Sildar puts the pieces together

Sildar leaned back in his chair and breathed a large sigh. The music was somber in the Stonehill inn this afternoon and even the tavern itself was far from its normal bustle. Elsa the barmaid was just finishing up a string of tales while Sildar feigned interest and he finally had a chance to speak while she recovered from a 10 minutes long barrage of gossip.   " Elsa; what I really need to know is the whereabouts of the Druid named Reidoth. I am told he would know the whereabouts of Cragmaw castle. You see a dear friend of mine has been captured by a band of goblin Raiders and perhaps much worse and they belong to the Cragmaw tribe .Do you understand what I am saying Elsa?" Sildar spoke while trying not to sound condescending to the barmaid.     " I understand completely mister Sildar, I really do. One of my friends got captured by a band of goblins for like a week and it was the worst time of her life. They kept making her cook dinner for them and never even tipped her , not once!"   Sildar leaned forward and placed his face in the palm of his hands trying to muzzle the sound of his groans.     " Okay. Listen Ill pay you 5 gold pieces if you could just tell me where to find Reidoth.     " Well since you put it that way" Elsa responded " Just head north to the Ruins of Thundertree. He usually spends most of his time camping up there or at least looking after the area,"she leaned in closer to Sildar and whispered " Hes a member of a group of forest folk called the Emerald Enclave but most of us around here just call em a bunch of crazy tree lovers"     Sildar pushed his chair back and stood up. He reached into his belt pouch and withdraw a handful of gold pieces, tossing them on the table gently.     " Thanks Elsa, Ill let you get on with your day."     Elsa scooped up the gold before they stopped twirling oin the wooden table and flashed Sildar a giant smile. Flipping back her head of curly brown hair she turned to leave the table.     " Be careful Mr. Sildar, I hear those ruins are filled with nasty creatures and maybe Goblins." she called back before disappearing into the kitchen of the tavern.   Later that Day...   "Neverwinter wood is filled with many dangers Sildar; are you sure you want to brave the journey alone? Why not wait for your companions?" old man Barthon protested.     " They are off investigating a disturbance near the ruins of Conyberry and time is of the essence my old friend" Sildar retorted back to the old shop keeper.   " Besides, If I have even a feathers chance in a mid summer Gail of finding Gundran then I must act on it!"     Sildar had been told that the Druid,Reidoth was camped in an abandoned village known as Thundertree,near the place where the Neverwinter River emerges from Neverwinter Wood. It was once a prosperous community on the outskirts of the forest and encouraged by the wealth that the nearby forest brought them in woodcutting and trapping.     Thirty years ago the eruption of Mount Hotenow to the north devastated Thundertree. In the wake of that disaster a plague of strange undead swept over the area killing or driving off those that survived the eruption.     " How do you even know if you will find Reidoth in the village. It has been abandoned for decades now." Barthon pushed further.     Growing irritated by his friends persistence Sildar sighed.     " He is a man of nature and a defender of its life force....if ever their was a place to defend in these times it would be the land around Thundretree. I was told he would know the location of this so called " Wave Echo Pool" and I am sure that whatever is going on in these parts all falls back to Gundran and his so called " last score".     Looking past the Phandelins gates Sildar sighed out loud.     " Tell Sparrow and the others that if they wish to honor their deal with Gundran and help me find him to head north in my stead. Skirt the edges of Neverwinter wood and be wary of the Cragmaw tribe. If my faith holds and Tymora is looking over me I will find Reidoth and learn the location of Gundran."     Sildar climbed on the back of his riding horse and extended his gloved hand to shake Barthans .     " Till me meet again old friend. Tell the Stonehavens to keep a warm pot of stew waiting for me!"     With that Sildar spurred his mount into motion and galloped towards the looming forest of Neverwinter on the horizons edge.