Lost Mines of Phandelver: 5 – Banshees & Bar-Fights

In this session, our heroes:

Viggo of Wandervil, the Human Druid,

Euphemia “Mia” Tosscobble, the Halfling Rogue,

Count Erspell, the Elvish Mage,

Kui-Kui, the Human Noble Fighter,

& Eorlund Granitefella, the Dwarvish Cleric

With new powers unlocked (the previous excursion brought everyone to level 3), the group decided to clean up some of the other missions they had been given, in the hope of finding more information about the goings-on at Cragmaw Castle.

Their first port of call was to Agatha’s Lair, a banshee who may have knowledge about a powerful spell-book, which Sister Garaele needed for her Harpers organisation. In the forest, the group found a dome of bent tree-branches with a makeshift door on it. Mia entered the hut to look for the ghost. Agatha appeared and sneered at the group, telling them only death could be found here. Mia offered Agatha a silver comb she had been given by Garaele, and asked if they could trade information for the comb. The banshee agreed, telling them that the spellbook was long gone, trades centuries ago to a long-dead necromancer. Slightly deflated the group returned to Phandalin to inform the Sister about the book, she was disappointed that retrieving the book wasn’t as easy as she had hoped it would be, but was happy that they had a name to work with. She thanked the group and awarded Erspell the title of Watcher in the Harper organisation.

With the banshee providing no information about their current predicament, the group headed elsewhere around town to find and more leads. An orchard farmer told them that the Redbrands can usually be found at a local taphouse and that their hideout is underneath an old run down manor at the other end of town.

Heading into the taphouse, our heroes were met by four Redbrands, who didn’t take too kindly to strangers coming into ‘their’ turf. Mia tried to defuse tensions but was immediately recognised as the expelled Redbrand that Glasstaff wanted dead, and a fight ensued. The Count revelled in the chance to try out his new spell and started slamming a sphere of fire into the Redbrands. Mia and Viggo stood on the bar countertop shooting the thugs, and Kui-Kui & Eorlund swung their great weapons.

When his 3 comrades had fallen, the last standing Redbrand tried to flee to inform the rest of the crew but was tackled to the floor by Kui-Kui before he could make it out of the biulding. He gave up some useful information about the hideout but somehow turned brave and defiant when told he would help with the infiltration, which Mia rewarded by shooting him in the head.

With the Redbrand base so close, Mia may finally learn why Glasstaff turned on her, Eorlund may be able to wipe this scum from the earth, and Kui-Kui & Viggo may be one step closer to civilising Phandalin.

The Adventure continues…

Artwork By Uncle Woodstock