Bryony approaches Quinn and Nundro, her face solemn. "I'm sorry about your brother," she says. "We made them all pay. Well, there was someone impersonating you though. He got away. We don't know who he was."

Quinn can’t bear to look Nundro in the eyes. He nods in agreement with Bryony.

”That dammed drow got away too. Vhalak was their name. Vhalak and the imposter.

Nundro, what do you know of the drow. And did you see anyone else who was impersonating you? Deep down I knew it was an imposter. It was dead inside. Didn’t speak Dwarvish. We attacked whoever was and it got away too.”

Ruven's eyes glow as he sifts through the treasure trove of notes, skimming through them for now but then collecting them and putting them inside his pack to read later.

"I don't think that drow was a drow. Don't know what he was. But Vhalak wasn't as evil as Nezznar, the Spider Man, or whatever he called himself. He was downright sadistic. Vhalak was just his henchman, if a bit mysterious. But I'm feeling better now, thank you, sincerely. Can you take me to Gundren? I want to see him."

Where to? What next?

" Should take brother dwarf to brother dwarf, no?", Boona queried.

Bryony nods and looks at her companions. "We should take Nundro back to Gundren. It's not safe for him in here."

“Yes, let’s go find Gundren.”

Quinn helps Nundro to his feet. He pulls out his battle axe and hands it to Nundro, just in case.

“Nundro, as I’m sure you’re aware, there’s a lot of dangerous creatures lurking these tunnels. You’re in rough shape so don’t go running off into any skirmishes. Just in case, you can take my axe.”

Quinn turns and walks out the room to find Ruven.

The party accompanies Nundro back into the temple (W19), where Ruven is stuffing the last of the notes into his pack.

Any further business before you begin to make your back to the cave entrance (W1)?

Are you going due south from the pool room to take the most direct route? Or dis you want to take a more circuitous route?

Do we want to check out the NE corner of W18 as we leave?

Jurgen takes a moment to wander back and carefully peer east from the edge of the rift in the collapsed cavern with his keen darkvision.

The stream drains through a jumble of boulders to the north. Another passageway on the far side (W17), barely four feet high and is obstructed by rounded boulders and pebbles, looks as though it might have been a streambed, though no water flows here now. Based on the sounds you hear emanating from it, you assume this connects to the Booming Cavern. Another channel, cut and also dry, leads east to the Smelter Cavern.

Does anyone else have further business before you begin the trek out of the cave system?

"I think we've covered the whole cave system. Let's get going back." Jurgen says after exploring.

Quinn is ready and he'll walk beside Nundro as his armed escort throughout the tunnels.

He grabs Nundro by the shoulder, looks him in the eye as he tries to gauge his health.

"We're gonna take you to Gundren. But I need to know, are you physically able to make this journey? We have healers here who can help you. Heck, I can even heal up a bit if you need it."

While he waits for an answer, he takes out the vial with red liquir, pops off the cork and gives it a sniff.

DM: Does this red liquid resemble the healing potions we've consumed throughout our journey?

Bryony asks Boona if she can ride piggyback. That way she doesn't have to jog to keep pace with everyone else.

Boona nods happily, she can even carry the dwarf as well if they need....

Nundro is in pretty good shape, physically. although he doesn't look he knows how to hold a battle axe. (Not having many hit points to begin with, the minor healing he received did wonders.) 

The red liquid indeed appears to be a Potion of Healing. (Go ahead and add it to your inventory. I added the spider staff to Jurgen's inventory, although it's not for artificers, alas.)

You begin the slow exit south out of the cave, knowing that you are following in the footsteps of the False Nundro, into the labyrinth. 

And indeed you find him, or something like him. For not too deep into the maze of cut tunnels you find the partially-dissolved body of... something. A misshapen, grey-skinned, muscular humanoid-like monstrosity, but with Nundro's face. It appears to have been very recent victim of one of the oozes that seem to frequent these tunnels. 

Warily, you continue on, and pull yourselves up the rope and into the cave entrance. ("This is where they caught us," mutter Nundro.)

You exit the cave into the star-filled dead of night, and realize you have lost track of time within the mine. You find Gundren fast asleep in a clump of shrubs, the fresh grave of Tharden visible nearby.

Nundro wakes Gundren and a quiet, private reunion ensues. After some quiet discussions, Gundren announces their decisions.

"Nundro and I need to get back to Phandelver to resupply and make our claim. We leave at dawn. The Rockseeker Brothers are taking over administration of this mine. For your service to our family, we gladly award you a 10 percent share of the mine’s profits, forthwith. Tharden would have approved."

You may advance to Level 5. Adjust your character sheets accordingly.

"Oh wow, that's very generous," Bryony says, not really sure whether it is or not. "Thank you! We should get back to Phandalin too. I need to check in with my Auntie and Carp." 

Level Up

Gain Cunning Strike and Uncanny Dodge

Quinn is taken aback. 

"That is...quite generous, indeed. Forgive me, but I'm afraid I don't want that coin. I don't need it and I don't want it. Once we're done here and everything is settled, I intend to go back to a simpler life in the woods. I appreciate the gesture. Honestly, I do."

Quinn turns and looks to the crew.

"Let's rest up. I promise, no explosions this time." 

Twilight comes soon - perhaps an hour later, as the brothers talk and plan quietly. The sunrise follows soon after. (You may receive the benefits of a Short Rest if you need it.)

Ruven studies the copious notes. (If you there are any lingering questions you have about the Spider, the Redbrands, the Cragmaw goblins, etc., go ahead and ask – the answers may well be contained within Nezznar's longwinded and detailed writings.)

Gundren takes charge again, insisting the party depart immediately for Phandalin. And so, unless you have other business to attend to first, you do.

You notice that Gundren takes you on a different route back to Phandalin – a much more direct and considerably faster route. You realize what a circuitous path he took you on to get here. What required a very long and arduous day to arrive at Wave Echo Cave, takes just a few short hours, mostly downhill, to return to town.

It's almost noon when you reach Phandalin. And something's going on. 

The first thing you notice is the Miner's Exchange building, which is tilting precariously. Miners clamber around the building’s foundation. Standing to one side is Guild Master Halia, her expression tense as she barks orders. A group of miners are trying to hold up the building’s bulk, while a gnome in a fine cloak struggles to keep up passing materials to the masons repairing the structure. The whole scene looks a little dicey, as the building seems on the verge of collapse.

Beyond it, you see an angry croup gathered outside the Townmaster's Hall, but no sign of Harbin. A few individuals in the crowd display minor injuries, and all seem anxious and frustrated as they shout in the direction of the building.

You also get a glimpse of the Shrine of Luck on the town green, which looks like it also partially toppled. A small crowd of adults and children is trying to hold up one wall.