"Yes, we need to get him help." Jurgen says

Unless you have any further business inside, the party carries Gundren out of the ruins of Cragmaw Castle and into the starlit forest to find a quiet place to rest.

You make camp a short distance from the ruins, yet far enough away that you expect Lhupo and her acolytes, or anyone else associated with the castle, will have considerable difficulty finding you.

You may receive the benefits of a Long Rest.  You may also advance your character to Level 4.

****ANNOUNCEMENT: We will be updating the ruleset to the 2024 rules. Please take the time to REBUILD your character to align with the new rules. (Try to keep the essence of your character intact, but if you need to make minor changes to take advantage of the new ruleset, feel free to. I will post the invite link in Discord.)

Then... what next? Back to Phandalin? You reckon that you can likely make it back in one long day's march. Unless you run into trouble, if you leave in the morning you could be back in town by sundown tomorrow.

(Map updated with location of Wave Echo Cave:)

Quinn pitched his bedroll next to Gundren and watched over him throughout most of the night. He made a poultice from some herbs he found near camp and applied them to his wounds. They won't cure his wounds, but it should take the edge off and allow him to rest comfortably. Eventually, Quinn fell asleep, though his sleep was polluted by horrible nightmares of Kimberly, Sir Roderick,  and other friends from his past who are no longer with us. He woke up bright and early, as per usual.

Quinn rests with his back up against an old pine tree while he waits for everyone else to get ready. He pulls off a few fibers from his rope and hand furls them into a small thin length of cordage. He wraps the cordage around his neck for a test fit. It's perfect. He digs out the piece of quartz, secures it to the cordage with some pine resin and wraps the finished piece around his neck. He takes a few more moments to clean off the wolf claws a bit and secures them to a strap on his hide armor. He pulls himself up and joins the others when it appears everyone is ready to to get moving.

"I was lookin' at that map we found. I think it's best we head back to Phandalin. It appears the cave is not too far from town, though it is up in the mountains and it might be a tough trek. This here map is pretty valuable and we don't want anyone else taking it from us. All of you, study it good and commit the location to memory. I don't want this secret dying with me if I'm the next one to go."

Quinn points out some landmarks to help everyone get their bearings. 

"You see, it's just due west of town, beyond the foothills, on the flanks of the Sword Mountains. Once you all food comfortable with the location, it might be best if we destroy the map. Just in case."

When morning comes, Jurgen, refreshed with spell slots, walks over to Gundren. "Do you need anything?"

A breezy morning has dawned. Gundren seems much improved. He is sitting up. "What happened?" he asks. "I don't remember these past days much. Did you get the map? What happened to Sildar?"

The sun is shining. A refreshing breeze blows through the forest.

“There’s much to tell you, my friend. All in do time. But Sildar is safe in Phandalin. And I have your map.”

Quinn squeezes Gundren’s hand looking for a response to gauge his strength. 

“Are you up for a bit of a walk? We have to get put some distance between us and Cragmaw. We’re taking you to Phandalin. We’ll get you patched up, maybe find your brothers, and then figure out our next move.”

"I... think so." Gundred can walk, albeit slowly and with frequent rests. Still, it's probably faster than carrying him.

Are you headed south to Triboar Trail, and on to Phandalin? 

The weather is good, and the day is young. Although, traveling with Gundren, it remains to be seen whether you can make it back to town in one day of travel or two.

Gundren deeply appreciates his rescue and the escort back to Phandalin; he then invites you to venture on to Wave Echo Cave to find his brothers, Nundro and Tharden. Gundren knows that someone called "the Spider" orchestrated his capture and hopes that you can stop them. ("We'll deed you a percentage of the mine's wealth if you can, how's that?")

The morning is young – you are rested (Long Rest) and empowered (rebuilt as Level four 2024 characters), if sobered by Kimberley's gruesome loss.

The party begins its slow trek south from Cragmaw Castle toward Phandalin. Although the weather is excellent for hiking, progress is slow. There are no obvious trails, and while the underbrush is generally thin in the forest, the ground is rocky and uneven, with unexpected scrambles and ridges covered in dense scrub. There is little water.

Gundren is an added complication. He can only walk slowly, and with frequent rests. His health remains delicate, although his mind is now clear. He talks about his brothers, and the mine at Wave Echo Cave, and riches contained within - both in mineral wealth and the legendary Forge of Spells, where one may craft magic items, stories say. "We need to get supplies to Tharden and Nundro immediately – picks, shovels, lanterns, fuel, provisions!" He promises to pay everyone for their trouble upon their arrival in Phandalin.

The sun is already getting low in the sky when you finally emerge from the brush onto the Triboar Trail. It looks unlikely you can make it to Phandalin today, and Gundren is looking pale and spent.

Quinn spends most of the time ranging slightly ahead of the pack keeping an eye out for threats. Once they join up with the Triboar trail he accesses the situation. 

“How is everyone holding up?”

His old friend Gundren is looking weak. Quinn knows they won’t make it to town this evening and he doesn’t want to push his friend past his limit. 

Quinn arches his back exaggeratedly and rubs his shoulders. 

“I’m getting tired. How’s about we call it a day and camp somewhere nearby for the night? I’ll look for a camp.”

Survival check: 12

“Agreed, but I suggest we camp over there instead.” Syzygy says as he points Quinn away from a patch of ground that seemed to be eyeing. “I reckon it could flood there, friend.” Syzygy makes an alternative suggestion. 

survival help: 17 

Syzygy seems rather straight forward if not blunt. “I’m fine, I do realise that my little dress as wizard and send everybody to sleep stunt was perhaps an irrational idea. But considering the circumstances, and, to be blunt, everyone’s aim, I hadn’t any other choice. I don’t know if Jurgen’s stubbornness worsened the situation…or saved us all. Anyway I’ll leave it there for now.

And how are you holding up, Quinn?”

[ooc I’m gonna say syzygy guilt cursed himself over the sleep spell to narrativise it’s nerf?] 

And whilst tired, he is calm, and has spoken to Gundren and their usual professional speak. But the comforts of Gundren’s old job security seemed all nostalgia now. All spiders and the power hungry now. 

syzygy felt his own power growing too like a electric fire ringing in his gut and the mirrors of his mind. A sense of things. He thinks about another fallen companion, Kimberley. He wanted to ask more about her Goddess. Though he laments her loss, he also can’t help but feel that he and the others perhaps dodged a crossbow bolt with her. 

As Syzygy wonders if perhaps they dodged a bolt, an arrow whizzes toward him from the underbrush.

Bow attack vs Syzygy: Ranged Weapon Attack: 20. Hit: 5 4 piercing damage.

A hunched, wiry human with a dirt-caked face, greasy black hair, and a twisted grin stands up from behind a small boulder (half cover).

“Step into my web, travelers, and I’ll pose a question for you, just for fun... 
What has no breath, but still steals life, waits in shadows, armed with a knife? It feasts on flesh, both swift and slow, and leaves its prey six feet below…”
Then, with a crooked grin, he leans forward and rasps, “If you guessed ‘Ratsy and friends,’ well... you’re cleverer than you look!”

His fingers twitch constantly, as if itching to grab something, but he is empty-handed. He wears a patchwork cloak, tattered and stained. His skin is mottled by patches of burns. 

His grin vanishes. "Stand and deliver your purse! Your money, or your life!"

A brutish, mangy gnoll holding a jagged, rusty spear steps out of the brush, nearby. Her yellowed teeth stick out at odd angles, and her long, twisted limbs seem unnaturally thin and gangly, making her appear like a deranged scarecrow. 

Then a grizzled human man with a powerful, stocky build steps out, his chipped longsword ready. His sunburnt skin is marked by several deep scars, and his piercing yellow eyes reflect a cold, calculating nature. He wears a tattered, once-formidable breastplate with insignias crudely scratched out, and holds an old metal shield with the insignia crossed out in black paint. 

Your eyes also spot a scarred orc hiding behind a rotten tree stump (3/4 cover) holding the bow that shot at Syzygy.

Roll initiative!

Ratsy: 13
Orc: 15
Gnoll: 17
Human: 18
Gundren: 8

Jurgen Init 22

Bryony had been mostly quiet as they left Cragmaw Castle behind. She assured Quinn that she was physically okay now, but inside she was still torn up about Kimberley. She just kept replaying the situation in her head over and over again. The guilt was almost overwhelming. If she hadn't escaped, maybe Kimberley would still be alive. She was still distracted by these thoughts when an arrow came whistling out of nowhere. Then out stepped a dirty human man with greasy black hair posing a riddle to them. Bryony just gawked at him for a moment, totally taken aback.

Initiative - 5

Quinn listens to Syzygy’s assessment in silence with the occasional subtle shrug. 

“What’s done is done. I honestly couldn’t say much about what happened back there since I was asleep for most of it. But that fight was not my finest hour, I’ll admit. Perhaps I’m past my prime.

But all things considered, I’m okay.”

….

When the feral looking human pokes his greasy head up from behind the boulder, Quinn takes a step in front of Gundren to shield his friend.

Quinn barks out “do you always ask stupid questions of strangers only to answer them yourself?

You best keep walking, I don’t have the time or patience for this. If you don’t, know that I’ll be handing you more than a purse if you don’t get movin’”

Quinn stows his longbow and readies his shield. He keeps his strong hand free to grab a dart or his axe. 

intimidation check: 21
Initiative: 7

Ratsy looks unnerved by Quinn's aggressive confidence. He cowers back behind the boulder. (3/4 cover.)

"Boonahhhhhhhh!" he shouts into the trees behind him. "Booonaaaaaaaahhh! Get your ugly mug out here - NOW! FAST!"

Jurgen and Draco may act first. They are 35-40 feet from the nearest of the highwaymen (and both the orc archer and Ratsy have 3/4 cover.)

"Anybody got a knife? Any weapon at all?" asks Gundren nervously to Jurgen and Bryony. (He is currently unarmed and unarmored.)

Syzygy may also roll initiative (and immediately act if he rolls an 18 or higher.)

At the arrows grazing his neck, Syzygy barely flinches but for a snarl of the lip. 

Initiative: 16 

Jurgen reaches in and hands Gundren a short sword and dagger.

Init 20

Initiative:
√ Jurgen 22 & Draco 22
   Grizzled guy with longsword 18
   Gnoll with spear 17
   Syzygy 16
   Orc with bow 15
   Ratsy 13
   Gundren 8
   Bryony 7
   Quinn 7

The gnoll steps toward her sword-wielding comrade and elbows him, pointing at Syzygy. (Syzygy is close enough to read her lips: "That one.")

Then the human swordsman with the defaced armor and the spear-brandishing gnoll step forward, crowding around Syzygy in the middle of the road.

"First, the money..." breathes the human with a sneer, his chipped longsword readied. "The Skewer, here, she's itching to puncture someone. So gimme your gold."

The gnoll removes her rusty spear, which she’s crudely modified with jagged metal shards, from her back. She taps her fingers on it impatiently.

Gundren gratefully takes Jurgen's blades.

Syzygy may act next.

Jurgens movement is to move up next to Syzygy and BA do a draconian cry. We now have ADV on the two baddies next to him. Draco is next to me. 

Syzygy smiles a thin smile, takes a step between the melee offenders but before a foot touches the ground he disappears with a soft pop and flicker of shadows. Stepping out from behind the rock Ratsy is now taking cover, Syzygy says "be still".

BA: Raven Q's blessing (to where I can possibly get cover from orc)
Action: Hold person WIS 15

Whether not Syzygy grabs hold of Ratsy he calmly, if almost politely announces to the bandits: "Do you really want to risk it?