Petros

"Pops, wait for me." Petros chases Pops out of the door and joins him on his way to visit the Townmaster. "I assume there is not much that happens in this town that this man doesn't know about. The trick is how do we get him to share that information with us." 

Sven

"Aye, your logic is reasonable. Wait for me. I shall go with you, then we leave in the morning and clear that filth from our world."

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 you enter into the townmasters hall, there is a male human sitting behind a large wooden desk. Once he sees you, he goes into a rant. "Good good. You're here about the orcs, am I right?" He looks you over and is able to discern that you are not from here. "They have been such trouble. I'm needing a group to head east on the Triboar Trail. Travelers have reported trouble with a band of orcs near Wyvern Tor. Pays not too bad either, a 100 gp to any group that can take care of the problem."

Nyana 

Ny follows with the group to the townmaster. "Seems as good a place to start as any."

Brats will nod as he listens to the man. "We would love to take care of these orcs for you, however, I didn't catch your name." He'll pause a moment before continuing, we would need to know who to return to.

Quote from Beginner_Bots >>

Brats will nod as he listens to the man. "We would love to take care of these orcs for you, however, I didn't catch your name." He'll pause a moment before continuing, we would need to know who to return to.

"Harbin Wester. I'm the current townmaster," he says, "You see, Phandalin has no functioning government, but the townsfolk elect someone to serve as townmaster each year. The townmaster serves as a judge in minor disputes and keeps any records that need to be kept." He shuffles some papers trying to look busy. "Is there anything else? I am a very busy man."

Petros

To Harbin Wester "Have any villagers gone missing recently? I ask because we are trying to locate our employer - Gundren Rockseeker. We believe he came through here."

Pops

Pops leans heavily on the townmaster's desk, trying to be direct but not overly intimidating. He asks Harbin Wester quietly but clearly,  "You seen Gundren? Or either of his brothers, Nundro and Tharden - bunch 'o dwarven miners? You seen them around lately?"

"No, can't say I've seen any dwarven miners coming through the area. As far as people missing? Can't say that's been happening either. Used to have goblin raids pretty regularly, but since the Redbrands have been commissioned, the raids have almost stopped completely." 

Sven

"Harbin, you look like a man who always knows what is going on in his town. Surely you can't tell me that an operation like Gundren and his brothers had set up was going underneath your nose? Have you heard any whisperings or rumors about where they might be headed? I also just heard a rumor in the Tavern where someone said a family of 3 had gone missing. Surely you've at least heard this rumor?"

"Of course I know my town. There are no mining operations in the city proper. There are mines all over the area outside the city. That is why we have a very busy local miner's exchange. The Miner's Exchange is a trading post where local miners have their valuable finds weighed, measured, and paid out. As far as the rumors of a family missing, no one has come forward with any information or claims of missing townsfolk. The Redbrand keep the peace around here. We do not have many problems."

Petros

Petros can't help but feel like Harbin is not telling them the whole story. 

OOC: Can I give an insight check to see if I can tell whether or not he is lying?

Insight:10

Harbin is mostly genuine. There are no mines in town that he knows of and he does not know the Rockseekers. As far as the missing family, he is aware of the male murdered in the streets, but he doesn't know about the wife and kids. The Redbrands though, you can feel he is trying to gloss over the "work" they do here. 

Pops

"Well, let's go visit the Miner's Exchange," grumbles Pops.

Pops gently pulls Brats out the door, for somebody to unload his thoughts on.

"One. There's a bunch o' work for us east up the trail. Orcs to clear out, a banshee to woo. But it looks too far afield for now - a day or two at least. Gotta at least look for Gundren first. Then maybe worth our while.
Two. There's this business with the Redbrands and the woodcarver's family. Sounds tragic, but I'm not sure what we get out of it.
Three. We could look for Gundren's brothers outside of town, although we don't know which direction. Maybe somebody at the Miner's Exchange could point the way.
Four. We could continue to fart around town. There's a dilapidated manor on the outskirts that looks like it could be worth exploring.
Thoughts?"

Nyana

Ny follow Pops and Brats out of the room catching the tail end of their conversation. “Looking for Gundren seems like the right thing to do,  however I do not believe he is in that cave nor can we survive another encounter like that. We were lucky to make it out of that cave alive. We should seek out Gundren’s brother. He may know something of value.” 

Sven

"Thank you Harbin, your information about the Miner's Exchange should be most useful. I knew coming and talking to you wouldn't be a complete waste." Sven immediately turns around and walks out not waiting for Harbin to respond following up quickly behind Ny, also catching the last bit of Pop's and Brats' conversation. "I don't like that guy, but I think that talking with the Miner's Exchange before going anywhere is as good of a lead as we have. They may be able to tell us where to look for Gundren's brothers at least."

Petros

Petros watches Pops, Brats, Nyana, and Sven leave the townmaster's office. Before leaving he turns to Harbin "Thank you for your time Townmaster Harbin. I would like to speak to the Redbrands. Do you know where I can find them?"

Pops

To Ny, Brats, and Sven:  "Alright. Let's go ask at the Miner's Exchange about the whereabouts of Gundren's brothers." 
He heads south down the road stiffly, with his hands in his pockets, looking for the sign to the exchange.

Quote from DTELDER >>

Petros

Petros watches Pops, Brats, Nyana, and Sven leave the townmaster's office. Before leaving he turns to Harbin "Thank you for your time Townmaster Harbin. I would like to speak to the Redbrands. Do you know where I can find them?"

Harbin tells you the Redbrands frequent the Sleeping Giant Tavern, warning you it is a rowdy place. 

-------

Everyone heads south and finds a heavy wooden building with "The Miner's Exchange" sign hanging from chains. The windows have bars on them and it gives you the feeling of a bank in a seedy part of Neverwinter. As you enter, a human woman greets you. "Bring my anything good from the valleys? Or was it in the streams? Well, I'm guessing you have nothing to trade right now by the looks of you. You all look new here. I'm Halia Thornton, guildmaster of this here establishment." 

A dwarven miner is speaking with a half orc further down the counter. It appears the dwarf is selling off his finds for the day. 

Pops

"G'day, ma'am. Nice to meet you," Pops mumbles. He bows slightly and awkwardly. He ambles down the counter to the dwarf and half-orc and waits for a pause in their conversation.

"Unskidin merg," he says to the dwarf, in Dwarvish. "Merg blik tirhil noen dverag arbeid alersag. Gundren Rockseeker o drogan ahn bronrhir. Dearag arbeid bair utre av farge."