Session 19: "If you go down to the woods today...." or " Mirror mirror on the wall who's the Gundrun we don't know!"

1^st day of Highsun, Moonday

Fargrim decided that they should leave the castle as they had Gundrun so led the group into the Woods for 15 minutes before stopping and saying, “We will make camp here, rest for the night and take stock”. Heimund had been carrying the limp Gundrun and laid him down gently by a tree.

A fire was soon lit and Gimli performed a prayer which helped heal some of the wounds the group had suffered. Heimund noticed some bushes move but before he could react Bandur and an unknown, yet seemingly familiar Dwarf, stepped into the clearing.

Beorwulf was busy practicing his Greatsword skills at the opposite edge of the clearing.

The group looked from ‘Gundrun’ to a second ‘Gundrun’ and back several times before the ‘Gundrun’ by the fire stood up and yelled imposter. The Dwarf with Bandur shouted back that he was Gundrun and the other the imposter. Gimli realised the Dwarf beside him was not a Dwarf and suddenly it changed into a wolf. The wolf attacked Gimli but missed. Suddenly the clearing, centred on the fire, was engulfed in flame as a fireball erupted amongst them. 

Fortunately Bandur and the real Gundrun escaped the fire damage, others were not so lucky.

As the fireball dissipated arrows flew into the clearing, some striking some missing then a horde of Hobgoblins charged into the clearing and attacked the group. Beorwulf was beset by 2 wolves.

The fight was furious, firebolts slammed through the group at times, some hitting most missing.

One by one the Hobgoblins went down. Gimli slumped to the ground. Lionel was being battered into oblivion so caste blade ward on himself. Droop was felled but Heimund stood over him and covered him. Hagnulf struck down a Hobgoblin so to Fargim and Bandur. 1 by 1 the Hobgoblins were killed. 

Beorwulf charged into the Goblins in the woods and thought he had struck the Shaman but killed an archer instead.Bandur struck down a second Hobgoblin so did Heimund. Suddenly the leader of the Hobgoblins fled with 1 surviving Hobgoblin.

The Shaman and the remaining goblins fled too. Gundrun Rockseeker introduced himself formerly and asked if they would check the creature lying by the fire. The second ‘Gundrun/Wolf’ had changed form again. It was a tall, grey skinned humanoid devoid of hair. They found a pouch, inside a large folded piece of parchment. Gundrun explained that that was his map, stolen from him by King Groll and traded to this creature, a associate of the Black Spider. If the group returned the map and Gundrun to Phandalin, he would reward them handsomely.

The group healed themselves as best they could and decided it would be better to take refuge in Cragmaw Castle than face a night out in the woods.

Retracing their steps they came across a dark, quiet and eerie Castle. Entering by the same route they cleared the throne room (14) and settled in for the night making sure the door was barred.

2^nd day of Highsun, Moonday

In the morning they checked around the rest of the castle. In a dark room (8) something fell from the ceiling and attacked Lionel. The creature was hard to see, harder to hit. Lionel was hit many times before the creature was killed.

In another room Bandur and Fargrim found a cask of Dwarven Brandy.(5)

 Droop indicated to Heimund that if he looked in a certain cold brazier, under the coals he would find something nice. (9) Heimund did and soon found, wrapped in red silk, a Golden Statue. Lionel looked at it and said that is a Sun Elf.

Gimli on hearing the group had found some very potent Dwarven brandy ran through a door he was covering and triggered a trap (2). Masonry blocks fell about him and he was hit several times.

They left for Phandalin, on the way back Heimund again spotted movement, fearing it was the goblins again he turned to face……an Owl Bear. Surrounded by the tail enders the Owl Bear was quickly dispatched

.

The group then made good speed to Phandalin. Sildar Hallwinter was still at the inn. He thanked the group for rescuing his friend, returning his sword and armour and for clearing Cragmaw Castle, which Gundrun confirmed. Gundrun thanked the group again and informed them he may have need of their services to get him to Wave Echo Cave, for which he would offer them a tantalising deal. The group informed Gundrun they would keep that in mind. They now turned their thoughts towards the Golden Sun Elf statue and possibly assistance from the young elf, Sister Garaele.

Sister Garaele was sought out and although she confirmed the Statue was indeed a statue of a Sun Elf she also thought there was something more about the statue, what she could not say.