🕳️ Goblin Politics and a Rescue
- Still deep in the goblin cave, the party pressed on in search of Gundren Rockseeker and his ally, Sildar Hallwinter.
- In a crude dining hall, they met Yeemik, a cunning goblin eager to betray his bugbear boss, Klarg. After Gamsey’s failed trident throw, Yeemik offered a deal: solve a puzzle involving the jade frog statuette that his boss had, and he’d release the prisoner.
- The party succeeded, and the remaining goblins scattered — worried of what “the Spider” might do if more bugbears showed up.
Sildar Hallwinter was rescued and revealed the following:
- 🧙♂️ A Missing Wizard – Iarno Albrek, a Lord’s Alliance contact in Phandalin, disappeared months ago.
- ⛏️ Wave Echo Cave – The Rockseeker brothers (Gundren and his brothers) discovered the lost entrance to the ancient mine of the Phandelver Pact. Gundren had a map to the cave, but was taken.
- 🕷️ The Black Spider – Sildar overheard Yeemick discussin how his boss Klarg had orders from someone called “the Spider” to capture Gundren and steal his map.
- 🏰 Cragmaw Castle – The map and Gundren were sent to this unknown location. Sildar suspects someone in Phandalin might know where it is.
🏘️ Back to Town
- The group returned to Phandalin, and Sildar took refuge at the Stonehill Inn.
- At the Lionshield Coster, the party informed Linene Graywind about the stolen goods they recovered from the goblin cave.
At the inn:
- Toblen Stonehill told the group about a man named Thel, murdered by the Redbrands, and how his wife and child are now missing.
- The next morning, Pip (Toblen’s son) revealed that his friend Carp Alderleaf saw the Redbrands sneaking out of a secret tunnel near his family’s farm.
🌲 Into the Shadows
- At Alderleaf Farm, young Carp led the group to the tunnel entrance in the woods.
- Inside, they encountered a strange, one-eyed, telepathic creature who let them pass peacefully after being offered some meat.
- After navigating the twisting passages and dead ends, the group found a staircase and two doors—both with voices behind them.
- Poppy silently opened one, revealing a room of four Redbrands in scarlet cloaks, seated around a table covered in coins and trinkets.
Where Things Stand
The party:
- Rescued Sildar Hallwinter and learned information about the Black Spider, Wave Echo Cave, and Cragmaw Castle.
- Returned stolen goods to the Lionshield Coster.
- Is now inside a hidden passages beneath an old Manor