Thread by @Shadumura

On friday, I got to resume my lost mines campaign with Salazar the Tiefling Paladin of Tyr! We pick up where our group left off, having gotten done with a long rest as they work to decide the next plan to move forward with.

Sildar suggests escorting him to Pandelin in exchange for 50g but before anyone can go anywhere, the group still had the bugbear to deal with. Having gathered up their belongings, they backtracked to the cave area that had one final room in the back, an alcove lied in wait.

It was Lho-Vahn that spotted the goblins and wolf lying in wait, first. Battle commences! Poor Sal, got crit hit by a wolf and went from full hp to -9, but didn't full out die. Sal dirtnaps as his allies fight and kill the goblins. Lho heals Sal as he gets back up...

... only to get knocked out again, by a combination of ray of frost to the back of hte head [from Vaz] and a smack of a morning star to the front from the bugbear. Sal would be healed again and see Zurk down but when trying to get around the bugbear, Sildar would strike at it...

... and the bugbear begins to fall. Sal sees it begin to fall and leaps off the wolf's corpse, going over to Zurk as he expend a few lay on hands healing to get him back up. After doing so, Sal looks around the alcove room and Sildar points out that all the stuff is stolen!

The goblins have been stealing for months, and Sildar tells us that if we bring the cart to the cave and load it up with all the stolen goods, we could get extra for our efforts. The group agrees and we go down the tunnel to the base, passing by three wolves still chained up.

The group stopped & think about using the food chute that went down from the alcove, to the wolf alcove, where the dogs were chained. If the wolves were dealt with, it would significantly reduce the time it would take to transport the goods from the cave to the cart. They do it.

Lho-Vhan used Sacred Flames on the first wolf, until the chain broke. And battle started once more. Each chain that broke, the wolf that comes at us would be after the wolf that goes down. Lho-Vahn would go down but Sal was ready... with the morningstar he grabbed from bugbear.

The mace found contact, laying in wait behind the pillar by Sal, as Naz pelts the wolves with rays of frost. Eventually, the three wolves would die and Sal would spend his last few points of Pally Heals on Lho-Vhan. The next hour & half -- instead of 3 -- was spent loading cart.

As the wagon was finished being loaded, Sildar asked the group where were they planning to go next. The group realizes they were going to Phandalin on original orders, so they let Sildar drive them to the town, as the group rested.

Sal was slightly annoyed that Zurk sat out the entire fight and was severely tempted to shove him into the river coming out of the cave, as he passed. Sal said nothing and did even less, to Zurk, but remember for next time. Chaotic Good does not mean Chaotic Nice.

The group would reach Phandalin by evening and with the party exhausted, Sildar suggests they go to the Tavern/Inn for the night. The group agreed and go next door from the cart, to the building. As the group entered, the tavern was a ruckus, with patrons and various things.

As each individual entered, they were greeted [in various levels of annoyance or friendliness] by several individuals, including most definitely a red headed bartender [if anyone's been following my tweets on my misadventures, you know WHICH bartender this is].

So Ared greeted us from behind the bar. Being tired and exhausted, Sildar tells us that we'll go over payment in the morn and to get our rest, having deserved every bit of it. A noisy elf sits in the corner, and it's obvious the patrons don't like him. Bit of an ass, that one.

Naz, Lho and Sal sit up at the bar and ordered some food and drink. When inquired, Lho and Sal ask for stew. Beef. Ared goes to the back and brings out the meat for the pot and preps two bowls. Naz is... doing Naz things [at this point too tired to care] and I pay for my meal.

Sal and Lho pick up their bowls. Hmmm, pretty warm but I like that [fire resist makes con check pass even more fun]. Sal finishes his mead and the discussion shifted to rooms. Apparently, there's only two rooms left, so people would have to bunk up for the night. Fine with Sal.

Sal is used to bunking up, having come from the Winter Guard, living in cramped barracks meant being smart with space usage. Brings a sense of home to him. Sal pays for the room for the night and him and Lho go to the room, retiring with their stews and getting some sleep.

The next morning, as Sal gets up and puts his chain shirt on and his gear -- while Lho-Vahn left the room first, he started noticing strange glows. His shield -- which is painted in the balanced scale of Tyr -- had a green glow on one side of the scale & a blue one on the other.

It was as if gems were being weighed on the scale but the glow was very subtle. He concentrates on it and his mace starts glowing white. Something starts to click in his head and he stops concentrating. All glows fade away. He pulls out his prayerbook and journal combo and prays.

After a moment, in certainty, he gathers his belongings & leaves the room, having made the bed and tidied it up prior to leaving. Apparently I have more power granted to me by Tyr. Sal thinks back to the impaled Goblin. "Theres no justice in a drawn out death" he nods. Walks out.

His companions are already conversing with the patrons of the tavern and the bartender. Sildar is there and a few notable figures. Sal isn't paying much attention. Sees Naz order a platter of fruits, cheese and vegetables & asks for one as well, from Ared. Quiet boy runs around.

Apparently, the boy is the bartender's grandson and the other redhead working in the tavern -- at a desk managing papers -- is his mother. The elf mouths off and Sal sees the bartender zap him with lightning magic! says the next time won't be harmless. That was interesting.

Sildar, at that point, talks to the group. He thanks them for saving him and also helping bring back the storegoods stolen from the town by the goblins. He tosses the first payment [50g] to Naz but Naz doesn't pay it any mind. It lands behind the counter and Ared picks it up.

Thinking it was a 'tip', he goes to pick it up and add it to his pouch. Sildar and Sal both pipe up -- after Sal watched the pouch fly past and infront of him -- and Ared sighs, taking a few gold coins but puts the pouch infront of Naz. Sal picks it up and slides a coin to Ared.

A small exchange was had between Ared and Sal. Sal gives him another gold coin, as apology for Naz and some flirting was had. Ared is cute but Sal has his hands full at the moment, both with his group and now apparently needing jobs to mind the downtime while in town.

The group talks with the patrons of the tavern, seeing what oddjobs they can assist with: Sal talks with the miner and apparently orcs have been raiding the trail heading out of town. Lho talks with the weaver and apparently redbrand bandits killed a woodcarver. Family missing.

The miner points out to Sal that the Townmaster would know more about the orcs and the Hall is nearby the tavern. The tavern owner, Stonehill [didn't catch a first name] also thanks the group for the recovered goods. Gives 100g and this time Naz accepts the gold pouch.

Apparently, another patron also pointed out how the priestess of the Shrine of Luck -- Sister Garacle -- went missing and returned bruised and hurting in the following night. Sal goes to the boy drawing. It was a drawing of a farm, with briars and trees and... bandits?

Apparently -- Ared says -- the boys has been drawing places he's never been to, having never left far from the tavern. The boy is also mute, as we learn from the bartender. Makes a hand gesture with his head. I mind it not. So Sal talks to the boy...

... the boy, after a few questions, tears up the picture of the farm with a cave flanked by trees and brairs, and redbrands, and shoves it into Sal's prayerbook -- as soon as Sal opened his to join the child in maybe possible chat and draw. Patron says the boy speaks in pictures.

So the group gathers up and compare notes: A priestess going missing and returning hurt; a dead woodcarver and his family are missing. The redbrands bother all except the miner's exchange and it's owner [Strange...]; orcs are raiding the trail and talk to townmaster for more.

The elf occasionally comments and finally we had enough. In a discussion between the group and the last few patrons still in the tavern, the redbrands would raid the town but the elf ranger was the only one strong enough to deal with them... and did nothing.

Yeah, I can see why the town doesn't like this guy. They also mentioned that the elf's father kicked him out of his home & the ranger doesn't do much around town, except being a bother and nuisance. The group was deciding how to go about their jobs & if they take the elf with....

And that's where we stopped for the session. We overshot by a half hour or so and the elf ranger was a new player that may or may not join us. Without any judgment -- he is 14 years old and you can imagine how he made his ranger -- he may get one shots with our DM in near future.

For now, the main group will not have the ranger join the party. For now. Will Sal and Ared hit it off? Will they find the place shown in the drawn picture? will Sal and Lho-Vahn talk about why Lho came to Sal & stuck to him like glue [Sal was leaving Neverwinter when they met]?

Find out next time in....
LOST MINE OF PHANDELVER!

@threadreaderapp unroll