Note: Another character update this week. Garad the Fighter has replaced Elor the Rogue for Nick. Phandalin The party wakes from their first night in Phandalin at Stonehill Inn. In the morning they spend some time speaking with some of the locals who currently make the Inn their home and learned: Lanar the miner (with an E) told them that orcs have been harassing the Triboar Trail, east of Phandalin. He suggested the Townmaster may know more. Narth the farmer told them that Sister Garaele at the Shrine of Luck recently returned from a long absence and appeared troubled. Barthen the shopkeep reimbursed them for the 10gp each owed to them for successfully delivering the wagonload from Neverwinter. He echoed Toblen's concerns that the Redbrand menace that had infested the town over the past couple of months was now causing turmoil for the local economy. Sister Garaele the acolyte requested the party's help with finding the answer to a mystery she was pursuing on behalf of her unnamed superiors. She was in search of the lost spellbook of the wizard Bowgentle and believed the banshee Agatha near Conyberry may know where to look next, if she doesn't already possess it. She gives the party a bejeweled silver comb to gift to Agatha in return for her help. The party was unable to find any more clues to the location of Cragmaw Castle , where they believe King Grol is holding Gundren Rockseeker . There... The party immediately undertook a 65-miles-each-way journey, on foot, with no supplies beyond the shirts and swords on their backs, fighting wolves & goblins during their 4-5 day hike. While battling the wolves, Recto's life was barely spared in time thanks to the generous gift of Inspiration by Zigmundo. Agatha's Lair Surrounded by fog, moss, and corpses of adventurers who had earned the banshee's wrath, the party entered Agatha's home made of twisted branches of a dead forest. They offered the banshee both flattery and Sister Garaele's gift and in return Agatha offered to answer one, and only one, question for them. Debating their options, the party ultimately decided to ask the question Sister Garaele had sent them for, and were told that Agatha herself was once in possession of Bowgentle's spellbook but she had given it to the wizard Tsernoth from Iriaebor a century ago. When they attempted to ask for more information Agatha cackled and dissipated into the very air around them before they could finish another word. ... And Back Again Unsatisfied by Agatha's answer and feeling no closer to any of their goals, the party embarked on another 65-mile journey by foot back to Phandalin. This time they were beset by two hobgoblins with a goblin lackey in tow. After quickly killing the creatures our heroes found a crudely drawn portrait of Rolen Weenyay with the words " 25gp for this one " scrawled nearly illegibly underneath. Making it back to Phandalin they brough Agatha's answer to Sister Garaele, who seemed pleased with the result. She offered the party a gift of 3x healing potions , which were distributed to Garan, Rolen & Steve. That night, as they prepared for their first night's rest in a bed in the past ten-day, Recto was approached by a disguised Sister Garaele who offered Recto entrance into the secretive organization known as The Harpers - a network of spies whose goals are known to be: Gather information throughout Faerûn Promote fairness and equality by covert means Thwart tyrants and leaders, governments, and organizations that have grown too powerful Aid the weak, poor, and oppressed Recto accepted the offer and entered the ranks of The Harpers as a Watcher . REMINDER: POST YOUR MVP NOMINATIONS BELOW!
