The group left the mayor’s office with purpose in their stride and frustration in their hearts. Phandalin was done suffering. The Red Brand’s reign of fear was ending — and they were the ones to end it. They followed the dirt path leading north toward the mountains, the early afternoon sun filtering through the trees. It was quiet for a while, until the faint sound of **cheering and clanging metal** drifted from up ahead. [[Ellette|Ellette]] raised a hand for silence. “Hold up. Sounds like people.” The party slowed, crouching low as they crept toward the noise. All except one. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] began to _whistle._ [[Ellette|Ellette]] froze, eyes twitching. “What. Are. You. Doing?” “It’s my sneaking theme song,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] whispered proudly. [[Ellette|Ellette]] stared. Then she smacked him across the back of the head. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] rubbed his skull. “Ow! How can I sneak _without_ my sneaking song?” “Shut the fuck up, idiot,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] hissed. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] sighed, adjusting his robes. “Must we do this _here?_” The bickering grew until [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] began waving his arms frantically, gesturing toward the nearby bushes. The others followed his pointing hand — finally realising he’d been trying to tell them to _hide_. They ducked into the undergrowth just in time. Peering through the leaves, the party saw a rough blockade up ahead — a handful of **thugs** and several **hooded cultists** clustered around crates and barrels. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s golden eyes narrowed. “Looks like a trade. Or a bribe.” [[Ellette|Ellette]] nodded. “Checks out. Let’s get closer and listen.” “I’ll climb the tree,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] whispered. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] frowned. “And that helps… how?” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] blinked. “I’ll be higher up. Duh.” Before anyone could stop him, [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] scampered up the nearest tree with uncanny ease. [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] watched in mild awe as the druid perched on a branch, scanning the clearing below. While the others crawled closer, keeping low, [[Ellette|Ellette]] noticed movement. “Wait— they’re leaving!” she whispered. Indeed, the cultists were retreating down one of the winding paths, leaving only the thugs to guard the road. “On my mark,” [[Ellette|Ellette]] whispered, drawing her daggers. [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] readied his mace. [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]]’s lips moved in silent incantation. “Three… two…” “**SHILLELAGH!**” Everyone froze and looked up. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] came plummeting out of the tree like an angry green meteor, his staff glowing with druidic energy. He crashed straight into one of the thugs with a _crack_ that echoed through the clearing, flattening the man instantly. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] straightened up, surrounded by half a dozen very confused enemies. “That’ll do it.” [[Ellette|Ellette]] groaned. “For the love of— just _go!_” ![[Shillilieagh.jpg]] The clearing erupted into chaos. Magic flared, blades clashed, and [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] — who’d landed himself right in the middle of the fight — took the worst of it. When the dust settled, the thugs were down and silence returned. [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] stood bruised and panting, his staff leaning against a fallen foe. [[Ellette|Ellette]] stalked toward him, yanking her dagger from a thug’s throat as she did. “I think that went well,” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] said, trying for a grin. [[Ellette|Ellette]] didn’t even hesitate. She _headbutted_ him square in the nose. “You nearly got us _killed!_” she shouted. “Can you _think_ for one godsdamned minute before doing something stupid?!” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] rubbed his nose, looking wounded. “We won, though…” “That’s not the point!” Before [[Ellette|Ellette]] could continue, [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] cleared his throat. “Apologies, but [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]]’s trying to say something.” [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] was gesturing toward a fork in the path up ahead. Two trails — one to the **left**, one to the **right**. The party gathered around, investigating. [[Ellette|Ellette]] crouched to inspect the ground. “The left path has footprints and wheel tracks. It’s the obvious route.” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] folded his arms. “Which might be exactly what they _want_ us to think. The right path could be the true way.” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, that’s clever! Yeah, I’d do that. Let’s go right.” [[Ellette|Ellette]] scowled. “If _you_ think it’s a good idea, it’s probably not.” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] frowned. “Ouch. Harsh. True, maybe, but harsh.” [[Rock, the Silent Fighter|Rock]] shrugged, offering no opinion either way. [[Ellette|Ellette]] sighed. “Fine. We’ll take the right path. But if it’s wrong—” [[Karrut Styk|Karrut]] perked up. “I get a slap? A bottle of juice? Ooo — a _pony?_” [[Morgar Goldgard|Morgar]] pinched the bridge of his snout. “I’m starting to agree with [[Ellette|Ellette]].” And with that, the group set off down the right-hand trail, the mountain shadows growing longer as they pressed deeper into the unknown. [[Chapter 7. Orchestra Macabre]]