Standing over the bodies of two dead orcs is a tall Dragonborn with scales like Topaz, clad in chainmail. Held in both of his hands is a maul with its head now dripping in blood. "Good day, gents. Name's Xenophon. I trust that I've saved you fine fellows from a bit of trouble by dealin' with these orcs."

Mr. Dark spins about and steps out of the hallway so the others can reach the foyer.  "Well. That's mighty fine of you. What brings you here?"  Mr.Dark listens for anything that may have been making that sound that followed them from the village. 

“Seems that way. Perhaps we should’ve had someone keeping an eye out for trouble while we explored this ... uh. Temple was it. Abattoir or some such right?” Scott looks around for confirmation. 

Who was that? What's going on? stammers Hansel. He can't see past Auric and Scott, and doesn't seem willing to push past Norbus, so instead stays in the hallway.

“Some bloke calling himself Xenophon.” Scott calls back to Hansel. “Says he saved us some trouble with some orcs.”

"I was sent after you to ensure that nothin' ambushed you while you were explorin' this temple by some acolyte's assistant. I think her name was Fae."

Mr.Dark doesn't seems about half-way through Xenophon's sentence when she begins to mention 'temples' and 'acolytes' and promptly mutters, "Mmmmhhmm, somethin somethin, someone someone......bored now. Man, Hansel is going to faint when he sees your shiny scales.  Anyway, where were we?"  He sighs heavily as he looks at Xenophon, then shrugs, "Hands are dirty, s'ppose you'll get yer share of the treasure. Come on, there's more of this place to see still." 

He wanders back through the main room to the passage, carrying his hooded lantern with the flaps fully open and walks down the passage to the intersection, and waits for the others to go by.

Scott tries to recall if he remembers hearing the name Fae anytime recently. Intelligence: 11

Auric:

"Fortunate are we few, to find allies unlooked for, against threats unanticipated," says Auric keeping his light source high and moving back towards the sounds to greet this new arrival.

When he gets there and sees the Dragonborn, he immediately bows and greets his Brother in Scales in the language of Dragons.

Draconic:

     “So someone whose name you don’t remember, but who is an assistant to some big shot acolyte gave you orders and you followed them?” Kaemgen asks, apparently more skeptical than the others.  “Acolyte of who? From where?  Dragonborn, dwarf or what?”

     Kaemgen looks from the newcomer to his companions, to the dwarves and then back again.  Hearing Auric addressing them in presumably their own language, Kaemgen waits to hopefully get more answers…

     “Not that I mind an extra blade around… just seems weird someone sending aid when we’re barely even a group to begin with,” he mainly mutters to himself.

Welcome, friend, Hansel says with a cordial smile as Xenophon comes into view. The more the merrier, eh? His greeting certainly lacks the excessive admiration he showed to Auric. But unlike the indifference of Mr Dark and Kaemgen, which is likely due to their unwillingness to further divide the loot, Hansel's is more due to the obvious fact that Xenophon simply doesn't project the same glamour or mystique as Auric does.

Xenophon responds in kind to his fellow Dragonborn

Draconic:

 "I mean, I didn't just do it because the acolyte's assistant told me to. She also paid me a few gold coins to do so. Nothing much, but enough to make the job more attractive than sittin' on my hindquarters and stayin' home."

Auric:

Seeing his scale brother's handiwork, Auric responds (in Common, out of courtesy for his other companions), "Thou hast done well to guard us this day, though we are just embarking on our journey into the secret places hidden here.  Please, join us and add thine prowess to our own."

From somewhere down the dark hallways of the ruins Mr.Dark's voice echoes back to the group still chatting at the front, "You guys coming?"

     “But acolyte to who?  Was this in town or…” Kaemgen was still puzzled.  

((If this is just a hook to join you up with us, then Kaemgen shrugs and presses no further.  Otherwise, Kaemgen is curious if this is connected to the figure who dropped the cards on the table and the sense of being followed MrDark has had…))
     Letting the issue drop ((for now?)) Kaemgen gives a grunt of acceptance and then moves back into the secret passage, following the sound of Mr Dark’s voice.

Norbus clears his throat and looks around as if he were looking for the source of the scream before starting to whistle. He’d take long side step strides as you all talk and work your way back to where you were. Dipping down, the dwarf would search the pockets of the dispatched orcs. Eventually he’d scamper on back to the group.

Opening the door to the eastern passageway, and after much time, and anticipation, you reveal…

A partially collapsed room!

Dazzlyn hovers over Kaemgen’s shoulder whispering observations in his ear. It appears an earthquake collapsed part of this room. 

Will you investigate?
Psst…

Auric:

After aiding in investigating the room, Auric says, "There appears to be nothing of use here; shall we move back to the main room and choose another path?"

Mr.Dark looks into the blank room, and looks a bit crestfallen, and then waits for someone else to search it. 

Seeing nothing eye-catching, Hansel also departs the room without further ado. He is more interested in talking to the newcomer. Although not as glossy as Auric, he is still the latest novelty, and Hansel is curious about his background. So what brought you to Phandalin anyway? Have you been here for some time, or did you arrive recently? Do you know anything about this dragon that has been terrorising these parts? I notice you have a bit of flaking on your brow ridge; have you ever considering eucalyptus oil?

     "But wait, what's this?  There is rubble!  We have found rubble!" Kaemgen says, in his best excited voice... "The finest, high quality dwarven rubble..."

     Kaemgen turns and joins the group in moving to one of the other non-explored passages they had discovered. To keep things methodical he suggests door # 3.