In the center of town stands a large, newly built roadhouse of fieldstone and rough-hewn timbers. The common room is filled with locals nursing mugs of ale or cider, all of them eyeing you with curiosity.

Sildar and the party head to the bar and acquire lodgings and food/drink.  Og and Sealamin join Sildar in gathering gossip among the locals. Taten sits at a table alone admiring his newest scars, he also finds himself hungry to avenge what happened in the Goblin cave to take his second chance on life and prove he can be better than he was.

Xelael spends much of her time outside or on the outskirts of town lounging in the outdoors enjoying nature.  She eventually comes in to sleep within the Inn but she makes sure her time around the hustle and bustle of an inn is as short and sweet as she can.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:50, Thu 12 Oct 2017.

Narth, an old farmer
"Sister Garaele, who oversees the Shrine of Luck, recently left town for a few days, then returned wounded and exhausted."

Elsa, a gossipy barmaid
"Doran Edermath, the orchard keeper, is a former adventurer."

Lanar, a miner
"Orc raiders have been seen on the east end of Triboar Trail. The townmaster is looking for someone to run them off."

Trilena, the innkeeper's wife
"Thel Dendrar, a local woodcarver, stood up to the Redbrands a tenday ago when they came by his shop and leered at his wife. The ruffians murdered him. Several townsfolk saw it happen. The Redbrands grabbed his body, and now his wife, daughter, and son have gone missing too."

Pip, Toblen's young son
"Qelline Alderlears son Carp said he found a secret tunnel in the woods, but Redbrands almost caught him."

Freda, a weaver
"The Redbrands hassle every business in town, except for the Phandalin Miner's Exchange. They don't want trouble with Halia Thornton, who runs it."

Sildar, Og, and Sealamin are also informed that the Redbeards frequent the Sleeping Giant tap house at the east end of town-and that the ruffians are trouble.

After a night's rest at the inn the party decides to follow up the rumors passed to them by Lanar, one of the town miners.  Orc Raiders have been seen on the East side of the Triboar Trail and the townmaster is supposedly looking for someone to run them off.  The party after their individual morning rituals and a hearty tavern breakfast heads off.  Before they arrive at the Townmaster's hall Og and Taten notice a familiar symbol, a blue lion that is painted upon a shield. The sign underneath states "Trading Post."

Og and Taten decide to enter and walk to the woman at the front counter. "Hello and well met gentlemen my name is Linene Graywind, and welcome to the Lionshield Coster.  Can I interest you in any new supplies?"


Og smiles at Linene, "Good morning madam I am Og and this is my companion Taten. Thethe reason we have come in this fine morn is we found on our ventures boxes in a nearby cave that included the same symbol of your establishment.  Unfortunately our wagon was stolen and we near lost our lives so we never recovered the items but we felt you should know of it.

The woman's eyes light up and a big grin crosses her face.My missing supplies, oh thank you so much if you could just tell me where I can find them ill make the arrangements to get them returned.

Og returns the smile but as he speaks of the cave his tone becomes much more serious.You must be aware it was a wicked display of diplomacy by another of my associates that we escaped this cave.  It is infested with Goblins and so any who you send to retrieve your goods will likely have to engage those foul beasts.   Og then takes out his map and shows Linene where the cave can be found.

"I understand, and thank you good sirs for your help.  Here please take this as a token of my appreciation, and know that if there's anything I can do to help please don't hesitate to ask." Linene hands Og a sack with 50 GP inside.

"Also one last thing, stay the hell away from the Sleeping Giant tap house.  Those Redbrands stay there and they are nothing but trouble."

After sharing a last few pleasantries Og and Taten leave the establishment and rejoin the others on their way to the Tavernmaster's

The townmaster's hall has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. Posted on a board next to the front door is a notice written in Common. It reads: "REWARD-Orcs near Wyvern Tor! Those of a mind to face the orc menace should inquire within." The notice bears the town's seal and an indecipherable signature.

The party enters the hall and within meets with Harbin Wester a fat old man who is currently the town's Townmaster.  He presents the party with the mission to hunt down a group of orcs in  Wyvern-Tor for a 100 GP reward and the party accepts.

Sildar separates from the group deciding instead to use his connections as a member of the Lords Alliance to do some more digging within the Town of Phandalin and to get well suited with the people within the Townmaster's hall.

The party travels for a day and a half along the Triboar trail with a mix of weather conditions.  The day they left it was sunny but they awoke to a thick fog bank followed by heavy rain as they entered the mountainous terrain of large hill that makes up Wyvern-Tor.  Despite the many warnings they were given about treacherous beasts their travels went without any threats getting in their path.

Through her deep connection and a lifetime of surviving in the wilderness Xelael easily finds the camp.
"The faint smell of smoke hangs on the air as you ascend a rugged ridge on the lower slopes of the hill. Fifty yards away, a cave mouth opens up at the bottom of a ravine. Hunkered down by a boulder twenty yards outside the cave, keeping watch, is a single orc."

The orc on watch sees the party and a scrum ensued.  Xelael hit the lone orc but it was not enough to bring it down.  In its fury it shouts out alerting all of his companions within the cave.  A brutal battled ensued that exhausted all party resources and left many new scars to each member of the party.  The party fought bravely with a party of orcs and a large ogre and in the end they won the day but not before the tragic death of Sealamin Pegason.  He was cut down by the foul orcs but the man fought bravely inflicting heavy casualties onto the orcs.  By the time the battle had ended Sealamin has bled out upon the battlefield never to arise again.

Xelael honors Sealamin with a few prayers to Silvanus and assisting with welcoming him into the earth.  Og prays to his god Lathander the morninglord welcoming Sealamin into the afterlife and praying for Lathander's guidance for his soul.

Xelael has a heavy heart and Og shed a few tears, though he barely knew the man he had already saved Og's life on two separate occasions.  Taten showed no remorse regret or pain on his face, the hardened warrior sought to be the like heroes of his childhood none of whom cried or showed their personal pain and regrets.

After their short rest the party gathered their foes valuables, packed their things, and returned to Phandalin unscathed again by the dangerous wilds.

Upon arrival back into Phandalin the party meets back with Harbin who rewards the party with 100 GP as promised and a hearty thank you for taking out the band of orcs. Upon hearing about the death of Sealamin Harbin grimaces and gives his condolences to the party.

Sildar approaches the party shortly after they return to the Townmaster's hall. "My condolences about your companion but you all have done well and he did not die in vain.  Unfortunately I wish we could spend the week drinking to his name but instead there are dire needs we must look into.  In my time hear in Phandalin I have heard of a few issues about town that I could greatly use your help with."

Sildar pauses for a moment clears his throat and then continues. "I have learned that Larno Albrek a fellow member of the Lords Alliance, disappeared while exploring the area around Tresendar Manor about two months ago, shortly after arriving in Phandalin. I need you all to investigate the manor and the surrounding area to find and break back larno or gods forbid whatever is left of him if hes been killed. He is a short dark-bearded human wizard in his thirties. "

The party agrees to help Sildar but mentions that first they have a few missions they have already agreed to, one of which is to investigate the Redbrands over at the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

"I understand, and I thank you for your aid.  As much trouble as these Redbrands seem to be causing perhaps they have something to do with my friend's disappearance. Also I have made a few contacts in my time here and one of my contacts know of a half elf woman of some skill by the name of Yarabon who would be interested in joining your expedition.  Considering you are down a man I thought you could use the help.

The party agrees and they setup a time to meet with Yarabon who they get along with swimmingly.  Yarabon seems very rough and brutal for a half-elf, her demeanor matches much closer to the Half-orc Fighter Taten then to any of the other companions.  The general consensus seem to be happiness that her axe will be swinging at their foes instead of at the party.

After their meeting they gather at the inn and take a nights rest and upon the next morn take their leave to the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

The Sleeping Giant is a ramshackle taproom at the east end of town. Four human ruffians linger on the covered porch, perched on empty ale barrels or leaning against the wall. They all wear grimy scarlet cloaks, their sullen stares fixed on you as you approach.

One of the thugs spits on the ground. Well, well," he snarls. "Here's a whole pack of little puppies. What do you want, puppies? Come here to bark at us?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:34, Fri 17 July 2015.

Og gives a nervous smile as he walks in. "Oh we mean you fellows no harm we are merely investigating some disturabances we have heard about this tavern.

Xelael fidgets with the handle of her Scimitar nervously looking around at the group of obviously angry men.

Taten steps up with his chest puffed out and his eyes drilling into the eyes of the spitting thug. "You'll find these puppies have a bigger bite then you'd expect."

Yeah well you little fucks better get out of here before we slice you from ear to ear for disturbing us.

Yarabon starts breathing really heavy and loses her cool shocking everybody in the room. "Call me a Dog... and berate us... RAHHH!" Yarabon grasps her axe and rushes in while screaming.  Everyone pulls their weapons in kind and a battle ensues.

Despite a few cuts and bruises the party escapes the encounter with the bandits relatively unscathed.  Inside of the taphouse they find a few notes referring to the Tresendar Manor the same location that Sildar indicated his friend was last seen at.  It is decided then that without delay they must head to the manor to investigate what is going on.

Before they continue on their journey Taten heads to the local blacksmith and buys a suit of Scale Mail.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Fri 17 July 2015.

Th party goes to investigate Tresendar Manor and they find it to be more of a castle than a house.  They find the manor deserted but with plenty of tracks leading to a stone staircase just off the empty ruin of a large kitchen. Beyond the staircase they find an unlocked door with a cellar beyond.

The door opens onto a five-foot-wide landing fifteen feet above a large cellar, with stone steps descending to the floor in two short flights. Another door stands beneath the stairs to the north. A large stone cistern occupies the western part of the room, whose walls are lined with kegs and barrels.

Taten and Yarabon begin loudly rustling through the barrels in this room and are surprised to find such fresh supplies and food.  For an abandoned building these items are awfully fresh.

Og investigates the water noticing that it is rather deep and it appears its being fed by pipes from above slowly dripping down.  He also notes while searching about the pool a small satchel that his small arms can barely reach.  With the help of Xelael hes able to retrieve it.

Xelael notices that something isn't quite right with the wall in the southern corner after helping Og retrieve the satche but before she has a chance to say anything about what she has found 3 men come bursting through the northwestern door.

The party kills two of them but one of the men gets away and rushes out a secret passage where Xelael noticed the wall looked off.  He leads the chasing party into a large cavern. A cold breeze fills this large natural cavern, carrying with it the faint scent of decaying flesh. A crevasse divides the cavern and is flanked by two rough stone columns that support the twenty-foot-high ceiling. Two arched wooden bridges span the chasm.

Og and Taten are the first ones out of the room chasing down the running bandit when shortly after crossing the bridge they notice a very odd and creepy creature.  Blackish brown in color with jagged scaly skin this four legged creature has a very large single eye that dominates its head with a smaller yet sharp looking set of teeth. The creature is peering out from the rock and Og's reaction is one assuming of a threat so he rushes over and holds his pick out at the being.

"Foul fiend, begone or I will slay you where you stand!."

The creatures eye grows wide and it shifts its head quickly to the side causing Og to shudder.  It doesn't speak like anything Og has ever encountered, instead of hearing its voice he feels it speak in his mind.

"lskdjfgoriofkdsl Gnome....Paladin Lathander hehehehe pozklcxoiwes.  No fight, food! pzlkwerio Food or me defend bridge!"

Its voice in his mind comes across as twitchy and nervous.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Sat 01 Aug 2015.

The others chasing after the bandit reach a set of stairs that the fleeing bandit bolts up and through a door.  Some loud talking can be heard and out comes another group of the same red hooded men.  Many of the men emerging are clearly drunk, fumbling for their weapons as they approach the party.

Og speaks outwardly to the creature in a bit of a panicked voice as he sees the mob of new foes approaching. "Food, well there is food in barrels at the entrance and Oh there are bodies you can eat.

Og hears the voice return in his head. "zlkjsdiopwdk....bring tasty fleshies you fight alive and qlsdopszlsirfk me not attack." Og notices a clear thick saliva building up in the creatures mouth that begins to slowly ooze out as it stares out occasionally blinking its giant eye.

Og nods in agreement and then refocuses on the battle as the one eyed creature saunters off away from the battle, watching from the darkness of the caverns.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Sat 01 Aug 2015.

The party deftly dispatches the last of the bandits.  Og makes sure to tell the others to leave them alive.  Sure enough as soon as the battle ends after the party gathers any valuables on their person the creature comes out saliva pouring out of its mouth. Og hears in his mind.  "Yummy fleshies, I leave you alone now"  The creature with a sickening quickness drags the bodies down into the crevasse and disappears.  The only sign of its existence still is the sickening crunch of snapping bones and flesh as it feeds.

The party returns to the cellar retrieving the pouch they found and then searching the room the bandits jumped out of.

"This appears to be a storeroom pressed into service as living quarters. Two double bunks stand against the wall near the door, while barrels and crates fill the southern half of the chamber."

They find some money and a few red cloaks among the belongings of the bandits from this small barrack.  They then head back out past the crevasse to the room the drunkards came from.

"Several worn tables and chairs are scattered around this large room. Wooden benches are drawn up against walls decorated with draperies of brown and red, and several ale kegs are propped up and tapped."

Within the room they find a decent haul of money and an earring that is of decent value.

The party returns to the front cellar and goes through the door beneath the stairs they originally came down.

"Thick dust covers the flagstones of this somber hallway. The walls are decorated with faux columns every ten feet, and the double doors at the west end of the hall are sheathed in copper plate, now green with age. A relief carving of a mournful angel graces the doors."

Xelael takes the lead searching the room as her keen eyes have proven to be far superior to her companions. As she searches she barely notices a covered up pit trap that she nearly falls prey to but Taten catches her and pulls her back.  Relieved she looks around some more and informs the party she can see a small ledge on either side that can be used to move across if they are careful.

The entire party slowly attempts to slide their way across and each member slipped and fell while trying to move across.  The exhausted Yarabon fared the worst, the other 3 managed to catch the ledge or a broken part of the wall to catch themselves and pull themselves up but she completely missed and fell flat on her face.

Luckily other than being heavily bruised she is okay and the others are able to help her up.  With Yarabon needing some time to recover the others decide to take a break and cool off for an hour or so bandaging and helping each other recover from any of their recent wounds.

The party gets up from their rest and moves through the pair of double doors sheathed in aged copper plate at the end of the hall.

"Three large stone sarcophagi stand within this dusty crypt, and propped up against each sarcophagus is a human skeleton clad in bits of rusty mail. False columns along the walls are carved in the image of spreading oak trees. The double doors in the southeast corner are sheathed in tarnished copper plate."

Not seeing anything strange beyond a typical crypt Taten & Yarabon begins searching through the sarcophagi for any treasures hidden among the remains. In Taten's search he finds an ornate gold bracelet, it doesn't appear to contain any magical power but it should sell for a fair price back in town.

In the mean time Og thinks of questioning the decision to loot corpses unnecessarily but he instead chooses to quietly contemplate their next best move. Xelael spends her time quiet but nervously looking around.  Occasionally she mutters under her breath how much she hates being away from the forest but she otherwise seems content. Just as Taten & Yarabon are finishing up their search the 3 skeletons leaning against the Sarcophagi burst to life with their short swords in hand. The short swords they wield are rusty and covered in old caked on blood.  The eyes of the skeletons glows a bright blue hue as they screech an unworldly screech and rush the party
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:59, Sat 05 Sept 2015.

With the last heavy slash with his Glaive Taten puts down the last of the skeletons and everything in the room goes quiet.

With everyone still in decent condition the party decides to head towards the door in the north eastern corner of the room.

This long room is partitioned into three areas, with iron bars walling off the north and south. Filthy straw lines the floors of those cells, the hinged doors of which are secured by chains and padlocks. A pair of disheveled human women are held in the cell to the south, while a human boy is confined to the north. All are dressed in plain gray tunics and have iron collars fitted around their necks.

A heap of discarded clothing is piled carelessly against the far wall.

Og walks in first and as he does two bandits jump out of the shadows brandishing short swords.    With only a few scrapes and bruises the bandits are quickly dispatched.  After the battle Taten and Yarabon together wrench open the locked prison cells holding the innocent family.  The process makes a lot of noise but they are finally free.

Three human commoners imprisoned here are Mirna Dendrar and her two teenage children, thirteen-year-old Nars and eighteen-year-old Nilsa.  They all begin to cry and thank the party for helping them then Mirna begins to tell them how her poor husband Thel was murdered just a few days ago for defying the thugs in this dungeon.  She also tells the party how they were all taken from their home in the middle of the night, and the bandits joked about how high of a price they would get when they sold each of them as slaves.

The family unfortunately knows little about this hideout they are held in.  She knows the boss is a wizard but she doesn't know his name and she also mentions there are "tall, furry monsters with big ears" working for him.  Mirna also tells the party that though her family has nothing to offer as a reward, that she might know where a valuable heirloom is hidden.  When she was a young girl, she and her family fled from the town of Thundertree after undead overran the place.  Her family had an herb and alchemy shop, inside which a case containing an emerald necklace was hidden beneath a section of storage shelves.  She never dared to return and retrieve it.  The shop was in the southeast portion of Thundertree if the party ever finds themselves near there.

Having cleared out the nearby threat Og insists that the party takes the family back to their home personally before returning to continue their exploration of this bandit hideout.

The party walks out of the room they found the Dendrars and turns north into a small 15ft long hallway with a locked door at the end of the hall to the east.  It takes a bit of work but Taten manages to bust the door down and hits it so hard it falls off its hinges.

Racks of weapons line the walls of this chamber, including spears, swords, crossbows, and bolts. A dozen dirty red cloaks hang from hooks by the door.

Taten, Yarabon, and Og all resupply on any basic equipment they need and can find within here.  Xelael hangs in the back sniffing around in her wolf form.  After everyone regroups the other members of the party join Xelael in further investigation among the armory and the hallway that leads in to it.

Xelael quickly picks up a scent and it draws her to the western wall across from the previously locked door into the armory.  Yarabon investigates and notices a clear groove within the wall.  After looking each other over and confirming they were all ready Og pushes the door open.  The door swings open on hidden iron hinges.

This area is the north end of a large natural cavern, but it has been finished with dressed stone block walls and a flagstone floor. Several barrels are stored against the walls here, along with a number of empty crates, straw for packing, hammers, pry bars, and nails.

The party quickly realize they have been spit out just north of the crevasse where they encountered the Nothic.  Fearful of other possible secret things the party begins searching among the barrels and the nearby walls.

Among the barrels the party finds 30 beaver pelts which should sell for about 60 gold once they return to town.  Again while searching Xelael's improved sense of smell from her wolf form leads her to a section of the western wall.  With her nose and the help of Yarabon the party finds another hidden door which they slide open.  The door opens up to a set of stairs heading down and to the north.  Og leads the way and the stairs dead end into another hidden door on the western wall but this time its easily visible as they approach it from the inside.  Og pushes the door open, his war pick and shield at the ready.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

The walls of this bedchamber are covered with drapes of scarlet cloth. The furnishings include a small writing desk with matching chair, a comfortable-looking bed, and a wooden chest at the foot of the bed. Sitting at the desk is a short, dark-bearded human male in robes, studying a tome. He wears a princely mantle of ermine. A beautiful glass staff leans against his chair, within easy reach.

Taten moves up close to the man in the chair and puts his glaive to his throat. "Where's Larno!?"

The man jumps at the deep half orcs voice then slightly turns so his eyes can see the party.  Taten's arms tense as his hands grip tighter to the glaive.

He then raises his hands

"Please you kind gents leave me be I don't know where this Larno character is I merely work for these brigands so they don't kill me."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

Og pulls out his warpick and shield and walks up to the robed man. "Your a rotten liar, your coming with us so we can have some answers.

The robed man smirks. "I regret that I wont' be able to provide suitable entertainment for you all.  but I have more important matters to attend to.

he then grasps his staff and a poof of mist appears where he once stood and then reappears next to the western door.  He opens the door and runs out.

Before he gets very far into the other room Taten slashes him twice with his Glaive and then knocks him unconscious with the butt of the weapon.

Taten and Yarabon attempt to bandage his wounds but they are unsuccessful until the gnome paladin Og is finally able to mend the man's wounds.

"He should be okay to move but lets check out his room and this one we just came into before we go back to Sildar"

In the room the man was found the party finds various papers and notes are stacked neatly on the desk, mostly consisting of written orders to apothecaries and alchemists in nearby settlements.

They also find a letter signed with the symbol of a black spider.

"Lord Albrek,

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."

Then this must mean that...that man must have been Larno.  What the hell is going on I thought he was a captive, is he running these brigands?

 Taten gleams a smile and theirs a slight twinkle in his eye as he talks. "We might be famous around town when we turn him in.  Everyone we spoke to said these guys were nothing but trouble."

Xelael reverts back to her normal form and sneers at the symbol at the bottom of the page. "Does Sildar know Larno was doing this?  It looks like that black spider Sildar mentioned may be the same one who sent Larno this note.  In nature spiders are sneaky predators always lurking for their opportunity to strike and it appears this one is no different.  Whatever Gundren has gotten himself into, it seems like a pretty serious threat."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

Everyone stands silently at Xelael's questions when Yarabon grunts loudly and begins grinding her teeth together. "Show me where I put my axe in these fiends.  I'll kill every black spider I find if I have to."

At the foot of Iarno's bed is a sturdy, unlocked wooden chest the party finds. It contains 180 sp, 130 gp, and a silk pouch containing five carnelians (10 gp each), two peridots (15 gp each), and one pearl (100 gp). It also contains two magic items that Iarno brought with him from Neverwinter: a scroll of charm person and a scroll of fireball.  They also find a Staff of Defense on Larno's person that he grabbed as he tried to escape.

The party decides to keep the scrolls and sell staff along with that they divvy up all of the cash among the entire party.

In the next room which Larno ran into the party can hear faint bubbling and sounds of dripping.

This room appears to be a wizard's workshop. A rat scurries across the floor and takes refuge in the clothing of the unconscious Larno.  A large worktable is set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes.

It's quite clear from it's behavior that this rat is somehow friendly with Larno.

Xelael can tell that the apparatus in the room appears to be setup to brew 'Potions of Invisibility' though so far it looks unsuccessful.  They also find a journal though its in a language nobody in the party understands.  The last thing found is a collection of rare reagents the party collects to return to town and sell.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

The party leaves the hideout with Larno in tow and turn him into Sildar at the town hall.

Sildar is both disheartened and grateful to learn of what Larno had done.  He gives the party 200 GP as a reward for their heroism in stopping the Redbrand threat.

"Thank you for turning Larno in instead of killing him on the spot.  He was a skilled mage so I know it couldn't have been easy.  He will be transported to Neverwinter where he will face judgement from a higher authority than we have here in Phandalin."

During their time back in town Sildar gets a chance to interrogate Larno before he is shipped out to Neverwinter.  He shares the information he gathered with the rest of the party.

"

• The Black Spider is a drow (dark elf).
• The Black Spider sent four bugbears to help Larno keep the population of Phandalin under control, but the Redbrands have managed without them. The bugbears know the way to Wave Echo Cave, but Iarno does not.
• The Black Spider is searching Wave Echo Cave for the Forge of Spells. Dwarves and gnomes of the Phandelver's Pact used the magical forge to fashion powerful magic items.
• No other members of the Lords' Alliance know of Larno's betrayal.

"

Sildar after a few days passes approaches Og privately and offers him an opportunity to join the Lords Alliance.  "Og you exemplify a desire for the security of civilization through action.  I think that makes you perfect material for the Lords Alliance what do you say?

Og smiles and thanks Sildar for the offer before requesting a night to think on his offer.  After a night of mulling things over he returns to Sildar. "I've mulled it over and ill take you up on your offer of membership.  The alliance seems like a group that matches my ideals."  Og bows graciously.  "It would be an honor sir."

"I am pleased to hear you say that.  I present to you Og the official title of Cloak within the Lord's Alliance. May you bring many a villain to justice in the name of keeping the common folk safe in their homes."

The party reconvenes privately in the Townmaster's hall and review any other rumors or requests they have heard.  They decide to head to the Phandalin Miner's Exchange but they find the patron is out. One of the underlings at the exchange reveals that Halia's concerns were dealing with the Redbrand Bandits and when she heard they had been dealt with she quickly left indicating she had business to attend to.

Assuming they had already done their duty the party cross Halia's request off their list of options for their next mission.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:38, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

The party next decides to visit Daran Edermath at Edermath Orchard. Daran Edermath is a retired adventurer who lives in a tidy little cottage beside an apple orchard. A fit, silver-haired half-elf well over a hundred years old.

Upon their arrival Daran cant hold back his smile.  "Welcome to the saviors of Phandalin.  Word has spread fast of your deeds against the Bandits."

Og greets Daran with a big smile very proud of what he and his companions had accomplished. "Thank you sir Edermath it has been a pleasure helping the townsfolk.  We heard you needed help as well from some of the townspeople is this true and if so how can we help?"

Taten snorts and tips the crown of his head towards the sky recognizing Daran in the nicest way to be expected from a man with half orc blood.

Xelael is in clearly better spirits as the party enters the orchard.  She stops several times to take in the scent and energy of various flowers, trees, and plants.  " Your grove is quite beautiful.  Oh how I hate the city, but this is certainly a nice change.

"Nothing stands after they meet my axes fury.  Have any other heads for Yarabon to cleave?

In response to Og: "Yes, what you did with the Redbrands is fantastic but I have another task.  I have heard stories from prospectors in the hills northeast of Phandalin that someone is digging around in the ruins known as Old Owl Well. More disturbingly, several prospectors have reported being chased from the area by undead.  I want you all to visit the ruins which are a few days to the north east.  I want you to find out who's there and what they're up to.  Daran sighs deeply before continuing

"The ruins are an old watchtower of an ancient magical empire known as Netheril. I worry that dangerous magic might be dormant there.

In response to Taten: Daran gives a very uncomfortable smirk at the Half-orc but says nothing.

In response to Xelael: Daran's smile is glowing as he watches Xelael. "It is nice to see another lover of nature around here.  Make yourself at home here in my orchard, it brings me great joy and I hope it can do the same for you.

In response to Yarabon: "I hope it doesnt come to it Yarabon but this next task I have for you might have need of your mighty axe."

Xelael thanks Daran and immediately goes to pick some fruit off of one of the tree's and has a snack as she enjoys the sunny afternoon.

Taten stands emotionless behind the heavily armored Gnome and beside the battle ready woman Yarabon

Yarabon responds back to Daran "I hope your wrong.  All I have to hope for is something else is dumb enough to want to feel my axe!"

Og takes in all of the information on the new mission Daran explains then reaches out his hand giving the older gentleman a firm handshake.  "We would be more than happy to help.  We will leave in the morning for Old Owl Well."

The party then shortly after some small pleasantries and enjoying Daran's grove return to their inn and settle in the for the evening.

During the evening of the first day the party is ambushed by 9 goblins while Yarabon was on duty.  She immediately awoke everyone in the party as they were peppered by goblin shortbows.  Though it started out rough the party quickly came to their senses, formed up and destroyed the goblin menace.

Their second day's travel goes without any problems as the party successfully arrives at the Old Owl Well.

As you crest a low ridge, you spy the crumbling ruins of an old watchtower standing amid the rugged hills. The place is so old that the walls are only mounds of rubble enclosing a courtyard of sorts, adjacent to the broken stump of an old tower. A colorful tent has been set up in the middle of the courtyard, but no one is in sight.

The party begins heading towards the colorful tent when they all smell a deathly odor wafting from the tower's direction.

As the party approaches a horde of 12 zombies come lurching out of the tower.  As the sound of battle begins to pick up a red-robed figure with sallow skin, a shaved scalp, and a black tattoo on his forehead comes out of the tower.

The man shouts "What is the meaning of this?"

The party recognizes based on his tattoos and robes that this man is a necromancer from the land of Thay.  Og shouts out to him "We came up here to investigate, we heard prospectors were being chased by undead.  Are you behind these attacks?"

The man with a wave of his hands and a flash of magical energy stops the zombies in their tracks.  "Wait a minute, your the ones who wiped out those orcs aren't you.  I'm afraid I cannot discuss my reasons for being here at the well other than i'm searching for artifacts but I could provide you with some other information for your services against the orcs."

Og responds in a less frantic tone but his weapons are still drawn nervous of the surrounding zombies. "I'm afraid our employer will not be happy if we allow you to stay here with all of these undead.  Og stands prepared for his comments to lead to combat.

Hamun frowns and nods "I can do this if you would do a favor for me.  You see I wants to ask a question of Agatha the banshee: "What is the name of the wizard who built the tower at Old Owl Well?" but I don't think she will take kindly to speaking to me. If you will ask her I will leave.  She is located northwest of the old ruins of the town Conyberry in the Neverwinter woods.  Once you find the town you can't miss her lair.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:17, Thu 28 Jan 2016.

Og and the party agree and head off towards Conyberry.

The party arrives at Conyberry within a half days travel to the northwest without any trouble.   The town is ruined just as Hamun had indicated. 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 noticeably colder than it was in the ruined village. Rounding a bend in the trail, you see 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.

The party approaches cautiously through the low doorway inside.

A home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft.

A few brief moments pass before The air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips you. 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 might 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?"

Yarabon and Taten quickly look at each other and reach for their weapons before Og holds out a hand to stop them.  Xelael steps back out of the home but within eyesight clearly disturbed by the unnatural being.

We apologize for disturbing you Agatha we seek your assistance but we never sought to disturb your rest.  We seek some information about the Old Owl Well.

Agatha sneers.  The matters of the living mean nothing to me.  Leave my home! she screeches as she dissipates

The party decides since it cannot get the information from Agatha to send Hamun away and since they don't wish battle with him that it would be best to return to Daran Edermath and report what they have found and allow the locals in Phandalin to decide what's best to do about the well.

The party after several encounters with various creatures of the night manages to make it back to Phandalin alive and well.  They return to Daran Edermath and share their information.  Though he is disappointed they were unsuccessful in removing the necromancer he understands and is appreciative of the parties efforts.

The party return to the Triboar trail on the behest of Sildar Hallwinter. Sildar suggests the party might find the castle by searching the lands around the Triboar Trail for more raiding parties.

On the night of the third day they are attacked by a pack of stirges but they are not surprised and are prepared for combat with the fiends.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:40, Tue 03 Oct 2017.

The party takes some wounds but easily overcome the stirges assault.  They continue in seearch of information about the Cragmaw castle and the night and next day pass without event.  Then late that next evening Taten notices the undead pouring out of the woods, three ghouls assault the party. He quickly awakens his companions and the battle begins.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:03, Thu 05 Oct 2017.

The party handily destroys them but Yarabon remains exhausted after overexerting herself in the last fight.

The party continues searching dispatching an ogre and then a group of seven goblins.  One of the goblins they capture and get the information out of them on how to get to Cragmaw Castle.  The party arrives and they first scout as much as they can with Xelael transformed into a spider.  They try to then sneak through the broken down front gate but the armored party makes too much noise and they are assaulted by half of the defending goblinoid army.

After a brutal battle that very nearly took all of their lives the party kills all of the hobgoblins and a goblin leader in their disgusting kitchen and causes the remaining goblins not yet killed to flee.  The party then gathers what items they could find including Sildar Hallwinter's gear which they gladly take with them to return to him back in Phandalin.

They begin their journey back home.  The party rests a few miles outside of where the castle is and then begin the journey home.  Their trip during the day is uneventful but at night they are ambushed by a hungry pack of ghouls.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:48, Thu 12 Oct 2017.

The party easily dispatches the ghouls and returns home.  They sell their belongings and return the equipment found to Sildar.  After resting, recuperating and resupplying they return back to Cragmaw Castle to begin again. On their return trip they are unaccosted in their 24 hour trek.  On the next morning the party returns to Cragmaw Castle to finish the job.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:14, Tue 17 Oct 2017.

They enter a dark hall and are accosted by a hidden Grick that jumps out of the darkness. The party deftly teams up and bashes the creature into nothing but paste then move towards the curtains that block entry into the northern part of the room.

This chamber occupies the northern tower of the castle. A stone altar stands in the middle of the room, covered with bloodstained black cloth. Golden ritual implements-a chalice, a knife, and a censer-are carefully arranged on top of the altar. Two archways to the south are covered with heavy curtains.

When the party enters Taten is immediately shot at with a bow by a hidden goblin in dirty robes and the party then sees two other goblins in dirty robes over their armor hiding behind the altar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Thu 26 Oct 2017.

The party with minimal damage and a bit of chasing kill the goblins and loot the room of a few gold items with some coin back in Phandalin.

The party moves through the eastern door into an empty room with many doorways.  They then head north through an area blocked off to find a ruined tower.  Xelael with his perceptive half-elven eyesight notices a hidden path leading in from the north the party could have used to sneak into this place had they been more aware before they came in.

This tower has almost completely collapsed, although the ground floor still has a little open space. Rotting crates and ancient barrels show that provisions were once stored here. A heavy curtain blocks a crumbling area to the south, and an intact door leads east. To the north, a short passage through the rubble ends before a screen of canvas.

The party then heads through the eastern door into a tight hallway.  To their south is a curtained off doorway and then a normal wooden door to the east. The party chooses the door to the east.

The party bursts into a room with Gundren Rockseeker held captive by a large bugbear King Groll and his pet wolf.  Yarabon unable to resist her rage rushes forward  despite King Grolls threats he will kill the dwarf.  Before she can reach him she barely sees a drow woman lunge for her and stab her in the midsection and then King Groll brings his morning star down on the unconscious Gundren crushing his skull sending brain matter flying as he is killed instantly by the blow and the ground begins to pool up with blood.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:16, Thu 26 Oct 2017.

The party takes a short rest and investigates the bodies. They find some loot and a few potions of healing but the strangest thing is the dark elf that reverts into a strange creature. Taten, Og, and Xelael put their heads together and they realize this creature is a Doppleganger, a beast that can take any shape it wants at will.  They also find a map to Wave Echo cave, all valuable information to take back to Sildar. They then head south from their battle to a tower, the last piece of this place they haven't explored.

The upper floors of this tower have collapsed to create a hollow silo at least thirty feet high, and the upper reaches of the room are lost in shadows. Dust, rubble, and broken glass cover the floor, and old worktables and bookshelves lie strewn to the south. In the middle of the room is a hulking beast that looks like a mangy bear with an owl's head. It rears up and roars when it sees you.

Xelael yells at the party that it is a natural creature and to not impede it's movement.  Sure enough the beast though it growls as it does it it bowls past the party and runs out of the castle. The party searches the creatures former home and finds a chest with a potion of healing a scroll of revivify and a scroll of silence.  They dole out the treasure among each other and begin their journey home.

The party wipes out the resistance in Cragmaw castle and things looked grim for Gundren Rockseeker until Og found a scroll of revivify in the den of the Owlbear.  He rushed back to the fallen body of Gundren and called out to his god the mighty Lathander.  The power of the great deity flowed through Og and brought Gundren back to this plane his wounds healing rapidly.  They help Gundren back to see Sildar with their heads hung high.  Sildar gives the party 500 gp as a reward for clearing the place out and humble thanks for saving his good friend.

In a few days time once hes has recovered fully they show Sildar and Gundren the map they found and tell them about the doppleganger in the room with the bugbear leader. Gundren offers the characters his thanks for the rescue and for taking him back to Phandalin.  He then asks the party to venture to this Wave Echo Cave to learn the fate of his brothers, Nundro and Tharden are there. Gundren informs the party that he knows someone called the Black Spider orchestrated his capture and wishes to see the party stop this awful villain. He give each party member 25 gold and offers a 10% share(500 gp/month) of the mine's wealth once the operation is up and running.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:14, Sat 28 Oct 2017.

Taten spends his time in Phandalin cleaning his armor and sharpening his Glaive prepping for war.

Yarabon spends her time in Phandalin drinking pints in the Tavern, occasionally getting into bar fights and drowning away any woes or sorrows the young barbarian may have.

Xelael never actually enters Phandalin after the initial meet up with Sildar and Gundren has ended.  She lives and sleeps among the wilds outside of the town until they is gathered for their trek to Wave Echo Cave.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Sat 28 Oct 2017.

Sildar meets privately with Og.

"You have done well Cloak, I will pass on to my superiors how well you have been doing and I personally cannot thank you enough for bringing Gundren back from the brink.  Please, take out this fiend and bring Phandalin and it's mine peace once again."

"By the blessing of Lathandar I will not stop until I have succeeded Sildar.  Many Blessings to you and Gundren but you must excuse me, I must prepare myself both mentally and physically for the oncoming battle."

Sildar nods in affirmation with a nervous smile upon his face. Og and his crew had exceeded expectations by so much already but the danger was surely to be even higher in this cave.  he feared for what was to come and if he would ever see his new recruit again.  When thoughts like that entered his mind he fought them back easily through his military training and returned to his stoic and strong self.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:20, Sat 28 Oct 2017.