Lost Mines of Phandelver by kyleh2486

As the group begins to leave the cavern (room 8), the creature again speaks to Morpetor telepathically. "The north bridge is secure. It will not collapse on you if you use it." Yuri notes three openings out of the cavern. One to the north and two to the west. The party leaves the cavern and gathers in the cellar (room 1). The strong smell of iron fills the room from the blood bath. Looting the bodies in the cellar, everyone collects 5sp, 3gp and 3ep per person. There are also two garnets located on the large, headless Redbrand. In the small barracks (room 2), three scarlett robes hang on the wall. 

There are a few different ways to move on at this point. You all are in room 1. There is a door to the north in room 1, placed between the stairs going down to where you are. Room 8 has the three routes to explore. Morpetor gets the feeling, they are free to move about room 8 without the creature attacking them. 

Also, everyone is being awarded inspiration. (If you have inspiration, you can expend it when you make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. Spending your inspiration gives you advantage on that roll.)

Vah'Lhorn | Tiefling | Warlock (Hexblade)

Vah'Lhorn starts to descend the stairs down to the gathered party, extending his arm to Yuri in greeting, a firm shake between the two warriors. Moving to each of the other members in turn extending a similar greeting, Vah'Lhorn reaches the frightened girl and kindly extends a hand, avoiding direct eye contact for fear of sending her deeper within herself. She appears older close up than I had first thought, and her attempt at some snowflakes was quite cute. Still, between the four of them they should be able to keep her safe. "What's her story?" Vah'Lhorn looks over to Gramgran and Yuri as the most likely sources for a sensible answer, "First time out in the real world?"

At some point during the introductions, Vah'Lhorn briefly recounts his initial contact with Sildar, and the concern regarding the departure of the Redbrands en masse from the town. When he finds out where the party have so far explored, Vah'Lhorn weighs in on checking the door in the current room (Room 1), as leaving unchecked rooms between them and the exit, should they need it, can only lead to trouble.

After seeing Yuri interact with the new member it breaks up the panic mental state. She starts to calm down, slowly but surely. She drops her amulet and the tiny chaotic ice storm. 

Once the man extends his hand, she starts focusing and notices he is avoiding eye contact. She slowly accepts his hand to help her up. Once standing and filling gaining her composure again, she gets a twitch of annoyance at his question. "No, this is not my first outing. I just have never seen anything like that before and would prefer to never encounter anything like it again."

She looks over to the others, "I am so sorry for my freak out. It... it overwhelmed me. I let my guard down, thinking I was a step ahead by listening to the conversation and then it almost took me as its prey. Thank yall for saving me!" 

Later on when discussing paths to take, Kim makes sure to let them know she does not want to cross a bridge again.

OOC- for now on, Kim is going to freak out and have issues when interacting with a bridge. I feel like she is a bit traumatized by this event.

OOC: Since leaving room 8, Morpetor and Kim are no longer frightened. 

Taking the quick opportunity offered by their respite, Yuri opens the waterproof bag he found in the cistern earlier.

"We didn't have time to go through this earlier, but is there anything here that's useful?"

Yuri lays out the travelling clothes in a small bundle, then lays the potions in top of them. Tipping the bag, he reaches his hand in, drawing it back full of gold.

"I reckon someone had hidden this in case they needed to make a quick escape. Healing potion, invisibility potion, waterproof satchel, gold."

Yuri counts the gold into five small stacks and distributes it to the group (10gp each) and when he reaches Morpetor hands him the bag.

"I thought this might come in handiest for you, my friend. Scrolls and books read better dry."

Turning to the rest of the group, "Does anyone need the potions? Also, I wonder whether we can tell anything about the bags owner from the clothes?"

OOC - Yuri is also going to spend a hit die - 3

Vah'Lhorn

"Landing up in a situation you didn't expect can be far to common an occurrence." Vah'Lhorn says stoically, then adds with a rumbling chuckle, "So much so that what you expect tends to be the uncommon outcome."

"That looks like a fair assessment Yuri, some coin and clothes would certainly help a man on his travels." Spreading his arms wide and looking around at the blood stains and disembodied limbs, "Though who would want to leave such a place entirely escapes me."

Morpetor, less frazzled than before, pauses... breathes, and then greets their visitor, “Greetings, my apologies for not acknowledging you at first, the cursed wizard had telepathically put me in quite a state.  We have appeased his hunger - for now - and he has allowed passage through the northern corridors.  These entrances may prove advantageous since they are through a secret entrance. We may have the element of surprise that way.”

OOC - dm, can you add that waterproof bag to my equipment? Thanks.

Vah'Lhorn

"A secret entrance is only useful if you know where you are trying to go. We know not if it will lead us to a vast treasure room, or land us in the main barracks." Vah'Lhorn shakes his head, "Though I guess you could say the same for any unopened door. Though it sounds not the safest route should this demon change it's mind, or decide that it's bargain of passage is fulfilled. Your reasoning is fair, but I like the plan little unless the beast be slain in our passing, and some measure of vengeance extracted."

OOC: which way are you all deciding on going?

Kneeling by the pile of clothes and the potions Yuri carefully packs both potions away in his pack before the group leaves. Unfurling the travelling clothes he gives them a look over, checking and pockets or pouches within them, looking for anything to point to who the owner of them might be.

Investigate  - 15

After doing so, he looks at the group, "If we can avoid fighting the entirety of the Redbrands that would be useful as would getting the drop them. I say we go through the lair of that beast again, find Iarno, and get out."

((OOC - The door by where Vah'Lhorn entered is his vote.))

Gramgran 

Seeing these children deciding where to go reminded her of her younger days. Traveling with companions, fighting off the odd bandit. It made her happy to see them grow. This new companion seemed a bit serious to her, so maybe she’d talk to him later.

“We’ve gone through a lot of work to get where we are,” Morpetor tries to wipe at the blood on his cloak. “My vote is to go through the backdoor,” motioning to the secret entrance, “and catch the Redbrands by surprise.”

Vote goes to the cavern where the creature (Nothic) resides. You all pass through the secret door again. Does anyone want to drive a piton into the door again to jamb it? the closer to the cavern you get, the louder a snapping sound becomes. The creature is no where to be seen until you are closer to the ledge of the cavern. At the bottom, the creature feasts on the Redbrands. You notice the snapping sound are the bones of the dead soldiers as pieces are broken off. The torsos have been turned into a black goo. The creature tears the flesh free from the bones and eats it down. Blood covers the floor, but it has started to turn black, much quicker than normal. The creature looks up for a moment before returning to eating. He pays you no further mind. 

There is a passage way to the north and two the the west. The south bridge is collapsed. The north bridge is available to cross over the crevasse. 

"We should slay the creature whilst it is distracted. No good can come from leaving such a thing at our backs! I do not wish to disrupt such a new alliance, but I am strongly advising you all to consider the ramifications of leaving it at our backs, nothing that makes deals with other people's lives is deserving of it's own." Vah'Lhorn says somberly to everyone as they walk past the edge of the crevasse, "For I do not know if I can let such a thing be."

I know the power of such demons, they offer solace and redemption, but it is all a lie, a clever manipulation to their own ends. Has the creature really let the girl go, or does it still lurk in her mind, waiting for a chance to further it's gain? No. No matter the risk, I must attempt to slay this beast, though I fear I may not be a match alone. Vah'Lhorn has taken on a grave set to his features since the decision was made to return to this cavern, and he can be seen glancing back at Kim with a concerned look on his face.

Entering the cavern again with the group, Yuri turns and hammers a fresh piton into the wall behind the door, hopefully blocking any nasty surprises from following them through the door.

"Let's just not linger, we can move through this foul place for now, but I am sure that thing will change the terms of our deal at a whim."

Moving through the cavern towards the northern bridge, Yuri peers through the opening at the northern end of the cavern, trying to discern anything he can about what lies beyond.

Perception - 13

"Then all the more reason to see the foul thing dead." Vah'Lhorn walks away from the edge of the crevasse, knowing that the longer he is near the beast the less likely he is to be able to ignore it like these people are... Walking up with Yuri, still keeping a watchful eye on Kim, whilst so near the creature, "Have you any knowledge of what is ahead of us? Do you maybe see anything down there we should be aware of?"

Vah'Lhorn peers over Yuri's shoulder, curious, and searches the northern end of the crevasse and cavern for any clues as to what lies ahead.

Perception: 15 (or treat this as helping Yuri)

Investigation: 11 

As they enter the room Kim stays back. "I... I don't want to fall down there again" she says with a tremble in her voice. 

She starts thinking about this. How many times has she faced death, gladly putting herself into those positions to protect her squad. Why did this thing have such a big impact on her. 

When Vah'Lhorn looks back at her, she goes through multiple emotions. She wants to show her normal calm strength, but she is still terrified by the experience. She also has some hope and joy in the idea of the team ridding this plane of the creatures existence, but not wanting to face it either.

Kimberly grips her amulet and summons some ice in her left palm, starting her three door off the room, keeping an eye on the group,  listening to their decision. 

Quote from PolarBearSoup >>

Vah'Lhorn peers over Yuri's shoulder, curious, and searches the northern end of the crevasse and cavern for any clues as to what lies ahead.

Perception: 19 (or treat this as helping Yuri)

Investigation: 12 

The door way to the north appears to have been a natural cavern. From where you're standing just outside the entryway, you can see the walls appear to have been finished with stone block walls and the floors finished with flagstone. Several barrels are stored against the walls here, along with a number of empty crates, straw for packing, hammers, pry bars, and nails. 

(Sorry for the delay. I've been under the weather lately.)

(( OOC - No worries, hope you are feeling better now Kyle! Are the exits to the room doors, natural, man-made openings?))

Vah'Lorn passes on the details he has noticed to the others nearby. "Which direction do you favour to progress?" Looking back with a snarl at the noise of crunching bones and the slop of flesh being torn away, "I would be away from this creature with utmost haste!"