"Alas Gert" Fionn says with drama "tis at the bottom and needs refilling post haste

Hearing ‘nectar’ and ‘flask’ Peter pipes up as he pulls a flask from one of his pockets and takes a really big swig. “I have some if any anyone ‘ould like ta’elp themselves.” Holding it ahead of himself as he clambers out from under the wagon. Keeping his eyes fixed on the goblin. 

To Gert “Let’s see ‘ow the rest of the journey goes. Not sure I wanna risk gettin’ shot all ta time.”

(Then we definitely continue our travel, at least Gert will push that decision)

Peter did not have to offer twice and though the drink was nowhere near anything that could be defined as "nectar" it went really good with the deer. "Thanks, need that after that cave. Well, we still have some road ahead and Sildar, I'm sure, is dying to see some more non-goblin faces. Shall we go then?"

Cadence brushes dirt and dust off of her after helping carry everything about.  She looks a bit sweaty and sorta put out. "Oh gods! Lead us not into illusory charms. Deliver us of our avarice to hoard. For all that is born and made, must consign to death and come to dust."  

She approaches the cooking venison, "I would please like some meat."     ...  There's a pause for a few seconds.  Everyone slowly pauses what they're doing to look at her. Another couple of seconds pass.  "For me to eat." 

She smiles, and gets to eating. While eating she says, "In a couple of hours I'll recall Pine. By then of the castle, hopefully he's seen a sign. Until then, do we resume our trip, or do we set camp for the night and you can all sleep for a nip?" 

Fionn pipes up mouth full. "I vote wme headth to town"

"We are almost there and it's barely afternoon, I say - we go. Your bird can find you anywhere, I assume. Have a mercy on on our guest and employer's friend, let him get to civilization."

Cadence gives Gert and Fionn a thumbs up. She finishes her meal, waving her hands and letting the grease and food from her hands vanish. She cleans a grease spot off of her shirt with the touch of a finger. She pats herself down, the dust and dirt vanishing until she's again pristine. Then she looks to the group to continue their journey to town. 

As Peter would pull out another shiny flask, Nova’s eyes would narrow on it suspiciously. She’d watch as it’d get passed around, confused as to why everyone seemed relieved by its presence. This ‘nectar’ they called it. It smelled like burning and shocked her into a wolf! Why aren’t they shifting? Nova would crane her neck to look some more, but when food was mentioned, all attention on the flask and its substance was lost. She’d perk up, trail behind and hover over Cadence and Gert as they found the helping of venison. Her eyes would go big and sulky as she’d wait her turn for her meal. With full cheeks, she’d point to Fion in agreement when he’d speak up with his own full mouth about voting to head to town. Nova agreed to going to town back inside the cave when they discussed returning the goods.

Velda is still withdrawn after that combat, but happily sits down to dig into some of the venison, and even happier when offered some of the 'nectar'. How she missed good northern brew! 

She didn't think that the fight would get to her that much. Well, not the fight itself, but fighting. She washer usual self, precise and undaunted. But now that the adrenaline had subsided... it took all her strength to hide her trembling hand as she ate.

Hearing the mention of moving onwards to Phandalin, she simply nods in assent, her cheeks filled with venison.

After a brief meal of venison and about 30 minutes of loading the wagon with everyone’s help (including what remains of the deer). The assembled group makes its way back toward the road. It’s rough going on the goblin trail and takes roughly the same amount of time to get back to the road as it did to get to the cave.

As soon as the wagon reaches the road, Hugz dives into the back of the wagon to stay out of sight. Not wishing to be seen and killed by any people you may pass on the road to Phandalin. Sildar sits up front next to Peter and the two converse jovially for much of the journey. Those paying attention can sense that Sildar is anxious to reach the town and is genuinely glad to have been rescued from the goblin cave. (feel free to post what your character did on the journey to town).

You pass a few people on the road during the journey and Peter waves to them happily saying “ ‘leasant day to ya!”each time. The first person that you pass appears to be an older human female with short, curled, black hair with the most vibrant color green eyes. She glares slightly as Peter offers his greeting and says nothing. As she passes, the more perceptive among you detect a faint smell of sewage. Nova in particular notices this…

The second individual you pass, maybe an hour or so from town, appears to be a fisherman. At least that’s what you surmise from his clothing and fishing rod. “Evening!” He replies to Peter. As he gets closer to the party you notice he’s bald wit grey eyes. Upon seeing a half-orc amongst the group, He approaches Velda stating “You look like someone who could use this.” He unhooks a Pike from his waist hands it to her and continues on his way.

The last person you come across just outside Phandalin is a younger looking human male who introduces himself as Charles. The things that stand out to you is his diamond shaped hideous face, very long auburn wavy hair, green eyes and oddly … an extra thumb on his right hand. Seeing you headed towards Phandalin asks “I could use te help of hearty adventurers, like what you folk seem to be. Dealing with a group of ruffians trying to take over town.” He looks at you expectantly for an answer …

Fionn.curls up and sleeps in tje wagon

"Already on the job, pal," Gert used the time they had at their hands to fully rest - it was supposed to be a severall hours road with so many eyes on the look for a danger, he surely could relax a little (despite all kind of smells assaulting his senses now). "Diamond in the rough" on the road interrupted a relatively pleasant evening. "Unless your ruffians happen to be the same we have our eye on. And even in this case - have some goods to deliver first, as you see. Walk with us and tell what the problem is. Usually, when someone is going to "take over the town" - it's the problem for an army, not a handful of caravan guards you just saw. You don't even know if we are not part of that gang of yours."

Cadence continues her zig zagging irregular walk from town, often rushing ahead and then stopping for a period, still and listening to the air. When the first person glares as they walk past, she curtsies and says, "Fear not that which has come anew, but trust there can be good in what you view."  She winks and continues on her way. 

When the fisherman offers his fish to Velda, Cadence, from the far side of the wagon shouts, "A FISH A FISH A FISH!  Your kindness sir we shall try to repay in full...ish."  "A POLEARM A POLEARM A POLEARM!  Good sir, we'll try to repay your weaponly charm!"  

When they finally encounter Charles, and Gert replies, Cadence slowly pads over, doing a bit of a zigzag.  

"I think not he means the goblin we slew, when he talks about Ruffians in town, did you?  Where are these foul men you speak of sir, we shall ensure that we give them a good stir.  Tell us though, for it truly matters, who do they ally with in town, and defiance scatters?" 

Velda spends the first hour of the trip almost manically cleaning her kit and sharpening her sword, before, more relaxed, she dons the armour again and heads up to the front to take a seat next to Peter, to better keep an eye on the road. 

When she's handed the pike by the fisher, she looks thoroughly puzzled, before handing it back: "Too long to do me any good, keep it to yerself, if ye know how ta use it."

She didn't pay any particular attention to Six-fingers Charles, once she determined that he was unlikely to be a threat. Gert seemed to have the situation handled, and as far as she was concerned, she just wanted to unload the weapons and get the money for her protection contract, before she could be on her way again, further inland, before heading back north.

Fionn benefits from a short rest then.

The fisherman takes the pike back from Velda and as he walks past the wagon quietly lays it in the back along with a couple pike(fish). Then continues on his way. You hear him whistling a jaunty little tune until he is out of earshot.

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.

Charles continues conversing with Gert “I hadn’t thought of it that way sir.” He walks along the cart as it continues into town as Sildar and Peter are anxious to make it to the Stonehill Inn for the evening. Charles continues, “But I don’t think you’re with them sir. … They all wear red cloaks you see  … and I don’t see a one among you. So surely you aren’t part of the Redbrands sir.”

At this point in his speech you notice a building on the left side of the road with a sign saying ‘Barthen’s Provisions’. You see a lean balding fellow standing facing the road conversing with two other’s (seemingly teenagers). Looking up and seeing the wagon approaching calls out to Peter “Good to see ya again! You’ll have to come back in the morning. I just closed up me shoppe for the night. Inn’s a few buildings down the street on yer left. Can’t miss it.” Then goes back to conversing with the two boys who give him a nod and quickly disappear out of sight.

Sildar seems much more at ease.

“My friends,” he says, “let us secure lodgings. I’m told the local inn is very quaint.”

 Stirring from the back. "Did i hear talk of an inn?"

When Charles and Gert continue talking, while ignoring Cadence, she shrugs, and with a heavy sigh, goes back to her odd walking pattern. When they get to town, Cadence summons Pine back to her, and asks her bird for an update on the castle.  After which, Cadence wanders along behind the wagon just looking around curiously, while always listening for something.  

Gert gave a side glance to Cadence - surely she did not expect that simpleton to understand her ... elaborated speech (lets put it like this). He turned his eyes back to Charles: "Don't fret, we are not your flashy bandits. But why are you stopping strangers on the road instead of speaking to any kind of authorities here? And what by all gods, do they want with that place, that Redbrands?" He looked around quite skeptically - if the answer to the first question was obvious (what authorities?),  the second one remained a mystery.

Fionn attempts to sneak one of the fishes into the seat behind Velda

Slight of hand 9

Velda, still quite jumpy, notices Fionn's attempt at a prank. With very quick reflexes, she pins the fish to the seat with her dagger, the blade point just a hair's width away from Fionn's now trembling hand.

"Don't like Pikes... or pikes."

With that, she turns back around, scanning the town and noting the major ways in and out, escape routes, and the potential hiding places around the ruined buildings. This place was exactly the sort of thing she had been looking for. Maybe she could stay a bit longer, make this a base of sorts.

With a sudden interest, Velda turns to Six-Fingers Charles: "Six-Fingers, I can help ya. What's in it fer me though?"