Chapter 2 - Phandalin

He'll get over it. He didn't look like he was missing any meals.Gerbo shrugs as he drums his fingers on the table. "We saved his bacon, now he's buying ours. It's only fair."

"If I recall, he said something about lodging and a collection of payment. Not room and meal and payment. Haven't you hear of a verbal contract or 'your word'"

Who am I to lecture someone on verbal contracts. I don't even remember what he said about lodging. I don't remember where to find him. Perhaps I've hit my limit for remembering things today.

Gerbo shrugs again. Worth a shot. "I'll still take the gin and the hen, if you've got it. The name "Gerbo Minglehop" should be on that list, somewhere. If not, well then I'm small and I'll just curl up at the foot of Belly's bed like a dog, I suppose." He slaps Belanor's back, enjoying prickling his proper attitude with his antics.

Suddenly, a thought crosses his mind. "Say, barkeep, what's with the grubby red buggers at the Sleeping Giant? They're not really the nice sort, I noticed."

Kerisha nods to Qelline. She has no intention of leading the boy into harm's way. She merely wants to investigate what he has found.

She follows Carp through the field to the woods, being sure to keep a close eye on the boy. When he points out the thicket, she crouches low next to him. "You found this by yourself? You are very good." She gives Carp another smile as he draws his pointy stick. "It's ok, we are just looking today. I know people who can help us fight. The uglies, where did they go when you saw them?"

Still kneeling next to Carp, Kerisha screws up her nose and the mention of the bad guys. "Red cloaks? You are right... They are ugly!"

She motions Carp back towards the farm and walks him back to Qelline. "You need to do special job. Protect your mom. She cannot protect herself. Someone brave must look after her."

Kerisha smiles at Qelline, who is relieved that Carp is back in one piece. Kerisha speaks to her in orcish "Do these men give you trouble? Do you know any more about them? I will get my friends and we will stop them if they do."

OH?! His names on the list! Perhaps mine could be too.

Upon the consumption of his meal. Belanor will pay for the drink(s) and meal for Gerbo and himself. Belanor would also inquire if his name was on that list for a room.

"Great, Thank you for the meal." Belanor turns to the others. "I'll be seeing you in the morning. Also we need to seek out Tyr before its to late and he runs off with our payment."
He clasps Gerbo on the shoulder then heads off to his room. "Night."

Gerbo will let Belanor pay, and will thank him, "Thanks, bud. I don't care what they say about you. You're all right in my book." Not being a big drinker, he'll tuck in for the night after he's done with his meal, leaving a silver under his glass for the bartender.

Kerisha gets a warm fuzzy feeling inside. It is strange for her to be so accepted and welcomed in by a stranger.

"Thank you. You are kind."

Sitting down to a homecooked meal is lovely, even is Kerisha's table manners are not. It was eat fast or don't eat when it came to meal times in the tribe. It didn't matter how the food made its way into your mouth, or around it. She looks slightly embarrassed when Qelline is looking at her, and even worse when Carp is copying her. Trying to be more polite, she asks Qelline about herself and how they came to be here. She also tells Carp of her past, of finding her friends and the adventure they are on.

After dinner Kerisha would like nothing more than to sit in front of the roaring fire and drift off to sleep, but she does have to regroup with her companions and investigate these red cloaked trouble makers.

"I will come back with friends." She bids farewell to the halflings and heads back to the Stonehill Inn. Ready to inform her friends of what she has found out over breakfast.

Kerisha catches the key, and without breaking stride, heads up to her room to turn in for the night, making sure the door is firmly locked.

Kerisha wakes feeling well rested. It's unusual sleeping in such a comfortable bed. She would have preferred the sound of leaves rustling and the gentle warming of the morning sunrise compared to the yelling from downstairs. But it was nice to relax without fear of ambush in the night.

Over breakfast she informs her companions of Carp and the red cloaks. How they have been causing trouble around town. And the fact they have a secret tunnel to their potential base of operations.

Orel nods along to Kerisha's story. "Hmm. Secret tunnel, huh? Sounds like they must be more than just your standard troublemakers, if someone went through the effort to carve out a whole tunnel. Although, perhaps they inherited it from a more substantial threat."

He thinks for a moment, shoveling food into his mouth as he does so.

"Well, I vote we check that place out later today, after we get a chance to stock up with the money we're owed."

Belanor freshens up, cleans his suit and makes ready for the day. Wearing his finer cuffs thinking more business today than travel. He'll make way for refreshments.

"Doesn't this town have a law enforcer? I sure don't want to go vigilanteing if I can avoid it. Belanor would take a swing from his drink.
"I mean back at OceanshallowWaterdeep there are thugs like this everywhere. But theres the city guard to help curb that.

Kerisha is not starting her day off well. Orel understands when she sees a challenge, she usually dives in sword first. She has tried to curb her battle-lust over the years, and she manages to do so fairly well for the good of her friends. But when a group are terrorising a town, and nothing is being done about it, its hard to stand by and not get involved.

In a grumpy tone, Kerisha replies to Belanor "You stopped me killing bugbear. People need help. We will help them." She looks back to Orel for support.