Halia Thornton

Halia Thornton is a prominent businesswoman and politician in the village of Phandalin.

Since the early days of the town's existence, Halia Thornton made her coin as the owner and manager of Phandalin's Miner Exchange, a place where prospectors can have their valuable finds weighed and sold for cash.

In the aftermath of the Phandelver Adventure, however, Halia Thornton was appointed as Townmaster Silverthorn's assistant, a role in which she serves ably and efficiently. She continues to serve as assistant townmaster and owner of the Miner's Exchange, wielding considerable economic and political power in the village.

Her affiliation with the Zhentarim, though known to the Heroes of Phandalin, remains a secret to most of Phandalin.

Involvement in the Phandelver Adventure
For the most part, Halia Thornton played the part of spectator in the course of the Phandelver Adventure, neither approaching the Heroes of Phandalin nor being approached herself.

Yet when the time came for the Phandelver Adjudication, Halia Thornton took the initiative in making herself and her position known to the party. Halia Thornton's public position was that Phandalin had the right to Phandelver Mine, and that a mine owed by Gundren Rockseeker would not share its wealth with the townsfolk of Phandalin.

Yet a local priestess of Tymora, Sister Garaele, suspected that Halia intended to take the Lost Mine for herself. If the mine passed to Phandalin, then ultimately it would be the Townmaster of Phandalin who would control the mine. As it happened, the election for townmaster was to take place a mere month after the Phandelver Adjudication.

Investigation by the Heroes of Phandalin proved Sister Garaele's suspicions to be true. Yet, when one of the heroes, Ryathon Silverthorn, announced his own intention to run as Townmaster of Phandalin, he was approached by Halia Thornton, who promised not to compete with Ryathon for the position of townmaster so long as Ryathon promised to appoint Halia Thornton as his assistant townmaster, tasked with the day-to-day administration of the village. Ryathon accepted, effectively rendering evidence of Halia Thornton's conspiracy moot.

In the aftermath of the Phandelver Adjudication, Ryathon Silverthorn won against Harbin Wester in his bid for the townmastership. True to his word, Ryathon appointed Halia Thornton as assistant townmaster of Phandalin.