Murder Hobo Squad: A Lost Mine of Phandelver/Dragon of Icespire Peak & Beyond D&D 5E record (Beware Spoilers!)

With the last of the Redbrands now captured, the party took the time to revisit the alchemical workshop they had rushed through.  They found many books on the shelves, instructing on learning herbalism and alchemy, and on deeper principles and learning that would aid someone in researching new recipes.  They also found a handwritten journal in dwarven from an adventurer called Urmon.  Skipping to the last few pages, it appears he was in the Phandelver mine while it was active, around 500 years ago.  In the last few pages he mentions a commission from the priests of Lathander.  They had asked the wizards of the mine to craft a magical mace they were calling Lightbringer, but no further information was recorded.  Maledrach has taken this journal and is reading it in the evenings, as he was the only one to speak up and say he can read dwarven.

Searching the workbench revealed bubbling apparatus, and some hand written notes.  It appears Glasstaff was working on two creations.  He had tried and failed three times to make Invisibility potions.  He had also done some research on the chasm and found its magical cold staved off decay.  He had drawn up plans for a metal lined box that he would place a stone from the rift in, believing that it could be used to store organic alchemical components and extend their lifespan, although no such box could be seen so we do not know if it would work.

With the sun sitting low in the sky, the party took their prisoners out of the cellar the way they had entered and escorted them through town to the Townmasters hall, believing there to be a small jail there.  When they entered the building they were confronted by Sildhar, wearing ill-fitting rural attire he had gotten from somewhere, and a nervous looking portly older gentleman, presumably the Townmaster judging by his clothing and location (DM: although no one bothered to ask or even get his name).

A conversation ensued in which Sildhar asked how it had gone.  The party, still covered in blood from the messy beheading, said it had gone well and the Redbrands wouldn’t be a problem.  The Townmaster asked repeatedly if they were sure, and seemed to relax a little with their reassurance.  Talindra crafted an illusion of the body they had found in the rift and asked if they recognised it.  The Townmaster confirmed it was the body of the murdered woodworker, and needed further reassurance after being told the Redbrands were feeding people to a monster.  After agreeing the four new prisoners could be kept briefly in the two jail cells in town, the Townmaster headed out the door.  Sildhar said he would escort the prisoners to Neverwinter to receive justice in a day or two he asked the party for two favours while he is gone.  Could they continue to look for Cragmaw Castle and recover Gundren.  He also asked them to look for someone.

He explained that he is a member of the Lords Alliance and that they had sent an agent here a few months ago to set up a local constabulary, but he had not checked in.  From what Sildhar could tell, no one in town could recall anyone matching his description.  He said his name was Iarno Albrek and gave a description that matched that of Glasstaff.  Talindra called up a fresh illusion and confirmed that Iarno was Glasstaff and had gone rogue.  Sildhar did not recognise the name The Black Spider.  With a little prompting from Talindra, Sildhar offered them a 200gp reward for dealing with the Redbrands, and paid them the promised 50Gp for escorting him safely to town.  The nine of them escorted the prisoners to the now very cramped cells and locked them up for the night.

With nothing more pressing, and the sun slowly setting, the party returned to the manor and recovered all the barrels of ale and took them to the Sleeping Giant Tap Room.  Grista was very happy to see what she believed to be her stolen wares returned to her, and even happier to see that they had removed the Redbrand problem and offered drinks on the house.  She poured everyone a round, and once they sat down she set about trying to clean and tidy the place, ready for some actual paying customers at last.  In the privacy of this otherwise empty establishment, they sorted through their loot and Araloth, their only skilled jeweller appraised their gems and jewels ready for trading the next day.  After they did this and discussed plans for the next day, Ramond headed back to the Stonehill Inn while they enjoyed another drink or two.

When he entered the bar everyone turned towards him and then raised their drinks with a loud cheer.  Ramond, clearly enjoying the attention, swaggered over to the bar and announced loudly that he and his friends will need some baths drawing up as they appear to have “gotten themselves a little messy”.  As the Innkeepers wife, Trilena, sets about filling their single bath with piping hot water, Ramond turned to the room and asked who would like to hear a story?  A few shouts from the crow encouraged him to continue and he told an epic tale of their encounter under the Manor (DM: Nat 20 performance check!), leaving out the unpleasantness with the eye creature, and stressing his own personal heroism in putting down Glasstaff, showing off his still bloody blade to the room as he did so.  While the whole crowd loved this, he drew the particular attention of the Barkeepers son, Pip.  Pip spent the rest of the evening taking every opportunity to ask him questions like, “Were you scared?”, “How did you learn to fight?”, “Where did you get your sword?”.  Toblen announced that Ramond and the party’s rooms, bath and drinks were on the house.  Ramond enjoyed the attention, until his bath was ready for him.

Araloth returned to the Alderleaf farm and checked in on Qelline to ensure she was OK.  Having heard what had happened she gave him a big hug when she saw he was OK and said she’d cook him a big breakfast when he gets up in the morning. Heading out to his hayloft bed, he found a large slice of fresh fruit pie waiting for him under a cloth.  The rest of the party drifted back to the Stonehill Inn and enjoyed their baths one by one and had a good night’s rest.

The next day the party gathered for breakfast in the Inn and discussed their shopping plans.  Araloth had eaten a fresh home cooked farm breakfast before heading over, and was prepared a nice packed lunch too.  They had a nice selection of gems and jewels and tried to trade them for equipment, but the local shopkeepers said there isn’t much call for gems in such a small town, but the miners exchange should be able to sell them along as buying and selling ores and gems is what they do.  They bought what equipment they could and headed over to the Miners Exchange.

While the party traded in their Gems to the lady behind the counter Araloth’s eye was caught by a rare bottle behind the counter: A half empty bottle of Drow alcohol.  He tried to ask her how she got it, asking if she was friends with any Drow.  She casually dismissed his query, insisting a merchant threw it in as part of a trade to sweeten the deal.  Araloth doesn’t think that’s the whole truth, but has let the matter drop for now.  With the Gems cashed in, they bought the rest of their supplies and picked up a horse and cart too.  Bilba and Karson then went out to investigate the Miners Trail, looking for evidence of green skins, while Talindra has headed back to the inn to start scribing spells in to her new spellbook.  Everyone else headed over to the Edermath Orchard.

The party had heard that Daran Edermath used to be an adventurer and they wanted to ask him if he knew of anywhere that could be Cragmaw Castle.  Unfortunately his adventuring days were in the Dragon Coast and he doesn’t know this area all that well.  He did suggest the closest to a keep would be the ruined tower at Old Owl Well.  He’s heard a rumour from a miner that some undead had been seen out there and asked if the party might investigate, saying he’d be out there like a shot but his adventuring days are behind him.  The party agreed and Devere was able use their new found fame and glory to talk him out of not only a bag of apples, but a small barrel of his own personal supply of home-made scrumpy.

The party gathered back at the Inn and discussed what to do next.  Studying the map the think there might be a valley between the hills around the Old Owl Well and Wyvern Tor.  They pack up their stuff and headed out down the Triboar Trail and have taken their wagon along this valley.  A couple of days later they find themselves close to Old Owl Well.  Half the party have gone to scout ahead, while the rest hold back and keep an eye on the wagon.

DM: It was here we ended the session.  Next week we have some actual content!