Shopping and a Close Encounter

Having finished with the Redbrands’ Hideout, the party decided to catch up on some way overdue shopping. They hadn’t been to a merchant since they’d gotten to Voxelhaven in Aetheria, so they unloaded a ton of spoils, including the dragon scales. Linene at the Lionshield Coster gladly purchased their weapons and armor, but referred them to either the Cloak Tower or Shard of the Moon in Neverwinter to help them with the dragon parts that they tried to sell her. Larn tried to sell her some other dragon parts and was quickly reminded by Lazmr not to do so in Phandalin.

Akkira upgraded her armor to Studded Leather, Zend upgraded his chain shirt to a breastplate. Sagora upgraded to a Longbow and found a quiver of 20 +1 arrows in the barrels of bolts and arrows Linene had available. Overall, it was a pretty good shopping trip.

When asked about the Spider, Linene referred the party to Sister Garaele at the shrine to Tymora for potentially more information.

While shopping, they met a drow elf who walked into the Lionshield Coster. Having just learned that the Spider is a Drow, they were suspicious and, maybe a little gruff at first with the elf. There was almost a moment where things went bad; Daran took offence at the party’s implication that since he was a Drow, he was evil. Thanks to a high perception check on Daran’s part, he let it pass. The misunderstanding resolved, Daran Edernath introduced himself and told the party about some trouble he’d been hearing about near Old Owl Well to the east. He offered his boots of striding and springing in exchange for confirmation that there is no threat to Phandalin coming from Old Owl Well.

Sister Garaele, the Townmaster and Some Well-Needed Rest

Sister Garaele gave the party a quest to see if they can obtain information about a spellbook belonging to an ancient mage named Bowgentle. She told the, that she previously tried to get this information from a banshee named Agatha in an area north of Conyberry. The acolyte was unsuccessful and angered Agatha. She fears that her return might only incense the banshee’s ire and asked the party if they could try to get the information from her.

She gave the party a bejeweled comb to offer to Agatha as she had learned that the banshee might take favorably to such fancy gifts. In return for information about Bowgentle’s spellbook, she offered the party six potions of healing.

After speaking with Sister Garaele, the party decided to take the rest of the day off and rest at the Stonehill Inn. On their way there, the townmaster, Harbin Wester flagged them down and offered them a quest in exchange for 100 gold. He told them that there have been recent tells of attacks happening along the Triboar Trail neat Wyvern Tor. The most recent victims reported that the marauding party contained an ogre and some bugbears as well as some strange looking goblins.

The party said they would take the request into consideration.

At the Inn, they spoke to Toblen, the innkeeper, who offered them free room and board for the night in exchange for having rid the town of the Redbrands’ threat. He also mentioned that more information about the Spider might be gleaned from a druid named Reidoth in a town to the north called Thundertree – I’ll have them meet up with Qelline Alderleaf on their way back through town to get more details about this quest.

Trouble on the Triboar Trail

After resting the night at the Stonehill Inn, the party set off along the Triboar Trail toward Conyberry. The first day’s travel was overcast and cool, a crisp autumn day. Travel was uneventful and they rested about 20 miles east of where the road to Phandalin meets the Triboar Trail. The evening was uneventful.

The second day of travel was clear and warmer. Around midday they left the Triboar Trail to make their way due east through the foothills of the Sword Mountains toward Old Owl Well. Using the crag of Wyvern Tor as a guide they made their way through the rough hills and valleys, spotting a party of three goblins cresting a hill some 500 yards ahead. When they reached that peak, there was no sign of the other party, another group of wandering adventurers? Maybe?

They rested that night in the foothills about 15 miles from Old Owl Well. Thank the gods that Larn decided to trance instead of sleep the full rest and was awake when the patrol the had spotted earlier that day came upon them in the middle of the night. The party was able to fend them off easily enough; A couple of Chaos Bolts from the sorcerers sent the interlopers to their graves.

Old Owl Well

The following morning, they set out for Old Owl Well, arriving late afternoon. Enter the site, zombies lumber out of the tower, Hamun Kost rolled wicked low on initiative and didn’t come out until the end of the first round of combat to yell, “Stop! I would like to parlay.”

The parlay turned interesting with the party accusing Hamun of essentially being a murder hobo because he used his undead “servants” to protect his “claim.” There was a little bot calling the kettle black from Hamun and Yami asked, “Why did you wait so long to come out of your tent?” I tried to break the tension of the moment by using the literal answer: “Because I was waiting for a chance [his turn] to break into the battle!” Good chuckle from the group.

Ultimately, they heard Hamun’s requests: 1) find out from Agatha who built the tower, and; 2) take care of the marauders at Wyvern Tor; and said they would keep them in mind. Hamun offered a place in the courtyard and the protection of his “servants” for the party to rest. They accepted the place but refused the protection.

Next week, the party is off to (I think?) Wyvern Tor and then, most likely Conyberrry and Agatha’s lair. I’m going to beef up the Wyvern Tor encounter by adding an orc just to give them a challenge. After that, I assume back to Phandalin and then, to Thundertree (and Neverwinter?).