Redbrands

The Redbrands are a group of bandits and brigades that, in approximately 1480 DR, have settled in the resettled frontier town of Phandalin near the Triboar and the Sword Mountains. With no local lord or powerful authority within the small town, the Redbrands have been able to harass the farmers and prospectors for the past two months. Many were afraid of standing up to the bandit group, including the townsmaster, the closest thing to local authority Phandalin had, Harbin Wester.

Appearance
The Redbrands mostly consisted of humans, male and female, although a handful of halflings are known to have been in the bandit group. Each Redbrand was known to wear a simple, dirty scarlet cloak. The cloaks were known to stop the undead in their hideout in Phandalin, from attacking them.

Leaders
The direct leader of the Redbrands is a short, dark-bearded human wizard named '''Iarno Albrek. He is simply known to most, however as Glasstaff '''for his weapon of choice, a magic staff made of glass. Iarno was initially a member of the Lords' Alliance, who was sent to the town of Phandalin to establish constabulary (as the town did not have a powerful authority). However, sometime in the 1480s DR, Iarno broke ties with the faction and created the Redbrands under the guidance of '''Nezznar the Black Spider. '''Iarno knew of Nezznar from his contacts in the Lords' Alliance and negotiated a meeting with the drow, seeing a chance to line his pockets.

Nezznar, also known as the Black Spider, is a drow who was in search of the Forge of Spells. The drow promised a share to Iarno in exchange for loyalty and aid. Nezznar was the true leader, controlling the Redbrands (as well as a tribe of goblins and bugbears called the Cragmaws) in the hopes of finding Wave Echo Cave and unlocking its secrets (also keeping it a secret for himself). Nezznar had many spies reaching all the way to Neverwinter.