"You're unsightly," Ronk grumbles. But he does take off the basket and trades it for the hat. He tries his best to conceal his sword and darts within his robes. It'd probably be more believable and less frightening if the bugbear 'circus performer' wasn't visibly armed for this. "Ready, I guess..."

For a while there, Marcon is hunched over with one hand over his mouth, and the other hugging his gut; trying in vain to keep the laughter in check. "A-aye,  Mister Silder sir. Pbbt! Heheh! We'll see ya soon!" He sputters in between bouts of chuckling. Realizing only after that Rigel had too marched ahead, the young man promptly forced a tighter lid on visibly amusement, and made a sweeping 'after you' gesture to Vanzaren. "Best we be on then. 'nd don't worry Big Guy. If'n things start look'n really hairy, then.... no worries. I got'cha back."

As the rest of the party heads toward Phandalin, the rutted track of the Triboar Trail emerges from a wooded hillside, and they catch their first glimpse of civilization in several days, consisting of about forty simple log buildings, some built on old fieldstone foundations. More old ruins — crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars — surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past. Most of the newer buildings are set on the sides of the cart track, which widens into a muddy main street of sorts. There is no "gate" through which the party must enter, although the remnants of a stone palisade indicate there may have been one long ago.

They catch up with Rigel who is leaning against a tree about 20 yards from a small building at the northern edge of town. As the party moves into the town proper, they see children playing on the town green and mostly human townsfolk tending to chores and running errands at shops. Many people look up as the odd assortment of adventurers approach, many doing double-takes at the the sight of a firbolg. Many gasp at the sight of a bugbear stringing along a pair of goblins. Mothers gather their children close, and a few townsfolk duck into nearby shops to peek through the window.

The group of about 10 children playing on the town green stop and stare as the party comes forward, not necessarily scared but rather awestruck at the sight of races of humanoids they had only heard about in tales and stories. The flamboyantly costumed Vanzaren leads the pack flanked on either side by the towering spectacle of Garet and Ronk. Spit and Stopit (who are holding hands and singing,) follow close behind. Marcon and Rigel bringing up the rear. Marcon's chiseled farmboy frame catches the notice of a few ladies. Rigel's serious countenance and confident stride puts several tough-looking hoods on notice that he is not one to be taken lightly.

Vanzaren pauses before the growing crowd of children. He bows, then looks to the other people keeping their distance. "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! I am Vanzaren Tanidoni, and I find myself passing through your lovely town to bring you some entertainment for the next few days." He sweeps his arm to indicate to Ronk, Stopit and Spit, "I bring with me my sideshow of goblinoids. Don't be afraid to stop by at any of our performances throughout the day, I promise you a show you will never forget. Free for one and all, I hope my little show will bring some excitement to your town!"

Marcon, ever the wall flower when it came to ladies, politely yet nervously waves back or respectfully nods to them passing; but, soon after always tried to shrink in on himself and try futilly become invisible. It's not until Vanzaren started trying to steal the spot light that the ex-farmboy relaxed enough to let a genuine smile bloom into being. "A fa, fa-fee, a feel free ta visit us at the Stonehill Inn a-uh-a later this evenin' fer a, uh, t-talk with the performers!" He tries to add to the promotion using his own nervous zeal.

Not really sure what he should be doing - and looking very out of his element - Ronk closes his eyes and begins working through a few of the... Less violent forms he'd learned in the past. The punches and kicks that yesterday had been impaling goblins or sending heads clattering around were now more fluid and gentle.

Garet fallows as the cart moves. He tries to act brave and from time to time says 'G'day' to passing townsfolk

"Let's just get to Barthens. We don't have a lot of time to waste. "

Rigel grumbles as he moves up to the front of the group in an attempt to quicken the pace. He continually scans the spectators for signs of aggression. He notes more than a few advert their gaze as he looks their way.

The oxen slow to a halt with the cart of provisions as the party passes by Barthen's Provisions on the left side of Phandalin's main thoroughfare. It seems as though the two animals have learned exactly where to go, "trail blind" as they say, presumably from numerous journeys they have made over the years between Neverwinter and the small frontier town.

After listening to Vanzaren's introduction, the children on the town green sprout smiles and look eagerly at one another at the mention of a circus sideshow. In its current iteration, Phandalin has only been repopulated within the past five years, and sits too far out of the way for it to be much of a lucrative location for most traveling performers. As a result, the children of the small settlement usually have to depend on their own imaginations for entertainment.

"Is that a goblin?" says one child near the front, a precocious halfling boy of about ten years in age. "What do you feed it?'

Rigel calls after the group as they move of farther into town,

"I'll meet you all at the Stonehill Inn when I'm done here," 

With that he strides in to the shop to have a look around and to locate the shop keeper.

"I've come from Neverwinter with a load of supplies. Who's in charge here?"

Marcon could only chuckle nervously as Rigel made his statements before temporarily taking his leave. Whereas at first he started to follow, if only seeming to escape having to 'help' with the ruse, he stops short and looks down to he halfling boy with a troubled look on his face. "Uh... well, they eat the same stuff as we do, fer the most part." He would say aloud, but inwardly wince over the cave incident.

Squatting down at that point to be more level with the halfling, he goes on to say, "So, uh, long as its plentiful. A-anyways. Any one of ya'll mind doin' us a solid, 'nd maybe tell us about yer home here? This here the first time most of us been, 'nd we could use a bit of help there. Don't cha'll agree?" The last part her turns to the rest of the party to ask.

Vanzaren stands up straighter. “Oh, they eat all sort of things. Grubs and snails, fish and flora. The tricky part is my friend Ronk here,” he pats Ronk on the back and gives him a side glance that say, ‘just go with it please.’ “He’s a bug bear, and his favorite food is fish liver. And fish don’t have very big livers, so he’s gotten pretty good at catching them with his bear hands!”

He pauses for a few moments to gage the reaction of the kids. A few moments later he calls Stopit and Spit foreword. “I think, ladies and gentleman, a bit of a teaser is in order. Spit, Stopit, why don’t you show the nice kids a little of what you can do!” With a sweeping bow, Vanzaren turns the area over to the two goblins.

The two goblins look a bit confused, but after a few moments start to do basic acrobatic stunts. Spit Acrobatics (help from Stopit): 7

Ronk stiffens when he hears Vanzaren's claim about him and levels the wizard with a look of distress and shock. He tries to catch Vanzaren's eye, and shakes his head almost desperately. He lets out a slight whimper, but otherwise keeps quiet, trying to maintain the circus performer act... But he also can't help but applaud the two goblins like he was part of the audience.

RIGEL @ BARTHEN'S PROVISIONS:

Rigel heads through the open doorway of the modest storefront. Inside he sees shelves stocked with ordinary goods and supplies, including backpacks, bedrolls, rope, rations and similar items that one would seek to equip themselves with before striking out into the surrounding wilderness. He is greeted by a lean and balding human male shopkeeper of about fifty years in age. He addresses the ranger with a kindly manner. Answering Rigel's query about who is in charge, he responds:

"Well, I guess that'd be me, young fella. Call me Elmer. You must be the one Gundren sent with his supplies, we been expectin' ya for a day or two now. Hope ya didn't have too much trouble on the way here...the Triboar can be a bit dangerous at times, especially for a lone traveler. So, how is the old dwarf these days? Still lookin' fer that cockamamy mine he's always goin' on about?"

While Barthen counts out fifty gold pieces and drops them into Rigel's palm, a couple of young clerks begin to unload the cart and tend to the oxen.

THE TOWN GREEN:

The children all let out a chorus of "EEEEEEWWWWWW!!!" followed by a wave of giggles when Vanzaren explains that Ronk's diet consists mostly of fish livers. Much to everyone's surprise, the two goblins make quite a show of tumbles and flips. Stopit squats down while Spit leapfrogs over him and then executes a sharp backflip landing squarely on Stopit's shoulders, demonstrating his best "TA-DA!!" pose. From atop Stopit's shoulders, Spit hocks up a disgusting goblin loogey and let's it dangle almost all the way to the ground before sucking it back up again. The children squeal with delight while several on-looking adults recoil in horror. Stopit begins to wobble back and forth as if the two are about to topple over. Spit leaps into the air as Stopit dashes out from under him in a forward roll and both stick their landings like real professionals.

As Marcon stoops to the young halfling lads level, (almost further down than he could go) the boy introduces himself: "I'm Carp! My mom brought me here to Phandalin when I was a baby. Our farm is right over there," he says while pointing east. "I'm practicing to be an adventurer one day! Already found me a dungeon to storm too! You wanna see it?" Carp lowers his voice to a whisper as a pair of rather burly-looking ruffians stroll by. They don't stop but the snarling leers on their faces go scarcely unnoticed.

Marcon leers right back at the passing ruffians. Short of them stoping then to engage however, he turns back to Carp grinning after a few moments. "A dungeon, eh? I gotta say I'm half way tempted to take ya up on yer offer! Oh, and the names Marcon, by the way." He offers a big, callused hand to shake. "Tell ya what, Mr. Carp. I'll be by the farm in a few hours. 'nd if yer Ma's fine with it, we'll go dungeon diving together!  Sounds good?" He offer, and upon receiving a favorable answer, ruffles Carp's hair.

With a nod of the head and a slight raise of the hand Rigel says,

"Well met Elmer. Sadly I regret to tell you Gundren has been detained by someone. We, meaning my small band and I, were sent to investigate and rescue him if needed. Luckily we encountered the group that hijacked his wagon in a cave not far from here. Unfortunately we did not find Gundren. We did, however, rescue a gentleman by the name of Sildar. Perhaps you know him? He was able to inform us that Gundren was being taken to a rogue going by the name of "The Black Spider". Any chance you've heard of this person? We think he may be hiding out some where around here. Also, could you point me in the direction of the blacksmith? After the encounter with Gundren and Sildar's captors I'm in need of repairs."

With that Rigel funnels the coins into a pouch and leans against the counter.

RIGEL @ BARTHEN'S PROVISIONS:

"Oh dear, Gundren missing? He's quite a handful on his own, but if he was taken in the company of another capable traveler, well...then I'm afraid yer dealin' with a group of professional criminals. I don't know this Sildar ye speak of but Gundren has a couple o' brothers that was helpin' him try to find a mine...Tharden and Nundro they're named. They had a camp site somewhere near town, but no one knows exactly where - real skittish about someone jumpin' their claim, those two. Ain't seen 'em in a tenday, so they's got to be gettin' pretty low on supplies by now. I ain't heard o' no 'Black Spider' either, but there's a fella called 'Glasstaff' who's runnin' a bunch of hoodlums here in Phandalin. Been shakin' down local businesses fer a month 'er two. Can barely afford to feed meself! If'n you earn a single copper here in town, ye' can expect them red-sash bandits are gonna want half of it! Better hide that pouch somewhere good! In the meantime, go see Linene Graywind over at the Lionshield Coster for all your blacksmithing. She imports most of her stock, but I'm sure she can mend your equipment in a pinch. Be safe, me boy...hope ye gots strong friends!" 

Vanzaren makes a note to train the goblins on, well, being less gross when preforming, but otherwise is pleased. "So I welcome one and all to see our show later this evening! Free for all!" He does one last bow and starts to continue on to the Inn.

MARCON & CARP @ TOWN GREEN:

The boy stabs a finger up at his lips in a shushing gesture..."Quiet now! Ma don't know about the dungeon! You see them tough guys? They're Redbrands...bad people. Been takin' lotsa folks' money around here! This one time, a woodcarver guy tried to stand up to them...I heard they killed him! Now his family have gone missing too, but I know where their hideout is...I'm gonna booby trap it - with this!" The boy glances around suspiciously before lifting up the front of his shirt revealing a worn piece of string tied to a crooked stick with a nail driven through one end.

"Mister Stonehill has an inn with a tavern in it just around the corner...people talk silly when they drink! I been practicing my sneakin' there...I wait till no one is looking and I creep in around the corner and under a table...I hear people say all kinds of crazy stuff! Everybody's scared o' them Redbrands...but I ain't! I'm gonna rescue the woodcarver's family and then I'll be a hero and go to Waterdeep where they have a bar with a big hole in the floor that goes down to a big dungeon with a crazy wizard at the bottom. You wanna go too?"

Marcon realizes he has reached the end of Carp's useful information for now and pats him on the head as he stand to rejoin his team.