Enter the Wave Echo Cave

Synopsis
After taking a long rest, the party heads back to Phandalin, now in possession of all the keys except the Black Spider's. Back in Phandalin, they collect their last rewards and seek allies to accompany them on their venture into the Wave Echo Cave to find out what happened to the two remaining Rockseeker brothers and deal with the Black Spider. Daran Edermath does not want to join them, claiming his adventuring days aare over. Sildar Hallwinter, however, joins them, having an interest in finding the dwarfs too.

In the evening, the party has a fun night of drinking (too much), which results in a huge hangover for some of the party members. With a pounding head, they and Sildar follow the map to the entrance of the Wave Echo Cave. Just after the entrance, they come across the dead body of Tharden Rockseeker, dead for quite some time. They continue on into the mines, and with Caldarion in wolf form, follow the freshest airdraft and emerge into a grand hall. They find two rooms, one containing a bunch of ghouls, and slay them after they had been noticed. Nate also finds some skeletons in a tower room, but does not proceed to enter the room. Brottor does not have the same reservations and enters, leading to the skeletons rising from the floor and attacking. However, they are quickly dispatched by the party.