WARNING: Lost Mines of Phandelver

If you're playing this campaign, you should not read this adventure log.

Index

Session 1

Traveling down the road, at about 1:00pm, Rayne driving, came to two dead horses blocking the road. Varis and Rayne stayed 50' back and Sigrid advanced checking for an ambush. Halfway to the horses, she spotted two goblins in the bushes and turned around to warn the wizards.

Sigrid pointed to the two goblins she spotted and spun back around to confront them. The two goblins she spotted stood up with their shortbows and two more left concealment at the sides of the road by the horses with their scimitars. Rayne let loose a spread of magic missiles at the goblins with bows and one of the melee ones, dropping one of the bow weilders. Sigrid ran to the unharmed melee goblin and dispatched it with a single mighty swing of her battleaxe. The other scimitar weilding goblin ran up to Sigrid and made a deep cut, and the remaining bow weilder managed to hit her with a shot, dropping her to the ground unconcious.

Varis let loose magic missiles at the two remaining goblins, two hitting the one with the scimitar, and the other hitting the last one with a bow. Both goblins dropped, and Rayne ran to Sigrid and bound her wounds stabilizing her.

Rayne and Varis lifted Sigrid into the cart and found a secluded clearing just past the horse corpses... the corpses were blocking the road, so they removed one ox from the yoke and used it to drag the corpses out of the road.

While Rayne set up camp and made Sigrid comfortable, Varis searched the goblins, aside from poor quality small weapons and shields, he found 1gp and 7cp. On inspecting the horses, he realized the saddlebags had been looted, and found an empty leather map case nearby.

After having her wounds tended for two hours, Sigrid awoke. After being filled in on what happened, her and Varis inspected the ambush position and discovered a trail leading off on the north side of the road. They returned to their camp and rested for the night.

The next morning, they discussed what to do... after deciding that leaving potenitally more goblins down the trail was too dangerous for fellow travellers, they decided against leaving a guard and tucked away the oxen in a secluded clearing.

Sigrid led the way down the path and after ten minutes, noticed a tripline. The party stepped over it and continued on. Ten minutes later, Sigrid noticed a covered pit trap. Varis threw a rock onto it and triggered it, revealing a pit six feet wide, ten feet deep, and ten feet long. The party continued with no further encounters until they reached a small clearing.

The clearing opened up to the northeast with a large stone hill on the north side. At the other side of the clearing, a stream flowed out of a large cave mouth with a path into the cave on the far side. A few feet from the hill a thicket was also on the far side.

After a short discussion on the edge of the forest, Sigrud snuck across the stream and discovered two goblins lazily guarding the cave mouth from a prepared blind. She signaled to Varis and Rayne there were two goblins, and attemted to surprise the goblins, but they noticed her entering the blind, and a battle broke out.

On hearing the Goblins notice Sigrid, Varis ran into the clearing to get a view of the battle, and when he got sight of one of the goblins, let loose three magic missiles at it. This dropped the goblin instantly. The other goblin managed a good hit on Sigrid (5HP) after which Sigrid dispatched it with a mightly swing of her battleaxe. Rayne ran across the clearing trying to see the goblins, but by the time they came into view, the battle was over.

Sigrid waved the rest of the party over, and they crept to the blind.

Rayne and Varis stood watch over cave while they rested for an hour to give Sigrid time to recover from her wound. Luckily, no goblins exited the cave.

Once Sigrid felt better, they discussed how to approach the cave... not wanting to give away their presense by carrying in a torch, Varis (having darkvision) snuck in for a quick assessment of the lay of the land.

As soon as he was inside the cave, the smell of dogs lay heavy in the air, and he noticed steps leading up to the right. From that area came the sound of wolves growling and chains rattling. A furtive peek around the edge of the room revealed three chained wolves who started snarling and straining at their chains. Retreating to the blind, Varis appraised the rest of the party what he had found.

Since Sigrid is well versed in forest lore, she lit a torch and entered the cave to calm the wolves down. Riled up by Varis, Sigrid couldn't get them calmed down, so she too retreated to the blind while they formulated a plan. By this time, the wolves were in a frenzy, straining against their chains, but Rayne volunteered to attempt to sneak in and surprise the wolves with a magical attack. Against all odds (DC 20, 18+3 roll), she managed to surprise them and sent one magic missile into each wolf. Varis, hearing the commotion, moved to stand beside Rayne and let off a ray of frost at a wolf.

Realizing there was no room on the stairs, Sigrid readied her battleaxe should the battle move in her direction. With the battle going on mere feet from the extent of the wolves chains, one of them managed to loosen the iron rod holding its chain to a stalagmite, but the chains still held.

Varis got off another ray of frost, then Rayne filled the room with a thunderwave, knocking the wolves back ten feet and killing one of them. When the wolves ran back to the extent of their chain, one of the chains snapped, and the wolf lept on Rayne, savaging her into unconciousness while the other pulled in vain at his chain, snarling and snapping.

Turning to the now free wolf, Varis attempted to grab it and deliver a shocking grasp, but was unable to grap the wolf. Seeing her compainion fall, Sigrid stood over her body and with a quick swing of her axe, almost split the wolf in two, killing it instantly. Another ray of frost from Varis, and the last wolf went down. Varis then dragged Rayne back to the blind mere feet away.

Running after them, Sigrid dropped beside Rayne and tried to bind her wounds and stop the bleeding, but the wounds were too extensive. Varis applied pressure to the worst of the bleeding, but blood continued to flow past his hands. Continuing to work frantically, Sigrid managed to deal with the wounds, so Rayne was no longer losing blood, but neither was it safe to move her. A tense four hours followed with the party keeping a close eye on the cave, hobing nobody noticed the wolfs or a guard change occured, but luckily, it remained quiet until Rayne regained conciousness. The group headed deeper into the woods and found a clearing where they could relax in safer surroundings and stayed an hour for Rayne to recover further. After she did, Sigrid guided them through the forest back to where the oxcart was. Arriving at around 2:00pm, Rayne entered a trance to recover her stength and spellcasting abilities, and the others set up camp and, after considering and discarding the idea of helping themselves to the cask of ale that was part of the supplies in the cart they were delivering, settled in to camp.

Session 2

The vultures and ravens scavenging the corpses of the horses and goblins quickly became irritating to the party, so Sigrid offered to find a clearing further removed from the carcasses. While she scouted for a place to move the camp, Rayne and Varis talked about their history. Rayne is clearly of noble birth and Varis is in a quest to reclaim an altar to his god from the goblins at Cragmaw Castle.

Scouting in the woods, Sigrid comes across the fresh tracks of a giant. Despite being "only" an Ogre, her hatred of all Giants for destroying her home and killing her parents tempts her to slay the Ogre by herself... the teachings of Harbard however convince her to gather the rest of the party to find this blight on the land and kill it to prevent others from suffering as she did.

It wasn't hard to convince Rayne and Varis to help with the attack provided they were to stay back and simply use what magic remained from cover, so they returned to the tracks, and Sigrid led the way.

The tracks crossed some rocky ground in an unusually dense part of the forest, and Sigrid temporarily lost the Ogre, but after a few tense minutes, she picked up the trail again.

Just inside longbow range, the party positioned themselves for an ambush. While moving into position, Rayne's fine travelling cloak caught on a dry branch snapping it loudly and alerted the Ogre. Rayne plunged into the bushes and hid in a copse of trees. Sigrid let fly with an arrow which took the Ogre in the arm enraging it. I grabbed a javelin and began ripping through the forest to get into throwing range. Varis fired a cluster of magic missiles which further engraged the Ogre, From her copse, Rayne moved from cover to also lash the monster with magic missiles while Sigrid readied another arrow. Just as the juggernaught was preparing to release the javelin, Sigrid's arrow took it in the eye and the Ogre crashed to the ground, sliding to a stop.

Amazed at how well the battle went, the party returned and Sigrid located a hidden clearing without any further problems. Discussion tuned to what, if anything, should be done about the Goblin hideout. Sigrid pushed hard to eliminate the threat to future travellers, while Varis seemed more in favour of delivering the cart before it was given up for lost. In the end, Rayne took Sigrid's side, and they started planning their attack. Given Sigrid's human inability to see in the dark, they decided to attack first thing in the morning. The elves stood watch that night since they only needed four hours of trance each, while Sigrid slept well, satisfied to have proven herself and the party against a giant.

The next morning, the party felt better than ever, both Varis and Rayne discovered that they could memorize an extra spell allowing them to use three per day, and they both finally finished copying new spells into their spellbook that they've been copying off and on the the last weeks.

Thus rejuvinated, the party broke camp and, travelled once more to the goblin lair. Not wanting to be caught in the open again by guards, they slowly worked their way through the thicket the guards used for cover, and when they arrived, managed to leap unexpectedly at the goblins from behind. Varis with his shortsword and Rayne with his dagger, they set to the grim task of dispatching the overpowered and unprepared goblins.

After the short battle, Varis snuck into the cave, spotting a rickity bridge past the curve in the tunnel where all outside light ceased. Rayne, thinking it to be a good place for an ambush, snuck in but couldn't spot anything near the bridge. They decided to guide Sigrid in without the use of light, and when they peeked around the corner for a third time, spotted a goblin hiding in the shadows on the bridge. A magic missile volley from Varis, and the goblin dropped. No further movement was detected, so the party continued along the stream and came to a natural staircase leading up an away from the waterway.

Expecting more goblins at the top of the stairs, but knowing they would not be expecting trouble, the party hurridly formed a plan in whispers. Sigrid would quickly light her torch, dropping her flint and steel then all three would burst into the room. When they burst in, they discovered three goblins and a battle ensured. Everyone ended up wounded, and Rayne cast a healing spell. Just as they were done dispatching the goblins, a deep voice in Goblin came from the other room "Quit wasting torches!" Varis quickly translated, and Sigrid put the torch out again. Rayne retrieved the flint and steel then went to scout around. Looking around the cave, there is a waterfall cascading into two pools which have dams that are clearly set up to be able to be knocked out allowing a rush of water to surge down the entrance.

Listening at the doorway, Rayne heard an animal and two voices that were not the one that called out. Deciding that the plan worked well last time, they burst into the next room and saw a bugbear, a wolf, and two goblins. Only the goblins were surprised by the tactic, and the bugbear threw a javelin at Rayne. Since there was a fire in the middle of the room, Sigrid dropped her torch and grabbed her bow, firing quickly at the bugbear. Rayne cast her missiles at the bugbear, and it went down.

Varis, cast sleep, and the two goblins dropped into a slumber, but this left him open to an attack from the wolf who began mauling him. In the scramble to defend himself from the wolf, Rayne was unable to hit the wolf with her acid, and Sigrid was unable to dispatch it with her axe. Varis fell unconcious, and the wolf turned on Sigrid. Sigrid narrowly dodged the wolves attack and cast Cure Wounds on Varis, barely reviving him. The three narrowly dispatched the wolf and turned their attention to the sleeping goblins.

Since the goblins are completely in their power, they decide to question them... but as Varis pointed out, you don't need two goblins to get some answers. As Sigrid and Rayne tied up the weaker looking one, Varis plunged his sword into the other's heart, killing it instantly.

Questioning the remaining goblin, they discovered that there were less than 20 goblins in the hideout, and that "Klarg" the bugbear, and "ripper" the wolf were the only non-goblins left. The party had captured a dwarf and human and took their map. The dwarf and map was sent on to "King Grol" at Cragmaw Castle, because "the Black Spider" had paid to have this task done. The human is being held in the "eating cave", and isn't important.

While Sigrid is questioning the Goblin (named Meenick), Rayne searches the room, finding supplies with the Blue Lion sigil (of the Lionshield Coster) on them, and a chest of treasure... 600cp and 110sp, and two potions of healing, along with a jade frog figurine worth about 40gp.

Badly wounded, the party formulates a plan to retrieve the human who they realize must be Sildar Hallwinter (and the dwarf is Gundren Rockseeker) who hired the party to transport the supplies. Knowing of the goblin cowardice, they settle on a plan to intimidate them into giving up the human.

They bribe the goblin to lead them to the eating room with a gp (the goblin sticks it up his butt when he gets it to prevent losing it), and chop off Klarg's head and carry it with them. On reaching the eating room, they discover six goblins... five in the lower level they enter from and one on an upper level in the back half of the cave. There is a narrow set of stairs leading up 15' to the upper level.

Sigrid makes it plain that they're here to parley for the human, but are willing to wipe out the goblins if needed. The goblin at the top introduces himself as "Yeemik". Yeemik agrees to let the party go in peace if he is appointed leader. Not caring what happens, Sigrid agrees, but insists that the party gets the human and the supplies in Klarg's chamber.

Yeemik insists on a bounty for the human, threatening to throw him off the cliff if his demands aren't met. He sets the price at 50gp. Rayne offers the frog figuring, claiming it to be worth 60gp, and Yeemik agrees. Sildar yells out that the goblins cannot be trusted to keep their word, so the party figures out how to effect the exchange.

The party backs into the tunnel past the last intersection and allows the goblins to pass down the escarpment to the river, stripping them of weapons as they go and making it clear that the goblins must not return until the party leaves.

Once the goblins have left, Rayne and Varis scout the caves to ensure they've left while Sildar and Sigrid guard the entrance. Satisfied that the goblins are gone (but concerned about the possibility of an ambush when they leave the cave), Rayne and Varis enter a trance while Sigrid keeps watch on the entrance with Sildar poised to knock out the temporary dam and flood the entrance. The trances pass without an attack from the goblins, and Rayne cast a healing spell on Sigrid while Varis casts two on Sildar. Unable to transport the supplies due to the lack of a wagon, the party decides to leave it to the goblins and head back to their camp before dark... but not before Sigrid grabs a flagon's worth of ale.

Sigrid and Sildar lead the way out of the cave with Rayne and Varis holding back in case of an ambush. After everyone exits the cave, Sigrid notices a few goblins across the clearing near where the trail enters the forest. Not willing to assume it's an ambush since they may simply be waiting for the party to leave, they continue into the clearing. Once they're clear of the cave mouth, an arrow streaks by narrowly missing Sildar. With that, the party attacks the goblins... with each hit on a goblin, more of the goblins flee... after two of them are down, the "ambush" such as it was is finished. The party returns to their camp for a well deserved rest. They may not have completely eliminated the raids along Triboar Trail, but they've certainly slowed them down, and saving Sildar was more important.

Session 3

Sildar offers the party 50gp for an armed escort to Phandelin, and the party readily agrees since they're going that way regardless to deliver the supplies. The rest of the trip is uneventful, and they use the time to get to know Sildar better. He tells them how the Rockseeker brothers Gundren, Tharden, and Nundro found the legendary Wind Echo Caves that have been lost in the area, legendary site of the Forge of Spells. It was wiped out by orc bands hundreds of years ago and presumed lost.

Sildar is also looking to discover what happened to Iarno Albrek, a wizard who went to Phandelin two months ago to establish order, but was not heard from since he arrived.

Upon arriving in Phandelin, Sildar went to the Stonehill Inn for a room while the party went to Barthen's Provisions to drop off the supplies.

After helping unload the cart and getting their money, the party headed toward the Inn. On the way, they saw the Shrine to Tymora, and stopped by. There they met Sister Garaele, an outgoing young elf. On hearing the party were experienced travellers, she suggested they could do her a favour. She's trying to track down the lost spellbook of the legendary wizard Bowgentle. The banshee Agatha is a well known diviner, and could likely help, but after tracking down her lair, Agatha never materialized for Sister Garaele. When the party agreed to ask after Bowgentle's spellbook in exchange for three healing potions, Sister Garaele gave them a silver comb to give Agatha as a gift to help persuade her to provide the information. The party wishes they knew more about banshees and hopes to find a bard they can ask for more details.

After they part ways with Sister Garaele, they cross the road to the Inn and notice an evlish bard sitting by himself quietly plucking at his viola. Not ones to look a gift horse in the mouth, they waste no time introducing themselves to the bard Aramus. Rayne ordered a round from Elsa as they sat down to get aquainted. Varis excused himself explaining that he had "buisness around town" to attend to, and left before the drinks arrived.

After explaining why they wanted more information about banshees, the party was surprised to discover that Aramus was there because he had received a letter from his neice, Sister Garaele explaining her problem and hoping that her favorite ungle Aramus could either stop in his travels to help out, or send someone to make the trip. Since banshees often manifest in the evenings or at night, they decided to make the trek together that night, and hired a room - placing their chest of coins in the Inn's saferoom.

Aramus checked the letter to see if it gave the location of the Agatha, so they wouldn't need to bother Sister Garaele at home, and they realized it was two days travel away. Settling in for the night, they agreed to share the room and set off in the morning. Elsa stopped by to see if they wanted another round, and mentioned that other than Daran Edermath - the retired adventurer whole is now an orchardkeeper on the west side of town - they don't get many adventurers there.

Looking around the common room, Sigrid is surprised to notice a nine year old child playing quietly in a corner. Going over to find out what's happening, Sigrid introduces hereself to Pip who, as it turns out, is the child of Toblin and Trilena, the Innkeeper and his wife. Pip is excited that there's a bard at the inn, and asks if he can play his favourite song "The Hobgoblin's Got My Toe". Aramus agrees and performs it spectacularly. Toblin calls Pip over and hands him something, and Pip comes back and gives Aramus a silver piece telling them that this is the most exciting thing since Carp, Qelline Alderleaf's son, told him about seeing Redbrands at a secret tunnel in the woods.

Wanting to find out more, Aramus spots a miner at the bar and goes over to talk to him. Telling him he heard a rumour about Redbrands in his mine, Aramus discovers that Lanar the miner isn't too worried about that since the Redbrands are too lazy to actually work the mine to steal any ore, and that between them and the orcs raiders the townmaster is looking to have run off, there's more trouble than in recent memory in Phandelin.

Spotting a middle-aged lady sitting by herself, Aramus stops by her table for more information. She's clearly quite taken by Aramus, and introducers herself as Freda, a weaver who sells raw cloth out of her home. Apparently the Redbrands have been causing trouble for all the buisnesses except the Miner's Exchange, running a small extortion racket.

Intrigued by the trouble these Redbrands are causing around town, Sigrid goes to talk to an old farmer at the bar. He complains about the weather, and the fact that since the Redbrands basiclaly took over the Sleeping Giant taphouse, the Inn is the only place to have a drink anymore. Sigrid askes about the location of the Sleeping Giant, and wishes Narth better days.

The party decides that since it's still somewhat early, they should walk over and take a look at the Sleeping Giant and check out these Redbrands that are so infamous. Walking east toward the old manor house, when they get near the Sleeping Giant, they notice four thugs in grimy scarlet cloaks sitting out front. The Redbrands notice them looking and one gets up, walks into the street and spits at their feet, telling them to move on after giving them any valuables they have one them.

The party refuses, and while they discuss it, the rest of the Redbrands move off the porch and start moving toward the encounter. Sick of talking, the leader of the Redbrands draws his sword, cuts Sigrid's purse from her belt and spits on her boots, telling her this is her last chance to leave before there is trouble.

At that, the fight is joined. The Redbrands have clearly been drinking all day, and are not very effective. One is put magically to sleep, and the others fight to their deaths.

Realizing nobody noticed the disturbance in the street, they quickly tie up the sleeping Redbrand and drag him into the trees across from the taproom. After some discussion, they decide to take him to Sister Garaele's house.

Aramus leads they way, and when they drag the bound Redbrand into her home, Sister Garaele seems happy that someone is standing up to them at last. Sister Garaele agrees to keep the Redbrand in her cellar while they finish dealing with the problem (a day at the most), and they begin trying to get information out of the Redbrand.

They discover that the Redbrands are led by a wizard called "Glasstaff" since he carries a glass staff, and they were hired by the Black Spider to intimidate the locals and run off any adventurers that show up. They are based in cellars of the old manor and usually enter through a hidden tunnel which is guarded by an "eye monster" and they are holding some prisoners there. At this point, the captive stops providing information since he's not able to extract any promise that he will be relased alive.

The party returns to the inn and turns in for the night, intending to put a stop to the Redbrands tomorrow.

The next morning, they go downstairs, and Rayne orders a lavish breakfast for the entire party. As they're eating, Sildar shows up and pays them the 50gp he promised for the escort. Discussing their plans to deal with the Redbrands, Sildar says he still needs to talk to the Townmaster and find out about Inaro before he is free, but he would be willing to help out with the Redbrands the next morning.

Not sure if they'll wait or not, at the suggestion from Rayne, the party goes shopping. Stopping by Lionshield Coster, they meed the master of the Phandalin post, Linene Graywind. She apologises for the meagre selection, complaining that her last caravan never showed up. Sigrid mentions that they say some supplies carrying the Lionshield crest in the goblin lair, but since they didn't have a cart, they were forced to leave them there. Linene offers them 50gp and the use of her cart to retrieve them, or 25gp for directions. On learning that there are still goblins guarding the hideout, Linene drops the offer to 15gp since she would need to hire someone to deal with the goblins as well.

Aramus haggles the price up to 54gp, but Linene isn't willing to go higher since she's already losing money on them.

The party agrees to the deal, and Linene says that if they don't return, she'll take the value of the cart and mule out of whatever they abandon at the Inn.

Sigrid leads the party across country to the hideout with the cart, so they get there in only four hours. As they cautiously approach the cave, the goblin on guard out front recognises Sigrid and goes running into the cave. Shortly thereafter, eight goblins come out of the cave mouth to talk.

"Where is Yeemik?" Sigrid asks, and all the goblins fall back leaving Yeemik standing alone.

"We're here to pick up the supplies as agreed" said Sigrid, and the goblins all climb the hill above the cave and yield the entrance to the party.

After checking the cave for lingereres or traps, the party quickly loads up their cart and is on their way without incident. After an uneventful four hours travel back, they stop at Lionshield's to drop off the supplies.

Linene pays the 54gp and mentions that some of the supplies are still missing, but it's a lot better than a complete loss. She then takes the party into a back room where she has a wide selection of armour and weapons for sale. Sigrid sells her leather armour for 5gp, and buys a chain shirt while Aramus looks at the hand crossbows. Unfortunately, the hand crossbow is priced a bit out of Aramus' range, so only Sigrid makes a purchase.

The party heads back to the Inn, and pays for another day's lodging and talks to more locals. The murder of some Redcloaks last night is all the gossip, and some people cast furtive glances at the party, but nobody seems concerned about the murders.

The party goes to Sister Garaele's house to check on their prisoner. Sister Garaele asks what they'll be doing about the prisoner since he's soiled himself and hasn't eaten all day. Sigrid takes some food to the prisoner who is in pain from being hogtied all day on the floor. Sigrid goes and gets Aramus to stand guard while she ties the Redbrand up in a more comfortable (but no less secure) position and cleans him up as best she can. They then try to get more information out of him. Aside from his name (Eddie), he's not willing to talk since he believes he's going to die.

The party withdraws from the cellar and discusses what to do with him. After some discussion, where Aramus argues to kill him quickly and be done with it, they decide to leave him bound with a knife nearby in an undisclosed location in the woods, on the threat of death if he should return to Phandelver. Returning to the cellar, they tell him what they'll do should he be more cooperative, and with some relief, he offers to answer any of their questions. He doesn't have any more useful information on Glasstaff, but he tells them that one of the bridges over the chasm is rigged to fall, the nothic serves them for food, there's some (less than five) bugbears and a goblin that King Grol sent as, about ten more Redbrands the three skeletons. He also revealed a pit trap in "the hallway" and a secret door from "the cellar entrance".

On further questioning, it is discovered that the crimson cloaks have a weak spell that keeps the skeletons from animating, and more cloaks can be found in the armoury... which is past the room that contains the skeletons. No other useful information is extracted from the prisoner, and the party leaves him to plan their next day's assault.

Despite Eddie not mentioning any guards in the passageway, they feel it's not safe to send one person in a red cloak ahead to fetch two more cloaks and bring them back, so they head past the Sleeping Giant to see if the bodies are still in the street. Since they're not there, they return to the Inn to find out what happened to them.

As it happens, they were given a quick burial in the graveyard by the orchard. Deciding to exhume them to get their cloaks, the party heads out into the night.

On arriving at the graveyard, the graves are easily spotted since there are only three fresh graves. With no digging tools, they decide to borrow one from town. It's about 9:00pm, and there's not much of a moon, so they decide to sneak into sheds to find a shovel.

The first shed they come to doesn't have a shovel in it, so they move next door. As Aramus open the shed, he knocks some tools over and makes a loud clatter... the party freezes in place, but it seems nobody heard the noise, and Aramus grabs a shovel and they head back to the graveyard. Rayne doesn't want to dog and get herself dirty, and Sigrid is clearly the strongest, so she sets to the grim task of digging up bodies in the night with no light to help her.

After an hour of digging, she gets to the first body. He's still wearing his cloak, so they strip him of it and move on to the next grave. With Sigrid getting tired, and not able to see what she's doing, it takes another four hours to get the second cloak.

They spend another half hour re-burying the bodies, return the shovel, and head back to their rooms, exhausted... but with two more very dirty cloaks in their posession.

Session 4

The elves Rayne and Aramus come out of their trance early when the sun is just coming up and, being careful to allow Sigrid to get her sleep, contemplate what to do with the filthy cloaks they stole. They frankly stink, and spent a day buried in dirt. Trying to be circumspect, they both take a shot at brushing the cloaks clean, but though it helps, it's not nearly enough... especially for Rayne's sensibilities. Though Aramus didn't want the cloaks to be wet, she washed them both in the basin, then took the wet cloaks to the woods near Tresendar Manor. She hung them up to dry on the branches at the edge of the wood, and prepared her spells while she waited. Just when the cloaks were almost dry, a young halfling came up and asked what she was doing with the "bandit cloaks". Rayne explained that she wasn't one of the bullies, and the halfling, Carp, looked relieved. He mentioned that he saw some of the bandits leaving a hidden tunnel in the woods and offered to show Rayne where it was. Leaving the cloaks behind, Carp led her to an overgrown tunnel entrance in the embankment below the manor. Thanking Carp for the help, they returned where the cloaks were drying, and Carp went home.

At about 11:00, the cloaks were dry, so Rayne took them back to the room. Sigrid woke up as she closed the door, and they discussed what to do that day. Armed with the exact location of the tunnel entrance, they decided to check it out after dealing with Eddie, their prisoner. Stopping by Sister Garaele's house, nobody answered their knock, so they let themselves in, and prepared Eddie for transport. They tied his hands behind his back, put a potatoe sack over his head, and ran a short fetter between his legs to hobble him. Aramus went out to ensure the coast was clear, and they guided Eddie out of town.

Not spotting any nearby cover, they ended up hiking two miles to a small copse of trees to deal with their prisoner. When they removed the sack from Eddie, they started discussing how to ensure he didn't run back to Glasstaff and alert him they were coming. At the suggestion of clubbing him on the head, Eddie became agitated and insisted that if he was just given a couple days rations and allowed to keep his clothes, he would leave the area completely. After some discussion, they decided to allow it and Sigrid gave him the rations and they watched him head northwest, away from Phandelin and toward Neverwinter. With that taken care of, and it getting into the afternoon, they headed to the tunnel.

Arriving at the tunnel, the elves put on the cloaks, and walked into the tunnel to look around. They saw a large cavern with a chasm running down it away from them, with two bridges across it, and two large pillars reaching about 20 feet up to a stone floor above. Suddenly, Sigrid recalled that they hadn't talked to Sildar about what they discovered and wherre they were going. Quickly heading back into town, the went to the Stonehill Inn and asked about him. Apparently he was in the common room for breakfast, then left word he would be at the Townmaster's Hall. Heading over there, they noticed a sign out front advertising a reward for dealing with the Orcs near Wyvern Tor. Ignoring that for now, they walked in and were greeted by the fat, and old Harbin Wester who directed them to an office at the back.

Knocking on the door to the office, Sildar invited them in, when they entered, they saw Sildar clearly in his element ensconed behind a desk with various books, papers, and maps. They caught him up on the situation and told him they would be assaulting Tresendar Manor that afternoon. Sildar perked up at the news and told them that Iarno Albrek, a fellow member of the Lord's Alliance was last seen exploring around Tresendar Manor a couple months back, and asked them to see if they could find any indication of what happened and return either Inaro or his remains, describing him as "a short, dark-bearded human wizard in his thirties". Sigrid suggested that Sildar may come along and help them eliminate the Redbrand threat, but Sildar demurred, indicating that he had so much on his plate working to bring the town back to prosperity, and that eliminating the Redbrands was not a top priority yet, it should wait until a town watch is formed and a court established so fair justice can be had. He did promise to check in on them at the inn next day if they didn't stop by before then though.

The adventurers returned to the tunnel, with the elves donning the Redbrand cloaks again while they snuck north down the tunnel to the cavern. As they reached the cavern this time, the "eyeball monster" (who Aramus regonized as a nothic) noticed them approaching and confronted them. Speaking to them telepathically, he challenged their presence. Thinking quickly, Rayne explained that they were escorting a new prisoner to the cells, and the nothic climbed back into the chasm, satisfied with their explination. Looking around the well-lit cavern, they saw a narrow passage on the south end of the west wall heading west, another narrow passage to the east, an opening to a room at the north, and a curve in the wall ahead of them they couldn't see past.

Remembering what Eddie said about the bridges, the look at the closest one and identify it as being the rickety one, the went to the northernmost bridge and crossed it, then headed back south into the passage heading east. The passed turned south, then west again where it ended in a dead end. Remembering what Eddie said about a secret door, they closely inspected the wall and realized it was a secret door. Opening it, they passed into the southwest corner of a 30x40' room. Directly to their left was a cistern filled with water. It's about 10x15 feet and ten feet deep, with a two foot wall around it. Kegs and barrels line the west half of the north and south walls, and there's another door on the other side of the cistern on the west wall, and another at the east end of the north wall. Before the door, stairs go up to a 5 foot wide landing which passes across the top of the door to another flight of stairs to a landing along the east wall where another door appears to open on the main floor of the manor.

Heading quickly though the room to the door under the landing, the party eases through the door and steps into a wide hallway. The hallway extends about 30 feet to an ornate set of double doors. With Aramus leading the way, and Rayne and Sigrid following behind, they walk toward the double doors. About halfway to the doors, the floor collapses beneath Aramus, Sigrid manages to step back to safety, but Rayne falls in, catching the edge of the pit and narrowly managing to hold on. Sigrid quickly lifts Rayne to safety, and they check on Aramus. Badly wounded by the fall, they throw him a rope and Sigrid hauls him up.

Stuck on the wrong side of the pit, they notice a narrow 4" ledge along the walls. Thinking they can make it across, Sigrid and Rayne edge safely to the other side. Rayne peeks in the double doors and sees a crypt with three large stone sarcophagi each with a skeleton leaning against it with rusted mail armour. Realizing this must be the three skeletons that Eddie said the cloak kept from animating, Rayne entered the romm alone to find the armoury and fetch Sigrid a cloak so they could all safely pass.

In the crypt, Rayne found two other doors, one on the west side of the north wall, and another on the centre of the east wall. Moving to the door on the east wall, she inched the door open and peeked in, just as she saw a cell with two women in it, a rough human voice challenged her "What are you doing here?". Thinking quickly, Rayne opened the door and noticed a second guard as well as another cell with a young boy in it and replied, "I'm escorting a prison in, but don't have an extra cloak to keep the skeletons from animating with."

"New here, and you already forgot that the password is Illefarn huh? where is the prisoner?" the guard retorted.

"She's in the hallway by the pit, I'll go get her." and Rayne returned to the crypt, closing the door behind her.

Returning to the hallway, she quickly appraises the others of what transpired, and they decided it was better to deal with the guards now rather than have them wonder where the prisoner and new Redbrand went later, Rayne wrapped rope around Sigrid's forearms to look like she was tied up while Aramus edged along the ledge to their side.

Just before he reached safety however, Aramus lost his footing and plunged back into the pit... being knocked unconcious when he landed. Sigrid quickly lowered Rayne into the pit where she checked him for broken bones and stableized him. Sigrid them pulled Aramus up, followed by Rayne.

Sigrid cast "Cure Wounds" on Aramus reviving him, and they quickly entered the crypt, speaking the password as they entered. Rayne grabbed Sigrid's weapons and they entered the cell with their "prisoner".

"Huh," said the guard, "she'll fetch a nice price in the slave market" as he walked toward the north cell which held only a small boy, reaching for his keys and unlocking the cell. As the boy cowered from the guard, the other, larger guard said "well, what are you waiting for, get her in there!" then roughly grabbed Sigrid from behind and started shoving her into the cell.

Aramus cast sleep and the guard holding the cell door and the boy in the cell dropped to sleep then back up to the door. The other guard released Sigrid and drew his sword, kicking the sleeping guard and telling him to wake up. Sigrid grabbed her axe and attacked the sleeping guard woulding him badly, then Rayne cast Ray of Frost at the big guard, missing him. Aramus drew his raiper and attacked the large guard, hitting him. The sleeping guard got to his feet, then the larger one attacked Rayne. Hitting her twice, he wounded her badly. While Sigrid engaged the larger guard, Rayne backed to beside Aramus and quaffed a potion of healing, restoring most of her vigour. Aramus attacked the large guard again with his rapier, and the sleeping guard advanced on Rayne, hitting her twice again, and dropping her to the ground. The large guard attacked Sigrid, but she fended off the attack, but was unable to get through the guards defences. Aramus, cast Cure Wounds on Rayne beside him on the floor, and the small guard turned to Aramus with his attack. Only landing one blow, Aramus was wounded but still well in the fight. The large guard continued to press his attack on Sigrid who continued to deflect his swordplay, and landed a mighty counterblow. Rayne, from the floor, cast magic missile, two of the deadly darts hitting the large guard, and one hitting the smaller one. On being hit, both guards dropped, defeated.

Looking around the room, the party retrieved the keys from the slain guard, and released the prisoners. They were a family who had been here for a few days, and were bound for the slave market. Mirna Dendrar's husband Thel was killed by the Redbrands for defying them, and her, her thirteen-year-old son Nars and eighteen-year-old daughter Nilsa were stripped, given rough tunics to wear and locked in the cells. Their clothes, along with what was presumably those of previous captured slaves were piled along the wall.

Other than the filthy straw that lined the cells, the pile of clothes, and the two foot long chains and padlocks that secured the doors, and the guards and their weapons, there is nothing else not permanently fixed to the room.

Sigrid grabs a cloak from one of the now-dead guards, and puts it on to avoid animating the skeletons. They tell Mirna and her family to stay in the room while they find a way out.

Heading to the other door out of the crypt, they open it to discover a narrow passageway with a door on the right at the end. They discover the door is locked, and return to the slave pen to retrieve the keys. After trying the keys, they find one that works, and enter the armoury. Inside they find racks of 12 spears, 6 shortswords, 4 longswords, 6 light crossbows, and 8 quivers of 20 crossbow bolts each, along with 12 Redbrand cloaks. The elves each take a light crossbow and a quiver of bolts, and Sigrid exchanges her cloak for one without blood on it. They return to the slave pens and tell the family the password and suggest that they acompany the group while they find a way to safety.

Trying to figure out a way to get out of the catacombs without having to cross the pit trap or fight the nothic, Aramus thinks there may be another secret door, so he begins searching in the passageway to the armoury, and his search is rewarded. He finds a secret door across from the armoury entrance which opens into a storage room and work area. The south wall opens into the nothic cavern, but the room has been finished with dressed stone blocks. Several barrels are stored against the walls here, along with a number of empty crats, straw for packing, hammers, pry bars, and nails. Lying among the crates are 30 beaver pelts. While the party is actively searching the room, Sigrid notices yet another secret doorway. They cautiously open the door and discover a staircase leading down. Although Aramus points out that going down stairs isn't likely to lead to an exit from the catacombs below ground, the group decides it would be too difficult to sneak the slaves past the nothic and rather than push their luck, go down the stairs.

At the bottom is another dead end, and a search for yet another secret door ensus. Aramus finds and cautiously opens it to find a bedroom with a desk where a short, dark-bearded human make in robes sits, studying a tome. He wears a princely mantle of ermine and a beautiful glass staff leans against his chair, in easy reach. As Aramus opens the secret door, Glasstaff grabs his glass staff and says "Ah, uninvited guests, come in my good gentleman!" Sigrid, hearing this, quickly tells Mirna to return to the slave pen and they'll be back if possible. The family scurries away as Aramus pushes the door open.

"You're not in my employ, what is your business here?" asks Glasstaff.

With that, he guestures with his staff and mutters and incantation. Aramus lays on the bed and plays a seductive melody while Rayne lets off a Ray of Frost at the evil wizard. Missing, the wizard then casts Hold Person on Sigrid, freezing her in place. Aramus gets up from the bed and attacks, missing the wizard, Rayne casts Thunderbolt, damaging him, and push him back against the wall. Glasstaff casts Magic Missile on Aramus, knocking him out him, then and Rayne casts a Sleep spell, dropping him instantly to sleep. They quickly tie and gag the wizard, taking away his staff

Rayne stabilizes Aramus and pours a potion of healing down his throat, then the party barricades themselves in the room for a Short Rest.

While they are resting, they casually search the room. They find an unlocked chest, holding 180sp, 130gp, and a silk pouch containing 5 carnelians (10gp each), two peridots (15gp each), and one pearl (100gp) along with two scrolls, a Scroll of Charm Person. On the desk are various orders to apothecaries and alchemists nearby along with status updates and inventory sheets... but among them is a letter signed by the Black Spider reading: "My spies in Neverwinter tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Phandalin. They could be working for the dwarves. Capture them if you can, kill them if you must, but don't allow them to upset our plans. See that any dwarven maps in their possession are delivered to me with haste. I'm counting on you Iarno. Don't disappoint me."

Session 5

With Iarno securely bound and gagged, they make their exit back through the secret door, to take him to Sildar and get Mirna's family to safety. With Iarno freely following them, they make their way back through all three secret doors past the armoury to the slave pen. As they walk through the doors, Mirna yelps in alarm, then calms somewhat.

"We've captured Iarno, and now we're going to get you all out of here" Rayne said comfortingly. Leading everyone back through the crypt to the pit in the hallway, Sigrid lowers everyone down on a rope, then jumps across and hauls everyone up the other side. Walking through the door to the main cellar, the coast seems clear, and Rayne goes to check that the door at the top of the stairs does lead to outside. On discovering that it does, Sigrid sends Mirna and her family to safety.

"I can't thank you enough" says Mirna, "but unfortunately, I have no way to pay you."

"Your freedom is all we care about" replies Sigrind.

"But, if you do manage to get to Thundertree, which was overrun with undead, our family hid an emerald bracelet in our Herb and Alchemy shop near the south-east part of town. It's hidden under one of the shelving units there."

"Thank-you for the information, now get your family to safety."

With that, Mirna and her family leave, and Aramus says "These barrels look new, we should check what's in them." Sigrid didn't really want to, preferring to get themselves to safety, so she stood at the top of the stairs guarding the door while Aramus and Rayne searched the barrels. The barrels on the north wall contained food, beef, pork, sugar, flour, ale, etc. As they moved to the south wall to check what those barrels contained, Sigrid noticed the other door opening, and three large Redbrands entered the room "Behind you" yelled Sigrid, drawing an arrow from her quiver. The Redbrands quickly closed on Aramus and Rayne engaging them while Sigrid shot arrows from her position above. They managed to dispatch one of the Redbrands, but the other two overpowered Aramus and Rayne knocking them to the floor unconscious,, then they split up, advancing up the two sets of stairs toward Sigrid. Unwilling to abandon her friends, Sigrid grabbed her axe and met one of the Redbrands on the stairs. As they fought, the second Redbrand closed on her from behind and although she put up a valiant fight, Sigrid too was overpowerd.

The next they knew, they were wearing plain tunics, locked in the slave pens they just rescued Mirna's family from. Three guards were posted, and the women were in the south cell, while Aramus was alone in the north one. Rayne entered a trance to recover her lost strength, and the others sat collecting themselves. After a while, Iarno walked in with his staff, and one of the guards poked Rayne through the bars shaking her from her trance. "Wake up, Glasstaff wants to talk to you!".

Rayne threw herself at the bars "I demand my things back and to be set free!" The guard punched her through the bars and she collapsed to the floor.

"Who sent you?" barked Iarno.

"Nobody *sent* us" Sigrid replied, "we were just here to help out the townsfold you've been oppressing."

"Why would three strangers do such a thing, why are you here?"

"Sildar Hallwinter *did* ask us to find out what happened to Iarno Albrek, from the papers we read in your office, it's clear you know exactly what happened. Sildar would pay a pretty penny to discover what that was" Sigrid said as Rayne regained consciousness.

"Leave us!" Iarno ordered the guards "I would speak to them alone." the guard handed Iarno the cell key which Iarno distractedly hung from his belt as the guards filed out.

After the guards left, Iarno turned back to Sigrid "Is there some way to ensure your silence on this matter, or must I kill you now?" Iarno asked, looking at the entire party in turn. "What's in it for us if we keep your dirty secret Iarno?" Aramus asked when Iarno glared at him. "You can live in silence as a slave, or die now." Iarno snarled back. "We'll keep your secret Iarno." Sigrid assured him.

In shaken outrage, Iarno turned to walk out the door and when Iarno's back was turned, Aramus muttered a spell under his breath, and make a quick gesture and a spectral hand appeared by Iarno's belt and pulled the key free, then flew quickly to Aramus, handing him the key, and disappearing. Aramus quickly tucked the key behind him as the guards filed back in. Aramus casually felt around in the straw on the floor... finally finding what he was looking for, a pinch of fine sand, the required material component for a sleep spell. Not being confident enough in a sleep spell putting all three guards to sleep, Aramus bode his time, waiting for the right moment.

After some time, two of the guards said "It doesn't take three of us to watch these fools, I'm going to play dice." "I'll come with you." said a second guard. "One of us should do their job" snorted the third guard "besides, I'm tapped out from the last game."

With just the one guard left, Aramus decided against the Sleep spell and, after waiting long enough for the guards to get far enough away, cast Dissonant Whispers the remaining guard, which dropped him like a stone.

Unlocking his cell, he hurried quickly to the other cell and released the rest of his party. They retrieve their clothes from the pile, but that's all that was in the room. "We need weapons!" Sigrid exclaimed. "And my necklace!" Rayne added (as her necklace had her arcane focus on it, without which, many of her spells couldn't be cast). Hurrying to the armoury (remembering to speak the password which thankfully hadn't been changed), they discovered the door locked once more, and this time, they didn't have the key. Sigrid attempted to break down the door, but couldn't get it to budge. Rayne also tried, but it still refused to open.

"We need to leave, we'll come back for everything!" Aramus insisted. Feeling like they were leaving a part of themselves behind, Sigrid and Rayne agreed, and they went through the crypt to the hallway with the pit in it once more.

Sigrid jumped across easily, and Rayne and Aramus quickly sidled along the edge. Rayne lost her footing and grabbed at the ledge, but only managed to bump Aramus' foot, knocking him into the pit too. Crashing to the ground, they were both knocked out, with Sigrid left with no rope in the hallway above.

Horrified, visions of recapture running through her head, Sigrid wracked her brain trying to think of how to get her friends out of the pit. Unable to do it with what she had at hand, she raced to the exit, and through town to the shrine. "What happened?!?!" exclaimed Sister Garaele as Sigrid came running across the street.

"Your uncle fell into a pit and was knocked unconscious while we were escaping the Redbrands, I need healing, a rope, and some way to secure it! Quickly!"

"The only healing I know takes ten minutes to cast, but I do have rope!" Sister Garaele replied horrified. "I'll take it!" replied Sigrid and ran across to the Inn. Meeting Toblen at the bar, she exclaimed, "I need the chest from the safe, quickly, it's a matter of life and death!" Seeing the state she was in, Toblen hurried to the back and returned with the chest. Racing against the discovery of their escape, she rushed to Barthen's Provisions and spent almost all the money on a single healing potion (50gp), a hammer (1gp), and a piton (1cp). Rushing back to the ruined manor, she quickly peeks in the door and, finding the room empty, runs to the edge of the pit where the rest of the party still lies unconscious. Driving the piton into the floor, and setting the chest beside it, she secures the rope and lowers herself down, pouring the healing potion down Aramus' throat. As soon as he wakes, she quickly directs him to heal Rayne, and they climb out of the pit, recovering the rope.

Spotting the chest on the floor, Rayne picks it up and notices how light it is. "Where's all my money?" she snaps at Sigrid. "I had to spent it to get you out of here, I'll tell you more on the way, let's get out of here!" Rushing to safety, the party returns to Sister Garaele's shrine. When Sister Garaele sees Aramus safe, she runs and gives him a huge hug "I thought I had lost you uncle!" she cries. "We're safe, but we need healing" Aramus replies gruffly. As Sister Garaele prays over the party, they discuss what options. After some discussion, they decide that with no money remaining, and no weapons, they must sneak back in and get into the armoury. Recalling the crowbars in the workroom, they decide to use those if they must to break in and secure weapons... hopefully their own. "That's suicide!" Sister Garaele exclaims, "You barely managed to escape and now you want to go back in!" "Don't worry, at the first sign of trouble, we'll run, but we *need* that equipment." explains Aramus. "At least take some daggers." Sister Garaele states, going to a cabinet in the corner and pulling out three of them - handing one to each visitor. "I still think this is crazy."

As they head back to the manor, they decide to stop by and see if Sildar can be of any help. Walking into his office, Sildar took one look at them and asked "what happened?" Sigrid explained that they were captured then escaped, and now they need to get their equipment back.

"At least use mine rather than those daggers." Sildar insists, crossing the room to where his longsword, heavy crossbow, and chainmail sits.

"We'll take the weapons, but the armour is too clumsy and loud, we'll be fine, in and out."

"Alright, but this isn't a very well planned assault. I do hope to see you again... now go!"

Rushing back up the road to the manor, and sneaking back in once again, they get to the pit and Rayne and Aramus go down on the rope. Untying the rope, Sigrid jumps across and hauls them up the other side. Getting to the armoury, Sigrid tries forcing the door again, but it remains closed. Quickly going through the secret door to the empty workshop, Sigrid grabs a crowbar and a hammer and sets to the door in earnest. With the use of the crowbar, the door pops open and they crowd inside.

Their weapons and armour are all there, but that's it. Happy to be reunited with her battle axe and new armour, Sigrid is happy and relieved. Rayne and Aramus on the other hand, are disappointed that neither one has retrieved their arcane focus, and Rayne is still missing her spellbook.

Sneaking out for the last time, the party sighs in relief at regaining their freedom, despite losing so much. As they walk back to the inn, Rayne starts in on Aramus for his greed in insisting that they search the barrels in the cellar, blaming him for their capture. She also expresses her anger to Sigrid at spending all of her money. When Sigrid reminds her that it was to save her and Aramus, Rayne grudgingly admits that she's thankful, and goes back to berating Aramus. They return Sildar's equipment, and Sister Garaele's daggers and head to the inn to rest up and recover from the day, as storm clouds loom.

Entering the inn, they explain to Toblen what happened and ask for new keys. "I'm sorry" Toblen explains painfully "I can't afford to bring the Redebrand retribution down on me. I'd love to help, but you can't stay here, I'd be risking my family and my livelihood. I'm happy to hold onto your things, but you can't stay here." Sigrid expresses her feelings "We understand Toblen, we don't want anything to happen to you and yours either." "And besides, we don't have anything left to hold onto anyway" Rayne mutters under her breath.

Hoping to stay with Sister Garaele, they go back to the shrine. "We've been kicked out of the Inn" explains Aramus, "any chance we can sleep at your places tonight?" With a pained expression, Sister Garaele replies "I'm sorry uncle, it's too dangerous for you in town, you must leave."

With that, the party goes to make camp in the copse they released Eddie in. Stomachs grumbling, Sigrid heads into the woods to scrounge for something to eat while Rayne uses some of her remaining magic to start a fire. After ten minutes, Sigrid returns with food and they eat, thinking over their options. Rayne continues to berate Aramus and complain about everything she lost... her spellbook, her necklace, and her money. They camp for the night, and set watch.

Waking the next morning, reinvigorated, they eat a light meal and go back to discussion Aramus and Sigrid are clearly getting tired of Rayne, and Aramus' guilt no longer holds his tongue and he snaps back "We're lucky to be alive, would you rather have your money or your life?" "You don't understand," Rayne pleads, "that necklace had a ring on it and it's the only thing I have to remember--" then looks away and cuts off short. After and uncomfortable silence, Sigrid stands up, stares at Rayne and states flatly "We must get Raynes things back for her." Overriding Aramus' weak objections that going back in AGAIN would be suicide, they take stock of what they have and, for the first time since they left Neverwinter, begin drawing up a plan to use all their resources. After much discussion, they decide that it's most likely that the Redbrands will strongly guard the main entrance since that's clearly where they entered and exited from given that the pit trap was triggered, and are likely to rely on just the nothic with maybe one or two extra guards to back him up at the "secret" tunnel. Aramus removes his leather armour, and Rayne uses it as the material compoent to cast Mage Armor on both herself and Aramus. Aramus sings a song of valour to both Rayne and Sigrid, inspiring them, and he readies Faerie Fire to cast as soon as he is in range of the nothic. With that, they run down the tunnel, Sigrid in the lead with her battle axe, Aramus following with his rapier, and Rayne following behind.

As they emerge into the cavern, only the nothic is present and as they run toward him, Aramus lines him with purple flames. Sigrid feels the rotting gaze of the nothic, but is unharmed by it, and Rayne unleashes four powerful magic missiles at it. The nothic closes to Sigrid and slashes at her with his claws, doing minimal damage. Aramus unleashes a thunderwave, which hurts the nothic, but doesn't knock him back. He claws at Sigrid again, who then buries her axe deep in the nothic's skull, splitting his eye, and burying it so deeply that she has trouble pulling it from the skull.

"We should search the room" Rayne suggests. Aramus stares at her and says slowly "All day you've been complaining about me suggesting the SAME thing, and YOU want to SEARCH the ROOM?" "It's a good idea." states Rayne, heading toward the chasm and climbing down. Aramus stares after her for a bit then starts search the near side of the bridges, while Sigrid, unable to understand this level of greed guards their escape.

As Rayne reaches the bottom of the rift, an unnatural chill surrounds her. She sees a half-eaten body with no signs of decay and shivers, having second thoughts about the search. When she looks around however, she spots a battered wooden chest in a cubbyhole and drags it out. She struggles to get it out of the crevasse, but manages and as she gets the the top, exclaims "Ok, now let's get out of here." The party exits the tunnel and rummages through the chest. On top is a longsword in a silver-chased scabbard. The hilt is worked into the shape of a bird of prey, and when Rayne draws the sword, she sees "Talon" inscribed on it and feels a tingle of magic. She recognizes this as the sword that belonged to the Knight Aldith Tresendar, know as the Black Hawk, who fell defending a manor house from the orc invasion. "This is mine!" Rayne exclaims and continues digging through the chest where she finds 160sp, 120gp, 5 malachite gems (15gp each), two potions of healing, and a scroll of augury.

Session 6

Meanwhile, back in Phandalin, people are talking about a new female half-elven warrior who came into town wounded, took a room at the inn, then the next morning, challenged some drunken Redbrands to cards at the Sleeping Dragon. She was accused of cheating, and killed four of the Redbrands single-handedly. After a short rest, she went to the Shrine to Tymora where she met Sister Garaele. After spending some time in prayer together, Sister Garaele, worried about her beloved uncle, told Lethia where to find them and asked her to help. Lethia then set off toward the tunnel to meet this Aramus and his party.

While the party is taking a rest, a large wolf stalks out of the woods non-aggressively in what Sigrid recognises as the manner a lone wolf will attempt to join a new pack. Clearly assuming that Sigrid is the alpha of the "pack", it shows active submission toward her, and Sigrid uses her animal handling skills to assert her dominance. The wolf seems eager to join the pack, and Sigrid seems happy to allow it to be submissive to her (but the standing in the pack is left an open question.) While this is occurring, Rayne reflects on her recent actions, an apologises to Sigrid and Aramus, offering Talon to Sigrid, and splitting the treasures evenly (save for the gems and magical items). Sigrid moves her battle axe to her back and equips Talon at the ready, and their talk turns to pressing their attack on the hideout. Forming plans for Aramus and Rayne to take the lead due to their darkvision, the decide that Aramus will advance snuffing out the lamps as they go to gain an advantage as they clean out the remains of the Redbrands and hopefully recapture Iarno. Just as their working out the last details, Aramus notices Lethia listening from the trees. She tells them that Sister Garaele sent her, and that she was willing to join them for what sounds like a good fight. With the possibility of a reward tossed in, Lethia was happy to join, and that party was happy to have someone so clearly skilled and equipped for melee fighting helping with the attack on an entrenched for.

Moving down the tunnel into the cavern, carefully, they move into the cavern, and Aramus sets to dousing the lights. As he does, he notices that some are already out and others are guttering as though someone failed to refuel them on schedule. Rayne, noticing that there are no enemies in the room, suggests moving out of the large room rather than go all the way around it putting out lights, and they move into a previously unexplored passageway. Taking the stairs down and extinguishing lamps as they go, at the bottom of the stairs is a perpendicular passageway with the end at the stairs ending in a doorway on their left, and extending to a doorway at the other end. After quickly darkening the passage, Aramus moves to the door on the left and eases it open, putting out the nearest lamp, and peering in. The place is a smelly mess with some rough bunks, piles of filthy clothing and bits of feed strewn about. They search through for any of their belongings but find nothing of note. Moving to the other end of the now darkened passageway, they ease the other door open again, quickly snuffing lamps, but it too is abandoned. Tables and chairs indicate this was a common room of sorts, and Aramus's viola is battered in the corner with the strings, one tuning peg, and the bridge broken. Happy to find his fine instrument, but upset by the damage, he collects it and decides he can fix it up well enough and perhaps make or buy a bow soon.

Moving to the door opposite where they came in, Aramus peers through to an empty corridor with stairs leading up and a door directly across. Believing the hideout likely to be abandoned now, they quickly enter the room across the corridor, and find the remains of a lab with all items of value taken, but some spell components and empty bottles remaining on the hastily cleared benches and tables. Rayne spots her necklace among the dertius and after finding the ring is still on it, seems so happy and relieved that she doesn't even seem worried about her missing spellbook for a moment. Going through the other door they discover Iarno's room, which has been cleaned out. No papers remain on the desk, and there is no chest in evidence. Searching the room though, Rayne finds her signet ring and scroll of pedigree under the desk, but further searching still doesn't turn up her spellbook.

Accepting that the hideout has been abandoned, they quickly search the rest of it. The armoury only contains a couple spears, and they move into the crypt, telling Lethia the password first, and speaking it as they enter. A quick check of the slave pens shows no change, and they decide to check in the sarcophagi. In each they find a platinum signet ring, but before they can examine them closely, the skeletons animate, woken by the desecration of their resting place. Rayne hurriedly casts Shatter past the nearest one, dropping two of them, but also hurting Lethia and Sigrid with the spell. The last skeleton is quickly dispatched, and with some dirty looks at Rayne, they move to the room the Redbrand anbush came from when they searched the barrels. Some double bunks and barrels of supplies fill this small room and a couple Redbrand cloaks hand on pegs. Going through the pockets, Aramus finds 2 copper pieces, and they move to the exit, noticing that almost half of the supplies that were previously in the room with the cistern are missing. Leaving the cellar to the ruins of the manor above, Sigrid immediately notices the tracks of two carts, eight medium humanoids, and one small one heading north.

Not willing to give up on Rayne's spellbook, and the possibility of capturing Iarno, Sigrid leads the chase with the party and Fenrir following behind. After some hours of tracking, gaining ground the whole time, dusk settles in, and Rayne supplies dancing lights to track by. As they're getting less than ten minutes behind the fugitives, they see lights ahead and Rayne quickly dismisses her dancing lights. There is a half moon, and on the plains, even the human can see well enough to make her way through the night.

They follow the light, closing to within a half mile, they keep that distance until their quarry stops and makes camp. Giving them time to settle in for the night, the party bides their time while discussing their options. After a sufficient time has passed, Sigrid casts a spell and speaks with Fenrir, asking him to scout the camp ahead and report back, quickly so that she does not need to cast Speak with Animals again on his return, and Fenrir runs off into the night.

After eight minutes or so, Fenrir returns and tells Sigrid the layout of their prey's camp. A human sleeps between the two angled carts, and another human sleeps on either side. At the open side of the 'V' is a large campfire, on the other side of which, three bugbears and a goblin sleep lightly. Two more humans are patrolling the edges of the camp.

Hashing out a plan, they decide that Rayne, Aramus, and Sigrid will advance, and Lethia will stay back since she would be in danger of being discovered with her chain mail, shield, and general lack of stealth.

The three move ahead with Fenrir following close behind. Rayne easily drops the patrol to sleep, and Aramus sneaks toward the wagons to find Rayne's spellbook and hopefully their packs. While he does, Lethia moves forward to be closer to the action. As Aramus reaches the wagons, the sound of a handbell rings out, Iarno had set an alarm!

Aramus dashes back toward his party as the bugbears get to their feet. Seeing the fleeing elf, and an elf and a human thirty feet beyond, the bugbear decides against waking up the humans for such a weak threat and dashes after Aramus. Rayne uses a higher level sleep, but it fails against the bugbear. Sigrid runs in front of Rayne to confront the advancing bugbear, and Lethia dashes toward the fray. The other two bugbears dash up, and melee combat is joined.

While Sigrid and the first bugbear battle it out, Aramus notices one of the Redbrands waking up. He turns around and runs back to the Redbrand to prevent him from waking any of the others, and dive-tackles him into a grapple, struggling to keep him from calling out to Iarno and the other non-magically sleeping Redbrand. The goblin cowers under a cart and shows no sign of helping or hindering their fight.

Rayne fires off a couple of magic missiles while Lethia comes into range. The two bugbears who were not fighting Sigrid throw javelins at the mage, but they both go wide into the night, and with Lethia and Sigrid standing between them and attacking, they can't readily get to Rayne who continues to let off fire bolts at the bugbears. While this is happening, the alarm goes silent only waking the one Redbrand, who is wrestling with Aramus. The Redbrand is trying only to escape from Aramus so he can wake Iarno, while Aramus is keeping him from calling out, and attempting to drag him toward the melee so he is less likely to be able to awaken anyone if he does escape.

Meanwhile, the bugbears and warriors are almost evenly matched, and the battle rages on for almost a full minute, Fenrir darting in any time Sigrid is hurt, with Aramus keeping the Redbrand out of the fight, and dragging him slowly to his death. Against all odds, Aramus manages to keep the Redbrand from escaping while the grim work of cutting down the bugbears proceeds. Finally, the bugbears are dispatched, but the magical sleep is wearing off. Sigrid and Lethia race toward the first Redbrand who was put to sleep, managing to dispatch him quickly before he can wake the others. Sigrid dashes off to the second one, but Aramus was just a bit too slow in preventing his opponents escape, and he breaks free yelling "Attackers in the camp!" This awakens Iarno who casts Mage Armour on himself with the staff, and the last Redbrand, the Redbrand moving to protect Iarno. Lethia lands a mighty blow on her Redbrand who attempts crawls away. Aramus and Rayne quickly dispatch their Redbrand, and Sigrid engages Iarno's protector. Iarno reaches into a pouch on his hip and quickly drinks a potion and disappears. Aramus runs up toward the carts and casts Faerie Fire behind the carts to try and expose the wizard, but he is not in the area of effect. Sigrid and Lethia dispatch the last of the Redbrands, and assume that Iarno has fled. Realizing that chasing an invisible opponent into the night is futile, Rayne starts searching the carts for her spellbook.

As Fenrir rejoins the party, Sigrid realizes she still has a spell slot left and casts Speak with Animals, and gets Fenrir to track the invisible mage. The party follows Fenrir into the night while nose to the ground he sniffs out Iarno's trail. Finally, Fenrir stops, confused. Rayne summons her dancing lights, and they discover that Iarno's tracks stop. Quickly ascertaining that Iarno isn't standing before them while Fenrir casts for a scent out to twenty feet, the party again begins coming to grips with losing Iarno again... until Rayne remembers about Misty Step, which allows a mage to teleport up to thirty feet.

Sigrid checks a circle out to 40 feet for tracks, and sets Fenrir on the trail again. After a short time, they catch up to Fenrir snarling and standing at bay while magic missiles pelt him. Aramus casts Faerie Fire again at the source of the missiles and the outline of Iarno appears in violet flames in the night. As the party runs up and attacks, Iarno drops to his knees and surrenders.

After taking his staff, an component pouch, then tying and gagging him, they return to the carts and search them carefully, discovering both Rayne's and Iarno's spellbooks, and various treasure. Looting the bodies and dragging them from camp, they take over the camp and settle in for the night. Rayne pours through Iarno's spellbook and attunes to the Staff of Defence and they all get a long and well-deserved rest.

Session 7

After scrounging through the wagons to resupply, the party abandons them and turns the draft animals free. Returning to town, they deliver the bound Iarno to Sildar who is happy to question him and then send him on to Neverwinter for justice. Sildar gives the pary the 200gp and summarizes the information he got out of Iarno.

Leaving Iarno with Sildar, they stop by the Lionshield Coster so Aramus can better outfit himself for battle. He swaps his leather armour for studded leather, and picks up a shield. Not sure that he can use his viola as a focus effectively when using a shield, he also asks Rayne for Iarno's component pouch which she happily gives him.

Next, they stop by Barthen's Provisions so Aramus can finish repairing his viola. They stop strings and a bow, but not a bridge and a tuning peg. Happy to at least have it playable again, Aramus strings up his viola.

Finally, they head to the Inn where they rent space in the strongroom to store Iarno's spellbook and stash away 150gp (50gp from each member of the party).

With the day still young, they decide to head to Conyberry to finally ask the banshee about the spellbook Sister Garaele was interested in. Two days of uneventful travel later, they arrive in Conyberry as dusk settles in.

Following the old trail to the northwest, they enter Neverwinter Wood. After a few miles, the forest grows dark and still as the trail winds deeper into the trees. Heavy vines and thick layers of moss drape the branches, and the air is noticeable colder than it was in the ruined village. Rounding a bend in the trail, the party sees a screen made from the warped branches of trees standing close together, woven into a domelike shelter in the shadows. A low doorway leads inside. Aramus leads the way into the shelter where a home of sorts is within the dome. It's sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft.

The air grows cold and a powerful feeling of dread grips the party. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She may have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. "Foolish mortals," she snarls, "What do you want here? Do you not know it is death to seek me out?"

"We come with a gift." Rayne says respectfully, presenting the silver comb. The ghostly figure smiles with cold amusement. "Very well," she says. "I know that you seek many things. Ask me one question, and I will give you an answer."

Sigrid asks after Bowgentle's spellbook, and Agatha tells them that she traded the book to a necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriabor more than a hundred years ago. She does not know what became of it afterwards. When Sigrid starts saying something else, Agatha scowls and disappears.

Given the late hour, the party sets up camp in the woods and Aramus takes the first watch. Soon after Rayne enters her trance, and Sigrid goes to sleep, Aramus notices four Stirges approaching the camp and, waking everyone up, they fight the nuisance. Pulling the stirges off each other, while Rayne casts fire bolt at them, they quickly kill them all, and while they lie on the ground (one of them burning), Sigrid's acute forest senses notice a presence up in the trees to one side of the camp.

With the party all peering into the canopy to pick out the intruder, a vine uncoils to the ground and a wood elf dressed in an assortment of furs with a shortsword on his belt and a wooden shield on his back slowly lowers himself down upside-down. When he gets within ten feet of the ground, his grip slips and he crashes the last few feet. As he's getting to his feet, Sigrid asks "Friend or foe?" The wood elf says "Friend! I'm your friend! Hey, can I have those stirges?" With an odd look, Aramus says "Help yourself." The elf walks over to the burning stirge and puts out the fire, then pulls a mouse out of his pocket and sets it down beside the stirge where it starts eating. "This is Dracula, my pet!" the elf says beaming. As the mouse finishes it's meal, the elf picks it back up and takes it around to the party "You can pet it!" he says. Rayne tentatively pets the mouse, and the new elf says "I'm Webb. I'm on a traditional walkabout we go on when we reach adulthood, and I've been studying as a druid. You don't have to make such a rough camp, you're welcome to stay with my bear and wolves in my cave if you like."

Sigrid explains that she's not sure that Fenrir would get along with another pack, and Webb says "That's OK, I have another cave cleaned out that nobody is staying in now, I could move in a few furs, and it would be a lot more comfortable." The party agrees, and Webb shows them to a well protected cave, then runs off and comes back with some well tanned furs. "Make yourselves at home." he says and leaves them for the night.

Sigrid goes directly to sleep, and Aramus and Rayne take turns on watch. When they awaken, they're not quite fully rested, so they relax outside the cave for a while before heading out. While they're resting, Webb comes back with a leaf piled high with fresh berries. "Good morning, I picked these for you. No need to eat salted rations when you have nature's bounty all around you!" Sigrid checks the berries to make sure they're all edible, and they relax eating berries. They chat with Webb, and give him a rough idea of what they're doing, and when they mention the goblins, Webb says with a scowl "Yes, there's goblins all over the forest lately."

As the party packs up for the trip back to town, Webb says "Well, it's been nice meeting you." and they head out with a spring in their steps. As they leave, Webb stands watching them leave thoughtfully for a while then goes back to his cave and packs a bag, saying goodbye to his wildlife friends. He the follows them out of sight, about a mile or two behind so there's no chance of them seeing him on their trail.

On the morning of the second and final day of the trip back, five hobgoblins ambush the party, three 100 feet ahead, and two on the sides of the road. As battle is joined, Sigrid calls out "Take one alive, they likely know where Cragmaw Castle is!" after Sigrid does her best pincushion impression, they dispatch four of the hobgoblins and the last takes off running down the road. "Get him!" Sigrid exclaims to Fenrir, and they all go running after the monster. Fenrir manages to knock the Hobgoblin to the ground and as the party runs up, Rayne casts sleep on the hobgoblin and they search him before they begin begin questioning him. They discover a crude sketch of Sigrid with "25gp for this one" written below it. In exchange for his freedom, he tells them how to get to Cragmaw Castle.

Just as the party is finishing up, Webb approaches. "Why do you have the hobgoblin tied up?" he asks puzzled. "We've gotten the location of Cragmaw Castle from him in exchange for his freedom" Sigrid explains. "Oh," Webb smiles, "you should have asked me, it's about twenty miles that way. If you're planning on driving the goblins from the forest, I'm happy to help out."

"Well, we need to go back to town first, but you're welcome to come along." Sigrid says. "Sure." says Webb, and they head in to Phandelin.

Arriving late in the day, they catch Sister Garaele and tell her the information they got from the banshee. "That's perfect." says Sister Garaele, "We should be able to track it down from there." Aramus looks at her and asks "We?" Smiling at her beloved uncle, Sister Garaele says "The Harpers, a semi-secret organization dedicated to promoting good, preserving history (including art and music of old) and maintaining a balance between civilization and nature by keeping kingdoms small and the destruction of plant life to a minimum. And who's this?" she asks, looking at Webb. "He's a druid we met on the way back from the banshee's lair." Aramus explains. "He's going to help us with the goblins."

The party then makes their way to the Inn where word has gotten around that they've driven out the Redbrands and captured their leader who will be sent to Neverwinter for trial. "Come in, come in! Rooms are free for the Hero's of Phandelin! Drinks are on the house!"

They sit at a table, and Elsa comes over to take their orders. They all order an ale, and Elsa tells Webb, "That'll be three coppers." Sigrid interjects "I've got it, Webb here just joined us, he's a druid." As Sigrid tosses the coins on the table, Toblen yells over "Her money's no good here, it's on the house." and Elsa goes for drinks. While Elsa gets the drinks, Aramus tunes up his viola. "A Druid eh?" she says, setting the drinks on the table "Qelline Alderleaf knows a druid up in Thundertree."

Aramus starts playing a lively tune, and the rest of the party except Sigrid get up to dance. Rayne, noticing Sigrid sitting at the table looking mildly uncomfortable goes over to her "Come on and dance!" to which Sigrid replies "I never learned how."

"I'll teach you." Rayne says dragging Sigrid to the open floor and showing her the steps. As Aramus plays on into the night, Sigrid gets the hang of the dance, and they manage to put Cragmaw Castle out of their thoughts for a while.

Session 8

Waking up the next day, they head down to the common room where Lethia is having breakfast. Introducing her to Webb, and filling her in on the details of the trip to Agatha's lair, Sigrid asks if she's interested in taking on Cragmaw Castle with them now that they've located it. "Sounds like a fight, I'm in." smiles Lethia.

The day is overcast as the party heads out to the forest Cragmaw Castle is in, and the trip is without incident. As they near the castle that evening, they decide to make camp some distance away and assault it in the morning.

The next morning, the party stops in the trees short of the clearing the castle is in, and sends Webb to scout the perimeter. Careful not to be seen, Webb spends an our in the fringe of the forest scouting. The castle was once a formitable fortification, a cluster of seven towers with a main entrance facing west and a wall with a postern gate to the south. The upper levels have collapsed, some of the lower walls have been compromised, and the main doors are off their hinges, laying on the floor. The towers beside the main entrance are watch haphazardly by goblins, and the central tower facing east is watched continuously by hobgoblins. A faint path leads to rubble on the north side.

Returning to the party, Webb tells them what he's learnt, and the party decides to attempt entry through the postern gate. They sneak to the wall and up the stairs. At the end of the short hallway, a locked iron door bars their entrance. Pulling out his thieves tools, Webb opens the door and they peer in.

Inside the castle is in as bad of shape as the outside, with curtains replacing some of the doors. Going through the door, they enter a banquet hall where eight goblins appear to be setting out a "meal". They goblins attack with most of them closing to melee range, and one pulling out a bow while the last bolts to a path through a rubble pile to the west. Webb transforms into a Dire Wolf and runs down the escaping goblin while the rest of the party grimly chops their way through the goblins who don't seem to be willing to escape through the door on the far side of the north wall.

Avoiding the north door, the party proceeds along the path. When they clear the rubble, they are in a small room with three goblins who are cornered against an arrow slit in the south-west tower. There's not much room in the space, so Rayne and Aramus use ranged attacks from behind while the other three take down the goblins.

Following the outside of the castle to prevent anyone attacking from behind, Lethia kicks down the door to the north and rushes through. As she passes through the doorway, a door to her immediate left opens and two goblins attack from within. Sigrid moves through the first doorway to stand beside Lethia, and while the two are engaged with that battle, two more goblins burst out of the door on the other side of the main entrance at the north end of the hallway.

Aramus takes the first one down with his crossbow, and Webb in Dire Wolf form rushes past Lethia and Sigrid to take down the other. With Sigrid and Lethia holding the doorway, Rayne is unable to move into a position to attack. Aramus moves back to use ranged attacks from the rear, and the goblins are quickly dispatched.

Continuing north, they enter a storeroom in the North-West tower which has two additional doors, one to the west and one to the east. Among the supplies is a bloody suit of chain mail, a heavy crossbow, and an unsheathed longsword with the emblem of Neverwinter worked into its hilt. Continuing the pattern of clearing behind them, they listen at the door to west and hear at least two rough voices speaking an unknown language.

They burst into the room and rush in to attack the four hobgoblins they discover in there. Making short work of them, they move to the east door. Listening at it, they hear two voices in prayer. Lethia attempts to kick the door down, but fails, drawing exclimations from inside the room, which falls quiet. Going through the door, they discover an altar with a gold chalice, knife, and censer set on it. As they search the room, two goblins in filthy robes leap out from behind the altar to attack them and are put down quickly. Searching the room, they find five spears, two greatswords, and a fine quarterstaff with stylized feathers which is exceedingly light. Webb perks up at the quarterstaff and makes it clear that he would like to have it, so Rayne takes it with her for him.

A pair of arched doorways with curtains hanging in them are on the south wall and Aramus and Sigrid peek through into a dark, wide hall with no lights. Aramus sees angelic figures sculpted along the upper reaches, looking down on the floor where only an old, cracked brazier sits with an unlit mount of coal in it.

Suspicious of the room, the party backtracks to the postern gate, and through the curtain to the north of their entry. They realize that the door on the western wall leads to the room with the statuary and cold brazier, so ignoring the door to the east, move through the curtain to the north which leats into a ruined tower full of rotting crates and ruined barrels. There's a canvas screen on the north wall, and a door on the east. Pulling aside the screen, they discover that it leads out through a break in the wall, so they quietly go through the door to the east into a foyer of sorts with a door heading further east, and a curtain to the south. Listening at the door, they hear a rough voice and a smooth voice with an underdark accent haggling over a price. Taking a peek through the curtain, they find two hobgoblins on sentry duty at an arrowslit, and a heavy door with a large wooden bar holding it shut from this side.

Rayne casts sleep on the sentries, and they discuss their next move. After some discussion, they decide to burst into the room to the east, and take out whatever they find in there. They spend some time healing wounds and Aramus inspires the party, then decide to dispatch the hobgoblins since they will wake soon. After dispatching the hobgoblins, they burst through the door where they see an unconcious dwarf, a female drow, the Bugbear King Grol, and his wolf.

Aramus casts faerie fire, covering King Grol and the wolf in purple flames. Rayne moves to quickly take the wolf out of the fight, and King Grol and the drow converge on Lethia. Webb gets Fenrir to drag the dwarf out of harms way, and the party eventually triumphs. They revive the dwarf, who is recognized as Gundrin Rockseeker by Rayne and Sigrid and search the room. Under the mattress, web discovers 220 silver pieces and 160 electrum along with three potions of healing and Gundren's map to Wave Echo Cave. Gundren is thankful and asks for an escort to Phandelin. While talking to Gundren, Sigrid realizes the armour, heavy crossbow, and longsword they discovered earlier must belong to Sildar.

Leaving Gungren in the room, the party heads to the last tower at the south-east corner of the castle to check if there were any prisoners behind the barred door. As they move to lift the bar, a loud roar erupts from inside the tower, and they decide to leave the bar in place and find a clearing in the forest to rest in. After picking up Gundren, Sigrid leads them to a good camping place, where they rest for the remainder of the day.

Session 9

As dusk falls, Aramus, Rayne, and Sigrid decide to finish exploring Cragmaw Castle, and head back. Arriving at the castle, they decide to first deal with whatever was in the south-east tower. Entering through the postern gate, Rayne casts Dancing Lights to illuminate the room and she and Aramus stand aside while Sigrid removes the bar.

Throwing the door open, they see an angry owlbear which rears up and roars at the sight of them. Sigrid and Aramus move into the tower to attack, and Rayne stays in the doorway casting spells. After the put down the owlbear, and heal themselves as needed, they search the room.

Through the destroyed ceiling, Rayne spots what appears to be a chest sitting on the remains of the second floor. They drag an old workbench and bookshelf over, placing the bookshelf on the workbench, and while one steadies the shelf, climb up to retrieve the chest. On opening it, they discover 90 ep, 120 gp, one potion of healing, a scroll of silence, and a scroll of revivify.

Moving next to the dark room with the angelic sculptures near the ceiling, they very cautiously open the door, and Rayne sends the dancing lights in to illuminate it. The room is still empty save for the stone brazier, and Rayne uses a fire bolt to light the coals in the brazier. As she does, she catches a glimpse of movement near the ceiling. She moves into the room to get a better look and moves the lights nearer the ceiling. Unable to spot where the movement came from, she casts shatter at the statues at the opposite end of the room. There is a quick burst of movement, and a grik drops from the ceiling in front of her and whips at her head with its tentacles. Latching on, it bites at her with its beak. Sigrid and Aramus quickly come to Rayne's rescue, and they dispatch the grick.

With the brazier the only item in the room, they take a closer look at it. As they do, Rayne notices the coals falling oddly as though there is something under them. Sigrid stirs the coals with her sword and uncovers a small golden statue of a sun elf wrapped in the burnt remains of crimson cloth.

With the castle completely cleared, they leave back through the postern gate to rejoin their party.

As they get halfway to the forest to the south, they hear a shout from the west where a returning raiding party consisting of three hobgoblins and two wolves spot them. They quickly dash to the woods, and Sigrid leads them through difficult terrain and down a creek, which throws the hobgoblins and wolves off their trail.

When they get back to camp, they discover that Gundren, Lethia, and Webb had decided to get a start on the trip back to town while they still had some light. After following them for a short period, they came upon the new campground and rejoined the party.

The next day, the trip back to town was uneventful, and they arrived in the afternoon and headed to the townmasters hall to talk to Sildar. Giving him back his sword, armour, and crossbow, and reuniting him with Gundren put Sildar in a great mood, and he paid out 500 gp (100 to each party member) as a reward for defeating the Cragmaw leader and blunting the goblin threat in the area.

With some time left in the day, they stopped by the shrine of luck to see if Sister Garaele could identify the statuette. She offered to cast detect magic on it in the morning, but couldn't otherwise help. With that, the party decided to explore the rest of Phandelin and stopped by the Miner's Exchange where they met the proprietor Halia. She asked some pointed questions about what they have been doing, and Rayne was happy to answer until Aramus subtly suggested she stop giving away too much information to strangers. Halia did find out that they had discovered a map to Wave Echo Cave. When Sigrid asked about Thundertree, Halia said that she remembered that Qelline Alderleaf wanted to find someone to make the trip and take a message to her Druid friend in Thundertree.

Walking out to the Alderleaf farm, they discovered that Qelline no longer needed to send a message, as Reidoth had stopped by a couple days ago to ask if anyone knew anything about the humans in black masks and cloaks that have recently been moving in to the ruins, despite the undead still wandering them. Qelline didn't have much more information, and they party headed over to the Edermath orchard to have a chat with Daran, the ex-adventurer.

Daran poured them some cider and reminisced about his time adventuring, and mentioned some prospectors being chased from Old Owl Well to the east, where there are ruins of a watchtower of the ancient magical Netheril empire. Daran expressed some worry that dangerous magic may have been awakened there.

The party returned to the inn and spent the night, and the next morning, stopped by the shrine. Sister Garaele informed them that the statuette is magical, so Rayne spent an hour studying it and discovered that it allows one use of augery per person. There doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of people who can use it, but each person can only use it once in their life.

After some discussion, they decide to head to Thundertree, two days travel away. They decide to travel through the forest, and when they reach the edge of the woods, Webb mentions that since he's at this end of the forest, he would like to check in on some animals he hadn't seen in a while, and Lethia decides to join him. They agree to meet outside of Thundertree.

After they part ways, Aramus, Rayne, and Sigrid travel for most of the day without incident, until they spot a group of six hobgoblins ahead of them. A ranged battle breaks out with all six hobgoblins using their longbows and concentrating their fire on first Aramus and Rayne, repeatedly dropping them unconcious and requiring Sigrid and Aramus to spend a lot of their time healing their allies. After a tense and drawn out battle, they finally triumph, and without even searching the bodies for loot, find a place to camp for the night.

In the early morning, while it was still dark, and with Aramus in a trance, a band of six orcs are spotted tracking the party. Waking up Aramus, the group hides in the bushes and waits for the orcs to get closer. All three attack the orcs from hiding, then Sigrid lights a torch while she and Aramus engage the orcs in melee combat.

Rayne, hiding behind a tree trunk, casts a pair of shatter spells which kills the majority of the orcs, and the battle is won quickly. They take another long rest, then continue on to Thundertree, arriving with no further incident.