The townmaster ignores Damian's remarks about the extortion but replies, "Tales range from their being eight orcs to twenty orcs. Some people say they have seen an ogre in their group. All stories seem to state that they have made their lair in Wyvern Tor."

Upon hearing Saravena's remarks about sending the Redbrand Ruffians to the deal with orcs his mouth falls open agape, "I... erm... they don't do... that is to say.. I haven't asked them yet."

Sildar shakes his head before placing himself between you and the townsmaster, who is turning a deeper shade of red by the moment.

"I'm glad that you came to find me, I have a request for you that I can pay you for handsomely. It won't be out of my own pocket but this will be paid for by the Lord's Alliance. But first, what did you come to speak to me about?"

Rashana just stands behind the group and let them talk. Since, she is not a kind of the talker herself. She suddenly feels the familiar tickle behind her neck. She then mutters to herself. "Yes, I know. There seems to be problems in the town."

From the doorway, Tagret turns his head inward as Sildar addresses them and responds simply with "Gundren and his secrets.....but we can discuss that over an ale....what is your request?" being as obtuse as possible given the townmaster's allegiance to the mercenary guild which is obviously a concern for Sildar, and switching the topic back to Sildar....

Sildar frowns at Tagret's attempts at secrecy, but shrugging his shoulders, "I fully intend to help the Rockseeker brothers find Wave Echo Cave, that was on Gundren's map. He was telling me all about it on the journey here. Though he wouldn't reveal how he came to be in possession of this map.

Though Wave Echo cave is supposed to be a mine full of riches and magic treasures. It will certainly attract many people to the area to, at  the very least, see the Cave after all this time. This will bring money into Phandalin and therefore bring prosperity.

Unfortunately, as you are aware he did not make it here to Phandalin without incident. I would have certainly died if it wasn't for you lot. So I would have you journey north to find this Cragmaw Castle. I believe that you will find Gundren there, if not then you might be able to find more information as to where he might be.

I would travel with you, but I initially was coming here to find a friend, another member of the Lord's Alliance. A man by the name of Iarno Albrek, a wizard. Unfortunately, he stopped communicating with the other members of the Alliance about two months ago. Around the time the Redbrand Ruffians started showing up here I believe. Now since Harbin, here, is being a stubborn old fool, I will have to talk to the rest of the town's people to try and track him down. Someone somewhere must be the last person to have seen him before he went missing.

Though as I mentioned, there will pay a handsome reward for you if you mange to clear out Cragmaw Castle. I think five hundred gold pieces would be enough. As to where you should start looking for the castle, I suggest you start by searching around Triboar Trail for any more raiding parties. I doubt that the one that ambushed Gundren and I, and later yourselves, is the only one. If you find another raiding party, you should be able to find out more information from them. That is unless you have managed to find out more information yourselves already."

"Hmmm... North of Triboar Trail. Well i guess it's better than nothing. I think i know a black smith in Triboar. Thanks Sildar." Turning to Harbin "Do you happen to know where this Wyvern Tor is? Just in case you ask your "RedBrand" to help and they decided not to."

The size of the reward certainly gets Tagret's attention and after listening to Sildar he responds "We did capture one goblin who told us that Cragmaw Castle was to the north east of where you were taken, so heading up Triboar Trail is as good a starting point as any....if we agree to the ask.  I am willing....what say the rest of you?" 

OOC: Our goblin friend indicated that Cragmaw Castle was north east of the goblin lair 

The reward amount also catches Saravena's attention but she tries her best not to let it show, "I would be perfectly willing to help. Mister Rockseeker was our employer, to leave him to die would be immoral."

"Well..." begins the townsmaster. "Wyvern Tor is in the far north east, you will see it if you follow the Triboar Trail east to Conyberry."

"Thanks depending on what happens we might check it out." Turning towards Target and the others "Well of course we have to find Gundren. I plan seeing this through, then maybe we could deal the "mercenaries" later." Damian confidently poubds his armor with a big smile on his face. "Let's go to a new adventure!"

With Sildar giving you instructions to look for Gundren at Castle Cragmaw, you leave the townhall. You start heading north through Phandalin, and come across the group of men in the town square. They glare at you as they approach as if to judge you. However, they do nothing to halt your path, just watching you as you go. Other people of Phandalin seem to avoid the group of men, even the children. All give them a wide birth as they go about their day.

It is slightly buisier in Phandalin at this time of day. Children run around playing games, whilst the adult walk through the town with intent, to go about their business.

The shortest route from Phandalin to the Triboar Trail is through the northern exit, which you have passed through before. Though now would be the time to make any final prepartaions for you adventure ahead before you take on Castle Cragmaw.

As they walk through the town Saravena keeps an eye on the men judging them but does not make a move unless the men turn hostile first, but keeps her hand close to her crossbow until they are a fair distance away. "I really do not like those men," Saravena sighs once they are out of earshot. "I would hazard a guess that they are part of mercenary band Sildar was talking about. You would think they could do more than just stand around judging people."

Rashana looks over her shoulder. "People seem to be afraid of them. Not kind of protector I have in mind."

"Maybe we will do something about that as well....Sildar did not seem to like the mercenaries either.  But let's finish any business here and be off.  I need to pick up a couple of days rations, and a couple of grappling hooks and maybe some climbing spikes....I don't like the prospect of trying to go through a castle gate."

OOC: Anyone think it is worthwhile to see if anyone in town knows anything about Cragmaw Castle - might be good to have some idea of what we are heading toward?

OOC: No idea if it is an actual castle, but Tagret will head back to the trader to see if he can get the following, and see if any discount is on offer, before finding the others and heading out of the northen exit toward the Triboar Trail.

50' rope (1GP?)

20 x Pitons (1GP?)

2 days rations (1GP?)

2 x grappling hook (4GP?)

DM Note: @Muggshill are you going to Barthen’s Provisions or Lionshield Coster?

I think we should get better treatment at Lionshield Coster, given we have located her missing inventory, so Tagret will go there.....and look to leverage their good work....

Pursuasion 16 (and if Adv 9)

DM Note: You did also delivery goods to Elmar Barthen

Tagret heads back to Lionshield Coster, inside Linene greets him warmly before discussing business.

"Well, I don't have any rations, I'm afraid. Though I do have everything else."

Linene then walks out back to fetch the rope, pitons and grappling hook.

"Hmm, well normally, this would cost six gold pieces, but I can let this go for four gold pieces."

"Thanks Linene....." Tagret turns to leave, then turns back and asks "You don't know any stories about Cragmaw Castle by any chance?"

OOC: Forgot to add a hammer for the pitons - will need that as well....

"Or anything about recent occurrences on the Triboar Trail?" Saravena adds to Tagret's inquire. "We heard about some orcs being spotted around there, you hear of anything else we should keep our eyes out for?"

Linene raises an eyebrow, "That is a lot of questions for such an early time in the day. Let me think. There have been a number of attacks on Triboar Trail. Ambushes mostly, by goblins I believe. That is when those Redbrand Ruffians are not attacking those on the trail, though they seem to be more concerned with the people in Phandalin.

As for Cragmaw Castle, I have never heard of it. Though I have heard stories of sightings of orcs. Some have even been attacked. Though if they were attacked by orcs I would think they wouldn't survive the encounter. Which then begs the question, where do those stories come from? At any rate they are supposed to have been seen around Wyvern Tor."

Rashana is scratching her lips and says. "It seems like there are many problems around the town? No one ever tried to deal with them?"