Yulya also cannot believe the gate is unlocked and there is nobody guarding the stronghold
Be careful Ashley and do not venture too far until we are re-united!

Yulya carefully follows Ashley inside and casts GUIDANCE on herself before searching the area for traps and ambushes

Cat, untie this sad sack and let him go.[/color] She turns to him, Sorry, but if we see you again, you're dead.

Yulya addresses the bandit
It may be rude but in your interest I hope we never meet again. I pray for you to change your ways but this is now up to you.

Let me check out the lock, I might be able to pick it, Cat should get over the palisade if I fail and open it from the other side. If I fail, I'll send a buzzer over to look out for her. Sound good?

Yulya nods
I am a little worried about the ballista south of the gate. We must carefully check if the walls are manned before attempting to open the lock. If this fails Cat and ALice should climb the palisades!

Yulya searches the area around the tent to prevent ambushes while Cat cooks

Ashley boosts Dampen Spirit to Tier 2 and looks into the eyes of the bandit.
His expression contorts to near tears, he has no hope to resist, and has descended into a depressive delusional state. The bandit has disadvantage on all ability checks and saving throws, and his Charisma drops by 4. He seems despondent to the point of disassociation.

Yulya feels uneasy about Ashleys methods but acknowledges their effectiveness. And is glad nobody they know appears to be behind this incident
Yes let us rest! A lot has happened and I need to let that settle.

Yulya goes into the tent to Alice carefully making sure she brings no dirt inside

She looks unsure what to say, the truth spell has worn off, and she knows this, "I can only tell you based on what others have said, cunning, intelligent, strategic, manipulative, ambitious, resourceful, and powerful. I can't confirm this but it's said he could take a dragon single handedly. He has spies everywhere, in places you would least suspect, oh, and he's a powerful wizard as well. How he speaks? I can't say. His age? Do elves age I don't think they do. He also goes by Nezzner if that helps?"

Yulya relaxes a little as The Black Spider does not appear to be Daran.

She looks down as if ashamed, "There were two young girls obtained by nefarious means recently, and Alric was determined to stop the transaction, but they were taken deep into the mine before he could take action, I don't know what happened to them. I haven't seen a live orc in the mine but I've never gone past the first level, I did see the remains of a dead one. There's a lot of dead and death in that mine, the bodies I saw are old and desiccated, they have some sort of means to keep the smell down."

Very odd but as I expected! At least we know the girls we were looking for are here. We shall get to the bottom of this - literally!

"I can't go to Phandalin, Triboar is an option but I won't be able to stay, my only hope is to somehow get the supplies to travel East, I'll just keep going until I'm either caught or long forgotten. Even the Cloaked Wolves' reach isn't infinite, but the sword coast is firmly in their grasp." She glances toward the tent door, "I know he will track me, I know he'll follow me if we're released together, please, I know I'm not in a position to ask, but if you do care about me, after what I've told you, release me first and give me a long head start, at least hours, the longer the better. I don't know if I'll make it to Triboar before he catches me, but I know he'll go to Triboar too. So I won't be able to stay there either. I know you took my purse, you have my weapons and everything I own other than the clothes on my back, my dagger would get me far, my purse would give me the supplies I need. I had 160 silver saved up, even a quarter of that would be enough."

Ashley sighs and holds up a purse, counting out 40 silver. She also holds up a dagger and sheath, "Yulya, I'm counting this from my own supply and I'll pay the sale price of this dagger if need be. Daniella, don't be stupid, if we catch you again my pet will eat you like it was said yours would eat us. Yulya, I say we let her go if we're done with her, and as she says, hold the other one for a while. We should feed her too, I say we don't feed him, that'll give her the advantage. She's given us a lot of good information

Yulya nods
No need to worry we are on the same boat here Ashley!

She hands Daniella two rations from her pack.
Thank you Daniella. That was a lot of useful information! I hope this will feed you for a while. This was made by our Barbarian cook and is of excellent quality. I wish you all the best and shall pray for your safe journey. We will hold that man as long as we can. Please slip away quietly now but wait a moment! I still have one more gift for you!



Yulya fetches Alice and brings her to the tent
Alice give Daniella your shortbow! You can use her hunters bow instead! You can take your quiver as well Daniella! I do hope we meet again in more fortunate circumstances one day. Farewell!

After Daniella is gone Yulya turns to Ashley
I hope we can keep that bandit busy for a while he kept complaining the entire time and I am out of arguments to hold him any longer....

He rolled his eyes, "Those goblins don't even wipe their arses, I'm surpirsed it was intact this long."

Yulya asks additional question #1
Why were you involved with the goblins in the den? What does the Black Spider need them for?

M-"There are a bunch of us, and The Black Spider, more than you can handle. Save yourselves and give up on this foolishness. If they capture you, they'll nulify that magic of yours

Yulya asks additional question #2
How can they nullify magic?

F-"It's like our identity, a pass to verify membership, but they're registered magically, so don't think you can use it for infiltration, you guard it with your life if you value your life, there's only one option if you lose it, get it back, and they will come for them."

Yulya asks question #3
Can the brooches also be tracked like the whistle? How does the registration work? Can you tell which brooch is yours?
Yulya holds them both up

You know a lot of influential people are interested in your brooches - or rather in apprehending those who carry them and a bounty has been set! Your organization does not appear to be well-liked. Which should not come at a surprise. We just recently took out a group that tried to rob a traders carriage. You may think to be part of something large and powerful but eventually you became too bold and made yourselves powerful enemies. This can be no longer overlooked. So rest assured this matter will be dealt with from multiple sides not just us.

F-She nods with a consoling look to her companion, "if they capture you... it wasn't all bad, a little rough in the beginning, but I worked my way up and I had a path forward. I earned their respect," she looks down and shakes her head.

The respect of criminals
Yulya adds drily

Ashley steps out of the tent with a stretch, fully clothed of course, "Who are these losers?"

Excellent timing Ashley! I hope you are well! I have to introduce you to someone!

F-Danielle looks saddened, and glances at her companion, "Yulya, I would like to speak with you privately." She tilts her head to her companion and shakes her head.

Yulya nods.
Certainly. I also have a few more questions for you. Alice please release her! Come with us into the tent! Ashley this is Danielle. She has agreed to cooperate with us. Please hear what she has to say!

M-He saw that and said, "she's dead. No one rats out the Cloaked Wolves and lives, she's dead for talking and you're dead for listening. But as far as you and me, I'll keep my word, give me my brooch and I'll be out of your hair forever, no one will know anything from me." You can tell he's telling the truth about that. "I answered all your questions, now I'll take my brooch and be out of your hair."

Yulya turns to the male bandit before entering the tent with Danielle and Ashley
So it shall be. Excuse me while we talk to Danielle in private before your release.

Inside the tent Yulya puts on a stern face
Danielle I know you are skilled. You avoided my spell half of the time. I do not know your circumstances but I will give you one more chance to tell the full truth and briefly summarize everything for Ashley. Tell me about Alrics vision and the so called 'Greater Good'. How did a silver rank adventurer end up with bandits?
I also need to know what other monsters he had and what effect his death will have on them. And any other information you deem useful for us. To be clear we have a mission here. We will clear this mine.

Yulya is surprised by her own bold actions. Is this a spark of the Divine? Or just overplaying her own insecurity?

Yulya sighs uncomfortable with the situation.
Indeed we are adventurers from Neverwinter tasked with securing this mine for the town of Phandalin in the name of Lord Wester and Master Edermath. And believe me we will - be you orcs humans or demons. This is but a side quest for us as we are on the way to slay a dragon but that does not mean we will not take this matter seriously.

I guarantee you will be released unharmed if you cooperate. But if not - you are at the mercy of the gods. I would like to say we are not monsters but frankly none of us is human. And you are not in a position to make any demands here.



Yulya quickly eats her share without paying further attention to the man.
I shall answer your questions later if you tell us what we ask of you. Now if you excuse me. I strongly suggest you mind your manners and rest for a while. You are lucky to be alive. Or rather it is only because I stabilized you when you were on the brink of death. Few people have taken a heavy Greatsword strike from our Barbarian and lived to tell the tale.

Yulya gets up and retreats to the tent leaving the unfortunate bandit with Alice and Cat

Poor Alice!
Thank you for pointing out the dying bandit! I knew I had to stabilize him but forgot to post that. 5 rounds are only 30 seconds so I need to deal with him first!

Yulyas patience has run out. This fight has to end!
She casts another Healing Word on Ashley Panther as a bonus action to get her back on her feet.
Then Sanctuary Domain spell (0MP) on Ashley as another bonus action to ward her from further attacks.
Yulya casts Toll the Dead on the female bandit, then goes to aid Cat in setting up a flank flanking the wall bandit from the west while protecting herself with her shield.