We started this session with the aftermath of the battle with The Xanathars henchmen. Items of note on the would-be assassins: A +1 Silver Dagger and Bracers of Defense.
The group then started their trek back to Phandalin. The had stops in Thornhold, Carnath Roadhouse and Shadowhaven.
While drinking with the Dwarves in Thornhold, a rider burst into town with an important message from Durnan at the Yawning portal. He says that the Xanathar is fully aware of what the party is up to and not at all happy with them dispatching his minions. There is apparently another, larger group that is now in pursuit. The unnamed messenger then offers to take a decoy wagon and some pieces of Mithral to lead their pursuers in the wrong direction.
Ash has a bad feeling about this person and Cothana uses detect thoughts to discover that while the man will truly use the wagon as a decoy, he intends to keep the Mithral, instead of use it to fool Xanathars men.
Ash decides to give him more Mithral than he needs, so he may keep some while still using it as an effective decoy. This makes everyone happy and the unnamed stranger heads off towards the Mere of Dead Men.
The next day the group arrived at Carnath Roadhouse. There they heard a rumor that Shadowhaven had "returned" When Gobby heard Shadowhaven mentioned, he began to incessantly talk about getting more wine.
The party decides to stop at Shadohaven again and see if the town still exists. They see nothing when they arrive and set up camp at the edge of where they assumed the entrance to the town used to be. Seemingly out of nowhere, one of the towns people appear and ask why they are encamped just outside the town, when they are more than welcome to come in. This confuses the party and they ask him if he can actually see the town. He can. Most of the group enters the town and those wearing their rings can also see the town. There is clearly some powerful magic at work, but a detect magic is inconclusive.
We also learn that all of the city watch and several residents, ventured into the forest to investigate and never returned. The party convinces the remaining residents to evacuate to Phandalin.
Upon arriving in Phandalin, the group recounts the tale to Grimstead and the rest of the Guardians. This worries Grimstead, but he cannot worry about the Xanathar now , due to the larger threat of Mind Flayers. He tells the group to return for dinner and a ceremony.
They make their way to Barthens Provisions and retrieve their Mithral Chain Mail that was commissioned for them.
Upon returning to the manor, they find all the current Guardians in line with Tarvic leading the ceremony. The Party is welcomed into the GoTSC and all take the Oath of the Guardians. After an evening of food and drink, the Old Mage Elminster once again arrives in Phandalin.
He has heard that they have attracted the attention of Xanathar and warns them not to take this lightly. He also agrees to help the part get most of the way to Myth Drannor buy means of Teleportation. They arrive in Shadowdale in the Dalelands at Elminsters Tower.
Once in town, they meet Storm Silverhand (Lady Silverhand of Waterdeeps sister). They rent some horses from the stable and head towards the fabled Myth Drannor.