"well chaps I think that it'll soon be time to pile what treasure we have, open some wine, break bread and regal each other with our exploits while sifting through it.  Such activities are always the greatest of pleasures after a good rollicking fight!  First however I would like to know what possibly lies behind those drapes (indicating the north east corner).  Then we shall drink and be merry."

With that I approach the drapes and and investigate

Perception: 6

perc: 10

‘ i think that is a great idea Titus’ 

perception: 21

The drapes reveal a door partially opened that would if closed look just like the walls around it. You think to yourselves that this must have been the path the wizard took to make his escape. Behind the door a fifteen foot long staircase rises to the south with a door on the east wall at the top of the stairs.

"Thats how the miscreant came and went.  Our dear friend Larno will soon meet his fate sure enough.  Well friends i know that i am ready for that drink!'

I then head back to the room and look ffor some of larnos finest wine open it and pour some drinks for everybody including the lady and offer them some more food.

i'll get to work clearing the place up by dragging all the bodies outside. I'll look for a shovel to dig shallow graves for them.
After that's done i'll look at securing the 3 entrances we know of to the hideout

I will prep the room adjacent to Lorna's former bedroom for our feast and rest.  Gather what provisions of Lorna's I can find (i'm sure he would have had far better quality food and drink from teh rest amd adding to it from my own stash prepare food and wine for everybody.  While doing so I will engage the lady in conversation.

"My dear Nirna would you care to help me prepare a repast?"

"Please forgive my inquisitiveness, but I would like to understand more about your situation.  Tell me about your Thel and life"

I will engage to find out about their situation, wealth or lack their of more likely and what she and her children may do in the future.  Thinking that she may be somewhat lost and without prospects I will offer that she and her daughter could work here for us keeping the place clean and stocked while we are to and fro continuing our actions against the Goblin King and this Spider.  She can maintain her own house if she wishes and only needs to ensure that the place is stocked and clean while we are away she need not wait upon us when we are here.  I will offer that when here I can start training her son in the martial arts and the ways of elven woodmanship to help prepare him for his role in the future as head of his family.

While Titus is preparing the food I will continue my magical sweep of the rest of the hide out, checking in on the 2 thugs making sure they aren't hatching plans of escape. 

Perception store room: 6

armoury: 16

crypt: 12

cells: 16

trapped hallway: 11

bottom of the pit trap: 7

enterance room with the cistern: 6

sleeping quarters at the enterance: 16

once I have completed the sweep I will take anything I find back to the group. 

Titus and Mirna speak as they prepare food and drink for the rest of the company. Mirna is still obviously struggling with the recent events that have almost destroyed her family and certainly thrown her world into total chaos.

"Until the Redbrands came we lived a happy life, not with out its hardships, the frontier has many challenges and you cannot have too many expectations." 

She tells you that they were managing well, and how they had become a respected family in Phandalin and their future was looking good. Husband and wife had built the business and they had custom on the farms and outlying mines and works around the town. 

"Then the wizard showed up in town. In no time he had recruited a band of toughs and made a lot of trouble for us all...Extortion, theft, robbing, and outright murder. Thel stood up to them. He loved this town too much to see it go to ruin." Mirna tries to hold back a sob and fails, Her son and daughter come to her and the all hold each other. After a while Mirna is able to speak again, "Thank you and your friends for all you have done. Avenging Thel, saving us from slavers...the town...that Wizard!...everything."

She listens to your offer and tears roll down her cheeks again. "Again thank you...I had thought we were done for in this life. Then when you freed us...I knew poor Thel was dead...I thought maybe I could take Nilsa and Nars to my relatives in Waterdeep." She sighs heavily, "But the way is dangerous, bandits, goblins,  and worse. I would be glad of something to do, and help you and your friends in turn. I will help you turn this place into a home of sorts..." Then her face hardens and she looks you right in the eyes, "If my Nars does want to train with you...promise me you will die before you let harm come to him..."

Kargan, joined by Eedim, begin the hard thankless work of removing the bloody remnants of the desperate battle to save the town of Phandalin. Both look around, rub their hands together and give each other long suffering looks as they blow out their mustaches in tandem. The hard work, the necessary work, always falls on the shoulders of the folk of earth and stone.

Kryinor continues his careful and meticulous search of the Thugs lair. Mandane and magical senses all fall upon everyday items, nothing of much value or power turns up as he moves through the underground complex. He detects the continued presences of necromantic energies in the crevasse, perhaps with a touch or transmutative energies as well.

Upon reaching the crypt the faint traces of the undead necrotic presence are fading away slowly now that only dust, rags, and bone remain.

Then he moves into the cells and notices that all are empty...

OOC: Kryinor please roil a perception check for me :)

Perception: 8

"Mirna, a boy should learn how to handle himself for when he becomes man he will be called upon to defend that for which he is responisble.  There are always those that take the easiest paths in life and prey on the weak, infirm and soft.  Nars is the man of his house now, even at a such a young age he must learn how to protect his family.  This does not mean he will run off and become an adventurer or take the soldiers oaths as I have done.  Duty takes many forms."

"Now we must finish our chores and call the others to eat." 

Kryinor takes in the empty cell where the two bandits were imprisoned perhaps only moments ago. A hood and some broken bonds all that remain of their defeated opponents. He retraces the movements of the entire company in the last tent to fifteen minutes in his mind and realises that the bandits were alone for at least five of them. 

That was enough for them to escape the cell and make their way out through he old cellar to the ruined manor above...

As Titus replies to Mirna, her daughter Nilsa, a young woman of eighteen years, approaches them both. 

"I want to learn how to protect my family, Nars has some growing to do...I can teach him when he is ready."

Mirna looks at her daughter and you  see a mix of emotions on her face. She opens her mouth and Nilsa holds up her hand to stall her.

"This is what I want mother, you know how good I am with a bow."

Mirna's face softens, though concern is still clearly written across her features, "You're so like your father...If that's your wish and this warrior will teach you...even both of you...I will not stop you."

I race to the entrance of the trapped hall to see if they are still close checking the bottom of the pit. Before doubling back to the cavern. 

I call out to Eedim and Kargan 'the prisoners have escaped, one of you back me up, the other let Titus know what has happened.' 

I will race down the south eastern corridor and run up the stairs toward the manor flinging the door open wedging my hand axe underneath it to keep the door open. 

I race up the stairs before shifting into my Direwolf form and I will try to listen for running feet or for the scent of the two thugs Perception: 18

Before giving chase...

"knowledge of the bow is a welcome skill for anyone and I would honored to assist.  I sure there are usable examples in the armory here.  We will find what you need after some rest."

Breccha salutes and bows to Lord Hallwinter. "Forgive my intrusion my lord; my name is Breccha and I am on a mission from the druid Reidoth and the the Circle of Swords and I have been told you may have information regarding incursions". He states directly. He follows by describing what the halfling woman had told him... "So you see I would be greatly indebted to you for any information of help you could provide me". Bowing again to indicate he had finished and was awaiting reply.

The man looks at you and nods his head, approving of what he sees. "Well met, I see my presence is getting known around Phandalin," he has a small chuckle to himself, "Good, good."

He offers his hand, "I have not met with Reidoth or his people, but I know that they want what's best for this area and am glad to work with you or help in anyway I can."

You have had longer to study the man, and notice the many bruises, cuts, and grazes he bears all over his body. This man has been very badly treated recently, tortured by the looks of it. He bears it well.

"I have good men seeing to our most immediate troubles at this moment. They assault the Redbrand hideout under the ruined manor on the hill to the east. The set out at sunset yesterday and I have not heard from them since." His face creases in worry. "They went in with little foreknowledge of what the situation is up there, but hey are capable and brave. Though I must confess I think it will be a near thing."  He looks at you and holds up his hand in a placating gesture, "My apologies, would you like a drink? We can sit and talk in a more comfortable manner in my office."

He indicates the room he just recently stepped out of and walks on ahead.

perception: 19

I run after Kryinor

Eedim perception: 8

Kargan and Eedim take the first few bodies out through the tunnel to the woods to the south of the Manor. The place them with the bodies of the lookouts from their first skirmish of the action this day and begin to measure and dig the graves for all of the fallen.

----------------------------------------------------

Unaware that his two companions are outside int he woods to the south Kryinor bursts into he cavern with the news of the prisoners escape, his cry of alarm, and request to relay it to the others, is faintly heard by Titus and those with him, but Kargan and Eedim remain oblivious.

Kryinor then begins his mad dash to the cellar and stair to the ruined manor above in pursuit o the escapees.

----------------------------------------------------

Titus' reply to Nilsa is welcomed with a tired smile from both women, all three turn to observe Nars asleep on the bed. It seems exhaustion has finally caught up with him. Even now Mrina and Nilsa begin to yawn and rub their eyes.

"The prisoners have escaped, one of you back me up, the other let Titus know what has happened."  Kryinor's muffled cry reaches Titus and the others in the room.

Nilsa's eyes open wide and become sharp, she shakes the fatigue off and grabs a large candle stick off a nearby table. She looks at her mother, and then at Titus...

"I'm ready."