"and the prisoners? where are they being kept."

The Nothic hesitates for a moment before padding over to the far corner of the room and pressing a small stone inward to reveal another hidden door.

"I go now. I have done my part yes? I have shown you the way and given you all my nice treasures."

"Get out of here before I change my mind." Blink turns her back on the monster.

 "I still wish we had killed the foul beast."

The party enter the secret passage and descend a dark stairway to another secret door which they charge through into a small bedchamber. Sitting at the desk is a short, dark-bearded human male in robes, studying a tome. He wears a princely mantle of ermine. A beautiful glass staff leans against his chair, within easy reach.

"Move and you die!" Kara levels Talon at the mans head, appreciating its perfect balance for the first time.

Intimidation : 18

The man snarls and reaches for his staff.

Initiative:

1. Glasstaff
2. Vishka
3. Kara
4. Melandra
5. Blink
6. Griell

 "Who let you in here?"

The Wizard raises his staff and cast mage armor on himself.

 Vishka launches a guiding bolt at the mage. 

Attack: 16 Damage: 9

The mage doubles over in pain.

 Kara slices in with her blade, taking care to make the strike non-lethal.

Attack: 8 Damage: 11

Dark energy sparks around the man, turning the blade away.

 Griell jumps atop the nearby bed and stabs down with her Glaive. 

Attack: 10 Damage: 5

Again the dark magic turns the blade.

 Cursing, Melandra sends a fire bolt toward him.

Attack: 8 Damage: 5 only to have it turned by the mages defences.

 Blink darts in then and attacks with both weapons.

Attack: 10 Damage: 13 and Attack: 13 Damage: 5

Nothing but black sparks.

 The wizard laughs, "Fools, you will die now."

Recognising Melandra as a fellow wizard he fires three magic missiles at her. 5, 4 and 3

 Seeing the attack coming Kara casts shield and the spell dissipates harmlessly.

 Vishka dashes forward and attempts to grapple the mage. 

Athletics 24 vs DEX 12

 Kara tries to knock the grappled wizard out.

Attack: 24 Damage: 10

 Seeing the wizard still has some fight in him, Griell tries to complete the job.

Attack: 22 Damage: 13 The man falls limp in Vishkas arms. 

 Vishka secures the wizard; tying his hands and gagging his mouth.

She hands the staff up to Melandra.

Perception : 9

"Any of the rest of you notices how closely this fellow resembles Sildars description of his lost friend?"

 Griell gives a low whistle.

"If it is him, Sildar will be pissed!"

 Melandra takes the staff and examines it.

"This may come in useful."

 "What is this?"

Various papers and notes are stacked neatly on the desk, mostly consisting of Glasstaffs written orders to apothecaries and alchemists in nearby settlements for more materials for his workshop. Atop them is an opened letter.

Lord Albrek,

My spies in Neverwinter tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Phandalin. They could be working for the dwarves. Capture them if you can, kill them if you must, but don’t allow them to upset our plans. See that any dwarven maps in their possession are delivered to me with haste. I’m counting on you, Iarno. Don’t disappoint me.

 "So it would appear we have found Sildar's lost friend. Iarno Albrek you are in shit up to your neck now my friend."

 "It sounds like this Black Spider is speaking of us. We need to take care."

 "Looks like Lord Iarno has been keeping the good stuff for himself!"

At the foot of Iarno’s bed is a sturdy, unlocked wooden chest holding the best pickings of the Redbrands’ loot over the last two months. It contains 180 sp, 130 gp, and a silk pouch containing five carnelians (10 gp each), two peridots (15 gp each), and one pearl (100 gp). It also contains two magic items that Iarno brought with him from Neverwinter: a scroll of charm person and a scroll of fireball.

Blink hands the pearl and scrolls to Melandra.

 "Thank you Blink. The Pearl is exactly what I needed."