i only got a guy sneezing
had some weird dream where i couldnt walk on the street. like the air was water. there was a huge resistance. hopping on one leg somehow worked. i knew it was stupid but very realistic

The bang reverberates through your lungs and the cubs scatter followed shortly by the mama bears. The smoke clears and the large black cat can't help but stare down the bears but by now the bears are already running off in all directions.

Yulya sighs with relief
Well done Ashley. How could I have forgotten Nixie!
Let us continue quickly!

You arrive at Barthen's Provisions and Hobbie's sitting on the porch, smoking a long pipe, wrapped in a blanket. He hears you clopping up long before he sees you and when he sees who's trotting up he smiles, throws his hands in the air and cheers, "Look who's here!"

Yulya raises her hand in greeting but exhausted and cold she lets Ashley do the dealmaking.

He squirms a bit and then says, "you're wrong Ms. Ashley, I have a full paying customer just today, she was happy to pay whatever I asked in fact! Well though not everyone can afford everything the same and you're not asking for me to take on finicky draft horses, so how long are you staying?"

Yulyas face briefly brightens. That means Summer has made it here safely.

Ashley takes a sigh, "Yulya? He says 50 flipping silver for these stinky girls and we only made 100, what a jip!"

Yulya puts on a bitter smile.
Alice was right, the mules life expenses surpass ours...

An exhausted and shivering Yulya turns to Hobby using Persuasion
Sir Hobnail I understand times are tough but we invested nearly all our funds to acquire the maximum amount of provisions for you and even purchased this cart to transport them. We are not here to take advantage of Phandalin on the contrary. We are trying our best to help this town and we are here to secure the Rockseekers mine and then deal with the source of this cold. But we cannot do so if we starve and freeze to death. I therefore at least ask you to reduce and postpone our payment for the mules until our departure to Neverwinter, regardless of the time it takes us. Consider it an investment! Help us so we can help you!



By the way would you or Miss Elmina know where we can find your dear customer? She is our friend and we are to meet with her as soon as possible!

Yulya whispers to Ashley
It is not a bad deal if he takes care of our cart as well until we return to Neverwinter. The whole thing might take significantly longer than 5 days and we pay for upon leaving when everything is resolved. Until then we are either rich - or dead.
And it looks like Summer is throwing around with money. Maybe we can get her to finance our lodging and food at Sir Toblens Inn. She is the quest giver after all and the service of heroes has its price... We need to find her!

Pls no noble soap opera drama in our run. I can't deal with that shit. My profession and passion is pest and weed control.

What has become of your website?

Bear and Hali left Neverwinter to go to Luskan where Summer is about to be enslaved again but to the Duke of Luskan.

She was recognized as royal tier quality and was only available to Duke or Royal caste, so Bear couldn't just offer a sum to purchase her directly, but because of his Duke in Waiting status and Hali as his proof, he was able to register intent to bargain and the Duke was sent a letter of allowance. He could refuse the meeting but he won't because he has the upper hand and there's no reason not to have a tea party for his invited guests. The registration is sent via crystal ball so at that point anyone who checked the registery now knows that Bear of Neverwinter, Duke in waiting and his attendant, a royal tier Avariel (not specifically banned from enslavement in Neverwinter or Luskan) would be traveling North soon to Luskan. Their levels are also known by a quick cross reference at the guild or hall of justice.

So this all means, they can't travel the High road without risk of kidnapping by bandits or "bandits" in the employ of a noble for the purpose of extortion or as a trap for enslavement.

Traveling the wilderness of the Neverwinter woods is safer from bandits but far less safe from wild animals. In the first quarter of their journey so far, Hali was almost one-shot by a cougar, they were besieged by 4 champion tier wolves (like normal wolves but higher HP) and managed to get past that without dying. They have 110 or so miles left to walk to get to Luskan then they need to arrange a meeting with the Duke. They don't have anywhere near enough money to bargain and Summer is physically and legally secured so they're going to have to give it all they've got to get her out.

Life can be cruel and their legal options are limited. Short of a heck of a lot of gold, they're going to need a miracle to achieve this or die trying.

[SheShe] I want to see them succeed but if either of them do die, at least they can come to me in the ethereal plane.

If Bear dies here, the campaign will go on without him, when Gwen returnes, she will likely have enough coin to resurrect him.