Previously: Chapter 03: Dealing with the Redbrands
The Most Important Meal of the Day
The next morning, they all wake up feeling well rested after the intense skirmish at the Tresendor Manor. When the people who slept in the inn go to get breakfast, they are greeted by the happy faces of Toblen and his wife who are very grateful that they no longer have to live under the terror of the Redbrands. Granny and Willowbark eventually wakes up, after some sheep came over to check what they were doing on their turf.
As they sit around the table eating breakfast, Penny takes a closer look at the tarot card they found in the nothic’s chest. She can see a weak shimmer on it, like there's something special about it, and the symbol of Shehemis, although weak, is clearly visible on the card, but she cannot sense any magic coming from it, although it is unyielding when she tries to rip it. Theren tries to examine it but he can’t discern anything either. It’s probably enchanted, but they don’t know why someone would do it.
After breakfast, the party heads out into Phandalin to gather some more information and pick up more supplies. Granny decides to go to the Lionshield Coster and inquire about a woodcarving set, so that she can make arrows in the field. As luck would have it, she has one set available, which has been gathering dust, but as the lady behind the counter can see how much Granny wants it, she tries to upsell her on the price. Granny relents, and pays for the set, just happy to have it.
Getting Answers
Demetrius and Kal meet up with Theren, and they all decide they want to go and interrogate “Glasstaff". Reaching the town hall, the mayor properly thanks them for getting rid of the Redbrands, and leads them down into the prison area where Iarno is waiting. They start questioning him, and the first thing they want to know is where Cragmaw Castle is, but Glasstaff tells them, like everyone else it seems, that he doesn’t know where it is located. He does however willingly tell them that his master is The Black Spider, and that he is looking for Wave Echo Cave, because it contains something of great importance to him. Suddenly, in the middle of talking, Iarno seems to lose his words, and starts slurring, before eventually coming to, breathing heavily, suddenly claiming he was under a spell, and that he has done nothing wrong. All three of them see through the facade, and Iarno nonchalantly says “oh well, worth a shot”. They pressure him further about the Black Spider, and he confirms that he is a Drow, an ancient race of elves that are all but extinct. He mentions that he can wait in the cell if he has to, but the Black Spider has promised to free him, as he is under his protection, and laughs as the party walks away.
When the trio returns upstairs to the main hall, they pressure the mayor about the lack of protection of Phandalin. He goes on the defensive, telling them that he has only been mayor for a few months, as they have an election every year so that the mayor isn’t corrupted. He admits that he has been lax on the protection, but he insists that it is not his fault. The reasoning for this is that although Phandalin is technically in the territory of what is now known as Hold of Khuz'Dhan, historically, Phandalin, or at least the town it was built upon, was a part of The Bridgeheart Kingdom, so either Elvenbridge or Khuzunzan is responsible for sending guards, but neither have decided who is responsible. Kal suggests that he sort this out sooner rather than later, lest another force comes in and takes over the town again. Harbin takes her word seriously, as she is quite imposing if she wants to, and decides to send a message to both cities, demanding that they sort it out.
While walking through the streets of the village, Willowbark is suddenly approached by the woman they rescued from the Redbrands, Mirna. She thanks her once again for the help, as they thought they were going to die in that dungeon. Willowbark is just happy to have helped an innocent soul, but Mirna insists that they deserve some sort of reward. She tells Willowbark that when she was a teenager, she and her family lived in the village of Thundertree, which lay not far from Rivergrounds. Something bad happened about 15 years ago, forcing them to flee from the town. Most of the refugees settled in Rivergrounds, but some branched outwards towards other settlements. Mirna and her family eventually moved from Rivergrounds to Phandalin when it was rebuilt a few years ago. She tells Willowbark that when they lived in Thundertree they had a shop, and in the rush of the event had to leave everything behind. She knows that they had an old family heirloom, a beautiful emerald necklace, that was hidden beneath some shelves. If Willowbark and her group ever find themselves in the area, she is free to take it as a reward. Willowbark on the other hand pledges to return the necklace to her, and won’t take no for an answer. Mirna is grateful for this, but makes it clear that it is theirs to keep if they so wish.
Doing Recon
Afterwards, the group meet back up in the inn to have some lunch, and as they sit there eating their food and talking about what they have learned, Sildar comes walking in through the door, bloodied and filthy. He tells the party that he has been cleaning up the bodies in the manor along with some volunteers, and confirms that the threat has been neutralized. They tell Sildar that they want to find Gundren, which he is glad to hear, but he is unsure where to start. He suggests that the party widen their search and ask around town for anyone who knows something. They decide to split up, with Granny and Theren checking out the miner’s exchange, Penny and Demetrius will check out the Sleeping Giant Tap House that the Redbrands used to get drunk at, while Kal and Willowbark will check out the Alderleaf farm.
In the Miner’s exchange, they meet a bunch of dwarves who have returned from the mountains to sell their precious stones they have found. The lady behind the counter, Halia, asks if it’s true that they cleared out the Redbrands, to which they confirm. Without a word, she takes out a coin purse containing 50 gp as a reward for saving the town. When asked about Cragmaw Castle, she too says she knows not where it is, but she has heard of a wandering druid that might know something. After some thinking, she remembers his name is Reidoth.
Penny and Demetrius goes to the Sleeping Giant Tap House, and finds a dwarven woman closing down shop. She doesn’t really want to talk to the duo, as she was more or less forced by the Redbrands to keep them satisfied with drinks, and now that they’re gone, she’s moving on. Disappointed in the dead end, they head back to the inn.
Willowbark and Kal talk to a middle aged halfling woman named Qelline, who owns the Alderleaf farm, and her son, Carp. Willowbark is very impressed by her cows, and Qelline offers her a sample, to which she gladly accepts. It is the best milk that Willowbark has tasted in a long time. Qelline is happy to provide, but can sense that the duo is after something. They tell her they’re looking for Cragmaw Castle as a friend of theirs was kidnapped by the goblins who reside there. She tells them she knows not where it is, but she is very good friends with a wandering druid named Reidoth. When asked where they can find this druid, she tells them he recently returned to Thundertree, and confirms what Willowbark has heard about it being faced with a sickness around 15 years ago. If anyone would know where what you’re looking for is, it would be him, she says. Kal and Willowbark thanks for the help, and gives a silver to her son, Carp, for being such a good sport.
Kal takes Willowbark to the stables to show her a horse so that she can turn into one if they need it. They meet the stableboy, Tim, who seems to be quite the character, condescendingly pointing at the stable when the pair ask politely where they can find the horses. They don’t know if he is rude or simple, but no matter, they head inside the stable, and Willowbark is very happy to meet the horse, and now feels confident that she can change into one if needed.
Deciding the Course of Action
Afterwards, the whole group meet back at the tavern to compare notes, and they realize that the best course of action would be to head to Thundertree to find this supposed Reidoth that might know where Gundren is being held. Not wanting to waste any time, they go one last time to pick up whatever supplies they might need, with Kal going to the general store to pick up assorted spices to make the food less mundane, while also going to the Lionshield Coster to sell her old morningstar, now using the Longsword of Twilight instead.
As the party sets out in the evening, they take one last look back at the village, knowing they will return eventually, but first they have to save their dwarven benefactor from certain death, and stop this supposed drow menace that is the Black Spider.