"As to Cragmaw Castle, well, sure, I know it. But I don't want to rile up the goblins without good cause. I aim to balance the natural order, not stir it up. Does that make sense?"
She pets her fox, which continues to stare at you suspiciously.
"As to this place, well, I've learned to handle the plants an' the zombies. The spiders I've just heard of. I don't know who them new people in black are. But I'm most concerned about this dragon. It showed up since last time I was here. Am I afraid? Sure, I'm afraid. You should be, too. Like I said, y'all oughta leave Thundertree before you're killed."
"Them spiders lurk in the ruins at the base of the hill. I suspect that those miscreants in black have a hideout on the eastern side of town somewhere – they just showed up a couple of days ago. I've just seen them skulking around over there. The dragon sleeps up in the tower, mostly. It's been here a few months I guess. A green one. Deadly poisonous, they say."
Quinn is not surprised to hear this spiel about balance and natural order. He grown up with and trained with many a druid and he's heard this before. He stands back and listens while biting his tongue.
He's had enough.
"Look. We're not looking to stir things up. We aim for order and balance as well.
Have you been to Phandalin any time lately? If so then you'd know that Phandalin was severely lacking order and balance.
The so-called Redbrands have been marauding and pillaging the town. They beat, kidnap and outright kill anyone who dare challenges them. Do you know of the Drendars? Mirna's husband was murdered in the streets by the dammed Redbrands. As if that wasn't bad enough, She and her children were taken hostage by the dammed Redbrands. We tracked them down, freed them and got justice the Mirna and her family.
As for the Cragmaws, they're the ones who are bringing this on themselves. They harass and attack merchants and caravans all upon the Triboar trail. They attacked and kidnapped our employer. Even the Scraptop goblins say the Cragmaws are up to no good.
Just point us to Cragmaw castle on a map, that's all we ask."
Reidoth looks at Quinn skeptically. "I'm glad you saved Mirna and her family. She's a nice lady. But it all still sounds like humanoid politics to me. Tread lightly around the swamp of politics, they say, lest you find yourself mired in the muck."
Bryony would like to try and help Quinn in persuading Reidoth. She moves closer to the druid woman. "Please, Mistress Reidoth," she says. "A man's life could be at stake. That isn't politics. These Cragmaw goblins are the ones tipping the balance toward suffering and disorder. If we can stop their plans, peace will be restored to the area."
Bryony gives the woman her most pleading, wide-eyed expression. It had often worked on Auntie Qelline when she had been a child and begging for sweets, couldn't hurt to try on Reidoth who was apparently her friend.
Quinn gets the impression that this isn’t going as planned.
”I understand, why should you trust us? I was raised by a reclusive clan of Rangers and Druids. I know the type well.
I’d much rather be in my village farming and foraging for my people. But here we are. You, seeking balance and order in this long forgotten nothing of a town with little at stake. And we seek balance and order in a town, full of actual people with everything to lose.
At least can you point us to where Mirna’s shop can be located? She spoke of something that she left behind, and we would like to fetch it for her.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
"I'll tell you what. If you can figure out a way to chase off that dragon, I'll tell you where to find that goblin stronghold. The dragon has to go. You help me, I help you."
"As to the old Dendrar herbalist’s shop, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure it must have been one o' them smaller shops on the east end of town." (Her directions indicate the ones marked U9 and U12 on your map.) "Mirna told me a little about it."
"And yeah, them weird humans have been hanging out on that side of town, too. Black cloaks that look like wings or something, and black leather masks with horns on 'em. I don't know what they're doing – they just showed up like two, three days ago... I haven't spoken to them myself. They look like trouble."
"You need something to eat? I have a little extra food. I can make you a snack. How many of you are there? You all from Phandalin?"
"Ehhh... the size of a walrus, maybe? Or a big crocodile? But with a poisonous gas breath, they say, and a deadly bite. I only seen it twice. And smart, they say. Holed up on top of the old tower. Tore right through the roof, it looks like. I've heard there used to be a wizard who occupied it, years ago, when Thundertree fell."
" Should we check on these black cloak folks? They might be future trouble?", Kimberley ventured.
"From a distance... might be best...at least until we get a clearer picture on who they are and what they want." Syzygy says anxiously rubbing his brow as if struck by sudden headache. "But they're not priority for now" he deflects.
"I think we scout the herbalist first, perhaps find something useful. Then, to the tower. Anyone have experience in dragon relocation?"
Syzygy pull his grey cloak hood further down his face almost covering his eyes.
"Herbalist shop first for sure," agrees Bryony. "I've never even seen a dragon before. Although I think they can talk? Maybe we can convince it to leave?"
Bryony realizes that hope is probably naive, but if they could avoid more bloodshed all the better in her book. So far it seems as if this dragon hasn't hurt anyone yet. Maybe it had no intentions of doing so.
(Any further business with Reidoth? Then, where to, next? You are currently inside U4. Reidoth is "pretty sure" Mirna's childhood shop is either U9 or U12. She also suspects the figures in black have a "hideout" on the "eastern side of town" somewhere. The dragon is said to sleep in the tower at the top of the hill, at U7, which many of you saw from a distance earlier.)
Kimberley looked to the others, " I think we should work our way east from here and then north giving the tower as wide a berth as possible, then check out the old shop and see how we feel about dragon wrangling after that."
(OOC:History check to see what Quinn knows of dragons. Check = 1. Apparently he knows nothing about them.)
Quinn leans down towards Bryony and whispers. "I've heard they can talk as well. Some of 'em are quite old and wise...so I've heard." He stands up straight and shares is thoughts with the group. "I'd like to search Mirna's shop as we head east and try to retrieve the item and perhaps anything else that might be of use. If we dragon chases us off, at least we won't leave her empty handed."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Aros remains off to the side of Reidoth’s home. He was excited to meet another person as versed in nature, but once the group began to bring up their current goals, his curiosity was curtailed by his anxiety. He silently nods at Kimberly’s suggestion of sweeping the town before encountering the dragon. Besides, he is much more comfortable digging through ruined buildings than fighting a large, poison-spitting monster, dragon or otherwise.
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"As to Cragmaw Castle, well, sure, I know it. But I don't want to rile up the goblins without good cause. I aim to balance the natural order, not stir it up. Does that make sense?"
She pets her fox, which continues to stare at you suspiciously.
"As to this place, well, I've learned to handle the plants an' the zombies. The spiders I've just heard of. I don't know who them new people in black are. But I'm most concerned about this dragon. It showed up since last time I was here. Am I afraid? Sure, I'm afraid. You should be, too. Like I said, y'all oughta leave Thundertree before you're killed."
" Where are the spiders and the black clad folk usually seen?", Kimberley queried.
"Them spiders lurk in the ruins at the base of the hill. I suspect that those miscreants in black have a hideout on the eastern side of town somewhere – they just showed up a couple of days ago. I've just seen them skulking around over there. The dragon sleeps up in the tower, mostly. It's been here a few months I guess. A green one. Deadly poisonous, they say."
Quinn is not surprised to hear this spiel about balance and natural order. He grown up with and trained with many a druid and he's heard this before. He stands back and listens while biting his tongue.
He's had enough.
"Look. We're not looking to stir things up. We aim for order and balance as well.
Have you been to Phandalin any time lately? If so then you'd know that Phandalin was severely lacking order and balance.
The so-called Redbrands have been marauding and pillaging the town. They beat, kidnap and outright kill anyone who dare challenges them. Do you know of the Drendars? Mirna's husband was murdered in the streets by the dammed Redbrands. As if that wasn't bad enough, She and her children were taken hostage by the dammed Redbrands. We tracked them down, freed them and got justice the Mirna and her family.
As for the Cragmaws, they're the ones who are bringing this on themselves. They harass and attack merchants and caravans all upon the Triboar trail. They attacked and kidnapped our employer. Even the Scraptop goblins say the Cragmaws are up to no good.
Just point us to Cragmaw castle on a map, that's all we ask."
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Reidoth looks at Quinn skeptically. "I'm glad you saved Mirna and her family. She's a nice lady. But it all still sounds like humanoid politics to me. Tread lightly around the swamp of politics, they say, lest you find yourself mired in the muck."
Quinn: Make a Persuasion check.
Bryony would like to try and help Quinn in persuading Reidoth. She moves closer to the druid woman. "Please, Mistress Reidoth," she says. "A man's life could be at stake. That isn't politics. These Cragmaw goblins are the ones tipping the balance toward suffering and disorder. If we can stop their plans, peace will be restored to the area."
Bryony gives the woman her most pleading, wide-eyed expression. It had often worked on Auntie Qelline when she had been a child and begging for sweets, couldn't hurt to try on Reidoth who was apparently her friend.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Persuasion check: 3 (6 with advantage).
Quinn gets the impression that this isn’t going as planned.
”I understand, why should you trust us? I was raised by a reclusive clan of Rangers and Druids. I know the type well.
I’d much rather be in my village farming and foraging for my people. But here we are. You, seeking balance and order in this long forgotten nothing of a town with little at stake. And we seek balance and order in a town, full of actual people with everything to lose.
At least can you point us to where Mirna’s shop can be located? She spoke of something that she left behind, and we would like to fetch it for her.”
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
" Should we check on these black cloak folks? They might be future trouble?", Kimberley ventured.
"I'll tell you what. If you can figure out a way to chase off that dragon, I'll tell you where to find that goblin stronghold. The dragon has to go. You help me, I help you."
"As to the old Dendrar herbalist’s shop, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure it must have been one o' them smaller shops on the east end of town." (Her directions indicate the ones marked U9 and U12 on your map.) "Mirna told me a little about it."
"And yeah, them weird humans have been hanging out on that side of town, too. Black cloaks that look like wings or something, and black leather masks with horns on 'em. I don't know what they're doing – they just showed up like two, three days ago... I haven't spoken to them myself. They look like trouble."
"You need something to eat? I have a little extra food. I can make you a snack. How many of you are there? You all from Phandalin?"
Kimberley looked deeply troubled, " How.....how...big....is the dragon?"
"Ehhh... the size of a walrus, maybe? Or a big crocodile? But with a poisonous gas breath, they say, and a deadly bite. I only seen it twice. And smart, they say. Holed up on top of the old tower. Tore right through the roof, it looks like. I've heard there used to be a wizard who occupied it, years ago, when Thundertree fell."
"From a distance... might be best...at least until we get a clearer picture on who they are and what they want." Syzygy says anxiously rubbing his brow as if struck by sudden headache. "But they're not priority for now" he deflects.
"I think we scout the herbalist first, perhaps find something useful. Then, to the tower. Anyone have experience in dragon relocation?"
Syzygy pull his grey cloak hood further down his face almost covering his eyes.
Seeing his party going into the home, he will join them and remain in the back and have draco continue to be on the look out.
D&D since 1984
Kimberley is feeling slightly more confident as the dragon seems to be fairly small compared to tales she has heard........but it is poisonous.......
She shakes her head to Syzygys question.
"Herbalist shop first for sure," agrees Bryony. "I've never even seen a dragon before. Although I think they can talk? Maybe we can convince it to leave?"
Bryony realizes that hope is probably naive, but if they could avoid more bloodshed all the better in her book. So far it seems as if this dragon hasn't hurt anyone yet. Maybe it had no intentions of doing so.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
(Any further business with Reidoth? Then, where to, next? You are currently inside U4. Reidoth is "pretty sure" Mirna's childhood shop is either U9 or U12. She also suspects the figures in black have a "hideout" on the "eastern side of town" somewhere. The dragon is said to sleep in the tower at the top of the hill, at U7, which many of you saw from a distance earlier.)

Kimberley looked to the others, " I think we should work our way east from here and then north giving the tower as wide a berth as possible, then check out the old shop and see how we feel about dragon wrangling after that."
(OOC: History check to see what Quinn knows of dragons. Check = 1. Apparently he knows nothing about them.)
Quinn leans down towards Bryony and whispers. "I've heard they can talk as well. Some of 'em are quite old and wise...so I've heard." He stands up straight and shares is thoughts with the group. "I'd like to search Mirna's shop as we head east and try to retrieve the item and perhaps anything else that might be of use. If we dragon chases us off, at least we won't leave her empty handed."
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
(How do you want to head east? Along the main east-west path or a different way? ...And toward which building do you plan to go first?)
Aros remains off to the side of Reidoth’s home. He was excited to meet another person as versed in nature, but once the group began to bring up their current goals, his curiosity was curtailed by his anxiety. He silently nods at Kimberly’s suggestion of sweeping the town before encountering the dragon. Besides, he is much more comfortable digging through ruined buildings than fighting a large, poison-spitting monster, dragon or otherwise.