Boona was once again confused by Quinns behaviour but she quickly assumed it was none of her business as long as he wasn't being actively 'bad'.

She looked across as he spoke to Bryony, " Can Boona come? Is your Auntie nice? Mine was."

Gundren is looking increasingly annoyed and impatient. 

"You" he says to Ruven. "I don't particularly trust you, so I'm willing t' pay you for your services, whatever it is ye' do. What's your standard day rate? I'll double it. You're under my employ immediately, subject to termination at any time, but for the next 24 hours you do not leave my sight, understand? You stick close."

"The rest of you – make it quick. As soon Elmina brings my mule out, we leave. Get your supplies, quickly, go see your aunt if ye' need to, quickly, but keep your mouths shut, all of you. We can't risk any more time, any more incidents, any loose lips. We're leaving in a half an hour."

(If you wish to buy any adventuring gear at Barthen’s Provisions, except for items that cost more than 25 gp, go ahead update your sheets accordingly. Likewise with basic weapons and armor at Lionshield Coster, or common spell components. If it's unusual, rare, or expensive, check with me first.)

Qelline Alderleaf is visibly relieved to see Bryony back in one piece. She has no news from town, other than to report that Redbrands seem to have completely vanished in recent days – while she expects some have gone into hiding or blended back into other roles around town, many have simply disappeared. Even the Sleeping Giant is quiet; the owner, Greska, is said to have sold the rundown tap house to a new Dwarven owner. 

Standard day-why, what, splutters Ruven, for once at a loss for words and visibly affronted. My good dwarf, do you take me for some sort of common mercenary? I wish only for the chance to study the ruins of the lost mine, I'm on a research expedition, sir!

He'll step over with Quinn and stay with him, he seems to at least be a bit more civil than the dwarf.

As he steps back over towards Quinn, he winces as a bolt of pain shoots through his body, and he remembers he's fairly badly wounded. Ah...do you mind if we were to purchase a potion of healing from somewhere? I believe that I might be in need of one.

Quinn proceeds to divy up the payment and distributes some to everyone, including Boona and Ruven.

...

Quinn strolls over to Boona as she speaks to Bryony. He thinks back on how she appeared bothered by his behavior with the Townmaster so he tries to smooth things over a bit.

"Boona. I do not know your plans for the future, and I don't mean to speak for the group, but you are welcome to travel with us if you like. We intend to move on with Gundren and help him and his brothers.

But if you wish to set out on your own, that's okay too. Either way, take this coin as a thanks for helping us get here and for not smashing Syzygy."

Quinn hands her a small pouch with 16 GP.

...

Quinn hands Ruven a pouch with 16 GP.

"So, I guess you're hired?" Quinn chuckles a bit. "Ah, don't mind Gundren. He's just looking out for his brothers. He's been through a lot these past few days. Here, take this coin as a down payment for your first stipend."

 Quinn reaches out his hand and steadies Ruven as winces in pain.

"Let me have a look at that." Quinn leans in close and wrinkles his nose at the smell of the wound. "Aye, that needs to be tended to. It smells a bit ripe. Let's get you some help."

Boona is gobsmacked when Quinn hands her the gold, she has never been paid before- and though she's unable to work out why she's being paid it doesn't really bother her....when she is officially asked to join them she gets a little teary...

" We friends?"

" No...Boona travel by herself always trouble.........less trouble with others......sometimes."

" I go with. Make sure no one squashed."

(Feel free to update your inventory with any purchases of standard adventuring equipment, tools, common spell components, and weaponry at standard listed prices. For items that are unusual, rare, or cost more than 25 gp, check with me first.)

Ruven nods, already feeling a bit better from Quinn checking him over and the first aid supplies.

From battle medic feature: 7

Not quite a new elf, but better. And I shall accept the help in looking for the mine he says, looking over at Gundren thoughtfully. Though I assume his interest in it is not so much in the scholastic arena. Oh well. He shakes his head, then looks back up at Quinn suddenly. Say, your group has been around a bit it seems. First of all, where did you sell that other crossbow and how much did you receive? 'Tis expensive to live a scholarly life. Secondly, have you heard tell of any strange goblins afoot? Seems there are some about with elongated heads and a possible magical aura around them.

“I sold the crossbow at Barthen’s. Don’t recall how much I got for it. Maybe 50 gp or so.

As for the goblins with the funny heads, we’ve heard of them but haven’t seen them yet…” Quinn pauses for a bit. “Actually, that’s not true, we did find some goblin skulls with elongated heads in a crevasse under the manor.”

(Ruven: Yes, the Lionshield Coster will buy that fancy crossbow for 50 gold. Go ahead and update your sheet accordingly if you want to do that, together with any additional purchases at standard prices.)

(Does Bryony, or anyone else, have any further business with, or questions for, Qelline Alderleaf, or Carp, at the Alderleaf farm?)

Ahh yes, the blasted manor. Ruven whips out a sheaf of parchment and pen right there in the street, jotting down some notes in neat, tidy lines. Well, let's go sell this crossbow then. Then I suppose the dwarf is "in charge".

Ruven will sell the crossbow, and will also find a set of studded leather armor to upgrade his current after the near-fiasco in the mansion.

(Ruven is able to sell his fancy crossbow for 50GP, and buy a well-fitting set of studded leather armor for 45GP.)

Quinn will give Carp a little trinket that he made from the quartz rock and wolf claw. Quinn thinks he’d appreciate it and he hopes it protects him in all of his adventuring and snooping around. Quinn would pull Carp aside and ask him if he’s been poking around anywhere and if he’s seen any goblins or other interesting creatures lurking about. He’ll ask him to keep an eye out for his Auntie and to be safe.

Although quite taken by the trinket, Carp is sheepish denies to Quinn that he has done any further snooping. He does seem quite convincing in his declaration that he has seen no goblins – and certainly no more of those strange goblins with the “glowing hands” he saw that one time – since your last visit. He asks a lot of questions about where you've been, and where you're headed next. It's clear that the boy would join the party in a heartbeat, but Qelline keeps him on a very short leash and well away from trouble.

As though it may seem, Syzygy was not giving the new recruits the cold shoulder. The big one seems manageable enough, wizards can be smart arses but he's dealt with them before. But something else had bothered the shadar-kai so far from home. 

His head hurt a little but he collected supplies and readied his energies for the coming trip. 

As always he was always grateful for Aunty's home cooked meals. 

Unless you have further business in Phandlin, Gundren is impatient to leave town with you.

His mule is ready – loaded with mining tools and several weeks of food and supplies. Gundren himself has renewed, anxious energy, with no trace of the fatigue that slowed him just a day ago. He moves the group at a rapid clip, scanning the hills for spies and followers with a manic, paranoid fervor. He watches Ruven in particular, waiting to see if he is going to signal a waiting ambush or pull some other trick.

The group moves east out of town, then south, then west, in what seems like an unnecessarily circuitous path through dry fields, scrub, and thin, hilly forest.

Eventually, Gundren settles on a southern route, a well-worn path circling a low mountain, eventually turning east into the hills. Those of you who looked at the map may have a sense of where he is headed, and you wonder if you'll make it there by sunset. You've done an awful lot of walking already today.

(Your brief stay in town allows for a Short Rest, if you need one.) (Ruven might!)

Rather the surly sort Ruven says as he walks by Gundren. He spends the time sorting through his parchment notes, and then tries to strike up a conversation with Syzygy. I heard tell you would be the one to ask regarding any tomes recovered from the marauder's hermitage. Did you happen to find any?

Boona offers the smaller folks a ride as she walks, though some have their own mounts....she wanders along revelling in being with a group that isn't constantly sniping at and belittling each other.....

You arrive well after dark, long after you hoped to make camp. Gundren, unlike the previous day, seems to have endless energy to march onward.

A clump of half-dead trees is all that marks the spot Gundren is looking for in this dark, rockstrewn wasteland in the foothills of a sizable mountain. You left any semblance of a path hours ago, and have been picking your way across steep slopes and old rockslides. From what you can see from the light of a waning moon, Gundren's final destination looks identical to dozens of other such places you have passed - a small copse clinging to a minor rift in the hillside.

But this copse hides a small, natural cave. "In here," instructs Gundren, urging you forward.

It has been a very, very long day for all of you. Roll a DC10 CON save, or take one level of Exhaustion. 

Boona Con Save- 13

Boona volunteers to take first watch.   

( Perception if needed- -2)

Ruven con save: 8