"Everything's fine. Apparently there are Orcs nearby and they deserve to be killed because they're Orcs. Not entirely sure what that means for me."

After making eye contact with Callie, Grum is reminded that he was supposed to be trying harder. He takes a deep breath, and continues "Sorry, I'm being grumpy again. There's a bounty on a nearby Orc tribe. In all fairness, they're probably a menace that's threatening the town and need dealing with. In which case I may need to apologise to Trilena. So at some point that might be something we can take on if we want to earn some gold and help the town. But I'd want to know why the bounty is on their heads first."

"Oh..." That's certainly something. Truthfully though, the young elf still isn't quite sure what to make of it. Of course it makes sense that a half-orc like Grum will probably favor his heritage, he likely knows better than her how such things are, after all. That said, both before and after leaving her family home, Callie has heard terrible stories of orcish tribes. Yet on the other other hand, Callie feels as though she has a good sense of Grum's character, and while he can be a little surly here and there, the typical orc horror stories just don't line up with him. "Then," she begins, "we'll just have to find out what's really going on, won't we? Like with the goblins and now the Redbrands?"

"And before I forget," She turns and smiles at Sildar, "It's good to see that you're doing better, Sildar."

"Thank you Callie. I plan on meeting with the townmaster today but it might be a good idea to talk to this Halia person too. Regarding the orcs, I will inquire about them when I meet with the townmaster, however you are free to come as well if you wish. Centuries ago orcs raided this land, and drove the dwarves from the Wave Echo Cave that Gundren found and ravaged this land, creating the ruins that Phandalin is built on today." He pauses at looks at Grum. "That was centuries ago now, and these orcs may not even know about the history of the ones before. It is a good idea to find out more before proceeding."

"Ehh I wouldn't take it so personally, Grum. I've fought loads of orcs, humans, dwarves...You name it. Folk doing wrong in groups is just the nature of civilization. We just gotta hope that those of us that are will'n to do good outnumber the bad!" Brandor leans back with a self-satisfied look. "So whats on our menu today, digging into these Redbrands or lay'n low in the hills a few days chase'n some orcs off?"

<Squelch> looks up from his breakfast of hard bread and porridge. <Brandor's voice> "...digging into these Redbrands."  followed by <Callie's voice> "we'll just have to find out what's really going on, won't we?"

He slurps the last of porridge and drops a few copper on the table as he stands, stretching his arms and shoulders. <Squelch> looks towards the group and shrugs, his dark eyes blinking.

"Well, for the sake of full disclosure, I grew up being mocked and often beaten by the other Orc kids as weak, and was never accepted by the other human kids because they thought I was an Orc. The human kids could be as brutal as the Orcs sometimes. So in truth, I'm well aware of the brutality of Orcs, and the need for them to be dealt with. And as you say, Brandor, this life I've chosen will lead me to fight whoever it will, and I need to be ready to do that. And I am. It just shocked me a little to be presented so casually with a bounty on part of my heritage. It took me back to the lonelier parts of my childhood."

At this point, Grum visibly perks up and looks around at each of the group. "So thank you, friends, for your acceptance. Let's sort out the Redbrands and by the time we're done, I'll have processed all of this and we'll go collect us some gold. Sildar, you go have your meeting with the Townmaster, see if you can donate some spine to him, stop him letting his town be trampled by the Redbrands. We'll go to the Miner's Exchange and meet Halia."

You all depart from the inn, Sildar heading off to the townmasters hall and the rest of you to the Miner's exchange.

The building is relatively large, rivaling the Stonehill Inn but with only one floor. Inside there is one town guard, similar to the one outside of the Inn standing watch next to a locked door to your left. Behind the counter in front of you all is a tall human woman with long straight blonde hair that stops an inch above her shoulders. She wears leather armour fashioned into clothing, and has navy blue pauldrons on her shoulders. As you walk in she straightens her back and greets you with a closed-lip smile.

"Ah. I was wondering when you might all show up. How can I be of assistance?"

Grum glances at the town guard, noticing the existence of the town guard despite the Redbrands' presence in the town and wonders how the dynamics work there, why the town guards haven't done anything about the Redbrands.  If the town guards report to the Townmaster, who's not opposing the Redbrands, perhaps it's not so safe to speak openly against the Redbrands in their presence.

"Well, as you seem to already know, we're new in town, and are just trying to get our bearings.  We heard you run the Miner's Exchange here, and it seems like you're a pretty central part of the town, so we thought you might be a good person to speak of, to see if there's anything we can do to help the town, for example."  Grum pauses, "Our reputation seems to have gone before us.  How did you hear about us?"

Callie stands by Grum as he speaks to the woman behind the desk. For her own part, Callie is rubbed the wrong way by this woman's expecting their arrival. Typically, if someone knows you're coming, then you already ought to know who they are. It's one of a handful of lessons from home that she's kept close to heart: people who know more about you than you know of them have you at a disadvantage. Lucky for their little party, they were in a prime position to even the playing field.

"It does seem as though you have us at a bit of a disadvantage, may we ask who you are?"

"I am Halia Thornton. I run this building and lease permits to the occasional prospector that comes by. I also manage all the town records and deal with other problems that arise in the town. As for how I know you all:" She turns her head to the side and calls out. "Grista!"

From a door behind her, you see the dwarf from the Sleeping Giant Inn that had disappeared from the kerfuffle yesterday. "Grista tells me you made quite a mess in her tavern." She eyes you all, then looks over at the town guard. "However, she has so kindly cleaned up whatever mess was left. She does appreciate you taking care of her problem however. Come, let us talk in my office."

Halia and Grista walk into the room towards the right that leads down a small corridor into an office. (Assuming you all follow her) She closes the door behind you all.

"So. The Redbrands. The scourge on this town. They are one such problem that I aim to deal with, but the townmaster has been of no help. I have been waiting for a group of adventurers such as yourselves to help deal with them, however I have been taking a more subtler approach than murdering them at a bar. Grista here has been gathering information on them."

"Right. Their base is under Trescendar Manor and they have around ten minions inside the hideout around the clock, rotating out every few weeks to post themselves on the road. Last swap happened yesterday, and it just so happens that you have already taken care of the ones that were meant to go out on the road so well done. I know they also have a goblin in the base that works for them, from this 'Cragmaw' tribe for whatever reason."

Halia smiles and speaks up again.

"Don't get me wrong, I like your style and I believe we should be able to assist each other. I'll personally pay you one hundred gold to share on top of whatever amount of coin the town office will surely offer. This town has suffered too much under the heel of the Redbrands and you all seem capable." She turns to a more neutral expression, observing your responses to the entire conversation.

<Squelch> nods emphatically after her offer. <Halia's voice> " ..we should be able to assist each other." He then turns towards the group. <sound of horse trotting> <Halia's voice> "..base is under Trescendar Manor"

Grum nods to Squelch.

"Grista, I believe we owe you an apology. And not just for the mess. When we saw you'd gone after the fight with the Redbrands, we assumed you were in with them and had gone to get Redbrand reinforcements. It seems we misjudged you, so apologies."

The irony of his hypocrisy given his outburst with Trilena earlier is not lost on Grum, and he hopes the others don't make the connection.

"Halia, thank you. Before we go to help deal with these Redbrands, is there any other assistance you might be able to give us?" 

Grista nods, seemingly unmoved.

"I don't have anything other than the information Grista has given you, but I have sent a mercenary by the name of Garr this morning to scout the outside of the manor and look for anything else of value. He should be back soon, and will accompany you to the hideout. Do you have any other questions for me?"

Grum leans in a little closer, and speaks a little quieter.

"I heard there was a bounty on a local band of Orcs. Do you know the nature of the threat they pose to the town?" 

"Yes, the orcs. They belong to a tribe called 'Many Arrows' and they've been waylaying some of the prospectors down west near Wyvern Tor, maybe two or three days away. I'm not sure what their game is, however."

Callie nods at <Squelch>'s suggestion as she listens to the rest of the conversation. Phandalin was certainly a busy place... local brigands, orc tribes, and now signs of goblin influence.

"Well, it sounds like we'll have our work cut out for us, I guess we'll have to look for Garr before we move on the manor. That said, have either of you heard anything about this Cragmaw tribe? They could be connected to the goblins who ambushed us on the road..."

"I know nothing more than that the Cragmaws are a tribe of goblins and bugbears, maybe more. I'm not familiar with how these goblins and such operate but Grista tells me the goblin serving the Redbrands is quite unhappy, maybe you could persuade him to help you. As long as you drive these Redbrands from the town I don't mind what you do with the goblin, provided they do not provide a threat to the townsfolk and businesses of Phandalin." Halia replies. Grista nods in agreement.

"We cleared out a small band of goblins led by a bugbear on our way here. They reported to a 'King Grol', but we left the cave empty when we rescued Sildar. If we come across this goblin, we'll speak to them and see what they have to say if we get a chance. But it seems we're waiting for Garr to return, then we'll make a plan of attack." Grum turns to the group, "Should we go now, or in darkness?"

"Halia, whilst we're waiting for Garr, what do your miners mine? Gold, or gems, or other things? And what do you exchange here? Do you keep what they dig up, and pay them a wage, or do they keep what they mine, and you exchange their gems for gold? How does a miner's exchange work?"

"It seems I was right about your groups capabilities, then. Most impressive. I don't have any miners of my own, but I lease permits to traveling excavators or gold panners; My only employees are those that help me with the shop. As you all know, travelers in the surrounding areas in this town are often attacked whilst on the road, and as such a lot of the minerals and valuable ore is left untouched because of the risk factor. The prospectors then return here where I price their findings and buy them for a reasonable price if they don't want to keep them, but they are the same as those that you guessed-- gold and gems. I then sell those wares to others that come here to purchase materials or pretty gems for themselves. Most of my high-end wares are purchased by travelers since there's not much economy in this town, but I'm hoping that the removal of the Redbrands brings more people to stay here in Phandalin and help everyone's business. As for the records side of things, I do keep registries and permits for the buildings here and oversee the development of new establishments. Just a few months ago I assisted Toblen and his family in setting up the new 'Stonehill Inn' in town, and last week helped them refurbish the common room as well as establish some guard shifts for extra protection." She speaks with confidence and seems a little happy that you asked, then she raises her eyes again, as if shifting thoughts. "By the way, I don't suppose any of you have any valuable materials or are looking to purchase some?"

Before you can answer, the guard that you saw before walks in. "Ma'am, he's returned."

"Thank you, Dane." She says to the guard, then turns back to all of you. "Come, let me introduce you all and show you my wares."

Leading you back into the main hall, Halia places herself back behind the counter and motions to a man standing off to the side. "This is Garr, the mercenary I mentioned to you all before."

Mr_Hydra, please describe and introduce your character :)

Garr is a human dressed in dark studded leather and wears black deerskin gloves on his hands, his dark ensemble further layered by a light black coat. He has two daggers on his right hip and a hand crossbow on the left, and looks at you all with a blank expression.

"Hi, I'm Garr."