Session 16: "Strike while the iron is......." or "Don't give them time to think!"

Midday, 10th Day of Palesun, Wineday.

Heimund had led the others past the Shrine of Luck and towards the Orchard. Through the orchard he had led them down and between two hills and stopped in a small copse by a stream. The others, panting hard threw themselves down on the ground as Lionel whispered words of healing and soothed their troubled minds. Fargrim had a grim look on his face but had said nothing.

Bandur waited. Sildar still hadn't showed up for his meeting. Time was passing and Daran Edermath offered lunch, simple fare though it was. Bandur took Edermath up on his kind offer.

Not long after they had finished Bandur could hear the thump, thump, of many feet running past the farm. Looking outside he could see Heimund, Lionel, Fagrim and Hagnulf running through the orchard heading north between two hills. Bandur collected his gear and told Daran he had to go. Bandur followed the direction his friends had been running. After a short distance, through the two hills, he came to a small copse. He entered. He soon came across his friends lying on the grass near a small stream, bloodied and worn out.

Explanations were quick to be told. Bandur told them they had to get back to Daran and ask his advice. Daran Edermath wasn’t surprised the group had had a run in with the Redbrands. No one in Phandalin liked them nor what they were doing. Their grip on the town had tightened and the extortion was becoming more open and commonplace.

A plan was hatched. Daran had two old wooden boxes large enough to hide the 5 of them under. He would put rotten apples over the boxes and take them to Alderleaf Farm. Once there they could get young Carp to show them the way to the secret tunnel, for Daran was certain that Tresendar Manor was where the Redbrands would take Gimli and Beorwulf.

The wagon was quickly loaded, the 5 adventurers squeezing into the tight space as Daran poured the last rotten apples over the ends of the two boxes. The journey was slow but no Redbrands stopped them. They arrived at the farm safely and young Carp Said he would lead them to the secret tunnel entrance below Tresendar Manor.

The journey was roundabout as young Carp got his bearings in the woods. He led them to where they could observe the entrance, which Carp said was hidden behind a bush he pointed out.

Hagnulf led them forward and sure enough the tunnel entrance was concealed behind the bush. Lionel was told to watch the tunnel with young Carp and warn them should any Redbrands try to enter the tunnel behind them. Lionel ushered some words that would inspire them and they all felt enthused with new vigour and strength.  He gave additional words of wisdom to Bandur, Hagnulf and Heimund before hiding in a place where he could see the tunnel and any approach to it. Hagnulf entered the tunnel followed by Fargrim, Bandur and Heimund bringing up the rear.

He came to an opening from which he could see a cavern. 

A gorge split the cavern in two but could be crossed over by two wooden bridges. A smell of death and decay permeated the cavern. Moving forward Fargrim indicated a passage to the left and the group followed him down some stairs. At the bottom of which there was a door on the immediate left and a short corridor right with a 2^nd door.

Without hesitation Fargrim opened the door on the left to be confronted by the prone bodies of Gimli and Beorwulf. Both had been tied up and stripped of weapons and armour. Bandur handed them a hand axe each. Bandur now favoured his battleaxe!

Fargrim approached the 2^nd door, on opening it he could see 4 human Redbrands on the left side of a room seemingly watching something he couldn’t see, because the door blocked his view, to his right. Fargrim attacked before the Redbrands could react. Launching himself into the attack he heard the door slam close behind him as a balled up, tied small figure narrowly missed his head and landed in a heap against the wall. Slowly turning, as he engaged the Redbrands, he could now see 3, large, hairy, fearsome creatures moving towards him.

Fargrim struck out and connected with a Redbrand. Beorwulf moved forward and tried to bash the door open, his shoulder bounced off. Bandur, fearing his ‘shining one’ was about to die, rushed forward and bounced the door open. Narrowly missing Fargrim fighting behind it but hitting one of the large, hairy, fearsome creatures in the face as he did so. He was now able to move to the side of Fargrim and assist.

Heimund, seeing the way ahead blocked decided to try and outflank the enemy. He had seen an opening to the north of this passage way and he reasoned that it may connect to the other side of the room. He ran into the cavern but as he passed close to the gorge he felt a searing pain in his leg. 

A creature, hiding below the top of the gorge, had struck out with clawed hands and struck his leg. As it climbed out of the gloom below Heimund struck down with his sword calling out a divine prayer. His blow sliced through the abdomen of the creature, spilling its entrails onto the ground as it toppled backward and fell into the gloom of the gorge. He ignored the pain in his leg and entered the north passage.

One of the Redbrands had ran out of the room when the fighting started, Fargrim was annoyed, this Redbrand could bring more enemy down on them. He struck out again and the Redbrand he was fighting slumped to the floor. Heimund burst into the room, saw what was happening and shouted, Bugbears!

The Bugbears had moved in to attack the group as Hagnulf stepped into the room, throwing 2 daggers at a Redbrand, finishing him off and one of the Bugbears hitting him hard. The Bugbear behind the door managed to succeed in ripping the door off its hinges and stepped forward as Beorwulf seeing the gap charged into the room full of rage. He tripped over part of the smashed door and hit the floor, his hand axe bounced out of his hand behind two Bugbears. He was now prone and weaponless!

Heimund finished off the Bugbear he was behind as Bandur finished off the one standing over Beorwulf. The last one went into a frenzied attack, surrounded by the group, but missed all its attacks. The Bugbear went down under a flurry of blows. The group stopped to survey the scene. It would seem the Redbrands were gambling for the weapons and armour of Gimli and Beorwulf. All their possessions were here. They quickly dressed and re-armed themselves. Beorwulf retrieved the hand axe he had dropped and threw it towards Bandur. Luckily, it struck him flat end on, in the chest. Amazed he stooped down and picked it up, “Sorry Bandur, was never any good throwing things”, Beorwulf said sheepishly. On searching the dead they found in a pouch on one of the Bugbears, some coin and a key.

The group moved on into the room opposite the door Heimund had entered by. Fargrim asked but Heimund said he hadn’t run into a Redbrand. So he must have gone through this door. Fargrim opened the door without listening and was confronted by what looked like a workshop of some kind. (11) Beakers, jars, notes and all kinds of equipment could be seen on tables and benches. A rat scurried across the floor and under the table. The group moved into the room. Gimli’s eyes opened wide, he looked at the scattered papers and tomes. He knew what this place was, and he said, “Looks like someone was trying to brew potions of invisibility here”. He picked up a tome, obviously in Dwarvish and commented that it was a journal by a Dwarf called Urmon.  It described the history of the Lost Mine of Phandelver. It mentioned a Mace called ‘Lightbringer’ was commissioned by priests of Lathander, the God of Dawn, from the Mages working with Gnomes and Dwarves of the Phandelver Pact. This mace was lost when Wave Echo Cave and it’s mine vanished from history.

They opened the door in the east wall and went into a rather well furnished room. (12)     A wooden chest at the foot of the bed caught the attention of Fragrim, who used a pole to open it. Inside he could see coin and bags. He opened the bags and he found a number of gems. On the desk a letter had been left, it was addressed to Lord Albrek, Iano possibly his first name. It mentioned travellers to Phandalin, maps and Dwarves. It was signed with an image of a Black Spider.

Fargrim also noticed that there was a crack in the far wall. The crack turned out to be a secret door that hadn’t been pushed closed properly. He opened it and found himself in a corridor with stairs leading upward to a landing. After closer inspection a 2^nd secret door was found and opened. They found themselves in a store area at the north end of the cavern. (7) Some opened boxes revealed beaver pelts. Obviously stores from the Redbrands activities robbing caravans and merchants.

In a small alcove another secret door was found and it too opened easily.  They found themselves in a narrow corridor leading south with a closed and locked door opposite them. They tried the key they had found on the dead Bugbear body. The key worked. Inside they found racks of weapons. (6) Spears, short swords, long swords and crossbows with quivers full of bolts. Hanging near the door were a dozen or more red cloaks, those worn by the Redbrands Fargrim suggested they all put one on. They did.

Moving on they came to a door at the end of the short narrow corridor. Opening the door they entered what could only be a crypt.  (4) 3 Skeletal bodies were draped over 3 sarcophogus, 1 on each. Pushing them off they opened each sarcophagus in turn. In 1 they found a signet ring, very ornate and worth some coin in return.

Double doors or the single door? They opened the single door (5) and 2 Redbrands were surprised by the group, still wearing red cloaks. Fargrim, Bandur and Heimund got close enough to the 2 and struck fast, killing them both. They were in some kind of cell area. In one an adult human female and 2 teenage children.

They soon released them and were introduced to Mirnar Dendra, 13 year old Nars and 18 year old Nilsa. She was the wife of the carpenter Thel, the Redbrands had murdered him 3 nights ago and brought the family here to be sold as slaves.

The group took them with them. Hagnulf opened the double doors (3) and found a wide, corridor like room. He tentatively went forward and found a pit trap in the floor. He jumped over it but nothing else could be found, he jumped back over. 

The group retraced their steps to the cavern and tried a passageway in the south east area. It lead along another corridor to another secret door. It too was opened.  (1) They found themselves in another store room with a cistern full of water. Hagnulf followed watery footsteps towards steps and a landing with a door. Beorwulf opened the door. Gimli checked a side room but it was unoccupied. (2)

Beorwulf had found the way out. The stairs led to the old kitchens of the now ruined Tresendar Manor. Making their way back into Phandalin the group headed for the Stonehill Inn.

Toblen made them welcome and was amazed to see Mirnar and her children. All listened to their harrowing story, even the townmaster who at first thought the Redbrands were there to help but then as they took over and threatened him and the people of Phandalin there was nothing he could do but hope. Sildar Hallwinter arrived later that day and apologised for his delay. After much celebrating and a hearty feast Sildar bade the group join him at Deran Edermaths farm. Once there he thanked them for saving Phandalin and asked them if they would join the Order of the Gauntlet. Without hesitation they all did, Sildar conferred on them the title Cheval. The lowest order of the Order of the Gauntlet. Sildar told them being members would open many doors, training being one of them.

Gains:

12 Spears                                                                                                                                   6 Short Swords                                                                                                                       4 Long Swords                                                                                                                         8 Light Crossbows                                                                                                                   8 full quivers of bolts

A quantity of coin and gems plus a reward from the merchants for good recovered adding up to:

500 gold pieces. Each member of the group took 40 gold pieces, Lionel was given 10 gold 

pieces and 250 gold pieces were placed in the group fund.

A single pearl was retained for the use of Lionel. He would need it when casting Identify.

The letter signed with the Black Spider

]

The Dwarf Journal of Urmon the Dwarf (Gimli)