And so, soon after dawn the next morning, the companions leave Phandalin leading a horse and wagon northward, with the goal of covering 20 miltes and reaching the now undefended Cragmaw Crag to retrieve goods stolen by the goblins from the Lionshield Coster. After an early start, the miles pass quickly.
When you once again reach the two dead horses and the concealed rise over the road where the goblins had lain in wait a tenday ago, the time is early in the afternoon and an intermittent rain has for the moment cleared up, allowing light diffracted by cloud cover to paint the landscape silver gray.
The fifteen miles or so between Phandalin and the spot have passed quickly, as you led the draft horse – called Nala – up the slow slope of the Phandalin road to the Triboar Trail. When you arrive to the place of dead horses, flies still buzz ferociously, although the smell seems not quite as bad as before, as the horses' big corpses decompose day by day.
You find the place where the goblin path leaves the north side of the road, and with Marten in the lead, followed by Nosam, Vidruth, and Berry, you push through the gap between the thickets. It is surprisingly slow going with the wagon at this spot, and indeed, takes a good 30 minutes just to get Nala and the wagon through the thickets and onto the goblin path. The underbrush through which the trail pushes are tangled and slow going – difficult terrain – and the wagon gets completely stuck once again. But after another 30 minutes, you free it, and you are through the thickets. The path now opens up, and it is possible to make better time.
You pass the snare trap Marten discovered when you first took this path, long since sprung and no longer a danger.
The thickets now start to break up entirely when you reach the carefully camouflaged pit Berry almost stumbled upon before. You must take the wagon around a narrow trail loop to avoid the pit, but there is not room for it. You are stuck. It seems that you will have to cut your way through underbrush, and already shadows are growing long. It is obvious by now that however the goblins first transported the Lionshield Coster provisions to their cave, it was not on a wagon on this trail. You worry that to continue onward, the wagon could easily fall prey to the terrain. For after this, there is a trail beside a pond and then a bog where you were previously attacked by stirges. Then uphill through tree cover to finally reach the cave.
It is now almost 5 bells in the late afternoon. How to proceed?
Berry was in high spirits when the group left Phandalin despite the rain. During the first leg of their journey, he explains passionately how their own base in Phandalin could be useful. Some of his ideas are more rational than most, but precious few really stand against the load of cons that he doesn't seem to be aware of. If they would only find a carpenter to get at least part of the manor back in shape... He is absolutely absorbed by his thoughts, though vividly articulated, until the group comes to a sudden stop. In stupor he asks, "What's the matter? Why we're halting?"
After clearing his head, he looks around and inspects the situation, "Should we cut down a few smaller trees? Perhaps, if we throw them in the pit with some soil, we can make it passable. Did anyone bring an axe? Or pike and a shovel? Or any better ideas? Leave the cart here and just take Nala with us?"
Nosam knew nothing ever went as easy as it was supposed to. "I don't have either Mister Berry. I'm not opposed to leaving the cart and proceeding by foot, but do you think it'd be safe here unattended? How soon do you think we could make it there and back?"
Marten says, "Yep. I didn' 'xpect t' get the cart all the way t' th' cave. After this pit, the trees thin out, but the trail goes through an open meadow, along th' bog, 'n' then up another grassy area before it reaches th' woods 'round th' cave*. Even if we got the cart through the bog, it'll be heavier once we load it up, 'n' I worry that it would get stuck comin' back." That's why he wanted to bring a draft horse, like Nala.
Marten suggests that they at least check the cave tonight to see whether any goblins already returned and cleaned out the supplies. There's no use in going to all of this trouble if the Lionshield Coster supplies aren't still there. They also need to make sure that nothing else, like a bear or some other beast, made the cave its home in the last week. He continues, "If the cave is still deserted, we could use Vidruth's magic floatin' disk thing to carry the boxes 'n' barrels from the cave back t' th' cart. It might take a few trips back-n-forth t' get everything, but we could camp near here 'n' do it t'morrow mornin'."
Marten proposes that they unhitch the oxen and find a spot for the animals nearby (not too near to the pit). Then the party can continue on foot to the cave to check it out that they unhitch Nala and maybe tie her to a spot at the edge of the meadow where she can graze. (Either that, or take her with them toward the cave.) Once they verify that the caves are clear, Marten would prefer to use the remaining time this evening to set camp. Maybe they could even leave the cart and then take Nala into the cave for the night. If it's not occupied, the "wolf chamber" in the caves would provide shelter for the night, and the cave entrance would be easier for the party of 4 to defend in case anything tried to attack during the night.
Updated: based on OOC discussions.
* - Marten should be able to remember the way ahead based on the Wanderer feature of his background.
"i can bring up to five hundred pounds, but you will have to fit it on the three foot disk. so load the heaviest stuff on that" he agrees "im with marten on this one, we should be able to make multiple trips, and that way the wagon isnt getting more stuck"
he is worried however about being caught after dark "either way we should be somewhere defensible to camp, and not be out in the dark, i see better than most in the dark, but it still limits my effectiveness, and it will be worse for those with normal vision"
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This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
"I think we can just leave the cart here until we return," says Berry. "It's difficult to move and empty. Who would steal that? And I don't think anyone passes through here regularly anyway with the goblins having been driven away. Shall we continue with Nala along the path?" Berry is eager to move on and says, "I'm with you, let's make haste to the cave and camp there if necessary - and if it is empty anyway."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Marten agrees and helps to unhitch Nala. He doesn't want to hold Nala while he's scouting ahead, so it proposes that Berry or Vidruth hold her lead toward the back of the line.
Marten will scout a little ahead of the party as they move forward on foot with Nala, leaving the cart behind. He'll move at a slow / stealthy pace. They know where they're going, but he just want to be on the look out for any new tracks, traps, or guards.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Marten is like a ghost, slipping with complete control and silence along the goblin path, with the others and Nala trailing him at a close distance. The forest is alive with squirrels, rabbits, cardinals, finches, and other small creatures, and a few garter snakes and other minor concerns, but the company makes it to the Cragmaw crag without issue or challenge and finds it deserted.
In Klarg's den, you find - in addition to the stolen goods, a treasure chest that contains 600 cp, 110 sp, two potions of healing, and a jade statuette of a frog with tiny golden orbs for eyes which you think may be worth as much as 40 gp. The frog statuette is small enough to fit in a pocket or pouch.
It will take two trips in the morning to transport the goods from the cave to the wagon.
As Berry awoke in the dimly lit cavern, his dragonfly wings twitched with unease, memories of past dangers lurking in the shadows. Despite the departure of the goblins, an unsettling atmosphere still hung in the air. Yet, with a determined resolve, he steeled himself for the day ahead and shakes off the last remaining bit of sleepiness.
With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Berry bounded out of the cave, ready to get the supply crate quickly back to the cart and back to Phandalin. The prospect of his favourite pastimes of play and hearty meals back in town sparked excitement within him. Between hasty bites at his breakfast ration, Berry declared, "Let's get these supplies back to Phandalin quickly, perhaps we can get there before afternoon hits. I'd love to meet up with the kids for a game of ball after their school."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Since Berry and Nosam are much stronger, and Vidruth will presumably be using floating disk to move supplies, Marten will focus on keeping watch (Perception14) while they load up the cart and helping with Nala (Animal Handling21).
Assuming that the cart is where they left it, once they get it turned around (facing back toward TriBoar Trail), they can load it up. Once they're done moving the treasure and stolen supplies, they can hitch up Nala and head back to Phandalin.
Oh, and since Berry is already carrying 2 healing potions (one from Sister Graele and the one from the Redbrands' Base), Marten takes one and recommends that Vidruth take the other.
(OOC: once they divide up those potions, everyone should have 2 except for Nosam, who only has 1. I think that makes sense since Nosam has the highest AC and the Second Wind feature.)
vidruth is happy to load up the supplies onto his floating disk and bring them back that way, but before he does so he check over the den for magic, just briefly, a quick walk around the caves with detect magic running
when offered the potion he politely refuses "when im positioned properly im not being attacked much, and when i am i dont go down as easily as some mages, not only that but i have a spell to help with it too, give it to nosam, then he can use it if another up front goes down" he explains
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This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
"Load me up, I can carry more than you'd think."Nosam helps gather the goods for the group but defers to the others as to what he should carry. "You thinking we can make it back in time for dinner?"
"Load me up, I can carry more than you'd think."Nosam helps gather the goods for the group but defers to the others as to what he should carry. "You thinking we can make it back in time for dinner?"
Marten says, "Yes, I reckon so. So long as we don' run into more problems on th' way back t' Phandalin."
(OOC: @randelic, since Vidruth declined the other potion of healing, don't forget to add another healing potion or to increase the quantity of the existing item to 2 on Nosam's inventory.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Luck: 13
Random encounters: : 16 : 2
And so, lugging the barrels of supplies down the steep creek path inside the crag to the cave’s mouth, and then onto Vidruth’s floating disc and Nosam’s aNSO Berry’s backs and leading Nala, with perhaps Vidruth in the saddle with more supplies in his lap, the company returns supplies to the wagon.
It takes two trips, and the first batch of supplies are left on the wagon alone in the wilderness while the remainder are retrieved. But the woods and bog and hillside, though teeming with wildlife during these last days of summer, offer no challenges to the companions. Other than the exercise and terrain itself, that is, but those obstacles are easily surmounted and by midday, the wagon is back on the Triboar Road, loaded up.
A pair of female messengers on fast horses wearing the sigil of the Neverwinter mail canter past, offering a brief hello but not stopping on their route. The sun sets as you turn onto the Phandalin road, where Nala picks up her pace, recognizing the raid and the smells of home, and it is around 8 bells at night when you arrive back in Phandalin.
A pair of female messengers on fast horses wearing the sigil of the Neverwinter mail canter past, offering a brief hello but not stopping on their route. The sun sets as you turn onto the Phandalin road, where Nala picks up her pace, recognizing the raid and the smells of home, and it is around 8 bells at night when you arrive back in Phandalin.
(OOC: were the mail carriers headed from Neverwinter toward Phandalin? Or the other way around? Do mail carriers from Neverwinter come to Phandalin regularly, or is this the first time the group has seen Neverwinter mail carriers since they arrived in Phandalin over a week ago?)
If the Neverwinter mail carriers are an unusual sight, then while they walk along the Triboar Trail, Marten wonders what's going on and where they were headed. He idly speculates with the others on whether it's a message for Sildar from the Lord's Alliance, a message to Sister Garaele from her order, or perhaps some message for or from Gundren Rockseeker.
As they walk into Phandalin, Marten pats Nala, saying, "Good, Nala. You're almost done, girl." Like Nala, Marten is ready to rest is feet and get some fresh food and water. He had hoped that they'd make better time, and he's not sure whether it's too late to hand over the supplies to Linene Graywind.
Marten says, "I reckon it's too late for games on th' village green t'night, Berry." Since they pass Barthen's on the way into town, Marten asks Nosam and Vidruth to stay with Nala and the cart briefly while he checks to see whether Barthen or his men are still around. He suggests that Berry go up the street to the Lionshield Coster to check whether Linene Graywind is still at her shop or whether she has closed up for the night.
If Linene is still around, they can "deliver" the supplies to her first.
If neither merchant is available at this hour, Marten proposes just taking Nala and the cart to Stonehill's. They can unhitch Nala and put her in Stonehill's stables for the night. And they'll need to decide what to do with the supplies for the Lionshield Coster. While Phandalin is fairly safe, Marten would rather put the whole cart in a shed or barn for the night, and he'd propose sleeping there overnight instead of in their beds so that they can keep watch on the supplies until they successfully hand off everything to Linene the next day.
Once they get to the Stonehill Inn, Marten asks the Stonehills whether a Neverwinter mail carrier arrived in Phandalin that afternoon and whether there's any new news from Neverwinter.
Berry nods solemnly and disappointed at Marten's comment. Yes, it was too late for games, but hey, tomorrow will be a new day and they probably will need a day or two of preparations before they can leave to that castle.
He follows Marten's suggestions and searches for Linene at the Coster and intends to ask her if they can still bring her the goods at this hour. If so he hastens back to the group, otherwise he first pays a short visit to Daphyra and Kiselina. Berry doesn't mind to spend the night in the barn, to guard the cart in case the others want to sleep in their beds. He doesn't expect any trouble, though, for the redbrands' recent departure.
vidruth walks alongside the wagon, eyes on the road, expression grim as he tries to route a path without more losses. he thinks over the information they have, trying to guess their enemies next moves. at one point he speaks up
"berry, how high can you fly?" he asks fairly abruptly "and how accurate of a shot are you?"
he is happy to sleep in the barn if necessary, and adds that he would prefer not to be sleeping where its expected regardless, if they are to be sleeping in their rooms he himself will be moving the bed
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This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic byVitaly S Alexius
Throughout the day Nosam's mind was all over the place and he never fully engaged with the task at hand. Being spaced out and distant wasn't his aim. Getting back into town was no issue and while Nosam was asked to stay with the cart briefly, he offers to stay watch through the night. "Do what you need to do, I'll setup an area here and stay with the goods through the night. Hah, but if you bring me a drink and a snack I wouldn't turn it down."
Re: "A pair of female messengers on fast horses wearing the sigil of the Neverwinter mail canter past, offering a brief hello but not stopping on their route."
(OOC: were the mail carriers headed from Neverwinter toward Phandalin? Or the other way around?
Headed west toward Neverwinter. They passed before you turned onto the Phandalin road. The Triboar Trail leads to Conyberry, Triboar, and Yartar. They did not say where they came from.
Do mail carriers from Neverwinter come to Phandalin regularly,
You don't know.
or is this the first time the group has seen Neverwinter mail carriers since they arrived in Phandalin over a week ago?)
They come now and again. I really only mentioned it for color.
If Linene is still around, they can "deliver" the supplies to her first.
Linene is still around. You deliver the supplies and earn: a 40GP reward to be split among the group. She had previously said 30GP, but she reluctantly bumps it up to 40gp out of a sense of civic pride following your triumph over the Redbrands. Linene will also give each of you a discount of 25% off anything bought at her store, up to 25GP of total discount each. A store credit of 25GP off the first 100GP you spend, in other words.
Once they get to the Stonehill Inn, Marten asks the Stonehills whether a Neverwinter mail carrier arrived in Phandalin that afternoon and whether there's any new news from Neverwinter.
Chapter 6 -- Back to the Crag
And so, soon after dawn the next morning, the companions leave Phandalin leading a horse and wagon northward, with the goal of covering 20 miltes and reaching the now undefended Cragmaw Crag to retrieve goods stolen by the goblins from the Lionshield Coster. After an early start, the miles pass quickly.
When you once again reach the two dead horses and the concealed rise over the road where the goblins had lain in wait a tenday ago, the time is early in the afternoon and an intermittent rain has for the moment cleared up, allowing light diffracted by cloud cover to paint the landscape silver gray.
The fifteen miles or so between Phandalin and the spot have passed quickly, as you led the draft horse – called Nala – up the slow slope of the Phandalin road to the Triboar Trail. When you arrive to the place of dead horses, flies still buzz ferociously, although the smell seems not quite as bad as before, as the horses' big corpses decompose day by day.
You find the place where the goblin path leaves the north side of the road, and with Marten in the lead, followed by Nosam, Vidruth, and Berry, you push through the gap between the thickets. It is surprisingly slow going with the wagon at this spot, and indeed, takes a good 30 minutes just to get Nala and the wagon through the thickets and onto the goblin path. The underbrush through which the trail pushes are tangled and slow going – difficult terrain – and the wagon gets completely stuck once again. But after another 30 minutes, you free it, and you are through the thickets. The path now opens up, and it is possible to make better time.
You pass the snare trap Marten discovered when you first took this path, long since sprung and no longer a danger.
The thickets now start to break up entirely when you reach the carefully camouflaged pit Berry almost stumbled upon before. You must take the wagon around a narrow trail loop to avoid the pit, but there is not room for it. You are stuck. It seems that you will have to cut your way through underbrush, and already shadows are growing long. It is obvious by now that however the goblins first transported the Lionshield Coster provisions to their cave, it was not on a wagon on this trail. You worry that to continue onward, the wagon could easily fall prey to the terrain. For after this, there is a trail beside a pond and then a bog where you were previously attacked by stirges. Then uphill through tree cover to finally reach the cave.
It is now almost 5 bells in the late afternoon. How to proceed?
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Berry was in high spirits when the group left Phandalin despite the rain. During the first leg of their journey, he explains passionately how their own base in Phandalin could be useful. Some of his ideas are more rational than most, but precious few really stand against the load of cons that he doesn't seem to be aware of. If they would only find a carpenter to get at least part of the manor back in shape... He is absolutely absorbed by his thoughts, though vividly articulated, until the group comes to a sudden stop. In stupor he asks, "What's the matter? Why we're halting?"
After clearing his head, he looks around and inspects the situation, "Should we cut down a few smaller trees? Perhaps, if we throw them in the pit with some soil, we can make it passable. Did anyone bring an axe? Or pike and a shovel? Or any better ideas? Leave the cart here and just take Nala with us?"
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Nosam knew nothing ever went as easy as it was supposed to. "I don't have either Mister Berry. I'm not opposed to leaving the cart and proceeding by foot, but do you think it'd be safe here unattended? How soon do you think we could make it there and back?"
Marten says, "Yep. I didn' 'xpect t' get the cart all the way t' th' cave. After this pit, the trees thin out, but the trail goes through an open meadow, along th' bog, 'n' then up another grassy area before it reaches th' woods 'round th' cave*. Even if we got the cart through the bog, it'll be heavier once we load it up, 'n' I worry that it would get stuck comin' back." That's why he wanted to bring a draft horse, like Nala.
Marten suggests that they at least check the cave tonight to see whether any goblins already returned and cleaned out the supplies. There's no use in going to all of this trouble if the Lionshield Coster supplies aren't still there. They also need to make sure that nothing else, like a bear or some other beast, made the cave its home in the last week. He continues, "If the cave is still deserted, we could use Vidruth's magic floatin' disk thing to carry the boxes 'n' barrels from the cave back t' th' cart. It might take a few trips back-n-forth t' get everything, but we could camp near here 'n' do it t'morrow mornin'."
Marten proposes
that they unhitch the oxen and find a spot for the animals nearby (not too near to the pit). Then the party can continue on foot to the cave to check it outthat they unhitch Nala and maybe tie her to a spot at the edge of the meadow where she can graze. (Either that, or take her with them toward the cave.) Once they verify that the caves are clear, Marten would prefer to use the remaining time this evening to set camp. Maybe they could even leave the cart and then take Nala into the cave for the night. If it's not occupied, the "wolf chamber" in the caves would provide shelter for the night, and the cave entrance would be easier for the party of 4 to defend in case anything tried to attack during the night.Updated: based on OOC discussions.
* - Marten should be able to remember the way ahead based on the Wanderer feature of his background.
"i can bring up to five hundred pounds, but you will have to fit it on the three foot disk. so load the heaviest stuff on that" he agrees "im with marten on this one, we should be able to make multiple trips, and that way the wagon isnt getting more stuck"
he is worried however about being caught after dark "either way we should be somewhere defensible to camp, and not be out in the dark, i see better than most in the dark, but it still limits my effectiveness, and it will be worse for those with normal vision"
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
"I think we can just leave the cart here until we return," says Berry. "It's difficult to move and empty. Who would steal that? And I don't think anyone passes through here regularly anyway with the goblins having been driven away. Shall we continue with Nala along the path?" Berry is eager to move on and says, "I'm with you, let's make haste to the cave and camp there if necessary - and if it is empty anyway."
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Marten agrees and helps to unhitch Nala. He doesn't want to hold Nala while he's scouting ahead, so it proposes that Berry or Vidruth hold her lead toward the back of the line.
Marten will scout a little ahead of the party as they move forward on foot with Nala, leaving the cart behind. He'll move at a slow / stealthy pace. They know where they're going, but he just want to be on the look out for any new tracks, traps, or guards.
Stealth 9
Perception 11
Random Encounters: 8
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Marten is like a ghost, slipping with complete control and silence along the goblin path, with the others and Nala trailing him at a close distance. The forest is alive with squirrels, rabbits, cardinals, finches, and other small creatures, and a few garter snakes and other minor concerns, but the company makes it to the Cragmaw crag without issue or challenge and finds it deserted.
In Klarg's den, you find - in addition to the stolen goods, a treasure chest that contains 600 cp, 110 sp, two potions of healing, and a jade statuette of a frog with tiny golden orbs for eyes which you think may be worth as much as 40 gp. The frog statuette is small enough to fit in a pocket or pouch.
It will take two trips in the morning to transport the goods from the cave to the wagon.
You spend the night in the Crag.
Random encounters 13
...
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
As Berry awoke in the dimly lit cavern, his dragonfly wings twitched with unease, memories of past dangers lurking in the shadows. Despite the departure of the goblins, an unsettling atmosphere still hung in the air. Yet, with a determined resolve, he steeled himself for the day ahead and shakes off the last remaining bit of sleepiness.
With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Berry bounded out of the cave, ready to get the supply crate quickly back to the cart and back to Phandalin. The prospect of his favourite pastimes of play and hearty meals back in town sparked excitement within him. Between hasty bites at his breakfast ration, Berry declared, "Let's get these supplies back to Phandalin quickly, perhaps we can get there before afternoon hits. I'd love to meet up with the kids for a game of ball after their school."
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
Since Berry and Nosam are much stronger, and Vidruth will presumably be using floating disk to move supplies, Marten will focus on keeping watch (Perception 14) while they load up the cart and helping with Nala (Animal Handling 21).
Assuming that the cart is where they left it, once they get it turned around (facing back toward TriBoar Trail), they can load it up. Once they're done moving the treasure and stolen supplies, they can hitch up Nala and head back to Phandalin.
Oh, and since Berry is already carrying 2 healing potions (one from Sister Graele and the one from the Redbrands' Base), Marten takes one and recommends that Vidruth take the other.
(OOC: once they divide up those potions, everyone should have 2 except for Nosam, who only has 1. I think that makes sense since Nosam has the highest AC and the Second Wind feature.)
vidruth is happy to load up the supplies onto his floating disk and bring them back that way, but before he does so he check over the den for magic, just briefly, a quick walk around the caves with detect magic running
when offered the potion he politely refuses "when im positioned properly im not being attacked much, and when i am i dont go down as easily as some mages, not only that but i have a spell to help with it too, give it to nosam, then he can use it if another up front goes down" he explains
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
"Load me up, I can carry more than you'd think." Nosam helps gather the goods for the group but defers to the others as to what he should carry. "You thinking we can make it back in time for dinner?"
Marten says, "Yes, I reckon so. So long as we don' run into more problems on th' way back t' Phandalin."
(OOC: @randelic, since Vidruth declined the other potion of healing, don't forget to add another healing potion or to increase the quantity of the existing item to 2 on Nosam's inventory.)
Luck: 13
Random encounters: : 16 : 2
And so, lugging the barrels of supplies down the steep creek path inside the crag to the cave’s mouth, and then onto Vidruth’s floating disc and Nosam’s aNSO Berry’s backs and leading Nala, with perhaps Vidruth in the saddle with more supplies in his lap, the company returns supplies to the wagon.
It takes two trips, and the first batch of supplies are left on the wagon alone in the wilderness while the remainder are retrieved. But the woods and bog and hillside, though teeming with wildlife during these last days of summer, offer no challenges to the companions. Other than the exercise and terrain itself, that is, but those obstacles are easily surmounted and by midday, the wagon is back on the Triboar Road, loaded up.
A pair of female messengers on fast horses wearing the sigil of the Neverwinter mail canter past, offering a brief hello but not stopping on their route. The sun sets as you turn onto the Phandalin road, where Nala picks up her pace, recognizing the raid and the smells of home, and it is around 8 bells at night when you arrive back in Phandalin.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(OOC: were the mail carriers headed from Neverwinter toward Phandalin? Or the other way around? Do mail carriers from Neverwinter come to Phandalin regularly, or is this the first time the group has seen Neverwinter mail carriers since they arrived in Phandalin over a week ago?)
If the Neverwinter mail carriers are an unusual sight, then while they walk along the Triboar Trail, Marten wonders what's going on and where they were headed. He idly speculates with the others on whether it's a message for Sildar from the Lord's Alliance, a message to Sister Garaele from her order, or perhaps some message for or from Gundren Rockseeker.
As they walk into Phandalin, Marten pats Nala, saying, "Good, Nala. You're almost done, girl." Like Nala, Marten is ready to rest is feet and get some fresh food and water. He had hoped that they'd make better time, and he's not sure whether it's too late to hand over the supplies to Linene Graywind.
Marten says, "I reckon it's too late for games on th' village green t'night, Berry." Since they pass Barthen's on the way into town, Marten asks Nosam and Vidruth to stay with Nala and the cart briefly while he checks to see whether Barthen or his men are still around. He suggests that Berry go up the street to the Lionshield Coster to check whether Linene Graywind is still at her shop or whether she has closed up for the night.
If Linene is still around, they can "deliver" the supplies to her first.
If neither merchant is available at this hour, Marten proposes just taking Nala and the cart to Stonehill's. They can unhitch Nala and put her in Stonehill's stables for the night. And they'll need to decide what to do with the supplies for the Lionshield Coster. While Phandalin is fairly safe, Marten would rather put the whole cart in a shed or barn for the night, and he'd propose sleeping there overnight instead of in their beds so that they can keep watch on the supplies until they successfully hand off everything to Linene the next day.
Once they get to the Stonehill Inn, Marten asks the Stonehills whether a Neverwinter mail carrier arrived in Phandalin that afternoon and whether there's any new news from Neverwinter.
Berry nods solemnly and disappointed at Marten's comment. Yes, it was too late for games, but hey, tomorrow will be a new day and they probably will need a day or two of preparations before they can leave to that castle.
He follows Marten's suggestions and searches for Linene at the Coster and intends to ask her if they can still bring her the goods at this hour. If so he hastens back to the group, otherwise he first pays a short visit to Daphyra and Kiselina. Berry doesn't mind to spend the night in the barn, to guard the cart in case the others want to sleep in their beds. He doesn't expect any trouble, though, for the redbrands' recent departure.
|| Oriace - Halfling Bard - Dragon Heist || Valerian - Elf Rogue - Wildnis || b'Reh - Stig Cleric - Humblewood || Rowan - Halfling Giant - Runewarren || Khazela - Spiritfarer Dervish - Tribute || Arista - Frost Sorcerer - Old Keep || Zephirah - Demonic Bard - Sands || Merry - Gifted Surgeon - Short || Marasatra - Blood Mage - Avernus || Lan - Dwarf Dragon - Wuxian ||
vidruth walks alongside the wagon, eyes on the road, expression grim as he tries to route a path without more losses. he thinks over the information they have, trying to guess their enemies next moves. at one point he speaks up
"berry, how high can you fly?" he asks fairly abruptly "and how accurate of a shot are you?"
he is happy to sleep in the barn if necessary, and adds that he would prefer not to be sleeping where its expected regardless, if they are to be sleeping in their rooms he himself will be moving the bed
This Mug immediately shared with me a transcendental tale of an Infinite Mug that anchors the Universe and keeps it from folding in on itself. I filed this report under "illogical nonsense" and asked why its sign is in Times New Roman font, when it is basic knowledge that Arial Black is a far superior font. I wondered: How did this mug even get past the assembly line with its theistic beliefs and poor font choices?
quote from Romantically Apocalyptic by Vitaly S Alexius
Throughout the day Nosam's mind was all over the place and he never fully engaged with the task at hand. Being spaced out and distant wasn't his aim. Getting back into town was no issue and while Nosam was asked to stay with the cart briefly, he offers to stay watch through the night. "Do what you need to do, I'll setup an area here and stay with the goods through the night. Hah, but if you bring me a drink and a snack I wouldn't turn it down."
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer