Finally, we get our first glimpse of Glasstaff. Whether he’s off duty or merely making himself available for his Eeevil Wizard office hours isn’t specifically stated, but there was one little thing in the box text that caught my eye, which means it’s tangent time. Unless this is your first visit to Along The Triboar Trail, this should not surprise you in the slightest. But I’ll keep it brief. No need to buckle up. We’re just idling down the block.

In the text that describes Glasstaff, a reference is made to his “princely mantle of ermine.” Sounds fancy, right? Well, it is fancy. Extremely fancy. Fancypants fancy. Like “Ooooohhhh…look at me…” fancypants fancy. A mantle of ermine is a cloak that serves as a symbol of sovereign power, generally reserved for royalty.

Glasstaff’s choice of garb provides some insight into his head space. He views himself as the sovereign ruler of Phandalin. The Redbrands are more than just thugs. They are his levies. In his mind, Phandalin isn’t some backwater. It’s a petty kingdom. If the clothes make the man, it would seem Glasstaff is aiming for the look of a King.

A mantle would be worth a copper or two, so I’m surprised it wasn’t included in the list of treasures. Try not to get any blood on it! If fine clothes cost a Faerûnian clotheshorse 15 gp (five weeks wages for common slobs like you and I), then I’d value an ermine mantle at 150 gp. It’s the kind of thing where, if you strolled into some noble court in your dented plate and weather-beaten cloak wrapped in a mantle of ermine, you’d definitely be the subject of some gossip and courtly intrigue.

Ah, crap. I did it again, didn’t I? Where was I? Transforming Glasstaff’s Quarters into a living space fit for an Eeevil Wizard. Right.

Some fun additions to Glasstaff’s living quarters, for your consideration:

• If you’ve been reading through my suggestions this week, you’ve likely come to the conclusion that I have an affection for utility spells. If Glasstaff is not present in his quarters when the party arrives, I could totally envision an unseen servant waiting by the door with slippers in one invisible hand, and a glass of Wyvern Whiskey in the other. What? You think a guy who strolls around like a boss in his mantle of ermine is going to lower himself to sip at something like Wizard’s Quaff or Wyrmmwizz? I don’t think so.
• I’d like to think anyone with a waterproof satchel stashed in a cistern prepped for the first sign of trouble would take extra precautions with his escape route. A casting of Arcane Lock on the secret door leading to his quarters seems like a no-brainer for someone with an Intelligence score of 17. Lock that secret door down, and don’t hand Glasstaff to the characters on a silver platter. There’s nothing more anticlimactic than surprising a wizard seated at his writing table reading from The Nymph Said No. If you’re hesitant to go that far, consider a casting of Alarm in secret passage, which is meant solely for his use. He should absolutely know if someone is using the secret passage.
• Circling back to that waterproof satchel for a moment: hanging it from a peg in the secret passage that only he knows about would make quite a bit more sense than submerging it in a cistern. It’s like Glasstaff is trying to outsmart himself. Stop it.
• Let’s add some loot to this place. What pricey trinkets would an Eeevil Wizard styling himself as a King have laying about the place? Consider adding these items to the current contents of:
  • Writing Desk
    • The contents of a scholar’s pack: a bottle of ink, an ink pen, 10 sheets of parchment, a little bag of sand, a small knife, and a book of lore. If you’re planning on taking your party to Agatha’s Grove, Logger’s Camp, Woodland Manse, Falcon’s Hunting Lodge, or Circle of Thunder at any point in the future, I’d recommend The Neverwinter Wood as the book of lore.
    • A magnifying glass
    • A lamp with a casting of Continual Flame
    • An hourglass
    • Sealing wax and a seal
    • A half-written reply to Nezznar The Black Spider’s message. He’s reporting back on a complication (the party), and describes each of the members of the party in some catty, unflattering way.
  • Unlocked Wooden Chest
    • A set of fine clothes
    • A bottle of perfume
    • A vial of alchemist’s fire
    • A vial of antitoxin
    • A vial of truth serum
    • A hand crossbow with 10 bolts
    • A disguise kit
    • A viol
    • An orb

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