Fresh of a restful sleep at the inn, as the party exits to head about their day they are confronted by nine Redbrand Bandit s.
Having heard from the nothic about being fed the bugbear head, and also seeing the other dead bugbears, the Redbrands came to enact vengeance for invading their lair
The Redbrands confront the party to figure out whose side they are on. It is clear they don't like the goblins and bugbears but did they come to the hideout for a discussion? Or, are they on the side of the orcs?
The party attempts to negotiate their way out of a conflict but the Redbrands will have none of it
Varis pulls back deep to the southeast while Dakari and Nyx shift to the east side of the inn. Zephyr remains in close for tighter action.
Sildar decides to join in the fight when two of the Redbrands decide to try and escape down the road to the east. Sildar, anticipating they are headed to the tap house to get help, encourages the party to stop them
Eventually, the previous mysterious man at the inn returns and reveals himself to be Glasstaff. However, Sildar knows him as it is his missing friend Iarno Albrek. The two get into a conflict and Sildar is saddened to discover that Iarno had turned evil.
Iarno, who is known as Glasstaff by his allies, admits to working with the Black Spider feeling that is a better option than the pitiful Lord's Alliance. He continues to speculate whether the party is working with the orcs who have recently come down from the mountain. He admits he doesn't know where Gundren is or the location of Cragmaw Castle.
With pressure mounting, Iarno enters the fight but as things get going, he is seen sipping from a potion and then soon after turns invisible.
The party works to take down the last few Redbrands and Nyx's portent reveals that Tasha's Hideous Laughter will work on Iarno.
Though still invisible, Iarno is soon after heard in a laughing fit just east of the inn after Nyx makes her strike.
The party chooses to kill Iarno which deeply saddens Sildar. Despite the conflict, Sildar refused to hurt his lost friend. He wishes the party would have made a different decision and imprisoned him instead.
