Lost Mine of Phandelver (Kolbitr DM)

Vandar stays silent and watches the exchange.

Silas will approach the boy and say "adventuring is a noble endeavor, just remember to try and help some folks along the way."

The boy looks a bit dejected by what Bron says to him but brightens up quickly at Silas' words. "Oh I will, that's why I want to be an adventurer. If I were grown up I could protect the town from those Redbrands. I would march right into their secret hideout with a real sword and a whole adventuring party and everything and we would beat em all!" The boy says with an excited flourish of his toy sword as he pretends to fight off some imaginary monster. "Is that why you are here?"

"Carp!" You hear a woman's voice call out from the direction of the farm house, "Carp! Lunch is ready!" 

"That's my mom I better get back to the house, wow it sure is neat to meet real adventurers."

Tibern will glare at Bron for what he told the poor child, his eyes glowing as he casts Thaumaturgy thanks to his tiefling blood. "You do not have to treat the child like that. It will not do anyone good if you begin to make enemies of the villagers."

Silas will casually step between Tibern and Bron and call out "carp, would you might know where that secret entrance is? We can start helping people right away if you could tell us and then go to your mother."

Carp's face lights up at the idea of helping a group of real adventurers. "I've explored the forest all around this area, no one can hide from ME around here." He declares proudly, "It was just about a tenday ago when I was scouting the woods just East of here and saw a group of Redbrands come out of an old cave, they didn't spot me though, I know how to hide real good!" 

He gives you directions to find this cave, it is clear that without a guide you will have to do some searching, but you believe his directions will get you in the right area. At this point a Halfling woman comes around the corner if the house and spots the group. She is middle aged and has the look of a woman who is used to a hard days work, and yet she maintains a youthful exuberance.

"Carp!" She spots the group talking to her son and approaches without fear. "Carp dear, go inside and wash up lunch is set out on the table."

"Oh, but mom I'm helping these adventurers, and look they have a demon in their group! but don't worry he's friendly, they are gonna defeat the Redbrands!"

"Carp that man is no demon he is a tiefling, now please go inside and eat."

Carp compiles, as he runs off toward the house he says "By, it sure was neat to meet real adventurers, I hope you show those Redbrands not to mess with this town!"

Carp's mother looks a little embarrassed, "I apologise, we don't get many tieflings around here, please don't be offended, my mane is Qelline. Now, who are you and what are you doing on my land? If you really are here to do something about those thugs then you are more than welcome around here, but if you are here to make trouble for this town then please move on, we've enough trouble as it is around here."

Tibern waved it off as he had gotten used to it, noting that it must truly be rare for tielfings to travel far as he had only met others like him in the shady parts of towns. He did chuckle a bit at the child calling him a nice demon, knowing that it was only coming from youthful ignorance. He does his best to memorize what Carp had to,d them before he turns to the young halfing's mother. "There is no need to apologize. He was just being curious as children tend to be. He honestly reminds me of my younger sibling with his enthusiasm. But we must apologize as we did not know that we are trespassing on your land. We were told to look onto the Redbrands by a sponsor who found that the so called leader of the town was to cowardly to do anything."

Lothar

Lothar was enjoying the exchange with the boy and his mother.  It reminded him of a different time in his life.  He was younger and still had his family....until the orcs came.  Shaking the bad memories away, he focused on the directions the boy gave them.  He nodded along with Tibern as he spoke with the boys' mother.  Finally, he said, "Do not worry, Qelline.  The Redbrands will soon be no more."  He then started looking off in the direction that Carp pointed them.

"Well It is nice to get some polite strangers in town. I'm just looking out for my own, you understand. If you are here to get rid of the Redbrands then I give you permission to pass through my land, just mind the crops and try not to put too many fanciful ideas in Carp's head. God's know he doesn't need any help in that department. As for Harbin, you are right the man is useless, this town needs leadership and law and order, Harbin simply fills a seat. But, I  can't talk politics now, I should be heading back. I wish you luck."

Qelline bids you farewell and returns to her house.

Tibern nods to the halfling woman as she goes back into her house, looking to the others. "Shall we do as we have been asked?"

Vandar starts walking in the direction Carp indicated, not paying atention to whether the others follow or not.

Tibern sighs as his party has to much of a tendency to do things on their own. He was getting to the point that he was not going to cast any spells to heal them if they kept it up.

Bron crossed his arms and spoked grimly while ignoring the glare he was receiving. " I don't give false hopes and besides it's better if he found another dream to chase rather than an early grave." With that being said he head ahead of the rest of them  without another word.

As the group approaches the ruined stone wall at the edge of town you see four armed ruffians approaching from the road to the North. All of them are humans wearing grimy red cloaks, their hands on their weapons as they move towards you.

One of the ruffians spits on the ground. “Time for you to move on, strangers. Give us your stuff, and be on your way.”

Roll initiative!

Tibern glared at the street thugs, the glow having faded from his eyes now that the time for the effect had faded. His hand lowers towards his blades as he prepares to fight the thugs off.

Initiative: 19

Vandar rolls his eyes at the thugs and continues walking  

Initiative: 11

The red dot with the black "T" is the general location of the thugs. The black dot with the red star is the party. The 2 groups stand roughly 40 ft apart. There is no surprise round, this is a good old fashioned showdown.

Initiative 21

Lothar

Lothar drew his greatsword and stood at the ready.  "You dare threaten us?  If so, your death will be at my hands!"  Not being one of niceties, Lothar held a sneer on his face.

Just waiting on initiative from Bron.

Kstreak will be away for a couple weeks, so it looks like it will be awhile before we figure out what has happened to Glen.

Redbrands Initiative: 15