"That's the worst performance I've ever seen on a stage. The actors wear all the same ridiculous scarlet costume and won't stop talking nonsense.", Arikon joined the others after they had pushed through the crowd. "It's time to end this farce."

Arikon observed the town's folk to see if they might get some assistance from them. They couldn't be happy about the fact that these bandits had ursuped the mayor's office and the control of the settlement. (Insight 8 to get a feeling for the gathered people if possible) 

Murmen does a double take on Elsa, and frowns to himself.  He must be reaaaally unaware of how humans normally act.

Lyre’s Perception: 24

(Nice, high roll!)

As Lyre watches the Redbrands retreat across a field towards the forest, he spots some blades of grass being trampled by some invisible force. The force continues to trample the grass in a path following the Redbrands toward the forest. 

Lyre is intrigued by these ‘invisible forces’. Knowing that the Redbrands contain troops (or monsters) that have the ability to cloak themselves with invisibility is a crucial piece of knowledge. 

He will attempt to find the rest of the group among the crowd, hopeful that his blue robes will prevent any villager from turning their weapons onto him.

Jeb quickly moves to capitalize on the situation. As the Redbrands withdraw, Jeb turns to gathered locals. He says, "Good people of Phandalin! You have stood up for your freedom to the bandits and tyrants that are the Redbrands. That is cause for celebration and being alert in equal measure. They will not leave willingly and blood may yet need to be drawn. Your mayor was weak willed to allow this to occur." Jeb directs his eyes and the villagers eyes to the former mayor kneeling on the ground where his former captors pushed him as they made their getaway. "He is unfit for the office and the responsibility of leading your fair town. Myself and my comrades are not of your community and likely will not linger after our business is conducted; but we will be in town for a fortnight to support the village. I would suggest you elect a new leader. I would suggest Daran Eldermath. He was the first of you to fight back beyond unfortunate Thel. He seems to be a trusted member of your community and..." Jeb pauses for dramatic effect before continuing, "He has sand. He would have bravely faced down the Redbrands, should it have come to that. And my friends, it may yet come to that." 

Jeb looks at the gathered villagers, many now coming to the realization of what they have done and the unavoidable conflict likely to follow. "Tyrants rarely give up easily friends. But if you truely wish to be free of them you will have to fight them at some point to defend yourselves and those you love."

Arikon observed as one after the other joined them in defiance of the Readbrands. The anxious feeling he had harbored at the beginning of the confrontation, made way for one of sweet relief as he watched the Redbrands retreat from the town center. They had foiled their plans for the moment but he had no illusions about the fact that those bandits would try again to get control of Phandalin. In the crowd Arikon spotted Elsa running for him but before he could react she already collapsed her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Hey!", he chuckled as she slammed into him. "I had no idead that these Redbrands were such a scourge on this town. Have they been troubling you as well?"

It was a nice to hold her, but he still remembered the troubling notion he had seen in her eyes during their previous encounter. The sorcerer somehow wished that he had imagined it, that it was his mind playing a trick on him, but the doubts kept lingering. (Insight 13 as Arikon tries to detect any hidden animosity)

Maglath slowly relaxes his muscles and takes his hand away from his warhammer. He turns and acknowledges the three who stood with him in the front, Jeb, Murmen and Arikon. The people seemed to appreciate the words of Jeb. He knows enough about himself to admit he is far more comfortable intimidating people than he is inspiring them. That would not have helped here. But Jeb appears to be a performer of some sort.

But still, the language contains a lot to him that does not make any sense.

"Why does the half-elf's ownership of sand make him suited to leadership?" he asks Murmen.

He spots Lyre returning to the town square and waves him over. 

Once Lyre rejoins the group, Maglath says to the others, "we should move now while these Redbrands are unsettled. Do not give them time to regroup. Where is this tunnel you spoke of?"

(If Murmen would have the ability to make another insight check on Elsa, he would: 7

Quote from Thoradin_Orcbender >>

Maglath slowly relaxes his muscles and takes his hand away from his warhammer. He turns and acknowledges the three who stood with him in the front, Jeb, Murmen and Arikon. The people seemed to appreciate the words of Jeb. He knows enough about himself to admit he is far more comfortable intimidating people than he is inspiring them. That would not have helped here. But Jeb appears to be a performer of some sort.

But still, the language contains a lot to him that does not make any sense.

"Why does the half-elf's ownership of sand make him suited to leadership?" he asks Murmen.

He spots Lyre returning to the town square and waves him over. 

Once Lyre rejoins the group, Maglath says to the others, "we should move now while these Redbrands are unsettled. Do not give them time to regroup. Where is this tunnel you spoke of?"

 

 

 As the villagers discuss and pursue their newly elected mayor, Jeb moves to join his comrades. As he does so, he draws their eyes to the ousted and completely humiliated former mayor still seated where the Redbrands dropped him. He appears to be in an utter state of shock.

As he discusses with his comrades, Jeb maneuvers so he can also see the former mayor as well. Jeb nods at their large companions suggestion. He says, "Aye! The big man's suggestion is correct. It would be best to hit them soon, before the shock of todays events wear off. What do you lot think?" Jeb looks to Murmen, John, Arikon, and Lyre who is somewhat of an enigma to the gambler. A lifetime of reading faces doesn't quite apply to their new avian friend. Jeb reminds himself to get Lyre into a game of cards in the near future.

As Arikon is held within Elsa' suffocating embrace, he can't discern any hidden emotions. Perhaps his suspicions last time were only a trick of the light? Murmen can't make any conclusions either. Human culture is strange to him. Elsa responds to Arikon, "Yes, they're horrible people. Sometimes they pop into the Stonehill Inn, leering at me and threatening my dad. I wish today is the last time I ever saw them.”

The townsfolk rally around the party, who sparked their will to fight back against the Redbrands.  Barthen yells, "Aye, they're right! It's time we elected someone who truly looks out for us, someone who can lead the fight against the Redbrands. Daran Edermath for mayor!"

Daran the half-elf suddenly looks apprehensive. He looks to Jeb, "No, I'm retired; I left that life behind to tend my orchard and raise my family. I can't..."

His protests are drowned out by the cheers of crowd, who shout Daran's name. Meanwhile, Harbin Wester stands in a state of shock, but as he realizes what is going, he erupts in anger. 

"You can't do this! I've been appointed mayor by the Crown; this is revolt! I only stepped down because the Redbrands forced me to. Now I retake my rightful position."

He turns to Maglath and Lyre, who has rejoined the group.

"Agents, as Mayor of Phandalin I invoke my authority and order you to pacify this mob. I thank you for saving me from the grasp of the Redbrands, but we cannot let another challenge to the royal authority stand! You will be well rewarded- I will personally write a letter of commendation to Darvian to inform them of your deeds; with enough of those, you could attain knighthood."

Speaking of knights, Murmen realizes that Sildar Hallwinter is conspicuously absent from the crowd...

Maglath looks down at Harbin Wester. He remains quiet for several moments, a steadily deepening frown forming on his hard features.

”What sort of chieftain deserves to lead once they have failed?” Maglath asks. “If you believe you can still rule, take it back. Do not ask others to do your work. And do not offer rewards that are unwanted. How many of my tribe will a knighthood avenge?”

Maglath looks around and sees Elsa draped on Arikon.

”Who is your village Lamentor? They should deal with this weak old man. Prepare the long chant and send him into exile. It is what is right.”

He turns his back on Wester and looks to the others. He does not know them but they stood beside him against unknown odds. That is enough.

He senses Lyre has seen something of interest. The small kenku carries himself differently when he is anxious to say something but is unsure how to explain it. When they have a quiet moment, Maglath will ask what it is. But in the meantime they must use this morning’s events to their advantage.

“We must enter this tunnel and home of the Redbrands before they fortify the entrance. Are we one tribe in this?” he asks the others.

Arikon patted Elsa's shoulder holding her close as long as she would like. "Don't worry, it's over for now.", he tried to assure her. "We'll get rid of them for good soon enough."

He then turned to the others and the mayor, that tried to somehow keep hold on his position. "Mr. Wester.", he begann purposefully omitting his titel. "I suggest you accept the townsfolk's choice. Your incompetence in handling this crisis brought this onto you. The crown would also hold you responsible for the breakdown in this community, so it probably would best to step away gracefully as long as all involved parties let you." (Persuasion 8 if it's possible to sway him) 

The mayor scoffs at Maglath and Arikon. "Chieftain? You can't be serious if you hold on to such primitive notions. This is not a question of my competence, only the Queen has the ability to remove me from my position, not the common rabble on the streets. Agents, when you accepted your commision, you swore an oath to serve the Crown and it's representatives. Will you break your oath now?" 

At this moment, the crowd is turning hostile against the mayor. Wester dodges a rock thrown at him as townsfolk begin shouting, "You let the Redbrands terrorize our town. Step down!"

Jeb strides purposefully to the mayor with his right hand upon the well worn hilt of his rapier at his left hip to draw across his body. As he draws near to the mayor he starts to draw the rapier as a feint to catch the mayor's eye and focus. Once he has done so, he strikes the mayor with the back of his right hand. He then stands over the mayor as he sits upon the ground for the 2nd time this morning.

Jeb snarls at the former mayor, "You are a weak pathetic little elf and unfit for the demands of leadership anywhere; but especially in such a place as Phandalin. Without the people of this village standing up to defend themselves, which was your responsibility as their appointed leader, you'd be dead now. The people have spoken and declared you unfit. You are free to make the 3 day journey to Doveheart to report your incompetence; but I doubt you would survive to your 2nd sunrise." At this point Jeb turns to some of the burlier male villagers and suggests that they make the mayor comfortable in one of the cells of the Town Hall whilst the village elects a new leader. Jeb then turns to the core persons of the village namely Barthen, Quellin, the innkeep, and Daran.

"My comrades and I will see to the Redbrands. Can you lot manage the former mayor, prepare defenses against a possible Redbrand reprisal in our absence, a possible Hobgoblin or Orc attack, and select how you wish to govern yourselves.? It doesn't have to be a mayor, form a council of elders or merchants; but you need to govern yourselves in the absence of competent leadership from the crown." At this point Jeb turns to his comrades and inquires, "Are we ready to end the Redbrands threat once and for all?"

Sleight of Hand <Feignt>: 24

Attack <Backhand to mayor>: 4

Persuasion  <To continue the motivation>: 16

As Jeb turns to the crowd, Maglath faces Wester and scoffs at him. For a moment he sees himself lifting the man in the air and tossing him aside. But there is no fairness in that.

He steps into the man’s space, a looming imminent threat. He bumps into him and glares down, eyes full of coldness.

”The Lamentor has spoken. The Long Chant has begun,” he says. “Your usefulness to the tribe is done. Hold your head high and leave.”

(Intimidation: 16 )

He hitches his shield and walks from the center of the town square towards the Inn.

Murmen crosses his arms, and snorts disgustedly.

"I'd leave now, lad.  I fer one won't stop a brick from brainin' ye right here."

Lyre seems rather scared and anxious, his feathers ruffling and his head darting to glance in directions every so often. He looks like he is attempting to explain something, but the current situation at hand prevents him from accurately formulating his thoughts. While he seems to nod with Jeb and share the opinions of the townspeople, he immediately begins cowering when Wester mentions sending word to the Queen - he is certain that if he mentions a Kenku aiding the upheaval of authority in the town, his head will be put on some price; however, if he manages to follow the small group to defeat the looming threats to the town, he will be in better shape with the Crown. He watches the mob’s behavior and Maglath leaving for the Inn. He will attempt to spit on the ground in front of the mayor like he has seen others do, but encounters some difficulty from his beak, and will awkwardly remove himself from the square and towards the Inn, beckoning with his hands for Jeb, Arikon, and Murmen to follow, quickly mimicking,  “Time here...done. Ready to end the Redbrand threat?” before pointing in the direction of the Inn. 

Lyre will additionally look for some sort of Crossbow, ideally a Light Crossbow. He’s hung on to the three bolts that were pulled from himself and Maglath, and is looking for an upgrade, whether that be one dropped from the fleeing Redbrands or in a shop somewhere.

Investigation if needed: 6

Maglath sees Lyre's distress, as he approaches. He nods slowly, guessing at what may be bothering Lyre.

"No Queen will miss that one," he says gesturing back at Wester. "His time is done."

Maglath shifts his bulk, stretches his arms out, and rolls his shoulders, loosening up for the day ahead.

"We agreed to hunt goblinoids and find a druid. No more."