Sword Coast Rambling

Brots brandishes a bow before Serak and Zyltris. "It's a pleasure to be here, we will do our very best to show our worth." He takes a seat next to Serak, setting his bag down next to him, his squirrel moving to the top of the bag. "What's our first stop? That warrior guy that came over real quick last night? I can't remember his name."

Beetle: "Yes Sildar, we have to meet him, so guess we are off to the Townmaster's Hall"

Brots struck by the barmaid beauty was left awestruck and in a trance. After shaking the trance he hops up and moves over to her, he gently grabs her hand and places a light kiss on it. "Thank you for that, and I know you're concerned but I'll be back!" He moves back to the group with a smile on his face. He grabs his backpack, his squirrel moving back into the backpack. "Come on guys, let's go!"

Stepping out into the square, the party is met with the bustle of daily village life. Folk go about their business as they have done for generations. Opening their stores, sweeping doorways, conversing, arguing and laughing with each other. The town of Phandalin is peaceful this morning. Heading southwards towards The Lion Shield Coster the group approach their first destination.

The townmaster's hall has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. Posted on a board next to the front door is a notice written in Common. It reads:

"REWARD-Orcs near Wyvern Tor! Those of a mind to face the orc menace should inquire within."

The notice bears the town's seal and an indecipherable signature. As they make their way up the old creaking wooden steps, Beetle is half surprised they don't give way beneath them.

Inside they are presented with a wide aging dust filled office. In front of them behind a desk sits a smart looking fellow, writing away in a ledger, too distracted by his work to notice his guests. Tiny round spectacles sit upon his squashy round nose, his eyes squint through the rolls of fat which engulfing his face. A short man, the size of a halfling but human in every other way. He wears a smart black pinstripe suit, short black hair swept backwards, his round face outlined by a thin carefully sculpted black beard. Before him, a plaque bearing his name and position.

HARBIN PERCIVAL WESTER TMGP
Townmaster

Standing by a bookshelf along one side of the room, the familiar face of Sildar Hallwinter. As he reaches upwards for a particular tome, Serak notices a change in the old warriors appearance. Gone are the armour and weaponry of the goblin hoard, replaced now fine clothing, embroidered with a crown set against a fiery red and yellow banner - the sigil of the Lords Alliance. A regal blue cloak ripples across his shoulders as he retrieves the book and turns to face his friends.

"Ah! So you have come at last! You must forgive me, I slept very little last night and thought my time was better spent here catching up on events." He glances at the book he has taken from the shelf and blows off a decades worth of dust from its cover, "Actually, I'm glad you found me here. I failed to realize how serious this little towns situation actually was. Redbrands, missing wizards, orcs returning to the mountains and of course our friend Gundren and his brothers are still out there. If you're planning to stay in the area a while I could surely put some men like yourselves to good use."

Beetle looks at his companions, then turns to Sildar, "I can't speak for everyone but I'm pretty sure we are here for a while and intend on helping however we can.  just point us in the direction you think my serve best to start."

Syna looks at the Mayor with a frown, "Well met, sir."  Secretly he is wondering how the leader cannot be cognizant of the dangers to his pack and their territory.

Brots looking around the building, paying just enough attention to hear what Sildar is saying.

[OOC: Do I notice anything weird or funky about the current office we're in? Perception: 4] 

Harbin Wester merely grunts a short "good day" back to the elf without raising his head from his desk. He continues to write furiously at something.

Brots, takes in the minute details of the room. A bookcase beside Sildar is filled with a range of tomes from histories of the region to taxes and census details dating back hundreds of years. The windows, though mostly boarded up, still let shafts of light in through the cracks. Dust dances through the beams as it drifts aimlessly around the room. From Brots' point of view, Mr. Wester seems a quiet man, the sort that belongs behind a desk. Likely to be easily intimidated and persuaded by the allure of coin. Not somebody who the gnome would trust to lead a mule let alone a town such as this. The rest of the room seems plain enough. The small village has clearly seen better days and the townmasters hall echoes that perfectly. 

Sildars face lights up at Beetles statement of intent. "I knew I could count on you my boy. I have been thinking about this all morning, and while all of these threats will need dealt with eventually I am unashamedly biased when it comes to the importance of locating my friend Iarno. Although by now I fear his is likely dead or left the area altogether." Concern flashes across his weathered face. Deep in thought for a second he remembers something "Toblen had told me as I was leaving that the woodcutter here in the village had seen the wizard recently but had skipped with the details, and that Halia over at the mining exchange had been talking with him before he disappeared. Maybe they would be worth following up with?"

Sildar chuckles to himself for a second "Of course, I am no master of yours and if another issue takes your fancy then by all means. Every little bit you can do would help me greatly! This quiet little village is full of problems as I'm sure you've noticed."

Brots looks over at the group as Sildar finishes. "If I may make a suggestion. I find it useful to start at the beginning of a trail and following it forward." Brots faces Sildar. "You said that Toblen heard something regarding your friend from the woodcutter?"

“That seems prudent to me. Best gather all the info we can before charging off into the fray.”

Beetle: "Well if we head to the woodcutter I know he also has directly had trouble with the Redbrands, I've seen it myself last time we were in town.  So we might be able to get info on 2 tasks at the same time there.

Sildars glances downwards at the gnome before him, "Yes indeed my gnomic comrade. Toblen and I were talking this morning as I left and he told me Morthen had mentioned a wizard in passing a month or so ago, the same time that Iarno had disappeared. He couldn't remember the full conversation however as Toblen tends to work harder than he listens to folk but nevertheless a lead is a lead. I've never met Morthen personally and was going to call with him later on today, but he should be about the woodworkers cabin just beside this building here."

Brots, nodding as he takes in the information then turns towards his group. "OK my friends. It seems we are heading to the woodcutters then, and hopefully get information regarding the Redbrands as well!" Brots moves toward the door and opens it up, holding it open for the rest of the group.

Serak: As the group prepares to leave, Serak finally speaks up, "So... I spoke to Halia briefly last night. Falk and the other regulars at The Sleeping Giant said the Redbrands have shook down every business owner in town for protection money, except Halia.

"They said she must have something over the Redbrands, but I doubt that is the case. I believe it more likely that she is either directly involved in all this somehow or they are too scared of her to confront her. If she had information that could be used against the Redbrands, why allow them to maraud freely through town?

So I laid some bait. Since she clearly hasn't reported to the authorities what I said, it further confirms my suspicions. I agree, let us see what the woodcutter has to say next."

Beetle: "Sounds like a plan, your always up to something there my crafty friend....lol..., you sure you don't want to hold that healing pot?"

Brots looks over at Serak and chuckles. "If he wants you to hold on to that it's either because hes unlucky, or you are." Brots laughs as he waits for the group. 

Serak: Bowing quickly to the Townmaster as the group prepares to leave, Serak replies to Beetle and Brots, "Always have a plan, but don't be afraid to improvise!" Laughing to himself, he continues, "These Redbrands are likely just a symptom of a larger problem, and I'm simply intrigued. Has the makings of a truly great story!" 

Waving off the potion with a smile, the bard replies, "My magics will sustain me should shadow and blade fail. I suspect that as warriors, yourself and Zyltris will have greater need of them."

Leaving Sildar to his research the party head southwards, away from the square and towards the woodcutters cottage.

In the front yard of the store, an aged human is repairing a wooden figurine. Elegantly designed woodwork covers the storefront, the workmanship immaculate. A few figures however lie in pieces, destroyed by a malevolent force.

Looking up as the group approaches the man calls out to them. His wrinkled face framed by patches of white hair.

“Good morning to you sirs. Haven’t seen you around here before. See anything you like? Oak, pine, mahogany, I have anything you could ask for. If there’s nothing out here that takes your fancy, I have plenty of other wares inside.”

OOC: Just a heads up. Tomorrow I’ll be abroad most of the day for work, but I’ll post replies when I can - hopefully in the morning and after 10pm GMT. 

OOC- it's not a problem I have my monthly tabletop tomorrow so won't be on much from 3pm est on

Brots, astounded at the craftsmanship that one person can create starts to explore the outside, admiring and looking at all the pieces. "These are some amazing works you have here." Brots says to the woodcarver. "When I was living in the forest, I would carve small things, you know, bears with 3 legs, deer with 5... But nothing as amazing as these. Impressive."