Part 2: Phandalin

Wish is momentarily surprised to see the gag still in the wizard's mouth. *But of course, we wouldn't want to leave him able to speak his magic...*

So he thinks to Hollow, hoping that she's "receiving:"
:::Hollow, can you communicate with Iarno here while we ask questions? I'd feel safer than letting him speak, but if we have to, then we will...:::

Back at Wish, "Of course, I'd be happy to relay whatever he reveals."

Stepping forward, Hollow smiles at the former gang leader then intones a spell (Charm Person) "Utzilah tasarak ith maldifidii idish!" :::DC 14 Will save for Charm Person. I'll follow that up with a Friend cantrip, same DC, if it looks like the first spell worked.:::

"We have some questions Iarno. Please think the answers, I will hear it and let the others know what you have said. If you cooperate, it may get the gag removed. It would be immensely helpful."

Kama folds his arms, contrasting Hollow's smooth words with his bulk.

OOC If I didn't make it known, Kama recovered his chain vest once Iarno was in the cell.

Assuming Hollow relays this rebuff:

Wish turns to the Redbrand captive. "Don't think we've forgotten you, either. Feel free to speak up if answers occur to you. It'll probably go a long way towards leniency in your judgment if you cooperate. After all, you were just following orders, right?" Wish grins sweetly at Iarno. "It's the ringleaders who are to blame, leading good people down the wrong path and into evil deeds."

Wish clears his throat. "So, um, we are going to clean up this town, so that it's safe. Safe for townies, safe for miners, safe even for gang members. Getting rid of the leader here" - another smiling nod to Iarno - "goes a long way in that direction. But we're going to have to clear out the rest of the hideout under the manor. It's more likely that we will be able to capture the other Redbrands if you can tell us how many there are, and where we can expect to find them. See, I don't want to kill the Redbrands" - inside, the genasi desperately wishes this were true - "I just want to bring them in so they can't hurt themselves or others anymore. But if I don't know where they are and they surprise me, well..." Wish drags his finger across his throat while making a ragged tearing noise. "What do you say, Kama?"

(OoC: Mechanically, I'd like all this to be a preface for Kama's intimidation check, as a way of Helping him in extracting information, so that he'll get ADV on a roll.)

Kama reaches down and lifts the Redbrand thug by the lapel. He slams the man against the bars of the cell and allows the ringing metal to echo in the thug's ears, before he leans in close so that the man can smell his hot breath.

"You remember what I did to your leg? You thought it hurt then?" growls Kama through his tusks. "Give these two what they want..." He pauses for effect.

"... because I'm the nice one."

Kama seeks identification of the different rooms and their purposes, including any known occupants.

As these are likely not the trusting sort, there are probably some traps scattered about. Where are they?

To Glasstaff (but relaying to others) "You really should reconsider. You likely have information we would find useful in defeating the Spider. It will come out that you helped us regardless of whether you talk or not. When the they come looking for revenge, wouldn't you appreciate having a friend or two you can rely on..for protection?

Wish is disturbed at how much he enjoyed that; he steps outside before he succumbs to the impulse to draw his sword on the captive wizard. He takes some deep breaths, walking back and forth. *What is the matter with me?? Maybe I should give up on burglary and look up Sister Garaele, see if she has an opening at the Shrine...*

When the others emerge, he's got himself cool again (though likely Hollow can sense his internal turmoil, even if she can't sense the bloodlust behind it). "So? That went well! Good work, Kama!" Wish looks over the map and whistles. "Really good work! I guess it's often a good idea to take prisoners when we can..." The genasi sighs deeply, then shakes his head.

Wish looks at Hollow. "So...shall we drop in on Halia at the Miner's Exchange with some good news?"

(edited to fix internal monologue formatting)

"Halia's not going anywhere, at least right away," says Kama. "I think we need to find those 'prisoners' they mentioned and see about releasing them from the skeletons." The half-orc hefts his maul at the thought of facing the undead. "Let's not forget about the bugbears, too."

"I agree, assuming he was telling the truth about having captives. That other issue can wait. I wonder who they could be that no one has noticed they are missing."

Kama glances down, clearly in thought. "Yes, we would have heard talk," he says. "Or maybe we weren't listening. We were a bit preoccupied with Gundren's disappearance."

The half-orc half smiles. "My memory's not much. I could have forgotten, too. Back to the tunnel, then?"

"We're assuming they haven't killed the prisoners yet." I stretch my neck a bit and amble back towards the tunnels.

Following the others Hollow looks toward the inn while they are on the road. She silently wonders how her sister and the others are, but the matter at hand is more pressing so she continues without stopping. "Hopefully there aren't any ambitious thinkers in the group. We got out unseen, so hopefully the Redbrands will just assume their boss went out for a while and will return."

"If there's a chance they're alive, we ought to try," says Kama, acknowledging Xora's thoughts that mirror his own. "I still want to try and convince any surviving Redbrands to work for the town, instead of against it. I'm sure Sildar could use the help. The bugbears, if they have knowledge of the Black Spider, may prove useful if they can be captured alive, but if Klarg was any indication of their temperament, it may not be possible. And they're highly dangerous.

"The skeletons are unnatural, and should be destroyed. Their souls ought to be put to rest at the very least. Maybe we should stop by the temple for something?"

"We can check with the Sister once we return; we're halfway to the manor already. I think Xora's right - if they have prisoners, and they know we're coming for them, we need to hurry to rescue them!"

Wish pauses as they approach the entrance to the tunnel, and listens carefully, trying to gauge whether there's any alarm been raised, or anyone waiting in ambush.

Kama falls in step with the group. "I suggest prisoners first. We can take that other secret door from the storage room (#7) that leads to the crypt (#4) and remove the skeleton guards, release the captives (#5) and escort them back through the cavern to safety. Then we clear the mansion starting with the barracks (#2)."