Lyle shrugs helplessly.
"I'm a troubadour, not a linguist. That goblin spoke some common. His grammar was awful. I'll see what I can do with this one."
He makes his way to the goblin and crouches down, staring at it.
"You talk, you maybe live. Understand?"
The Goblin nods at Lyle Kreemuk talks to humans. Kreemuk likes humans. No eat!
Bec rolls his eyes. Like humans?
The makes some impatient sounds with his sword, as if to say: Finish this quickly, but he still keeps quiet, waiting Lyle do the talking.
Who you work for? What you do here?
The Goblin looks at Andrei and says Kreemuk work...Kreemuk work...Kreemuk work..Kreemuk work for humans! Kreemuk do what humans say!
"Tell us more about Cragmaw Castle. Who is in charge there and where is it?"
Big Boss Grol, him chief Cragmaw! Kreemuk walk... the goblin scrunches his face as if this part is really hard for him to figure out One. Day with sun on right in morning...Long walk. Feet hurt. Humans not hurt Kreemuk feet, Kreemuk work for humans!
Insight:
History:
I think the Goblin is saying one day's walk north is where the Cragmaw "castle" is located. About 20 miles north is an abandoned village...could this be the castle? 20 miles is POSSIBLY do-able in a single days walking but it would be a terrible pace to travel at.
Its saying it works for humans - could it be there is a human behind this?
In any case lets bind this one for later punishment and questioning and take the heads back to the village and see about borrowing that wagon to get these trade goods out and back to the trading outpost - these Blue Lions, right?
Lyle looks up at the group and shrugs.
"Fair enough. And I think he's just trying to indicate he's cooperative. And so a day's walk north. I think we've got enough out of this guy. Do what you want with him. I want out of this cave."
Morgran listens without much comment prior to Andrei and Lyle's last comments. "Aye short legs and 20 miles sounds like a forced march to me. But then again these guys are nothing but grunts in someone else's army. Andrei we're still missing Gundrun so I think delivering these goods may have to wait. We can alert the local constable that this is here and cleared out. May even still get a cut for securing it for them and ridding the countryside of these troublemakers."
Kreemuk says Kreemuk come with humans. Kreemuk work for humans! Kreemuk like humans! No eat!
"Aren't we resting?" Says Bec, packing his things and prepared to follow the others. "I woulda want to go back to village. Buy food for more days of travel."
It shouldn't take long to recover these goods Morgran and we do need rest and supplies. It also wouldn't hurt to ask more about raiders in the village but first things first... Goblin? What happened to the dwarf you captured? Did he go to this castle or somewhere else?
Kreemuk think Klarg give DwarfieHuman to Boss Grol. the goblin replies
And Grol is at the castle right? Why did Grol want the dwarf?
"Let's head back to town and rest up. I'd prefer a soft bed to camping in the forest."
"I agree. A night in town to rest up and gather supplies before we head to this Cragmaw Castle sounds like a good idea. "
The party makes the trek to Phandalin after resting a few hours. It is almost dusk by the time they arrive.
They find themselves at the Stonehill Inn sitting around a table, enjoying food and drink.
"Food!" the big man says devouring his meal at the inn. "Rest this night and leave first light tomorrow, right?" he says between big bites into his meal.
Morgran enjoys the meal with the others at the tavern, "Looking forward to a good night's rest, perhaps we should leave after making a few purchases for our expedition. Most of the shops are no doubt closed this time of night. I for one would like an extra handaxe, and perhaps some thing else will catch our attention while we look."
I'll report into the Mayor - he needs to know of this threat and that its been addressed. Wouldn't hurt to understand this town a bit better either.
True to his race, Lyle devours what looks like three times his own body weight in food, spending the evening gesturing with a drumstick while he regales the group with tales of epic heroism.
"And so the Crown of Destharius lies to this day, waiting for the one true king to claim it."
Lyle lets his words hang, and then realises most people aren't listening to him.
"Yeah sure, talk to the Mayor."
"I will speak with the factor from the Blue Lion Merchant's Guild to arrange for their pick up of their goods in the cave, and perhaps a small reward for us for finding it! I also wish to speak with Elmar Barthen about what we are doing to rescue Gundren, in case his brother's show up looking for him."
The innkeep, a man named Toblin Stonehill, is most generous with his foodstuffs and beer. As the party sits around their table a they overhear a few rumors
Elsa, the gossipy barmaid, says to another patron Did you hear about Daran Edermath's recent exploits? I hear he isn't done with his adventuring days.
Lanar, a miner, says to his drinking buddies I hear theres Orcs on the Triboar. Worsen they've ever been...hear the Townmaster is lookin for someone to run em off.
However, a large portion of the gossip and talk in the common room is about a gang of miscreants known as the Redbrand Gang.
You hear how they hassle the businesses of the town, and beat up those who won't pay. The Townmaster has seemed reluctant to do anything about them...
The innkeep, a man named Toblin Stonehill, is most generous with his foodstuffs and beer. As the party sits around their table a they overhear a few rumors
Elsa, the gossipy barmaid, says to another patron Did you hear about Daran Edermath's recent exploits? I hear he isn't done with his adventuring days.
Lanar, a miner, says to his drinking buddies I hear theres Orcs on the Triboar. Worsen they've ever been...hear the Townmaster is lookin for someone to run em off.
However, a large portion of the gossip and talk in the common room is about a gang of miscreants known as the Redbrand Gang.
You hear how they hassle the businesses of the town, and beat up those who won't pay. The Townmaster has seemed reluctant to do anything about them...
These miscreants, these Redbrand Gang? Tell me more.
For the most part Morgran is quiet throughout the meal. Although at the comment about the orcs he leans over to Andrei..."That mightin be something worth lookin into," he says between mouthfuls "You're gonna talk to the Townmaster anyways right? Might not hurt to check in on that Edermath fellow as well if'n he be having some new adventures"
I'll be sure to ask the town master Morgran - good idea
One of the locals responds to Andrei The Redbrands are a right bunch of bastards they are. They used to just be a small nuisance, but ever since this "Glasstaff" shows up, they got larger AND more dangerous. Hell, they've killed a man! And now his wife and child turn up missing. They hang at the Sleeping Giant, a dive of a place if I say so myself, not like this fine establishment.
"Orcs, goblins, mercenaries - quite a lot for that Daran fellow to clear up, quips Lyle as he drains another mug of beer.
"But these mercenaries... mercenaries work for someone, right? Or are they just hanging out in town and starting fights?"
Having returned from his task of speaking with the Blue Lion Merchants and Elmar Barthen, Duncan listens to the others speaking with the locals.
"Sounds like a typical shake down! Trying to sell protection to the locals, even if it is just protection from them. Should we step in, or do we need to get to this castle and rescue Gundren?"
"Somthings not right about those mercenaries Lyle, why kill the husband and then kidnap the wife and kids. Whose to pay the ransom now? As for Duncan's question one might be essentially the same as the other. If they have gotten bolder here lately we might want to check in on them. Sir? what can you tell us about this fellow Glasstaff, sounds like a mage's name to me."
"Are we playing as heroes now?" Bec asks the others, not that he minds if there's profit and fortune. Who knows? Maybe he'll find a pretty girl that needs rescuing and she will fall in love and they will...
"When do we leave?"
No one knows who Glasstaff is. Very mysterious like...very few have even seen em.
I say we turn in for the night friends and address this tomorrow - much to do and investigate. Maybe Lyle and Bec can look into this talk of the Redbrands? Morgran and Duncan you can look into the trading consortium and for rumours of those orcs? I think we still need paying for delivering that wagon of goods too and we'll likely need some supplies.
I'll see the mayor and then we can meet up here for lunch and to report on what we've found?
Or would you perfer we go as a group and tick each one of these off the list as a group?
Lyle frowns.
"Isn't our first priority to head for Cragmaw Castle? We've got a kidnapped dwarf, going to be hard to get paid for our work if our employer is being held prisoner."
Duncan nods his head in agreement.
"We need to rescue Gundren from the castle! Once I have spoken to the traders in the morning, I intend to head off to this castle. I hope I can count on you to help me?"
Sleep sounds best right now, in the morning I'll join Duncan at the consortium, we will need supplies for such a trip anyways. Who knows perhaps they'll have an extra axe laying around." Morgran says, the last even has an accompanying grin despite the long day.
Lyle - I thought the supplies would be paid by the shop in town here and not by Gundrun. Worth checking out in any case
At the end of a long rest, a character regains all lost hit points. The character also regains spent Hit Dice, up to a number of dice equal to half of the character’s total number of them. For example, if a character has eight Hit Dice, he or she can regain four spent Hit Dice upon finishing a long rest. A character can’t benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period, and a character must have at least 1 hit point at the start of the rest to gain its benefits.
So we were both kinda right....you heal up fully and restore 1/2 your spent Hit Dice.
I'm waiting for actions from the party. I need you to post once per 24 hour period.
The following morning Lyle arrives downstairs, packed and ready to head out.
"Come on, let's get to the Castle!"
Morgran is packed as well, but not quite a gung-ho to run out the door
"Aye to the castle we'll be heading but a few things need to be be tidied up afore we go. Duncan's going to talk to the Blue Lion traders and let them know about the cave and their materials there, might'n even get a reward to boot. Andrei's going to talk to the local constable who knows what he'll find out their.I'm going with Duncan. Oh yeah and the way you were putting down the roast last night you might want to rent a wagon to pack your rations." Laughing he clasp a friendly hand on the halfling's shoulder "Just jerking your chain Lyle, at least on the last part. We'll be leaving shortly though. Can you go let Gundrun's brother at the trading post know what's going on before we leave?"
After a nights rest, Duncan heads out to speak with the Blue Lion Traders to tell them where to find their cargo. He follows Morgran as they both walk to the traders compound.
Andrei asks after the mayor or town master and reports to him on the goblins. He also asks him about these 'Redbrands'.
Morgran and Duncan head to the Lionshield Coster
A middle aged woman stands with a parchment, making counts of things. She thanks the Adventurers profusely for their recovery of the trade goods. Please take this. And let me know if there is anything I can do to help you! And please, stay clear of the Redbrands they are nothing but trouble.
Andrei heads to the Townmaster's Hall
The mayor, a banker named Harbin Wester, says Good news that! Those goblins were pests for sure. I've heard you brought one with you back? If you are in the mood for more work, there are Orcs near the Wyvern Tor that is stirring trouble. The town would pay any adventurers 100 Gold Shields to end the threat of the Orcs.
Regarding the Redbrands the man says There just a mercenary guild, nothing to be worried about.