"Thank you," Elrora says in response to Tryncaryn, her smile growing just a tad wider as she nods gratefully towards the Halfling. "Whichever task we decide to take on next, I am ready." The Elven woman then turns to Progo, the smile on her face finally returning to its full, charming glory as she gives the Half-Orc a respectful curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Progo. Thank you for protecting our companions in my absence. My name is Elrora," the Fighter replies sweetly.

"Well Elrora, they do try their best to stay out of trouble." Progo gestures towards his leather lest which still bears the scars of giant teeth marks and acid burns. "But sometimes Progo needed to jump in when something tries to bite and chew on them. Was nothing really, like shooting teeth on a barrel. Now we must collect our dues from the timid man in the big building. Then who knows what great deed we will do next. Progo has a great lead on a big flying cat."

When you go to the townmaster after the breakfast, he still talks to you trough the doors. Hearing about what you got from the gnomes, he offers 50 gold for the hat of wizardry and not being interested in other items. If you try to sell him the barrel crab he thinks about it for a second and offers 10 gold.

Tryn whispers to the others, "I would really prefer to keep the hat. We don't even know if it looks good on him! And I can pay the money to the group. Perhaps not all at once, but in parts. We really should do another adventure together, after I can surely pay for the hat."

"Progo wonders if we could find a use for crab can contraption, possibly store it in a stable? No food and no grooming might make it cheap. Not sure we could make use of something such as this but certainly is worth more the a mere 10 gp." 

"I am ok for you to keep you hat, master halfling. It does look good on you and looks is everything, trust me !". He then chat with the townmaster, telling him the crab-o-tank could be use as a protection against the dragon breath and that the blacksmith could probably install large crossbow. He could lead the battle in full protection, all the town will be in awe of his leadership.

Persuation: Nat 20 !!!! for a total of 25

Townmaster answers: I really doubt that wooden barrel can protect against a dragon breath. But i guess it might be of more use than just a tool, so i will give it a shot. Tell you what, since you went trough all that trouble and you won't sell me the hat. I can pay you 25 gold tops for that contraption, we never had any of those gnomish inventions here i hope that investment pays off. Park it please on the back of my house please after you get the money. /he proceeds to slip 25 gold under the doors one gold coin at a time in total silence/. Now off you go, I believe noone yet went to the dwarves and there are new assignments on the board already."

New quests on the board:

Butterskull Ranch Quest. “Orcs have attacked Butterskull Ranch, five miles east of Conyberry along the Triboar Trail! Travel there with haste, assess the damage, and help any way you can. Ranch owner Alfonse “Big Al” Kalazorn is a retired sheriff who can reward you for your efforts. If he’s dead, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester with proof of Kalazorn’s demise to receive a reward of 100 gp.”

Loggers’ Camp Quest. “Deep in Neverwinter Wood, along the river that flows west toward Neverwinter, is a logging camp. Every two months, Phandalin delivers fresh supplies to the camp, which is run by the half-brother of Phandalin’s townmaster, Harbin Wester. Barthen, the local provisioner, has prepared a new delivery. He needs someone to bear the supplies safely to the camp. Return to Harbin Wester with a notice of delivery signed by his half-brother, Tibor Wester, to claim your reward of 100 gp.”

Mountain’s Toe Quest. “The Mountain’s Toe Gold Mine lies fifteen miles northeast of Phandalin. The new overseer, Don-Jon Raskin, just made the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin and needs to be escorted to the mine. There’s no telling what dangers lie between here and there. Once you deliver Raskin safe and sound, return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 100 gp.”

Tryn hurries to the board after they finish their transaction with the townmaster and suggests, "We could check out the ranch and on the way look for that temple south of Conyberry that the woman at Lionshield Coster tipped us off to (in this post). And on the way back, we could check out that gold mine. Unless you want to warn the dwarves first and go and check out that tower by the sea."

"Very well, I am fine with a little trip towards Conyberry."

Before leaving, Goraseth would like to buy some ration (6x) and check if he can commission a stone cutter in the village to make a little place to worship Bahamut. He would pay for a nice statue. Who knows maybe this could help against a white dragon ?

(Progo would like to have his leather armor repaired from the mimic bite and slime. He wouldn't mind a healing potion either if there are any to be purchased.)

Tharanau agrees with Tryn: "This sounds like a solid plan, helping people in need always comes first. Let's head to the ranch and then Conyberry and then the mountain."

You would get your armor repaired in Lionshield Coster for a small fee (let's say 5cp), and be informed that such remedies around here are only made and sold by Urge Adabra at Umbrage Hill.

The Elven woman dips her head in agreement, glancing between her companions — an assortment of adventurers that Elrora is incredibly grateful to be reunited with again. She wouldn't again be torn between her responsibilities to her kingdom in Evermeet and her destiny here, the Fighter has promised to herself. She will be a hero one day, and ruling from a faraway castle wasn't how she'd become one. These quests right here in Phandalin were. "To Butterskull Ranch, then!" she chimes in with an eager smile. "Have you all received directions there yet?"

"Progo have had good luck with inn keeper for directions if we don't  know already. Though doesn't it seem strange that the person who owns the inn and doesn't travel about, having to stay at the inn, knows so much about the location of places outside the inn. Progo wonders when inn keeper found time to travel about to know where things are."

"Well Progo, we could ask him next time we see him, maybe he is an retired adventurer..". Goraseth gets his backpack ready for the next journey "I have bought a few rations, I should be ready for our next walk..."
He closes the door of his room at the Inn and asks his new companions "If our group continues to be successful, we could think of buying a little place as our headquarters, what do you think ?"

It takes you two full days to travel to Conyberry, since you left Phandalin not long after breakfast, you arrive at Conyberry at midday. If any of you would like to forage on the way please roll d20 aiming to beat DC10, On a successful check, roll 1d6 + the character’s Wisdom modifier to determine how much food (in pounds) the character finds, then repeat the roll for water (in gallons). Your party needs at least 5 pounds of food and 5 gallons of water to be sated. You could also spend the morning of the third day to forage before you enter Conyberry to try and provide meal for the day. Since you are traveling by the road you do not risk to be lost.

Once you arrive at Conyberry, The Triboar Trail runs right through this abandoned town, which was sacked by barbarians years ago and now lies in ruins.

Now what would be your next course of action?

Foraging day 1, Survival: 11, finds 6 pounds of food and 5 gallons of water
Foraging day 2, Survival: 19, finds 7 pounds of food and 5 gallons of water

During their trek, Tryn continues to brainstorm with Goraseth how their little headquarter could look like as he really liked the idea. When they rested, he coursed around the camp site and was lucky each day to locate fresh water and he managed to find game and fruit, so that they didn't need to rely on their rations. In Conyberry, he suggests to hurry along to the ranch and check out the ruin afterwards. 

"Headquarters?  Progo likes to roam, and go where Progo goes. What is here that makes this place the perfect spot for residency?  But if we are gonna do it then Progo suggests..." Progo has a full list of "suggestions" that clearly he's thought about for awhile.

Survival day 1: 18, finds 5 pounds of food and 6 gallons of water
Survival day 2: 20, finds 7 pounds of food and 6 gallons of water

Goraseth is quite happy: he found a patch a nice mushroom on day1 and a rabbit on day2. "This will sustain the group! Let's make a nice dinner"
Once they approach the ruins, the dragonborn slows down. "So my friends what is the goal here, just look around for something usefull against a dragon ? I think we should still stay not too far from each other"

Note: Unless it is really needed, Goraseth would not stealth and just walk in, but still being carefull
Perception: 16

Goraseth is the first to see in some of the ruined houses the party of orc rummaging in the rubble. However the one on the lookout who seems to be smallest of the lot and currently pissing on the statue sees your party as well and rallies his fellow orcs.

You have encountered a party of scavenger orcs. please roll initiative. (forgot to add to map, the way map is oriented on the left of the map is the road south leading to the shrine)

As a remainder orcs do have rolled hp so it is not all the same. I roll for party of orcs a shared initiative, i guess it is easier in PbP.

Orcs Initiative: 18