Little Band of Miscreants

**"Little Band of Miscreants"** is the second episode of *Song of Stone and Secrets*, airing on August 25th, 2023.

The session was DMed by TanisJr93 and hosted on his channel on Twitch.

## Summary

*...continued from session one*
Having rescued Syldar Hallwinter from the squad of goblins holding him prisoner, the party rests shortly to recuperate before resolving to confront Klarg elsewhere in the caverns. Anaslyn sets the body of one of the dead goblins on fire and attaches it to the head of his Greataxe, leading the group into a northern tunnel and across the bridge they had previously seen; reaching the far side, he accidentally activates a spike trap, managing to dodge out of the way and stumble back onto the bridge before continuing forward. Rounding a corner, a goblin shoots an arrow at him but misses before casting away his bow and fleeing, and Anaslyn pursues the creature into a cavern with a waterfall and two pools of water that lead to the stream that had previously flooded.

Entering the cavern, Anaslyn discovers crates and sacks of looted provisions piled along the staircase to block the passage, and spots Klarg alone inside the adjacent cavern where the wolf and second group of goblins had previously been gathered. The Barbarian launches into a rage and rushes up the staircase to smash through the crates, at which point three goblins stand from behind the barricade and shoot arrows, all of which strike the flaming goblin corpse attached to the Greataxe. Róisín immediately *wildshape*s into a giant spider, causing Sam to experience a visceral reaction before he manages to regain his composure, and Anaslyn hurls the flaming goblin corpse into the firepit within the cavern, dousing two of archers with fiery coals.

Sam casts *Vicious Mockery* on the more injured goblin, killing it as Klarg strikes Anaslyn with a javelin; Oswald casts *Magic Missile* to destroy the crates blocking the staircase, allowing Syldar to rush into the cavern and kill the second injured archer. Another goblin shoots an arrow at Anaslyn and misses as Klarg's wolf emerges from a secluded crevasse and attempts to bite the Barbarian, who blocks the attack with the haft of his Greataxe; he attempts to retaliate, but misses the wolf as well, and is unable to make his way around the creature to get any further into the cavern. Volrik then grapples the wolf and pulls it out of the staircase, dragging it to one of the two pools while Róisín climbs the wall to the ceiling and attempts to shoot webbing at Klarg, hitting the fire instead.

Two goblins strikes Syldar with a pair of vicious scimitar as Sam casts *Vicious Mockery* on the wolf, which attempts to bite Volrik but fails as the Fighter headbutts the creature before striking at it with his longsword and missing, dropping it into the water instead. Klarg swings his morningstar at Anaslyn and misses, after which Anaslyn swings his Greataxe at the bugbear and also misses before teleporting into the cavern behind the creature, who Oswald then strikes with three *Magic Missile*s. Syldar kills two more goblins with a pair of longsword attacks, after which Volrik rushes into the chamber to deliver a devastating Greatsword attack that kills Klarg, and Oswald pulls the lever to flush one of the pools out of the tunnel, carrying the wolf away downstream.

Investigating the chamber, Róisín recognizes the crest on many of the crates as the symbol of the Lionshield Coster, a trading post in Phandalin. The group also finds a chest containing 600 copper pieces, 110 silver pieces, two potions of healing, and a jade statuette of a frog with tiny golden orbs for eyes; Volrik claims the frog statuette and one of the healing potions while Anaslyn claims the other, and Sam and Oswald search the cavern system to determine that Gundrun's map is still missing. Volrik also collects Klarg's morningstar, and the group uses the pieces of the crates that Oswald shattered to build a makeshift sled and pile the remaining provisions onto it before Róisín hauls the supplies out of the cavern and along the path in her spider form.

Returning to the Triboar Trail, the group finds their wagon and ox, and transfers the provisions as Róisín transforms back into her elven-self before continuing eastward for a few more hours before reaching the town of Phandalin. Róisín, Anaslyn, and Sam visit the Lionshield Coster to return the stolen goods they recovered in exchange for a 50 gold reward from the proprietor, while Oswald and Volrik accompany Syldar to Barthen's Provisions to deliver the mining equipment and receive their 50 gold payment, learning from Elmar Barthen that Gundrun's brothers, Nundro and Tharden, will be returning from the mines within the next few days. He further explains that the town has been dealing with a gang calling itself the Redbrands, who have been shaking down local businesses for protection money, and that the gang frequents the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

Syldar suggests getting some rest before making a decision as Róisín, Anaslyn, and Sam rejoin the group, which heads to the Stonehill Inn in the center of town; Oswald boisterously announces to the patrons that he is a wizard, prompting Róisín to cast *Thorn Whip* on him, after which he snaps his fingers for service, prompting Sam to turn his chair so that he is technically sitting at an adjacent table. The group orders ale, mead, and beer, which a barmaid delivers to them as Sam asks what Anaslyn remembers about the last few days; the Barbarian describes the trip from Neverwinter to Phandalin accurately with the exception of his own abilities and his weapon, and Oswald asks if he can watch Anaslyn sleep.

The Barbarian declines as Syldar retires for the evening, and Anaslyn inquires about "the traditional fight in the tavern," which the proprietor advises against it, suggesting instead that the Barbarian limit any brawling to the Sleeping Giant Tap House. Sam talks Anaslyn out of heading across town immediately, and the two share a room while Oswald and Volrik share another room and Róisín sleeps alone. As Sam and Anaslyn settle into their individual reveries, the Barbarian bundles up entirely in blankets, and Sam spends most of the night writing in his journal about the events of the day and the "interesting fellow who is many fellows and doesn't seem to know it."

During the night, Volrik experiences a dream in which he finds himself in a cavern similar to Klarg's, and realizes that the ceiling and the walls are are crawling with thousands upon thousands of spiders; in the darkness, he spots a pair of bright white eyes watching him, and senses that the creature has malicious intent. Before he can make out any features, he wakes to find Oswald watching him, and checks on the rest of the party, who are waking for the morning themselves; Oswald follows, and they discover Anaslyn is no longer in the form of a male High Elf with a Greataxe, but a female Dark Elf carrying a staff. Sam accompanies Anaslyn downstairs while Oswald searches the area around the bed, sensing an entanglement in the fabric of the Weave itself.

The party meets with Syldar, who explains that he will look for information about Gundrun and the goblins that ambushed them, and requests that Oswald and Volrik learn what they can about the Redbrands; Volrik then describes his dream to the party, and Sam suggests that his mind was simply processing the sight of Róisín's spider form during the battle the previous day. Róisín speaks with Leanne about the Redbrands, learning that the gang overran the town "a few months ago" and have been gathering at the Sleeping Giant Tap House; Róisín tips the barmaid and returns to the party, sharing what she learned, and Syldar advises the group to deal with the Redbrands cautiously. Anaslyn learns from him that the most likely source of historical documents about Phandalin would be Elmar Barthen, after which Syldar leaves the Inn.

Volrik suggests that the subtle approach and the direct approach will both result in a fight, though Róisín suggests that the group visit the Sleeping Giant as patrons before attempting to confront the Redbrands. The group divides their recent acquisitions while discussing their favorite wizards: Oswald suggests himself, Leanne suggests Elminster, and Samael admits that he is partial to Karsus. They then depart the Inn, discussing various songs and stories before returning to Barthen's Provisions and selling him the jade frog statuette for 38 gold, after which they make their way to the eastern side of town toward the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

*continued in session three...*
## Notes

* The events of the session occurred on 5-6 Flamerule 1491 DR.
* Alternate titles for the episode include, but are not limited to:
	+ "In the Town of Phandalin"
	+ "A Mark on the Weave"
	+ "Cloak and Dagger"
	+ "Too Small of a Place"

## Quotes

* "You smell that cheese? There's debris everywhere!" – Volrik the Grey (12:16)
* "Klarg has been waiting! You take too long! Come, and die!" – Klarg
* "Klarg: your goblins are terrible shots!" – Oswald Fireshield
* "Disgusting, yet effective!" – Oswald Fireshield
* "I'm gonna kick these goblins asses, wizard-style!" – Oswald Fireshield
* "Uh: you know, most people in the beginning of battle get *cold* feet, but it looks like you're having the opposite problem." – Samael Santara (*Vicious Mockery*)
* "You know, I think that goblin's into arson!" – Volrik the Grey
* "Hey, Volrik: they got plenty of questions you should axe them!" – Samael Santara (25:05, giving bardic inspiration)
* "He's canine feet tall!" – Oswald Fireshield (29:56)
* "Uh: you know, usually the smell of wet dog is pretty rancid, but I would prefer that over how this one smells already." – Samael Santara (*Vicious Mockery*)
* "You gotta do better than that, honey!" – Anaslyn Autumn
* "Your reign of terror ends here, Klarg!" – Syldar Hallwinter
* "*You'll* have to do better too!" – Klarg
* "Guys: it turns out that, uh, Klarg is bisectional." – Samael Santara
* "I'm not very smart, but I'm good at long division." – Volrik the Grey
* "Klarg: you didn't have to go to pieces over that." – Anaslyn Autumn
* "He's half the man he used to be." – Samael Santara
* "At least we know he's got guts." – Anaslyn Autumn
* "I just didn't have any leverage." – Samael Santara
* "What a royal flush." – Oswald Fireshield
* "Volrik: I didn't know you were that good at division!" – Syldar Hallwinter
* "As long as they can hear me, I can hurt `em." – Samael Santara
* "Yes, that's right, everyone in the tavern staring: I am a wizard. I do know how to read in multiple languages." – Oswald Fireshield
* "Good, good! Enjoy your food in the presence of a wizard!" – Oswald Fireshield
* "Anaslyn, can I watch you sleep?" – Oswald Fireshield
* "Let me put it this way: let's save some coin, we'll all bunk together. I'll stay up and stare at you for most of the night." – Oswald Fireshield
* "Do you sleep a spider, or as a person?" – Oswald Fireshield
* "Trance-form." – TanisJr93
* "I'm going to try to get you as drunk as possible in the hopes that you'll pass out, and I can watch it happen." – Oswald Fireshield
* "I was going to bid you adieu, and now he's bidding you a don't." – Samael Santara
* "Oswald: unless you want to get intimately acquainted with *Magic Missile* in places that you don't want it to be, I suggest you leave me the hell alone." – Anaslyn Autumn
* "It's academic; I have a method!" – Oswald Fireshield
* "I have been asked on to stay with this, uh, little band of miscreants, and I was wondering... What's up with... these Redbrand people? They weren't here the last time I was around." – Róisín Meadowlark
* "My lever-pulling arm is a little sore, but I am ready to go." – Oswald Fireshield
* "Fools have their uses." – Anaslyn Autumn
* "I do like fights that are unfairly in my favor." – Oswald Fireshield
* "We will sing the song of the Redbrand's demise." – Samael Santara
* "The greatest wizard that only reads in crayon." – Anaslyn Autumn
* "Anaslyn: was that *Vicious Mockery*? Because it was both vicious, and mocking." – Samael Santara