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, Daran is a fighter who served as a marshal and herald for many years in the lands of the Dragon Coast, far to the southeast. Upon retiring, he returned to the Neverwinter region, his original home.

"Good morning. Can I help you?"

(In Elvish)

"Good morning sir, we are told you might be able to advise us. Our employer Gundren Rockseer has been captured by goblins and taken to Cragmaw castle. Might you be able to direct us to the place?"

"It is good to hear the old tongue spoken well." He smiles briefly then looks serious as he considers the news, "Gundren captured you say? That is dark news indeed. I will try to send word to his brothers. As to the castle I have heard of it yes, it lies far to the north in the heart of the Neverwinter wood, but I have never travelled there so can not guide you further. You could wander for weeks in that forest and find nothing but trees and stray monsters."

"Nundro and Tharden are nearby? Could you direct us to them?"

"Gundrens brothers are camped somewhere outside town. I have not seen them in a tenday. I would expect them to return any day now to resupply. You know them it seems?"

"They are my cousins."

"Ah i see. Well I hope you find Gundren, we are all fond of him here in Phandalin."

"Have you had much trouble with these Redbrands we have been hearing about?"

"Lucky for me they have little use for apples." Daran gives a wry smile. 

"Though they do concern me. Perhaps you might spare some time to teach the ruffians a lesson before you leave? They get worse each passing day and it’s time someone took a stand against their damned leader.  They call him Glasstaff."

He gives a heavy sigh, "If you have mind for it they hang around the Sleeping Giant tap house, and their main safe house lies under Tresendar Manor, the ruin at the east edge of town."

"Perhaps once we know more. We did not come to Phandalin looking for trouble and we do need to find this Cragmaw castle soon."

The party bid Daran farewell and head back in to town.

"Well that was a waste of time. The whole place is obsessed with these Redbrands!"

Blink pats the empty space in her belt where she lost one of her daggers back with the goblins.

"Let's head to the Lionshields and spend some coin."

"Sounds good to me, I need a new axe. We can tell them about their supplies up at the cave while we are at it."

Lionshield Coster

Shrine of Luck

Phandalin’s only temple is a small shrine made of stones taken from the nearby ruins. It is dedicated to Tymora, goddess of luck and good fortune.

The shrine is in the care of a scholarly acolyte named Sister Garaele, a zealous young elf who despairs of ever ridding Phandalin of the Redbrands. Accepting the token she gives the party three potions of healing.

"Ah I see you have the favour of the Coster. It speaks well of you. The luck of Tymora go with you friends."

"We should perhaps drop by the Miners Exchange before we go find Sildar."

"Not a bad idea. Gundren would have had dealings with them for sure."

Phandalin Miner’s Exchange

The Miner’s Exchange is a trading post where local miners have their valuable finds weighed, measured, and paid out. In the absence of any local lord or authority, the exchange also serves as an unofficial records office, registering claims to various streams and excavations around the area. There isn’t any real gold rush in Phandalin, but enough wealth is hidden in the nearby streams and valleys to support a good number of independent prospectors.

The guildmaster is an ambitious and calculating human woman named Halia Thornton. The party introduce themselves and appraise her of their mission.

"I have no idea where the castle is, though I do know that the Rebrands have regular dealings with goblins and other foul sorts. If you were to see fit to clear out Tresendar manor you might find a few strays to question. I'll pay good coin if you can bring down their leader Glasstaff. He is the cause of much of their unsavoury behaviour in Phandelin."

Insight 21

"Thank you for the advice, we will consider it."

"I can ask no more than that."

"Do we really want to be mixing it up with the local ruffians? Sounds like a whole heap of trouble to me."