Session A14 — Bonus Session

Summary

The party returns to Phandalin from the Roc's Nest area with their new companion Haldak. On the road back, they are ambushed by a drow scouting party from House Baenre — the first indication that Othorion is being actively hunted. Once back in town, Haldak begins connecting with Phandalin's history through an old dialect, and the party plans their next moves.

Key Events

• Drow Ambush on the Road — a House Baenre scouting party hit them while returning to Phandalin

  • Othorion moved ahead of the party alone to investigate suspicious movement in the treeline
  • The drow had been waiting — Othorion was swarmed and nearly killed
  • Haldak cast Darkness over Othorion's position, blinding the drow and covering a desperate retreat
  • The party pulled Othorion back; the drow melted back into the wilderness without pressing the pursuit
  • From the party's perspective: the first confirmed active assassination attempt by House Baenre on Othorion in the field
  • Zilnath led the scouting party — Othorion's House Baenre cousin; this is the ambush referenced as "previously KO'd Othorion on the road" in later Luskan intelligence

• Mainestrid Copperlocks threatened to replace the party's representative

• Barthan recognized the old dialect and conversed with Haldak

• Haldak requested historical books from Barthan

• Discussed plans for renovating the manor's facilities with Sildar

• Daran Eddermath offered Kavu membership in the Order of the Gauntlet

• Daran was humming a strange tune about a Kenku named "Rain falling on a falling roof"

• Received 100gp reward for dealing with the orcs (20gp per person)

• Boulders for Muscles serenaded Lenine Greywind

• Party decided to head to Thundertree to find Kragmaw Castle

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

• 100gp reward for dealing with orcs
• Historical books on Netheral
• Political information about Phandalin's situation

Party Notes

• Party becomes more established in Phandalin
• Haldak's heritage connection strengthens
• Party wealth increases

Threads Opened / Advanced

• House Baenre (apparent): The road ambush looks like an active assassination campaign — Othorion believes he is being hunted; Zilnath has his location
• Zilnath / Jarlaxle Baenre: [GM: the ambush was theatre — ordered by Jarlaxle as political cover; Zilnath went easy] — Othorion's cousin accused him of murder; the question of what Zilnath genuinely wants vs. what he's been told to do is unresolved
• Thundertree: Next destination for information on Kragmaw Castle
• Kragmaw Castle: Primary target for the next arc
• Town Politics: Mainestrid Copperlocks becomes potential adversary