Quinn finds that Glasstaff is still unconscious, but his bonds have been noticeably loosened since you left the ruins. He re-tightens them and re-binds him securely.
"Of course!" replies the Townmaster. "We'll get to the bottom of this soon enough." The Townmaster locks the door of one of the two windowless cells in the back room where the wizard has been deposited, then escorts you back out into the office, locking the second door behind him with the same key, before pocketing it.
Just then Sildar reappears in the front door, his mouth full of bread, carrying an armful of food. "Hmplh!" he greets you unintelligibly, finding a place to set down his load.
Kimberley feels uneasy about leaving the wizard in the cell alone with unbroken hands and an intact tongue.....but she's never had much to do with the law before.....well, outside of ecumenical law.
Syzygy concedes to himself that he is too tired to take another life today and return the quarterstaff to its holster on his back. “Yes Quinn, do check those ropes. I may have, in my bad sense, loosened them on the way back to town.”
He smiles weakly at Harbin as Quinn surmises the neutralisation of the redbrands.
Bryony gasps when Syzygy attempts to thump the unconscious wizard, not that he doesn't deserve it of course. She is very glad once Glasstaff is securely locked up in a cell. She notes the look of disgust on Quinn's face when dealing with the Townmaster. The Townmaster should have been doing more for the town, of course, but Phandalin was such a small town and on the frontier. It was hard to find anyone better.
"Sildar!" Bryony exclaims when he finally arrives. "We think we found your Albrek fellow. He's in the jail cell. Um, unfortunately, he's not such a good guy..."
Quinn steps forward and clears his thoat. "Eh hem, pardon my interuption, Bryony. Townmaster Harbin, the wizard in question is quite dangerous and adept at escaping. I insist you lead us along with Sildar to the holding cell and allow us to fetch him at once."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
"Albrek! You have him? Nice work! That was fast. Is he okay? Where was he? Where is he now?" Sildar looks around, confused, finally swallowing his bread. "What do you mean he's 'not good', 'dangerous'? What happened?"
"They took Glasstaff. Beat him unconscious. He's in the cells. Charging him with crimes. I fear repercussions from his people," explains Harbin to Sildar. He turns to Quinn. "Let's let him rest in the cell. I will exhibit him to Sildar if you insist." Harbin digs out the keys again and opens the first door.
Peering in, Sildar looks over the unconscious wizard from the doorway in the light of the flickering sconce lamp. "That's Iarno, all right. He's Glasstaff? Iarno Albrek leads the Redbrands? I wasn't expecting this." Glasstaff remains slumped on the floor where he had been deposited.
Sildar turns toward the party. "What happened here? What have you learned?"
Bryony hands Sildar the letter. "He's working for someone called the Spider. He was ordered to capture or kill us. I have no idea how your friend ended up leading the Redbrands, but I'd say he's been up to no good for a while now."
" The idiot wizard answers to someone called The Spider and as well as kidnapping, murder, banditry and other crimes is also keeping an eldritch abomination beneath the ruins that he feeds those who displease him to."
" Even when caught red-handed and given opportunity to surrender he instead mentally violated members of our party and attempted escape."
Kimberley stepped back, " At least that is how it looked to me. Other members have informed me that he also directed a force of goblins who murdered one of their former companions."
" I know how the Moon Knights or Silver Ladies would punish him but perhaps those methods are a little too....direct...for local tastes."
“Harbin, don’t go spreading untruths. We didn’t knock him unconscious. He was unconscious when we brought him in. We killed him in the ruins of the manor. And then after some debate, we agreed to spare his life and turn him in.
On top of what we already told you, we even found the Drendars shelf captive by Glasstaff and his minions!
Sildar, you know of the goblin attack on you and Gundren and how the Spider is behind much of thjs. That letter paints a pretty clear picture that Albrek is mixed up in this somehow.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Sildar nods to Harbin. "I'll contact the magistrates in Neverwinter. We'll transport him back to the city for trial. He'll remain bound, shackled, and gagged until we can safely move him. The Lords’ Alliance will want their own trial, too."
"I'm sorry you had to deal with this one," Sildar continues, addressing the party and closing the door again. "A bit embarrassing, really. A stain upon the Lord's Alliance. Here's a modest reward for your services in eliminating the Redbrand threat." He reaches under his vest and hands Bryony a pouch full of gold coins (100 gp). "And I have something I promised for you," he turns to Jurgen and hands him a brilliant blue jewel from his pocket. "Valued at another hundred gold. Just make sure to make it equitable among your crew here."
"Thank you again, and again my apologies for dealing with this miscreant, who is my responsibility. He will remain safe here, where I will question him thoroughly once he awakens. He will not escape, I assure you. I would suggest your next move should be to locate Cragmaw Castle and remove the goblin band’s leader. And of course, try to find Gundren and his map before it's too late."
Harbin smiles and winces uncomfortably.
Welcome to Level 3. Please update your sheets accordingly.
Jurgen will thank him for the jewel. When the party is done there he would ask to be excused to go back to the old place and work on something. He would say he got an idea looking at all that experiments and it gave him an idea.
Bryony takes the pouch of gold, thanking Sildar. She is still very curious about why Sildar was sent to look for Albrek in the first place. "So you had no suspicions about him?" she asks now. "Why were you sent for him? Did he cross the Lords' Alliance somehow?"
Bryony nods as Quinn and Kimberley make their points. "Please keep an eye on him. He is very tricksy, good at manipulation, including manipulation magic," says Bryony. "He's caused a lot of harm to my town, to its people. He deserves to be in prison. Now that we've taken care of him we'll continue our search for Gundren. It seems like that will lead us to Cragmaw Castle and maybe the Spider too."
After speaking with Sildar, Bryony turns to her friends. "I'd like to return home for some rest and to let my Auntie know we defeated the Redbrands," she says. "I'm sure she'll have a nice homecooked meal for us before we set out to do anything else."
Aros stands by, allowing the group to conclude their business. “I wish I could pay you all for your assistance, but unfortunately I haven’t exactly been able to make any money at this point.“ He looks sheepishly at his feet. “I was planning on staying in town for a while. You can feel free to stop by once I find a way to make some profit.”
Zyzygy remains silent but nods when Byrony extends her family’s hospitality.
he then turns in response to Aros
“You were more help than hinderance. I need no payment from you”. Syzygy can only think that he himself was the hinderance. But he swallows it knowing there is still a job to do.
“how were you planning to make this profit, Aros?”
Quinn Overhears Jurgen talking about trying to find a Longsword to use in the fight going forward. In these last few battles he's learned a lot and feels a Long Sword would be right for him.
Quinn moves amongst the group to get closer to Harbin. . En route, he gives Syzygy a firm, but friendly pat on the shoulder as if telling him not to be so hard on himself. He speaks aloud to his friends "Wherever we go, we should stick together. Aros, you're welcome to continue on with us if you like. I don't think the threat will ever truly be over until we hunt down this Spider, whoever they are."
He finally makes his way to Harbin and listens to the group discuss plans and waits for any information offered up by Sildar. While doing so, he does his best to read Harbin. The Townmaster is clearly stressed, but he silently wonders if he's caught up in the mess with the Redbrands as well. Eventually, he posses a few questions. "Townmaster, we've heard whispers of people who might be sympathizers of the Redbrands. You know the townsfolk quite well, perhaps better than most. What do you think. Do you know anyone who might be supportive of their cause?"
"I harbored no suspicions," replies Sildar to Bryony, shaking his head darkly. "But I didn't know him well. He was just a kid, really. Iarno was supposed to be my contact here in Phandalin. He came here several months ago to try to establish order, to set up a constabulary. After the Lords’ Alliance didn’t hear from him, they sent me to investigate. I suspected he had gotten himself in trouble, but not like this. And yes, I, too, heard of this 'Spider' when I was a captive in the goblin cave. We need to find out who or what this is."
"I don't know if there are more Redbrands here," replies Harbin to Quinn. “They are - were - a mercenary guild, and yes, a nuisance certainly at times. Their ranks were mostly from drifters, newcomers, folks like you, not so much the settled folk. But I suppose this wizard and any remaining Redbrands deserve trial and perhaps imprisonment in Neverwinter. How many did you defeat, anyway? Are you sure they won't be breaking my door down tonight?" Harbin seems anxious and fearful, but not especially deceitful.
Just a list of possibly-overlapping hooks for your consideration...
• Find Wave Echo Cave in the wilds outside Phandalin.
• Cragmaw Castle: Sildar wants you to stop the Cragmaw goblins’ attacks and search for Gundren Rockseeker; he encourages you to find and explore Cragmaw Castle. (" I can get you a 500 gold piece reward if you can locate that Cragmaw Castle and defeat or drive off the band’s leader. And of course, try to find Gundren and his map," Sildar had said.)
• Wyvern Tor: Townmaster Harbin Wester wants someone to head east on the Triboar Trail and chase away raiders near Wyvern Tor.
• Sister Garaele had a mission for Kimberley she can share the details to if she wants.
• Thundertree: Find Mirna Dendrar's emerald necklace in her childhood alchemy shop in Thundertree, far to the north.
• Did I forget any? ...Or of course, whatever else you want to do next!
...I should add that you have no idea where Wave Echo Cave is without Gundren's map (and a lot of people have been looking for it!) You also have no idea where Cragmaw Castle is...
Quinn finds that Glasstaff is still unconscious, but his bonds have been noticeably loosened since you left the ruins. He re-tightens them and re-binds him securely.
"Of course!" replies the Townmaster. "We'll get to the bottom of this soon enough." The Townmaster locks the door of one of the two windowless cells in the back room where the wizard has been deposited, then escorts you back out into the office, locking the second door behind him with the same key, before pocketing it.
Just then Sildar reappears in the front door, his mouth full of bread, carrying an armful of food. "Hmplh!" he greets you unintelligibly, finding a place to set down his load.
Kimberley feels uneasy about leaving the wizard in the cell alone with unbroken hands and an intact tongue.....but she's never had much to do with the law before.....well, outside of ecumenical law.
Syzygy concedes to himself that he is too tired to take another life today and return the quarterstaff to its holster on his back.
“Yes Quinn, do check those ropes. I may have, in my bad sense, loosened them on the way back to town.”
He smiles weakly at Harbin as Quinn surmises the neutralisation of the redbrands.
Bryony gasps when Syzygy attempts to thump the unconscious wizard, not that he doesn't deserve it of course. She is very glad once Glasstaff is securely locked up in a cell. She notes the look of disgust on Quinn's face when dealing with the Townmaster. The Townmaster should have been doing more for the town, of course, but Phandalin was such a small town and on the frontier. It was hard to find anyone better.
"Sildar!" Bryony exclaims when he finally arrives. "We think we found your Albrek fellow. He's in the jail cell. Um, unfortunately, he's not such a good guy..."
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
" I really think we should break his fingers.....", Kimberley mumbled loudly.
" I can heal them later...."
Quinn steps forward and clears his thoat. "Eh hem, pardon my interuption, Bryony. Townmaster Harbin, the wizard in question is quite dangerous and adept at escaping. I insist you lead us along with Sildar to the holding cell and allow us to fetch him at once."
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
"Albrek! You have him? Nice work! That was fast. Is he okay? Where was he? Where is he now?" Sildar looks around, confused, finally swallowing his bread. "What do you mean he's 'not good', 'dangerous'? What happened?"
"They took Glasstaff. Beat him unconscious. He's in the cells. Charging him with crimes. I fear repercussions from his people," explains Harbin to Sildar. He turns to Quinn. "Let's let him rest in the cell. I will exhibit him to Sildar if you insist." Harbin digs out the keys again and opens the first door.
Peering in, Sildar looks over the unconscious wizard from the doorway in the light of the flickering sconce lamp. "That's Iarno, all right. He's Glasstaff? Iarno Albrek leads the Redbrands? I wasn't expecting this." Glasstaff remains slumped on the floor where he had been deposited.
Sildar turns toward the party. "What happened here? What have you learned?"
Bryony hands Sildar the letter. "He's working for someone called the Spider. He was ordered to capture or kill us. I have no idea how your friend ended up leading the Redbrands, but I'd say he's been up to no good for a while now."
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
" The idiot wizard answers to someone called The Spider and as well as kidnapping, murder, banditry and other crimes is also keeping an eldritch abomination beneath the ruins that he feeds those who displease him to."
" Even when caught red-handed and given opportunity to surrender he instead mentally violated members of our party and attempted escape."
Kimberley stepped back, " At least that is how it looked to me. Other members have informed me that he also directed a force of goblins who murdered one of their former companions."
" I know how the Moon Knights or Silver Ladies would punish him but perhaps those methods are a little too....direct...for local tastes."
" What Bryony said..."
“Harbin, don’t go spreading untruths. We didn’t knock him unconscious. He was unconscious when we brought him in. We killed him in the ruins of the manor. And then after some debate, we agreed to spare his life and turn him in.
On top of what we already told you, we even found the Drendars shelf captive by Glasstaff and his minions!
Sildar, you know of the goblin attack on you and Gundren and how the Spider is behind much of thjs. That letter paints a pretty clear picture that Albrek is mixed up in this somehow.”
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
Sildar nods to Harbin. "I'll contact the magistrates in Neverwinter. We'll transport him back to the city for trial. He'll remain bound, shackled, and gagged until we can safely move him. The Lords’ Alliance will want their own trial, too."
"I'm sorry you had to deal with this one," Sildar continues, addressing the party and closing the door again. "A bit embarrassing, really. A stain upon the Lord's Alliance. Here's a modest reward for your services in eliminating the Redbrand threat." He reaches under his vest and hands Bryony a pouch full of gold coins (100 gp). "And I have something I promised for you," he turns to Jurgen and hands him a brilliant blue jewel from his pocket. "Valued at another hundred gold. Just make sure to make it equitable among your crew here."
"Thank you again, and again my apologies for dealing with this miscreant, who is my responsibility. He will remain safe here, where I will question him thoroughly once he awakens. He will not escape, I assure you. I would suggest your next move should be to locate Cragmaw Castle and remove the goblin band’s leader. And of course, try to find Gundren and his map before it's too late."
Harbin smiles and winces uncomfortably.
Welcome to Level 3. Please update your sheets accordingly.
What would you like to do next?
Jurgen will thank him for the jewel. When the party is done there he would ask to be excused to go back to the old place and work on something. He would say he got an idea looking at all that experiments and it gave him an idea.
D&D since 1984
Bryony takes the pouch of gold, thanking Sildar. She is still very curious about why Sildar was sent to look for Albrek in the first place. "So you had no suspicions about him?" she asks now. "Why were you sent for him? Did he cross the Lords' Alliance somehow?"
Bryony nods as Quinn and Kimberley make their points. "Please keep an eye on him. He is very tricksy, good at manipulation, including manipulation magic," says Bryony. "He's caused a lot of harm to my town, to its people. He deserves to be in prison. Now that we've taken care of him we'll continue our search for Gundren. It seems like that will lead us to Cragmaw Castle and maybe the Spider too."
After speaking with Sildar, Bryony turns to her friends. "I'd like to return home for some rest and to let my Auntie know we defeated the Redbrands," she says. "I'm sure she'll have a nice homecooked meal for us before we set out to do anything else."
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
Aros stands by, allowing the group to conclude their business. “I wish I could pay you all for your assistance, but unfortunately I haven’t exactly been able to make any money at this point.“ He looks sheepishly at his feet. “I was planning on staying in town for a while. You can feel free to stop by once I find a way to make some profit.”
Zyzygy remains silent but nods when Byrony extends her family’s hospitality.
he then turns in response to Aros
“You were more help than hinderance. I need no payment from you”. Syzygy can only think that he himself was the hinderance. But he swallows it knowing there is still a job to do.
“how were you planning to make this profit, Aros?”
Quinn Overhears Jurgen talking about trying to find a Longsword to use in the fight going forward. In these last few battles he's learned a lot and feels a Long Sword would be right for him.
D&D since 1984
Kimberley takes it all in, " So Cragmaw? To cut the head off the snake."
" I must say that The Silver Lady has been most bountiful with the companions and new adherents she has provided.", Kimberley smiled broadly.
" But yes, Bryonys family. The little one must be warned not to go near that tunnel while the horror is still in residence."
Quinn moves amongst the group to get closer to Harbin. . En route, he gives Syzygy a firm, but friendly pat on the shoulder as if telling him not to be so hard on himself. He speaks aloud to his friends "Wherever we go, we should stick together. Aros, you're welcome to continue on with us if you like. I don't think the threat will ever truly be over until we hunt down this Spider, whoever they are."
He finally makes his way to Harbin and listens to the group discuss plans and waits for any information offered up by Sildar. While doing so, he does his best to read Harbin. The Townmaster is clearly stressed, but he silently wonders if he's caught up in the mess with the Redbrands as well. Eventually, he posses a few questions. "Townmaster, we've heard whispers of people who might be sympathizers of the Redbrands. You know the townsfolk quite well, perhaps better than most. What do you think. Do you know anyone who might be supportive of their cause?"
Perception check: 15
Insight check: 13
Pronouns: he/him/his
Pud - lvl 7 Human Artificer - Alchemist (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight).
Quinn - lvl 4 Human Ranger - Hunter (Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk)
"I harbored no suspicions," replies Sildar to Bryony, shaking his head darkly. "But I didn't know him well. He was just a kid, really. Iarno was supposed to be my contact here in Phandalin. He came here several months ago to try to establish order, to set up a constabulary. After the Lords’ Alliance didn’t hear from him, they sent me to investigate. I suspected he had gotten himself in trouble, but not like this. And yes, I, too, heard of this 'Spider' when I was a captive in the goblin cave. We need to find out who or what this is."
"I don't know if there are more Redbrands here," replies Harbin to Quinn. “They are - were - a mercenary guild, and yes, a nuisance certainly at times. Their ranks were mostly from drifters, newcomers, folks like you, not so much the settled folk. But I suppose this wizard and any remaining Redbrands deserve trial and perhaps imprisonment in Neverwinter. How many did you defeat, anyway? Are you sure they won't be breaking my door down tonight?" Harbin seems anxious and fearful, but not especially deceitful.
Just a list of possibly-overlapping hooks for your consideration...
• Find Wave Echo Cave in the wilds outside Phandalin.
• Cragmaw Castle: Sildar wants you to stop the Cragmaw goblins’ attacks and search for Gundren Rockseeker; he encourages you to find and explore Cragmaw Castle. (" I can get you a 500 gold piece reward if you can locate that Cragmaw Castle and defeat or drive off the band’s leader. And of course, try to find Gundren and his map," Sildar had said.)
• Wyvern Tor: Townmaster Harbin Wester wants someone to head east on the Triboar Trail and chase away raiders near Wyvern Tor.
• Sister Garaele had a mission for Kimberley she can share the details to if she wants.
• Thundertree: Find Mirna Dendrar's emerald necklace in her childhood alchemy shop in Thundertree, far to the north.
• Did I forget any? ...Or of course, whatever else you want to do next!
...I should add that you have no idea where Wave Echo Cave is without Gundren's map (and a lot of people have been looking for it!) You also have no idea where Cragmaw Castle is...