Session A04 – Glasstaff Captured

Summary

The party continued clearing Tresendar Manor. The Nothic — which had let them pass in A03 in exchange for food — decided to amend the deal on their return with Sildar Hallwinter and Daran Edermath. It had read Kelvin's mind and threatened to go after Pip if they failed to deliver. Kavu killed it with radiant fire. In the cistern below, the party recovered Talon — Aldith Tresendar's ancestral blade. They then cleared a barracks room — Sildar and the constable kicking off the fight by announcing the arrest. Four Redbrand toughs were overwhelmed, one kept alive for questioning. The party breached Glasstaff's study and captured him — Iarno Albrek, Sildar's man sent ahead to Phandalin, turned traitor for the Black Spider. The manor was secured and the deed passed to the party.

Key Events

The Nothic's Mistake

On the return to the manor with Sildar Hallwinter and Daran Edermath, the Nothic decided to renegotiate. It had been reading minds — specifically Kelvin's — and learned about Pip. It threatened to go after her if the party ever failed to bring food.

That ended the negotiation. The party attacked the Nothic in the cistern. It lashed out — clawing at Jonah, trying to shove Kelvin into the pit — but Kavu delivered the killing blow, raising his holy symbol and screaming "Get out of my head!" before disintegrating the creature in radiant fire.

Roland bent down to Kavu's level and said: "Good job, Kavu." Kavu walked to the ash pile: "That's for threatening my friends."

The GM noted that if anyone looked at Roland, he was extremely relieved the Nothic was dead. It had been a Nothic for a very long time.

Talon Identified

In the cistern below where the Nothic had lurked, the party recovered a chest. Roland and Jonah performed a joint arcana check. Runes glowed on the blade inside, revealing its name: Talon — a +1 longsword, hilt worked into the shape of a bird of prey with outspread wings. The blade of Aldith Tresendar, the Black Hawk.

Roland attuned to it. The boon: cast Feather Fall as a reaction, once per day.

Daran Edermath recognised the sword immediately: "Boy, do you know the history of that blade?" Roland explained he had spoken with Aldith's ghost through the signet ring. Daran confirmed the family history. Sildar Hallwinter nodded in approval.

Barracks Fight

Pressing deeper into the manor, the party hit a barracks room. The constable announced the arrest in the name of the law, kicking off the fight. Four Redbrand toughs were inside — drinking and gambling. Sildar Hallwinter proved immediately and terrifyingly competent. The party overwhelmed them, with the last surviving thug surrendering with his hands up. One Redbrand was kept alive for questioning.

Glasstaff Captured

The party breached the north door — the one with ethereal green flickering light behind it. Inside was Glasstaff, revealed to be Iarno Albrek — the man Sildar had sent ahead to Phandalin to establish a line of credit and handle affairs. He had turned traitor, seizing the opportunity to gain wealth as the Redbrand leader.

Key interrogation reveals:

• His boss is "The Black Spider" — a drow, searching for Wave Echo Cave
• The Black Spider sent 3 bugbears to assist, including Mosk (whom the party had knocked out)
• Iarno received a letter from the Black Spider the day of his capture
• Dwarven maps to Wave Echo Cave's general area were found in his study

Mosk gave a rough area for Cragmaw Castle's location in exchange for being untied.

Manor Secured

The party obtained the deed to Tresendar Manor. Sildar Hallwinter proposed selling the manor to the party collectively — with a large discount in exchange for clearing it out — to serve as both residence and constabulary.

NPCs Encountered

Threads Opened

• Talon & Tresendar Legacy — What exactly was the "curse" Aldith mentioned before fading?
• The Black Spider — a drow searching for Wave Echo Cave; Glasstaff's boss
• Cragmaw Castle — location now roughly known; Gundren and the map are there
• Manor Deed — Roland holds proof of ownership; party must decide the estate's future