Level 3

Congratulations on a job well done during yesterday's IRL fetch-quest!  Indeed, congratulations also on attaining Level 3 status!

In addition to checking calendars for July possibilities, I'd like to offer these step-by-step instructions for leveling.  For sake of ease, find your class first:

Mage:

1. Health increase: Gain 1d6+Constitution in HP.
2. Magic Points increase: Gain 1d6+Willpower in MP.
3. Ability increase:  Add 1 to one of your secondary ability scores: Communication, Constitution, Dexterity, Fighting, or Strength.
4. Ability focus:  Pick a new focus for one of your secondary abilities:
1. Communication focuses: Animal Handling, Bargaining, Deception, Disguise, Etiquette, Gambling, Investigation, Leadership, Performance, Persuasion, Seduction.
2. Constitution focuses: Drinking, Rowing, Running, Stamina, Swimming.
3. Dexterity focuses: Acrobatics, Calligraphy, Crafting, Initiative, Legerdemain, Lock Picking, Riding, Stealth, Traps.
4. Fighting focuses: Axes, Bludgeons, Heavy Blades, Lances, Polearms, Spears.
5. Strength focuses: Climbing, Driving, Intimidation, Jumping, Might, Smithing.
5. Class Power: You become a Novice in a new magic talent or gain a degree in a magic talent you already have.

Rogue:

1. Health increase: Gain 1d6+Constitution in HP.
2. Ability increase:  Add 1 to one of your secondary ability scores: Constitution, Fighting, Intelligence, Strength, or Willpower.
3. Ability focus:  Pick a new focus for one of your secondary abilities:
1. Constitution focuses: Drinking, Rowing, Running, Stamina, Swimming.
2. Fighting focuses: Axes, Bludgeons, Heavy Blades, Lances, Polearms, Spears.
3. Intelligence focuses: Arcane Lore, Brewing, Cartography, Cryptography, Cultural Lore. Engineering, Evaluation, Healing, Heraldry, Historical Lore, Military Lore, Musical Lore, Natural Lore, Navigation, Research, Religious Lore, Writing.
4. Strength focuses: Climbing, Driving, Intimidation, Jumping, Might, Smithing.
5. Willpower focuses: Courage, Faith, (Morale--more for NPCs), Self-Discipline
4. Class Power: You become a Novice in a new talent or gain a degree in a talent you already have.

Warrior:

1. Health increase: Gain 1d6+Constitution in HP.
2. Ability increase:  Add 1 to one of your secondary ability scores: Communication, Inte(r)lligence, Perception, or Willpower.
3. Ability focus:  Pick a new focus for one of your secondary abilities:
1. Communication focuses: Animal Handling, Bargaining, Deception, Disguise, Etiquette, Gambling, Investigation, Leadership, Performance, Persuasion, Seduction
2. Intelligence focuses: Arcane Lore, Brewing, Cartography, Cryptography, Cultural Lore. Engineering, Evaluation, Healing, Heraldry, Historical Lore, Military Lore, Musical Lore, Natural Lore, Navigation, Research, Religious Lore, Writing.
3. Perception focuses: Empathy, Hearing, Searching, Seeing, Smelling, Tasting, Touching, Tracking
4. Willpower focuses: Courage, Faith, (Morale--more for NPCs), Self-Discipline
4. Class Power: You become a Novice in a new talent or gain a degree in a talent you already have.

The Story So Far

Having not updated since our second session, here is what took place thus far:

  The party successfully infiltrated the cave hideout of a band of goblins: The Cragmaw.  The party recovered Sildar Hallwinter, a veteran human fighter and friend of Dareth who was detained on the Triboar Trail by the goblins.  The party learned that Dareth (alias "Gundren Rockseeker" among the Dwarves) and his Dwarven half-brothers had discovered the entrance to a long lost cave said to be home of a magical forge near the frontier village of Phandelin. 

Leaving the cave, the party made its way to Phandalin, to discover the town had been overrun by a gang of ruffians, the Redbrands.  In speaking with the townsfolk, they sought out the secret entrance to the Redbrand's lair under the ruins of Trensedar Manor and proceeded to infiltrate the hideout.  Encountering a frightening creature (later learned to be a "Nothic," and called "Frank" by the Redbrands), the party managed to parlay with it in return for providing fresh meat.  Discovering prisoners, enchanted skeletons, and other perils, the party at last learned of the location of the Redbrands' leader Glass-staff.  To Sildar's surprise, it was none other than Iarno Albrek, a member of his order who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.  Nearly evading the party, the mage was captured and his crew ousted from town, while advising the party that the Black Spider, the mastermind behind this endeavor, would maintain order in the absence of political stability.

At this point, Durgash, Lillabelle, Meg, Vi, and Renbar proceeded to explore the remainder of Trensedar Manor, flushing out two Bugbears and rescuing a (pubescent?) goblin named Droop.  The party then sought out the Town Magistrate, who worried about the ramifications for the town from crossing the Redbrands, and took up work from him to clear the trail near Wyvern Tor of an Orc raiding party that had been hampering trade.

Meanwhile, Elemenopi, Selvarius, and Zahra came to the aid of Sister Garaelle in confronting Agatha the Banshee near the ruined town of Conyberry.  Successfully playing on the vanity of the creature, they learned of the fate of the Bowgentle's Spellbook, which Garaelle's order had been seeking out.  They then set out to meet their party members at Wyvern Tor.

Before converging, the former group engaged an Orc band in battle using trickery to disguise their cart and hide their numbers.  Durgash, wounded in the battle, announced himself by name, causing the battle to cease as the Orcs recognized his clan and heritage.  They then informed the party of the true mission of the band: collect all medical implements to combat a terrible plague.  (It turns out, in fighting, Durgash was also exposed to this plague).  In an effort to foment goodwill, the party had the Orcs travel to Phandalin, return missing supplies, and set up a leper colony outside town.  The party then went forth researching means to combat the plague.

In the ruins of an abandoned mage's tower, the party discovered records of a Potion of Time-Stopping, along with a map and coded list of ingredients.  Using their wits, they managed to scout out and procure these elements, combine them correctly, and heal Durgash.  The potion was then transferred to the Orcs as the party returned once again to Phandalin.

It is at this point that the party finds a letter awaiting them...