Starter Set, Looking Sharp and Listening In, Session 2, Part 2

Sildar was wary of the newcomer, being a former captor.  However, he accepted the judgment of the party, as they were his saviors, and questioned Fleek while they traveled.

Fleek informs them that King Grol, chief of the Cragmaw tribe (so named due to the habit of sharpening one's teeth; crag-maw), dwells in an old ruined castle in the woods to the North.  Gundren and the map were delivered there, as instructed by the Black Spider.  Fleek had spent the last few years stuck in the cave, and had never been to the castle or met the Black Spider.  Fleek's daughter, Droop, on the other hand, could be quite useful.

The Redbrands hired the Cragmaws to help in their control of Phandalin; King Grol sent several bugbears to them.

They learned from Sildar that Gundren had recently acquired the map, and land rights, to a long-lost mine known as the Wave Echo Cave.  This was the site of the Phandelver Pact, where magical items were produced by an alliance of dwarves, gnomes, and humans hundreds of years ago.  A magical "Forge of Spells" was said to reside there.

The cave was lost when some three hundred years ago, orcs raided and destroyed nearly the entire Sword Coast.  With Phandalin being rebuilt, and Gundren's find of the lost documents, they planned to reopen and restore the area to its former glory.

Sildar has another reason to be going to Phandalin; a fellow member of the Lords' Alliance, his friend Iarno Albreck, was sent to Phandalin months ago, but disappeared.  The capable wizard was instructed to aid in bringing peace, and ridding the town of the Redbrands.  Sildar suspects foul play.

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Upon entering Phandalin late in the afternoon, the growing troop turned in the cart of goods to Barthen's Provisions, as per the original contract with Gundren.  Sildar, in his gratitude, doubled the reward, ensuring each of the five were paid twenty gold for their services.  Barthen informed them that Gundren's two brothers had gone missing as well, and he was growing concerned.

They made sure to dress their new "companion" in proper clothing while they were there; it would be difficult to bring a goblin into town as it was.

(Pic borrowed from https://neomi-trix.deviantart.com/art/Dream-Daddy-Goblin-697733174)

(Photoshopped slightly by myself.)

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Sildar brought them to Stonehill Inn, bought everyone a round of drinks, and informed the innkeep, Toblen, that he would pay for their rooms for the night.

While at the bar, the smiling druid Eva vouching for the oddly-placed goblin beside her, they overheard conversations that would lead them around town.

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Narth, an old farmer: "Sister Garaele, who oversees the Shrine of Luck, recently left town for a few days, then returned wounded and exhausted."

Elsa, a gossipy barmaid: "Daran Edermath, the orchard keeper, is a former adventurer.  I bet he has some stories to tell."

Lanar, a miner: "Orc raiders have been seen on the east end of Triboar Trail. The town master is looking for someone to run them off."

Trilena, the innkeeper's wife: "Thel Dendrar, a local woodcarver, stood up to the Redbrands a week ago when they came by his shop and leered at his wife. The ruffians murdered him. Several townsfolk saw it happen.  The Redbrands grabbed his body, and now his wife, daughter, and son have gone missing too."

Pip, Toblen's young son: "Qelline Alderleaf's son Carp said he found a secret tunnel in the woods, but Redbrands almost caught him."

Freda, a weaver: "The Redbrands hassle every business in town, except for the Phandalin Miner's Exchange. They don't want trouble with Halia Thornton, who runs it."

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With sleep, each found themselves refreshed, renewed, and more capable than they felt the day before...

***Level 2!***