"Sure thing, I'd recommend the lamb stew, it's not on the menu but it's a favorite lately and only 5sp per bowl."

Yulya nods in agreement
A good offer! I shall take the lamb stew and - for the occasion - pear cordial please!

"The rumor is they're making progress and due back any day."

Alice lets out a guffaw.
Yeah, I'm sure they'll return with the goblin king's head! Any minute now...

Yulya has to acknowledge she shares Alices skepticism about the dwarves professionalism.
I hope they are alright in Eldaths name!

So where's Summer?

I am sure she will arrive shortly. It looks like she is quite a tough negotiator.

the girls lead Cat and Yulya to their respective homes with respective gushy, touching, and emotionally charged reunions. The respective parents are respectively appreciative and respectfully offer respectable offerings that will, respectively, bankrupt the struggling families if you accept them out of respect.

Cat lets out a series of respectfully declining but authoritative  Nyaas.
Nyaa I'm a Folk Hero Nya I'd never accept anything valuable for saving the innocent Nya! And this wasn't a quest Nya so it's fine Nya! We just found them Nya!

Yulya smiles kindly.



I appreciate the offer but please invest your fortunes in the future of your daughters! However - there are two things I ask of you.:
First live your lives honorably in accordance with the laws of the Gods.
And second - I must inform you that we still do not know who is behind the kidnapping of your girls and what was the purpose of taking them to the mine. So please lay low and be careful for the time being. Bandits might still be in the area. If you notice anything or anyone suspicious please report to us! You will find us in Stonehill Inn! Any information no matter how small is welcome. Now I wish you a pleasant and restful night!

Yulya says goodbye and proceeds to the Inn with Cat.
I still do not understand the entire situation. We all should celebrate and rest but Cat please listen to the conversations in the inn. Someone or several factions have not been truthful to us or even tried to lure us to our deaths in the mine. We cannot trust anyone! Stay vigilant and observe peoples reactions to our return!

Yulyas paranoia has increased

She greets Yulya and hears the news, "oh I see, you can choose not to return?" She ponders that.

Yulya shakes her head.
Ashley was - unique in many ways. And there are many things I still do not understand. We shall talk about it at Toblens Inn.
Yulya enters the carriage and is promptly supplied with cider and scones. She sighs and - just for today - accepts both fro Alice.

Yulya notices the commotion and checks the whistle again.
Let us move out of the way but make ourselves seen and heard. I doubt that bandits would act like this - and we do not want to appear suspicious either by hiding! Lets just hope they pass by without needing our help. Stay alert!

Yulya raises her hand as greeting from the side of the road but readies a BLESS spell in case of an attack. She would then cast it on Alice Cat and herself.

waiting for the others Yulya looks through her stuff and finds the Ring of Warding.
Goodness, how could I almost have lost something like this!

Yulya puts the ring on her finger and charges it with spirit guardians.

If we catch an animal Nya, should we strap that whistle to it Yulya Nya?

Yulya thinks for a moment.
No I assume the brooches may be used to track us as well. I would like to keep this item and have it investigated in Phandalin. It works both ways.
Yulya puts the whistle around her neck so she can see it. and occasionally checks it for signs of activity.

Heading out Yulya takes  the role of rear guard.
If only we had Ashey and her summons...
Yulya uses her high perception to make sure nobody follows or ambushes them from behind. She regularly casts guidance on herself and searches the area behind her

Yulya can feel one of the rings is similar to the ring of the badger, it likely brings someone back from unconsciousness but only has one gem so likely it has one charge. She suddenly remembers something from a book she read about rings a long time ago, this is a 'Ring of Defying Death', a legendary ring that can cast Revive once per day on the wearer. The other she recognizes as soon as she puts it on, it's a 'Ring of Desperate Healing' a ring that will return half health to the wearer when knocked unconscious once per day. Both rings are extremely valuable, likely north of a thousand gold each, the legendary one easily double the other.

Yulyas eyes widen.
This man - he had such items and yet he teleported to his death? I really do not understand what is going on here. What was he doing with the girls?

Yulya decides to discuss the distribution with her party when there is more privacy. For now she keeps the 'Ring of Defying Death' an offers the 'Ring of Desperate Healing' to Cat explaining its effects.
I do not think it has negative side effects like the Ring of the Badger but to bee honest - I cannot rule it out! I still think this is best suited for you with your high HP!

Alice is disappointed by the lack of new info and questions whether Nezzer's ambitions would ever be revealed. She takes out his head and places it on her lap.
So this is the guy who kidnapped you. We still have no idea why. But he was a baaad fella for sure! Isn't that right Mr. Nezzer? I wonder what Daran thinks about you. Are you perhaps related?

Alice please put your trophy away you are scaring the girls!

Caaat! Bring us some ale pls!
Yulya will now tell the story of Ashley! We must remember her properly and drink to her - beach holiday!
Alice expectantly stares at Yulya with an innocent smile.

Yulya sighs and closes her eyes.
Fine...
My friends let us remember that we entered this mine as a party of 4 with our teammate Ashley - and her summons...
Yulya recapitulates how Ashley stormed ahead in search of the girls at the lowest level, the battle against the decoy at the forge, Ashleys brave if not reckless death - and the demigoddess taking over her body to bring the girls to safety in panther form before departing with Mormesk.

So technically Ashley is not dead, her body is very much alive and under control of the mechatherial demigoddess. She could have returned to this body and continued to adventure with us like all of us expected. But she - chose not to...

Yulya stares at the floor for a moment in silence as Cat distributes the ale. Yulya raised the dwarven mug.
To Ashley!
I never understood what she was thinking and we had our differences, but she was my friend - and one of the children I had rescued. Like Alice and Cat. I hope she is happy with the path she chose. I reality I never knew anything about her. I believe she came from another world, was trapped in the Negative Plane for a long time and - survived before being cast into this world. Cursed by the Raven Goddess and capable of summoning monsters from the Negative Plane. She overcame her curse by making a pact with the mechatherial demigoddess, my guardian angel and Lord Corellon. And with them she remains now in paradise. Not a bad deal perhaps.

Yulya looks at the girls.
Saying this I would like to clarify one thing. You are neither responsible for Ashleys death nor for her not to return. It was her decision alone. Nobody will blame you for anything and I am glad we found you alive. Without Ashleys and the demigoddesses help we would not be here now - but all be dead! So let us drink in her commemoration! And remember her - not as a friend that was killed - but a friend who left us to follow her own path. We shall not forget you Ashley!



Yulya considers casting a spell that has some fancy effect but remembers she has not learned Thaumaturgy. Only awkward silence remains. After a while Yulya speaks again.
We shall depart as soon as it becomes bright. We shall eat dismantle the traps and then leave for Phandalin. Please rest well!

Unable to deal with the rings for now Yulya refills the focus and rests to regenerate her MP.

Alice introduces Yulya like a celebrity and pushes her forward to the girl.

Yulya awkwardly addresses the scared girl in her usual yet odd way for her age.
Fear not my child! We are adventurers of Neverwinter! You are safe here! The enemy has been defeated. I am Yulya - Peace Cleric of Eldath! Pleased to meet you! These are my comrades Alice and Cat.

Yulya shows her adventurers tag. She isnt too happy about the girls reaction to the dwarf and prays he has not done anything bad before getting killed. Yulya shakes off the thought remembering that dwarfs are odd but seldomly evil.
And this gentleman here is Sir Kingir. Indeed the fact that you see him alive is my doing. Your friend should wake up soon. Please do not worry. I know this must all be very confusing but be at ease! Do you feel pain anywhere? You should not have sustained any serious injuries but we can treat even the minor ones!



Yulya does not want to pressure the girl into some kind of confession and for now decides to let her say what she wants to say without prying further and sits down next to her.

Yulya listens to the story but finds next to no useful information.

" The goblins don't bother me, they keep to themselves, they'll even trade occasionally, but the orcs are a real menace!"

Yulya shakes her head in dismay
Sir Kingir have I mentioned how Sir Gundren and Sildar disappeared? They were taken by goblins. And goblins attacked us on the Triboar trail. We cleared out a goblin den killing many. They had a shaman, many wolves and even a juvenile green dragon! It was - difficult! I agree it was odd as we freed Sildar from the goblin den and I would not rule out he staged the whole event. In the den was a spider mural meaning the goblins worked for the Black Spider aka Nezzer and the Cloaked Wolves. They had a working refinery to make high grade alcohol and acidic acid. Very odd. In any case, I would consider goblins a very serious threat. Curiously we encountered none in the mine. No goblin - no orc. Not that I am complaining!

"The Forge of Spells is a myth; it's been centuries since it was here, so now it makes sense because it's always been a rumor that the Forge of Spells is still in the mine and all you're going to find there is death, especially with that watcher protecting it." He thought for a moment, "I wonder if there's any good tools left over."

But what IS the Forge of spells? The Watcher, Mormesk and Nezzer spoke about it, yet nobody explained it to us!

He overhears Cat talking about barrels, "I hope you're not trying to take more than your immediate needs. The Rockseekers likely won't mind a few things missing, but if you're planning on selling mine assets, they'll figure it out. Just a friendly warning." He puts his hands up, "not that you're not owed more than they offered."

We are adventurers, not bandits! We will only take the loot from exactly those bandits we encountered!

"Aye I'll gratefully accept escort to Phandalin, I don't expect I'll get far without my pack and penniless. Maybe Hobby can loan me some supplies."

Yulya nods.
Worry not Sir Kingir! We will get you there safely! Your testimony will also be of great importance! I suggest you rest now, the way back to Phandalin will be long and hard in the icy weather! You said you are a scout am I correct? We may need to employ your services. Finding the way in this snow covered landscape will not be easy!

Yulya returns to investigating Nezzers rings.
Cat do you think we should move to the upper level? Suspended in this elevator we might be safe from attacks from the side and below but not from above. If someone tampers with the elevator we have a serious problem! There is one more issue! We have a tent for 4 persons but we are six people now, five if we subtract Alice. In any case, too many to sleep in the tent. If we encounter a snowstorm in an area where we cannot dig a snow cave this will be bad!