It's been a long while since relative strangers heading to Phandalin for their own reasons became heroes in arms. They fought orcs, defended the town from a dragon and ultimately discovered the cult behind both, worshipers of the God Talos had been orchestrating much of the threats they faced. In the end, through perilous circumstances they prevailed. Cryovain lay dead, the orcs routed and the cult dispersed. However they discovered the cult had far ranging influence and whatever they were trying to do is still in motion. Rewarded by Lord Dagult Neverember with the protectorship of Leilon, a small town about to be resettled, they were tasked with finding what the cult is doing in the area and put a stop to them.
Its been a long and quiet two weeks. Idris has just returned from his trip to the Shrine of Savras and the shack where he met Agatha. While he did not see her he found his friends memento that he had left for her - and a slightly worn yellow ribbon. Returning to Phandalin he worked under Ghelryn to restore the shattered blade of Lady Tanamere Alagondar. Somehow the blade was fused with the dagger containing Eefendruphunka to create something...new. The blade could summon the fires of hell itself but was unstable. Idris would have to seek more knowledge before he could hope to improve upon it.
Meanwhile Pine roamed the mountains around the Icespire Peak putting any dead he found to rest. He hoped that with this and the shrines he established in Axeholm some solace could be found for the dead - but he knew it was not yet enough. Passing by the area where the Inspired Assassin had slain him he found no hint of his remains. Curious.
Finally, Siax finally mustered the time and courage to write to his father in The Guided Path, letting him know of his trials and discoveries. He also never stopped keeping watch over his friends which is how he was the one to find Zenari's letter informing them that she had left in secret to keep others from dying by the Assassin's hand. Finally, accompanied by Ghelryn, Factoré and Falcon they set on their way to Leilon.
At the same time, at the small Wayside Inn..
Effie was sitting at her favorite corner awaiting the excellent food the inn served. Backes Dunfield, a manager there served her her food and lamented that it seemed she was on her last day staying with them. having an inkling about who she was he wished that she managed to help the town of Leilon. She continued eating her food.
On the other side of the tavern sat Arya, definitely cutting a more noticeable figure with a manner as alien as her clothing. She was approached by the bard Tarbin Tul (who everyone loved) who usefully tried to get any information of the happenings here. When he realized that like he, she was a newcomer he invited her to join him and his band after they finished playing their music. However before much else could happen the windows burst open and diseased decayed hands tried to grab her. Dodging out of the way she turned to look at what attacked. 
Undead corpses, reanimated and hungry lay siege to the tavern. Everyone steeled themselves, for a fight was brewing.
Fortunately the caravan heading from Phandalin was near. SPotting the smoke coming from Arya's attacks they ran forward, leaving the caravan at the care of Falcon. Arriving they found numerous undead passively standing and beforee they could attack Backes Dunfield, standing on the first floor roof gestured to them to come in.
Sneaking in they found themselves in the Wayside Inn. The owner Martisha Vinetalker greeted them and with a world weary sigh told them they would be rewarded with free lodgings indefinitely if they defended the inn. Pine took a look outside, to his dismay seeing a symbol that had occupied his amulet before he had empowered it. Uncertain what he should do he cleared an area and performed a ritual asking for guidance from The Dead Three. This is what he asked:
- Are the zombies outside working in your favor, as they have the original sigil from my pendant branded onto them? Yes said Bhaal
- Is the stronger undead someone I should parlay with now? No said Myrkul.
- Do the undead here need to be destroyed now if we are to be safe here? Yes said Bane.
Meanwhile Idris tried to get information, learnign that the inn had been attacked twice before but between the undead stayed passive. The few people who tried to run however where killed and turned into undead by some dark force in the woods. Idris reached out with his Paladin trained senses and sensed it for a brief moment. Arya tried to speak to Idris but the young paladin was too caught up in the situation. She instead watched and studied these new strangers. Siax did as he was trained to do and identified any possible dangers. Seeing two entries that were weak to entry he spent some time barricading one with some of the inn's furniture. Perhaps wisest of all Effie finished her dinner. It wasn't cold yet and it was pretty good. The cook here, Cooragh Struckt was a culinary genius.
But the time for planning was over. The moans of the Undead rose in pitch and they rushed towards the inn, intending to tear through it and devour the people inside. The The Leilon...Some? sprang into action. Idris tested out his new powers by bring the power of the moon to bear - and unsheathing the new blade that housed Eefendruphunka. With a word the blade caught on fire. Striding forward he dispatched zombies with ease, their claws bouncing off uselessly off his armor.
Arya summoned a creature, seemingly a bird of prey but made of green tinted flames. Together they set zombie after zombie alight, the smell of charred flesh filling the inn. Not a single undead made it to her without being turned to ash. The shadowy Wraith's seemed to stay away from her, one even hissing that she did not belong in this place, spoken almost in disgust.
Effie struck at the undead through a door, her elegant rapier easily poking out and dealing incredible damage. However as one zombie fell down she spotted a shadowy creature looking at her from the fog filled forest. No sooner that she spotted it than it was right before her, it's shadowy hand wrapped around her heart. As she felt her life flowing out of her body she was pulled to safety by Backes Dunfield, who seemed to be a proficient fighter. Joined by Arya shortly after the three of them destroyed the Wraith once and for all.
Another one of those shadowy creatures had confronted Pine, taking a moment to defile a nearby corpse and twist it's soul into a Specter which instantly phased through the wall and instantly killed the Dwarven guard there. Gritting his teeth the Tabaxi brought his wrath to bear, destroying undead around him with a thought. Pine's aura flashed out and more undead were destroyed leaving him face to face with one of the Wraith's. How dare this creature fight him.
Siax was firing arrow after arrow but quickly ran down to the basement following a third wraith that had gone after the people hiding there. His bow glowed with divine light which blinded the Wraith. It told him to switch it off or it would kill the people one by one. Siax lowers his bow and unsheathes his blades, threating the creature. It reached out and snuffed the life of another person bring another specter into the fold. However Siax's actions allowed people to run up to the inn and in more relative safety, putting his body between the wraith and them. Alas one more fell and another specter was created. More rushed into the basement intending to destroy the creature once and for all.
That is what I witnessed during that enthralling brawl that is currently ongoing - I must admit writing down things while being jostled by the fleeing denizens of the inn is proving challenging, a battle of my own to conquer, no? I am in luck I think, as the young noble heavily indicated there is employment to be found as a bard!