Barty's "Lost Mine of Phandelver"

Tochi seems thoughtful, on the one hand, the mere thought of this Nezznar being freed, even temporarily, is revolting, but, one the other hand, whatever might be in this cave, seems to be even more dangerous than this one drow, if it is to ever fall into the wrong hands. He is quite conflicted. As a result, he turns to Sildar and says quietly:

"Are you certain they can guard him well in Phandalin? What are the risks? Is it possible he could escape?"

The thought process of the Aarakocra is as follows: If Nezznar is likely to escape from Phandalin, then it might be better to take him back to the Cave, so that the party can better keep an eye on him, and, in turn, the Black Spider, might be useful in clearing out the place.

"There is no dedicated guard in Phandalin. The town is too small to have any organized militia. Though how much damage could he cause in this state, bound and gagged behind a locked cell?" Sildar responds.

Nemean hisses fiercely at Nezzar, "You apologize!? Unfortunately, a few pleading words do not erase your deeds. Your goons have terrorized the people of this country, and the blood of my companions stains their hands and yours. I will see justice done. The only reason you still draw breath is out of respect for my friend Sildar and the Lord's Alliance, and their peculiar idea of justice."

He then turns to Tochi and Roland, "I'll not venture with this man back into Wave Echo Cave. He said it himself that he doesn't know what manner of undead lie waiting for us in there. We can always come back with some sellswords or better yet, use our connections to recruit a cleric or a paladin. I will never trust this man, surely he will betray us as his first opportunity, he only now lends us his aid our of sheer desperation. Under no circumstances will I fight alongside him."

Nemean then turns back to the drow and places the gag back in his mouth. 

"I think Sildar or some other trustworthy person should stay to guard him in Phandalin. We can't trust to the town's administration to guard him well, certainly. I'm with Nemean, I won't fight by his side as a comrade." Roland adds.

"I agree, my friends" Tochi says, then ventures: "Mayhaps we can find a couple adventurers in the town who would be able to offer us aid once we return to the cave? In that case, Sildar will be able to guard our esteemed prisoner".

Night settles in peacefully in the foothills, and late in the following afternoon you reach the edge of Phandalin with Nezznar in tow. The old outbuildings on the town's perimeter seem to stretch a short distance longer than usual, and it takes a moment to recognize the reason.

A few of the newer buildings, closer to Phandalin's center on the east side of town, have been damaged. At first glance, they blend in with the older, abandoned buildings, but up close it becomes obvious that they were not struck by natural decay; rather than crumbling, they look to have been eaten away, and parts have been dissolved.

The town is not very busy today. The townsfolk that do see you and your captive keep their distance and look on warily.

Phandalin Locations:

Stonehill Inn (inn and tavern run by Toblen Stonehill)
Barthen's Provisions (shop run by Elmar Barthen that sells adventuring gear and provisions)
Edermath Orchard (home of Daran Edermath, retired adventurer)
Lionshield Coster (weapons and armor sales)
Phandalin Miner's Exchange (miner's guild run by Halia Thornton)
Alderleaf Farm (home of Qelline Alderleaf, friend of the druid Reidoth, and her son Carp)
Shrine of Luck (shrine to Tymora run by Sister Garaele)
The Sleeping Giant (tavern frequented by the Redbrands before they were eradicated)
Townmaster's Hall (office of townmaster Harbin Wester, jail, and temporary office of Sildar Hallwinter)
Tresendar Manor (former headquarters of the Redbrands, now an abandoned mansion inhabited by Droop)

OOC: 1 day of rations has been removed from each character's inventory. Each character has gained the benefits of a long rest.

OOC: Where to?

(Sorry for the delay, Nemean is going to be doing some shopping and I’m still working out exactly what he will be purchasing. Is it safe to assume that magical items are not sold in Phandalin?)

OOC: In Phandalin, you can purchase anything on the Adventuring Gear table of the PHB, except for potions of healing or spellbooks, at Barthen's Provisions for the listed price. Anything on the Weapons and Armor tables of the PHB are also available from the Lionshield Coster for the listed price. Other magic items can only be found through adventuring.

As always, feel free to post a summary of what you would like to do in town, either as a group or individuals, and I will resolve as much as I can in one post. Our new players will be joining us soon, depending on the order you do things.

Nemean proudly strides into Phandalin, with their prisoner in tow. Though he still came off a bit pompous, the Tabaxi still had an air of melancholy about him that lingered after losing another companion on their trek. He glares back at the Drow with a severe look and yanks upon the ropes binding his arms together, causing him to stumble and fall. He spits out a curse in his native tongue and demands that the Dark Elf keep up. He marches him on straight to the Townmaster's Hall, and proceeds to throw him into the cell, entrusting his friend Sildar to watch over him while they freshen up and take care of some business about town. 

Nemean next visits the Shrine of Luck and warmly greets his friend Sister Garaele. He clasps the arm of his fellow Harper and tells her of the harrowing adventure into Wave Echo Cave, and the capture of Nezznar. He explains through gritted teeth how badly he wished to finish off their foe, but was convinced by Sildar to stand down. He also tells her of the undead in Wave Echo Cave, as he ponders if the group will venture back into the cave to clear the area and find the Spell Forge, he asks her if she has any advice or guidance for him, and places 5gp into the donation plate. 

He will then be sure to find Gundren and inform him of the capture of the Black Spider, informing him that he now rots in the city jail while awaiting justice from the Lord's Alliance.  

Nemean will then make his way to Barthen's Provisions and the Lionshield Coster, and also the town stables to make the following purchases.

Alchemist supplies = 50gp

Holy water = 25gp

Healing kit = 5gp

Draft Horse x2 = 100gp

Riding Horse = 75gp

Wagon = 35gp

Caltrops = 1gp

Manacles = 2gp

Whip = 2gp

OOC: I believe this will come to 295 gp, and an even 300 after the donation, let me know if I got that wrong or if there is anything not available here. My idea with the horses and wagons would be for the rest of the party (unless you guys also want to get some mounts?) and Nemean can ride the riding horse, which lets me take advantage of his underutilized animal handling proficiency. Plus I imagine we'll be on the move again before too long and this can help us and our gear get up and down the sword coast a bit faster. Not sure if we'll ever get the down time to dive into the alchemist supplies, but thats another proficiency that's been sitting there unused that he could start to take advantage of. 

Tochi commends Nemean for the purchases: "We should split these fees, my friend, if we are to travel together and use these supplies. I offer you my share of the price". With this, he counts 100 gold pieces and offers them to Nemean.

Then, he will purchase 5 days' worth of rations, as well as some additional caltrops for 5 gold pieces and rope for the same amount.

After putting the Drow into the cell, Roland strikes off on his own and explores the town a bit. He makes his way to the Shrine of Luck and makes an offering of a few gold. Smiling and nodding to any locals whom he passes, but mostly keeping to himself.

Afterwards, he makes his way to the Lionshield Coster, purchasing some Studded Leather Armor. He trades in his old Leather for whatever it is worth, and picks up a Rapier, reasoning that one can hardly have too many fine blades. Donning his new armor and strapping the long, thin sword to his belt, he thanks the storekeeper and heads to Barthen's Provisions. There he purchases two bags of Caltrops, a Pouch to put them in. He picks out a Riding Horse, a Riding Saddle, some Saddlebags, and 5 days worth of feed for his new horse, and another 5 days rations for himself. The horse in question is a handsome chestnut Arabian, whom he names Godfrey.

Stabling his new friend in next to Nemean's own three, he returns to the tavern to get a nice home cooked meal. Having lived off rations over the last few days, and being somewhat unaccustomed to rough living, he will order whatever is the daily special, and wash it down with a mug of the best ale he can get his hands on.

OOC: Barty, I believe that will run me 164g 30s 29cp, but I'll wait for your confirmation before adding the items and subtracting the money. Nemean, getting horses is a good idea. The more storage the better, in case we find some large thing that has to be transported, and the trip will go much faster this way.

If Tochi wants to go in on the wagon and draft horses he is welcome to do so, but 2 draft horses and the wagon come to 135gp, so 100 is more than his split. He could toss in 25 towards the group purchases, and use the other 75 for his own riding horse if he prefers. (I kinda like the imagery of a cat and a bird riding horses together, this should be fun...)

Maybe we can see if Droop wants to leave the old fort and come on the road with us so he can keep an eye on our small caravan while we explore some dungeons?

Nemean will add a riding saddle and a weeks worth of feed to his shopping list as well. 

Also, he will look to sell the “small gemstone” he has acquired.

Townmaster's Hall:

The door slams open to a startled yelp from the fat old human Harbin Wester, the current townmaster of Phandalin. "Oh, Sildar, you've all returned safe--who is that, and why have you brought him here!" he exclaims.

"You run a jail, Harbin. For the love of Tymora, we're going to use the damned thing for once. This is Nezznar, the Black Spider himself. And I'm going to be keeping a very close eye on him for a while. Which reminds me...I will return shortly," Sildar says. After unloading some of his gear and his heavy crossbow at his desk, he exits the hall.

Harbin fumbles with a set of keys for a while, before proudly informing you he holds the key to the jail, and leading you toward the back of the hall, where he inserts the key into a cellar door and turns it. A rickety set of stairs lead the way to the town's small jail. Harbin lights a small oil lamp in the center of the room, surrounded by four small cells of vertical iron bars. The thick dust reinforces the fact that the jail does not see a lot of use. "Take your pick!" Harbin giggles, to which even Nezznar rolls his eyes.

Sildar returns a half hour later. "A message has been sent to the Lord's Alliance in Neverwinter. It will be some time before someone will be here. I can't say the thought of watching and waiting here while you take all the fun thrills me, but I do so gladly. My best days are behind me anyway. I'm still smarting from those bugbears," he says.

OOC: Each character has received 150 XP for delivering Nezznar intact to the jail in the Townmaster's Hall.

_____________________________________

Shrine of Luck:

Nemean CHA: 17

Sister Garaele greets Nemean and Roland warmly. The beautiful young elf listens in silence as Nemean fills her in on the details of your latest travels. "It is great to see you returned safe. I can only begin to imagine what you must have felt to finally see the Black Spider, yet I believe much good can be done by keeping him alive. To take that risk shows great restraint and great character," she says.

"Thank you both very much. These donations go a long way. I'd not be able to keep this up with only the copper and silver that the townspeople are able to give," she bows graciously.

OOC: Removed 5 gp from Nemean's inventory and 3 gp from Roland's inventory.

_____________________________________

Barthen's Provisions:

Elmar Barthen, cheerful as always, sends his associates Ander and Thistle to the stables to fetch your horses, and spends the next hour or two collecting supplies and counting coin. Each of Nemean's small gemstones are worth 10 gp in coin.

"You've got a new crew, I see! I'm glad to see you still hard at work protecting this town, Nemean. We're all grateful for it, truly, and it's been great to have Gundren around to help with the business," he says, then turns to Roland and Tochi.

"I've seen the two of you around before, but I don't think I've ever got your names. Elmar Barthen, pleased to make your acquaintances. You'll get a reputation in no time traveling with this one, trust me on that. There's always adventure to be found in Phandalin. It's a great town, but sorely in need of protection. Lot of coin to be had in mining, and coin means trouble," he gleefully introduces himself.

OOC: Added alchemist's supplies, holy water, healer's kit, 2 draft horses, riding horse, wagon, caltrops, manacles, riding saddle, and 7 days of feed, and removed 3 small gemstones, 273 gp and 35 cp from Nemean's inventory.

Added 5 days of rations, caltrops, and hempen rope, and removed 3 gp and 25 sp from Tochi's inventory.

Added 2 bags of caltrops, pouch, riding horse, riding saddle, saddlebags, 5 days of feed, and 5 days of rations, and removed 91 gp, 30 sp, and 25 cp from Roland's inventory.

NOTE: Because of Nemean's suggestions to Tochi, I did not include Tochi's offer of 100 gp yet. I will do so if the amount is confirmed between Nemean and Tochi.

Draft Horse Health: 24
Draft Horse Health: 22
Riding Horse Health: 19
Godfrey Health: 12

_____________________________________

Lionshield Coster:

Linene Graywind, the master of the Phandalin post, escorts you to a back room of the coster, where her store of weapons and armor is held, but not before looking Roland up and down. "As long as you're vouching for him, then I'll sell you gear. There's enough trouble in Phandalin even with the Redbrands out of the picture, last thing I need is to be outfitting the next tyrant," she bitterly remarks.

"Common enough size, I think I have something for you," she measures Roland, locating a grey-brown suit of studded leather and a well-made rapier for him. In its used state, Roland's worn leather armor is worth 2 gold pieces.

The whip she brings Nemean is dusty but sturdy. "Just needs a little wearing in. I don't sell too many of these," she comments.

OOC: Added whip and removed 2 gp from Nemean's inventory.

Added studded leather and rapier, and removed leather armor and 68 gp from Roland's inventory.

_____________________________________

Stonehill Inn:

Gundren is not hard to find. Though the town seems emptier than usual, the sound of Gundren's voice bellows from the Stonehill Inn out to Phandalin's main road. There aren't many in the inn's common room; only a few locals sip their ale at a table near the door. Gundren is seated at the far end with another dwarf you've not seen before, in the midst of guffawing and clapping each other on the shoulder. A young human woman, another new face, sits by herself a distance away from anyone else.

Gundren is well into his cups at the late hour you arrive, but sobers immediately at talk of Wave Echo Cave. "Ye've really done it, then? Ye're sure it's the Black Spider hisself? Tell me everything! Oh, but I canno' wait for the day when I get to see it for meself! And what o' Tharden and Nundro, did ye find any sign o' them?" he asks eagerly.

Nemean smiles as he greets Gundren

”Am I sure it’s really him!? You doubt me Gundren?” Nemean playfully mocks him, “Well let’s see, he confessed it to us, and let’s see... he was carrying this”

He produces the Spiders staff with a flourish, twirling it above his head and then plants it firmly on the floor of the tavern.

“And if that’s not enough, we can go see him if you like, in fact we should probably go check on him. Gods know that loathsome sloth Harbin is of no use, and it is unfair if the responsibility falls solely on Sildar to guard him.”

“Ah, but how rude of me... you have brought new visitors. Welcome to Phandalin friends of Gundren! I am Nemean Goldenmane.”

The dwarf drinking and bellowing with Gundren turns as three figures enter the Inn, and almost chokes mid-laugh. He stares openly as the three approach the table, particularly at the cat-figure and the bird-figure, mouth hanging open with ale-foam unwiped from his thick red beard as they speak to Gundren. As the cat-figure extends his welcome, he comes to himself at last, runs a stubby hand through his mohawk and says, still staring: Gundren! When ye said ye'd had help I didnae ken that ye meant a menagerie! I've nae seen their like afore. They seem a wee bit weedy for warriors, nae?

Then, rising from his stool, he crosses his arms in front of his massive chest, which seems to be barely contained by his fur tunic. A tattoo of two crossed battleaxes marks the back of one hand, and one of a sword wreathed in spiral flames the other. He bows low and says: Thulgrim Ironhand at yer service. I'm told I have ye to thank for the rescue of me clansman. Tell me the names of yer fallen comrades, that I may glory them with tongue and steel when next I go into battle.

Tochi will consider Nemean's suggestion, nod, and give him 50 gold pieces instead, while purchasing a riding horse for himself as well, increasing the amount spent by 25 gold pieces. Then, he will accompany the Tabaxi, nodding his agreement to Gundren that this is, indeed, the Black Spider himself. Finally, he will smile and greet all newcomers.

At a glance, the young woman in the corner looked like a mercenary - simple practical clothes, simple functional weapon (unless you count scimitar as an exotic) and armor. She could be called pretty, despite the untamed mane of brown hair which she probably cut herself and with said scimitar judging by the accuracy, but the "no-nonsense" aura radiated off her negated any idea of cuteness one could come up with.  

She was watching the group intently since the moment they came in, but sudden open greetings seemed to surprise her. She nodded in response "I am Finna. Nice to meet you". As if enough was said she returned to her role of observer while boisterous dwarf presented himself.

Riding Horse Health: 13

Added riding horse to Tochi's character sheet and removed 125 gold pieces.

Added 50 gold pieces to Nemean's inventory.

Carry on with the RP and introductions!

OOC: I am afraid we are stuck until Nemean reacts to the Thulgrim's greetings.