Chapter 2 - Phandalin

After Kerisha's call out to the young halfing it takes less than a few seconds for the eager boy to appear in front of the group. Nearly out of breath after running in from the fields, he stands tall, pointy stick in hand, and with a huge smile on his face.

"I'm ready to go, Kreesha! Let's get them bad guys!"

Before the lad can get out another word, Qelline appears from the small farm house, with a large wooden box in her arms, and puts an end to her son's thoughts of adventure.

"You won't be going anywhere, Carp, best to leave this to those that can handle themselves. Not to mention, you still have a full day of chores to finish in the field."

Carp's head drops as he let's out a small whimper and starts to trudge back into the field.

Approaching the group, Qelline cheerfully welcomes everyone, individually, to her farm, addressing Kerisha in Orcish the best she can and thanking her for bringing her friends before addressing the group as a whole.

"I can't tell you all how good it is to see someone finally standing up to those thugs. You have my thanks. And while I don't have much to offer in the way of gold, I want you all to have these. My hope is you won't need them."

She lays the box down at Kerisha's feet.

"And please return when you can. Carp and I will make sure you're all well fed and patched up when this nasty business has been dealt with."

"Lady Farmer, while accurate, is not what I am used to being called. Please just call me Qelline" the halfling answers with a smile.

She then looks up to Kerisha and asks her is she remembers the way to the tunnel. "I've been keeping my eye in that direction when working the fields and have seen groups of three or four of those ruffians heading towards the area. They certainly seem to making good use of it."

After an initial puzzled look, Qelline reaches out her fist as well but doesn’t realize that she’s supposed to make contact, and just leaves her arm extended awkwardly in front of her as she answers the Dwarf’s question.

"Yes, the very same group. Harassing shop owners and travelers alike. Carp and I do our best to just stay out of their way."

"I really don’t know. We try not to get close enough to look at them."

"It was getting pretty dark when Carp showed you."

With that said, Qelline describes in detail how to move through the forest towards the tunnel.

"The rate of those men are moving in and out of the forest you and your friends shouldn't have any trouble finding it."

The detailed description that Qelline gives to Kerisha is enough to have the barbarian easily lead the group through the woods to the east of the halfling's farm. It isn't more than a five or six minute walk through the heavily wooded area until voices off to the left confirm that the group is approaching the correct location.

"You nearly beat that grinder to death! What he say his name was again? Tire or something, wannit?" one of the voices says with a laugh.

"Don't matter his name, you can't come into the Giant spouting shit about how ya defeated some devil with a tooth pick and not get called out on it."

The group of four erupts in laughter.

"That mutt-elf won't be coming round these parts no more!"

Preoccupied with recalling the events of the night before, the four men stop when they reach a point near some thickets up against the side of a ledge.

"We give Chute a couple more minutes, then we head in!"