FR PbP

It doesn't take more than a half hour to get the bodies is order on the north side of the road as close to the canyon wall as you can. There is plenty of room for a funeral pyre later. 

The immediate battle wss quick and brutal. It is clear that Norman, Eline and Tomi need to rest. 

Rinn you do notice the manticore has consistently seemed to look toward you, toward the line of dead and out toward the plains.

You saw this creature before. You and Ikki had talk to it about food for its mate.

That was one of the first times you saw Blaire both exasperated by and admirably proud of you, all at the same time. It took you a while to realize that was the root underneath that expression of hers. 

You met these three, Robwin, TT and Wolfsong, on that same hill when the dragon attack nearly killed them all.

Now the dwarfs were effectively resting, you were too, mostly, and so was the manticore. 

The others clearly were not.

Not even midday yet. What an interesting day.

Wolfsong looks at the stack of bodies and bows his head slightly, "Though the hunt was short you made for strong prey, may your next hunt be blessed by the Wilds."

Turning to Norman and Eline Wolfsong gives them a good once over, "You fought well but you look tired, you should rest for now. Then next hunt may be even grander."

Wolfsong then turns his gaze to the resting manticore and a small smile forms on his face thinking of this joyous opportunity to test his strength against the mighty beast. 

"Now that you've piled up the bodies, you are going to leave all those orcs there, right?" Rinn says without taking his eyes off the manticore. "I mean, that thing seems to be enjoying its meal and I just remembered that when we saw it last, it talked about food for a mate. We potentially have a buffet there for the two of them," he makes a grand gesture to the macabre pile of bodies followed by a shrug. "Keeps it happy and off our backs at least?"

Robwin calls out, “Whose cart and belongings are these??!… ‘Grayshard’?…There’s some paperwork here with your name on it…. …”.

”What’s to be done with all this gear here??… Where does it belong? Was it on its way here, or off somewhere else?”.

”If need be, when we get back to town we can send a fresh wagon if you need one? Or do you just want all this gear taken inside here?”.

Ironrune speaks up standing, "By the ancients. If it's addressed to Grayshard, it'd be from his cousin. Financing the operation. Didn't know we moved the men to Axeholm and Phandalin with the trouble with the Jellies, the manticore and the dragon." While he says this Grayshard stands up from the wall and the two begin walking over.

Grayshard reads the contract written in common first then hands it back to you.

The content read,

"Dazlyn,

I acquired the supplies you need for an additional three months or until winter gets in. 

The guard detail are all skilled labor with some skill with weaponry and honest folk. They might do well at the site or travel on with the driver to Phandalin.

Their are for trained fighters. Two the driver vouched for. Two the Lords' Alliance vouched for.

Tell that greedy scrub he owes me a few winters. 

D'Tany Grayshard"

Grayshard signs to Ironrune then begins opening and reading the dwarven documents.

Ironrune says to you Robwin, "Grayshard says that common writ is for the driver an wagon team to know basically what they're doing."

"The lockbox there has their pay. An the writs he's reading now has the inventory, their pay, their introductions. Whatnot." 

He pauses a bit signs something back to Grayshard who sighs and responds.

Then Ironrune continues, apparently, the driver knew that fellow Norman's parents an that Lass Eline came with a letter of recommendation from the Lords' Alliance. The other one, Tomi, is a good small games hunter and apprentice woodwork. They had nine all together when they left Leilon. Damn shame."

"We should try to get the supplies back to the camp and see to the horses. I believe they made it into the old building ruin just as the road bends. Hopefully, they're not too damaged."

He signs something else to Grayshard then starts making his way back up the road into the ruins. 

"Um... Mr. 'at or w'atever. W'atz ya name?", Tomi, the three foot five inch halfling addresses you Robwin. "You suppose we could get this tuff back to that camp ya two mentioned wit'out gett'n that beast after us?" 

Tomi looks at Grayshard, then signs a few words in exchange. "My master 'ad a sister couldn't hear. Master Grayshard doesn't speak. Same code signs among da s'eild dwarf clans it seems.", Tomi says outload. 

They are fairly nondescript. Brown hair, eyes and skin. Some inking on their forehead and down the jawline near their ears mostly covered by their disheveled hair. Tomi isn't a person that looks explicitly masculine or feminine. They have athletic trim looking arms, everything else is covered by leather boots, breaches, armor, bracers, and cap. They have their shortbow, a half full quiver of arrows, a dagger and a short sword in sheaths hanging from their belt. 

"My pack is under all that mess, I imagine. Same as everyone else's.", Tomi adds looking cautiously between you (Robwin), Grayshard,  the wagon and the manticore.   

Norman and Eline nod to Wolfsong, "You're right", they say together, then Norman nods to Eline who continues. "You're right, we would probably do better upwind from this mess." If that beast doesn't attack, we should do well. We thought there was a small company or troop here along with miners. We weren't expecting the Orc raiders either, to be sure." 

Robwin answers the newcomers all, “Yes, yes… whatever you need. I’m here to help. We all are…”.

”The manticore looks pretty content for now, and has a fresh supply of meat here, if it wants it. But if it decides to attack, I have a few more tricks up my sleeves…”.

”Come, let’s gather what we can, or what we need. And get to a safe place?”. The last phrase is more of a question to the rest of the party. He looks over to Wolfsong in particular.

He adds, “Oh, and no one approach the ruins just yet!… We cleared out some Jellies but didn’t check the whole place over. We can delve back in there another time, to make completely sure it’s safe”.

Ironrune returns with the team of horses. The one on the left in the middle is slightly scratched up. The other five are fine. "We will clean them up at the camp."

With the help of anyone willing, Ironrune, Grayshard and Tomi lead in rigging up some drag planks. Unpacking and reloading the wagon's content on it and getting it to the minors' current camp. Taking turns to be certain someone is always watching the manticore. 

Now late afternoon trickling into early evening, the stock is at the camp and you have all had a short rest.

"Look, I don't know what you mean to do. I don't like the idea of being under the stars tonight with those corpses at the outer gate and that winged feline about. Do you think you cleared enough to safely move base camp into the temple? None of the other buildings here have head cover.", Ironrune addresses everyone. 

"Not to mention a good number of those raiders ran off. They could be back.", Norman puts in. 

He and Eline saw to the horses once they weren't needed. Eline spent the rest of the time Asking Grayshard through Tomi about the writs, the dig and what they got into in general or asking Wolfsong about the Daraktan, his tribes in the north or his hunts. 

Eline has an inquisitive cataloging manner to her, very different from Blaire in demeanor though the constant questioning is reminiscent. 

"I think temple will be fine for now," Wolfsong answers Ironrune. "I doubt there are any of those slimes left, if there are we have enough here to defend ourselves."

Wolfsong gives a light laugh at Eline's questions, "I admire the Daraktan, they make for get hunters, they are always good to test your strength against, most are up to accept a challenge of strength."

He pulls out his waterskin, takes a draw from it, "My tribe is mostly hunters but we have a fair number of farmers as well as those who train beasts to hunt along side us. There was the blacksmith Steelclaw, the head druid Stargazer, master hunter Wildfoot, all good people. It was good living there but I sought more, to test my strength against the beasts of far away lands, none of my tribe have ever hunted a manticore and certainly not a dragon, the most I have heard was a hunting party that went further north and worked with an elven hunting party to take down a roc." Wolfsong looks the roof of the temple with an appreciative sigh, "The story of Skyraker's hunt is always passed around my tribe, but soon the stories of my hunts will be the ones on everyone's ears"

Wolfsong pats the wolf pelt he wears as a mantle, "This was the prize from my last hunt hunt before I came to the coast. I was not even tracking this wolf but instead a large deer. I had the deer right in my sights, I was down wind, it had no idea I was there. I took aim with a javelin, then just as I was about to throw this beast comes out of nowhere, wraps its jaws around the deer's throat, tearing it open in one swift motion. The deer never had a chance to even make a sound and was dead before it hit the ground. After that I made my presence known meeting the wolf eye to eye, it stared at me blood dripping from his jaw. I tossed aside my javelin, drew my blade, and rushed the beast." Wolfsong holds out his arm showing the silver scars that remain from where the wolf bit down on him, "Nearly took my arm off, but in the end the Wilds favored me, and I came away victorious."

(Will spend 1 hit die to heal a bit more during the rest 5)

TT listens intently at Wolfsong's story. "That seems a very harsh life, constantly having to fight the wild creatures that inhabit the lands. The Daraktan have more of my pity than admiration, having to raid others for survival is a shame."

Rinn crinkles up his nose, "I'm not one for openly keeping the spoils of my endeavours on display. Nor ones so gruesome." He pats his backpack with a smile, "Little trinkets here and there, is all I need." Rinn nods at TT's comment, "You're right. Great hunters they might be, but when they deprive innocent people of their homes and lives, there's not much of a hunt involved, nor much to admire." He chuckles then as a thought comes to mind, "But then, how good of a bunch of hunters could they be, Wolfsong? Considering a little band of misfits such as us was able to scare off a raiding group as this," he sweeps a gesture to the pile of bodies.

Robwin loves Wolfsong’s stories. It’s a world, and a lifestyle, he’s only really ever read about… but it really comes alive when Wolfsong re-lives the events for them…

Robwin helps everyone move just inside the temple entrance for some rest.

He’ll set an audible alarm spell across the entrance (and across any passages deeper into the temple (remembering to allow the party and their new found friends to pass through without triggering it)).

”There!”, he says, when he’s set the alarms, “That should mean we’ll be alerted if anything comes in from outside, or comes through from deeper within the temple passages”.

“What’s next?”, he asks.