Raven placed a hand on her shoulder, lightly holding her back. "Let's do this together," she said.
------------------------------------------
[DM note: rolled Disadvantage for the drunk Perception rolls; all failed spectacularly.]
Rushing in the room, the four drunken Redbrands around the table were taken by surprise. Not a single blow from the drunkards made its mark; on the other hand, the invading adventurers were quite efficient in quelling the thugs.
Lemon confronted the Captain directly, slashing his face with her sword. Little Droop, maul in hand, brought it squarely in an upward motion into his groin. With a realization that his compatriots were dead, and himself outnumbered, he dropped his sword and fell to his knees (mostly of his own volition, though not entirely).
Begging for his life, he offered to tell them anything they wanted to know. He revealed that Glassstaff's room was through his laboratory, which was in the next room to the North. Droop noted that he had a pet rat that never left his side.
[DM note: knowledge checks revealed likely a familiar.]
Leaving the goblins behind to guard the Captain (Fleek's head still ringing, and Droop emotionally spent), the party put plans into action.
------------------------------------------
Thinking strategically, Durial investigated the hallways, and turning a corner, found a secret door to the West side of what must be Glassstaff's quarters. The party split, and went to both doors simultaneously. In a rush, they ambushed the rooms, finding Iarno and his apprentice sitting in the bedroom.
In a flurry of action, the wizard's Blur and Shield didn't quite protect him from the well trained crossbows and swords.
Sildar, stepping into the fray, stumbled over his words as he put together the puzzle in his head.
"Iarno? But... Why?"
The apprentice blasted Sildar and Raven with Burning Hands, knocking Sildar back to his senses. With a retaliatory slash, Sildar's sword embedded deep into the skull of the Redbrand apprentice.
A final slash from Lemon's greatsword, and Iarno "Glassstaff" Albrek fell, his eyes flashing in a brilliant rainbow of illusionary colors as they rolled back in his head.
------------------------------------------
Sildar dropped to Iarno's side, attempting to stabalize him.
"I cannot stop the bleeding! Save him, please!"
The party hesitated. [1st failed saving throw...]
"Please. He's responsible for this, but he was my friend. Let justice determine his fate."
Raven, taking mercy on Sildar, helped bandage the wizard's wounds.
They tied up the wizard, gag, wrists, and even his fingers, and dragged him to the Captain, who stared silently in amazement with his remaining good eye.
------------------------------------------
Searching Iarno's bedroom and laboratory, they could find no sign of the rat. They did find notes on some legendary magical weapons that were lost when the Wave Echo Cave was ransacked centuries ago. Notes regarding the brewing of Invisibility potions were scattered throughout the room.Other than the eponymous glass staff [Staff of Defense] itself, they procured a Wand of Binding from the apprentice, along with a scroll of Charm Person and a scroll of Fireball.
Also among the items in the wizard's possession was a letter:
------------------------------------------
Lord Albrek,
My
spies in Neverwinter tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Phandalin.
They could be working for the dwarves.
Capture them if you can, kill
them if you must, but don't allow them to upset our plans. See that any dwarven
maps in their possession are delivered to me with haste. I'm counting on you, Iarno.
Don't disappoint me.
Very cool.
ReplyDelete