Elandra meets their charge head on.

Scimitar Attack: 7 Damage: 5

Scimitar Attack: 23 Damage: 4

 Casts command.

"Grovel!"

 Anders casts sleep 27

 Both Orcs drop to the ground unconscious.

 Elandra walks up and slits their throats before heading down into the cellar.

The cellar has a dirt floor, walls of mortared stone, and an eight-foot-high plank ceiling braced by wooden pillars. Tied to a chair is a large figure with a burlap sack pulled over his head. Shelves along the walls are lined with skulls made of butter and protected by a thin coating of wax.

Thomas and Toot run over to free the bound man.

 "My thanks." the man croaks through dried cracked lips.

"Did anyone else get out alive?"

 "One of your men made it down to Phandelver to beg for rescue."

Thomas looks apologetic, "We have seen no other survivors."

 "Damn those rotten creatures. They were good men!"

 Thomas looks after the mans wounds, he is badly beaten.

"What of the animals?" he asks.

 "We managed to recover one of your horses in Conyberry. There were more but they got free of us."

 "We also found a cow."

 "Petunia? Oh thank the gods and thank you all!"

 Anders helps the man up and out of the cellar.

"You should come with us back to Phandalin." He suggest, "There will be more Orcs where these came from."

Persuasion 20

 "No my friend. This is my home and there is much work to be done."

He looks around taking in the sight of his ruined farm, "Much work..."

 "Then we will encourage Lord Hallwinter to send aid."

"My thanks. Stay here a moment if you would."

And with that Al hobbles off into the farm house. He is gone several minutes before returning with a silver bundle tucked under his arm. "Here this is the least I can do for your trouble."

 Thomas gives Elandra mithral chain mail.

 "It grows late. You should all remain here for the evening."

 "I think that would be wise."

The group take a long rest

The party spend the next day helping Al get back on his feet and before nightfall the farm hand returns with a few other men to help out. They spend yet another night with Big Al before taking their leave and getting back on the road. Al tops up their rations before they leave.