The party gathered round Sildar's bed. Time for questions.
Sildar explained that he is a member of the Crotalan Accord. part of his reason for coming to Phandelin was to find out what had ahppened to another Crotal agent, Iarno Albresk. Iarno was sent to the town several months ago, to set up a town militia and generally provide a Crotalan presence in the area (follwoing the organisations's policy of "visible deterrant"). Iarno hasn't sent dispatches for three months, so Sildar is here to find out why.
The party explained their belief that Iarno and Glastaff, bandit leader, are one and the same. Sildar could not explain this (and didn't seem all that convinced that it is even true).
Sister Garaele, the healer in charge of Sildar, gave the party a job. They are to take a silver comb to Rulinna, a banshee who lives several days away, give it to her and ask the location of a particular book.
The party arranged to rent horses and tack from Barthen's Provisions.
That evening, Diero, having escaped from one angry husband, tried it on with another of the ladies. Rufilim started a musical duel and shot Diero down, hard. It turned out to be about the only good roll Rufilim's player had all night.
A logger named Gauwyn caused consternation when he asked Nahendra about "the book". Apparently Nahendra had asked Gauwyn's brother Vinte about borrowing a book. Nahendra had no idea what was going on. Nahendra actually threated Vinte, causing Vinte to slam the door. (?) went back later and smoothed things out. Asking around, it seems Nahendra did collect the book. A couple of people saw him walking out of town.
The Party rode south. Their plan is to head to castle not by following the Goblin instructions but by riding clockwise around the forest.
Nahendra tracked his double's tracks a few hundred yards out of town, when they stopped.
The party encountered some stirges around lunchtime. One excellent crossbow hit and one sleep spell took care of them.
Late in the afternoon, Oskar and Diero scouted the castle. Badly. They looked at the front of the fort, were spotted, were fired upon, and fled.
More stirges. Rufilim shot one with a crossbow. He didn't wake anyone up, though, so the rest of the stirges happily fed on the horses.
Early in the morning, the party arrived at the castle. Electing not to scout, they split up and ran at the front of the building. Several were injured by goblin archers.
Some of them ran in the front door and turned left. Some of them ran in the front door and turned right. One climbed the outside of the left tower. One climbed the outside of the right tower. Inside were four goblins and four hobgoblins.
We ended the session in the middle of combat. Several combats, actually, since the part were split up in three different rooms at the time.
51 XP each for 2 encounters with stirges, total 1075 XP.