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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6690801" data-attributes="member: 16069">Chapter 10: Sildar speaks. ONGOINGZyler is quickly up onto the ledge and to Sildar, “he lives” the priest of Tempus shortly after declares.“Grab that one.” Grimm adds and points at the remaining cowering goblin which is attempting to tug a blanket over its head. Hellwhip complies and wrestles the creature to its feet.“Who are you?” Grimm shouts at the goblin, not knowing the language he contents himself with enunciating every word he speaks in common very clearly, and very very loudly.“Catflap” replies Catflap the goblin.Grimm punches the miscreant in the face, “answer me, truthfully!” Grimm yells at the creature.“Cat... Flap.” The goblin yells back, mimicking Grimm.The paladin raises his fist.“I think he's telling the truth- his name is Catflap.” Zalt states.“Oh. That's another stupid name.” Grimm declares and stares at Hellwhip, the ranger scowls back.“I move silently like cat stalking its prey, and quickly like bird flapping its wings.” Catflap explains, “Catflap” the goblin declares.Grimm punches the goblin again, “shut up and answer my questions”, the paladin roars.Catflap shuts up.A short while later, while Sildar is being cared for- the human is now conscious, his wounds have been cleaned and bandaged; Catflap tells all that he knows.“Cragmaw goblins ambush dwarf and human, him”, Catflap points at Sildar, “ordered by Klarg. Klarg ordered to do this by hobgoblins who come to cave day before. Hobgoblins help, a little, with ambush. Dwarf taken by Klarg and hobgoblins, human- him”, Catflap points at Sildar again, “taken by Yeemik.” Catflap points at Yeemik- dead on the floor of the cavern.“Who are the hobgoblins?” Zyler asks.Catflap looks confused, “hobgoblins are hobgoblins”, he shrugs. “Where's the dwarf, Gundren?” Zalt follows up.“With Klarg.” Catflap offers, and then shrugs again.“Why do they want the dwarf?” Hellwhip asks.Catflap shrugs and looks utterly defeated.“Where are the hobgoblins now?” Zalt asks.“With Klarg”, and again Catflap shrugs.Catflap continues to look confused by the adventurers questions, it seems the goblin was not involved in the planning of the operation.“He knows nothing. Bag him.” Zalt states with a sneer.Thirty seconds later Catflap finds himself gagged, secured and tied, very tightly, within a thick hessian sack. “I know more of the story, I think.” Sildar states, the human is looking much better, with the help of Zyler he manages to get to his feet, he's helped down the stairs the first thing he does his shake the hands of each of his saviours.“My name is Sildar Hallwinter, I hired on to escort Gundren Rockseeker to Phandalin, although”, Sildar coughs, “I have my own reasons for making the journey. Gundren, and his brothers, Tharden and Nundro, have located Wave Echo Cave, I think- the cave has been hidden for over four centuries.” Sildar dramatically announces.Grimm looks at Zalt- the warlock shrugs, then at Zyler, the priest shakes his head, and then at Hellwhip- the ranger smiles, “I have heard of it”, he adds. “It's a mine, or something like that, it was around here somewhere, in the hills or the mountains. I think it was said that the metal found there could be used to help to make magical weapons...” Hellwhip runs out of information.“Not bad.” Sildar states. “The mine, and the forges located there, were worked by a collection of dwarves, gnomes and humans- the three races bound by the Phandelver's Pact, an agreement to supply the magic weapons produced there to organisations devoted to fighting evil. Phandalin was a much bigger place back then, we're talking about half a millennia past, a busy trade centre much better equipped to deal with the dangers of the frontier.” Sildar concludes.“What happened?” Zalt asks.“Orcs happened- streaming out of the Sword Mountains, a horde- reportedly lead by an unknown sect of evil wizards. Phandalin was destroyed, Wave Echo Cave lost and for the most part forgotten, at least until the Rockseekers came along. I'm not certain they've found the place, I only know that Gundren has a map that he kept very safe. They”, Sildar nods towards Catflap, “or else the hobgoblins that ambushed us, were sent specifically to capture Gundren, they were waiting for us. They knew we were coming. I heard one of the hobgoblins say something about 'the Black Spider', I'm not sure if the foul creature was referring to an individual or else an organisation; regardless I'm certain that the Black Spider was responsible for our capture. I fear these events may take a little time and thought to unravel, and for that”, Slidar pointedly looks at the adventurers, “I will perhaps need more than a little assistance.” He smiles at his rescuers.The adventurures whisper and chatter for a little while, making sense of this new information, eventually Zalt speaks up.“What business is any of this of yours?” The warlock asks.It's Sildar's turn to go silent, while he considers what to say next.“I work for an organisation called the Lord's Alliance- an agreement between the rulers or governments of a number of cities on the Sword Coast. The Alliance seeks to defend all that it holds, to keep the Sword Coast safe, for the sake of civilisation. It is therefore vitally important that Phandalin survives, not only survives but prospers. We want to give the town a chance- a chance to rise again, what better way to do that than with the rediscovery of Wave Echo Cave. If Gundren has found the place... Well, that would be something, and it would make our task a whole lot easier.” Sildar finishes his speech.The adventurers stop to think about things, Sildar takes the opportunity to sweeten the deal.“I need to get to Phandalin, I have friends there. I will pay you 50gp to get me to the town safely, and swiftly- I've wasted too much time. Will you take me, today?”Sildar's request is met by a sea of blank faces.“Did you said that you'd pay 50gp?” Hellwhip eventually asks. The ranger is not enamoured with money or material things but he swiftly calculates that if Barthen & Sildar pay him he will have 20gp- that's very likely the most money he has ever possessed.Sildar nods by way of reply.“I'm in.” Hellwhip states.“He's not lying.” Zalt offers after staring hard at Sildar for a while, once again his companions take a moment to stare at the warlock.“Of course we'll do it.” Zyler adds, “we would never leave you here. By the sword arm of Tempus I swear that you will arrive safely in Phandalin this day.”“We just have to take care of Klarg first.” Grimm finishes and grins at Zyler- the cleric grins back.</blockquote>

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