session 26: The Boot of Kord

"Here's a note I took off a Vrock I slew" said Zandalf, unrolling a parchment on the bar. "Not a bad likeness."

"We were headed back to the old Dwarven ruins to see what further treasures we might find when we came to a bridge.  'HOLD,' I said, 'EVIL IS AFOOT'.  Probably saved a few lives right there did old Zandalf the Herald.  No sooner had I spoken than did this foul creature fly up from the chasm.  A demon rising from the depths!"  Zandalf glanced over at the barmaid.  "How'd you like to see my demon rise?  eh?  EH?" Getting no interest he went on.  "Anyway, under my orders we spread out in attack formation and began peppering the the beast with ranged attacks.  It shrugged most of them off with little damage, but seemed susceptible to Leena's fire bolt.  I had everyone back away from the edge to lure it into hand to hand range.  When it came in to bite and claw at us we fell upon it with axe and sword.  It was a hard fought battle but in the end it couldn't hope to stand before my might.  It did a bit of damage to some of the others with its shrieks and spores but Zandalf the Hardy was still ready for action.  I'm always ready, you know what I'm saying?"

"We headed back to our campsite outside the dwarven ruins and some of the lesser members of the party nursed their wounds for a time before we went back in.  Once everyone was done being a baby we returned to the large door on the second level that the others had failed to open previously.  This time, though, I took a greater part in the proceedings and under my expert guidance Amos was able to pick the lock.  Beyond the door, stairs descended to a small chamber with 3 statues of dwarfs holding axes.  Seeing gouges on the ground in front of the 2 obvious exits I sensed a trap and set the team to searching the room.  Zandalf's first option is ALWAYS the backdoor, you know what I mean?  Zandalf the Probing!  Sure enough, behind one of the statues we found a secret door, and used that to exit the room." 

"The door opened into a large throne room, occupied by three duergar who rudely threatened us.  No sooner do we step into the room than these guys turn invisible and charge at us.  One by one they pop back into existence as they chuck javelins.  Vanekas turns into a big ass spider and scuttles up a pillar, shooting a web like 30 feet onto the guy closest to us.  Let me know if you want to stage a reenactment in my room later, heheh.  So anyway, the fellas just walk up and hack this trapped dwarf to death, which he had coming.  The other two didn't fare much better, trying to hide behind pillars.  Gimmelstob and Dis just started walking up and chopping away.  Amos is sneaking around shooting guys and Vanekas actually bit one."

"Once those three were dealt with we decided to head south where we could hear a loud, rhythmic clanging.  We open these big double doors and there's 3 more of these mean little guys across a river looking like they're making a sword or something.  Figuring these guys are as shitty as the ones we just handled we decide to just open fire on them unannounced.  We peppered one guy but he didn't go down.  Maybe if we'd bought him dinner first, eh?  Hehe.  So 2 of the guys turn invisible again and you can hear them coming across the bridges.  The other guy starts slinging spells at us, 'shatter' and the like.  Gimmelstob charges across the bridge and goes after the wizard with Vanekas who is creeping across the ceiling.  Dis, Amos and Leena stay on the near side of the river and soon enough the 2 missing duergar show up and start going after Leena.  Amos and Leena are concentrating on this one guy and Dis turns to the guy standing on the bridge and just plants the boot of Kord right in his chest, sends him into the river and over the falls to his doom.  The two remaining guys didn't last long, unlike me, Zandalf the Vigorous.  I couldn't tell, but I think Vanekas was biting this guy too.  Real oral fixation, that guy."

"After sorting out those last duergar we searched the room and found some more treasure hidden in an old furnace.  There were a couple storerooms to the south but didn't seem to be anything going on there.  To the east was a big waterfall, the one the duergar went over.  There's a bit of a ledge that goes along the northern wall of the pit and you can just make out a ladder over there, going down to who knows where.  Still plenty of doors still to open on this level before we go further down."

Session 24: Mr Roper

After dispatching the giant lizard Amos and Falwell headed to the surface, sending in Leena to help finish exploring the second level of the dwarven ruins.  No one knows where Zandalf is, but drunk in a gutter seems likely.

The party followed the stream north into a large cavern whose walls were decorated with the remains of animals and orcs.  They were examining a poorly constructed door when a pair of Troglodytes, their chameleon-like skin allowing them to blend into the surrounding cavern, surprised them.  The pair were quickly dispatched, having only managed to land a single weak blow to Dis.  As the combat subsided activity could be heard on the other side of the door; what sounded like a hasty attempt at reinforcement.  Not wanting to leave such savage creatures at their backs the door was kicked down and the group marched in.  At the end of a short, narrow cave the area opened up to either side where Troglodytes crouched, waiting.  Even more Troglodytes could be seen farther ahead, barely visible in the dim light.
 

Shielding the more lightly armored, Gimmelstob and Dis stood in the tunnel's mouth and set to work with axe and sword, Vanekas darting between them to fire arrows.  The battle was looking to be an easy one when another giant lizard appeared, perhaps the spawn of the one they'd defeated earlier, followed by a Troglodyte magic user.  You could tell he was smart, or perhaps just shy, as he was the only one with clothes.

Fearing the might of Kord the newcomers continued the trend of focusing their attacks on our lord's champion.  Dis was downed but Vanekas was able to revive him and the carnage continued, with the lizard and troglodytes on the receiving end of a beat down. 

Their immediate foes defeated, the party headed deeper into the cave, boxing in a group of female Troglodytes hissing over their eggs.  Having proven themselves vicious and sneaky with their preemptive attacks it was an easy decision to root out this evil.  There followed a brief battle, Leena and Vanekas using Burning Hands and Thunderwave to batter the Troglodytes while Gimmelstob and Dis hacked away.  Soon enough there was nothing left but broken eggs and dead enemies.

Consulting their map the party noticed a stretch of stream by the entrance that was unexplored and headed back that way to complete their cartographic endeavors.  Rounding a bend in the stream they came upon an alcove with the mouldering corpse of a dwarf.  Again the group was surprised when a group of stirges descended from the ceiling, one latching on to Dis.  Leena promptly put the lot of them to sleep and they were unceremoniously crushed.

Having completed the exploration of the second level the group went outside to rest for the night before heading down a spiral staircase to the 3rd level.  They came out in a large cavern with a waterfall to the west, a large wooden door to the east and a short cave heading south.  Wanting to clear out the open spaces first they headed south.  Crossing a short bridge spanning a fast moving stream they came upon a door leading to a gallery of cut-stone rooms.  The floor was flooded with evil smelling water which Gimmelstob jumped across with his boots of striding to explore the area.  At the far end was another corpse, half submerged in the water.  To examine it Gimmelstob was forced to enter the water but seemed none the worse for wear.

Heading east along the stream the party climbed a curving stairway and came out in another cave.  On the other side of the stream was a suspicious looking stalagmite.  As they prepared to fill it with arrows and crossbow bolts it burst to life, grabbing Leena, Dis and Gimmelstob.  Vanekas was able to elude its grasp and ran further into the chamber to get out of tentacle range while still allowing him to shoot the beast with arrows.  The 'roper' proved to be a hardy foe, with many a well struck blow bouncing off its thick hide.  By the grace of Kord, Dis was able to land a mighty smite, thereafter gaining the creature's undivided attention.  The two traded attacks in a battle that was worthy of song.  In the end Dis lay unconscious in its grasp and the creature was at death's door when Leena burned the last sliver of life out of it.

Having had enough for the time being the party limped out of the ruins and headed back to town.

Session 22: It Was All Thanks to Me

Having just heard the tale of how the party cleared out the 2nd level of the dwarven ruins without him, Zandalf staggered to his feet and headed over to the bar for another round.

"Let me tell you," he slurred "of how I, with almost no assistance, cleared out the 2nd level of the dwarven ruins... somewhere over in that direction."  Zandalf pointed in a direction almost entirely opposite of where the ruins actually were.

The barkeep, who hadn't noticed Zandalf at all, looked up to see him staring expectantly and pointing at the wall.  He glanced at the wall, back at Zandalf then shrugged, returning to polishing a glass.

"The party stood at the top of the stairs, waiting, as I, Zandalf the Bold descended into the depths.  Even before reaching the floor I was beset by enemies as at least 50, nay 100, Stirges descended from the ceiling!"  Zandalf, somehow misreading the barkeep's utter lack of interest, continued.
"While first and foremost a wielder of the mystical arts, I am also renowned for my skills with a blade!"  Zandalf pulled his knife out with a flourish and promptly fumbled it into a bowl of nuts on the bar.  "It was child's play for me to dispatch them, and soon the few remaining stirges fled in terror lest they meet the same grizzly fate!"

"Reaching the bottom of the stairs I called to the rest of the party, and heartened by my bravery they followed me down.  We headed east across a stream and into another cavern.  Sensing something was off I called to Vanekas, whose perceptions are second only to my own, to come forward.  'Over there', I said to him, 'do you see it?'  I already knew what it was, you understand, but I wanted Vanekas to feel some sense of accomplishment.  Can you guess what we saw?"  The barkeep continued ignoring him.  "It was TROGLODYTES, those stinking, sneaking bastards!  Thanks to my keen senses they were unable to surprise us.  Inspired by my leadership the party landed many a precise blow!  Amos and Vanekas buried arrows directly in their eyes and Dis struck one in the neck, right where I had taught him Troglodytes were weakest."  Zandalf stood with fist clenched, staring into the distance, pretending to remember.

"There was a door to the east but we decided to head south where the way was open.  In a passage that branched off the main tunnel we found an ancient skeleton, grasping a magical blade.  The skeleton was covered in spores that looked poisonous so we, I mean I, devised an ingenious method to extricate the blade.  We would loop a rope around the pommel and tug it away from a distance.  'Zandalf the Shrewd' they used to call me at the magisterium.  Against my better judgement I allowed Vanekas to attempt it and the task was bungled.  Thankfully no ill came of it.  I allowed Dis to keep the blade, as what need has Mighty Zandalf of such a crude weapon?"

"To the south was the largest cavern yet.  Sensing no immediate threat we decided to head back to the unopened door in the previous cavern.  I pushed everyone behind me and tugged the door open, revealing the most ferocious bear you've ever seen!  That's the most ferocious bear YOU'VE ever seen, mind you, not me.  I've faced and defeated countless bears that were more ferocious.  'Zandalf Bearsbane' some call me.  Anyway, feeling sorry for the bear, whose life would surely end were we to come into conflict, I stood between him and the party and pointed toward a tunnel to the north that seemed to lead out to the forest.  All the while Vanekas pretended to talk to the bear, but what would be the point?  My steely-eyed gaze was all the message that bear needed and he was soon on his way."

"From there we headed back west to the original cavern and turned south through a previously unexplored tunnel.  We came upon a raised stone platform that overlooked the same huge cavern we'd spied earlier.  Upon the platform Twenty-three sepulchers stood, clearly the resting place of the dwarven dead who had originally inhabited these tunnels.  Only three sepulchers had death dates and contained skeletons, leading us to believe the rest of the dwarfs had met an untimely demise.  Falwell was unable to detect any undead, which I had known would be the case, so we looted the graves.  I mean, they're not using it, right?  Looting is the whole reason we're down there.  I mean, that and making the lands safe for the common folk.  'Zandalf the Benevolent' they call me."

"We headed down a short flight of stairs into the main cavern and there, along a cliff on the eastern edge, we came upon a couple gricks.  Nasty tentacled things.  Again, I took on a leadership role and under my instruction the party filled the gricks with arrows and crossbow bolts from a distance.  When they were close enough to us we switched to hammer and sword and made short work of them."


"There was a locked door to the east.  Amos tried to pick the lock and Gimmelstob and Dis attempted to force it open but failed.  Had I tried we would doubtless have been through it in a matter of moments."  Zandalf glanced over his shoulder to make sure the party wasn't paying attention to him.  The barkeep, also not paying attention, had walked away.  Zandalf headed down the bar after him, finishing the dregs of abandoned drinks along the way.

"Anyway, we got a bit of treasure there which I'm allowing the others to hold onto for now.  I'm sure I'll get my cut soon enough...  We headed south through a tunnel from there and came to another cavern with a stream running through it from east to west.  To the east was a set of spiral stairs leading down.  Not wanting to leave anything at our backs we headed west up the stream."

"On the south side of the stream we came upon a giant white lizard chained to a wall.  Huuuuge goddamn lizard.  Second biggest white lizard I've ever seen, you know what I'm saying?  hehe.  The ol reptile, eh?  You know what I mean..?  My dick.  I'm talking about my dick, which is twice as big as that lizard, which, like I said, was really big...  and I'm being generous to that lizard here because it only wishes it was half as big as the ol magic wand.  hehe... 'Zandalf the Girthy'.  Anyway, this big fuck darts forward and bites the SHIT out of Gimmelstob, really chomped him.  I feel bad for letting him out front like that, as I would have easily evaded that beast and felled him with a single blow!"  Zandalf went to hammer his fist on the bar and just missed, skinning his knuckles on the edge.  "ooOOOWWwww... that's kinda like what Gimmelstob sounded like.  I'm trying to paint a picture here, just being as descriptive as possible.  'Zandalf the Illuminating'.  So, Gimmelstob starts hacking at this lizard and Dis goes running forward to help out.  I turn to Falwell and I says to him 'Hey, Falwell, hook Dis up with some channel divinity.'  Recognizing my wisdom he does just that and Dis lands this monster blow, really cleaved that lizard.  A circumcision if you will, hehe.  The lizard doesn't like that and he turns and bites Dis now, practically eating him.  But that was all she wrote for the lizard.  Recognizing that it was almost dead and they didn't need my assistance to finish him off I directed the party forward to put an end to him.  Found another chest full of loot in there,  Which, you know, I'm probably going to get the lion's share of.  Gonna be rich.  'Zandalf the Prosperous'."

Zandalf puffed out his chest and nodded sagely to no one in particular.  Forgetting to order another round he turned and headed back toward the party, pissing his robes as he went.

Session 12: Face-to-face with the Black Spider... and a fireball

The heroes, victorious after slaying the pack of foul Ghouls, were battered and weary from their many wounds. They barricaded themselves in the old Barrack's room and recuperated from their wounds.  They resumed their exploration and discovered an old Smelter room North of the Great Cavern where they battled the ghouls previously. When they entered the room they found several old corpses clad in chain-mail and a floating, flaming skull that warned the party that they "..may not pass by order of Vickana the Blue". Blumpkin urged the party to slay the undead beast, but Pog and Stevil felt discretion was in order and convinced the party to try to find an alternative way around the room.

They explored more of the caverns to the West and passed by a dark pool in the ground (who knows what mysteries lie in its waters?) and opened a door to a barracks full of six Bugbears wearing the emblem of the Black Spider. Pog became enraged at the sight of the monstrous Bugbears and charged into the room, protecting the rest of the party. Three bug-bears charged at Pog with their morning-stars, while the remaining hurled their javelins at the barbarian. Pog side-stepped most of their blows, although he nearly got brained by a morning star that injured him. In retaliation Pog killed two of the beasts in a single swing of his sword. The party swarmed over the remaining Bugbears and quickly defeated them, capturing a badly injured Bugbear, who warned them of a "scary monster" in the Northeast section of the mine. 

The party rested for an hour and headed further North. They discovered more Black Spider forces comprised of a Drow elf (Vhalak) and four Bugbears. The foes engaged the party, and killed two of the Bugbears and badly wounded Vhalak, who the party suspected was really a Doppelganger. Vhalak yelled for reinforcements, and from an adjoining room, Nezznar, the Black Spider leader, and several Giant Spiders charged at the party from their exposed flank. 

The party feared they would be overwhelmed and fled down the hall and regrouped into a better defensive position to take on the small horde of monsters. In response Nezznar cast darkness over the party and sent in his spiders, who can fight in darkness. The heroes retreated again to the Bugbear barracks and barricaded the door. They devised a plan to retreat through the room with the Flaming Skull with the hope that Nezznar's forces would follow and be attacked by the skull.

The party executed the plan – including feeding the zombies the helpless bugbear prisoner to distract them -- and they ran East into the Flame Skull room while Silde tried to open the Western door to the Black Spider. However, Nezznar's forces had barricaded the door to the room to try to force the party to fight the skull as well, so the party's plan was thwarted and Silde fled like the wind through the Eastern door. 

While the party fled East the Flaming Skull launched a fiery ball of destruction that exploded into the party's midst. The party was badly hurt with Goh being knocked unconscious by the great concussive force, while Stevil only managed to stay on his feat with his unyielding endurance. After the fireball the zombies moved to engage the party. They blocked the door to the barracks, trapping Goh and Stevil in the barracks. Stevil slammed the door shut and revived Goh with his healing magic. The party is now split in two facing off against two potential enemies with Goh and Stevil trapped and at risk of being overwhelmed by enemies.

Session 11: Wave Echo Cavern

As soon as the adventurers entered the smoking ruins of Phandalin, Stevil tracked down sister Garaele who was the village's best (and only) herbalist. With the help of Kord via Stevil's Guidance spell, sister Garaele brewed a potion that cured Stevil of his malediction.  While in town the heroes agreed that they needed to stop the Black Spider from finding the forge of spells in Wave Echo Cavern. However, before they set out to the mine, Stevil visited Nars and convinced him (barely) to stay in the village and avoid getting into more trouble.

The heroes set out for the mine and arrived later that evening at a cave that descended into the mining complex. In the cavern they found an unidentified body of a Dwarf who had died approximately 1-week ago and was equipped with boots of Striding and Springing that was taken by Pog.  The team dropped down into the mine and headed East. They soon came upon the wreckage of an old battle with dozens of Orc and Skeleton skeletons scattered across the floor. While they were investigating, the team was surprised by a flock of hungry, vicious Stirges, who descended in the party's midst intent on feasting on their blood. After a desperate struggle the party defeated them, although many of the heroes were half dead from blood loss.

Stevil and Goh revitalized the team with their healing magic, and the heroes continued to explore the mine. In a nearby guard room they ran across more skeletons -- remnants of the battle that consumed Wave Echo Cavern 500 years previously. These skeletons had slowly been absorbing the magic of the cavern and quickly reanimated themselves when they were disturbed and hurled themselves at the party. It takes more than skeletons to stop our heroes and the monsters were soon defeated, although Goh was badly hurt from a particularly vicious orc skeleton that hit him with a lucky strike, although Stevil pulverized the skeleton into dust with his maul.

In an adjoining room the party found an old lock box, but despite the team’s best effort it resisted all efforts to open it. The party was feeling worn down at this point and took a quick rest to heal their wounds before they ventured further into the mine. They soon entered a cavern full of mysterious fungi to the East, but when the team attempted to traverse the room a foul gas was released by the fungi that drove them back. The team next headed North in an old barracks where three ghouls were gnawing on old bones and attacked the party. The ghouls were no match for the heroes and were dispatched, although Goh was paralyzed by one of the fiendish creatures that he antagonized. However, the team killed the creature before it could begin snacking on Goh’s flesh. After the battle the team didn’t find anything of worth in the room, and Silde, the monk, lamented the lack of treasure they were receiving.

The team continued their exploration and headed west through a network of passageways. Goh, always eager to explore, ran ahead of the group and was nearly surprised by a large Ochre Jelly that dropped from the ceiling. The team rushed in to destroy the abomination. During the battle Stevil split the ooze in half with his sword, creating two identical (but smaller) copies of the beast, but the the party quickly defeated it after switching to piercing weapons.

After the battle the team noticed a Ghoul up north on the top of some stairs and launched a volley of arrows, badly wounding it, but it ran away. The heroes charged up the stairs realizing there were numerous Ghouls nearby that needed killing, but the Ghouls ran down a side passage and tried to surprise the party from behind. However, the heroes were too clever and discovered their trick and a great battle enveloped on the staircase.

Pog and Sildar held the front line while the party launched arrows at the Ghouls. Stevil unleashed the power of Kord and cast Shatter, which killed many of the monsters. Silde rushed into the gap and took down a Ghoul with a flurry of flows, but he became too eager and charged the last two Ghouls who were anticipating his attack and viciously mauled the monk, nearly killing him. The team rushed in after him and brought down the last two ghouls while Stevil revived Silde.

Session 8: Glasstaff revealed

Having secured Cragmaw Cavern, our heroes rested to recuperate from their wounds. They traveled back to Phandalin the next morning to return the supplies, but when they arrived they saw that most of it had been burnt to the ground. In the ruins of the townhall they saw the bodies of Sildar, Harbin, Linene, and Barthen, who had been impaled with a warning message from the Black Spider nailed through Harbin’s head. Donton, growing impatient and concerned for his own safety, left the party and began his Journey to Neverwinter.

Despite his horrific wounds, Sildar called out to the party. He extolled them to complete his quest and handed over his ring that opens a vault in his ancestral family castle.  Stevil and Goh used their medical training and magic respectively to deimpale and heal Sildar – an almost impossible task – but they were successful. Sildar, grateful for his life and the return of his ring, recounted the tale of his capture by Glasstaff and the subsequent pillaging of the village out of revenge by the Black Spider.

The band heard the screams of Trilena Stonehill next to Tresendar Manor and charged in to rescue her. They engaged a Goblinoid raiding party about to murder her and break into the basement.  Silde was singled out by the raiding party and was quickly beaten unconscious, but Stevil revived him before he was killed. Blumpkin soon used his Arcane Shot to cause mayhem for the monsters, who were soon destroyed with the help of the heroes. 

The party freed the townsfolk, who had taken refuge in the basement. They soon learned that Glasstaff headed North hours ago and that Nars Dendrar, infused with the resolve of Kord and intent on getting justice, left in pursuit . The party rushed after Nars and Glasstaff, using Goh’s tracking ability to follow, but they were weary from their long march from Cragmaw Cavern and some of them became exhausted – particularly Silde – but they soldiered on. They soon arrived at Cragmaw Castle, but Goh was discovered by Goblins when he came too close to the front gate. However, he was able to flee and the weary party – having lost the element of surprise – rested for the night. The next day they discovered a concealed, side entrance into the castle and ventured inside.

They soon found a pair of Hobgoblins guarding a trap door to a small dungeon and killed them before they could send an alert. Suspecting Nars might have been captured they entered the dungeon and soon found him in one of the cells. He told the party that Glasstaff was in the adjoining room and torturing Toblen Stonehill on a rack.  The brave adventurers confronted Glasstaff and his Goblinoid allies in the torture room, but the diabolical Glasstaff cast a Fireball that smashed into the heroes with a shockwave that reverberated throughout the entire castle – seriously wounding everyone in the party and nearly incinerating Silde. However, Glasstaff also killed his own allies and the party quickly knocked Glasstaff unconscious before he could cause additional mayhem.

Session 7: Entering the Bone Zone

The weary heroes ventured into the altar of the forgotten tomb and saw an undead abomination of bones and rotten flesh shaped like a tree. Beside it was a freakish four-armed skeleton that charged the party while the tree hurled an arrow of bone dripping necrotic fluid that nearly impaled Pog.

Armed Skeleton

The group took cover while Goh and Blumpkin fired arrows at the tree, but its carapace resisted the blows. Pog protected his companions and together they destroyed the skeleton, but the tree vomited up new foes to wear down the heroes. Stevil discovered the tree was susceptible to light, and with the help of the team, who distracted it, cast Guiding Bolt and Sacred flame, which badly hurt the monster. However, Stevil was nearly knocked out of the fight after he got hit twice with the deadly projectiles, but he stayed on his feet with Relentless Endurance and finished off the tree with Sacred Flame.

  

The adventurers deduced from the reliefs that the monster was the mutated remnants of a sorcerer that had been animated by an evil, black diamond of demonic origin. After consulting Kord via an Augury scroll, the heroes smashed the gem and cleansed Phandalin of an evil that would have soon overwhelmed the town. The party harvested several necrotic arrows, shards of the black diamond, and a Periapt of Wound Closure that was worn by Stevil.

On the way to the inn the team picked up Donton and discovered that the townsfolk were in good spirits with the destruction of the gem. Qelline Alderleaf then told the band about undead at Old Owl Well and that Reidoth of Thundertree, a druid, may know the location of Wave Echo Cavern.  The heroes, intent on clearing the surrounding wilds of evil and returning the lost supplies to the Lionshield Coster, ventured back into Cragmaw Cavern. They attempted to negotiate for the supplies with Gnarlgrimm, the new leader of the cavern, but Gnarlgrimm refused and a battle ensued.

The group raced across the creek to do battle, taking potshots at one of the archers, who caught one of Pog’s javelins with his throat. The party was then nearly swept away by a deluge from a raging torrent trap unleashed by the Goblins, but they escaped unscathed.  The party planned an ambush of their foes but Donton gave his warcry, “Donton Clindald!” and charged into the oncoming Goblins, but was ineffective. The team charged after him and became jammed in the tunnel, which trapped Goh between three foes who had been blessed by dark magic. Goh fought heroically and was nearly killed, but Stevil smote their enemies with the power of Kord, instantly killing a rabid Wolf and Hobgoblin, and badly injured a Goblin and Gnarlgrimm.  With Gnarlgrimm’s main vanguard destroyed his remaining forces were easily defeated, with the last threat, a Goblin ritualist, being cleaved in two by Pog to end the battle.

A lone surviving goblin, who cowardly hid during the battle, surrendered and told the party the location of Cragmaw Castle in exchange for his life.

Session 6: Bring out your dead

Nars Dendrar

The weary heroes rested at Stonehill Inn and confirmed with Sildar that Iarno was Glasstaff. Sildar thanked the team and rushed South to intercept Iarno, telling the heroes he’d return soon.  The team then told Nars that his father, Thel, was murdered by the Redbrands and agreed to retrieve his body. Stevil preached the word of Kord to Nars, who seemed  highly receptive.

The band headed back to the hideout and heard sinister whispering noises emanating from the Crevasse and feared an evil had been awakened by the previous day’s carnage that would reanimate the dead. They burned the bodies and looted everything that wasn’t nailed down – including the head of the Nothic -- and brought Thel's remains to Sister Garaele for a proper burial. 

Sister Garaele thanked the party and asked for help finding the location of a spellbook that is known by Agatha, a banshee, who is located Northeast near the ruins of Conyberry.  The team tried to collect the reward for defeating Glasstaff from Halia, but she said the terms hadn’t been satisfied. However, Pog convinced her to part with half after he voiced his displeasure. 

The heroes, intent on exterminating the evil presence in the hideout, acquired excavation tools and began digging into the crevasse. They broke through a stone wall when suddenly undead hands reached up and pulled Pog into the tomb below. The rest of the team jumped fearlessly into the depths after their friend while Donton watched from above. 

While the band battled the ravenous zombies, Goh was surrounded and took multiple blows, gravely injuring him. He redeployed to a seemingly safe area, but it was inches away from a deadly locking pit infested with undead that would have lead to his certain doom.  After defeating the zombies and looting the Southern sarcophagi, the team opened a door to the North that contained a horrifying nightmare creature known as a Tentaghoul. The foul-smelling abomination screamed and rushed straight at the party lashing Pog with his tentacles. The impact would have killed most men, but Pog heroically stayed on his feet and fought a desperate battle of survival with the rest of the party and helped block the creature from entering the central chamber.

Tentaghoul

During the melee, Silde attempted to reposition but was sent crashing face first into the floor by a tentacle strike that left him unconscious and near death . Stevil took a mighty blow but stayed in the fight attacking the beast with his sword and divine magic. Our heroes, wounded but determined, slowly wore down the monster until Blumpkin finished it off with an arrow through its head.  Undaunted by their near-death experience the party opened a suspicious sarcophagus in the Tentaghoul room and found a zombie encased in valuable Mithral Chain Mail. The tough creature initially resisted the team’s assault, but soon it was dispatched and Blumpkin donned it’s armor.

Session 5: On the trail of Glasstaff

After entering the cavern Blumpkin left the party to loot the storeroom while the rest of the team discovered a foul Nothic lurking nearby. The team negotiated with it by feeding it the bodies of the recently defeated Redbrands and travelled deeper into the hideout.

They burst into a Barracks with three Bugbears, who were tormenting Gloop, a Goblin. A melee ensued as Silde unleashed a flurry of blows against a Bugbear, but he was nearly killed by a morning star blow to the head. Pog raged and waded into the room and absorbed repeated blows while Goh shot arrow after arrow into the monsters. Stevil invoked the power of Kord and brought Silde back from near death and charged into the fray. The party was bloodied but ultimately victorious and learned the general location of Cragmaw Castle from Gloop before the party released him.

Our heroes rested before venturing North where they discovered Redbrands playing a game of dice. Stevil summoned a thunderous force that swept across the room hurting the ruffians, but they retaliated nearly killing Stevil, who went down hearing the whispers of Kord in his ear. The team battled while Goh brought Stevil back from the brink with his healing magic. The battered party soon killed the villains, although they were badly hurt and forced to rest again.

The party continued north and found a laboratory where they encountered Glasstaff's rat familiar, who warned Glasstaff before it disappeared in a puff of smoke after Pog attacked it. The team discovered a Dwarvish book that gave the history of Wave Echo Cavern and mentioned a magical mace called Lightbringer that was lost five hundred years ago.

The party entered Glasstaff's quarters where they looted more treasure and discovered a note that affirmed that Glasstaff is likely Iarno Albrek and employed by the Black Spider. Goh found an ajar secret door, which lead to the storeroom with Blumpkin, who saw the wizard running South.  The team pursued but ran into the now hostile Nothic, who attacked Goh, who had eagerly charged forward to hunt Glasstaff. Goh resisted it’s necrotic eye beam while the team surrounded the monster. Silde was nearly eviscerated by it’s deadly claws, but Stevil used his healing magic to bring him back from the verge of death. The heroes then destroyed the aberration and found Talon, a magical longsword, and the half-eaten body of Thel Dendrar at the bottom of the crevasse, which exuded a necromantic aura and is unnaturally cold.

The team, having been delayed by the Nothic and treasure, attempted to pursue Glasstaff, but lost his tracks and were forced to abandon the chase.  The exhausted team headed to the inn for a much deserved rest and discover Yeemik lurking in the  common room. He offered them a deal to clear out the Wyvern Tor Orcs and the new inhabitants of Cragmaw Cavern but the party rejected his shady proposal and rested at the inn.

Session 3: Roughing up Redbrands

Stevil and Pog wisely didn’t trust Yeemik to honor their agreement and successfully intimidated him into releasing Sildar with a dramatic show of force by hurling Klarg’s head into his cave while blinding the Goblins with magic.

Having completed their objective, our heroes traveled to Phandalin, where they delivered the provisions to Barthen, who asked them to find Gundren and his missing brothers. While the team reprovisioned, they learned of a reward for the return of the supplies in Cragmaw Cavern and an odd tunnel near Alderleaf farm. While at the town hall, the team discovered that Sildar is part of the Lord's Alliance and looking for a missing wizard, Iarno. They are then offered a reward by Sildar and Harbin if they will neutralize the Cragmaw Castle Goblins and Wyvern Tor Orcs respectively.


The group discovered that the townsfolk (who can’t do anything for themselves) were being harassed and extorted by the Redbrands, who recently murdered Thel and likely kidnapped his family. Our noble heroes headed to their hangout to bring them to justice, but enroute they were accosted by four thugs. A brutal, no-quarter melee ensued where Stevil was brought down by a barrage of sword thrusts while Pog was gravely wounded. Sensing defeat Silde unleashed his Ki while Pog flew into a rage, and the two rained death and despair upon the scoundrels and turned the tide of battle with Goh and Blumpkin. As the town watched and the din of battle subsided whispers in the wind could be heard around the stricken priest of Kord. The party, hurt, but not beaten, were victorious.

Session 2: Killing Klarg

Silde left the cavern to protect the wagon while the rest of our heroes made a treacherous ascent into Klarg's lair to assault the ferocious bugbear leader. However, they were forced to abort the plan after Blumpkin lost his footing and nearly plummeted to his doom. Undeterred, the band headed further into the cavern, but a Goblin spotted Pog's torch and unleashed a flood through the caverns. The quick-footed Pog leapt to a stalactite while Goh and Blumpkin ran to higher ground. Stevil wasn’t as lucky and was nearly swept away but he resisted the deluge with his brute strength.

Our heroes climbed a side passage, but Blumpkin tripped again and was sent head-over-heels -- nearly knocking Stevil into the rapids below. Our steadfast adventurers trekked upward and confronted Klarg's sharp-tongued liuetenant, Yeemik, who had been viciously torturing Sildar. After insulting Stevil he agreed to free Sildar in exchange for killing Klarg and let slip that Gundren was taken from the cave. The party agreed to Yeemik's plan -- despite Sildar's warning and plea for help.

The band soon encountered the Goblins who unleashed the earlier torrent, defeating them after Goh lead a daring sneak attack. Blumpkin was nearly spotted by Klarg who was nearby, but Goh pulled him aside before being spotted. The party then attacked and easily defeated Klarg and his minions taking a Goblin prisoner. However a badly wounded Goblin escaped in fear after witnessing Pog cleave his comrade in half. The team headed back to Yeemik having fulfilled their end of the bargain.

Session 1: Wagon Duty

Sildar Hallwinter

Our story began with four brave adventurers and Blumpkin accepting a mission to protect a wagon full of provisions headed to the mining village of Phandalin. They are ambushed by Goblins, who earlier kidnapped their employer, Gundren Rockseeker, and his sellsword, Sildar Hallwinter. The party easily defeated the raiders forcing a captured Goblin to lead them to their hide-out avoiding multiple traps along the path.

The heroes discovered their cavern hide-out and killed a pair of sentries along with their own prisoner, who made an ill-timed escape attempt during the battle. When the party entered the cavern they discovered three wolves chained in a kennel. Goh (aka Vanekas), the Ranger, coordinated a ranged assault but this enraged the beasts who broke their rusty chains, savagely mauling Blumpkin before they were brought down in a surprisingly tough battle.