The Phandalin Chronicles

"Greetings Xanth, I'm Krom Firebeard, smith of Moradin, as my friend here just said, those orcs and half-orcs will not trouble the forest anymore. It should be safe to return." says Krom.

After a few minutes the dwarf adds "Have you seen recently the Dragon that roams this region?"

"Greetings Xanth. Please state your business." Says Kazri in a non threatening voice.

Aside from watching now with acute interest, Rhogar waits and sees how the centaur reacted to the news.

A broad smile crosses the face of the centaur with the news of the end of the trouble in the Neverwinter Wood.

"This I am glad to hear.  I can return to my home which is the wood.  As for the dragon, I have seen it on occasion but it has not bothered me and so I do not bother it."

He pauses for a moment,

"Since you have shared such good news I will give you a warning.  Not far from here is a place called the Dragon Barrow.  Strange witchlights hover over Dragon Barrow at night. The hill is haunted by the restless spirits of the dead.  I would avoid the place if I were you.  It is dangerous."

Rhogar smiles back at the news in a way that conveyed both thankfulness and regret. "You have our thanks for the warning, Xanth. It confirmed what some of us had already held concerns over. Regrettably, our next course of action will see us there, and retrieve whatever artifacts there might provide us a means to face another dragon.Spirits or no spirits." He confesses. "But perhaps it is fortuitous for the spirits. For now there are those who shall help put them to rest, and perhaps CLEANSE the area for good!"

He lets a boisterous chuckle. "Either which way, again, you have our thanks. Oh! And if you happen to be of the persuasion, or know of a druid personally, see that they are directed to the Woodland Manse. I believe we uprooted and destroyed a source of corruption in that place, BUT one can never be too careful." If need be after, he follows up with directions to the place the gulthias tree once grew from to the best of his ability.

"The orcs and spellcasters were too much for me alone.  But I know of this place you speak of and will make sure this evil tree is truly put to rest."

Chip would spend a while with this wood carving tools, attempting to carve a figurine in the shape of the centaur while he talks with Rhogar.

carving! 10

"Thank you for confirming what I suspected. Moradin's fire will cleanse that barrow." replies Krom.

"We thank you for this. But it would more then likely be best if we clear out the place for the safety of any that live in the area." Rekuberk says even as he frowns as he thinks more on the half orcs they had to kill.

Krom says to the group "The fire of Moradin's forge shines like daylight, undead creatures will be burned by it!"

 "I have a request, since we will be facing undead, I would like to properly prepare and craft some implements to aid our group in the incoming fight. I would like to camp or at least have two hours before entering the barrow. We should approach it during the day." says Krom to the group.

“Let us have some rest. We may have a difficult battle ahead of us.” Kazri dismounts Serenity and tie her horse to the wagon. (If Xanth is still around.) “You are welcome to join us. We may have much to learn from a well traveled as you, Mr. Xanth.”

Krom climbs down from the wagon and says "Good, let's get started." Krom, chanting an hymn of creation, builds a small fire. After a few minutes the dwarf, using his tools begins to smelt small pieces of steel mixed with some silver coins. Minutes after minutes the metal objects starts to take the shape of silvered crossbow bolts under the expert hands of the dwarf. As the bolts begin to cool down, Krom takes his chisel and etches on each bolt the holy symbol of Moradin.

Satisfied with his work, Krom takes the ten silvered bolts and gives them to Chill "Those bolts will pierce even incorporeal undead. Strike swift and true my friend, may Moradin guide your aim."

Xanth looks up at the sky and the position of the sun.  

"There is still much daylight left.  I will return to the Neverwinter Wood as it has been too long since I wandered it's ancient pathways.  Good luck at the Barrow."

Xanth bows and then gallops off towards Neverwinter Wood.

You take a break and rest for a couple hours allowing Krom to work his ancient dwarven rituals to provide silvered crossbow bolts for Chill.

During the time it takes for the resident dwarf to complete his rituals, a certain bronze finds some boulder or log or comfortable enough spot just a short ways from the others. At which point he enters some sort of meditative state focused on breathing; only after the first few deep ones, his frill expands as the weave almost visibly twists in his presence. If left to his own devices then, by its end, Rhogar is in a much more peaceful state anyone has seen him, yet somehow eager to cover at least a few more miles of ground that day.

(@DM: Converted some sorcerery points into one 1st level spellslot(lasts until long rest), then a warlock level 2 slot into sorcery points, and THEN taking a short rest to recover the warlock slot since we got time).

Chip would continue working on his centaur carving and strum on his lute, playing a song of rest for anyone that needed it. "Truly fine craftsmanship there Krom" Chip would add as he watches the dwarf hand over the glimmering bolts. 

Kazri keeps watch while her companions take a break. 

Chill helps keep watch as the others rest.  He keeps an eye on Krom's ritual and when called over by Krom he gratefully accepts the crossbow bolts.

"Excellent my friend, these will come in handy.  Best be prepared for all possibilities."

Haven given Krom the opportunity to use his ritual magic to better prepare for the party for the trouble they believe they will face the party moves on from their resting place.  About an hour later a thirty-foot-high hill rises ahead of you, its top too flat to be a natural occurrence. Jutting from the grassy hilltop is a row of ten-foot-tall, bone-white rocks that arc toward the stormy sky like outstretched talons.

Rekuberk moved to take point as he draw his sword, looking to the others. "We should form a marching order to be better prepared for what we may face."