4 of you formed a little caravan with a man who was leaving from Waterdeep to Phandalin at the same time as you all. The man introduced himself as Josepeh Gars, and invited you to travel the road together for safety and company. Josepeh was accompanied by hired guard who was walking bhind the cart while Josepeh himself was driving the front and leading a donkey who was pulling the cart.

Josepeh: "So what bussines draws you to phandalin? You lot looking like some of those prospectors that keep coming and leaving from there. You would think that given the circumstances, there won't be many new faces in that area looking for luck, but i know that sometimes you have to take risks when opportunity shows itself."

Elrora Bistanthelas listens carefully while Josepeh speaks, folding her hands serenely in her lap as the caravan makes its way along the road. She certainly isn’t heading to the town of Phandalin for ‘prospects’ or ‘opportunities’ — at least not in the sense that the caravan driver is assuming.

The Elven woman is about as fortunate as they come. As the crown princess and rightful heir to an Elven kingdom, she has never had to go searching for luck. All the riches she could ask for had been bestowed upon her the moment she entered Toril. And for that reason, she doesn’t introduce herself to the party as Princess Elrora — not yet. She doesn’t want them to know she comes from a different walk of life, even though it’s obvious from the regal way the Elven beauty holds herself, scarless hands resting atop a fine dress and clean blonde hair spilling upon her shoulders like a platinum waterfall.

She’s headed for the town of Phandalin because her wishes are beyond that of gold and jewels, business or even power. She has plenty of that to go around. No, the princess has longed for adventure most of all, the opportunity to serve the citizens of Faerûn not from a faraway throne, but by giving her blood and strength right alongside them. Those are the prospects she seeks. And so, Elrora responds with a gentle smile, saying, “If the business is danger, then yes.”

The silver dragonborn gives a smile. His face that showed scars for past fights and some blue birthmarks is extremely friendly.  "I am always on the look out for a good place to show my skills" he said while doing some trick with his weapon of choice, a well-used but in perfect condition yklwa that was passed from generation in his family. "Maybe my renown as a mighty gladiator reach the Sword Coast. I am coming from Port Nyanzaru on the island of Chult. I won the annual competition three years in a row. They call me The Silver Blade".

He sheathes his weapon, as shiny and clean as his chain mail and his shield - appearance are always important his gran'pa was saying. Indeed, Goraseth was wearing fine clothes, a combination of shiny silver armor and blue and white clothes, revealing a bright symbol of Bahamut on his chest.
"Believe it or not, I have always been a person of faith and I think the Grandfather of Dragons has things for me to do up north of Waterdeep. Also I wanted to see a bit the world, Chult is a small place and I was getting bored of jungle". Goraseth looks around to see the reactions, he does not want to say to these strangers he heard voices and had visions - they might take him for a fool. But he is certain Bahamut has plans for him.

"Say again Josepeh, why are you going to Phandalin. Just trading ?" he continues

After introducing himself as Tryncaryn, a wandering monk and scholar, the small halfling had asked Josepeh if he could sit on the cart as he walks slow and wouldn’t add any noticeable weight to it anyway. He travels particularly light, no armor and no large weapons beside a reinforced walking stick. Sitting at the back end of the cart, he stared at the horizon where the road meets the sky until a bump in the road woke him from his stupor just before Josepeh started to talk.

Tryn fishes a dagger out of his pack and proceeds to pick and cut his nails. “Unless we take action, often the road that brought us defines where we go,” he offers cryptically. “Gideon Levens, my mentor, suggested that I offer my services as a calligrapher to the town of Phandalin to see more of the world and get some practice in drawing certificates, licenses and contracts.” 

"ah...yes d-danger. Sure there is always some danger outside city walls, and even within them when you think about it. If it is the danger you seek, I guess this direction is as good as any" -says Josepeh visibly confused by hearing such response from an elf with such appearance. Then mutters a little bit like he is not sure if it is a good idea to make that comment:
"anyways, i would stay close to mr. Silver Blade if i were you. Speaking of which... Yes mister Silver Blade, the business for me is simply trade. There is a shop in phandalin that I occasionally supply with some stuff from the city. Not usually hiring a bodyguard though. As for the place on the cart mister Tryncaryn, I personally do not mind, and as long as I won,t hear complaints from Jess -/pats the donkey as he says her name /-
then it is ok. And I wish you well in your paper work, they mind need your services at miners exchange or maybe you could be of use for mayor, although I heard he is quite hard to get lately. And what about you mister? Care to share with your travel companions a bit?"
/asks jauntily addressing Janaan. And loosing smile immediately after, in fear of getting such ominous answer as from elf lady./

Janan was a little lost in thought, enjoying the scenery, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of nature. He almost forgot he was supposed to be on guard. He heard them introduce themselves. The elf and dragonborn certainly seemed like capable guards. He was appreciative of that - truth was he wasn't much of a guard. But it was coin, a way to travel with people that wasn't awkward and that made it safer. 

"Gideon Levens"

Javan paused for the briefest moment, falling behind by a step, as the halfling in the cart uttered the name. "Did you say Gideon Levens?" He asked, upping his pace to get closer to the halfling. "He was my mentor too! It was a while ago. I'm Janan, what is your name?"

"Yeah, that's his name. He tutored me in basic wizardry and guided my studies. It was him who suggested that I go to Phandalin, too. The world offers the best lectures," Tryn imitates a deep voice and prods a pair of books sitting next to him, "But that didn't stop him from giving me assignments for the way, too." He looks up to the human and says, "I'm Tryncaryn Teafoot, it's my pleasure meeting you, Janan. Tell me, was Gideon so hard on you, too? I mean I like reading and the library's books were almost all interesting but what an ordeal to write essays about them."

Nestled in the rocky foothills of the snow-capped Sword Mountains is the mining town of Phandalin, which consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings. Crumbling stone ruins surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past.

Phandalin’s residents are quiet, hard-working folk who came from distant cities to eke out a life amid the harsh wilderness. They are farmers, stonecutters, blacksmiths, traders, prospectors, and children. The town has no walls and no garrison, but most of the adults keep weapons within easy reach in case the need for arms should arise.

Visitors are welcome here, particularly if they have coin to spend or news to share. The Stonehill Inn at the center of town offers modest lodging and meals. A couple of doors down from the inn, posted outside the townmaster’s hall, is a job board for adventurers.

When coming out of density of a forest road, and experiencing some clearing of fields, some of you see far away in the distance south of Phandalin something in the sky above mountains. Hard to ascertain from that distance, and yo seen it only for a little while, not certain what kind of creature could be seen from that afar.

As your group closing in on Phandalin, Jaseper says:

"Well, it was pleasure to travel with you, I will be around Barthen's Provisions concluding my bussines and leaving back tomorrow. Wishing you best luck in this place of opportunities and uh-uh danger as well. My advice to you folks - when facing danger it is best to not do it alone. Keep together and watch each other backs, and maybe all of you bring riches and fortune back home"

(OOC) - Feel free to explore Phandalin, i will update map in the campaign window with names of locations after you become familiar with them.

“You don’t mind that I tag along, Jaseper? I’d need a fresh set of supplies for my trade.”

Should he agree, Tryn will walk next to him, asking: ”Have you been here before?” and “Can you point out the various locales?”

"Oh sure, by all means. Here on our left we got our destination already, and i need to take care of the delivery first. The Phandain is not that big though, and most usefull places are just along the very road we are walking right now. If you follow that road loosely southwest next place you find is Stonehill Inn on your left. Going further you will come across Lionshield Coster which is a place where you could find some means to defend yourself, and not far from there is Phandalin Miner's Exchange. That would be about it if i am not forgetting anything... Oh right right i forgot about Townmaster's Hall. You can find some job offers on the board by the Townmaster's Hall. It is just across the street from Lionshield Coster - hard to miss. Every place o told you about has a sing on the building so i doubt you can miss it."

"Job offers and the Townmaster, you say?" Tryn's ears lift up "Perhaps, I'll have a look there first. Won't do if I buy my supplies and then find that they already have someone doing that job. Thanks for the company, Sir! Thanks for the ride, Jess," he says and pets the donkey on the side of its belly. He's glancing expectantly to the other fellow travellers in case someone would be likeminded and join for the short walk. 

Anyone who goes to the Townmaster's Hall can see these fliers pinned to the board:

Goraseth gives a good handshake to Jaseper. « Well thanks for the ride, it has been a pleasure. ». He looks around. This little village looks good, better he expected. « First thing first my friend, I’m going to book a room for me at the Inn. I’m happy to share with you if they are shared bedroom. Then we can meet and have a good ale tonight. ».

The Dragonborn then heads toward the tavern, but decided to do a small detour to the town hall to check the job board on his way.

OOC: sorry, a bit rough around the edges, cannot format. I’m on the holiday road in the car 😃

"Looks like the inn is on the way to the townmaster," Tryn calls to mind the information from their merchant road companion. "I'll go with you and wait a moment outside of the inn for you to check in, then we can go to the townsmaster."

Climbing down from the caravan with the hem of her dress raised delicately above her fine leather shoes, Elrora listens carefully to the merchant while she glances about the humble Phandalin. ”Thank you for the trip, good sir,” she tells Josepeh with a light curtsy, unaware of the effect her earlier words had had on him.

She then turns towards Tryncaryn and Goraseth, listening quietly while they discuss their plans. Although the Elven woman is eager to check out the job postings beside the Townmaster’s Hall, she supposes it would be best to secure a room at the Stonehill Inn for the duration of their stay in Phandalin. “That sounds like a good plan, both of you,” Elrora chimes in with a smile, clasping her hands behind her back. “Would it be alright if I joined, as well?”

« Of course, the more the merrier. I forgot : where are you from Elrora ? »

Goraseth starts to walks towards the Townhall and starts reading the different jobs. " A few easy jobs it seems, might be worth spending some time here. I notice they keep talking about a dragon. THAT is unsettling..."

“Oh, I come from Evermeet,” the Elven woman replies, keeping her tone light and airy as she walks beside Goraseth and Tryncaryn. “It’s rather far from here.” The Evermeet Kingdom exists on another plane from the Sword Coast entirely — and it is one the Elven princess is intended to rule one day. But if the group of new companions had yet to discover her true identity, Elrora desires to keep it that way. She is a Fighter now, not royalty.

At the mention of a dragon, Elrora practically glows with intrigue. She places a delicate hand on the Dragonborn’s arm, looking up at Goraseth in excitement. “I witnessed your gladiator challenges during our stay in Waterdeep, you know. If there’s anyone that has the strength to slay a mighty beast, I’m sure it’s you,” she tells him with a smile. And if Elrora can join him, all the better, she thinks. Rescuing Phandalin from its plights with a dragon would truly make her an adventurer, maybe even a hero — which she finds to be far more valuable than a princess.

“Wait. You want to slay the dragon?” Asks Tryn Elrora when he hears her praise Goraseth. “You can’t be serious. Also all the jobs here are sending warnings to evacuate from it. If we decide to stay in this town despite the imminent danger of a dragon attack, I think at most we help to save people. I didn’t come here to offer myself to the dragon’s diet.”

Goraseth nods at Elrora, "Well thank you ". He add a nice bow to the thanks. "I did not know you saw me. Waterdeep tournament was really exciting. I can see from your gestures you have what it takes to be a good fighter it seems. I am looking for a sparing partner, if you are tempted later on"
He switch quickly to Tryn. "You might be right, a dragon can be a mighty foe. We should collect as much information as possible. Small jobs could be useful to get some money for good weapon or armor. Let's see if anybody is home." He then quickly jump in front of the door of the townhouse and knocks hard three times.

Waiting to see if there's any response, Goraseth thinks to himself  "A dragon... could it be why he was sent here ? Maybe, but that does not sounds like it would be the end of the world. There might be more to the story..."

"Oh, definitely!" Janan replied to Tryn. "Many a day I cursed that man for his many - many - assignments. However, looking back I am thankful. He taught me a lot. He was a good man." Janan's mind fills with the memories of his time spent as Gideon's apprentice. Practicing spells, essays, and long discussions, well into the night, over a pot of green tea. He missed that, much as he hated all the studying it was still a good time.

In his nostalgia he barely notices their arrival to the town. He breaks from this and thanks Josepeh as the group start towards the inn and townhall. He follows and only after following a short while does he realise he should probably ask, "Mind if I join you, too? Jobs are easier to do together - especially if a dragon attacks."