about him but his chambers are in the western end of the stronghold, Tresendar Manor. I don't know exactly how many of us there are but I would guess no more than 10 of us. But then there are other things lurking in the Manor from what I've heard.

The lower part of the complex is guarded by a hideous "eye monster" but I don't know nothing about it. We also have a handful of captives in a holding area near the old crypts, which are guarded by skeletons. It's all very exciting!

We were hired by a mysterious figure called the Black Spider to frighten off adventurers and intimidate the locals, but I never heard why. I just do as I'm told! But the Black Spider sent bugbears to reinforce us and provide some extra muscle in the stronghold."

While this conversation is going on, I walk up to the stranger: "Welcome stranger and thank you for offering your sword to us in our time of need. I am Regula of House of Argent; please, let me help you with those wounds." And, I lay my hands on his shoulders, saying a quiet prayer and restoring 10 hp to Tubard.

OldMan smiles at Wally.  "My good man you are and amazing friend.  I myself as you know am a pretty powerful wizard.  And being an elf I have lived a long life and have seen many a staff.  I have never seen a staff made of glass.  It must be very valuable and powerful. Could you describe it in more detail?  Have you seen Glasstaff cast any spells using it?  I would love to get my hands on a relic like that to study.  If we were to go to the manor and visit your leader what kind of defenses does it have?  Are there guards or traps that we'd encounter? Oh one more thing.  What is the groups relationship with the miner's exchange?  The Redbrands seem to leave them alone.

Note: I have placed a copy of the map of town in the places tab of our campaign Google Doc.

"I'm sorry, Master, but Glasstaff is a bit of recluse and I have never met him personally. I don't know if his staff is how he wields his magic or not as I've never seen him cast anything. I don't think there are any particularly special defenses at the manor other than the forces that inhabit it. There are some secret doors made of stone scattered throughout so a discerning eye could be on the lookout for those.

The miner's exchange, you say? We stay away mostly because the guildmaster pays us to stay away. Also, and this is just a bit of gossip, but I've heard that Halia is an agent of the Zhentarim. They're a very powerful organization that uses its wealth and influence to exert control over the North. I don't know more than that, but I know they're not to be trifled with. I don't think even Glasstaff would want to get in their cross hairs."

To Regula "Thank you. These Ruffians have been causing a ruckus around this town for quite some time. Ever since they arrived, I have been patrolling these lands. There is something suspicious afoot and I know there are larger forces at play. We must decide whether it is worth it to question Halia. Valuable information could be garnered, but we may make more enemies than friends."

Jake moves himself out of earshot of the captured ruffian.  "I think we should take an opportunity to examine the tunnel on the outskirts of town, and once that is done, we should plan an encounter with the Redbrands.  If we heal up and prepare, we could probable take 6 or more of them, if these 4 are any indication. We may even be able to recruit one or two townspeople to assist in our confrontation.  I'm just concerned about the leader, wizard, as magic can be unpredictable.  Also, I wouldn't want to do battle today, I haven't studied my spells yet."

(Bearkiller looks at Jake)

"I like that plan. That boy, Carp, is suppose to meet us in the morning and take us to the tunnel. That would allow us a long rest tonight, but what should we do with this Wally fellow?"

OldMan smiles big at Wally.  "Wally my dear dear friend you have been so very helpful.  I am sure the Redbrands have enjoyed your loyalty and comradidty.  We heard a tale from a small lad about some tunnels outside of town.  Not mines but tunnels.  Do the Redbrands have anything to do with them?  Are they being used to cause more problems for the locals?"

"Tunnels? The only tunnel I know of is the one that leads into the lower part of Tresendar Manor, into the crevasse where the eye monster lives. You can access the upper parts of the manor through there but the only way is through the eye monster from what I've been told."

Regula looks around at the group, "Well, we can't hardly let this ruffian go, so I figure we have three options: we kill him, we bring him with us, or we find somewhere to keep him captive."