Session A03 – Tresendar Manor

Summary

The party infiltrated Tresendar Manor via the secret tunnel near the Alderleaf farm (located by the boy Carp). The tunnel was very tight — Jonah, Roland, and Kelvin had difficulty. Kavu had no problems. Their priority was rescuing the prisoners before the Redbrands could react.

Skeleton Guardians

The party discovered a side chamber containing three ancient stone sarcophagi with skeletons posed against them. Despite attempting to avoid provoking the dead, the skeletons animated as the party advanced into the room. They were defeated in a brief but tense fight.

Sarcophagi and the Tresendar Legacy

The tomb plaques identified the dead as:

• Elaine Tresendar — Lord of Phandalin, Pact protector
• Olaria Tresendar — wife of Elaine
• Aldith Tresendar ("The Black Hawk") — son, died fighting Orcs of Uruth Ukrypt (951 DR)

One signet ring had clearly been disturbed. When Roland replaced it in Aldith's tomb, he was contacted mentally by Aldith's spirit. The spirit probed directly into Roland's soul — causing him pain — but ultimately accepted that the party meant to reclaim the manor from the Redbrands. Aldith entrusted Roland with the Tresendar Signet Ring as proof of authority over the manor and gave him leave to wield the family sword Talon in defense of Phandalin. The message ended with an unfinished warning — possibly hinting at a curse tied to the sword or the family legacy.

The Prison Block

Beyond the crypt, the party forced the prison area on their own terms. Inside the cells they found captives in iron collars and chains:

• A grieving boy (whose father the Redbrands had killed)
• A woman and teenage girl — Thel Dendrar's family, kidnapped by Redbrands
• Alger Frakk — the missing blacksmith, found restrained in an adjoining armory

Also found in the hideout was Drizzle — a six-year-old goblin slave, forced to do washing and other menial tasks for the Redbrands. Kavu offered to take him in and give him a better life. Drizzle accepted and helped the party throughout the rest of the encounter.

Captured Redbrands were tied up and locked in their own cells. The prisoners were given keys, rations, and escorted toward safety.

The Nothic

In the natural cavern section of the hideout, the party became aware of something unnatural stalking them telepathically — a Nothic, lurking in the cistern. Rather than fight it mid-infiltration, the party parlayed. They offered the creature a deal: they would bring it food on a regular basis if it left them alone.

The Nothic agreed and let them pass. The deal held — for now.

Extraction and Daran Edermath

With prisoners in hand and resources running thin, the party withdrew from the manor rather than overextend. Outside, Daran Edermath intercepted them and agreed to see the rescued captives to safety. The party reported that surviving Redbrands remained locked in the cells below.

Key Loot

• Tresendar Signet Ring — proof of authority over the manor (Roland)

NPCs Encountered

Unresolved Threads

• Aldith's unfinished warning — possible curse tied to Talon or the Tresendar legacy
• Glasstaff / Iarno Albrek is deeper in the manor
• Drizzle — goblin slave freed by Kavu, now travelling with the party