The adventurers escort Sildar Hallwinter back to Phandalin. Along the way he tells them about The Phandelver’s Pact and how Gundren Rockseeker, along with his brothers, found the legendary Wave Echo Cave. Sildar believes that Gundren and his map to the entrance of the cave were taken to the Cragmaw Castle. Cragmaw Castle is ruled by a goblin, yet Sildar doesn’t think he’s acting alone. While being held prisoner, Sildar overheard that the order to capture Gundren and his map came from someone or something called ‘The Black Spider’. He urges the adventurers to continue their search for Gundren and believes that someone in Phandalin may know the whereabouts of Cragmaw Castle.

They reach Phandalin just after the sun rises on the 17th of Tarsakh and head to The Stonehill Inn. Sildar has a quest of his own to take care of. He’s been dispatched by The Lord’s Alliance to find another of its members, a human wizard named Iarno Albrek. He says that Iarno was sent to Phandalin months ago to retain order and to disband a group of thugs known as The Redbrands, but no one has heard from him since his arrival.

The adventurers learn that the Redband’s plague of violence has worsened in the days since they were gone. More and more townsfolk are begging for help. The adventurers agree to look into the Redbrand problem as well as its leader — someone known as Glass Staff. First, they get some much needed rest, though Lilvari doesn’t sleep very well that night. The next morning, after leaving the Stonehill Inn, Mystic runs into a fan and signs an autograph. At the Shrine of Luck, Lilvari agrees to help Sister Garaele find Agatha, a banshee who lurks near the abandoned town of Conyberry. All she’s to do is ask Agatha a single question: where to find a spell book belonging to a legendary mage named Bowgentle.

Under Tresendar Manor: The Redbrands’ Hideout

With the help of the villagers, the adventurers find a tunnel leading to the Redbrands’ lair beneath Tresendar Manor. There, they meet a very disturbed and very hungry nothic. The nothic decides to let them live (after being bribed with some food). The creature seems to know some of Ajax’s darkest secrets. After sharing them with the group, it also shares another bit of information — the way forward. The adventurers listen to its advice and find a secret entrance to a cellar-type area. There, they come across several Redbrands. The Redbrands put up a fight but eventually fall — several being scorched by Ajax’s fiery breath. The adventurers decide to feed the Redbrands to the nothic. They also ‘borrow’ several dirty red cloaks that are hanging about. With luck, the disguises will help them progress further into the hideout undetected…