Chapter One: A LMoP Adventure

Rock looks at the table and says "Lets us go to the sleeping giant and snap some redbands and make some noise Grux "

"Let us go!"

Gruxx would like to lead the way to the sleeping giant!

OOC: OK, Gruxx and Rock are leaving the Stonehill Inn in search of the Sleeping Giant. Are you going to ask how to get there, or are you just going to walk around in the dark looking for it? What are you other three doing?

Ian is intrigued. To Gruxx I would like to tag along, in the shadows of course. I want to see what sort of antics you two get up to.

Ian will follow along from the shadows, behind the others, staying hidden/stealthy - jus there to watch.

Rock to Ian " ask the bartender where the sleeping giant is"

Seeing his kamaraden preparing to head off on another adventure, the Herr Doktor Professor starts winding down his performance for the night. If Gruxx and Rock head off, he will also follow in the shadows, using his magic to assist them.

In the meantime ... he approaches the table of the half-elf Darran.

"I've been told that you are a former adventurer," he tells him. "Perhaps you would like to tell the story of one of your adventures, which I shall accompany to music. It would be a fitting finale to the entertainment to hear a tale from one of Phandalin's own citizens."

Glynquinal realizing his friends might be heading for trouble will follow along. 

Daran looks slightly taken aback and begins to shake his head lightheartedly, but the young, silver-haired female beside him grabs his arm and says, "Come on, Papa. Tell one of your stories." Daran gives her a warm smile and then nods. The female claps her hands together. "Stand up. Stand up!"

As Daran stands, the room goes quiet again. There are a couple whispers containing Daran's name. Daran begins telling the story of an adventuring party of which he was a part and an adventure into the Giant's Run Mountains. The party had been hired to find a halfling noble who had gone missing. The court suspected foul play as giants had recently stomped through. The party spent two days tracking the creatures. Finally, they caught up with two giants — a male and a female. The party's swordsman and archer, of course, wanted to attack first and ask questions later. The druid thought allowing the giants to explain themselves first was the best course of action. They all looked to the cleric — their beacon. She considered the circumstances and sided with the druid. Circling around in front of the giants, the party blocked their path and as carefully as possible engaged the couple in conversation, which consisted mostly of hand gestures. The giants were defensive, but not hostile. Communication, however, seemed to go nowhere. During a particularly confused silence, a small voice was heard near the giants. The party, full of curiosity, convinced the giants they were not going to harm them, and approached the huge creatures. Low and behold, the halfling noble was stuck between two toes of the male giant, safe and mostly sound. They plucked the tiny royal out from between the incredibly bad-smelling digits and sent the giants on their way. Turns out the noble had inadvertently gotten stomped on, but instead of being flattened, had found himself pinched and restrained. He couldn't get free, and every time he attempted to take a deep breath to yell for help, the smell of the giant's foot would cause him to faint. The party returned the noble to court, and the swordsman and archer had to concede that once again, the cleric had been right.

Applause and laughter resound as Daran sits down, looking a little embarrassed. The female hugs him and gives him a peck on the cheek. "Oh, Papa," she says with delight.

During Daran's tale, Gruxx approaches Toblen at the bar and asks for directions to the Sleeping Giant. Toblen scowls. "You don't want to go there, friend. Nothing good will come of it. That's where the Redbrands drink."

"A wonderful story," the Herr Doktor Professor tells Daran. With a formal bow and click of his heels, he introduces himself to his fellow half-elf, explaining that he is a collector of stories and folklore.

"With your permission," the Herr Doktor Professor says, "I will spread this story up and down the Sword Coast, with credit given to you, of course."

Giving Daran time to consider his offer, the Herr Doktor Professor adds, almost as an afterthought: "I've never been to the Giant's Run mountains. Might that be near a place my friends and I are looking for -- a place called Cragmaw Castle?"

Ian, tagging along behind Gruxx, will follow up with Toblen Good sir, if you could just point us in the direction of the Sleeping Giant, we would be grateful. Wether we go or not, I promise we will return to spend more of our gold in your establishment...

Gruxx gives a hearty laugh.

Gruxx says to Toblen, "I assure you, sir. There is no drink the Redbrands can handle that Gruxx of the Sky Pony Tribe cannot!"

Glynquinal signs to Ian in Thieves Cant...

Thinking on it a minute, Glynquinal asks Toblen, "Toblen, there wouldn't happen to be any bounties on some of these Redbrand members would there if they just happened to wind up in the local jail?

Daran responds to Herr Doktor, "The Giant's Run Mountains are south of The Dragonmere and the Dragon Coast. South of Cormyr," he says, deciding the last is a more-well-known locale. "I've never heard of this Cragmaw Castle." Listening to their conversation, the female adds, "Townmaster Wester might know." Daran scoffs: "That blowhard doesn't know anything." "Papa!" the female protests.

Toblen frowns at the strangers' insistence, but finally sighs in resignation. "Take a left out the front door and head east toward the ruins of Tresendar Manor. You can't miss it. It will be about half way on the left. There's always a couple Redbrands hanging out out front." He shakes his head. "I really don't suggest you go there." Thinking on it a minute, Glynquinal asks Toblen, "Toblen, there wouldn't happen to be any bounties on some of these Redbrand members would there if they just happened to wind up in the local jail?" Toblen grins sarcastically. "Good luck with that. Townmaster Wester won't put them in jail. He won't do anything about them at all."

"This is not the first negative thing I've heard about the townmaster," the Herr Doktor Professor tells Daran and his daughter. "I've been told he is unable to handle the problems created by these Redbrand brigands. 

"But is it unable ... or unwilling? Is it possible he is in cahoots with these brigands, or do they have some hold over him?"

" I 'preciate the directions.  Now off to the Sleeping Giant!"

Gruxx will wait on the others to finish their conversation and then use the directions to get to the Sleeping Giant.

Ian is waiting with Gruxx, and at the first opportunity will hide in the shadows and tag along with the party.

Glynquinal is ready for action. Before going anywhere near the Redbrands though, he will stow the chest he is carrying, in his room, then return.

Rock is waiting with Grux

OOC: You all waiting for Herr Doktor?

Daran appears to genuinely consider Herr Doktor's question. The female, watching Daran think, huffs. "Papa! You know Townmaster Wester would never be in league with those miscreants."

Daran scowls at her. "Cyrine, you errantly idolize this man and his wife." As Cyrine opens her mouth to protest, her father raises a finger. "I do not mean to anger you, I only wish to point out that your opinion of him is not unclouded." He sighs and turns back to Herr Doktor. "I do not have any reason to believe he is 'in cahoots' with the Redbrands. Whether they have some kind of hold on him, I do not know."