Session 6 - Old Owl Watchtower

General Summary

The party spends the night in the hills near the Wyvern Tor. 9th day of Tarsakh The sky is overcast as they make their way back down into the canyon and Reg leads them to the northeast towards the Old Owl Watchtower. On the way they encounter a couple of miners heading down the trail. They tell the party that a sick looking human attacked them and bit one of the miners The party continues up in to the hills until they come to a bridge crossing a gulch. On the other side they climb up a switchback trail that leads to the top of a grassy hill. There they see the ruins of the ancient fallen tower scattered about the hillside. When the party arrives at the top of the hill, they find a large red and white tent at the top next to the ruins. It has a red flag fluttering in the wind on top. Suddenly they spot a couple of zombies shuffling out of the ruins. Exil shoots one with a crossbow and Rake climbs the hill towards one. Rainar kills one and the flap to the tent flies open and a bald wizard in red robes comes out. "Stop!" he shouts and the zombies freeze. "What is the meaning of this attack?" The party tells him that the zombies have been attacking miners in the area and they came to investigate. The wizard introduces himself as Hamun Kost, from Thay. He claims the zombies are merely his protection out here in the wild. He tells them that there is a lair of orcs in the area and he needed to protect himself. "These are people's relatives man." Cullen berates the necromancer.
"Their spirits have departed to a better plane of existence my friend." Kost replies. "These are but animated tools that I use for my work." The druid is less than convinced. Rainar asks the wizard why he is here. He tells him this is a ruin from the ancient Nethril empire and he is here studying the history of the place. "I wish I knew the name of the Architect," He muses. "There is a banshee to the north of here that knows, but she got very hostile when I approached to ask her." The party says they know of the banshee and he asks them if they would ask her the name of the Old Owl Tower's builder. He offers to pay them 100 gp. They agree and leave the hill top.
They descend back down into the valley and camp for the night. During Jowynn's watch, a hungry owlbear lumbers out of the darkness and attacks. Jowynn is severely injured but fortunately the battle awakens the rest of the party (except for Reg). Breven is able to stabilize the elf while Cullen transforms into a bear. Rake and Cullen flank the owlbear, Exil fires a crossbow and Rainar tries to push the beast back. The owlbear tears into Cullen as Rainar and Rake attack. Rainar swings his glaive overhead and brings it down on the creature's neck, killing it.
"Hey mates!" Reg grumbles. "Keep it down, Reg is trying to sleep."
10th day of Tarsakh The party heads north and then turns east on the Triboar Trail as a storm rolls in. They seek shelter in the ruined town of Conyberry and wait for the storm to subside. Conyberry was destroyed by barbarians several years ago. As the rain slackens, they move north and into a dark primeval forest.

The forest grows dark and still as the trail winds deeper into the trees. Heavy vines and thick layers of moss drape the branches, and the air is noticeably colder than it was in the ruined village.
Suddenly something small buzzes by Exil's ear and then in front of Jowynn's face. "Hello! I am Ruby!" A small red-headed pixie! They can hear Rainar groan "No...." as it darts behind a tree and from the other side a red-headed elf figure emerges seductively covered in leaves and vines. "Rainar!" She scolds. "Where have you been hiding, my husband? I have been looking everywhere for you!"
Everyone looks incredulously at the warrior who has put his head down in his hand. "I have come to get you my love!" the pixie says. "Come with me into the forest."
"I cannot!" Rainar says looking up. "I am on a quest for my family!"
"But I am your family now!" Ruby replies.
"How the hells did she find you out here in the forest man?" Cullen asks.
The pixie tries to steal Rainar away by casting confusion on him, but he eventually pulls away and snaps at the pixie. "I told you no!" he says. "I have work to do."
"Very well!" she replies angrily. "I will be back for you soon!" She pops invisible and buzzes away.
Rounding a bend in the trail, they see a screen made from the warped branches of trees standing close together, woven into a domelike shelter in the shadows. A low doorway leads inside. A home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft. The air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips them. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She might have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. "Foolish mortals," she snarls. "What do you want here? Do you not know it is death to seek me out?"
Breven shakily walks forward and presents the silver comb that Sister Garaele gave him.
The ghostly figure smiles with cold amusement. "Very well," she says. "I know that you seek many things. Ask me one question, and I will give you an answer."
Breven asks Agatha about Bowgentle's spellbook, Agatha tells him that she traded the book to a necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriaebor more than a hundred years ago. She does not know what became of the book afterward.
The party tries to ask her the question for Hamun Kost.
"What do you have to offer me?" she rasps.
They stumble for a few moments but do not produce anything that would interest the banshee. With a disgusted flourish she vanishes.
They return to the Triboar Trail and camp for the night. 11th day of Tarsakh The next day the party heads south and back into the canyon to to the watchtower to visit Hamun Kost again.

The party gathers around him when he comes out of his tent as Jowynn sneaks around the hillside to approach the wizards tent from behind. Inside the tent she finds it is well furnished with a bed, reading desk, chest, lamps, carpet and a work table in the center. As the party speaks with him outside, she examines the work table. There are a few artifacts on the table that he apparently excavated from the ruins. A dark medium shield with runes along the edge and a small black box. She takes the box.
Outside the party tells them the name of the necromancer they got from Agatha, "Tsernoth"
Hamun Kost thanks the party for the name and presents them with a 100 gp pearl.
They return to the valley floor and spend the night.
12th day of Tarsakh They travel west all day and camp once more at the crossroads to Phandalin.
The party discovers that the black box contains a pair of magical stones that allows whoever is holding the stones to send a message to each other once per day.
13th day of Tarsakh The party returns to Phandalin that afternoon and finds the town is preparing a feast to celebrate the end of the harassment from the redbrands and the safe return of Mirna Dendrar and her children.
As they enter town the party overhears the townfolk stop and say "Look! There are the adventurers that Haila Thornton hired to run the Redbrands out of town."
"Yes sir, Thanks to Halia, Glasstaff and his minions are no more!"
"She's got my vote for Townmaster come next election!"
"Halia Thornton is paying for all this food and drink! So generous!"
"She's done more in a tenday than Harbin Wester has done in two years!"
The next election for Townmaster is Mirtul 1, next month.