After Aelinn and Krikas return from their scouting mission and sit down with Felmar and Briar to eat, Rusty stomps off to tour the caves as well. He picks up one of the red bandanas and adds it to one of his buckets. He also takes a couple of the meaningless personal items, dropping them in separate buckets. In the kitchen, he picks up the cook's knife and deposits it in another bucket. He takes his time as he walks through the chamber with the murdered travelers, trying to memorize their faces in case identification is needed later. Also, he attempts to memorize the sigils on the crates for the same reason.

Intelligence check to memorize murdered individuals: 6

Intelligence check to memorize sigils: 16

If the valuable items are still present (weren't picked up by the previous two), Rusty will pick them up as well. (Let me know.)

Finishing up, the man made of wood and metal returns to where the others are eating and takes a position of stillness, standing like a statue, but watching and listening to the others curiously.

Briar chuckles in response to Felmar. "When I was younger I will say my mother worried my brothers and I would eat her out of house home." he smiles, thinking about his youth, "But I think my appetite has tempered since then. Though I'd certainly give it a go if an ogre challenged me!" Thinking about the garb of the raiders and how much respect was given to folding the red bandanas. "You think we should take some of those? At the least maybe someone will recognize which gang it symbolizes."

Looking over at Rusty he asks, "Do your kind eat at all? If you do, Felmar did a nice job on the meal."

Aelinn

She ate liberally from the meal that Felmar made and the stew of the brigands adding liberal amounts of pepper. She smiled to herself watching Briar eat enough for three.

I checked the fallen hostages, none of them wore a Harpers pin. The dwarf wanted me to find the Harper in Phandalin, to let her know what happened.

She wandered over to the pile of armour and weapons from the brigands, searching through them for some throwing knives. Investigation 16. Looking at Rusty she asked Do you self repair or can we help you? The leather armour here could be cut up for you. I have a small bottle of lock oil that we can use to reduce the friction.

Krikas shared the red bandanas. Aelinn took one and folded it up small to fit in a pouch.

OOC: LOL. I'm a little confused on which parts of this are before our long rest and after. I'm assuming this conversation is taking place after our because Briar is awake now.

Rusty does not shake his head, but something about the shifting of his stance gives his negative answer to the halfling before his voice does. Once again, words issue forth not from a mouth, but from the slanted grate that makes up the lowest portion of his "face". "I do-do-do-do not require food," he responds monotonously. "Accor-cor-cor-cording to my creator, magic sustains me." He looks at Aelinn. "Magi-gi-gi-gic also repairs me similarly to how-how-how-how flesh creatures are healed." He lifts his arms a little. "As you-you-you-you can see, our time of rest has repaired the in-in-in-injuries I sustained during the two previous battles. Thank y-y-y-you for your concern. If I-I-I-I require leather or oil in the future, I-I-I-I will let you know."

Krikas 

Returning to the group Krikas hands out enough bandanas for everyone. "These may help us get through a checkpoint or something. You know, pretending to be raiders." He winks at each of the group as he briefly explains his subterfuge. As they eat and rest he tells everyone about the note found. 

(Sorry for the short post. Running very late for work.)

Long Rest Complete

With hot fragrant stew for dinner and again, care of Felmar in the morning, your group feels well rested and ready to move on. Each of you carries a red Bandana, pilfered from the chests. Rusty inspects the Sleeping room (Area #4) pulling the contents from the crates. Metal implements, tongs, and pokers, hammers, chisels and a couple of buckets of nails. If Rusty was loud before, the clanging of metal as he walks is even louder now.

The assortment of symbols, brands and sigils burnt into the crates and kegs are similar in intent if not design, marks to signify the owner of the goods.. A couple he recognizes from the markets in Neverwinter, others are unfamiliar.

Aelinn picks over the bodies, Krikas already took their valuables, but Aelinn finds the daggers of greater worth to herself. (4 Throwing daggers, 8 Short swords, 6 Short bow, 1 Long bow and 2 vials of alchemical fire)

Where do we go from here?

"We could probably get some good gold for those weapons." says Briar of Aelinn's finds. "Though if you don't mind, I'd like to keep a shortbow for myself. I'm not as handy with a bow as you, but it's a nice backup with a bit of range." Packing up his stuff and gearing to head out he asks, "Shall we continue on to Phandalin?"

[[ If the javelin he threw at a raider yesterday is still there outside the cave, would also like to retrieve that. ]]

Aelinn

She nods at Rustys statement, glad that he could repair himself.

She took three throwing knives and slid them into her armor straps across her belly. She'd have to get a proper harness made if they turned out to be a good idea. Checking the Shortbows she chose the best of them for Briar, Here try this . Anyone want the alchemical fire? Krikas?. She pulled her backpack back on and got ready to leave.

So are we going out the door to get your javelin Briar? She moved ahead checking for traps on the door and its surroundings Perception 17. Then tried the handle. (if locked sleight of hand 18 to open) 

“Aye, unfortunately we weren’t able to be of much help te these people, but Phandalin should be told about this. I’m fer hitting the road.”

Krikas 

Rested, armed and ready Krikas walks over to Briar. "If you fall again, I swear I'll return the favour. I promise to make sure I have energy enough to heal you." Krikas gives his word to the servant of Torm.

Next he visits Aelinn. "I guess I can add those vials to the prest. Thank you." He takes the alchemist fire from Aelinn and places them carefully in the goblins bag. "I'll need to identify the others so I don't mix 'em up" he says with a laugh. "OK. I'm ready. Phandalin here we come?"

Rusty is ready to go when the rest are.

"Much appreciated, Krikas." says Briar with a smile.

When Aelinn mentions the door he pauses for a moment, "Best be careful of any spiders on our exit." (Will use a dodge stance while exiting.)

The door is still open a slight bit, untouched since you arrived. The Javelin piercing the chest of the poor Raider caught unawares. Quicker it seems then when you arrived, the valley is left behind and the snow dusted forest surrounds you. A silence hangs heavy in the air as you travel. Perhaps the unusual weather for the season, a pall of dread and sadness clings to the bare trees. Spring flowers remain dormant, asleep in the security of the earth. Great Oaks give way to a stand of Birch, their pale white trunks haunting the forest with the solemnity of a thousand mute soldiers.

Perception check DC 13 :   If you succeed open the spoiler

The Triboar trail is heavily covered in fresh snow, large fat flakes continue to drift from the sky. The dirt trail, etched into the snow-covered field, seems to defy the cold. Each footprint leaves a temporary mark, soon to be erased by the falling snow. The snow drifts, sculpted by the wind, create gentle undulations along the path. As you walk, the crunch of snow underfoot resonates, echoing the quiet solitude of the landscape. The world feels hushed, as if nature itself is holding its breath. 

An old and tired sign leans precariously, the word Phandalin etched into its surface points to a smaller trail leading South from the Triboar. The sun, feeble in its attempt to bring warmth to the land crests and begins to descend towards night before you notice the first signs of settlement. The sound of metal on metal, a constant ting, ting, ting greets you many minutes before you spot its source. 

A two story building, its wooden exterior rubbed with black coal, a spring gurgling beside it, turning a large wheel. The slosh of falling water powers the hammer inside. Smoke from a large furnace seems to hang heavy in the still air. On the porch a Dwarf, a heavy leather apron and a hammer in hand is speaking with a man leading a pair of draft horses and a wagon with fresh timbers. The two men stop talking when they spot you approaching. The Dwarf lifts his hammer as a salutation, "Hoy" is all he says. The other man, muscles rippling beneath his leather jerkin glances at the axe close by to ensure its proximity, working on a smile of suspicious greeting.

Not far in the distance, perhaps another mile, the village of Phandalin goes about its day. People, still small from the distance can be seen moving from fire warmed buildings, embroiled in their daily activities. A few homesteads, still gripped by the winter, are closely scattered, their fields and orchards bare and white from snow.

Briar Perception: 12+3 = 15 //even with guidance guaranteed failure

Rusty walks in silence along with the others, his many buckets swinging in unison in response to his mechanical movements. He is almost mesmerized by the snow. It is so calming. And to think it was only hours ago when he and the others were fighting for their lives. How strange his short life has been, he thinks. Though, he has very little to compare it to. His great furnace-like head moves slightly to watch the others — the full-elf, the half-elf, the halfling, and the dwarf. What were their stories?

The ting ting ting draws his thoughts back to the here and now. He turns to face the road once again, trying to make out the sound. It was familiar, and yet unfamiliar enough to keep him guessing. It wasn't until he laid eyes on the blacksmiths that he placed the sound with what it was. He had picked up smithing tools back at the cave. He wondered if they might be willing to trade for them. He decides to wait until they have been introduced to begin the process of bartering.

Aelinn

Perception 18 She couldn't see anything but this was the way the spider went. She'd stay alert for any further foes.

Walking in the snow was easy but cold. They'd have to find  the mayor or a member of the town council to let them know what had happened. Somehow she'd have to find the Harper and the local tavern and temple would be possible haunts.

She decides to let Felmar approach the smith. Idly she wondered if he was a weapon smith, if so she was in the market for daggers +1.

Hopefully they'd be a decent inn, mulled cider, warm bath and soft bed. They could use the money from the brigands for their needs. She hoped that Krikas would negotiate for them. 

Felmar looks around the forge, examining the setup and the tools. He then turns to regard the dwarf. “Hoy yerself friend. I’m hopin’ ye weren’t waitin’ on a group o’ merchants heading this way. Got hit by bandits they did. We gave the thieves a whoopin’ don’t ye doubt, but not fast enough te save the travelers. We need te inform some’ne important in town. Ye know who we should be talkin’ te?”

OOC: Heading out of town in the morning. Won't be posting tomorrow. Will be back Saturday night. Might be able to post then.

The Dwarf glances at his friend then back at Felmar, "Well met I say. Cant rightly say I been missing any caravans ceptin the restocking of Coffee and sugar at Barthens. If any merchant be missing a shipment Id be him. Then again it could be Linene waiting on a caravan from the Lionshields. Or Mayhaps a traveling merchant got tangled with the wrong folks" He looks to the lot of you then continues. "You been stomping Bandits have ya, perhaps Harbin be wantin to hear about it. Don't go expectin any reward though, that one be right stingy with the towns money." He chuckles to lighten the mood trying to turn his last statement into one of mirth, forced as it is.

He looks towards the construct and the buckets full of metal implements, "I be gettin short on iron, would be willin to buy what yer Golem is carrying, if ya be partin with it of course. Nothin coming from the mine in months now, Not usual that is. The Dwarves that be runnin it been regular for years ya know. Somethings wrong with this here town, Cursed it is, I say"

I am going back country for a few days. I will try to post on Sunday but may need till Monday. 

"Rusty's not fer sale at present, but I'll keep ye in mind if he ever gets lippy," Felmar quips and throws a playful wink at his companions, particularly Rusty.  "As fer our tussle with the bandits, it sounds like Harbin is some'ne we should be talkin' to.  Where can we find'em?"