Starter Set, The Redbrand Lonely Hearts Club, Session 4 Part 2

Exiting the room through the southern double-doors, they found a 10-foot wide 40-foot long empty hallway.  Durial went first, checking for traps.  Unfortunately for him, he didn't notice the illusion covering the large pit in the ground, and was lucky to catch himself on the lip without falling all the way in.

Climbing up, everyone took turns prodding through the illusion, looking for a way across.  Finally, Raven found a lever hidden along a pillar, which released a long panel from the northern wall, forming a small walkway.

At the end of the hall, a southern door opened to a foyer, with a cistern fountain at the western end.  Stairs led up to the eastern side, to an exit from the basement.  Barrels and crates, filled with food and drink, lined the walls.  On the western wall was a closed door, which Lemon approached.

The party hid themselves in shadowed corners behind barrels.  Lemon sauntered up to the door, drew her greatsword, and confidently swung it open.

Three familiar faces, Redbrands that Lemon knew when she was part of the gang, sat in the room.  The barracks room had several bunkbeds, crates, barrels, and lanterns strewn about.

Brian, standing up from a crate, put his hand to his belt, then realized he wasn't wearing his sword, and looked toward the bed where it sat sheathed.

George, sitting on a bed, bolted upright and said, "Lemon?  You're back!?"

Lemon smiled, "I am.  Now get out."

Sam, lying in one of the beds, did all he could to pull the blanket over himself, hiding under the sheets.

[DM note: Always prepare names lists!  Otherwise, you get "Brian, George, and Sam..."]

Brian took a step towards the beds, and Lemon leveled her sword at him.  George held a hand out to stop him, and said "Brian, stop. We had nothing to do with what the Captain did, Lemon.  He's the one that convinced Glassstaff to try to have you killed."

"I've already dealt with them," she said in a low, level voice.  Brian looked unconvinced, but George's eyes got wide.

Brian shot George an angry glance, muttering, "we can take her!"

"No, we can't.  Lemon, I don't know if you came alone, or if you took them out yourself, but if you'll let us live, we'll just leave," George replied.

Lemon lowered her sword slightly, and moved aside from the doorway.  George stood slowly, raising his hands, and walked carefully past Lemon.  Upon exiting the room, he could clearly see the drow, dragonborn, and two humans with weapons trained on him, and he ran for the stairs to exit the building.

Brian, seething but admitting defeat, followed George a few seconds later.  Seeing the party outside, the anger was replaced by fear, and he dashed similarly out the door into the night.

Last, Sam stood, wrapping the blanket around him.  He scooted as quickly as he could without losing the covering he had.  As he exited the door, the corner of the sheet caught a nail in the door frame, causing his grip to falter.  His gleaming cheeks glowing in the moonlight, he streaked into the brisk night.

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With the confidence of a mission accomplished, when the laughter had died down, they took note of their loot.  [Swords, money, etc, not described here, for the sake of brevity.]

Among the more "interesting" belongings left behind were:

A piece of silk cloth, found in George's satchel, that smelled different to each person, somehow reminding them each of a past love.

A hand puppet that very much resembles another party member, found in Sam's bed. (The name “Lemon” is stitched crudely on the back.)

[DM note: the loot was from a deck of 50+ random items I custom created.  Lucky draws...]

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Searching the small fountain, Durial found a string tied to a bag hidden in the water.

A clump of glowing green moss was growing on the outside of the bag, illuminating the area once out of the water.

Inside the waterproof bag was an invisibility potion...

...Sending Stones (which work like "Message" spell)...

...the deed and title to the Tresendar Manor...  [Durial's Sleight of Hand kept the other party members from noticing this item as he tucked it away discreetly...]

...and a very strange letter, addressed to Halia:

Starter Set, Meet the Tresendars, Session 4 Part 1

Searching the bodies of the slain bugbears and Redbrands, a few odd and interesting items stuck out:

From the body of one of the bugbears, Eva found a large hollowed out bone from some giant creature.  If felt magical in Eva's hands, and she could hear something from inside.  Placing her ear to the bone, she could just make out her mother's voice calling her to come home, and a child's laugh that reminded her of her childhood in Thundertree.

Among the items was also an arm from a statue, weighing roughly 8 pounds, and strangely intricately carved.

Feeling a lack of respect for the thugs, the party decided to dispose of the bodies of the bugbears and Redbrands.  As they dragged the bodies to the pit, they noticed the body of the woodcarver, whom the Redbrands had killed in town, at the bottom of the crevasse.

The nothic, staring quizzically while clinging to a stone pillar, said, "I was hoping for the wizard or the staff, but I am willing to trade.  Body for blade?"

He then skittered down into the pit.  A single clawed hand appeared from under the northern bridge, placing a sword upon it.  Lemon retrieved it, noticing a crest on the blade with a letter "T" etched in it.

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A single redbrand ruffian came walking along the east side of the crevasse, towards the north bridge.  Yawning, scratching his ass, and looking at his feet, he was trying to not pay attention to the looming nothic.  The nothic crawled above him along the north pillar, facing upside down and drooling hungrily.

Noticing Lemon with the sword in hand, the redbrand looked up in alarm, reaching for his sword.

Before he could say anything, the nothic proclaimed, "Do you mind if I take this one myself?"

The redbrand turned to look toward the nothic above him in surprise and horror.  As their eyes locked, a wave of magical force flooded from the nothic’s large grotesque eye, rippling through the air like heat rising from the road on a hot day, enveloping the man standing before Lemon.

[DM  note: Rotting Gaze, DC12 CON save (redbrand=+1, rolled 6), 3d6 necrotic damage (rolled 18, redbrand had 16 HP, now -2 hp)]

The redbrand dropped his sword and tried to scream; however, reminiscent of the ending scene in Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark, his face melted leaving behind exposed skull.  He fell to his knees, tumbling into the pit below as he crumpled.  The nothic, smiling grotesquely, looked up at Lemon and cocked his head, then skittered down like a spider, disappearing into the crevasse.

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As the party gathered at the door in the northeast side to search the next room, the nothic said:

"Do say hello to Aldith Tresendar and his family for me.

They’re dying for some company…

Hahahahahahaha!!!!"

Entering the room, they found themselves in a large mausoleum.  Three open stone sarcophagi, each with a skeleton inside, lined the walls.  Fearing a magical trap, they prodded and poked the skeletons.  When no reactions came, Lemon pinned one through the rib cage using a javelin, "just in case."

Two doors remained unopened; a smaller plain door at the northern end, and copper plated ornate double doors with a crying angel emblazoned upon them at the southern end of the room.

Durial opened the small plain door, and suddenly took two shots to the gut from crossbow fire.  Surprised by the two Redbrands inside, Durial slammed the door closed.  He had the moment to notice the prisoners behind bars in the North and South sections of the room.

As Durial held his wounded stomach, and Lemon held the door closed, and the skeletons in the room began to move.

However, the skeletons were a minor inconvenience, and were subsequently smashed with maul and sword.

As the last skeleton fell, the chandelier swayed in an unfelt breeze.

From the crumpled forms, smoke rose rapidly into the air, accumulating into small clouds.
Three ghostly forms coalesced, the incorporeal bodies of the Tresendar family forming out of the vapor.

A middle aged male, his face gaunt, with a thin beard, rose from a slumped position and looked Lemon in the eye.

A middle aged female, with hair floating as if in water, breathed raggedly with her head tilted back and mouth wide.

Finally, a shadowed form made of coalesced smoke and shadow, with an eerie absence of sound, pulled smoke from its hand, forming a large glinting dagger.

The bearded male gasped "Freedom..." as he rose.  "Intruders?" he questioned weakly, looking the party over.  Noticing the sword, he pointed at Lemon and bellowed "Thieves!"
Holding out his hand, a duplicate ghostly apparition of the sword Talon formed.

Lemon, realizing the danger they were in, bowed before the ghost and offered the sword.

Surprised, Aldith Tresendar held up a hand to stop his kindred spirits, and picked up the blade from Lemon's hands.  "Explain yourselves,"  he calmly commanded.

The party quickly explained that ruffians had desecrated the tomb, and had prisoners in the next room.

Aldith solemnly nodded, and drifted through the door to the jail cells.  The sword in his hand clattered to the floor, unable to go through the wooden door as his incorporeal form did.

[DM note: I actually did a quick few rolls to determine how the fight went behind the door; it was brutal, the Redbrands didn't stand a chance...]

Several seconds of screaming later, Aldith came back into the room.  Satisfied, he nodded at Lemon.

"Come, Darenia, Denrid.  The war is over.  Let us take our leave."

The three ghosts dissipated upwards towards the ceiling, smoke billowing as their forms dissolved.  Light filled the room momentarily, and the bones on the floor crumbled, leaving behind piles of dust, each topped with a platinum ring.

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After some discussion, Eva decided to look behind the door.

[DM note: made her roll a CON save to not throw up at the gore of the Redbrands' remains.]

Averting her eyes the best she could, she extracted the keys to the cells from the remains of a piece of bloody belt hanging from a wall, and opened the jail cells.

The woodcarver's family, Mirna Dendrar with her son and daughter, emerged pale faced and shaking.  Mirna could barely stutter a "th-thank you" as they were lead back to the goblins guarding the prisoners.

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On a shelf in the crypt room, they found an ivory figurine.  Noting a surprising resemblance to Halia Thornton, they decided to take it with them.

Starter Set, Seeing Red, Session 3, Part 3

Droop walked to the door at the North of the hallway, reaching for the handle.

Raven placed a hand on her shoulder, lightly holding her back.  "Let's do this together," she said.

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Once more listening at the door, Durial and Fleek heard loud laughter coming from several people, indicating the battle had not been heard.

[DM note: rolled Disadvantage for the drunk Perception rolls; all failed spectacularly.]

Rushing in the room, the four drunken Redbrands around the table were taken by surprise.  Not a single blow from the drunkards made its mark; on the other hand, the invading adventurers were quite efficient in quelling the thugs.

Lemon confronted the Captain directly, slashing his face with her sword.  Little Droop, maul in hand, brought it squarely in an upward motion into his groin.  With a realization that his compatriots were dead, and himself outnumbered, he dropped his sword and fell to his knees (mostly of his own volition, though not entirely).

Begging for his life, he offered to tell them anything they wanted to know.  He revealed that Glassstaff's room was through his laboratory, which was in the next room to the North.  Droop noted that he had a pet rat that never left his side.

[DM note: knowledge checks revealed likely a familiar.]

Leaving the goblins behind to guard the Captain (Fleek's head still ringing, and Droop emotionally spent), the party put plans into action.

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Thinking strategically, Durial investigated the hallways, and turning a corner, found a secret door to the West side of what must be Glassstaff's quarters.  The party split, and went to both doors simultaneously.  In a rush, they ambushed the rooms, finding Iarno and his apprentice sitting in the bedroom.

In a flurry of action, the wizard's Blur and Shield didn't quite protect him from the well trained crossbows and swords.

Sildar, stepping into the fray, stumbled over his words as he put together the puzzle in his head.
"Iarno?  But... Why?"

The apprentice blasted Sildar and Raven with Burning Hands, knocking Sildar back to his senses.  With a retaliatory slash, Sildar's sword embedded deep into the skull of the Redbrand apprentice.

A final slash from Lemon's greatsword, and Iarno "Glassstaff" Albrek fell, his eyes flashing in a brilliant rainbow of illusionary colors as they rolled back in his head.

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Sildar dropped to Iarno's side, attempting to stabalize him.
"I cannot stop the bleeding!  Save him, please!"

The party hesitated.  [1st failed saving throw...]

"Please.  He's responsible for this, but he was my friend.  Let justice determine his fate."

Raven, taking mercy on Sildar, helped bandage the wizard's wounds.

They tied up the wizard, gag, wrists, and even his fingers, and dragged him to the Captain, who stared silently in amazement with his remaining good eye.

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Searching Iarno's bedroom and laboratory, they could find no sign of the rat.  They did find notes on some legendary magical weapons that were lost when the Wave Echo Cave was ransacked centuries ago.  Notes regarding the brewing of Invisibility potions were scattered throughout the room.

Other than the eponymous glass staff [Staff of Defense] itself, they procured a Wand of Binding from the apprentice, along with a scroll of Charm Person and a scroll of Fireball.

Also among the items in the wizard's possession was a letter:

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Lord Albrek,

My spies in Neverwinter tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Phandalin. They could be working for the dwarves.

Capture them if you can, kill them if you must, but don't allow them to upset our plans. See that any dwarven maps in their possession are delivered to me with haste.  I'm counting on you, Iarno.

Don't disappoint me.

Starter Set, Motivations and Reunions, Session 3, Part 2

[DM note: prior to the beginning of the session, each player rolled a d20 for their Deception against the nothic's weird Insight.  They were not told what it was for until after the session.
I also rolled Deception for Sildar and Fleek; both passed.  Durial, Lemon, and Eva failed...]

As the party decided their next move, transfixed by the strange monster, the nothic continued to toy with their minds:

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To the drow rogue, Durial...

"Why, hello there, little spider…

He knows you are here, he knows who you are.

You knew him once, thought highly of him, owe him?

Perhaps now you are destined to kill him..."

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To the human barbarian and former Redbrand, Lemon...

"Do not fear, my dear sour fruit.

The man in red who wished you dead is here.

His boasting was of jealousy, of fear, of power.

Ridding of your presence granted him rank.

Should you confirm his fate, the Captain awaits..."

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To the human druid, who once lived in Thundertee, Eva...

"Ah, child of flowers and ash.

Your home, yes, your home.  What is left of it?

I knew that place once, before the curses, mine and their own.

It is ash, rising up to bring death, laden with pain.

The friend you seek, the gray squirrel, he resides there still..."

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Durial seemed the least affected, and though Eva was surprised, Lemon was enraged and decided to press forward to the hallway on the East side of the cave.  She stopped, seeing doors to the North and South, and allowed Durial and Fleek to pass her.  The party lined the narrow corridor, preparing to attack in surprise.

The drow and goblin each listened at the South door, and noting the sound of deep laughing, opened the door to an unexpected scene.

Three large bugbears stood over a small goblin girl, holding a small clay bowl they had just pulled from a satchel.  The largest bugbear, wearing a gemstone encrusted eye patch, bellowed with laughter as he threw the bowl to the ground, and the goblin girl cried out and fell the the floor, unconscious.

At this, Eva cast Entagle, and magical vines sprouted in the room.  With crossbows bolts and magic spells flying about the room, the bugbears struggled to free themselves in the barrage.

Fleek fired a bolt at point blank into the largest bugbear.  Recognizing the creature, Fleek taunted him.  "Mosk!  Your brother Klarg is dead!" screamed Fleek in the goblin language, rolling away and running back up the hallway several feet as he did so.

The enraged Mosk ripped free from the vines, shoved past Durial, Lemon, and Eva, and brought a mighty maul down upon the small frame of the goblin.  A sickening crunch echoed in the hall, as Fleek's shoulder met his hip, and he fell.

Surrounded, the eyepatch-laden monster went down fast; his fellow bugbears, who never had the chance to escape their vines, were dispatched quickly.  In the quiet moments after the fight, Raven rushed to Fleek, healing him with a spell.

[DM note: literally 1 more point to instant-kill.  Whew.]

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Dazed, his life having flashed before his eyes, the goblin father approached his unconscious daughter and roused her awake.

"Who?  What?  Dad?  I thought you were dead..."
"It's okay, I'm here now, we're here.  I brought some friends."

Droop, dazed, reached out and picked up the fragments of the broken clay bowl.

"This was mother's offering bowl.  I don't remember her, but I remember you told me she was a priestess of Meriadar."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she placed the fragments in a pouch and stood.  She suddenly became stern, angry, and walked over to the corpse of the bugbear, Mosk.  Lifting the eyepatch, she spit in his face, then picked up his crude stone maul.  Hefting it above her head, she slammed it upon his skull with surprising strength, flattening it to the floor.

(Borrowed from https://ronindude.deviantart.com/art/Piglet-the-Goblin-Barbarian-674594765)


"Better.
I'm done with this.
I'm done with Grol.
I'm done with bugbears.
I'm done with Redbrands.
I'm going to end this now."

Starter Set, Eye See You, Session 3, Part 1

Searching the South side of the hill under the ruins of the Tresendar manor, the party found a small scrap of red cloth stuck to a bush, covering an opening to a small tunnel.  One by one, they stooped and walked into the low-ceiling earthen hole.

Entering the basement of the old manor, they were met by a 30 foot wide cavernous room, more natural structure than man-made.  A deep chasm ran the length of the cave, stretching 50 feet long and 10 feet wide, spanned by 2 bridges.  Hallways and rooms were carved into the walls, and a few smoldering torches flickered and only aided in the eerie ambiance.

------------------------------

Surveying the crevasse before them, they heard a noise.  A voice.  It echoed in their heads, yet never reached their ears.

(The audio clips below were played at the table, the speaker hidden below the table.)

"Welcome," it laughed.

The creature greeted the guests by name, each in turn:
"Hello, Raven, Eva, Lana, Lemon, Durial."

"You're not with them, now are you?" it asked.

"Not a red one," implying the redbrands.

"Well one of you once was, though no more," it teased, with a knowing voice.

"Do they come to kill the red ones, or perhaps to save the little one?" it asked itself.

"Deal with glass one... Do we eat them?  Do play with our food?  Shall we watch what they do?"

When asked his name, he replied, "Balezif"

As the party discussed the strange situation, coming to realize that the "voice" was in their heads, it continued to mumble to itself in an increasingly deranged manner.


"Existence is pain, let me free you of it..."

"friends are good, food is good, so friends are food..."

"hunger-hunger-hunger-hunger-hunger"

"knowledge-curse-failed-quest-curse-knowledge"

"Meat for the body; knowledge is sustenance of the mind.  Yes!"

"Secrets, do they know?  Secrets to free me, to attain my true form..."

"Iarno knows secrets...  Red ones bring flesh... What do you bring?"
(They didn't immediately pick up on this hint...)

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Asking what it wanted, it replied,
"His staff of glass... the wizard holds it.  The power, knowledge... we could use it.  Perhaps it could help us.  Find more knowledge?  Yes...  A trade!  The wizard for the staff, or perhaps I could have both?  Feed mind and body..."

At this, Durial spots a looming eye in the dark, a creature climbing a pillar some 15 feet above, near the ceiling of the cavernous room...

...and he recognized it for what it was; a failed attempt to become a lich, a monster of tremendous power,

A nothic.

Starter Set, Bar Brawl in the Sleeping Giant, Session 2, Part 3

With the new day, the party sought out the Lionshield Coster to return the crates of goods they found in the Cragmaw Hideout.

Linene Graywind, grateful for the return of the packages, payed a reward of 50 gold.  She gave them a warning of the thugs in town, the Redbrands, advising the party to stay clear of the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

Seeking out the rumors from the patrons at the inn the night before, the group spoke with several people around town:

Sitting against an apple tree in his orchard, Daran Edermath liked to talk.  He thought it particularly interesting that zombies were spotted by some miners out East near Conyberry, at the Old Owl Well.  He waxed on for a bit about his old adventuring days, until prodded to talk about the Redbrands.  He mentioned the Tresendar Manor, the ruined structure at the top of the hill, thinking they likely were holed up in there, with their leader, "Glassstaff."

Sister Garaele was found sitting at the Shrine of Luck reading from a stack of books.  She appeared to have some minor injuries, though she wouldn't go into too much detail.  When pressed, she spoke of her research into a wizard known as "Bowgentle," and the location of his spellbook that had once been in the possession of someone named "Agatha."  Sister Garaele found that Agatha's spirit still resided in the woods to the North of Conyberry, but the ghost refused to answer her, and threw her out (literally).

Hoping that the adventurers might have better luck than herself, she offered them 3 health potions if they promised to try.  She gave them a silver comb, thinking that might appeal to Agatha's vanity and aid the group in getting her to answer.

Halia Thornton stood behind the counter of the Miner's Exchange, a dusty building full of crates of ore and gems.  She was more than happy to discuss the Redbrands; in fact, she appeared to almost admire them, and when goaded, noted how they could be doing a better job at controlling the town, if they had better leadership.

She had not met Glassstaff, though she did hear that there was a goblin being kept by the Redbrands in their "hideout."  She scoffed while saying the word "hideout," since everyone knew it was the basement of the old manor house on the hill.

She was particularly worried that the Redbrands were bad for business, as they had likely been involved with the disappearance of Iarno Albrek several months ago, and were definitely responsible for the death of the woodcarver Thel Dendrar and the disappearance of his family.  Halia seemed worried that there was more to the thugs than what they appeared on the surface, and offered the group 100 gold to show her anything they might find, if they go to confront Glassstaff.

The rogue, Durial, attempted to use Thieves' Cant to communicate with her during the conversation, but she appeared to either not understand or ignored his efforts.

Qelline Alderleaf sat in a rocking chair on her porch, her son Carp running around a hay bale and slashing at it with a wooden sword.  Qelline sighed as Carp ran in circles out of earshot, noting that his father had gone off to find "fame and fortune" some months back, and hadn't returned.

The halfling boy jumped excitedly when talking about the Redbrands, and how he found the secret entrance on the south side of the hill near the manor.  He mentioned the "big hairy things" that entered the tunnel while he hid in the bushes.  The party, not keen on risking the safety of the child, thanked the Alderleafs and decided they could likely find this tunnel based on his description and a (very) hastily drawn crayon map he gave them.

Harbin Wester and Sildar Hallwinter could be heard arguing though the door of the Townmaster's hall.  Harbin, a sniveling, sweaty man, was trying to talk Sildar down, while Sildar insisted that the Redbrands needed to be dealt with, and that a search party needed to be sent to find Gundren.

As the party entered, Sildar berated the whimpering Harbin, asking what had been done to find Iarno, his long time friend that was sent to Phandalin almost 3 months ago, and then disappeared a mere 2 weeks later.  Backed into a corner, Harbin stuttered and could barely respond.  Sildar turned to the party, and in a commanding voice, insisted that Harbin would pay a 200 gold reward for the removal of the Redbrand threat.  Harbin, aghast, began to protest.  Sildar loomed over the little man, then added in a hoarse whisper, "and 500 for the Cragmaw tribe leader that captured Gundren."  Harbin, thoroughly beaten and afraid, just stared and nodded meekly.

Impressed by the show of intimidation, the group decided they could use the old warrior's assistance.  They made the case that Sildar would be especially helpful, considering his personal investment in both the tasks.

[DM note: the rogue rolled a natural 20+5 persuasion...]

He agreed, and followed them out the door, scowling back at the pitiful Harbin Wester.

On the way out of the building, the party took note of a paper pinned to the wall, offering a 100 gold reward to anyone that could investigate the presence of orcs near a place called Wyvern Tor, just south of the Old Owl Well.

With a borrowed sword, Sildar followed the adventurers to the Sleeping Giant Tap House.

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Sauntering up to the rundown bar, the formidable party was met by 4 men in red cloaks sitting on the porch.

"Well, aren't you cute, coming here to dance?"

"Are you hitting on me?" asked the drow rogue.

"Err, um..."
"Dude, that sounded like you're flirting with him."
"Shut up.  What do you want?  You better have a good reason for coming up here."

"We're just passing through, looking to get a drink," the rogue replied, smirking.

[DM note: the rogue rolled an 18+5 deception...]

The Redbrands, distracted and mocking each other, allowed the group to pass.  The bar was dimly lit, and the only person inside was the grisly and aptly named dwarf bartender, Grista.  (Sorry, no picture.)

The drow walked right up to her, and told her what he knew of the Redbrands, the murder and kidnappings, and he emphasized the missing children as he spoke.

[DM note: the rogue rolled another 19+5 persuasion.  Yep, this is a thing now...]

Grista, shocked and honestly tired of the rude, poor tipping ruffian customers, reached behind the bar and pulled out a warpick, rusted and bent.  She mentioned it was about time to retire, anyway, and would be just as happy to sell the old shack and move back to the mountains with her sister.  "Besides, nobody should be messing with kids.  I'll wait for your cue," she said in a gravely voice.

The drow rogue, very happily taking the lead, called out, "hey, boys!  How about I buy you a round, and we talk about the dancing!"

[DM note... nevermind, you get the rolls at this point.  It's ridiculous.]

Surrounded and outnumbered, the thugs realized the trap too late.  Longsword, greatsword, crossbow, maul, thornwhip, ray of frost, and a final warpick to the skull; they didn't last long.  A magical Command from the cleric to sit, a net from the rogue, and the final one was captured.  (Yes, it was the accidental flirt, as planned.)

He didn't know much, and Harbin certainly was less happy and more sweaty than ever having the thug tied up in the Townmaster's Hall basement, but the Redbrand could tell them one thing:

Glassstaff had something in the hideout, a guard, a monster...

...with one big eye.

Starter Set, Looking Sharp and Listening In, Session 2, Part 2

Sildar was wary of the newcomer, being a former captor.  However, he accepted the judgment of the party, as they were his saviors, and questioned Fleek while they traveled.

Fleek informs them that King Grol, chief of the Cragmaw tribe (so named due to the habit of sharpening one's teeth; crag-maw), dwells in an old ruined castle in the woods to the North.  Gundren and the map were delivered there, as instructed by the Black Spider.  Fleek had spent the last few years stuck in the cave, and had never been to the castle or met the Black Spider.  Fleek's daughter, Droop, on the other hand, could be quite useful.

The Redbrands hired the Cragmaws to help in their control of Phandalin; King Grol sent several bugbears to them.

They learned from Sildar that Gundren had recently acquired the map, and land rights, to a long-lost mine known as the Wave Echo Cave.  This was the site of the Phandelver Pact, where magical items were produced by an alliance of dwarves, gnomes, and humans hundreds of years ago.  A magical "Forge of Spells" was said to reside there.

The cave was lost when some three hundred years ago, orcs raided and destroyed nearly the entire Sword Coast.  With Phandalin being rebuilt, and Gundren's find of the lost documents, they planned to reopen and restore the area to its former glory.

Sildar has another reason to be going to Phandalin; a fellow member of the Lords' Alliance, his friend Iarno Albreck, was sent to Phandalin months ago, but disappeared.  The capable wizard was instructed to aid in bringing peace, and ridding the town of the Redbrands.  Sildar suspects foul play.

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Upon entering Phandalin late in the afternoon, the growing troop turned in the cart of goods to Barthen's Provisions, as per the original contract with Gundren.  Sildar, in his gratitude, doubled the reward, ensuring each of the five were paid twenty gold for their services.  Barthen informed them that Gundren's two brothers had gone missing as well, and he was growing concerned.

They made sure to dress their new "companion" in proper clothing while they were there; it would be difficult to bring a goblin into town as it was.

(Pic borrowed from https://neomi-trix.deviantart.com/art/Dream-Daddy-Goblin-697733174)

(Photoshopped slightly by myself.)

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Sildar brought them to Stonehill Inn, bought everyone a round of drinks, and informed the innkeep, Toblen, that he would pay for their rooms for the night.

While at the bar, the smiling druid Eva vouching for the oddly-placed goblin beside her, they overheard conversations that would lead them around town.

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Narth, an old farmer: "Sister Garaele, who oversees the Shrine of Luck, recently left town for a few days, then returned wounded and exhausted."

Elsa, a gossipy barmaid: "Daran Edermath, the orchard keeper, is a former adventurer.  I bet he has some stories to tell."

Lanar, a miner: "Orc raiders have been seen on the east end of Triboar Trail. The town master is looking for someone to run them off."

Trilena, the innkeeper's wife: "Thel Dendrar, a local woodcarver, stood up to the Redbrands a week ago when they came by his shop and leered at his wife. The ruffians murdered him. Several townsfolk saw it happen.  The Redbrands grabbed his body, and now his wife, daughter, and son have gone missing too."

Pip, Toblen's young son: "Qelline Alderleaf's son Carp said he found a secret tunnel in the woods, but Redbrands almost caught him."

Freda, a weaver: "The Redbrands hassle every business in town, except for the Phandalin Miner's Exchange. They don't want trouble with Halia Thornton, who runs it."

----------------------

With sleep, each found themselves refreshed, renewed, and more capable than they felt the day before...

***Level 2!***

Starter Set, Quest: Save the Goblin Princess, Session 2, Part 1

Durial tied the goblin prisoners to the cart.  The leader, Yeemik, he rolled a 15 DEX check.

The other goblin, Durial's knot tying skill was only a 3 DEX check...

------------------------

"'scuse... 'scuse me?  Can I say something?" piped up the second goblin, his unibrow-laden forehead furrowed at his pleading voice.

"Shut up, nitwit!" shouted Yeemik.

"I have something to say.  Something about the hoo-mans wearing red in Phandalin."

"SHUT UP!  Say another word, and I'll bite your ear off!" spat Yeemik.

The unibrowed-goblin chastised him in return, "You can't hurt me now, Yeemik.  I need their help, and you can't stop me."

Yeemik seethed and growled, but could not budge from his ropes.

"There's a bunch of hoo-mans, they call themselves the 'Red-brands.'   They're trying to take over the town.  Black Spider payed King Grol to help them.   If you want to save the dwarf, they know how to get to the castle.
...
Just tell me you'll do one thing: King Grol has my daughter, Droop.  Makes her work in his kitchens for a goblin named Yegg.
...
Let her live.  Save her from his cruelty."

Yeemik burst into a high-pitched laugh.  "Droop is your daughter?  That pathetic worm?"

The other goblin snarled in return.

"King Grol sent her with the bugbears to the Redbrands.  She's their housekeeper.  She won't last a week," Yeemik cackled.

His nasal, high pitched voice reaching even higher, the goblin pleaded, "NO!  Please, save her!  She's not like us; she takes after her mother, Kiwi."

Yeemik smiled, and gloated, "I remember her.  I killed that priestess of Meriadar myself."

Screaming, the second goblin yanks his arm free from the ropes.  Standing back, the adventurers watch in surprise as the small, furry-foreheaded creature pulled off his bonds, and leaped upon the body of Yeemik, gnashing his sharpened teeth upon the neck of his former tormentor.

---

Moments later, spitting and wiping blood from his mouth, the goblin slumped to the ground, exhausted, kneeling in front of the group.

"I surrender.  Do what you will with me.
Just please, if you have any good in you, save the last good goblin
She knows how to get to Cragmaw Castle.  Save her, save my princess."

Taking pity on the poor soul, they helped him to him feet, allowing him to walk alongside their wagon.  Tossing Yeemik's corpse into a bush, they continued on their path.  The goblin shared his story along the way.

"My name is Fleek.
Our village was peaceful.  My wife, Kiwi, was our priestess.
Our god, Meriadar, the Tolerant One.  He taught patience, acceptance, peace.
We lived isolated, hidden, where we could be free to make art, enjoy life, and avoid violence.
Then King Grol came, with his brutal bugbears and hobgoblins.
Those that lived were forced to work for Grol.
Yeemik betrayed us; he lead Grol to us.
Goblins already under the service of Grol worshipped Maglubiyet, god of war and destruction.
We were weak, and we gave offering to Maglubiyet.
Then we were sent out, to raid, to kill, to destroy.
All but her.  All but little Droop."

Starter Set, Thunderwaves and Bindings, Session 1 Part 3

Suspecting a trap, they listened closely as they stalked towards the cave.  A rustling and whispered voices of tow goblins alerted the party to the presence of ill-attentive guards.

After a short break of using goblin heads for croquet balls, the adventurers satisfied and confident, they sent the drow rogue Durial ahead into the dark.

The first cave to the right contained several snarling wolves, chained to a pillar.  Upon informing the others, the druid Eva decided to feed the poor beasts to calm them so they could be set free.  Taking the only meat at hand, the tenderized head of a felled goblin, she successfully befriended the small pack of wolves, and released them into the forest.

Noticing the trash piled under the small hole in the corner of the cave ceiling, they decided to go around and find a way to investigate the source.  Durial went first, and through a stealthy approach in the dark, successfully surprised a goblin on a bridge connecting an overpass in the tunnels.  As he shot the creature from below, Raven joined to set the goblin on fire, lighting the bridge simultaneously.  Lana quickly doused the flames, freezing the bridge supports in place with her dragon's breath, along with the corpse of the goblin.

The sound of running water ahead, Durial climbed up a small waterfall and scouted several goblins in the next cave.  With a motion, the others rushed in and sliced the goblins down in mere seconds, their actions quieted by the rushing water of the source of the stream echoing in the cave.

Firelight shone through the entrance to the next room.  Eva, seeking a turn at violent revenge, ran headlong into the room, stopping short of the bugbear, Klarg, with his wolf and several goblins beside him.  As sudden as her arrival, she blasts out a Thunderwave, the sound crashing and echoing throughout the cave, sending the room into chaos.

All but Klarg was dashed to the cave walls, lying defeated.  Stunned, Klarg's mouth agape, he never had the chance to even lift his hand as two more entered the room.  Lana peppered his surprise with Magic Missiles, and Lemon, becoming practiced over the last few hours, beheaded him in one final slash with her greatsword.

A quick search of the room revealed some stolen supplies from Lionshield Coster in Phandalin, some gold, and a small jade frog statue of some unknown significance.

On Klarg's body, they found a note:

----------------------

Mighty King Grol, please distribute copies of this letter to your scouts.

A group of young adventurers is coming south from Neverwinter with a supply wagon.

Kill them and steal the wagon supplies for Cragmaw Castle.

----------------------

Seeing no signs of their employers, Gundren or Sildar, the group carefully crossed the ice-reinforced bridge one at a time, and approached a final cave room.  Raven took the lead, enveloping the room in a Fog Cloud before they entered.  Eva, encouraged by the previous success of the spell, once again ran into the center of the room and cast Thunderwave to great effect.  As the fog cleared, they could see one goblin at a lower level that had survived the blast, and one at an upper level, holding a knife to Sildar's throat.

The goblin with Sildar warned them to back off, or he would drop the man to his death.  Raven cast a healing spell, and Sildar came to, moving now in the gobln's grasp.  A few tense moments later, and realizing he was outnumbered and defeated, the goblin released Sildar and the goblins both gave up.

Escorting Sildar and carrying the newly acquired cargo and loot, the party returned to the cart and oxen, finding them all in order.  Tying the goblins to the side of the cart, binding their outstretched limbs, they made their way down the road towards Phandalin.

Starter Set, Here There Be Goblins, Session 1 Part 2

Two uneventful days had passed, the group of strangers barely saying more than idle chatter to each other.  Whether a lack of trust, or just being lost in thought, the group seemed to have little interest in the goals of the others, at least just yet.

On the morning of the third day, they began their turn off the High Road down the Triboar Trail towards Phandalin.  Just an hour or so along the dirt path, they came upon something in the road.  Two horses, lying dead and filled with black-fletched arrows, blocked the path.

Disembarking the wagon, Durial motioned for the party to hold fast as he scouted the situation.  Suddenly, Lemon spots a rustling in a bush near the horses, but it was too late.  “Durial, look out!” she warned, just as two arrows came flying out of the brush.  Looking down at the protruding arrows in his stomach, Durial fell to his knees and rolled to his back, unconscious.

Four goblins, green skin and sharpened teeth, sprang from the underbrush.

Rushing forward, Lemon attacked with her broadsword, felling one of the small bandits.  Raven brought her maul down upon another, while Eva, calling upon her druidic magic, healed her fallen companion.  As the arrows plopped out of the drow, the wounds magically sealing themselves, the dragonborn Lana flashed a magical ray of frost at one of the remaining two assailants.  The final goblin, quickly realizing it was far outmatched, attempted to flee into the bushes on the north side of the road.  Lemon deftly sent the goblin flying, cleaved in two, along a similar trajectory.

Over in a flash, the group searched the horses to find signs of the riders.  Raven and Lemon attempted to lift a horse enough to pull a saddle bag out from under it, but the shifting weight broke a glass vial held within the bag, destroying what may have been a very useful potion.  The only other object they could find is an empty leather map case, with two letters scrawled on it.

G.R.

Raven recognized the case as having been the one Gundren was carrying several nights ago in the tavern.  The group began to search the goblin corpses, hoping for a sign as to where their employer might be, when Lemon came upon a small path on the north side of the road, hidden behind the bushes, the final goblin ambusher lying in the dirt just beyond.  A cursory inspection shows that several drag marks, likely from a couple of bodies, led into the woods along the trail.

After some discussion, the group decided to hide the oxen and cart to the north of the road, in among trees and bushes.  Satisfied that the supplies could not be seen from the path, and the animals were secured, the five followed the trail north into the woods.

Durial, his confidence unmarred by the injuries from the arrows, took lead.  He easily noticed the shoddy attempts at pit traps and snares placed along the path by the goblins, disarming them before his comrades approached.  A few minutes later, and the sound of running water could be heard ahead.  Carefully, the group approached a clearing just outside the mouth of a cave, out of which a small stream was trickling.

Starter Set, Taverns, Brawls, and Road Trips, Session 1 Part 1

(Pardon the story-telling tropes; I had some fun with this one.)

-----------------------

Our tale begins, as stereotypically plain as it might sound, in a tavern.

The room is sparsely populated, with maybe half a dozen patrons scattered at a few tables.  The sounds of waves and seagulls waft through the open window on salty, cool afternoon air.

A young woman in chainmail, a large maul resting beside her, sits in contemplation over a mug of room temperature ale.  She has just arrived in Neverwinter a few weeks past, and has had little luck in finding work for a former sea-faring cleric of Thor.

“Raven!” exclaims a gruff dwarf entering the dim watering hole.

(https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/6pj6ga/art_lost_mines_of_phandelver_character_cards_for/)

Gundren Rockseeker was a regular to the tavern, and had taken to sitting at the bar and regaling his tales to anyone who would listen.  Raven had barely said more than her name to him in the past weeks, but company was better than warm beer, so she put up with his ramblings.

She half smiled and nodded to the stool next to her at the bar.

“I was hoping to see you here, lass!  No luck on the job front, I take it?”

Before she could get a word out, he continued, “Well, I tell you, I have something grand lined up.  I need supplies, and I need muscle, and if you’re up for it, I promise you great rewards for your assistance.”

He waves to the bartender, who pours a mug of ale for the dwarf.

“I’m going to need a few others for this task, though, so I have placed some notices in the city.  I figured here was as good as any, so I hope that maybe a few hearty adventurers might join us here shortly.”

Raven’s curiosity was piqued, so she sat back and took in the dwarf a bit more seriously for a moment.  She noticed a map case, tightly strapped to his back, which he continually touched nervously.  His mannerisms were excited, even more than usual, and he seemed almost lost in thought, mumbling something in dwarvish while nursing the cheap ale.

After a few minutes, a strange pair strode into the room.  A smiling young human woman, her hair filled with flowers, whispering to a blue-robed silver-scaled female dragonborn, who immediately looked to Gundren as they entered.

“Gundren, I take it?” said the dragonborn.

“Why, yes!  Have you come regarding the job notice?”

“We have, yes.  Guarding supplies to Phandalin, right?”

The pair had just met earlier that morning, while reading the job posting on a notice board in town.  The job called for a group of four to five adventurers to transport a wagon of supplies.  Thinking it would perhaps be beneficial to approach the potential employer as a duo, they came to the agreement to go to the meeting together.

Each had her own reason to head to the small town of Phandalin, though they kept this to themselves.
“Well, you know who I am.  What be your names, then?” asked Gundren.

Gundren stepped down from the bar stool, looking up at the newcomers.  “Are you sure you’re up to the task?  You don’t look the adventuring type.”

“You may call me Lana.  I assure you, I am quite capable.  I have already traveled far on my journey, and have done well to protect myself along the way,” explained the dragonborn.

“I am Eva,” said the young woman, “and there is much more to me than what you see.”  Her eyes glinting in the dim light as she smiled down at the dwarf reassuringly.

Gundren narrowed his eyes, weighing the women in turn.  “Perhaps, though it would help to see what you can do.  After all, the job is for 10 gold each, with promise of work once you reach town.”

With these last few words, the bar becomes silent, the two tables with patrons at them now quite interested in the conversation.

“10 gold, just to move a cart to Phandalin?” Two male half-orcs stand up and stroll to the group at the bar.  “You’d need muscle for that, to scare off the goblins and bandits and such.  These two ain’t gonna be much use to you then.”

“Let’s have a drink, and I’ll show you what I’ve got!” exclaimed Lana.

“What, a drinking contest?" exclaimed one, laughing.  "Fine, but if we win, this dwarf here is going to give us the job, and he’s going to pay us up front!” said one of the half-orcs, glaring menacingly at the dwarf.

Gundren, shocked by this strange situation, looks to Raven, who just shrugs and shakes her head in equal surprise.

The half-orcs order up a round of four drinks; Lana and Eva join them, and each swigs down the bitter stuff.  Two rounds later, in near silence, the four stare each other down while finishing their drinks.  Lana, having never really imbibed prior to this, is suddenly hit with the realization that she is quite dizzy and can’t handle her alcohol like she had hoped.  She sways, and belches lightly, sitting in a nearby stool.

“Ha!  We win!” Says one half-orc.

“Pay up, little dwarf.  We’ll see about if we want to do your job tomorrow,” said the other.

The two loomed over Gundren, one grabbing the handle of a knife at his belt, the other reaching for Gundren’s money pouch.

Lana, through a mixture of embarrassment and inebriated courage, tapped one on the shoulder.  He turned, drawing his knife.  Suddenly, the two half-orc thugs were blasted by a burst of freezing ice, tossed to the side by the slender dragonborn’s breath.

“*burp* Ahem, uh, sorry about that.  Now, er, back to the job, Gundren?” Lana said, leaning heavily on the counter beside her.

https://orig00.deviantart.net/ca52/f/2017/252/a/a/drinking_contest_by_jgaldragonborn-dbmu77u.png

The bartender looks up from polishing a pewter mug with a dirty rag just long enough to peer at the two defeated ruffians on the floor, before going back to minding his own business.
A few minutes go by, the group composing themselves, when a tall, middle aged human male enters the bar.  His dark hair just beginning to gray, he had an army captain sigil on his armor and a military sword strapped to his side.

“Sildar, I was wondering when you would join us!” proclaimed Gundren.  “Come, let’s sit and discuss our journey.  This is Sildar Hallwinter, a good friend who will be assisting me.”

“Should I be concerned about this?” asked Sildar, kicking lightly at the boot of a half-orc on the floor.
“No, no, just a small tussle.  Besides, they’re still breathing,” said Gundren.  He poked the half-orcs on the way to a table, ensuring they moved in response to his boot.

Raven, Eva, and Lana joined Sildar and Gundren around a small table.  Before they could start talking, two patrons sitting at a corner table stood and approached the group, bemused by the spectacle.

“My name is Durial,” said a drow male, “and this,” gesturing to a very tall female human, “is my associate, who goes by Lemon.  We’re looking for some work ourselves, provided we’re not stepping on any toes.”  Durial glanced at Lana, calmly smiling at her.  “Didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it really couldn’t be helped.  Either way, we would like to offer our services, if there is room in this party for two more.”

“Of course!  Perfect, please, lad, lass, please come sit with us.  I was hoping we’d have a few more hands for the job, actually.” Gundren gestured to the chairs at the next table, which Durial and Lemon pulled up to the now very crowded small table.  “Five will do nicely, I believe.”

Raven furrowed her brow, looking toward Gundren and Sildar, “five?”

“Oh, yes, Sildar and I are going to travel ahead to Phandalin, where we will meet with my brothers, Nundro and Tharden.  I am in need of supplies, which you will be bringing down to us in my cart, should you accept the job.”

Gundren rolled out a scroll of parchment, which describes the task, along with the payment of 10 gold each “to be made on delivery to Barthen’s Provisions in Phandalin.”  It wasn’t a very long document, nor did it look very legally binding, considering what looked like hastily scrawled writing from what was surely the dwarf’s own hand.  The table of strangers, some who had known each other for a few weeks at best, and all looking for something, nodded and signed, each putting their name in ink for their new employer.  (Durial inscribed a false name, one of may he often uses)

“Wonderful!  It’s settled, then.  I hope to see you in the morning at the stables by the south gate tomorrow morning.”

Naval Combat Rules

As I foresee a sea-bearing future for our would-be heroes, I'm preparing for the inevitable.

Unsatisfied with the rules set for Ocean Warfare in D&D, I went about making my own (borrowed and compiled from sources online).

-------------------------------------------------------

Roles:

Captain/First Mate -

Rally: Intimidate/Inspire(Persuade) DC10 grant Advantage on next attack roll (1/battle)

Weak Spot: Investigation DC15, grants advantage to attack the weakness (1/battle)

Order Broadside: Fire all one side at once, use 1 attack roll, miss = half damage (1/battle)

Pilot - (If proficient in sailing: add DEX to ship AC, use pilot’s Initiative modifier)

DEX for steering (DC5-15 depending on weather), STR if stormy/rammed

Fail: lose speed and/or turning

Ramming: +(prof+dex/or +6) attack roll, (speed of boat x 1d4) damage, own ship takes 1/2

(Built in Battering Ram: speed x 1d6, take 1/3 damage)

Boarding: Grapple w/Advantage, must make DC10 check vs enemy (enemy has DA)

Crow's Nest -  Scan: Perception DC10 to spot  (10 miles perfect weather, 5 if colder than normal, 1 light rain; 300 ft heavy rain light/no wind, 100 ft heavy rain strong wind)

During Battle: Perception DC15 to negate cannon Disadvantage at long range (DC20 Light Rain, DC30 Strong Rain)

Navigator - Proficiency with Navigator's Tools, can use tools to give Advantage to Hide/Scan

25% faster travel speed when not in combat, can't get lost at sea

Crew - ranged/spell attacks, repairs, put out fires, hook/board enemy ships for melee battle, man the bilge pumps, etc

Cannoneers - attacks, damage (2 needed per cannon, can use NPC to assist)

Medic - DC10 to revive 1 crew per round, if NPC has healing spells as cleric level ½ of captain

Boarding - Acrobatics DC10-20, depending on weather

Movement:

·         Wind power only provides forward movement; to go backwards, the crew must row.

·         Rowing requires at least ½ of the max crew for a vessel to obtain full speed; else, speed is relative to number of rowers divided by half of max crew.
(For example, with a max crew of 40, full speed requires 20, and half speed requires 10.)

·         Turning under wind power requires forward movement of ½ move speed for every 45 degrees.
(For example, if the ship move speed is 30 feet, then to turn 45 degrees requires at least 15 feet of forward movement, and 90 degrees requires 30 feet of forward movement.)

·         Turning under rowing power slows movement speed by ½ per 45 degrees.
(For example, if the ship move speed is 30 feet, then to turn 45 degrees uses 15 feet of movement; to turn 90 degrees in one turn, no forward or backward movement occurs.)

·         Weather affects wind power:
no wind, no speed; strong head wind, half speed; strong tail wind, 1.5 x speed.

Weapon	Value	Damage	Range	Special
Pistol	250 gp	1d10 piercing	30/90	Takes an action to reload
Musket	500 gp	1d12 piercing	40/120	Takes an action to reload, 2-handed
Bullets (10)	3 gp	-	-	Purchase includes powder per shot
Gunpowder keg	250 gp	-	-	Use 1/4 to 1/2 of weight of cannon ball per shot

Weapon	AC	HP	Hit/Damage	Range	Special
Ballista	15	50	+6/3d10	120/480	can attach rope, for boarding and stopping ships
Medium Cannon	19	60	+6/6d10	500/2000	requires 2 operators, fire every other round
Large Cannon	19	75	+6/8d10	600/2400	requires 2 operators, fire every other round
Swivel Cannon	17	35	+6/4d8	250/500	cannot fire special ammunition

Medium/Large Cannon Ammunition Options:

Round Shot: regular cannon damage, used against ship/crew

Chain Shot: 2 balls connected by chain, used against rigging/sails

Explosive Shell: shrapnel (2d10 damage, but area effect on impact)

Grape Shot: used against crew, 30' cone (3d8 damage to crew DEX for half damage; 1d8 damage to ship)

Canister Shot: used against crew, hits 10' space (2d8 regular round shot damage to crew, 1d8 to ship)

Note: Can use INT + Proficiency for cannons instead of +6

Ship Damage:

·         Sails:

o   If sails reduced to under 50% HP, wind power speed reduced 25%.

o   If sails reduced to 0 HP, wind power speed reduced to 0.

·         Sinking:

o   When ship is under 50% HP, all bilge pumps must be manned or start taking on water.

§  (taking on water causes, ship speed to slow 25%, reduces crew movement on lower deck by 50%)

o   When ship is under 0 HP, bilge pumps must be used to reduce sinking speed.

§  DC10 Athletics checks at the pumps to maintain bouyancy.  Advantage if 2 crew per pump.  All pumps must be manned.

§  Each hit above Damage Threshold when sinking counts as a failed bilge pump round.

§  Sinking takes 3 failed rounds

Repair:

·         Manually patching holes takes (ship max HP divided by 10) minutes, and restores ship to 1 HP.

o   Work can be divided by number of crew working on patching.

o   For example, 300 HP ship would take 30 minutes to patch; with 10 crew working on patching, it takes 3.  The ship is then restored to 1 HP.

o   Manual repair beyond patching requires dry dock.

·         Fabricate heals ship to full and patches all holes, but takes 10 minutes, requires material.

·         Wood Shape patches holes and stops sinking, but does not restore ship HP.  [Homebrew Spell]

·         Steelbeard can be healed by normal healing spells, but will continue to sink until patched.

Inspired by:

https://www.tribality.com/2014/12/26/naval-combat-rules-dd-5th-edition-part-1/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A19q7rysLs