Fifth Session

Return to Phandalin

Summerday +210 hours

Dramatis Personae

  • Actias Aureus, a 4th-level Tiefling Warlock
  • Benjamin, a 4th-level Wood Elf Ranger
  • Calmul Rhoqiroth, a 3rd-level Dragonborn Artificer
  • CoralKing, a 4th-level Gnome Monk
  • Geral Bryn, a 4th-level Human Fighter
  • Orky, a 4th-level Half-Elf Paladin
  • Steve, a 4th-level Halfling Rogue
  • Tasbros, a 4th-level Sky Elf Sorcerer
  • Tysnera, a 4th-level Sky Elf Wizard
  • Viker, a 3rd-level Eladrin Druid
  • Wulrif, a 4th-level Human Warlock

Viker revives CoralKing, who immediately wants to get his ring back (the Precious).

Benjamin uses Primeval Awareness to try to track the Clockwork Horrors, but they are something beyond his understanding. He does sense a Dragon flying North of the party just before it moves out of range.

Tasbros thinks the Clockwork Horrors are some kind of Construct, and Calmul agrees.

The great tracks of the Urb once again provides shelter as the party marches for two rest periods back to Phandalin. They greet Sister Garaele at the Shrine of Luck and relay Agatha's answer. Sister Garaele is grateful and offers her healing and more potions. She can't regenerate CoralKing's finger, but Qelline Alderleaf, a local farmer, might know a Druid who can.

The group heads back to the Townmaster's Hall, where they meet Harbin Wester, and retrieve the Goblin from the gaol. Geral makes the Goblin swear allegiance as his armor bearer, and names him Snaga. The party gives Harbin the Orc tusks, for which he pays 5gp per pair, 50gp total. Calmul and Geral spot the firearms carried by Harbin's Dwarven mercenaries, and note that they don't seem to protect anyone else in the town. Harbin talks about the Redbrand Ruffians, who recently arrived and began beating up and killing townfolk.

300 XPs

Phandalin

The party heads to the Phandalin Miner's Exchange, meeting the proprietor, Halla Thorton. A shrewd, sharp-looking human woman, she tells them more about the Redbrands, and offers 100gp for the death of their leader, an unknown Mage who recently arrived. Wulrif senses an ulterior motive, though. Halla notes that many Redbrands hang out at the Sleeping Giant Inn, and but their leader is almost always at Tresendar Manor. Halla thinks there might be two dozen Redbrands.

The party carefully reconnoiters the manor, preparing to set a trap near the Sleeping Giant Inn. By chance, four Redbrands emerge from the Sleeping Giant Inn, triggering the ambush.

It's any easy fight for the party, and the Redbrands are quickly overwhelmed. A Redbrand is captured and interrogated, and the party discovers that:

  • The leader of the Redbrands is a Human Wizard known as Glasstaff. Arcana knowledge by Tysnera notes that is likely a Staff of Defense.
  • Someone called the Black Spider hired the Redbrands to frighten off adventurers and intimidate the locals. The Black Spider sent Bugbears to reinforce the Redbrands.
  • Underneath the manor lives a hideous "eye monster", which the Redbrands avoid.
  • The Redbrands have captive townsfolk "near the old crypt", guarded by Skeletons.

Benjamin uses Primeval Awareness again to discern that there is some sort of Aberration underneath the manor, as well as a large group of Undead.

The party returns to the Phandalin Miner's Exchange, deciding to pass on assaulting Tresendar Manor. Wulrif discerns that Halla is interested in taking over the Redbrands.

They encounter Sildar Hallwinter, who seems to be the new Townmaster.

"What happened to Harbin, you ask? As soon as he saw me, that fool scurried off with his guards back to his Bank. Good riddance, I say! He didn't have the fortitude to do what needs to be done around here. But how goes the search for Gundren? Have you found Cragmaw Castle? I'll pay you 500gp for the rescue of Gundren Rockseeker.

The party finds this more appealing.

Snaga indeed knows some crafty pathways which, after a full 8 hours march, lead the party to Cragmaw Castle without notable encounters.

The party scouts cautiously.

Viker shapeshifts into a field mouse and hops into Steve's pocket. Actias turns Steve (and Viker) invisible. Benjamin follows stealthily as the three of them take up station by the front entrance to the West.

The rest of the party carefully moves to the Southern entrance, beneath the arrow slits. Calmul produces small, scurrying spider Constructs which Infuse Orky's Chain Mail and Greatsword with Magic.

Actias uses Mold Earth to collapse the South Wall, exposing the Goblins inside!

400 XPs

Cragmaw Castle