Despite being a noble, Harbin Wester is first and foremost a businessman and a practical person who does not shy from labor. He gets up and returns with a small tea cart with a large can of tea and 4 ornate teacups on plates. You do not see any staff or servants in his store. He appears to run everything himself. Harbin pours the tea and hands each of you a cup, keeping one for himself.
'Sugar, Ladies?'

Yulya gives a brief report of what happened at the mine, omitting nothing except the mechatherial goddess M3gan, feeling this would add more confusion than clarity and is of no importance to Harbin.

Nyaa there were a lot of bandits and monsters Nya and a scary ghost Nya! We had no idea what they actually wanted there Nya. Also rescued 2 girls from Phandalin Nya and a dwarf Nya but they didn't know anything either Nya!

While sipping on his tea, Harbin listens to the story with growing concern, occasionally shaking his head and murmuring consoling words. He buries his head in his hands at the news of Ashley's death.
'Oh my, what have I done? I should never have sent you there! I-I had no idea! The dwarfs never spoke of all those perils and Gundren's brothers told me it would be a breeze for you! I imagined there would be a few bandits - but not an army of them with a drow leader, an undead arch mage and ancient monsters! My deepest apology! I know this will not bring Miss Ashley back, I wish I could...'



He seem genuinely heartbroken and feels responsible for sending you to the mine - though it wasn't his idea. When he gets hold of himself again,  Harbin coughs and ponders.
'I am as clueless as you about what they were doing there. I have never heard of a drow named Nezzer either. Or a Forge of Spells. And to think they had kidnapped our girls - all of this is very worrisome! There must be a bigger picture to those bandit attacks on our town! Maybe the mine was their real target?'

We have recovered at least some ore samples for you...
Yulya gestures to Cat to hand the samples and the hammer over to Harbin
...but Sir Mormesk, who knows the mine well said that further samples cannot be acquired without a detailed map - which was in possession of Sir Gundren when he was abducted. So my conclusion is that while the mine undoubtedly holds enormous riches in ores, it also holds great danger. There are still monsters like the bulettes around, and most likely further undead. We only explored the main ways. I dare not say what further abominations might lurk in there. As for the forge of spells - it appears to pose no imminent threat but you should know that this mountain is far more than an ore mine...

Alice goes through all the samples explaining the location and circumstances under which they were collected.
This copper ore unfortunately lacks provenience. We got it from a giant ooze on the top level. No idea where it ingested that.
The silver ore is from the level below. There are mushroom guys who don't like noise and disturbance.
Platinum ore was found on the intermediate level in the bulette tunnels. Also not the place to be.
Mithril ore is from the lowest level close to the Forge of Spells.
So yeah, It's all there but without Gundren's map and proper security, it's rather suicidal to do any mining in this place.

Harbin's eyes briefly light up, though his mood seems ruined by your story and Ashley's death. He still takes notes of Alice's report.
'Excellent work under such difficult situations! You are probably right! I have heard the dwarfs were already planning to move into the mine again, but even for them i do not see how they could work without a map. Let alone in this cold!'

Oh and as for the Cloaked Wolves bandits - here are brooches we recovered. I must however warn you that they might be a sort of tracking device. Storing them at your house might endanger you. We also recovered a tracking whistle and left it with Master Edermath. I pity the fools that would try to mess with this man.

Harbin cautiously examines the brooches, as if they still could cause harm even without the wearers.
'So this is what they look like! They never let me see them in detail... Intricate work, surely elvish. Did this Nezzer make them?'

He backs off.
'Indeed, if they really lure more bandits to the owner, it might be a good idea to give those to Edermath! Please do and send him my bets Regards. Of course I will pay you accordingly. No, I will double the price for the brooches and the ore samples. I am in your debt! You have done so much for our town! With the mine cleared and the bandit leader killed, I feel there really is a path to a better future now! If only this cold would end...So what are your plans now, dear Ladies?'

Yulya nervously looks around.
What was that about? Was that one of the Redbrands? I assume by 'Father' this man meant Mr. Glasstaff. What do you think?

Cat is lost in thoughts about smithing and barely reacts.
Nya? Huh? I wasn't paying attention Nya. Was he talking to us Nya?

Yulya gives a brief report of what happened at the mine, omitting nothing except the mechatherial goddess M3gan, feeling this would add more confusion than clarity and is of no importance to Harbin.

Cat adds dramatic Nyas but little else.
Nyaa there were a lot of bandits and monsters Nya and a scary ghost Nya! We had no idea what they actually wanted there Nya. Also rescued 2 girls from Phandalin Nya and a dwarf Nya but they didn't know anything either Nya!

We have recovered at least some ore samples for you...
Yulya gestures to Cat to hand the samples and the hammer over to Harbin

Cat takes out the ore samples and drapes them on the floor as there is no place on Harbin's desk.
Here you go Nya, we found no gold or gems Nya but a lot of other stuff Nya!

fugg

[Time: Monday, Spring 31, 09:30, 1°C, light wind, sunshine]



You leave the Lionshield Coster and proceed to Harbin Wester's store through the cold morning air. The streets are still eerily empty aside from a few birds looking for stray grains on the ground. Shortly before arriving at Harbin's house, a villager approaches, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.



The young man wears a thick cloak against the cold and pays no attention to you, staring at the ground as he moves with hurried steps. As he passes by, without looking up he whispers in a barely audible and monotonous voice:
'Father wishes to speak to you. It is important!'

Before you can react, the young man disappears behind a corner, again leaving you alone on the streets of Phandalin with more questions than answers. Yulya surveys the area but finds no trace of another soul around. Puzzled you move on and enter Harbin's store. You are in luck as it is open, with Harbin sitting behind the counter doing paperwork. He looks up as you enter, and jumps up from his chair as he recognizes you.
'Ladies!'
'I am relieved to see you have finally returned! I was really worried after not hearing anything from you! Did you return from the mine? How did it go?

He quickly gets a few chairs and gestures you to sit down.
'Can I offer you some tea?'



[Harbin eagerly awaits your report though he seems a bit uneasy there are only 3 of you]

"Across the square, there used to be a shrine of Tymora, the goddess of luck. Very popular in a town of miners looking for riches. Sister Garaele was the priestess and our only cleric in town. To keep it short, one day the shrine suddenly collapsed while she was praying there, killing her instantly."

Linene struggles to keep a straight face.
"You understand? The priestess got killed by the shrine of her own goddess of luck! What an irony!

Alice lets out an inappropriately loud laugh as she vividly imagines the situation.
But this guy sounds interesting. How come we've never heard about him before, let alone seen him?

I'd be happy if you focus on getting Gundren back safely. What's the status? I keep hearing the Rockseekers are finally about to return!?"

Alice sighs.
As we said, no idea. We just returned! The dwarfs at the inn were optimistic the Rockseekers would return soon, and something about the siege of the goblin king's castle going well, but yeah, I'll refrain from further comments on their judgement...