So I’m currently running Phandelver And Below as a first time DM - it’s been very fun and I’ve been rly enjoying it. However, I’m not sure with how to proceed from here.
So last session the party captured glasstaff and interrogated him for the location of Cragmaw Castle. I ruled it that he doesn’t know where it is because the spider tries to keep all parts of her plan seperate so no one person can rat them out, however he did tell them that every few days a messenger comes to pass information from him back to The Spider.
The party plans to dress up as redbrands, give the messenger a forged letter and then tail him back to the castle to find where it is. Overall, quite a good plan. However - the spider has a spy who overheard this entire conversation. This all took place in the town hall and the town master’s wife is a doppelgänger. I made sure to mention multiple times that you notice her standing around while important conversations took place and nobody seemed to pick up on it.
So my thought was that when they go to Tresendar Manor the Spider will be waiting there to ambush them. I think that could be a very good roleplay moment as they get to meet the villain face-to-face properly, but also I worry that it would feel like a cop out to have their whole plan negated because “well a spy overheard you, sorry”. What should I do here?