Lena, still in her Redbrand disguise, looks at thier swift and lethal work. "Best be movin' on, we can worry about searchin' bodies after." She makes no move to say a prayer for these dead, their compliance such that she wishes them no safe passage beyond this mortal span.

Matheris nods and he checks the north door for the room they're in..  He signals it's ok.  He opens the door and from the map they have, the hallway goes back to the crevasse.  He checks the door across the hallway.  Faint bubbling and dripping sounds can be heard through the door of this room.  Once everyone is together, Karea shows up almost imperceptibly behind you giving you a signal they're there.

Matheris opens the door slowly and moves into the room making room for everyone.

This room appears to be a wizard’s workshop. A rat scurries across the floor and takes refuge under a large worktable set up with alembics, retorts, distillation coils, and other alchemical devices, all of it stewing and bubbling away. Bookshelves are crowded with sheaves of parchment and strange-looking tomes. A 20ft x 20ft room with a door on the east wall 10 ft from the north wall. 

Actions:

Seeing no-one in the room, Lena motions towards the door on the east wall. In a hushed tone she calls to Karea, "You breach, I'll have your back."

Following Lena's instructions, Karea slips though the far door, staying in darkness whenever possible. 

Karea moves into the room.  A 15 ft x 20 ft room is empty of any occupants.

The walls of this bedchamber are covered with drapes of scarlet cloth. The furnishings include a small writing desk with matching chair, a comfortable-looking bed, and a wooden chest at the foot of the bed.

Everyone makes their way into the room as Karea signals it's clear.  

Faith spots the secret door ajar and signals everyone.  You make chase and catch up to the individual in the Crevasse.  Seeing the Nothic is dead and you right behind him he surrenders.  "I give up...4 of you."   

Actions:

Faith smooths down his hair, brushes some dirt from his clothes. He puts on his best ‘I’m not angry, but I’m so disappointed’ face. 
 
“Why run? What did you do?”

The Evil Mage is more interested in saving his own life than anything else at the moment. I'll tell you what I know.  I'll be free eventually anyway.

• The Black Spider is a drow (dark elf).
• The Black Spider sent three bugbears to help Iarno keep the population of Phandalin under control, but the Redbrands have managed without them. The bugbears know the way to Wave Echo Cave, but Iarno does not.
• The Black Spider is searching Wave Echo Cave for the Forge of Spells. Dwarves and gnomes of the Phandelver’s Pact used the magical forge to fashion powerful magic items.
• No other members of the Lords’ Alliance know of Iarno’s betrayal.

Actions:

Faith looks taken aback. 

“Thank you,” he says, after the mage is done. “It has been a long time since someone has responded to my questions in such a sensible and reasonable way.”

”I will tie you up now.”

Faith removes any component pouch, arcane focus and spell book he can find (if a spell book he’ll look for ritual spells after). He gags the wizard, and trusses him so his hands can’t be used for somatic components. 

Larno has a Staff and 2 scrolls on him.

Iarno also wields a staff of defense 

a scroll of charm person and a scroll of fireball.

Action:

Lena lets other's more suited to the interrogation conduct it, though how easily their captor capitulated meant that it barely qualified as interrogation. She questions her allies, "Them bugbears that knew the way to the Whacko cave... I'm guessin' them are the ones that Karea disposed of? Just our luck. We'd best get this fella back to Sildar..."

Matheris chimes in..."Now hold on folks...We didn't even search those room back there we went right through them without even a look see.  Let's go back a couple rooms and take a look.  This darn rat is following us around I take care of it."  Larno jumps in "No it's my familiar, it's how I new to get out of there quickly.  Not that it helped much."

Matheris heads back to the other rooms with everyone that's interested.

You find a letter

Various papers and notes are stacked neatly on the desk, mostly consisting of Iarno’s written orders to apothecaries and alchemists in nearby settlements for more materials for his workshop. The characters also find a letter signed with the Black Spider’s symbol.

A former member of the Lords’ Alliance, Iarno seized an opportunity in Phandalin to line his own pockets. Originally tasked with setting up a constabulary, the mage instead assembled a group of outlaws and local ruffians to secure his own position in town.

Iarno knew of the Black Spider through his contacts in the Lords’ Alliance and brokered a meeting. The drow promised to share the secrets and wealth of the Forge of Spells with the wizard in exchange for his help and loyalty.

Larno puts on airs of gentility and courteous manners, addressing his ruffians as “my good gentlemen,” and referring to sordid acts such as kidnapping or arson as “that unpleasant little business” or “those unfortunate events.

You also find.  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).

You check the room before the evil mages sleep chambers and find.  

Books and Notes. Iarno is trying to master the art of brewing potions and concocting alchemical mixtures. The books and notes scattered around the room are basic texts on alchemy. Any character proficient in Arcana can see that Iarno’s apparatus appears to be set up to brew potions of invisibility—not that he has succeeded so far.

Among the books is a tome written in Dwarvish. The journal of an adventurer named Urmon, it describes the history of the Lost Mine of Phandelver and the Forge of Spells.  In addition, Urmon records that a magic mace named Lightbringer was commissioned by priests of Lathander, the god of dawn, from the mages working with the gnomes and dwarves of the Phandelver’s Pact. The mace was lost when Wave Echo Cave and its mine vanished from history.

Matheris adds, "If I remember correctly, we had contacts in the town that had information to lead us to someone who might know about the Wave Echo Cave thing.  Let's get his evil trash back to town so they can take care of him."

Actions:

"We must return this villain, and share his spoils with those from whom they were taken if they can be identified, of course. But what of the banshee - was that not what we set out to do?" says Faith, to his comrades. 

"I don't suppose you can be as helpful with that concern?" Faith directs this to Iarno, where he is pulled along by Matheris like an unwieldy large piece of luggage, but of course the evil wizard is gagged. 

The evil mage shakes his had no signaling to Faith.

You take Larno to town and is taken into custody, Sildar Hallwinter arranges to have the wizard incarcerated in the townmaster’s hall until he can be safely transported back to Neverwinter.

Since you were headed to see the Banshee before the Redband's adventure I streamlined the travel to the town of Conyberry.  You can back post any activity with loot while at Phanelver.  It's mid-day when you take off to Conyberry.  I'll adjust for any in time spent In Phadelver if you stay for other activities.

You check the map and from the information you have it's about  2 days on horseback.  OOC by the book.  Mounted travel with a 1 hr gallop included with standard pace.

The town of Conyberry was sacked by barbarians years ago and now lies in ruins. The Triboar Trail runs right through the abandoned town, providing an easy landmark for locating the lair of the banshee Agatha. From the ruins of Conyberry, an old trail leads northwest into Neverwinter Wood. Agatha’s lair is a few miles outside town.

The forest grows dark and still as the trail winds deeper into the trees. Heavy vines and thick layers of moss drape the branches, and the air is noticeably colder than it was in the ruined village. Rounding a bend in the trail, you see a screen made from the warped branches of trees standing close together, woven into a domelike shelter in the shadows. A low doorway leads inside.

Actions:

Faith offers his services to Sildar, once local matters are sorted. “I have a wyrd feeling about this captures Larno. Though he should be harmless, I fear he has some tricks or some allies, to make him come quietly as he has. Villains rarely submit to judgement, or turn over a fresh leaf as easily as he.”

”Think about. It’ll be a few days till we return.”

The journey passes easily enough. The greatest challenge is Faith’s new horse. Though he bribes it with apples, cleans its hooves, and brushes it down at the end of each days ride, the horse is yet to live up to its name. Faith has bruises to his knuckles, to his shoulder. A patch of hair is thinned, and his leg aches. All are places where his new and loyal steed has tempted to lame and wound him. 

Once he has gingerly tied it to the hitching post, Faith looks around and feels the chill air on his skin. He looks for clues or signs of danger. (Cult markings, thieves cant, things like that, even if he doesn’t know them, just to see if there is graffiti around that he can guess at). 

Everyone slowly goes into the home.

A home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft.

Once you get inside things start to change a bit.

The air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips you. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She might have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. “Foolish mortals,” she snarls. “What do you want here? Do you not know it is death to seek me out?”

actions:

Faith holds to the token of his monastery and the icon of Lathander. 

“Death may be here, yet it may not be the death of us. Think carefully before you decide against treating with us. We have business with you, and we’re forewarned of your nature.” 

Agatha responds, "Surely you didn't come all this way to what?"

Matheris leans into Faith and hands him something, "The sister gave us this to give to Agatha.  I think it's important.  You get more flies with honey than vinegar."

 As Faith holds up the Comb, Agatha seems to get anxious.  

Faith Roll Persuasion with Advantage.

Faith holds the comb up to the light, letting her see it fully. 

"To what, to wit. Indeed." 

Persuasion roll with advantage: 20 (in log)

"Perhaps it is better if we talk first and decide on the order of our internments at a later date." 

Agatha smiles with rotting teeth and a gleam in her eye, "A most fetching items which I asked the sister to bring to me.  I see she sent a messenger instead to provide me with my gift."

Actions:

Faith looks to Matheris briefly, but does as bidder, placing the comb before her.