<Squelch> shakes his head in an emphatic "no" at Grum's question. He helps himself to Brandor's cooking, tearing off chunks and swallowing them whole. He turns towards the group. <Old man's gravelly voice> "Ya'll did good, see. No don't go lettin' it get to yer heads. This was practice - small time. We gots much bigger fish to fry. The real fun starts tomorrow." He then helps carry the crates back.

"Uh, sure, I'll try it out." Callie takes the offered dagger and steps to the edge of the pool. Instead of diving in as Grum did, she kneels at the edge and places her face under the water. She is surprised at the clarity of the water and the strangeness of the sensation on her skin. Before long she sits up and passes the dagger back to Grum. "That's incredible! I don't think I've ever seen that clearly underwater before."

Callie serves herself a portion of the meal, eager to break her fast. When the time comes, she does her part to carry the supplies to the cart.

Brandor leans back after the meal making sure nothing is left over. "Not my best work but good enough for goblin scraps! Now lets get these boxes move'n." The dwarf hefts a crate and starts hiking out of the cave. 

As they start their hike back to the cart Brandor tells the group of some of his best recipe's. He keeps cycling back to this Underdark Salmon dish that melts in your mouth. 

You all share a meal and bond over your recent victory, feeling refreshed from the well-deserved rest. You all each carry a box to the cart after a hearty meal from Brandor, Sildar helping Squelch carry his load. You all assemble back on the cart and make your way down to Phandalin, the oxen pulling the cart along without issue.

About six more hours along the trail, the rutted track emerges from a wooded hillside, and you catch your first glimpse of Phandalin. The town consists of forty or fifty 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 as it climbs toward a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town.

As you approach, you see children playing on the town green and townsfolk tending to chores or running errands at shops. Many people look up as you approach, but all return to their business as you go by.

Sildar seems much more at ease ."My friends," he says, "let us secure lodgings. I'm told the local inn is very quaint."

(If you guys wished to do anything else back at the cave or have any conversations on the way let me know/go ahead)

Grum will say quietly to Callie shortly after getting on the cart, "That was a much more ladylike approach to seeing underwater. It's interesting, seeing how different people approach the same task. I took a more... feral... approach, you might say. Diving head first, throwing yourself at something, it's a rush. It's almost like the moment in battle where you put your bow away and rush forward, drawing your swords. There's a vulnerable moment between having your bow and your swords out. Just a split second, but that vulnerability focuses you! Like the moment of airborne vulnerability of a dive, without the control of the ground, but not yet swimming... But that's just me. Your approach is much more measured, more controlled. I respect that."

Also, as the cart draws into town, anyone who's paying attention might notice Grum withdrawing slightly, becoming a bit more sullen in anticipation of people's sideways glances. 

<Squelch> draws his hood up and follows Grum's lead, unsure of the town's reaction.

At first Grum's words send a wave of panic through Calyvorra, Does he know? Has he figured me out already? But the moment passes as the half-orc continues speaking. She can't help but think that Grum has his own way with words, a certain frankness that she would like to see pointed at some of the more overblown people she's met in life. "I... thank you, Grum. I guess I've never really thought about that sort of thing before, not in so many words, anyway. I must confess that in some ways I envy your approach, to be able to just... act without having to think things through, just trusting your own gut in the moment..." She can't help but think back to a moment, a few years ago now, when she'd almost paralyzed herself with overthinking. If she hadn't snapped out of it then, she probably wouldn't be here today. "...It really is remarkable. Although," here she can't hide a smirk, "you're probably the first person I've met to describe me as the measured one."

As Phandalin comes into view, Callie can't stop a wide grin from settling over her features. It may not have all the comforts of home, or even a city like Neverwinter, but in spite of her chosen vocation Callie always had a soft spot for civilization. Her smile fades somewhat though, once she notices Grum and <Squelch> becoming more withdrawn as they approach. She turns back towards the town for a moment, then loudly asks, "Hey Grum, what's the strangest thing you've seen in the woods? You too, <Squelch>." In spite of her upbringing screaming at her not to and her throat groaning in protest, she does her best to mimic the sound that <Squelch> used to name himself.

<Squelch> looks at Callie confusedly for a second, then the meaning of her attempt dawns on him. He laughs in a random collection of voices. <Callie's voice> "the strangest thing you've seen in the woods?" <young man's voice with lisp> "They think just 'cause we grew up on the streets we don't know nuthin'. 'Sides, who wants to lay down on a buncha sticks 'n stuff and get eaten bears or whatever's out there, right?"

Grum, distracted by his own feelings, simply replies "Uh... Big lion... Strange..." He makes eye contact with a passer-by and, expecting a dark look, is surprised to see the stranger nod. He dwells on the moment a second longer before realising he's being rude. He'd told himself he wouldn't do that with these folk, so visibly snaps out of it and says, "I was wandering across a plain one day, a few years back, and it of the tall grass came a lion. Pure white. Huge. Eight feet tall, at least. I froze for a moment, not knowing what to do. As it approached me I did the only thing I could think of. I bowed down to it. I have no idea to this day what compelled me to do it - maybe it was just so magnificent it was the only response that seemed fit. But not the smartest move, it could have eaten me whole, I'm sure! Anyway, it bowed back and then ran off back into the tall grass. I tried to follow it, but it left no tracks at all. Not so much as a single broken reed. To this day, the truth of its nature and the significance of its appearance still eludes me.

Other than that, kobolds. Kobolds are pretty weird things."

Grum turns back to Sildar, "Sildar, where is this Inn? Lodgings seem like the obvious first task. And did you say you have a contact with the Lionshields here?" 

"According to Gundren it should be somewhere near the entrance but further down." As he begins to point in a direction you pass a sign hanging above a store front that reads 'Barthen's Provisions'. "This must be the store Gundren hired you all to deliver supplies too. I can also see the Stonehill Inn just two stores down."

(It took 6-7 hours to get to Phandalin? So it's mid-late afternoon at this point?)

"We have time still, let's go delivery the goods. The Inn will still be open by the time we're done there, but the store may have closed by the time we're done at the Inn. And it saves us having to stash the cart safely or worry about it." 

(Yeah its about 2pm)

<Squelch> nods at Grum, who he considers the leader of the group. <Grum's voice> "let's go deliver the goods."

(Assuming you guys go in the store) Inside Barthen's Provisions are various knick-knacks. Candles and candlesticks, rope, backpacks and bedrolls just to name a few. Most of the gear here is geared towards adventurers, it seems. A young human male in fine blue clothes has his back turned, stocking a shelf behind the counter. He doesn’t turn when the door opens, but an older, balding human male comes around from a doorway towards the back.

“Hello friends! My name is Elmar. What can I get for ya?”

"Elmar, nice to meet you. I wish it were with a happier cause. We were hired by Gundren Rockseeker, whom I presume you know, at least as a business associate? We were to escort a load of supplies to you on his behalf, which we have outside. Unfortunately Gundren himself was ambushed and taken captive. Sildar here can tell you more of that, but we have come to complete what Gundren charged us to do. There is a wagon outside with the supplies, among a number of our own things."

Elmar is visibly stunned, ad he places his hands on the counter. "Damn. Gundren was my friend..." He pauses for a moment, looking at the ground, then back up at you. "I'm glad you're safe Sildar, but what of his brothers? Nundro and Tharden?"

"We know nothing of his brothers. We haven't come across them. I suspect he was due to meet them after delivering these goods here, but since he never made it here, I don't know. Sildar might be of more use with that information." Grum adds, looking to Sildar. 

"I know not where they went... When I spoke with Gundren he said they were still in town but if they camped out of the towns limits I fear they may be anywhere."

"Damn. I hope they're alright." Elmar perks up again, recoiling from the news. "Forgive me, I nearly forgot. Ander! Thistle!” The man yells, “get the supplies out of the cart out front!”

Another young human male appears from the back door, looking a little startled and just by looking at him you can tell that this one is ‘Ander’ and the other one ‘Thistle’. They both exit out the front towards the cart, Ander giving a weak smile as he passes while Thistle stomps out without a gaze. "Sorry about Thistle’s behaviour. It’s been really tough these days with the damn Redbrands around. Heres the gold for the lot of ya, as promised.” He reaches down and unlocks a small wooden compartment behind the counter and pulls out a small pouch, handing it to Grum.