Jeb turns to the group and asks, "To the tunnel that Carp mentioned? Perhaps fortune will favor us and we can catch them unawares."

"Agreed," Maglath says. "Where did the boy say the entrance was?"

Jeb replies, "The secret tunnel is behind some thickets, next to the mansion according to the young man who found it."

Lyre will nod along and follow the group, fully hoping any money earned will be split among the group, and that their new companions will help Maglath and himself in their original goal. He's happily spouting another more jolly tune from what sounds to be, of course, a Lyre.

Looking at Lyre, and listening to the tune he is singing, Maglath responds to Jeb "We are ready."

Jeb says, "I must admit that I myself do not know the location. We must speak with the Halfling lad. He is the one who told us of the secret entrance." Jeb starts to lead the party to the halfling farm.

The party arrives at Alderleaf farm, a small plot located in the southeast of town. In the fields, you can seen Qelline Alderleaf hard at work harvesting crops. Meanwhile, Carp plays with his wooden sword in front of the farmhouse. 

When he sees the party, Carp brightens up. "Hello! I saw you in the town square standing up to those ugly thugs. Do you need my help in fighting them off?" 

Jeb can't help but to smile at the small scamp playing. He shakes his head no as he kneels down to be easier for young lad and his mother to communicate without having to crane their necks too much. He says, "No little man. We need you to keep your mam safe. But we could use your aid, Carp. Can you tell us where the secret tunnel is? I recall you mentioned it was behind some thickets, next to the mansion. What should we look for to identify the correct thicket, lad?"

While Jeb talks with the young halfing, Maglath keeps watch. In the near distance, past the stonework that edges the eastern side of the farm and past a few trees, he can see the ruins of an old manor on the top of a steppe. That must be the mansion they are discussing he thinks to himself. 

Moving beside Lyre, Murmen, and Arikon, he nods his head towards the ruins.

"If I led them they would have sentries watching. We should move back through the village. Come at them from another direction. Lose time but keep surprise."

It was a good feeling to get recognition from the townsfolk. Such appreciation from so many people was new to him. After they had finished their business at the shop, he followed the others to Carp's home. 

"We should do that.", Arikon agreed, "But let's not forget that this is a rather small town and we can't be sure about the allegiances of all its people. It's possible that we won't go unnoticed no matter what way we take.", he replied to Maglath. 

Murmen nods.

"Would be surprised if some o’ the townsfolk weren’t spies."

Carp droops a bit. "Aww, I really wanted to go with you. It would've been my first real adventure."

He looks back at his mother, sighs, and nods his head. "Okay, then you'll have to take care of the bad guys for me then. In the woods behind the manor, there's a big sycamore tree. It's special, since it is the only white tree I've seen in the forest. Search the thickets around the tree. You'll find the tunnel." 

He goes back to slashing the air with his wooden sword. 

"Be sure to tell me if you get into a battle!" 

Quizzically nodding his bead at Murmen, Lyre turns to Maglath. "Come at them from another direction?" he says, pointing towards the establishment and tracing a circle with his hand. It seems he would like to make a circle of the place to scout the perimeter before approaching. He then recounts his sighting of invisible footsteps, signifying that even if there were spies, invisibility would be an issue.

Lyre will then inquire if Carp's parents were equipped with arms to defend themselves incase of an invasion. If they are not, he will donate his old shortbow, arrows, and halfling-sized Leather armor.

Maglath nods at Lyre.

"Good idea," Maglath says. "Lyre will scout ahead. We can go north. Say we are going on the Triboar Trail. Find the hobgoblins. Cut off and come at tunnel from the north and meet Lyre."

He shifts his pack and makes ready to head back to the town square. But then turns and looks at Jeb.

"You are quiet when walking, like Lyre. But good at talking."

He shrugs.

"Help Lyre or help tell village we are leaving. Both would be good."

Armed with the key feature to be alert for thanks to Carp, Jeb agrees to Maglath and Lyre's suggestion to approach the manor and the passage via two directions. The three original members from one direction and the two crown soldiers from the opposite direction.

Jeb nods his consent to the gargantuan goliath and his agile avian companion. Jeb says, "We divide to cast confusion and doubt. Then we gather at the secret entrance to hopefully take them unawares." Jeb flashes a smile at John, Murmen, Arikon, Maglath, and Lyre as he continues. "They say fortune favors the bold. Be bold my friends! Let us show Fate what bold adventurers we are!"

"Two directions is good. But I am no help to Lyre. If he needs to climb a mountain," says Maglath, "yes, I would help. If he needs help in a fight. Yes. But not being quiet. I am noisy."

He puts a hand on Jeb's shoulder.

"You and Lyre can go where ones like us," he gestures to himself and Murmen and both their armor, 'can not."

Jeb nods as understanding dawns in his eyes. Jeb says, "Good idea! Very well, Lyre and I will scout out the perimeter of the manse where they are likely hold up at. You three can perhaps spread some confusion in the marketplace about being on a seperate errand and we'll all reconvene at the white tree. I'd prefer for us to enter the manse as a group."

Jeb and Lyre head towards the mansion, passing over the remains of an old stone wall. Climbing up the hillside, they arrive at the deserted manor grounds. The decrepit building still holds a sliver of it's former grandeur. One can only wonder what Phandalin was like all those years ago. 

The two rogues begin searching the perimeter. They find plenty of fresh tracks which lead inside the building, obvious even to an untrained eye. What do they do next? 

Maglath, Murmen, and Arikon head north through the Town Square. They attract plenty of attention on the way as townsfolk stop to greet them. When they pass the Stonehill Inn, Elsa peeks her head out and waves at the party. Meanwhile, Barthen walks the street in armor, carrying a spear and a buckler. It seems he's been drafted in Phandalin's new militia.

He stops the group and says, "Hello! You seem to be in quite a rush. Are you going somewhere?" 

Maglath stops and looks down at the man who has stopped them. His instinct is to ignore him and continue walking but they are to attract attention.

"North. We will make sure the hobgoblins have passed by Phandalin," he says in a loud gravely voice. 

"Greetings, Barthen!", he gave him a curt nod. "Yeah we'll see if we can teach this hobgoblins a lesson. Maybe they won't bother the town, if we hit them hard enough."

Arikon noticed Barthen's arms. "But you seem ready to hit someone hard yourself.", he said trying to change the subject.