Everyone seems ready to get going then.  Pelk says, "Sure follow me."  You head back to House of Rest.  A room to the back of the top floor.  She opens the door, and it is the same as when you arrived here.  Somewhat of a larger room and designed for multiple people to rest after a journey.  "This circle is permanent and the one at the Castle Cragma, which wasn't orginally named that.  It was originally built by a noble wizard of Phalorm.  We'll leave that for another time perhaps.  We didn't need to come here but it is less dramatic when teleporting discretely.   Your necklaces have two sigils on the stone.  One side is for here and matches the sigil outlined in the 10 ft circle on the floor.  The other side of the necklace has the sigil for the one at Castle Cragmaw.  Only one of you needs to activate it.  Normally you have to draw the circle 10 ft while casting.  The sigil does not need to do that or have any components.  You just need everyone in a 10 ft circle centered on the user of the necklase and you can do this anyone to go to either location.  Just use the correct side.  Have fun."

Pelk leaves the room.

Matheris says I got this.  You all step into the circle just to be sure and Matheris gets the sigil faced outward for castle cragmaw and uses the command word , "Potelert"

In an instant you are back at the castle.  It's daytime (8:15:00 AM) and having just cleared this out almost a tenday ago it's still empty save for some wildlife.  Nothing threatening.  There's no sign of Sildar and Gundren.  

Actions:

1. Lena grumbles slightly at the inconvenience of it all, but seem relieved that they are back on their original quest. "At least that circle didn't steal.us away until after Gundren was safe. We'd best be gettin' back to Phandelver. I'll feel better once I know that dwarf made it there safe 'n' our contract is done. I hate leavin' work unfinished. Damned diversion. C'mon, let's get on the trail whilst the day is young."

Everyone agrees to get a move on..The journey to Phandelver takes a day and a half to get there.  There were no encounters along the way.  You walk into town just as the sun is setting as you picked up the pace just a bit to beat the sunset.  You decide the best place is the Stonehill Inn.

Actions:

In the center of town stands a large, newly built roadhouse of fieldstone and rough-hewn timbers. The common room is filled with locals nursing mugs of ale or cider, all of them eyeing you with curiosity.  The proprietor is a short, friendly young human male named Toblen Stonehill. 

"Ah welcome back." comments Toblen.  "We weren't sure about what happened to ya.  Sildar Hallwinter and Gundren Rockseeker’s came back a few days ago and said you rescued them and then vanished.  Tonight's rooms and food and drink are on me.  Get some rest and we can talk in the morning."

Everyone drinks their fill of their chosen beverage and food.  Everyone heads to bed.  You get cleaned up from the day and a half trek back.

The next morning Tolben sets you up with a private spot.  "There's still a bunch of stuff going on around here.  I'll refresh your memories."

• Narth, an old farmer: “Sister Garaele, who oversees the Shrine of Luck, recently left town for a few days, then returned wounded and exhausted.” (See the “Shrine of Luck” section for more information.)
• Elsa, a gossipy barmaid: “Daran Edermath, the orchard keeper, is a former adventurer.” (See the “Edermath Orchard” section for more information.)
• Lanar, a miner: “Orc raiders have been seen on the east end of Triboar Trail. The townmaster is looking for someone to run them off.”
• Trilena, the innkeeper’s wife: “Thel Dendrar, a local woodcarver, stood up to the Redbrands a tenday ago when they came by his shop and leered at his wife. The ruffians murdered him. Several townsfolk saw it happen. The Redbrands grabbed his body, and now his wife, daughter, and son have gone missing too.” 
• Pip, Toblen’s young son: “Qelline Alderleaf’s son Carp said he found a secret tunnel in the woods, but Redbrands almost caught him.” 
• Freda, a weaver: “The Redbrands hassle every business in town, except for the Phandalin Miner’s Exchange. They don’t want trouble with Halia Thornton, who runs it.” 

The Redbrands frequent the Sleeping Giant tap house at the east end of town—and that the ruffians are trouble.

 OOC- If no posts in 24 hours I'll likely add a bit to this.  This weekend might be busy for me so I may not post until Monday/Tuesday of next week possibly.

Lena's interested in seeing Gundren and Sildar first off, to ensure the they can conclude their business before moving on to other jobs.

She'd like to deal with the Banshee for sister Garaele as soon as possible, but find out a little more about each of the jobs first. Particularly Thel's story is the only other that comes close to the Sister's request in Lena's mind.

Sildar and Gundren come in and head over to your spot as the serve fresh Porridge some fruits with bread and honey.  Gundren says, "What happened to ya.  We opened the door to go check a few things and when we come back your gone.  Sildar and I made it back to Phandelver and we've started to put together some efforts to reclaim the Castle.  Fix it up.  I'm already working with Neverwinter to get a squad of soldiers and a team of artisans to start getting it put back together."

Matheris, "Long story perhaps the others might share."

Faith takes the time to tell their adventure with the Grippli. He starts with the magic of Candlekeep then shares the cold and foamy furore of the crab maze and the reptilian malice of the evil Yuan-Ti. After the defeat of the Abomination he shares the magic of the ritual, and finishes with a refrain from the Pond Mother — a pleasing aria in a throaty, froggy language, now mastered by the Adventurers. 

“Some wealth, we found, in our travails, but duty called us back. 

“There is still much to do here,” and Faith gives a nod to Lena and Matheris. He understands their designs. Certainly, the Banshee seems a great threat, once Gundren’s business is suitably secure. “And there is a lot of ground to cover. Perhaps, Sildar, you might know of where we might find decent thoroughbreds?”

He scratches his chin. “What plans do you make with Cragmaw Castle? It is well situated in the woods, and perhaps a central redoubt could be of use to many.”

"Well if what you say is true...coughing a bit and a smirk" chuckles Sildar and Gundren. "You never know though. We need to rebuild that Castle even more now that if there is a Teleportation ring there. We need to hold onto that Castle.  Having the Ring will allow us trade to Candlekeep and negotiate other trades quickly. Gundren and I will be going to Neverwinter to work out additional contracts and speak to the wizard's council concerning the Teleportation Circle.  This will no doubt provide us with additional leverage to get the Artisans and guard personnel to secure the Castle.  Well done your group will favor prominently in the report.  Pelk, you say was you liaison at Candlekeep.  We'll be gone at least a tenday at Neverwinter so help out here all you can.  I have a feeling that things will be changing around here pretty soon."

"Mounts, I'd check with Barthen's Provision They'll have a couple of different types of mounts and their prices I'm not sure on."

"We're heading out soon so unless you have any questions we'll be heading out.  Thanks for saving us."

Gundren and Sildar get going.

Lena nods approvingly, "Aye, t'would be a good'un fer yer to have that ring under some sorta control. An fer getting people to that there library faster than by ship I'm sure yer could be chargin' a pretty penny. I'll jus be glad t' know it won't be whiskin' away any folks that not be expectin' it again. I'm still not convinced it wasn't a kidnappin'" She chuckles a little, warm and heartily. "Bah, enough about what's done. Travel safe, you ain't got the best record for it in these parts, and if we're doin' odd job round here we might not be able t' save yer arses again!" Lena bids farewell to the pair, joinging with the sentiments of the other party members.

After the departure, Lena addresses the others. "What's yer thoughts on our next move? We could head out t' reckon with this banshee, or we can try and sort out some of the problems closer to Phandelver. Save time on the travel, an if there's a real kidnappin' at play then I ain't fond of delayin' the trip... I'm sure the sister would understand."

Matheris chimes in, "I'm all for taking care of any of the situations that need to be addressed here in town or out of town.    You' Uns decide it."

Karea (NPC) offers, "Taint but a thang to handle any of these situations round here.  I'm good with whatever you two decide.  Besides, something tells me this town is in for a big shake up.  You two's call as far as I'm concerned.  Perhaps we can arrange for a nighttime activity.  I'm sure there will still be lights here and there though."   Unless Dragon chimes in for Karea....

*I'm here, at least for a few days (I'll be gone again next week), but Karea doesn't really have a preference for which quest to do first.*

Faith nods along good naturedly as the discussion goes round. His preference remains for the Banshee. Overt evil is his preferred predicament, but ultimately he trusts the efficacy and perspicacity of his companions. 

A few drinks into the discussion, he wanders into the alley way for a leak. If there are any beggars or down on their luck within eye-shot of the inn in Phandalin, he gives them a gold piece. He asks nothing in return, except that they might tell him something of the troubles with the ruffians here, or the monsters in the wild -- whichever concerns them most. If they can say naught, or he finds no one, then he leaves his gold coin for whoever might find it anyway, and returns inside. 

As no-one seems to want to take charge, Lena tries to sum up the party's malaise, "Let us use what we can of this day to find out more about Thel's wife's abduction and the Redbrand's hold on this town in general, and whether Barthen's has good horses and a pack mule for purchase. If we an make good time then we set out for the Banshee in aid of the sister. If the trip will take us away too long, or we find the danger to the kidnapped is likely to be imminent, then we approach that issue first."

You head over to Barthen's Provisions to check on some mounts and as you get closer you spy a stable nearby with a couple different paddocks for the mounts to get some exercise that allows you to see most of the mounts.  All common types look available.  You make your way to the main building where Elmar is sweeping off the porch.  "Come on in. Names Elmar Brathen.  What can I do for ya? "

“Your finest, least skittish horses, Goodman Elmar. We find ourselves covering distance and uncovering danger with frightening regularity. Hardy steeds while we range this sword coast and it’s mountains. We are in dire need, my friend.”

Raised in seclusion, Faith has little concept of an opening position, and lays out his need earnestly and in a forthright fashion. 

"I've got some warhorses for ya", comments Elmar.  "Let's see.  Bit and Bridal, Military Saddle, saddle bags.  It'll run ya 500 gp for each.  If you want four I'll drop it to 450 each.  How's that?  That doesn't include stabling or feed or anything else."

“Throw in the first bags of feed for half price and I might prevail on my companions to agree, merchant,” says Faith. 

Elmar says, "For you folks, I'll throw in 5 days of feed.  Here's a tip.  Graze your mounts and you can easily double the number of days.  5 Days of feed will get you 10 days of travel.  Water is a different story.  You have to travel with streams or creek and rivers to let the mounts get plenty of water so plan your trip to make sure they get water or take a cart with some water on it just in case."

OOC - "I think I'll just roleplay the watering aspect of the mounts and really the feed as well.  We really haven't been tracking rations for the pc's either so I think that aspect of it might get to indepth into the minutia of survival more than just having fun.  IF you want me to track all of it let me know and we can look into that."

Ooc - sure sounds good. I think just for the distances we’re ranging it’s be useful to have them, particularly with Cragmaw being done up. 

“What now,” Faith asks. “Shall we see seek out the banshee?”