LMP: Red-branded

When we last left the crew, they rested briefly in their conquered half of Klarg's Cave (the goblins on the other side cut the bridge in hopes they would bugger off.) Returning back at Drakeneck Trail, their previous cargo still remained hidden, damp with morning dew. Thanks to handaxes and a vial of acid, easy work was made clefting the timber in twain and clearing the road. Dak, in a show of great strength, hauled off half of the timber all by his lonesome.   Embarking down the coniferous dirt trail to Kailia, our heroes interrogated Sildar, Gundren's captured 'bodyguard.' Lovingly referring to him as "Gunny", Sildar lamented they were riding ahead to meet Iarno, constable appointed by the Ochitan Lord's Alliance. Gundren and his miners buzzed about an 'unbelievable find' while prospecting in the Northern Wylds insisting that Sildar see it in person. Sildar's caravan did not make it, suffering a worse fate by goblins than that of his rescuers. Gundren and Sildar were bound and taken captive to Klarg's Cave. The dwarf was transferred to 'Cragmaw' with his kin while Sildar was to be ransomed or drowned/eaten.   The caravan soon crested the foothills overlooking Phandalin, a ramshackle outskirt palisaded from the now burnt ruin of Kailia. Dak, offering coin to two playing children (Carp and Pip), led the way to Barthen's Provisions. Elmar Barthen, general store owner expecting his delivery of mining equipment, elucidated the problems in 'Phandalin'; this rebuilt rural district was overrun and renamed a few months prior by an outfit of surly ruffians calling themselves Redbrands. Dawning red cloaks, they squashed descent through racketeering and detaining any that disagreed, solidifing their dominance within the town. At the Lionshield Coster, curt blacksmith Leanne vehemently condemned the Redbrands after rewarding the crew for her recovered provisions. Garith and Flint inelequently attempted to seduce the smithy with middling success; she agreed to deliver 'viled bolts' to them in the Stonehill Inn later in the evening.   At Stonehill Inn, Flint jury-rigged a music box together scoring a free meal for the crew. Pip, enticed by Dak's candy, revealed that his friend Carp knows where the Redbrand Hideout is. Leanne eventually arrived at the inn with Flint's iron-ringed bolts. After some drinks, rather heavy flirtation, and Flint's 'big boy' move, Leanne put the moves on Garith leading to an almost unsuccessful lay of the blacksmith.   At the break of day, our crew journeyed to Alderleaf Farm at the edge of Phandelin hoping to persuade the strange shortfolk child Carp. The kid skittishly had his 'mother', Qelline, deal with their inquiry. Qelly, a cloaked vulturine beast, sheltered her son suggesting our heroes speak to Reidoth, the knowledgeable ranger north of the wall, to find where the 'Redcloaks' hide. They soon left the farm, skimming the Drake Lake toward the wall. Carp quietly caught up to them and chastised them for tattling to his mom about his antics. The small child escorted them to the long destroyed Tresendar Manor. Within its ruins lay a clean cellar door into which our crew descended.   In the cellar of the broken manor, our crew discovered a highly maintained basement complete with traps and false walls. Sneaking into a makeshift bedroom, Dak firebolted one while Garith humanely offed two of the Redbrand ruffians with his sword leaving one left tied to a bed. This remaining ruffian claimed that 'Glasstaff' bought him as a slave and forced him into servitude. He was quickly gagged and locked in the storeroom while the crew had sights set on navigating the 'trap-laden' hall the ruffian warned of. Now disguised in crimson cloaks as Redbrands, they cowered slowly mage hand opening the trapped door. Deciding against the somber and dusty hallway, they traveled beyond a false wall into a death-ridden, cavernous room bisected by a deep crevasse. There, they 'encountered' a bizarre creature calling itself 'N'. In exchange for the recently dead bodies and a promise to deal with the bugbears behind him, N the nothic permitted our heroes to share in his treasure (the longsword Talon, a scroll of augury, and a torn map with notes written in dwarven runes.)   Moving in fast mode (as the session was creeping over 3 hours), the crew confronted a din of bugbears brutalizing a goblin. Those goblinoid thugs had locked the door, forcing our heroes instead into the opposing room. Encountering four drunken Redbrands seated playing knucklebones, our disguised heroes successfully passed themselves off as new recruits. So inebriated, the relaxing Redbrands allowed them audience Glasstaff regarding freeing the prisoners. Attached to Glasstaff's office appeared to be a makeshift alchemical laboratory rife with failed attempts to brew invisibility potions. Among the various notes and apparatus lay several old tomes describing an forgotten shrine known as Wave Echo Cave. The text described its various uses throughout history and several items commissioned to be forged in its magical furnace. Sneaking about, a small brown mouse spies on the crew as they wandered the room. Their cursory inspection complete, they barged into Glasstaff's quarters. The old bearded man confused, inquired who they are. Flint claimed they were "here to transport the prisoners." Glasstaff lifted an eyebrow in Carrie Fisher fashion, retorting with "Aren't you a little small for a Redbrand?" Flint, fed up with the constant critiques of his size, uttered his "Big Boy" words starting the fray.   Glasstaff cast hold person before Garith could lunge forward. Pleading for clemency, Glasstaff was interrupted by Garith's muffled words: "Don't listen to him! He's going to turn me into a rat!" Dak puked acid which Flint lit on fire hitting red-cloaked wizard. Glasstaff cast a tri-beamed magic missile striking the team. Garith, now freed, carved a mighty blow with Talon nearly felling the leader in a single blow. The wizard crumpled to the ground revealing himself as Iarno, supposed constable of Phandalin. Claiming the Redbrand's as his constabulary, Iarno attempted to flee upon mention that they are working with Sildar. Our crew tied him up and Garith deftly impersonated the wizard forcing the bugbears to release their goblin slave. Swearing to finish clearing the Manor later, they led their captive back into Phandalin to face Sildar's judgement...