"I think it's best you stay out of sight at first... Don't suppose you have any clue who it is that shares a face with you? I'd rather know as much as we can before we step into a room with him."

Insight: 20

The Townmaster shakes his head.  "No.  They've had me down in that cell for weeks, I think.  When they first came to town, I knew they were trouble.  When they pushed our people for 'protection' money, I put my foot down.  Said they could leave Phandalin, or I would send word to Neverwinter to send some guardsmen to root them out.  The punks didn't hestitate... they clobbered me and tossed me in a cell.  I didn't know they replaced me... they never told me anything.  Maybe a wizard?"

T'laren, you get the impression he isn't hiding anything.  He seems genuinely angry at the Redbrands, and a little confused being outside after being locked up for so long.

“Wait a moment!! Didn’t we just see this fellow at the Townmaster’s Hall?” Droknin looks very puzzled at the momen. “So, who is the real… Err… Townmaster?”

T'laren gives a big sigh. "Yes, it seems that this is the real Townmaster, and the Redbrands got him out of the way and put their own in... which means Sildar is spending time planning how to deal with the Redbrands, with a Redbrand."

Garrin rattles his staff on the ground to emphasize his words "Looks like we're heading back to pull the imposter down and out. 'Cept he knew we were coming here..."

"Yeah, but he maybe doesn't know that we made it in and found the real Townmaster... how bout we go in lying to spin him a story about us not being able to get any further on anything tonight? Might be he's been tipped off, but if we can put him off balance, we might be able to get the jump on him if he lets his guard down.", T'laren muses.

 Cassius makes sure that the family is settled in the inn before he joins the others, listening closely as they speak to Harbin. "Either way we should not take to long to deal with the fake. I do not like the idea of them having the ear of that man Sildar you all helped."

"Agreed."

(What time of the day is now? Sorry if it was stated b4.)

”I would like very much to meet this fake.” Says Droknin with arms crossed.

"We... we did meet the fake. He was the guy living in the Townmaster's place... the one who didn't want to house the prisoner there? We... I... Let's just go. Townmaster, can you stay out of sight while we confront him?", a bemused T'laren shakes his head.

[You went into the hideout after midnight and spent a couple of hours in there.  You are still an hour or so away from sunrise.]

The Townmaster nods and will wait elsewhere for you to visit his home.

How do you approach this?

((I'm thinking we break in and roust him from his sleep.))

When you approach the Townmaster's house, you see that it is not completely dark.  Through an open window you see a single candle burning in the dining room.

T'laren approaches quietly and peers into the lit room.

Stealth: 10
Perception: 12, Passive 14

T'laren, you see through the window that Sildar Hallwinter sits alone at the dining room table.  An uncorked bottle of whiskey sits in front of him.  He is out of his armor but his longsword is lying on the table in front of him.  His side is bandaged heavily, and he is bleeding through some of the bonds.

He looks up at the window and peers into the darkness.  "Who goes there?" he asks, his hand reaching out to grasp the sword.  He seems to recognize T'laren.  "Ah.  You've returned.  Best come inside then as we have much to discuss."  He rises slowly from the table, corking the whiskey and fastening the sword to his belt.  He limps over and opens the front door.

"Harbin isn't himself. Where is he?", T'laren whispers before heading to the door, irritated at himself for being easily spotted.

"Gone."  Sildar lets all of you inside before closing the door behind you.  "He attacked me and we fought.  Both of us were wounded and he fled.  I'm too badly hurt to do much about it and couldn't pursue him.  Are any of you capable of healing?  I've bandaged myself but as you can see... I'm in rough shape."

 He looks you over, noting wounds to Droknin and Cassius.  "What happened?  You said knew about Harbin?  Tell me everything."

T'laren signals to the others and Harbin to join him, staying Sildar's hand.

"This is the real Townmaster, they were holding in the basement of their manor with a local family. Whoever you fought was someone wearing his face."

Droknin whispers to T’laren. “That’s not the fake right?”

"The fake ran off after fighting Sildar.", the elf whispers back.