Lost Mines of Phandelver: Chapter Two

“Probably burnt it up tugging his chubby  shillelagh, gotta get them demons out somehow...” cypress interjects

“Ah nothing to concern yourselves about. Just my worst nightmares slowly coming to fruition” Conway says as he continues to look at his hand and slowly flex it back and forth.

”I will show you something pretty cool though.” Conway says as he snaps his fingers and..... a tome appears in his hand but his flesh is now scorched and badly burned with previously burst blisters. The Book of Shadows appears as a flash covered tome with eyes that seem to follow whoever is brave enough to peer at it.

OOC:  I'm going to assume you took off and stowed the Redbrand cloaks.  Please let me know if this is not the case.

You slowly make your way back to town.  You arrive at the Townmaster's Hall.  The building has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back.  Posted on a board next to the front door is a notice written in Common.  It Reads "REWARD- Orcs near Wyvern Tor!  Those of a mind to face the orc menace should inquire within."  The notice bears the town's seal and an indecipherable signature."

You make your way inside where you see a well dressed man with a concerning look on his face speaking with the human you have come to know as Sildar Hallwinter.  Sildar glances your direction while continuing to speak with the well dressed man.  Sildar gives you a wink and nod to inform you that he will be with you momentarily.  He then does a double take and his eyes grown wide... fixated on the staff Halben now carries.  Sildar holds his hand up to halt the man mid conversation and walks over to Halben.

Sildar solemnly says trying to keep his composure, "You carry Iarno's staff.  I assume he has fallen then?  What did you find?"

The well dressed man overhears the conversation and also looks to the staff.  He walks over standing behind Sildar paying close attention

.

“I feel like this is a discussion for more of a private setting, we’re sorry to interrupt what business you two may have been discussing” cypress says as he turns towards the well dressed man

“Yes we need to speak with you in private Sildar” Fawn reiterates 

Earlier this was the book Conway showed you.

Now back to current events.  After Cypress and Fawn have expressed their desires for a private conversation the well dressed man steps up.  Upon closer inspection you note that he wears a monocle on one eye and has a slight limp and is quiet overweight.  He smiles and pompously says, "Ah!  My apologies, I thought you would have known who I am my name is."

Completely out of character Sildar interrupts, "His name is Harbin Wester, the current townmaster.  Now leave us so that we may speak privately."

Hildar visibly appears upset and says, "As Townmaster it is my right to be present during these conversations.  Especially since it appears your friends here have eliminated the Redbrand leader as they carry the staff of their leader Glasstaff."  Harbin says motioning toward Halben.

Sildar turns on Harbin, "You are mistaken, that staff belonged to Lord Iarno Albrek of the Lord's Alliance!  My colleague who saved my life many times."

Harbin shakes his head and says, "There is no mistaking that staff.  I have seen it carried."

Sildar begins to anger, "You were just telling me the Redbrands were just a mercenary guild and not much trouble!  Now you tell me they were powerful enough to assassinate a powerful wizard!"

Harbin begins to studder. "I... I..."

Sildar looks him dead in the eyes, "Leave. Us. Now."

Harbin says, "I am the to-"

Sildar yells, "You are a fool!  And a coward!  As a Warduke of the Lord's Alliance I command you to leave us!  You are interfering with our investigation and it will not be tolerated!"

Harbin backs down and makes his way out the door.  Sildar then nods to you to continue.

Conway approaches Sildar and says “I know it is hard for you to hear Sildar but Iarno was the leader. He gave us this staff and allowed him to escape. He has a rat familiar correct? We told him we would bring him back to speak to you but he feared that he would be hung for what he had done.”

Conway then lowers his head and steps back. 

Sildar puts his fist to his mouth for a moment and stands silently absorbing this new information.

Sildar then lightly says, "Yes... He did indeed have a familiar that most commonly took the form of a rat.  I must say, I am deeply disappointed that you allowed Lord Albrek to escape but it is good that you discovered his treachery.  His fate was not for me to decide but a court of law.  I will send ravens to my colleagues to alert them so that we can hopefully find him before he is able to restart somewhere else."

Sildar then reaches into his satchel and pulls out a sack and drops it on the table in front of you.

Sildar then says, "You are proving yourself useful and resourceful.  That sack contains 200 gold pieces for you all.  However, I must be explicitly clear, if you come across Lord Albrek again and he refuses to come with you to face trial, kill him.  As much as it pains me to say, I know what that type of power can do on the wrong side of the law."

Sildar then rubs his head, "I just don't understand why Iarno would forsake the Lord's Alliance to lead some ragtag group of ruffians...  Did he share any information before he escaped?"

DM NOTES:  Everyone may add 50 Gold Pieces to their inventory

“He told us He was originally supposed to come investigate the town but instead seized the opportunity here to line his pockets! He knew of the Black Spider through his contacts in the Lord's Alliance and brokered a meeting.  The drow promised to share the secrets and wealth of the Forge of Spells in exchange for his loyalty.” 

“How well did you actually know this man?”

Fawns eyebrows furrow

Sildar looks curiously, "Ah... The Black Spider.  Yes, I have heard of this drow before.  It seems Iarno was tempted by the power as are many human wizards.  We humans have such short lives compared to other races that some of us try to take short cuts.  So... This all traces back to the Forge of Spells.  I would guess that the Black Spider was behind the taken of Gundren and I as well.  We must find Gundren as it is certain the map he was carrying will lead the Black Spider to the Wave Echo Cave where the forge is hidden.  We cannot allow this powerful tool to fall into the hands of the enemy."

Sildar looks very seriously, "The key to finding Gundren will be to find the location of the Cragmaw Castle.  I would encourage you to keep pressure on the Cragmaw goblins.  Since I have arrived here I have heard of increasing activity from Cragmaw raiding parties in the lands around the Triboar Trail.  By finding or allowing one of these parties to find you, you should be able to extract information from them regarding the location of the Castle.  If you can locate the Cragmaw Castle and defeat or drive off the tribe's chieftain you will be rewarded with 500 gold pieces."

Sildar then looks as if he is lost in his own mind for a moment before coming back, "As for how I know Iarno, it appears he has changed since I really knew him.  I met Iarno fifteen years ago while I was serving in the later days of my prime in the Griffon Calvary of Waterdeep.  We had received reports of an Orc warband planning an attack on the City from the Sword Mountains.  I was assigned a young wizard to ride behind me on the Griffon to rain death from above on the Orcs.  Iarno was that wizard."

Sildar then frowns, "We rode out at before dawn and began the attack as planned.  What we didn't know was that a Drow Sorceror was behind the Orc warband.  She released a fireball right into our formation.  We were caught off guard.  I was struck and fell from on high.  I landed right in the middle of a pack of Orcs.  I stood to fight but I was surrounded.  Then all of a sudden a thud sounded behind me.  I turned around and it was Iarno!  He didn't know how to control a Griffon so he just jumped off when he saw I was in trouble.  We were able to hold our ground until the Calvary came our aid and I was able to remount.  We ended up winning that battle and many others together over a few years.  We were then given different assignments and that was the last I had spoken with Iarno."

Sildar then looks around to each one of you, "Please, all of you remember that everyone at some point is tempted by power.  In the end, you may indeed have the power you seek, but it will be short while and you will most likely have no one beside you.  There are no shortcuts."

Halben asks Sildar "Do you know where Iarno acquired this staff?" Halben points over his shoulder to his back. "I am wondering if the Black Spider gave it to him as a way to persuade him."

Sildar replies back, "Oh no.  Iarno was awarded that staff by a Lord of Waterdeep for one of the missions we completed at one time.  If the Black Spider promised him riches from the Wave Echo cave that may have been enough.  Long ago, Human Spellcasters specifically allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind the magical power within the mine into a great forge that was called the Forge of Spells.  That is of course until the orcs came with their evil mercenary wizards and laid waste to the cave.  It was a great battle and few survived the cave-ins and tremors and the location of the Wave Echo Cave was thought to have been lost forever.

For centuries, rumors of buried riches have attracted treasure seekers and opportunists to this area but no one has ever found it.  The Lord's Alliance and other factions for that matter has always kept an eye on this land for that reason.  This seems to be the closest anyone has ever come to finding it.  Halben, from what I have seen so far I believe you will wield the staff with honor.  Tell me, what drives you to adventure?"

“We made a pact to Gundren. We intended to honor it. We must find him but we need to begin branching out to see where our next lead comes from. It seems like there are multiple things in town that need doing. Anything you would suggest we do first? After the chieftain of course” Conway asks as he locks eyes with Sildar.

”Also we need to sell some items before we get going and get some breakfast so we have to make this snappy” Conway says as the HANGARY demons inside him start to show 

Halben says to Sildar "To tell the truth I don't know anything about my birth family, but I feel if I keep adventuring and growing my strength I will learn the truth of about where my power comes from and who my family was."

Sildar first addresses Halben genuinely, "Interesting.  Yes, it is important to know your origins.  I am sure in time you will find the truth.  I look forward to following your journey."

Sildar then turns to Conway, "Well I am glad to hear that honor is held dear to you.  Hmm..." Sildar says and he grasps his chin, "If I were going out on the Triboar Trail hunting goblins I would try to find something to work toward to kill two birds with one stone if you will.  I was just speaking with the Townmaster about Orc activity at Wyvern Tor south of the Old Owl Well.  If you travel east along the Triboar for about two days through the hills you should come to it.  You can wipe out the orcs and the goblins in one journey possibly."

You finish speaking with Sildar and make your way through town towards the Miner's Exchange with not a single Redbrand in sight.

As you approach the Miner's Exchange on the outskirts of town it is a mid-sized fairly well built building.  It is strategically located next to the stream that runs through Phandalin so that prospector's may take their findings here.  As you pass the stream you see a number of prospector's panning for various gems and gold in the stream.  You make your way into the building which is easy to find by tracking the mud where Prospectors have tracked it in from the streams.  You see a number of dirty individuals standing in line leading up to a countertop which seems spotless except for a white cloth that has dirt marks all over from where the prospectors dump their goods.  A human female stands behind the counter with a magnifying glass inspecting the goods. She has pitch black hair and wears a leather black vest with no undershirt and tight black pants.  She looks up as you enter and smiles.

She then claps her hands and in a sly"German" accent you hear, "Ok everyone!  Zat will be all for now.  Vi are now closed for lunch thank you, thank you, thank you.  You in the back please come forward."

The miners grumble and they scurry out the door and she smiles and waves for you to come forward.

 As you approach, she grins at you and looks to the staff, "Zo, zi rumorz are true!  The new adventuring party has eliminated Glasstaff of the Redbrandz, yes?  How exciting!  Zo, what brings you to Halia and what can Halia do for zi heroes?"

Fawn produces the gems that have been collected so far and laws them on the table.  "We would like to sell these." Fawn says to Halia.

2 Garnets at 10 GP Each

5 Carnellians at 10 GP Each

2 Peridots at 15 GP Each

1 Pearl at 100 GP Each

2 Platinum Signet Ring at 50 GP Each

5 Malachite Gems at 15 GP Each

Halia takes her professional time inspecting and weighing each item.  She then reaches behind the counter and produces 325 Gold Pieces she sits on the table as she says, "My quite the haul!  I can give youz zi market rate of 375 gold pieces for all of it.  Do you exzept my offer?"

Halben then asks, "Would you have any magical items for sale?"

Halia grins at him, "Why... That is not zomething zat is often asked for in zis town.  Lucky for you, I am zi only person in Phandalin who carries such zings.  We keep a zmall zupply for our agents that travel through."

Halia reaches under the desk and shares that she has the following Magical Items for sale at the following prices:

Potion of Healing 3 of them at 50 gp Each

Scroll of Thaumaturgy for 10 gp  (Usable by Clerics only)

Scroll of Earth Tremor for 60 gp (Usable by Bards, Druids, Sorcerers, and Wizards)

Scroll of Detect Magic for 60 gp (Usable by Bards, Clerics, Druids, Paladins, Rangers, Sorcerers, Wizards)

Halia then says, "Would you like to purchaze zumting?"

Cypress then produces the Scroll of Augury and says, "What would you offer for this?"

Halia then says, "My my, you all are full of surprises today", as she looks over the scroll.

Halia then says to Cypress, "I can either give you 100 gold piecez ztraight out or I will give 120 gold piecez worth of trade for zis.  Zat is enough for both scrollz I have here or you could add 30 gold pieces from your pocket to it and take all three healing potionz.  Or zum other combination.  Tell me your thoughts."

Halia then smiles back waiting to hear from any of you.

“I could really use more healing potions,” Cypress says as he passes an extra 30 gp across the counter, “ I’ll take all 3”

“I’ll take the detect magic scroll” as she slides over the money to the German woman

Conway steps forward “I vill take a zackfull of Mica Chipz... how many come in zay zack?” Attempting to produce the same accent to see if he can dig for a discount.

Performance- 15