Barty's "Lost Mine of Phandelver"

"I guess. I get that I'm the most handsome out of us, but does that really mean they need to attack me first every time?" Cinis said, trying to make light of the situation. He had a fellow soldier who would always do that when they were in too deep and it had rubbed off on him.

False Life: 5

OOC: Characters have received 150 XP for defeating the hobgoblins. Characters have also gained the benefits of a long rest.

The ruined town and corpses of slain hobgoblins laying nearby betrays the beautiful weather that morning brings. From the ruins of Conyberry, an old trail leads northwest into Neverwinter Wood, in the supposed direction of Agatha's Lair.

"Let's get going. Northwest, right?" Cinis said, gathering his things together.

“Very well” says Nemean. “I’ll take lead as we continue our march.”

The forest grows dark and still as the trail winds deeper into the trees. Heavy vines and thick layers of moss drape the branches, and the air is noticeably colder than it was in the ruined village. Rounding a bend in the trail, you see a screen made from the warped branches of trees standing close together, woven into a domelike shelter in the shadows. A low doorway leads inside.

Tarok approaches cautiously, looking about for any danger.

Perception: 12

As Tarok draws near the shelter, the woods are silent aside from the chirping of a few birds in the trees. There are no signs of imminent danger.

Cinis followed after the group, keeping an eye out for anything that seemed out of place. He saw Tarok pause at the doorway and walked past him into the opening. He cast Light for the others once he had entered.

Nemean will remain at the front of the group clutching his scimitars tightly as they approached.

"Remember, we do not have to fight the Banshee, just appeal to her vanity. I have the comb so I'll go in first."

Cinis's light fills the dome as he and Nemean enter, with Tarok just outside the entrance keeping a watchful eye. A home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft.

The air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips you. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She might have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. "Foolish mortals," she snarls. "What do you want here? Do you not know it is death to seek me out?"

"Oh. Um. Hello. Really sorry to intrude. We were just coming down here because we heard about...

Uhhh...  a woman as powerful as she was beautiful. You, uhh...  you must be her.

We didn't know it would be death to visit. We can leave. You know, we'll leave. Sorry to bother you." Cinis stammered in the presence of the banshee.

Nemean steps forward with the jeweled silver comb in hand "Greetings, we are adventures sent as emissaries from the Harpers. We seek the powerful and beautiful Agatha to present her with this tribute. We hope that with this finest of combs we can help you beauty last another thousand years!"

Nemean kneels and places the comb on the ground. He pauses for a moment to let her admire the artifact before he continues.

"We also humbly ask that in her grace and wisdom, Agatha could aid us in locating the spellbook of Bowgentle, so that we mortals may come to better know the ways of the Arcane. Will you help us, oh mighty Agatha?"

OOC: Persuasion check? Or will the comb alone be enough to win her over?

OOC: No Persuasion check needed, it was roleplayed well!

The ghostly figure smiles with cold amusement. "Very well. 'Tis a very lovely comb, and I do so love when mortals debase themselves for me. I had the spellbook you mention. I traded the book to a necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriaebor more than a hundred years ago. I do not know what became of the book afterward. That is all that I know. Now, begone, before I flay the flesh from your bones with a scream."

OOC: Each character has earned 66 XP for successfully persuading Agatha to answer a question.

Nemean grins and winks at his companions as he hurries away from Agatha.

"Let's get out of here before she changes her mind" he mutters. "Hopefully Garaele will know where to find this Tsernoth from Iriaebor, wherever that is!"

Tarok bumps his arm into Nemean. "Way to go Nemean! Who knew you could swing swords and charm a banshee! I'm glad it was you and not me doing the talking!" he says in a cheery, upbeat tone.

"Yeah. Well done. I panicked. You think she might have known where Cragmaw Castle was?" Cinis asked as they headed out.

OOC: Where to? There were other dealings in this area (rumors of undead near Old Owl Well, and the orc bounty near Wyvern Tor). Or back to Phandalin to recruit?

"I'm not sure I want to hang around to find out. Surely, there is a less perilous source of information than a banshee. Perhaps we can hunt down the orc trouble over in Wyvern Tor?" Tarok asks of the others.

Nemean grins as he turns to Tarok "Tabaxi, Orc, Banshee, it does not matter, eh? All women are the same in this way I suppose! Hahaha!" He gives a deep laugh at his own joke. 

When Cinis remarks about Cragmaw castle, his face drops a bit, "Ah... I didn't even think to ask her about that. Surely she must know about most of the sinister going on of this place! She probably knows all about Cragmaw..."

OOC: Hmm I had kinda hoped to knock out the Wyvren Tor and Old Owl Well, but maybe it does make sense to go back to Phandalin to recruit? What would recruiting entail exactly?

OOC: I would just re-open the recruitment thread to look for a new party member or two. I could introduce them anywhere, but in town seems to make the most sense in character, to regroup and introduce yourselves to each other so the new players have a sense of where the story is at; better than just throwing them into an orc-fight and hoping they get attached to the story.

What is everyone's vote, 1 player to replace Argos? Or do we want to bolster the party and make it The Righteous Five, or Six?