Phandelver - Defeating Klarg and the Scarlet Cloaks

 Monday, March 21, 1491

 a

Fugnar interrogates  Sildar, and Sildar explains about Spider 

Emerge from the cave, Emmy hit by a large trun, and Fugnar receives a volley of arrows

Kaine throws his lantern which shatters on the ground, scaring the goblins out of the wood.

Klarg comes out of the woods.

Fugnar takes lots of damage.

Kyrdean is down

Sildar is down

Emmy is down

Kite lands the killing blow against Klarg. Seeing their boss while Kaine eliminates the last remaining goblin.

Looting the bugbear king, 

Fugnar saws Klarg's head and carries it with him. He also collects the heads of the twelve dead goblins.

Fugnar sells Klarg's axe, and Toblen also tells the barbarian he will purchase the bugbear's skull when it is clean. 

Kite release

Fugnar tells the oxen he will give them a bushel of apples if they lead him to the dwarven mine. They seem to understand the word apple, but

Gwyn Oresong returns to the Stonehill Inn 

 

Tuesday, March 22, 1491

Sildar is recuperating from the battle in the inn.

Drake Ablemoff, enchanter who lives in Neverwinter. 

She tells Kyrdean of the story of Cragmaw Castle

Twiggleleaf

 Oxen provide directions to the mine.

Twiggleleaf tells them the oxen felt danger in the mine.

She tells them of the spirit in the basement, which seeks to open a portal to summon

Sister Garaele

Kite explains she was not a member of the red cloaks.

Red cloaks mentions the name Iarno

Emmy secures them with their belts. and moves them out of sight.

Blonk

With the fight against the Scarlet Cloaks at the Sleeping Giant now concluded, Fugnar and Kite discovered a secret tunnel in the 2nd bathroom stall.

Phandelver - Cragmaw Hideout

Friday March 18, 1491

Missing Gundred and Sildar, who were ambushed and abducted, the caravan and its guardians finally arrives in Phandalin. After parking the wagons at Barthen's Provisions and securing Bling, the goblin they captured earlier, Dori gathers Kite, Kyrdean, Fugnar and Emmy. Under the circumstances, with their employer missing, Dori considers that they have fulfilled their part of the contract. Due to Gundred's sudden absence, the caravan will not travel back to Neverwinter for a while while Dori and Dunleaf look for their dwarf friend. She takes out her purse and pays them their full wages, even though they will not complete the return trip. Dori, for her part, plans on mounting an expedition to Cragmaw Hideout after she notifies Gundred's kin at the mine.

Kite informs the oxen that their duties are done, and they will be able to depart in the morning. She just needs to remind Dori that their muscle is returning to be with Twiggleleaf and the stickbugs in the Fae world.

The group heads back to the Stonehill Inn, so they can spend the night and check on Kaine and Kritza. Kaine finally started feeling better yesterday, and though he has not completely recuperated, he is ready to adventure. Awaiting his colleagues in the common room of the Stonehill Inn, he is surprised to see them enter without Gundred or Sildar. Questioning them has to what happened in the last week, Kaine learns that while he was incapacitated, their oxen were stolen, they fought a green dragon and rescued a griffon, and they were challenged by a burglar and a ghost. Furthermore, their employer has been captured by an unknown force, which also acquired the map Gundred's kin had sent him. Inquiring about Kritza, Kaine tells them that Toblen Stonehill, the inn's owner, found him lodging with farmer Alderleaf, because he was afraid the man might be contagious. Kaine has not received any news from him in the last few days.

Facing multiple challenges, from the presence of the scarlet-cloaked ruffians to that of a juvenile green dragon, from goblin activity to the kidnapping of Gundred, the party has plenty of loose ends to tie before they can be on their way. Discussing late into the night, they agree that their first order of business should be to head to Cragmaw Hideout and see if Gundred and Sildar are there.

Saturday, March 19, 1491

After a hearty breakfast  in an otherwise deserted common room, the group rehash their plans. Dori and Dunleaf will head to the dwarven mine to notify Gundred's kin of the current situation. Kite, Kaine, Kyrdean, Emma and Fugnar will collect their goblin and head to the bridge to track the goblins and find the location of Cragmaw Hideout. With any chance, Gundred and Sildar will still be there alive.

Before leaving, Emmy finds Toblen Stonehill and she leaves a message for Gundred in case he returns while they are out. Emmy and Toblen talk about the green dragon and the griffon, and Emmy mentions that the bridge has been destroyed. Toblen will notify Town Master Harbin Wester that the bridge is out, and perhaps they can assemble a crew to go fix it.

Returning to Barthen's Provisions, Fugnar knocks Bling out after tying a rope through his mouth to shut him up. He then strings a rope around him, effectively turning the goblin into a sausage, and throws him on his shoulder before rejoining the party.

They follow the goblins' tracks to the base of a cliff about two hours northwest of Phandalin, where a shallow stream emerge from the mouth of a cave. The goblin tracks cross the river and follow a skinny path inside the cave.

Fugnar moves closer, and as he stands next to the cave's entrance, he hears the vicious sounds of dogs barking. He returns to his group and inform them of what he heard. Kaine takes the lead and fords the creek, followed by Kyrdean, Fugnar, Kite and Emmy. With the stink of animals and the snarls coming from the tunnel on the right, Kaine carefully peaks in. Three dire dogs are straining at their chains, trying to get to Kaine and his friends. The loud barking seems not to have attracted attention, so they cautiously proceed ahead.

The path follows the creek and steadily climbs. Fugnar notice a cave opening about 15 feet off the floor of the creek on the other side of the path. They then pass underneath a crumbling bridge about 10 feet high from them, but not seeing anyone, they continue the ascend and reach a series of pools held by a series of boulders. Next to the pools, three goblins are playing with three dire dogs, throwing bones and hitting the dogs with sticks. Kaine shoot one of the goblins, while Kyrdean uses his martial skills to land behind the dogs and strikes one of them. The rest of the group joins the fight, and the goblins are swiftly defeated. Fugnar keeps one of the goblins alive, and after solidly tying him to the other, they leave them behind.

Faced with an opening in the south wall of this large cave and one in the west wall, they elect to go west and find themselves at the edge of the bridge, with a goblin sentry on the other side. Kaine shoots his crossbow and wounds the goblin, while Fugnar sprints across, and despite its ruined looks, the barbarian arrives on the other side without breaking the structure, and strikes the goblin dead. Searching the goblin, he fins a piece of white fabric, most likely from a wedding dress, along with three wooden six-sided dice which always land on one. 

The rest of the party soon follows across the bridge, only to find another stinking room. They have located the goblins' residential quarters, and they have surprised nearly a dozen goblins. Fugnar rages and charges one of the goblins, while everyone else joins the fray. But these goblins are led by two captains, and the battle is more dangerous than they would have expected. Fugnar is the first to go down, followed by Kaine. Kyrdean is injured, and both Emmy and Kite suffer damage, but eventually they triumph over their enemies. 

At the back of the room they find a pit about twelve feet deep, and a ladder. Inside the pit is Gundred's companion, Sildar. Sildar has been bound and gagged, but is otherwise uninjured. Kyrdean puts the ladder in the pit and frees Sildar. Sildar inquires after Gundred, and Kyrdean has to inform him they have not yet located the dwarf. The two climb back out of the pit. Meanwhile, Emmy bandages Fugnar and Kaine, stopping their slow bleeding. With everyone wounded, they decide to rest here, despite the stink, as this room is easily guarded.

Searching the dead goblins, they find jewelry and other evidence that suggests the goblins attacked a wedding party. They find a pair of earring, a garter belt, more pieces of a wedding dress, and other trinkets.

During their rest, Sildar explains what happened to Gundred and himself. They were traveling back from Neverwinter three days ago when something spook the horses by the bridge, and both riders were thrown off their horses. Gundred has never been a very good horse rider, but Sildar considers himself skilled, and it would have been something very scary that spooked the horses enough to throw the fighter off his horse. Once on the ground, the two of them were attacked and captured by goblins. Once tied, they were escorted to Cragmaw Hideout, and that's the last time Sildar saw Gundred. 

Fugnar questions Sildar on what Gundred and his kin discovered. Sildar explains that the Gundred and his brothers had just located an important section of the mine of the Phandelver Pact. Sildar is not sure what that is, but Gundred was excited beyond belief at that news. When asked about the map Gundred had received, Sildar replies that it showed the location of the mine and its network of tunnels, including the big find that had Gundred so excited. Kyrdean informs Sildar that the map is now missing, as it was not found in Gundred's personal effects left at the ambush site.

While in the goblins' captivity, Sildar heard the following information. The goblins' king, a bugbear named Klarg, is responsible for the capture of a human wizard named Iarno Albrek, but this happened several months ago and the goblins didn't know what had happened to the wizard. Sildar also heard that Klarg works for someone called the Spider. It is the Spider that ordered the ambush on the trail, and the Spider seemed to know that Gundred would be on the road back to Phandalin. Klarg was ordered to capture Gundred and send him to Cragmaw Castle. Sildar doesn't know where Cragmaw Castle is located. He also mentions that when he and Gundred were escorted back to Cragmaw Hideout, his captors were intercepted by three other goblins with oblong heads that glowed faintly. His captors did not seem to know these particular goblins, and there was animosity between the two groups. They almost came to blows, but the strange goblins, after examining Gundred they told his captors that the dwarf was to go with them, as he was the one Ruxithid was looking for. They showed the goblins a token Sildar did not see, but this was apparently enough to convince the captors to give Gundred to this new group of goblins. That's the last time he saw Gundred.

Sunday, March 20, 1491

After a long rest that came with no challenge from the inhabitants of Cragmaw Hideout, the party heads back to the bridge. A goblin is standing guard there, and as soon as he sees Fugnar he fires an arrow before running away. Wise to the possibility of a trap, Fugnar jumps down the bridge and lands in the creek, followed by Kyrdean and Kaine. Fugnar rounds the corner back into the large cave just as the goblin emerges from the tunnel, and the barbarian does quick work, ending the goblin's life.

After jumping off the bridge, Kyrdean lowers himself in the river by the dam, with only his nose, eyes and ears sticking out. Kaine stands near Kyrdean. Another goblin standing on the bridge releases the rope holding the dam's keystone in place. This releases the dam, and the rushing waters transport Kyrdean and Kaine back to the mouth of the cave. While Emmy, Fugnar and Kite enters the cave to the south, Kyrdean runs back and chases the goblin across the bridge, avoiding the bridge trap. Cornering the goblin, Kyrdean defeats him, the looks for a secret door. He does not find one.

Map of Cragmaw Hideout

 In the main cave that looks like a poor version of a throne room, they discover several crates, many of them marked with a blue lion's head. They defeat the largest dire dog they have ever seen. The inhabitants of the cave seem to have left, however. Searching for a secret door here, Kyrdean finds one. In a small room, they discover 900 gold pieces in a wooden chest, two potions, and two strange magical items. Cragmaw Hideout is theirs!

Phandelver - Of dragons, griffons, and ghosts

Saturday, March 12, 1491

Having recuperated from the food poisoning he was afflicted by the day before, Kyrdean wakes up still feeling slightly ill, but at least with a now settled stomach. Not sure what happened yesterday, the Tabaxi makes plan to eat a quick breakfast in the Stonehill Inn's common room, then head back on the trail towards Neverwinter to catch up to the caravan. Fortunately, when he enters the common room, Kyrdean finds Fugnar and Kite eating a copious breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, freshly baked bread, and cheese, and Kite informs him that the caravan was delayed yesterday due to missing oxen, but that everything was resolved and Gundred determined they would leave this morning. Being done with breakfast, Fugnar returns upstairs and knock on Kaine and Kritza's doors, but both of them still groan in pain, and they tell the barbarian they will not be joining the caravan today. With breakfast consumed, they head out to Barthen's Provisions, where they will meet Gundred and Sildar.

Meanwhile, when Emmy wakes up from her magically induced sleep, she experiences a massive headache pounding behind her temples. Climbing out of the wagon she slept in, her body feels sore, her mouth is dry, and she feels dizzy, but a few steps take the feelings away. When she is joined by Fugnar, Kyrdean, and Kite at Barthen's Provisions, she inquires what she missed. Fugnar tells her they met faeries, goblins and oxen, and life is good. Gundred and Sildar arrive, and Gundred is thrilled his team is here and ready to go. Fugnar tells him that both Kaine and Kritza are still sick, and will try to catch up with them when they recuperate. Dori and a heavily laden Dunleaf finally return to their wagons.

After completing their preparations, the caravan leaves the village of Phandalin and takes the road back to Neverwinter. Gundred inquires about Kaine and Kritza, and both of them are still sick. Driving their wagons pulled by their four oxen, Dori and Dunleaf begin the slow trek back to Neverwinter. Fugnar comments that he's hoping the bridge has been fixed. But by the time the caravan nears the river, it is clear that the bridge has been destroyed, and the bodies of the nymphs Fugnar had strung under the bridge have been removed. Fugnar suspects that friends of the nymphs destroyed the bridge to avenge their friends.

Gundred consults with Sildar on what the caravan should do. Sildar considers that rebuilding the bridge so it could handle the weight of the oxen and wagons would take about two days, and they are better off to head south to the next ford in the river instead, as this will only take a few hours. Gundred agrees, and the caravan follows the east bank of the river until it crosses over to the other side. Heading back north, they soon rejoin the road. Several times over the day, Kite cheers the oxen, and Fugnar provides them sweet grasses to munch on as they walk on the path.

Later in the afternoon, an injured griffon flies low above the caravan as it is being chased by a juvenile green dragon, which releases a jet of boiling acid. Dori leads her wagon under the closest tree, closely followed by Dunleaf. The griffon crashes to the ground about 100 feet away from the path, while the dragon gracefully lands between the caravan and the griffon, with its back to them. Kyrdean immediately jumps off the wagon, and begins crawling towards the dragon. Seeing this, both Emmy and Kite take out their bows and ready an attack. Gundred whispers to them that they are crazy if they think they can take on a dragon, but Fugnar only grins at him before jumping off the wagon and loudly charging the dragon. Dori also pulls out her axe, but Dunleaf hanks her back.

Surprised, the dragon pivots. Emmy's arrow is true and hits the dragon, while Fugnar's battle hammer strikes the dragon on its side, causing significant damage. Kyrdean jumps into the fray, but Kite's arrow narrowly misses. With the dragon distracted, the griffon also strikes back against the dragon. This significant damage from multiple sources is enough for the dragon, which springs upwards and flies away in the general direction of Phandalin. Emmy slowly steps closer to the now quivering griffon. Using her skills, she approaches the griffon, and, taking out her salves and bandages, she cleans the beast's wounds as best she can, and the griffon remains stoically immobile throughout the operation. Once Emmy is done, the griffon gracefully bows its head, before heading into the woods. Emmy bows back and thanks the griffon for allowing her to care for it.

Gundred is pleased with this battle, but he suggests the caravan should not tarry. They head back on the road, and by night fall they pitch camp in a secluded grove.

Sunday, March 13, 1491

With empty wagons, the caravan makes good time and reaches Neverwinter before the gates are closed at night. Reporting to Bran & Sons's Warehouse, Gundred shakes hands with Bran, and tells everyone the caravan will depart Tuesday morning. However, they can all get a couple gold pieces tomorrow if they wish by helping to load new cargo back on the wagons. Everyone agrees they will help. Gundred suggests they return tomorrow morning around 8. After the oxen are placed in their pen, Kite thanks them for their hard work, and gives them each a carrot.

 

Monday, March 14, 1491

In the morning, Emmy walks to Neverwinter's guard headquarters and reports the presence of a greed dragon in the area. The captain of the guard tells her they will investigate, and he will also notify other towns and villages to be on the lookout. If the dragon proves to be active in this area, a party will be assembled and a reward will be given for its killing. She then heads to the local alchemist, the Alembic Apothecary, where she purchases a jar of nightshade poison she can coat her arrows or her weapons with.

Promptly at 8, Fugnar, Kyrdean, Emmy, and Kite return to Bran & Sons' Warehouse, where they meet Gundred and Sildar. The warehouse is filled with boxes, and Bran, owner of the warehouse, shows them which boxes to load. While Bran and Sildar take the inventory of what is being loaded, Gundred and Dori make some repairs to the wagons. Dunleaf prepares lunch, and soon the caravan's crew and all of the employees of Bran & Sons partake of another lovely meal.

As the wagons become progressively fuller, Fugnar expresses the concern that the oxen will need to work harder than the last trip, and the barbarian tells Gundred he will need to convince the oxen to complete this ultimate trip. Flummoxed, Gundred asks Fugnar to intercedes, and the barbarian agrees for 5 gold pieces, which Gundred gladly hands over.

Fugnar tells Gundred he must convince the oxen they Gundred gives Fugnar 5 gold pieces, and the barbarian makes a show of consulting and cajoling the oxen, before claiming that everything is good, they've agreed to pull the heavy wagons.

Early in the afternoon, a rider delivers an important message to Gundred. Emmy and Kite see him read it, then they hear him exclaim to Sildar "They think they found it!" Making hasty plans, Gundred informs Fugnar he's now in charge of making sure the caravan arrives in Phandalin, as he needs to ride out right away. Soon, both Gundred and Sildar ride out of Neverwinter.

Continuing to supervise the loading, Fugnar catches Bran trying to sell them goods that do not match the description on Gundred's list. Bran apologizes profusely and blames his underlings for the mix up. With the wagons fully loaded early in the evening, Fugnar, Emmy, Kite and Kyrdean discuss whether they would be better off departing immediately instead of leaving the wagons in the warehouse one more night. The absence of their teamsters, who have already withdrawn for the night, convinces them they must stay here until morning. But they determine to sleep in the warehouse. Bran lends them a key to lock and unlock the warehouse gate, and he returns home for the evening.

Looking around for vulnerabilities, Kyrdean builds an elaborate alarm using pots and pans. If the main door or the loading gates are opened, the pots and pans will make a racket, alerting everyone. Emmy places a heavy crate on top of the trapdoor that leads to the sewer, ensuring that no one will be able to climb through that space.

Warehouse in Neverwinter

Tuesday, March 15, 1491

Fugnar sleeps on the bench of the first wagon, while he waits to take the last watch. Emmy takes the first watch, and patrols through the building. Two hours later, she wakes Kyrdean up, and he begins his own patrol as she heads to bed. Halfway through his shift, the temperature in the warehouse drops precipitously. Noticing a faint light in the front office, Kyrdean positions himself stealthily, before opening the door and jumping on the person on the other side. The noise wakes everyone up.

Kyrdean has captured a burglar named Thrumbone, who claims he is here to search the office and retrieve a metal box that belongs to his patron. Kyrdean finds the story hard to believe, but Thrumbone describes part of the contents of the box, including a child's drawing of a unicorn, and what the box itself looks like. While Thrumbone is guarded by Fugnar, Kyrdean searches the office and soon discovers said box underneath a bunch of boxes and piles of paper. Carefully unlocking and opening the box, Kyrdean indeed discovers the drawing of the unicorn. 

Thrumbone attempts to convince them to let him go with the box, but when Kyrdean refuses, a ghostly apparition floats down from the ceiling and threatens everyone with bodily harm. Some quick thinking on Kyrdean's part disarms the situation as he reveals the location of the child the ghost is looking for with her agent Thrumbone. Now aware of the address, the ghostly apparition rushes through the wall, leaving Thrumbone behind.

Kite heads out of the warehouse to alert Bran an intruder was here. Bran returns to the warehouse with Kite, and he alerts the guard. Kyrdean purchases the metal box for 7 gold pieces. Aside from the child's drawing, the box contains what appears to be a contract signed with an arcane symbol, perhaps a debt that binds the family; a collection of foreign coins and trinkets worth 21 gold pieces; a handwritten will amended multiple times: a collection of coded ciphers; a collection of love letters filled with passion, betrayal, and a forbidden romance; a court document with a broken wax seal revealing a past trial, and a hidden crime, as well as the location and new parents of a child; and a leather-bound journal with coded entries filled with what appears to be scientific observations of magic and alchemical formulas.

The city guard finally arrives and hauls Thrumbone away to jail for breaking and entering. Though they promise they will look for the ghostly apparition, everyone knows those are empty promises.

Following the sunrise, Dori and Dunleaf return to Bran & Sons' Warehouse. After being appraised of the events of the previous night, the dwarves retrieve the oxen from their pens, and the caravan departs Neverwinter. On the road, Kite makes flower crowns for the oxen, which they happily munch on.

 

Friday March 18, 1491

As they near the fork that will take them either to the broken bridge or to ford the river, a discussion occurs between Dori and Fugnar. The wagons are very heavy with all of this material, and crossing the river risks being harder than when they traveled back to the city. But the bridge is most likely still out of commission. Kite rides to the bridge, only to discover that Gundred and Sildar's horses are standing on the western shores, and their leads have been staked to the ground. Suspecting an ambush, Kite returns to the caravan to report.

Ambush at the broken bridge

The caravan approaches cautiously. Fugnar and Kyrdean examine the ground, and find goblin prints. Fugnar loudly voices his desire to pay his goblin friend Blonk. Snickers can be heard from the woods near the horses. Fugnar again offers money for the goblins to come out, but the goblins reply that they might as well attack and take all of the gold instead of some of the gold, and they charge. Combat is short, and all but one goblins are quickly dispatched. Fugnar interrogates the last remaining goblin,

Searching the area near the horses, Kite finds Gundred's horse, and his traveling kit, including the letter he received a few days ago. Reading through it, Fugnar, who can read dwarf, notices a reference to a map, but no map is found.  

Returning to the wagons, Emmy asks Dori if there are objects that either Gundred or Sildar carry with them at all times that could identify they were here. Dori replies that Sildar eats sunflower seeds, and Gundred always carries feathers in his pockets because he enjoys the feeling. Kite recalls seeing the dwarf with his hands in his pockets more times than she cares to remember. With that, the caravan heads to the ford to cross the river and reach Phandalin ...