1. The Adventure Begins

Cole, Mantis, and Rathgar ventured to Phandalin to find it terrorized by the Redbrands, a gang of miscreants led by a mysterious figure called Glasstaff. The Redbrands try to run the party out of town, so the party return the favor and storm the Redbrand lair. In a hidden stronghold beneath an old manor, they find that Iarno “Glasstaff” Albrek, the leader of the Redbrands, is taking his orders from someone called the Black Spider, and that the Black Spider wants the adventurers out of the picture.

After spending some time searching for clues to the Black Spider’s location, they eventually uncover a lead pointing to Cragmaw Castle, which is the stronghold of King Grol, leader of the Cragmaw goblins. Here the party discover that the Black Spider is a drow adventurer named Nezznar, and that the Cragmaw goblins work for him. More importantly, they recover Gundren Rockseeker’s map to the lost mine,

Following the map or the directions to the lost mine brings the party to Wave Echo Cave. That lost underground complex is now overrun by undead and strange monsters. Nezznar the Black Spider is there with his loyal followers, exploring the mines and searching for the legendary Forge of Spells. The party ensures the prosperity and security of Phandalin by clearing the rich mine of its monsters, and to put an end to the troublemaking of the Black Spider.

During the course of this journey, each member of the party obtains a relic. Cole finds a Raven's Feather, Mantis finds a Crumpled Page, and Rathgar finds a Dragon's Scale.