The morning air in Phandalin was crisp, but there was nothing calm about the storm brewing inside [[Ellette|Ellette]]. With fury still smouldering in her chest, she led the group through the town square and straight toward the **Town Hall** — the supposed seat of authority in this increasingly lawless village. The building itself was unremarkable: wood beams, dusty windows, and a faint smell of parchment and sweat. Inside, however, chaos reigned — twin sisters sat behind matching desks, each buried under a _mountain_ of paperwork. “Can I help you?” one asked, not even glancing up. [[Ellette|Ellette]] slammed her hands on the desk. “Yes. I need to speak with the Mayor. Now.” The woman sighed and flipped a page in her ledger. “Do you have an appointment?” [[Ellette|Ellette]] blinked, trying — _trying_ — to remain polite. “No, but—” “No appointment, no meeting,” the secretary interrupted, scanning her schedule. “I can squeeze you in… next week?” A dangerous twitch flickered across [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s eye. “Next week?” she repeated slowly. “Yes,” the woman said flatly, still not looking up. The air in the room seemed to hum with tension. “Listen here, you glorified paperweight,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] began, her voice rising, “there are cultists kidnapping people in your town, and you think I’m waiting a _week?_” The secretary straightened her glasses. “Ma’am, I don’t appreciate your tone—” “Oh, you’ll _appreciate_ it when I set your desk on fire!” And with that, the shouting match began. ![[[[Ellette|Ellette]]Grrrrr.jpg]] While the chaos unfolded, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] had taken to wandering the office, idly flicking through dusty books on local law and bureaucracy. “Fascinating,” he muttered. “Did you know there’s a thirty-page form for chicken theft?” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]], meanwhile, was crouched beside a large potted fern, whispering softly. “You’re doing great, little one. You deserve more sunlight.” [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]], as ever, stood silently at [[Ellette|Ellette]]’s side, his hands raised in a futile attempt to calm her. “[[Ellette|Ellette]],” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] said, without looking up, “perhaps we should—” Too late. The sorcerer’s patience snapped like a twig. She stormed past the desks, boots thudding against the floor, and kicked open the heavy oak door at the back of the room. It swung wide with a deafening _crack_, revealing a man sitting at a cluttered desk — eyes wide, quill frozen mid-scribble. He looked utterly terrified. “YOU!” [[Ellette|Ellette]] roared, pointing an accusatory finger. “You useless, spineless _coward!_ People are being taken, cultists are running wild, and you’re sitting here pushing _paper!_” The man swallowed hard. “May… may I interject?” he asked meekly. [[Ellette|Ellette]] glared. “You may _try._” ![[Mayor is Chicken.jpg]] After a tense few moments, the man introduced himself as **Mayor Albrek** — a tired, nervous soul who looked one bad day away from collapse. He explained, haltingly, that the town was under siege from a growing faction known as the **Red Brand** — cultists who had taken to kidnapping villagers and looting supply shipments. His attempts to send help had failed miserably. “The last group I dispatched never returned,” he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “They’ve fled toward the mountains. If you— if you think you can succeed where others haven’t…” [[Ellette|Ellette]] crossed her arms. “We don’t _think,_ Mayor. We _will._” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] closed his book with a snap. “If the Red Brand are hiding in the hills, then that’s where we’re headed.” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] stood, brushing soil from his knees. “Aye. Time to do some good.” [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] simply gave a firm nod and gestured toward the door. As they turned to leave, the Mayor sagged in his chair, half relieved, half terrified. For the first time in weeks, someone was actually going to stand up to the Red Brand. And as the party stepped back into the sunlight, [[Ellette|Ellette]] glanced toward the looming peaks on the horizon. “Into the hills then,” she said quietly. “Let’s end this.” [[Chapter 6. Into the Hills]]