Eldrin watches the exchange between Zephyros and Yarina with an air of quiet amusement, idly swirling the last sip of his tea in his cup. The grizzled warrior’s words about endurance and suffering are familiar—well-worn sentiments among soldiers and wanderers alike. And while Eldrin cannot deny their truth, he wonders, not for the first time, whether suffering alone was truly the only forge for strength. He had seen men break under its weight just as often as he had seen them tempered by it.
He exhales softly through his nose, eyes flicking toward Meira as she voices her doubts about facing a dragon. "A reasonable concern," he muses, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "But if we do find one, I’d prefer to be the ones choosing whether to fight or flee, rather than having that decision made for us."His gaze lingers on her for a moment, then drifts toward Lyra, whose ‘oopsie daisies’ do little to mask her involvement in the sudden burst of wind. He does not press her, merely arching a brow in acknowledgment. The halfling may be full of surprises.
As Zephyros announces his intent to visit the job board, Eldrin pushes his empty cup aside and rises with fluid grace, brushing a stray lock of silver hair from his face. His long, layered robes settle around him as he moves, the embroidered patterns catching the morning light.
He nods toward Toblin as he passes. "My thanks for the hospitality."
Then, with a final glance at his remaining companions, Eldrin steps into the morning light, following the others toward the job board.
Meira was just starting to eat a bite of her eggs when Zephyros started to get up from the table. She ate a few more bites, quickly but trying not to stuff her mouth. She then ate a bit of the bacon and washed it down with some water. Starting to stand, she glances around grabbing a couple of pieces of bread to take with her. She then follows the others outside the door.
Once out there, she asks, "You guys know where this job board is at? What sort of jobs you think will be on there?" She takes a glance over at Yarina and all her armor. "Should I have brought armor? Will I need my pack? They're still in my room." She then takes a small bit of her bread.
Lyrasmiles mischievously when Meira mentions how lucky she was that the windows suddenly opened, letting fresh air into the inn, and smiles even wider when she notices the human has made the connection. She lifts a hand to her mouth in a playful gesture, as if to say "Guilty as charged!"
Then, as the others begin to head outside toward the job board, she happily hops down from her chair, excited for the new day to officially begin and already imagining all sorts of adventures they might find while helping the little town of Phandalin.
As soon as they step outside, her attention is caught by a small stone shrine. Curious, she asks, "Anyone know what that is?"
Gareth frowns at the high elf as he gives his critical assessment of the food. Instead of responding to Eldrin, the ranger simply finishes his plate with even more gusto and gives thanks to Toblen for the excellent meal. To Yarina he nods, agreeing that checking out the job board is probably a good idea. Maybe they can even speak to the mayor and get more information.
Zephyros chides the high elf, and Gareth stifles a grin by taking a gulp of tea. As a half-elf, he has long had to contend with pureblooded elves that view him as a half-breed and then with humans who judge him by his ears before getting to know him. It's a difficult thing, trying to live in two worlds but feeling as if you don't belong in either.
"Aye, last night was a good time," Gareth remarks to Meira. He had quite enjoyed her music and truth be told, he was nursing a bit of a headache after consuming far too many ales the previous evening. It was the main reason he was trying to soak up the hangover with greasy food.
Before he can say any more, the halfling woman, Lyra, appears to be taken over by an allergy attack. Alarmed, Gareth is about to do something, although he doesn't know exactly what, when all the windows slam open and the breeze blows the scent of lavender away. As the halfling recovers, Gareth relaxes. A patron runs out of the inn proclaiming it haunted, and Gareth almost chokes with laughter.
"I've never seen a dragon either, but I hope to take one of those fangs as a trophy," the ranger says, smiling at Lyra. "If it's as big as you say though, I might not be able to carry it all the way back to Neverwinter."
As Zephyros gets up to lead the way to the job board, Gareth follows suit after giving his thanks to Toblen for the hospitality. He catches Lyra's "oopsie daisies" and gives her a broad grin. Outside he follows her gaze to the stone shrine and shakes his head.
"This is my first time in Phandalin," he says. "I've got no idea. Want to check it out after we hit the board?"
Yarina glances over her shoulder as Meira bounds after them, tearing off bits of bread and asking her questions. At first, she doesn’t answer—just keeps walking with heavy, armored strides—until Meira mentions her armor and pack. Then, Yarina stops short.
She turns slowly, her towering form casting a broad shadow in the morning sun. Her silver-scaled brow rises just slightly. “You…left your armor and your pack?” she asks, voice low with something between disbelief and concern. “What if the job involves tracking raiders? Or worse—what if we’re ambushed before we get there?”
Her tone isn’t harsh, but it carries the weight of someone trained to expect danger around every corner. She studies Meira a moment, then softens slightly. “I don’t know how bards fight. Or wizards. Or…”her eyes flick briefly to Lyra, “clerics of Tymora, apparently.” There’s a faint wryness there, but also curiosity. “But if you’ve got what you need to defend yourself, I’ll trust your judgment.”
She turns back toward the town square, gesturing toward the building ahead. “That’s the townmaster’s hall. The job board should be posted just outside. Once we see what’s listed, we’ll know whether you need your gear or not.”
Zephyros Ironheart briefly looks back at his new companions as he continues walking to the job board with a sense of purpose. The bear of a man slightly grins seeing his compatriots eager to follow him. "I believe the job board will likely have something to do with preparing for a dragon attack. I've also heard a few rumors about orcs too." Zephyros suggests.
Mr. Ironheart continues, "Yes, you'll probably want to have your gear on hand. We can circle back around if you'd like, but if you want to go run and grab your stuff, feel free."
The large man strides on with vigor, and glances at the stone shrine for a moment. "We'll have to check that out sometime soon." Zephyros mumbles to himself.
The human man then turns his gaze to the half-elf. The bearded man offers, "Mr. Gareth? If you ever need any help transporting a trophy, I'd be happy to help out."
"Ambushed? In the middle of town? In the daylight?" Meira replies to Yarina, sounding a bit surprised at the comment. "But if I was ambushed, I imagine I'd do much the same as if I had the armor - try to run."
She glances at Zephyros as he too seems to think she needs her gear. Sounding unconcerned though, she continues on the subject,"Anyhow, I certainly would go grab my equipment if we were headed out of town. I'd thought I was just headed down for breakfast though."
She then pauses a moment, giving Yarina an appraising look. "Do you always wear all your armor to breakfast?"
She looks over at the little stone shrine that Lyra pointed out. It certainly didn't look very impressive, so she was unsure why everyone seemed to want to check it out. Her attention is quickly drawn to the job board once someone points it out. She slowly moves towards it, trying to get a look.
Toblin nobs to each of you and wishes you well as you leave the Stonehill Inn. You step out into the morning light and enter the street outside the Inn; the shadow of the building covers you as you get your bearings. The morning chill is a bit more prevalent here, but not by much after the events inside. As you make your way toward the townmaster's hall, you feel a slight breeze coming from the East. Some clouds drift overhead in a sky of blue. Just across the street in the courtyard, you see a shine that is almost entirely made of stone. Moving away from the building causes the morning sun to warm your skin slightly to offset the breeze.
Lyra,
Being a cleric of Tymora, you immediately recognize this as one of her shrines. Though no one has been tending to the shrine from the look of it.
Everyone,
As you walk to the South, you notice a large building on the West side of the street. Hanging above the front door is a sign shaped like a wooden shield with a blue lion painted on it. You turn East just past the townmaster's hall, where the entrance to the building is located. The townmaster’s hall has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. The job board next to the front door features a sparse number of notices, all written in Common and in the same hand.
Job posting #1:
Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.
Job posting #2:
A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.
Job posting #3:
The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.
"Ambushed? In the middle of town? In the daylight?" Meira replies to Yarina, sounding a bit surprised at the comment. "But if I was ambushed, I imagine I'd do much the same as if I had the armor - try to run."
She glances at Zephyros as he too seems to think she needs her gear. Sounding unconcerned though, she continues on the subject,"Anyhow, I certainly would go grab my equipment if we were headed out of town. I'd thought I was just headed down for breakfast though."
She then pauses a moment, giving Yarina an appraising look. "Do you always wear all your armor to breakfast?"
Zephyros gives a friendly side eye to Meira and says, "Aye, Ms. Meira. I myself have been attacked in circumstances just like this one. Folk often die when they least expect it- it's a good practice to be prepared at all times. Personally, wearing my chainmail even while I sleep has saved my life a multitude of times."
Ironheart gazes at the board in front of him for a few moments. Then after pondering long enough, the large man states, "I would suggest starting with warning the dwarves and Ms. Adabra first. What are your guys' thoughts on this?"
Yarina turns her head slightly, silver scales glinting as she regards Meira again, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she huffs—not a laugh exactly, but a dry exhale through her nostrils that might almost pass for amusement.
“I do,” she replies simply, her tone matter-of-fact. She glances to Zephyros with a brief nod of approval, clearly aligned with his way of thinking. “I was trained to be a protector. When trouble comes, I run towards it, not away.”
Turning her attention to the board as Ironheart speaks, Yarina steps up beside him, crossing her arms. She scans the postings silently before replying. "I agree. Warning them of the danger should take precedence. The gnomes should be safe in their caves for the time being...I hope I'll fit once we get around to visiting them."
Eldrin stops a few paces from the job board, glancing sidelong at Meira and Yarina before shifting his attention to the notices. A faint breath escapes him—half amusement, half exasperation—though his expression remains composed. He clasps his hands behind his back, surveying the sparse collection of tasks with a discerning eye.
At last, he speaks, voice smooth and unhurried. “It seems our collective standards for preparation are not yet aligned.” His gaze flicks toward Meira. “Some among us believe danger is a matter of distance, that it only exists beyond the walls of town. Others,” his eyes shift to Yarina and Zephyros, “believe that to lower one’s guard, even over breakfast, is to invite calamity.” He offers the barest shrug. “Neither view is necessarily wrong. But the lack of a shared expectation may prove… inconvenient when decisions must be made quickly.”
He turns his attention back to the postings, tapping a slender finger against the one concerning the midwife. “Given this, it may be wise to temper ambition with prudence. The apparently easier task—convincing a lone woman to return to town—will provide an opportunity to observe how we operate as a group, without the potential risk of bloodshed should our coordination prove lacking.” His gaze sweeps over the others, cool and assessing. “If we struggle to manage even that, it will be better to learn now, before we attempt to reason with dwarves in a dragon’s hunting ground or barter with gnomes over whatever eccentric trinkets they offer.”
A pause, then a flicker of wry amusement crosses his features. “Unless, of course, any of you are eager to test your mettle against a white dragon today? If so, by all means—lead on.”
"This is my first time in Phandalin," he says. "I've got no idea. Want to check it out after we hit the board?"
Lyra turns to look at Gareth with a gaze that could illuminate the whole town of Phandalin.
"Yes!! That would be grea—"she freezes mid-sentence and soundly slaps her forehead. "How can I be so stupid! Those eggs and bacon must have gone straight to my brain! It's a shrine to Lady Luck herself! But..." She frowns slightly. "Why is it abandoned?"
The little halfling is suddenly stricken with sadness. Isn't it disheartening to see a shrine to Tymora in this state? Granted, she hadn't been the most diligent of acolytes in her temple, but seeing the shrine like this has filled Lyra with an unexpected melancholy.
She follows after the party and silently nods along as the others discuss the jobs. Sure, yes, warning the dwarves is important. Oh, yes, gnome inventions against dragons? That sounds super useful. And of course they must help the midwife. But all the while, all she can really think about is that abandoned shrine.
Turning to Gareth — who so kindly offered to visit the shrine with her after deciding on a job — she looks at him with eyes that are no longer bright and cheerful, but noticeably sad.
"Will you please come with me to the shrine later? I need to offer a prayer to Lady Tymora! Phandalin must not let her presence in this town wither and wane!"
"I'd appreciate that," Gareth says. "And please, it's just Gareth. Mr. Gareth is way too formal if we're going to be hunting a dragon together."
Gareth glances toward Meira. "I don't usually wear my armor to breakfast, but I figured I might be heading into the woods today, if not dragon hunting, than hunting for anything else that might be troubling the town."
The half-elf peers at the job postings. "I agree. We should definitely warn people first. We should start with whoever's closest."
Gareth nods at Eldrin's reasoning. "Sounds like a plan to me," he says amiably.
"Of course I'll come with you," Gareth says to Lyra. "I can't say I'm particularly devoted to Tymora, but a prayer or two sent Lady Luck's way sure couldn't hurt." He smiles. "How long have you served the Mistress of Good Fortune?"
Meira looks from Zephyros to Yarina as they go on about preparedness. She starts to chuckle a bit when Zephyros says he sleeps in his chainmail. "That really doesn't sound comfortable," see says. But then Yarina seems to indicate she always eats breakfast in her armor! "Well, I will certainly have to consider your sage advice sir, madam." Even Eldrin touches on the issue. But with a bored look on her face, she just let's his comment pass.
She then turns to the ranger. "I'm glad you liked the music last night Gareth," Meira says, clearly again pleased by the response. "And good to know you aren't always wearing your armor! I also agree with dealing with the closest first. I think that's the midwife. After that, I'm not sure what's closest. But those dwarves should probably be warned. Though if those gnomes have something to help against the dragon that would be extremely valuable."
Standing near Gareth, she catches a bit of what he and Lyra are talking about with the shrine. "Lyra, that little stone shrine has something to do with Tymara? Is that important to you?" She isn't aware she's mispronouncing the name. And seems a little confused over who it might be, though she vaguely gets she's a goddess of some sort.
Yarina steps closer to the job board and studies the posting about Adabra, placing a hand to her chin as she tries to separate Eldrin's attitude from his point. “Ah, that makes sense...We’re a new unit. No commander would send an untested company into a dragon’s hunting ground. Not if they wanted them to come back.” Her claw taps the parchment gently. “I agree as well.The midwife first. It’ll give us a chance to see how we move together—and what we might need to work on before things turn violent.”
Her icy blue gaze lingers on the paper. “Though I wonder why she’s stayed out there on her own. A lone healer, separated from the people she serves...strange choice.” She looks to the others curiously, wondering if this is some cultural difference she isn't familiar with yet.
It appears the group has chosen to travel to the midwife, Adabra Gwynn at Umbrage Hill. Everyone, please post any actions you would like to take prior to leaving town, then give me a perception roll for your travel.
With the decision made to go warn the midwife, Meira tells the others, "Alright, I do need to go grab my armor, bow, and sword. And pack. You all think we'll be back tonight? Or... whatever. I'll just grab some supplies, be ready either way." She gives Eldrin a smile, "You suppose that will meet our collective standards for preparation?"She then hurries back to The Stonehill Inn and grabs her things.
Soon she comes back downstairs wearing her dark brown leather armor jacket. At her hip is a rapier and on her back is a pack, bow, and her dulcimer. Once she finds the others she asks, "Anything else or are we on our way?"
Standing near Gareth, she catches a bit of what he and Lyra are talking about with the shrine. "Lyra, that little stone shrine has something to do with Tymara? Is that important to you?" She isn't aware she's mispronouncing the name. And seems a little confused over who it might be, though she vaguely gets she's a goddess of some sort.
Lyragiggles and says, "It's Tymora! Ty-mo-ra! She's the Goddess of Luck! She smiles on those who take chances, roll the dice, and dare to leap without knowing where they'll land. Honestly, I think she likes a good prank, too,"she adds with a wink, before continuing, "I have lived all my life as an acolyte of her temple in Leilon. Well, until they told me to hit the road and help those around me. And... huhm... something about growing up, as well."
"Of course I'll come with you," Gareth says to Lyra. "I can't say I'm particularly devoted to Tymora, but a prayer or two sent Lady Luck's way sure couldn't hurt." He smiles. "How long have you served the Mistress of Good Fortune?"
"Oh, She won't care that you are not one of her devotees. That is what her acolytes are for! But she will enjoy a little prayer from you, nonetheless,"she adds, smiling. It seems talking about her goddess helps cheer the little one up. Then she continues, "I guess you could say I have served her all my life! I've never known anything else, really. I was was abandoned as a baby, and was lucky that the High Priest found me and took me in. Lady Luck smiled upon me, and instead of living in the streets, I was given the home I imagine my parents couldn't give me." She shrugs and smiles. Again, there's no malice in her words, she speaks of being abandoned without anger, simply as if it were part of life, something that could happen to anyone.
"Come!"She waves at Gareth and whoever else wants to follow and trots toward the shrine. Once there, she does a bit of cleaning, removing any sign of dirt, overgrown herbs, or fallen leaves. Then she looks in her pockets and extracts one, two, three... seven silver pieces, which she deposits in the shrine. "Seven is my lucky number! You see, the High Priest found me on the seventh day of the seventh month. I thank Lady Luck for that." She places the coins in a circle, kneels down, and puts her hands together in prayer, saying:
"Lady Luck, guide my hand, Bless Phandalin and this land. Smile on the bold, come what may, And let us laugh along the way."
Lyra then claps twice and stands up, looking at the seven coins before saying, "Maybe someone will steal these coins. Or perhaps they'll be found by someone hungry with no money to buy food. Or perhaps someone will see them, leave a coin of their own, and others will start caring for the shrine again. Whatever it is, I hope at least to bring a smile to Tymora today."
Seemingly happier now, the cleric is ready to go visit the midwife.
Eldrin regards Meira with his usual measured expression as she poses her question, a faint lift of his brow at her smile. "It is a start," he replies, his tone dry but not unkind. "Though I suspect that 'preparation' will prove an evolving concept."
He leaves it at that, turning his attention to his own matters. With a smooth motion, he reaches into a small pouch at his belt and withdraws a thin strip of cured leather. Holding it between his fingers, he moves his other hand in a deliberate, practiced gesture, tracing a pattern through the air. His voice, low and precise, weaves an incantation in the arcane tongue—syllables layered with power, resonating just beyond the audible.
The leather in his grasp tightens, its fibers subtly shifting, as though imbued with unseen force. He presses it briefly to his own chest, the final component of the spell, and the effect is immediate—an unseen barrier spreads over his form, a faint shimmer of blue-silver light outlining his silhouette before fading into nothingness. The protection remains, intangible yet present, reinforcing his robes with the resilience of hardened steel.
Eldrin exhales softly, adjusting the fall of his cloak and the pack upon his back as though nothing had happened. "Now,"he states, tone matter-of-fact, "we are on our way."
Eldrin watches the exchange between Zephyros and Yarina with an air of quiet amusement, idly swirling the last sip of his tea in his cup. The grizzled warrior’s words about endurance and suffering are familiar—well-worn sentiments among soldiers and wanderers alike. And while Eldrin cannot deny their truth, he wonders, not for the first time, whether suffering alone was truly the only forge for strength. He had seen men break under its weight just as often as he had seen them tempered by it.
He exhales softly through his nose, eyes flicking toward Meira as she voices her doubts about facing a dragon. "A reasonable concern," he muses, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "But if we do find one, I’d prefer to be the ones choosing whether to fight or flee, rather than having that decision made for us." His gaze lingers on her for a moment, then drifts toward Lyra, whose ‘oopsie daisies’ do little to mask her involvement in the sudden burst of wind. He does not press her, merely arching a brow in acknowledgment. The halfling may be full of surprises.
As Zephyros announces his intent to visit the job board, Eldrin pushes his empty cup aside and rises with fluid grace, brushing a stray lock of silver hair from his face. His long, layered robes settle around him as he moves, the embroidered patterns catching the morning light.
He nods toward Toblin as he passes. "My thanks for the hospitality."
Then, with a final glance at his remaining companions, Eldrin steps into the morning light, following the others toward the job board.
Meira was just starting to eat a bite of her eggs when Zephyros started to get up from the table. She ate a few more bites, quickly but trying not to stuff her mouth. She then ate a bit of the bacon and washed it down with some water. Starting to stand, she glances around grabbing a couple of pieces of bread to take with her. She then follows the others outside the door.
Once out there, she asks, "You guys know where this job board is at? What sort of jobs you think will be on there?" She takes a glance over at Yarina and all her armor. "Should I have brought armor? Will I need my pack? They're still in my room." She then takes a small bit of her bread.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Lyra smiles mischievously when Meira mentions how lucky she was that the windows suddenly opened, letting fresh air into the inn, and smiles even wider when she notices the human has made the connection. She lifts a hand to her mouth in a playful gesture, as if to say "Guilty as charged!"
Then, as the others begin to head outside toward the job board, she happily hops down from her chair, excited for the new day to officially begin and already imagining all sorts of adventures they might find while helping the little town of Phandalin.
As soon as they step outside, her attention is caught by a small stone shrine. Curious, she asks, "Anyone know what that is?"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Gareth frowns at the high elf as he gives his critical assessment of the food. Instead of responding to Eldrin, the ranger simply finishes his plate with even more gusto and gives thanks to Toblen for the excellent meal. To Yarina he nods, agreeing that checking out the job board is probably a good idea. Maybe they can even speak to the mayor and get more information.
Zephyros chides the high elf, and Gareth stifles a grin by taking a gulp of tea. As a half-elf, he has long had to contend with pureblooded elves that view him as a half-breed and then with humans who judge him by his ears before getting to know him. It's a difficult thing, trying to live in two worlds but feeling as if you don't belong in either.
"Aye, last night was a good time," Gareth remarks to Meira. He had quite enjoyed her music and truth be told, he was nursing a bit of a headache after consuming far too many ales the previous evening. It was the main reason he was trying to soak up the hangover with greasy food.
Before he can say any more, the halfling woman, Lyra, appears to be taken over by an allergy attack. Alarmed, Gareth is about to do something, although he doesn't know exactly what, when all the windows slam open and the breeze blows the scent of lavender away. As the halfling recovers, Gareth relaxes. A patron runs out of the inn proclaiming it haunted, and Gareth almost chokes with laughter.
"I've never seen a dragon either, but I hope to take one of those fangs as a trophy," the ranger says, smiling at Lyra. "If it's as big as you say though, I might not be able to carry it all the way back to Neverwinter."
As Zephyros gets up to lead the way to the job board, Gareth follows suit after giving his thanks to Toblen for the hospitality. He catches Lyra's "oopsie daisies" and gives her a broad grin. Outside he follows her gaze to the stone shrine and shakes his head.
"This is my first time in Phandalin," he says. "I've got no idea. Want to check it out after we hit the board?"
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 4 Halfling Rogue (The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan - Lvl. 10 Half-Elf Sorcerer (Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Aasimar Paladin (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Selene Albion - Lvl. 12 Human Ranger (In-Person Homebrew Campaign) ♦ Phaerdra Tor'viir - Lvl. 3 Drow Wizard (Exandria Sandbox Campaign)
Yarina glances over her shoulder as Meira bounds after them, tearing off bits of bread and asking her questions. At first, she doesn’t answer—just keeps walking with heavy, armored strides—until Meira mentions her armor and pack. Then, Yarina stops short.
She turns slowly, her towering form casting a broad shadow in the morning sun. Her silver-scaled brow rises just slightly. “You…left your armor and your pack?” she asks, voice low with something between disbelief and concern. “What if the job involves tracking raiders? Or worse—what if we’re ambushed before we get there?”
Her tone isn’t harsh, but it carries the weight of someone trained to expect danger around every corner. She studies Meira a moment, then softens slightly. “I don’t know how bards fight. Or wizards. Or…” her eyes flick briefly to Lyra, “clerics of Tymora, apparently.” There’s a faint wryness there, but also curiosity. “But if you’ve got what you need to defend yourself, I’ll trust your judgment.”
She turns back toward the town square, gesturing toward the building ahead. “That’s the townmaster’s hall. The job board should be posted just outside. Once we see what’s listed, we’ll know whether you need your gear or not.”
Zephyros Ironheart briefly looks back at his new companions as he continues walking to the job board with a sense of purpose. The bear of a man slightly grins seeing his compatriots eager to follow him. "I believe the job board will likely have something to do with preparing for a dragon attack. I've also heard a few rumors about orcs too." Zephyros suggests.
Mr. Ironheart continues, "Yes, you'll probably want to have your gear on hand. We can circle back around if you'd like, but if you want to go run and grab your stuff, feel free."
The large man strides on with vigor, and glances at the stone shrine for a moment. "We'll have to check that out sometime soon." Zephyros mumbles to himself.
The human man then turns his gaze to the half-elf. The bearded man offers, "Mr. Gareth? If you ever need any help transporting a trophy, I'd be happy to help out."
"Ambushed? In the middle of town? In the daylight?" Meira replies to Yarina, sounding a bit surprised at the comment. "But if I was ambushed, I imagine I'd do much the same as if I had the armor - try to run."
She glances at Zephyros as he too seems to think she needs her gear. Sounding unconcerned though, she continues on the subject, "Anyhow, I certainly would go grab my equipment if we were headed out of town. I'd thought I was just headed down for breakfast though."
She then pauses a moment, giving Yarina an appraising look. "Do you always wear all your armor to breakfast?"
She looks over at the little stone shrine that Lyra pointed out. It certainly didn't look very impressive, so she was unsure why everyone seemed to want to check it out. Her attention is quickly drawn to the job board once someone points it out. She slowly moves towards it, trying to get a look.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Adventurers,
Toblin nobs to each of you and wishes you well as you leave the Stonehill Inn. You step out into the morning light and enter the street outside the Inn; the shadow of the building covers you as you get your bearings. The morning chill is a bit more prevalent here, but not by much after the events inside. As you make your way toward the townmaster's hall, you feel a slight breeze coming from the East. Some clouds drift overhead in a sky of blue. Just across the street in the courtyard, you see a shine that is almost entirely made of stone. Moving away from the building causes the morning sun to warm your skin slightly to offset the breeze.
Lyra,
Being a cleric of Tymora, you immediately recognize this as one of her shrines. Though no one has been tending to the shrine from the look of it.
Everyone,
As you walk to the South, you notice a large building on the West side of the street. Hanging above the front door is a sign shaped like a wooden shield with a blue lion painted on it. You turn East just past the townmaster's hall, where the entrance to the building is located. The townmaster’s hall has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. The job board next to the front door features a sparse number of notices, all written in Common and in the same hand.
Job posting #1:
Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.
Job posting #2:
A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.
Job posting #3:
The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.
DM for Tyranny of Dragons and Phandelver and Below, two in-person campaigns that meet weekly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Zephyros gives a friendly side eye to Meira and says, "Aye, Ms. Meira. I myself have been attacked in circumstances just like this one. Folk often die when they least expect it- it's a good practice to be prepared at all times. Personally, wearing my chainmail even while I sleep has saved my life a multitude of times."
Ironheart gazes at the board in front of him for a few moments. Then after pondering long enough, the large man states, "I would suggest starting with warning the dwarves and Ms. Adabra first. What are your guys' thoughts on this?"
Yarina turns her head slightly, silver scales glinting as she regards Meira again, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she huffs—not a laugh exactly, but a dry exhale through her nostrils that might almost pass for amusement.
“I do,” she replies simply, her tone matter-of-fact. She glances to Zephyros with a brief nod of approval, clearly aligned with his way of thinking. “I was trained to be a protector. When trouble comes, I run towards it, not away.”
Turning her attention to the board as Ironheart speaks, Yarina steps up beside him, crossing her arms. She scans the postings silently before replying. "I agree. Warning them of the danger should take precedence. The gnomes should be safe in their caves for the time being...I hope I'll fit once we get around to visiting them."
Eldrin stops a few paces from the job board, glancing sidelong at Meira and Yarina before shifting his attention to the notices. A faint breath escapes him—half amusement, half exasperation—though his expression remains composed. He clasps his hands behind his back, surveying the sparse collection of tasks with a discerning eye.
At last, he speaks, voice smooth and unhurried. “It seems our collective standards for preparation are not yet aligned.” His gaze flicks toward Meira. “Some among us believe danger is a matter of distance, that it only exists beyond the walls of town. Others,” his eyes shift to Yarina and Zephyros, “believe that to lower one’s guard, even over breakfast, is to invite calamity.” He offers the barest shrug. “Neither view is necessarily wrong. But the lack of a shared expectation may prove… inconvenient when decisions must be made quickly.”
He turns his attention back to the postings, tapping a slender finger against the one concerning the midwife. “Given this, it may be wise to temper ambition with prudence. The apparently easier task—convincing a lone woman to return to town—will provide an opportunity to observe how we operate as a group, without the potential risk of bloodshed should our coordination prove lacking.” His gaze sweeps over the others, cool and assessing. “If we struggle to manage even that, it will be better to learn now, before we attempt to reason with dwarves in a dragon’s hunting ground or barter with gnomes over whatever eccentric trinkets they offer.”
A pause, then a flicker of wry amusement crosses his features. “Unless, of course, any of you are eager to test your mettle against a white dragon today? If so, by all means—lead on.”
Lyra turns to look at Gareth with a gaze that could illuminate the whole town of Phandalin.
"Yes!! That would be grea—" she freezes mid-sentence and soundly slaps her forehead. "How can I be so stupid! Those eggs and bacon must have gone straight to my brain! It's a shrine to Lady Luck herself! But..." She frowns slightly. "Why is it abandoned?"
The little halfling is suddenly stricken with sadness. Isn't it disheartening to see a shrine to Tymora in this state? Granted, she hadn't been the most diligent of acolytes in her temple, but seeing the shrine like this has filled Lyra with an unexpected melancholy.
She follows after the party and silently nods along as the others discuss the jobs. Sure, yes, warning the dwarves is important. Oh, yes, gnome inventions against dragons? That sounds super useful. And of course they must help the midwife. But all the while, all she can really think about is that abandoned shrine.
Turning to Gareth — who so kindly offered to visit the shrine with her after deciding on a job — she looks at him with eyes that are no longer bright and cheerful, but noticeably sad.
"Will you please come with me to the shrine later? I need to offer a prayer to Lady Tymora! Phandalin must not let her presence in this town wither and wane!"
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
On the job board to the right of the job postings is a map of the area.
DM for Tyranny of Dragons and Phandelver and Below, two in-person campaigns that meet weekly on Friday and Saturday nights.
"I'd appreciate that," Gareth says. "And please, it's just Gareth. Mr. Gareth is way too formal if we're going to be hunting a dragon together."
Gareth glances toward Meira. "I don't usually wear my armor to breakfast, but I figured I might be heading into the woods today, if not dragon hunting, than hunting for anything else that might be troubling the town."
The half-elf peers at the job postings. "I agree. We should definitely warn people first. We should start with whoever's closest."
Gareth nods at Eldrin's reasoning. "Sounds like a plan to me," he says amiably.
"Of course I'll come with you," Gareth says to Lyra. "I can't say I'm particularly devoted to Tymora, but a prayer or two sent Lady Luck's way sure couldn't hurt." He smiles. "How long have you served the Mistress of Good Fortune?"
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 4 Halfling Rogue (The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan - Lvl. 10 Half-Elf Sorcerer (Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Aasimar Paladin (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Selene Albion - Lvl. 12 Human Ranger (In-Person Homebrew Campaign) ♦ Phaerdra Tor'viir - Lvl. 3 Drow Wizard (Exandria Sandbox Campaign)
Meira looks from Zephyros to Yarina as they go on about preparedness. She starts to chuckle a bit when Zephyros says he sleeps in his chainmail. "That really doesn't sound comfortable," see says. But then Yarina seems to indicate she always eats breakfast in her armor! "Well, I will certainly have to consider your sage advice sir, madam." Even Eldrin touches on the issue. But with a bored look on her face, she just let's his comment pass.
She then turns to the ranger. "I'm glad you liked the music last night Gareth," Meira says, clearly again pleased by the response. "And good to know you aren't always wearing your armor! I also agree with dealing with the closest first. I think that's the midwife. After that, I'm not sure what's closest. But those dwarves should probably be warned. Though if those gnomes have something to help against the dragon that would be extremely valuable."
Standing near Gareth, she catches a bit of what he and Lyra are talking about with the shrine. "Lyra, that little stone shrine has something to do with Tymara? Is that important to you?" She isn't aware she's mispronouncing the name. And seems a little confused over who it might be, though she vaguely gets she's a goddess of some sort.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Yarina steps closer to the job board and studies the posting about Adabra, placing a hand to her chin as she tries to separate Eldrin's attitude from his point. “Ah, that makes sense...We’re a new unit. No commander would send an untested company into a dragon’s hunting ground. Not if they wanted them to come back.” Her claw taps the parchment gently. “I agree as well. The midwife first. It’ll give us a chance to see how we move together—and what we might need to work on before things turn violent.”
Her icy blue gaze lingers on the paper. “Though I wonder why she’s stayed out there on her own. A lone healer, separated from the people she serves...strange choice.” She looks to the others curiously, wondering if this is some cultural difference she isn't familiar with yet.
Adventurers,
It appears the group has chosen to travel to the midwife, Adabra Gwynn at Umbrage Hill. Everyone, please post any actions you would like to take prior to leaving town, then give me a perception roll for your travel.
9
DM for Tyranny of Dragons and Phandelver and Below, two in-person campaigns that meet weekly on Friday and Saturday nights.
With the decision made to go warn the midwife, Meira tells the others, "Alright, I do need to go grab my armor, bow, and sword. And pack. You all think we'll be back tonight? Or... whatever. I'll just grab some supplies, be ready either way." She gives Eldrin a smile, "You suppose that will meet our collective standards for preparation?" She then hurries back to The Stonehill Inn and grabs her things.
Soon she comes back downstairs wearing her dark brown leather armor jacket. At her hip is a rapier and on her back is a pack, bow, and her dulcimer. Once she finds the others she asks, "Anything else or are we on our way?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Lyra giggles and says, "It's Tymora! Ty-mo-ra! She's the Goddess of Luck! She smiles on those who take chances, roll the dice, and dare to leap without knowing where they'll land. Honestly, I think she likes a good prank, too," she adds with a wink, before continuing, "I have lived all my life as an acolyte of her temple in Leilon. Well, until they told me to hit the road and help those around me. And... huhm... something about growing up, as well."
"Oh, She won't care that you are not one of her devotees. That is what her acolytes are for! But she will enjoy a little prayer from you, nonetheless," she adds, smiling. It seems talking about her goddess helps cheer the little one up. Then she continues, "I guess you could say I have served her all my life! I've never known anything else, really. I was was abandoned as a baby, and was lucky that the High Priest found me and took me in. Lady Luck smiled upon me, and instead of living in the streets, I was given the home I imagine my parents couldn't give me." She shrugs and smiles. Again, there's no malice in her words, she speaks of being abandoned without anger, simply as if it were part of life, something that could happen to anyone.
"Come!" She waves at Gareth and whoever else wants to follow and trots toward the shrine. Once there, she does a bit of cleaning, removing any sign of dirt, overgrown herbs, or fallen leaves. Then she looks in her pockets and extracts one, two, three... seven silver pieces, which she deposits in the shrine. "Seven is my lucky number! You see, the High Priest found me on the seventh day of the seventh month. I thank Lady Luck for that." She places the coins in a circle, kneels down, and puts her hands together in prayer, saying:
"Lady Luck, guide my hand,
Bless Phandalin and this land.
Smile on the bold, come what may,
And let us laugh along the way."
Lyra then claps twice and stands up, looking at the seven coins before saying, "Maybe someone will steal these coins. Or perhaps they'll be found by someone hungry with no money to buy food. Or perhaps someone will see them, leave a coin of their own, and others will start caring for the shrine again. Whatever it is, I hope at least to bring a smile to Tymora today."
Seemingly happier now, the cleric is ready to go visit the midwife.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Eldrin regards Meira with his usual measured expression as she poses her question, a faint lift of his brow at her smile. "It is a start," he replies, his tone dry but not unkind. "Though I suspect that 'preparation' will prove an evolving concept."
He leaves it at that, turning his attention to his own matters. With a smooth motion, he reaches into a small pouch at his belt and withdraws a thin strip of cured leather. Holding it between his fingers, he moves his other hand in a deliberate, practiced gesture, tracing a pattern through the air. His voice, low and precise, weaves an incantation in the arcane tongue—syllables layered with power, resonating just beyond the audible.
The leather in his grasp tightens, its fibers subtly shifting, as though imbued with unseen force. He presses it briefly to his own chest, the final component of the spell, and the effect is immediate—an unseen barrier spreads over his form, a faint shimmer of blue-silver light outlining his silhouette before fading into nothingness. The protection remains, intangible yet present, reinforcing his robes with the resilience of hardened steel.
Eldrin exhales softly, adjusting the fall of his cloak and the pack upon his back as though nothing had happened. "Now," he states, tone matter-of-fact, "we are on our way."
Cast Mage Amour