Hobby meets you all outside with Elmina.
Elmina begins, after cordial greetings and welcoming you back, she's down to business: "stabling fees will apply from this moment forward. 1 gold a day for the mules, 2sp a day for cart parking and security."
Yulya bowsCertainly Miss Elmina. This is only fair. I apologize for using your business as our personal warehouse
Hobby adds apologetically, "You did get a slight discount thus far and we didn't charge for parking the cart until now but it is fair to say keeping it out of the weather and under my care will guarantee it's in top shape when you need it next. By the way, I did give it a good once over, greased the shafts and took care of a few minor issues free of charge!"
Yulya bows to Hobby as well.This is much appreciated Sir Hobnail - you have my thanks! Ashley would especially have appreciated this favor!
Elmina looks at him with a sour expression then huffs, "And where are the Gundren brothers? I thought you were off to fetch them or rescue them? And we're still stuck with this abominable everwinter, Edermath assured me you were to fix that as well!? We can't afford any more charity without results!" Her mood shifts suddenly and dramatically calmer and kinder, "If it wasn't for that wonderful miss..."she turns to Hobby "does Summer have a surname?"
Yulya is caught off-guard by this hostility and gets smaller with each of Emilias words. But with Cats grip there's nowhere to run...M-miss Summer of Leilon is her full name!
Yulya adds - with a perplexed expression as she had assumed Elmina and Summer were acquainted as fellow nobles.Indeed our original plan was to aid Sir Gundrens brothers Tharden and Nundro in freeing their brother but they declined - and sent us to the mine instead. To be frank I would rather have aided them to get their brother back. I pray to Eldath that they are alright but we have heard nothing of them so far.
As for the cold - preparations are on the way with Miss Summer - but as the source of this weather appears to be an Ancient Dragon...
Yulya shivers just from uttering the name... I hope you understand this issue is not resolved while passing by. To say the least!
"Well if it weren't for miss Summer's bravery in getting supplies out of Triboar, we'd be looking at rationing and waiting to starve to death. The bandits haven't let up or the traders still don't trust the road, in any case we've not received any other shipments regardless of the communications we've sent pleading for more!"
Yulya sighs.I understand your frustration and though we have wiped out the goblin den and the bandit stronghold in the mine - I am afraid this bandit organization is widespread and well organized. I cannot say what their plan is but it appears they are attempting to isolate Phandalin. They may be weakened now but in turn become even more aggressive. We are now working with Master Edermath and Miss Summer to battle the dragon causing the cold. Dealing with the remaining bandits will have to wait so stay vigilant!
Sandra and Sophia both approach her and attempt to nuzzle her to sooth her agitation, she's unable to resist their charms and smiles thinly as she pats them. Then she looks at Yulya with a piercing glance, "If it wasn't for the company you keep I wouldn't know what to think of you at this point!"
Hobby gives you a an indication using body language that says, 'stay calm and cordial.'
Yulya closes her eyes thinking of her cabin and thinksI am being lectured by a noblewoman. At least it is not an undead this time...
Calm and cordial - calm and cordial...
It only works partially - at least for Yulyas standards.
Milady Barthen!
We are doing our best to aid the town of Phandalin. Did we not bring you a cart full of supplies from Neverwinter even though that was not even our quest? Yet we are lacking something crucial - and that is not even proper payment for the quests bestowed upon us - it is information. May I remind you that we were lured here under false pretenses to begin with? Sir Gundren hired us for a simple escort mission for his cart - mentioning nothing of the valuable map of the mine he was carrying. Or a well-organized bandit army involving nobles, goblins, bugbears and a high-ranking drow sorcerer. Or an ancient dragon freezing over the land. And were sent to his mine - I am certain - in order to perish there. The bandits awaited us in a fortification. It was a trap. Only by the intervention of the Gods did we manage to achieve victory - at the cost of the life of our team-member Ashley. May she rest in peace!
Yulya makes a dramatic pause and looks at the groundAgain nobody told us anything. Not of the monsters in the mine, not of the Forge of Spells or the Spectator guarding it. Very odd things are going on here that go way beyond a few marauders robbing traders. We still do not know what the bandits were doing in the mine. Or what the plan of their leader - the drow Nezzer was. But he had kidnapped 2 young girls from Phandalin for some kind of magic ritual.
Yulya gesticulates to Alice to not show off his head.Milady Barthen! You are a keen tradeswoman as well as nobility! You are well-informed I am certain. We cannot help you if you do not help us. Someone is playing a dirty game with us here. So please- what do you know about the bandit organization called the 'Cloaked Wolves' and their leader Nezzer the Black spider? And what is your impression of Sir Gundrens brothers and their friend Sir Sildar Hallwinter? Or any other odd behavior of residents of Phandalin. Any small detail could matter. I am not accusing anyone but I strongly suspect the bandits have someone aiding them here.Someone who is working against us - and thereby ultimately against you!
In any case first and foremost we are here to trade our loot from the mine as Cat has said. Of course we offer it to you first.
Yulya points at the loot Cat has laid out - then nervously nestles with her handsA-apart from that there is something else we need and I want to discuss this with Lady Elmina in private!
Yulya of course refers to the clothes including underwear she needs for herself and Cat.