Lost Mines of Phandelver - Chapter 2 [Closed]

A look of fear comes over Toblen as Aronin asks him about the Redbrands. He looks down at his young son and then back up to Aronin,
"Look, I'm sorry, but I really should listen to my wife. I've already said to much."

He again looks down at his lad and then hugs him in close,
"Please, just forget I said anything. I didn't say nothin'  'gainst that lot, ya hear? Please, for his sake."

Toblen usher's his son back into the kitchen with his wife.

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You are left to your meals and conversations. There are probably around a dozen or so other townsfolk in various groups around the tavern doing the same. 

(Avren is personally going to take a long rest, so getting a room and passing out. She's of the mindset that everything else can wait.)

Avren had no need to armor up, but she was still quick to awaken and gather her gear. It wasn't that she was a chipper morning person, more that she was mindful of their agenda and didn't want to waste time when they could be furthering it. Refreshed and mended, she was ready to greet the day. Lykus' words met with a firm nod as she stepped outside her door, resting her hands on her hips.

"Tea, gold, and then some potions. I have a feeling we'll need them. And I want to have a look at that secret tunnel in the woods, afterward. If that kid is around, I can try to bribe him."

But all that can wait until after they get paid, and she glanced over to Tony and Aronin's doors. She'll be polite and give them a few minutes before impatience got the better of her in and she would end up knocking on them anyway.

Anthony awoke abruptly, his head jerking off the pillow to look around the room frantically. His tools were scattered everywhere, oil covered his hands and face, and he was still fully clothed, sprawled out on the bed. Another normal night. He had been up late tinkering, again. Rolling off the mattress, he began to reassemble and repack his tools. As the fog of sleep cleared, he began to run through a checklist of everything he had done the night before. Satisfied that he had, in fact, managed to complete his preparations the night before, he finished stowing his tools and turned to his armor. It stood in the middle of the room, motionless. No longer the sleek, form fitting shape it was the night before, it instead was a hulking mass of steel, leather, and arcane-science. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, traced a sigil on the back of the armor, and waited for it to start up. The machine was silent. He frowned, and tried again. Still nothing.

With a sigh of frustration, he opened his pack again and dug around for his favorite wrench. Using it, he removed the back plate of the armor and took a look inside. Just a misaligned sigil, he mused as he tweaked the inner sigiltry. The connection now made, power was finally able to flow through the system. The suit began to emit a soft hum, the arcano-electrical generator drawing energy from the magical weave around it. He quickly replaced the back plate and traced the sigil again, relieved to see the suit splay itself open and wait for him to don it. He put his favorite wrench back in his pack and stepped into the armored suit, feeling much more comfortable once the firm metal plates enclosed him. He did a few stretches, intended to test the suits movements rather than loosen his own. Satisfied his equipment was in order, he donned his pack and stepped out of his room.

"Morning everyone. Anything we need to attend to in town before heading out?"

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Cantrips:

Firebolt
Shocking Grasp

Spell Slots: 3/3 1st Level Spells







Spells Prepared:



Absorb Elements

Cure Wounds

Detect Magic

Expeditious Retreat

Identify

Jump



Armorer Spells:



Magic Missile

Shield



Infusions:


Enhanced Defense (Armor: +1 AC)
Goggles of Night



Armor Model: Guardian

Thunder Gauntlets- Your armored fists each count as a simple melee weapon, and each deals 1d8 thunder damage on a hit. A creature hit by the gauntlet has disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the start of your next turn, as the armor magically emits a distracting pulse when the creature attacks someone else.



Defensive Field- You gain a bonus action that you can use on each of your turns to gain temporary hit points equal to your level in this class, replacing any temporary hit points you already have. You lose these temporary hit points if you doff the armor.

Avren noted the amount of other people present, but none of them were interesting enough to focus on or engage with, so she didn't hesitate to leave when they were finished with breakfast. She nodded to Lykus, stretching. "The hall first, then. Maybe he'll have heard something about these Redbrands, or other information that wasn't available last night. I'm all for finding Gundren sooner than later, as long as we're properly armed with as much in the way of details as we can possibly acquire. Rushing ahead blindly is more likely to get us killed, and I don't plan on dying for him."

She nodded to passing locals as she opened the door, nudging it open a bit more so that it'd be easier for Lykus and the others to catch it as well. It was time for payment and  hopefully some answers as well. The half-elf didn't care for vague, ill-defined plans, seeing too much room for disaster in those; with any luck, they would be able to solidify some details and mitigate the dangers somewhat...or at least be aware of them. 

Aronin followed the rest of the party out into the streets. A hawk's shadow casually moved overhead, and kept itself near the group. Since he was no longer desperate for food and drink, the wizard took more time to observe the town and its people more closely. For the most part everything was rather average, at least if you could ignore the lazy folk with their red bananas. He sighed as the group passed a couple of them in the alleyway, and was disappointed. He had hoped that these Redbrand's would have something to do with Gundren's disappearance, instead they seemed to be just a bunch of small town ruffians in some sort of gang. 

As they approached the town hall, Aronin read the reward sign for dealing with the Orcs. "Seems like Phandalin's got a lot of problems to deal. First some Redbrand ruffians, then an Orc menace? I'm not sure if any of these have anything to do with Gundren and those goblins, but we should find out."  Aronin mentally commanded Ace to stay perched on the roof and to keep an eye out. Then he casually strolled into the town hall and greeted Sildar. 

"Hello, friend! Is that pile of gold all for us?" Aronin gave a weak smile as he gestured towards the pouches, but his eyebrows raised when he saw the larger one. Then glanced back at Sildar questioningly. 

The men with the red bandanas didn't go unnoticed, nor did the announcement about orcs. She nodded at Aronin, thinking along the same lines though looking a little more wary than hung-ho. She wanted more details first, but they could wait until after getting paid and talking to Sildar to discuss that particular tangent.

Avren took her pouch with a faint smile, listening to Sildar as she checked within to be certain all was accounted for, though her gaze soon slid over to the much larger coin pouch and she raised an eyebrow. "I hope that's enough hazard pay for us all; an entire castle will be far more work than one cave. Any other objectives while we're there?" She tilted her head, ready to linger and get more in the way of details rather than just rushing off and she would give a mildly judging look at any companion inclined toward that habit. 

The wizard's name and description are met with a nod, as she filed that way for later use. They might as well see what the townsfolk knew about him...those that were willing to talk, anyway.