"That's right. Seems there may be more to this whole story than we thought."

Sildar gives the party a serious look. "He says the Black Spider hired the Redbrands to initimidate the townsfolk of Phandalin, and frighten off any real mercenaries or adventurers who happen to come along. He sent the bugbears to reinforce the Redbrands and provide extra muscle. So there's the connection we suspected with the Cragmaw goblins. It seems they're all one big family.

"Of course this one has no idea what the Black Spider's real motives are, but again, he's a faithless criminal. They don't usually question their orders whenever gold is involved."

Sildar scratches his beard. "Oh yes, and the last thing he told us was that they've got a handful of captives in a holding area 'near the old crypts' under the manor. My hope is that's where they're keeping poor Albrek, if he's not dead already.

"And of course the dead can never be left to rest in an old family crypt like that. Glasstaff's foul sorcery has somehow managed to awaken the skeletons there, and now they help guard the Redbrands' captives. Be ready for that."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Mon 26 June 2017.

"Necromancy...interesting." Steamknuckle steps up to address the prisoner. "But...how does he keep the reanimated skeletons from attacking the lot of you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Mon 26 June 2017.

"I'm not sure," the bandit replies. "I don't ever go near those things myself. They just...somehow know we work for Glasstaff, and they leave us alone.

"I can tell you, though, one time those bugbears, as a sick joke, they threw their little goblin plaything into that room, and I tell you those skeletons picked up their old swords and went straight for that little monster like he was the spawn of Orcus. He only just barely got out of that room before they skewered him. So whatever it is that makes them not attack us, that goblin didn't have it."

Through all this, the slender silver-haired half-elf has stood quietly back against the timber column with his arms folded. When he finally speaks, his voice is surprisingly deep and commanding.

"Now you see, that is one thing I cannot stand for."

He steps forward. "I've stood by for too long as these Redbrands have wreaked their havoc. But to hear these disturbing tales of the skeletons of this noble family being raised for their petty purposes...that is too much."

"Please forgive me. I haven't introduced you. This here is Daran Edermath; farmer here in Phandalin, but also a retired agent of the Order of the Gauntlet. A most noble order, and true friends of peace and justice."

"Indeed. I'm no longer active in the Order, but I keep an eye on happenings around Phandalin. Sadly, it's been too long since I've spoken to any of my brothers. So it pleases me that fine folk such as yourselves have finally made your way here to stand up to these beasts." He spits the last word in the direction of the shamed bandit kneeling inside the jail cell.

Sildar looks appraisingly at the half-elf. "You seem like you may know your way around a blade. Can we count on you to help quell any counterattack these Redbrands may attempt to throw at us?"

Daran looks Sildar squarely in the eye. "Of course."

But then he pauses a moment before looking away. "I'm ashamed to admit I've failed to stand up to these Redbrands on my own for the last two months. Sadly, I'm an old man and no longer the fighter I used to be, so I judged discretion to be the better part of valor."

He looks back at Sildar, his expression hardened. "But now that my prayers to Torm have been answered, I will stand with you to the death to see these cowardly thugs driven from my town."

Rudo steps out of the cell, closing and locking the door behind him. He turns to Daran. "You say you're not the fighter you once were. Well tell me, what kind of fighter were you?"

Daran regards Rudo coolly. "I served as a marshal and herald for many years in the lands of the Dragon Coast. I commanded companies of men in battle. After that I wandered the realms as an adventurer for many more years. I stamped out more undead filth in the name of Torm than I daresay you can imagine. I may be old and weak now compared to what I once was, but put a blade in my hand and I'll still cut down ten of those Redbrands before they manage to fell me."

He sighs. "Long ago I retired to Neverwinter, where I was born. These days I'm just a quiet orchard keeper here in Phandalin. I admit it's been long years since I've wielded a blade, but I'll do as I must, and die with sword in hand if Torm wills it."

Rudo nods approvingly. "Only cowards live forever."

Daran turns to Sildar. "These reports of skeletons trouble me greatly. I fear this Glasstaff, or his ilk, may be leaving their rotten stain across more of the land than just here in Phandalin. I've heard stories from prospectors in the hills northeast of here that someone's been digging around in the ruins of Old Owl Well. It's an important waypoint for miners just south of Conyberry to get fresh water out in the dry hills, but lately they've all been driven off by some kind of undead monsters.

"Who knows? Old Owl Well is built around the ruins of an old Netherese watchtower, so gods know what kind of dark secrets may be buried there. It just strikes a little too close to home to hear about skeletons right here under Tresendar Manor, when the same foulness has already been seen elsewhere in the land."

Rudo's ears perk up as he catches a whiff of opportunity from Daran's statement. "Monsters at the old well, you say? And how much exactly would a service like that be worth to you?"

Daran shakes his head. "Sadly, I have no money to offer you. All I can do is appeal to your honor and decency to protect the good folk of the land from the disease of undeath.

"Of course, if you were to clear the threat from Old Owl Well then you would be entitled to whatever salvage you might find there. Someone's raising those monsters to do their bidding, and where there's necromancers you're likely to find something of value to liberate from their well-deserved corpses.

"If I were a few dozen years younger I would have set out to clean this up myself. But sadly, those days are over. I have no choice now but to rely on the goodness of folk like yourselves."

Willow steps forward, waving her hands. "One thing at a time. We understand your concerns, sir, but right now we have a more pressing job to do. We're going to sneak in, capture or eliminate this Glasstaff, then sneak out before the whole Redbrand gang manages to surround us.

"And we're only doing that because it might help get rid of these Redbrands, so we can have a better chance of recruiting the villagers to help us with our true mission - which, let's not forget, is to rescue Gundren Rockseeker from that castle."

She looks around at the rest of the party. "Let's not get sidetracked. He's still there enduring gods know what kind of torture. Every second counts! We get him in our hands, return him safely here, and then we can talk about whose old well we can go clean up to line Rudo's pathetic pockets."

"I have a feeling that any course we take at this point will get us closer to finding the Rockseekers and the true problem they may have uncovered.  This underground lair sounds quite dangerous,  more so than it did earlier this morning,  but I believe it to be the next best place to find the answers we seek.  I suggest we rest for a short while to digest the situation and then investigate it."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:51, Mon 26 June 2017.

Daran looks shocked. "Goblins have captured Gundren Rockseeker? Please forgive me. By all means, this problem at Old Owl Well can wait. Focus on rescuing him, and then if Torm wills it we can talk about the undead problem later when you return safely."

Sildar nods at Zhaquadan. "I agree. You've all suffered some wounds, so you are welcome to take a rest here before tackling the Redbrand stronghold."

He looks over the rest of the party. "Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to accompany you on this mission. With these captives here, and the possibility that the Redbrands may retaliate at any moment, I'll need to make my presence known as the new townmaster. With Daran and myself standing against them, perhaps we can encourage the rest of the townsfolk to take up arms should they return to cause trouble.

"Besides, I too am getting old and not the fighter I once was. I'd probably just slow you down in there."

"Not to mention that the more of them we manage to draw out by walking tall and making our presence known here, the less of them you'll have to deal with on your mission in there."

Willow nods. "We'll miss your mace in there, but hopefully we won't need to do much fighting anyway."

She heads up the stairs to find a bench to stretch out on for a brief rest. Burgess follows close behind.

The party settles into comfortable positions in the town hall to rest and recover from their skirmish with the Redbrands. Steamknuckle pulls out his spellbook to study while Sildar and Daran both take their leave to patrol the town and oversee the construction of the gibbet in the town square. Calm and quiet descend on the building.

About an hour later, Rudo comes up the stairs to rouse his companions.

OOC: Recovering during a short rest.
15:11, Today: Willow rolled 10 using 1d10+1 with rolls of 9.  Healing from 1 hit die.
Rudo recovers his use of Second Wind (PHB p.72).
Steamknuckle recovers one level 1 spell slot due to the wizard Arcane Recovery class ability (PHB p.115).
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:22, Mon 26 June 2017.

"Okay. Beauty rest is over. Time to get moving." Rudo stands ready in full armor with his greataxe slung over his shoulder.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Mon 26 June 2017.

OOC:Recovery during a short rest.
15:26, Today: Zhaquadan Mudsmither rolled 6 using 1d8 with rolls of 6.  Short Rest HP Recovery. 1 die.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Mon 26 June 2017.

"Where should we start?  The manor or the cavern?  Or somewhere else?  My vote is for the cavern entrance."

The party rouses, shaking off the exhaustion of their wounds and lack of sleep. No one argues with Zhaquadan's suggestion. Rudo marches off to secure the front doors of the building while everyone else quickly readies their gear.

Soon the group slips out through the side door of the townmaster's office, heading down the southeast road toward the Alderleaf farm. Cutting across the field north of the farmhouse, they hurry through a gap in the crumbling town wall and down to the edge of the thick woods at the base of the hill. As far as they can tell, no one has observed their passage thus far.

Following the base of the terraced cliff beneath the old manor house, the party soon comes to a narrow path through the tangle of thickets up against the rock wall. At the end of the path they come to the darkened mouth of a tunnel descending into the hill. The area is still and silent, aside from a gentle breeze of chill air flowing out from the black entrance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:13, Wed 28 June 2017.