"What of Gundren? We can not just leave him to his fate. He is our employer and my cousin. I can not just leave..."

"We need rest Vishka and we do not know where they have gone. We can just as well plan our next move from the safety of Phandalin as here."

"As you say." Vishka grudgingly agrees, "But I will not wait long, even if I must go alone."

The party leave the caverns and make their way back to the wagon, being careful to avoid further goblin traps. They are soon making their way on the last leg of the journey to Phandalin.

Part 2: Phandalin

On the way to town the party interrogate the goblin prisoner. They discover that the bugbear they had killed was named Klarg. He answered to a creature named King Grol, chief of the Cragmaw tribe, who dwells in a place called Cragmaw Castle.

"Cragmaw is in the big wood. Deep inside... maybe a days walk... maybe."

He goes on to explain that Klarg received a messenger goblin from King Grol a few days ago. The messenger told him that someone named the Black Spider was paying the Cragmaws to watch out for the dwarf Rockseeker, capture him, and send him and anything he was carrying back to King Grol. Klarg followed his orders. So Gundren was ambushed and taken along with his personal effects, including a map.

"So off he goes yes? Dwarf and map and all his things go to Klarg and big man goes to eating cave to feed the boys... then you came."

"Sounds like you saved me from the dinner plate." Sildar comments.

"What's this all about Sildar? Why all the interest in the dwarf?"

"The Rockseekers Gundren and his brothers Tharden, and Nundro recently located an entrance to the long-lost Wave Echo Cave, the site of the mines of the Phandelver’s Pact."

"Wave Echo Cave? What is that?"

"More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver’s Pact, by which they would share a rich mine in a wondrous cavern known as Wave Echo Cave. In addition to its mineral wealth, the mine contained great magical power. Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge (called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path."

"A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost."

"I am familiar with this legend Sildar, but what is your interest in this?"

"I am an agent of the Lords’ Alliance, a group of allied political powers concerned with mutual security and prosperity. Members of the order ensure the safety of cities and other settlements by eliminating threats by any means.

I met Gundren in Neverwinter and agreed to accompany him back to Phandalin. I seek the fate of Iarno Albrek, a human wizard and fellow member of the Alliance. He disappeared shortly after arriving in Phandalin a few months ago. I had hopes to learn what happened to Iarno, and maybe assist Gundren in reopening the old mine. It would be a great thing to restore Phandalin to a civilized center of wealth and prosperity like the days of old."

"What about this black spider fellow?"

"I do not know. The goblins spoke of him often enough, perhaps our friend here can tell us more?"

"I'm not knowing. Black Spider is big scary bad un and we not be meeting him. I'm knowing nothing at all."

"Who ever he is, its clear he wants Gundren and his map. It shows the secret location of Wave Echo Cave. The goblins took it when they captured him. I believe that Klarg sent the map and the dwarf to the chief of the Cragmaws like the goblin says. We need to find this Cragmaw Castle."

The rutted track emerges from a wooded hillside, and they catch their first glimpse of Phandalin in the failing light. The town consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings, some built on old fieldstone foundations. More old ruins—crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars—surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past. Most of the newer buildings are set on the sides of the cart track, which widens into a muddy main street of sorts as it climbs toward a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town.

As you approach, you see children playing on the town green and townsfolk tending to chores or running errands at shops. Many people look up as you approach, but all return to their business as you go by.

Sildar seems much more at ease.

“My friends,” he says, “let us secure lodgings. I’m told the local inn is very quaint.”

Stonehill Inn

In the center of town stands a large, newly built roadhouse of fieldstone and rough-hewn timbers. The common room is filled with locals nursing mugs of ale or cider, all of them eyeing you with curiosity.

"Welcome to the Stonehill Inn. Toblen Stonehill at you service, will you be needing rooms for the evening?"

"We do indeed master Toblen. We also have a wagon and oxen that will need taking care of and a goblin prisoner that will need securing."

"A goblin you say? Oh well... I suppose we can chain it in the cellar until morning at least. As to rooms and stabling well that's common fair and comes at a common cost. Find yourself a table and Elsa will be along shortly to serve you. My lads will take care of the goblin."