As you walk in Neverwinter, you see parchment hanging on most walls around the city, it says”

Greeting Potential Adventurers, my name is Gundren Rockseeker. I am looking for assistance for my caravan leaving Neverwinter to Phandalin. I am willing to pay 10gp each. Applicants need apply at the Thisty Tankard!!”

Greetings I am looking for 4-5 players for Phandelver and Below. This will be pbp here on the forum. Before you roll up a character. Please take the time to answer the two questions below.

1. What is your character concept? 
2. What three reasons does your character have to become adventurer?

A little about me, I have been playing 5E for the last 10 years. I prefer to tell a character centeric, cinematic style adventure m. There will be role playing and combat. Please post your answers below. 

Half-Elven witch who wanders the countryside searching for the man who deceived and murdered her sister, and along the way tries to avenge other wronged women she meets.

Revenge. Power for Revenge. Tangible rewards for creature comforts.

1. A young human who'd grown up on stories about the past misadventures of his mother, a former mercenary turned short term adventurer, and felt inspired to do much the same!

2. The first reason would be simple-minded fascination with the very idea of becoming an adventurer. The second would be to have an outlet for the frenzy that tended to threaten to overtaken him during situations of high stress/emotions. And a third reason would be to travel far and wide seeking other Rashemi Berserkers or discover an equivalent Wyclaran to help him in mastering his abilities.

What is your character concept?

Self-taught young human arcane warrior of humble birth (Fighter/Wizard - Fighter will be her first level). She is a girl who would have wanted nothing more than to continue her hard but peaceful life in the tiny country hamlet where she was born — but whose hamlet was wiped out by a drow raid. Raid during which her family (as well as herself, before she managed to escape) was also enslaved by drow.

What three reasons does your character have to become adventurer?

No longer having a home, or hamlet, or family, she chose to become an adventurer:
1) to make use of the talents that she discovered she had during her escape from drow captivity, defending the common folk so that other innocent people do not suffer the same fate that befell her.
2) to be able, over time, to accumulate enough friendships, contacts and means to hope to organize an expedition to the Underdark and free her family.
3) to satisfy the curiosity she has always had about the world outside of her tiny hamlet; it's worth noting, however, that she would have preferred to satisfy said curiosity in another way, without becoming an adventuress... the preponderant reasons are the first two. For her, becoming an adventuress is not the fulfillment of a wish, but a mixture of moral duty (defending those who have not been 'hardened' by adversity like her) and necessity (the only career that gives her a tenuous hope of being able to free, one day, her family).

Not requested, but answering this all the same:

I would say that her reasons for being interested in Gundren Rockseeker's offer, at the beginning, could be to meet 'real' adventurers (she, not having wanted this career, does not consider herself a 'real' adventuress) and perhaps acquire contacts and potentially influential friendships by impressing Gundren. All with the long-term aim of getting help in organizing her expedition to the Underdark.

Every One who answered above. Roll a character up.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/54005802964807111

Stat generation?  Normal start equip?

Standsrd Array or point buy. Equipment Starting.

OK, used point buy, joined campaign. Ready when you are.

Introduction 

The Thirsty Tankard in Neverwinter is situated next to South Gate located in the Protecters Encalve. Here the tavern serves as waiting point for those who travel from Neverwinter along the trade way routes, employers normally a tradesman meets their employees normally young adventurers or old sell swords. 

Today is the 11 of Mirtual the beginning of the second tenday in the year of 1498 the Year of the Black Regalia. The Thirsty Tavern’s owner a female dwarf named Helga Stinghammer, came in early to open the tavern, for old lover named Gungren Rockseeker. 

“Thank you once again lass” Gundren says to Helga. Helga is behind the bar pouring her favorite ale “ Smash Hammered”. She passes him an ale and says “Glad to be of service and thank you for last night” she winks leaving the old dwarf to his business. Gundren smiles to himself and then pulls out his map of the trade route and waits for applications to arrive. 

(This is our introduction and time to get one another) 

The sound of not so quiet mutterings and the none too gentle opening of the tavern door announces the arrival of one Gundrin's applicant; a dark-skinned young human with short and curly black hair, as well as a fairly tall and well built one at that even by most his people standards... were it not hunched over a bit squinting at some flyer or parchment. He largely adorns himself in clothing typical of travelers from more southern regions, if albeit with more muted colors. But whether that's from grim or the clothing being well-worn is hard to say. He is nothing if not well-armed however, as a couple handaxes hang from his belt and a hefty war mallet was held slung over a shoulder with a large makeshift hobo sack dangling by the hammer end.

"Yea, yea, I think this bout right place. And, uhh..." Sharp blue eyes finally look up from the paper in one hand to spy the dwarves. Brows furrowed for a brief second or so, but then relaxed as he happily smiled and hustled his way over to the bar. "Uh, eh, Pardon me. But, uhm, you, uuhhhh.... You wouldn't happen to be a, uh-" The man squints at his parchment again, before looking back to Gundren with no less enthusiasm. "Be or know a Gundren Rockseeker. I, eh, I saw thing here about possible work! Strong hands needed I think it read. And, uh, well, there are few stronger hands than Jandari's here, I assure! Hahah!" He flashes a toothy grin, but then looking away rubbing his fuzzy black chin hair and half muttering to himself, "Unless you count that bugbear Beskar, 'cause those were some serious big hands!"

Khessa had risen early as she does most days, a habit left to her from her youth spent in the country tiny hamlet, where every day she helped the family grow cabbages and doing the myriad of other tasks involved in supporting the large family . Walking in the climate of Neverwinter, pleasantly mitigated by the waters of the Neverwinter River (an unnaturally warm river, whose heat created a permanent warm climate in the immediate area), she reached the Thirsty Tankard in excellent spirits, just in time to notice the tall man (perhaps as tall as her? Hard to tell from afar) and dark-skinned man enter.

The woman hurries, thinking: 'He doesn't seem like a typical Neverwinter inhabitant... He must be another person who has come to help this Gundren Rockseeker! If I come in with him, Gundren will be able to explain to both of us the details, without having to repeat himself'.

The adventuress enters to the sound of Jandari's laughter, jingling in her chain mail armor. "Hello friends!" she greets with an open smile, as she farstrides on her long legs, almost not hindered either by her metal protection or by the heavy weapons resting on her back (a maul and a greatsword), towards the dwarf and the man "Nice to meet you!"

Tall and imposing, the woman approaches. Her long weavy blond hair pokes out from under her helm while she turns her lively blue eyes to the two: "You came for Gundren's announcement too, I suppose" she turns first to Jandari. "Plus you, like me, appreciate big weapons, huh?" she comments, seeing that he also has a maul, while looking admiringly at him and smiling. To the dwarf then: "And you must be Gundren, right?" and she holds out her hand for a handshake (potentially for both Jandari and Gundren) "I'm Khessa, Khessa Cabbagefield. I'm ready to help get the caravan to Phandalin!"

A stooped half-elven crone enters the tavern, looking around suspiciously. She sees the small crowd forming near the dwarf and approaches.  "Gundren, I presume?" she says, eyeing the others suspiciously. "I am in need of transport to Phandalin, and you'd be wise to have someone knowledgeable in the ways of the fey in those woods."

Make a DC 18 insight or perception check to read my spoiler.

     "Ten gold.  Each!  That's what the notice says!" calls out a rough but young voice from out of the darkness of the rafters.  "Ten each, for me too!  Ten gold for me!"

     Dropping down, the fall broken by the occasional quick fluttering of wings, is a small dusty brown... perhaps dragon of some kind?  They are about the size of a large house-cat, though most of that tail and they have a set of wings upon their back.  They drop down and quickly land perched upon Khessa's shoulder, their claws clamoring for a moment until they grab tight into the chainmail she wears.  

     "We're a team, yes? Yes!  Yes, a team!" the tiny dragon assures.  "Four... no five of us a team!  Yes, five!  Ten gold each and we'll give you a bargain price of fifty-five gold for the lot of us!  Special group discount and all, yes?  Yes!  Yes, a discount!"

     "This is Khessa," the dragon says, extending out one of their front claws as if to indicate the woman whose shoulder they are upon.  "Big, fierce fighter!  You could ask for no better, yes?  Yes!"

     Then the wings flap and the legs crouch and leap and in a moment the dragon is midair and hovers for just a bit before landing more gently upon Jandari's shoulder seeing that there is no protective armor there.  "No better unless maybe this guy!  Jandari!  Also big.  Also fierce fighter!  Strong enough to do whatever you ask, yes?  Yes!  Whatever you ask!"  

     Up in the air again and this time landing on the closest perch near to the Half-Elf crone.  "And grandmother here!  Wise!  Knowledgable!  Smart as a whip and deceptively shrewd!  How could you not want her on the team, yes?  Yes!  Always Yes for grandmother!"

     "And oh!  He would like to offer his aid as well!" the little ball of wings and tail and dirt says as they flutter up once more to perched upon a mailed applicant!  This time they land upon the shield strapped to their back, hind claws tightly grasping for purchase while the dragon peeks out around the new person's head.  "An Elf!" the dragon declares with a sniff and a peek.  "And a good one, at that!  This is an Elf you can trust, yes?  Yes!  A yes for the Elf!  Unless they're a Keebler...  You're not a Keebler, are you?"

     "And of course... Myself," the small brownish dust-dragon says standing up on their hind legs and giving an awkward imitation of a bow.  "I am of course Stoirm Gainimh, Sheik of the Skies, Consequence of the Ancients and Inheritor of the Waning Wish... I accept your reverence, for you stand in the presence of greatness unmatched in all the realms, yes?  Yes!  Yes you do and it is only costing you ten gold!  Fifty-five for the group discount and all of us!  Yes, yes!"  Each time Stoirm's wings flutter or beat there is a small scattering of dust released...

     Finally the chatterbox little dragon calms and settles and looks expectantly at Gundren Rockseeker with large eyes and their ears pinned back... waiting and hoping that they get hired with the rest...

Khessa's Perception: 11

Khessa is initially surprised at how quickly a small group of aspirants is forming... and frowns subtly as she examines the half-elf (though keeping her thoughts to herself); but she soon relaxes and smiles again — after all, a little extra help will make the trip safer... assuming Gundren has enough funds to hire everyone.

At last, the blonde warrior smiles in delight, when the exuberant small dusty brown winged creature lands on her shoulder, a gesture to which she responds by trying to gently caress or scratch it with the fingertips of her left hand. She seems eager to talk to Stoirm and get to know him better – but for now she remains focused on Gundren.

Gundren gathers his hat and finishes his ale, as he sees the dark skinned human walk in. Before he can answer the young man. A tall blind hair woman with armor and large weapons comes in. She makes a comment to the young man. Gundren thinks to himself “ Humans, always excited” he smiles getting ready to speak when an old crone hunched over comes in saying something about beware of the fey in woods, his face becomes a hit tense. 

A blonde elf woman enters next wanting to join. “Mordarin, give me patience” he mumbles to himself. As goes to give the pitch about the job, a small dragon comes in and bounces around the taller figures.

At this point he reaches into pocket to grab his snuff can. He waits for second to see if anyone else comes in. He places the tobacco in his lip then eyes the door one last time. 

“First off thank you all for coming. You seem to be able bodies” he says looking at the two humans and the elf. Then his gaze falls on the crone and the small dragon.  

“GrandMother, I am honored you would join me. However I don’t want to put you out. The road is rough. I have not had too much trouble with the fey.” He says very politely, trying to gauge her. 18 Insight. 

“Oh great and powerful Stoirm Gainimh, Sheik of the Skies, Consequence of the Ancients and Inheritor of the Waning Wish.” He begins knowing that most dragons despite their size have an ego. “Why would you want to trouble yourself with an old dwarf, surely 10 gold is a small pittance compared to your hoard. Why do you want to travel with me?” 

He holds hands up to the humans and the elf. Hoping they register he is expecting answers from the other two before moving on.

     Stoirm Gainimh leans in to the touch of Khesse, for a moment at least, before moving on.  The small dragon is quick to move about here and there but does make note of who seems happy or annoyed by their presence...

     "Oh, yes?  Yes!  That's me," Stoirm says when Gundren repeats their full introduction.  "Just call me Stoirm, yes?  Or Stoirmy!  Yes, yes.... Very good.  No trouble at all, we make sure of that, don't we?  We do indeed!" Stoirm turns and looks at the others assembled to ensure they do, in fact, agree.

     The dragon then pauses for a moment, sitting fully still for perhaps the first time since they appeared.  A small wisp of smoke squirrels it's way out of each nostril and then winds it's way up to the rafters while they think, the small drifts of smoke filling the surrounding area with the scent of fresh baked cookies.  "A raindrop is a pittance to the storm, yes?  But still they must gather together to water the world.  No one drop does it all... So each drop important, yes?  Yes!  Group rate of sixty gold for us all!"

(Persuasion roll, just for the fun of it:  10.  Guess Stoirmy isn't too persuasive in upping the price...)

"I travel the world, and I feel far younger than I look the journey will be no problem for me..  You may call me Nariah."

Gundren satisfied both answers from the dragon and the crone. Taking a sip of his ale, and spitting into the cup.

“So the job, is to travel as I stated before in the flyer. It’s about three day trip. Since you all have answered so quickly, I am willing to raise the fee to 15gp each. Mordarin knows how hard good help. Is hard to find.” He says as looks at them, then he pulls out a contract. He scrubs off the 10gp and makes it 15gp. “Now if you want take look at it then, make your mark” he says. 

The Contract Reads

The singed below will provide the following in accordance with Laws of the Lord’s Alliance 

1. The use of strength of arms or use of offensive magic while providing guard protection.
2. The ability to make sound decisions. 
3. To work under the direction of Gundren Rockspeaker or his appointed representative.
4. The Rockspeaker Company will provide burial cost should you die. 
5. All loot taken from any attackers of the Caravan will be distributed equally.
6. The Caravan will depart on time, failure to show up means no pay. 

Your Mark 

Gundren reads this outloud in common. Then says “Any questions?”