Anders shoulders his lute and pucks a few strings.

He hums a tune as they walk and then begins to play in earnest. He directs the weave toward Elandra.

Bardic inspiration.

The voices ahead grow quiet as they hear the music and soon the orcs come into view.

 "Hail friends how can we help you?"

 "You run away and we no kill you." offer the orc leader in broken common.

 "There is no need for violence. What is it you want here?"

 "Stupid white dragon steals our home so now we take this place for home."

 The two Dwarves whisper between themselves.

"Ask them to give us an hour and we will leave them to it."

 "Our friends here require some time to clear out their belongings. What say you?"

He silently prays for Guidance. 

Persuasion 8 + 1

 The orcs talk quietly between themselves for a moment.

"One hour.... good."

 The party help the Dwarves pack up their findings.

 After the hour they all leave and the Orcs take residence in their new home.

The party spend the rest of the day escorting the orcs back up to Phandalin and then they arrive they go to see Lord Sildar before heading to the Inn.

 "Ah welcome back friends. What news from the South?"

 "Adabra would not leave but she wrote this to give to you."

He hands over the letter, "As to the dwarves they are booking rooms at the Stonehill Inn as we speak."

Sildar reads the letter.

"Ha! she is a stubborn one. Very well, her life is her own."

Sildar counts out the promised reward for Thomas.

"What of Gnomegarden?"

 "We will be heading back south tomorrow."

 "Very good, very good. When you return I should have more work for you."

Stonehill Inn

After receiving their payment the party return to the Inn for an evenings rest.

 Thomas pays for the meals and drinks.

 "Good to have you all back."

 "Good to be back, what's new barkeep?"

 "Orc trouble lad."

“Once again, the orcs have come down from the mountains to prey on the lowlands! If Neverwinter doesn’t send help soon, the orcs will overrun Phandalin and destroy everything we’ve worked so hard to rebuild.”

 The group exchange a knowing look.

"We ran into some down south. Seems the dragon is driving them out."

 After they have all eaten Anders gets up to perform.

‘Dreaming of an Inn’ – A ballad of an adventurer in the wilderness, missing civilization and bemoaning the uncouth surroundings and travelling companions.

Performance 13