Saravena nods in agreement with Damian's remark about the Red Brand as they make their way through town.

Seeing the inn as full as it is Saravena leans close to Tagret, "I think it may be best to old off on speaking about the mine here, after we eat we should try to get a room or something, we can discuss things there." 

After any answer from Tagret Saravena joins Damian at the table giving a nod to the half-elf, "Thank you for letting us join you." Saravena gives a light laugh at the half-elf's comment as she takes her seat, "We are a motley crew aren't we, and you are correct we are not locals." Saravena holds out her hand, "I'm Saravena, alchemist by trade, pleasure to meet you."

Tagret responds with a simple "Agreed....leave it with me, you join the others"

Tagret approaches the barkeep and asks "Do you still enough rooms to sleep our party?" and then follows up with "And what about a private tap room, anywhere where we can eat, drink and talk without company"

OOC: What time is it, I would imagine that it is mid morningish - or have I lost track of time given a lack of sleep?

(Yeah, mid morning)

The barkeep smiles, "Yeah, there's still rooms left. In fact there's only two of the six that are currently occupied. You'd have to share though."

"I would rather we find Sildar first," Gundren insists. "It will save time repeating ourselves if we find Sildar first."

He then reaches in to a pocket and pulls out a coin purse, and tosses it on the table.

"Any way, that's a little reward for you. One hundred and twenty five gold pieces. It would be twenty-five gold pieces each if you hadn't lost one of your numbers. I'll let you sort out who gets what.

Though I think you should try to increase your numbers."

He then turns to Maerys, "By the looks of that dagger, I would say that you're the adventuring sort as well. Would you be interested in joining us? I can offer you great reward."

"Charmed. I'm Maerys," She replies, taking the elf's hand and giving it a firm shake. "As for you... Gundren, was it? If you want me to lend my blade to your cause, you'll have to give me some more information. 'Great rewards' are all well and good, but plenty have been sent to their deaths for less. Tell me what it is you desire, and if I find it a worthy enough cause, perhaps I will join your motley crew."

"Well, firstly I intend to find a man by the name of Sildar Hallwinter," Gundren explains. "He was my companion on the road to this town. That was before we were ambushed by goblins."

Gundren shoots another look at Bitnose who sitting at the other end of the table.

"Should be simple enough, he should be in town here. I wouldn't be sending you to your death by finding a man who should be close by. That is where we can talk more. There's too many ears here, anyone could be a spy."

"So, you'll reward me greatly for finding this Hallwinter of yours, who is already close at hand? Well, that'll be easy gold. I'm inclined to accept. You must be quite important if you think people are spying on you; I'm guessing there's more to little Phandalin than meets the eye. A gang of thugs controlling the town, goblin ambushes on the roads, cryptic dwarves with secret missions and promises of gold... Strange things really are happening here. Very well. I'll tag along until your man is found. After that, we'll see how special this to-do of yours really is before I get involved for certain."

She catches Gundren scowling at Bitenose, then looks over to the goblin and speaks to him in his native tongue.

"Easy gold is known to lead to uneasy paths," Saravena chuckles. "We took a job to transport some supplies to this little town, easy enough, and now have found ourselves navigating two goblin hideouts and finding some...interesting connections...but that is talk for later, for now we eat, we rest, then we continue our talks."

Hearing Maerys speaking goblin catches Saravena's curiosity, "You speak goblin, interesting. What brought you to learn that, if you don't mind me asking."

Gundren raises his hands in protest, "No, no. The first step is to find Sildar. I can't reward you greatly until we finish the job."

Bitenose replies back to Maerys

 Bitenose then shrugs his shoulders.

Seeing Gundren's eagerness in finding Sildar, she says to the party. "I guess we should find Sildar for now. It seems to be really important to Gundren."

Maerys nods,  replying in goblin.

She looks to Saravena and gives a small smile. "My teacher was one to support an... extensive education. Many magical treatises and historical records, especially old, potentially forgotten ones, are written in a variety of obscure languages; he had quite a few goblin manuscripts. I can read them quite well; speaking them is more difficult. My accent could stand to sound more natural and I mix up the tenses at times, but I know enough to understand and be understood."

"Don't get your beard in a twist, Gundren, I was only pulling your leg about the reward up front... You've piqued my interest, but I'll make my decision about joining your group in earnest after we find your precious Hallwinter," Maerys sighs, looking to the rest of the group. "So, do the rest of you have names? I know manners in the North are in short supply, but I thought I'd at least get an introduction."

“Sorry, sorry,” Damian says as he finishes he Ale “The name is Damian Strongshield, cleric of Mordain. This here is Bitenose my new helper when I work the forge though I haven’t forged anything in a while.” Damian is a young human wearing chain mail with a shield and mace. “Well let’s pay for these rooms and go find Sildar.” 

From where he is at the bar Tagret turns around to size the half-elf up for a few seconds, the looks to the others "A little convenient to have a willing ally appear out of nowhere....what's to say she is not another one of those creatures from the castle?" before turning back to the newcomer, straightening up to his full goliath height and resting his hands of the pommels of his hand axes "I go by Tagret....and as for manners, well you called it, there are things afoot here that we cant be too careful about, and you are no exception for now"

Tagret turns back and hands over the coin for the rooms for the night, then starts for the door "Let's go find Sildar, I want to know what we are getting into. Gundren, I presume you know where he is most likely to be...lead the way"  he finishes, holding the door, inviting the others to get up and head out

Bitenose replies,

 He then turns to Damian, "You can also pay me my gold piece for the day."

Gundren lets out an exasperated sigh, "Fine take care of the rooms, then we can go find Sildar."

"I'll take care of the rooms; I've only just arrived and need a place to rest anyway. Consider it a down payment to earn a portion of the goliath's trust, since apparently there's some notion that I am some sort of shape-changing monster in disguise," Maerys scoffs, heading to the bar and finding the innkeeper. "I'll take however many rooms you have left for myself and my new compatriots over there."

She puts three gold down on the counter. "This should suffice, yes? You may keep the change."

“Right, here ya go buddy. Don’t spend it all at once haha gummy they taste better than this.” Damian slides a gold coin to Bite-nose “I think we should get you some equipment Bitenose but we’ll save that for a later time.” As Target starts trying to intimidate Maerys “Target stop being rude, Gundren was the one to ask for her help.” Shaking his head “Sorry about him, Maerys.” 

The barkeep shrugs his shoulders and pockets the three gold pieces.

Saravena hops off her seat at the table and joins the others at the door, "Well our best bet to find Sildar I think would be to check the townmaster's hall that is where he was before we left, arguing with the townmaster. If he is not there then I would assume the townmaster would know where he is."

"If you are going to get Bitenose some gear after I'll join you," Saravena comments. "There is something I am hoping I can find somewhere in town."

After settling everything in Stonehill Inn, you leave the establishment in the hopes of finding Sildar. However, as you head back into the street, you see four armed ruffians waiting for you. All of them are humans wearing grimy red cloaks, their hands on their weapons as they watch you.

One of the ruffians spits on the ground. “Time for you to leave town. You brought an agent of the Lord's Alliance into town, and that makes Glasstaff uneasy. Give us your stuff, and be on your way.”

Tagret is instantly on guard as they are confronted but rather than instinctively attack the threat he restrains himself for now "Gundren, Damian...your call" and his hands go to handaxes on his hips but he does not draw them...yet.

He does look around for any other threats, figuring that sending just four against the group is really not enough. He is looking for archers or similar that might be targeting the group as well.  Perception check 9

“Oh I’ll give you something you fool. I’ll give you the bad side of this mace if you don’t walk away! You think we don’t know about your deal with The DEAD King Grol! I suggest you tell this Glassstaff he’s next if you all don’t leave!”

Intimidation: 16