Nestled in the rocky foothills of the snow-capped Sword Mountains is the mining town of Phandalin, which consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings. Crumbling stone ruins surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past.
Phandalin’s residents are quiet, hard-working folk who came from distant cities to eke out a life amid the harsh wilderness. They are farmers, stonecutters, blacksmiths, traders, prospectors, and children. The town has no walls and no garrison, but most of the adults keep weapons within easy reach in case the need for arms should arise.
Visitors are welcome here, particularly if they have coin to spend or news to share. The Stonehill Inn at the center of town offers modest lodging and meals. A couple of doors down from the inn, posted outside the townmaster’s hall, is a job board for adventurers.
All of you have your reasons for having made your way to Phandalin, but the one thing that all of those reasons have in common is rumors of a certain young white dragon. You have all already been here for between a few days and a couple of weeks, staying at the Stonehill Inn, and taking odd jobs off of the job board outside the townmaster’s hall. In such a small town, with only a handful of jobs available at any one time, you all have worked with one or another of you at least once in the time you've been here.
Right now, it's early afternoon, and you're all back at the Inn getting a quick bite to eat together.
While you're eating you overhear the innkeeper, a short, friendly male human named Toblen Stonehill, talking with one of the local residents at the bar, "Did you see the job board? Harbin has already put three more jobs on there."
The other gentleman, an elderly Dwarf that could easily be over 250 years old, responded, "Well, what with all of this dragon nonsense...people can't do nothin' to protect themselves if they don't even know there's something they need to protect themselves from..."
Rush is waiting for a familiar face to show up to go to the job board with him. He hates having to go anywhere by himself, and is getting anxious about how people might look at a man eating breakfast by himself out in public. Admittedly, people do stare, sometimes. Besides the green-blue tinge to his skin, Rush looks... moist. He doesn’t glisten, or shine. He just looks wet. His hands are a bit clammy, his pits damp. He tries to blame it on the heavy chain mail, but it happens even when he wears just his clothes. He has a blue-green braid that hangs down to his shoulder blades. He carries a shield, and a mace on his belt. He shoulders a pack full of odds and ends needed for travel.
But right now, he’s waiting for anyone familiar to come down so he can bring himself to go look at the job board
A frazzled older gnome runs quickly walks up to the job board and starts to look things over, barely aware of the Genasi beside him, and starts mumbling to himself "dragons dragons... a town with dragon problems and just this on the board.. bah" He then looks up to the white raven sitting on his shoulder and adds "What do you think Duncan... at least one of these will help us make some connections in town eh."
As the three of you approach the Townmaster's Hall, you see that it has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. The job board next to the front door features a sparse number of notices, all written in Common and in the same hand.
On the job board are the following job opportunities. You, as a party, must choose one.
“Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.”
“A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.”
“The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.”
Oban walks in to the inn, shaking the trail dust off his clock. Oban likes to watch the sun rise easch morning from a hilltop not too far out of town. JZust after he enters he hears the little gnome mumbling about dragons, dragons!? Seeing Rush sitting alone, he waves him over as he heads to the job board. "Good morning Rush, eating alone again I see?"
Reading over the board Kwisatz continues to mumble to himself "Rock gnomes! Magic to deal with Dragons! We should be off at once!" and suddenly feeling a pinch at his shoulder as his raven squeezes it and points towards the others in the Inn "Duncan! That hur... ah... yes... You're right... We could use some help!" He then looks around and finally notices that there is a Genasi and an Elf both also looking at the board next to him. Turning to them he starts quickly rambling "Ah! Hello hello! Are you two also looking for work? I've come to research the dragons I've heard of in the area. Seems a facinating chance to see one up close. White dragons aren't common even amongst their own, so I'm quite curious to see what's happening. Perhaps if you're heading the same way we could travel together. I've read that traveling in a group is far safer than alone... though I haven't much experience with either really... oh! I'm sorry. Where are my manners!? I'm Kwisatz! This is Duncan!" holding out (and up, since he's rather short) a hand.
“Hullo, Oban. Just... ya know... waiting.” He follows Oban and the weird gnome to the bounty boards. “Yeah. Looks pretty good. Hi Duncan.” He waves at the bird, realizes it probably looks stupid to wave at a bird and puts his hand down.
Turning to the gnome, one brow raised in a high arch, giving that typical look of elven disapproval, “The only good dragon is a dead dragon.” Bringing out his necklace with several dragons teeth, eyes going distant to a flash back of the night his clan slayed the dragon, the night they all died, hearing his mothers screams. Coming back to the moment, clearing his throat “My apologies, I seem to be distracted this morning. I’m Oban Tullamore” taking the gnomes hand, “I am very interested in seeing what these gnomes may have invented for slaying dragons.”
"Fantastic fantastic!“Kwisatz rattles "Oban, and Rush? was it? It's great to meet both of you! And yes... If the dragon is a threat I suppose it will need to be.. dealt with.. though until then I hope to have a chance to study it." Taking a breath he finally adds "Should we be off to the Townmaster? Straight to Gnomengarde? What exactly do adventurers need again?" He then pulls out a small paperback book titled Adventures and You and starts flipping through it quickly.
If you all want to check out the various stores and places within Phandalin, feel free to do that. If you want to head out straight on one of the quests you may feel free to do that, as well. It's up to you. If you want to explore the town, just scroll back up to the map of the town and let me know where you want to go, or what you want to know more about.
As a side note, our 4th person hasn't joined, yet, it doesn't appear. That's fine. If he/she decides to join, we'll get them caught up; but, these quests can be accomplished with a party of three.
Rush looks at the book excitedly but doesn’t say anything after he sees Oban’s disapproving look. “We could go from East to West, completing the whole kit and caboodle in one sweep. I mean, if that’s alright with you all.”
So, you want to go Barthen's Provisions --> Shrine of Luck --> Lionshield Coster --> The Miner's Exchange?
Since you all have been here for at least a few days, if not a couple of weeks, you're at least somewhat familiar with each of the locations on this map. You've been to each of them at least once before. (Except maybe the shrine if you don't consider yourself religious.)
Barthen's Provisions is a general store
The Shrine of Luck is Phandalin's only temple. All you know about it, at this point, is that it's dedicated to Tymora, the goddess of luck and fortune, and you think you've seen a dwarf priest or cleric there
Lionshield Coster is a trading post that carries some of the items that Barthen's doesn't
The Miner's Exchange is a place to go to get things you find assessed for value and then sold
Noticing the glance from Rush, Oban quickly changes his face. Clearing his throat, "Rush that is an excellent idea, what say you Kwisatz? Shale we take all three jobs at once?"
"Ah here!"Kwisatz says "Camping on the road! I may need provisions to keep me warm at night. I left in too much of a hurry and only packed my research materials."
He then replies "All three jobs!? You're very confident in your abilities! I certainly could use the coin to purchase some more papers and inks... and perhaps those Dwarves have found something interesting... Why not!"
((I took the 'scholars pack' starter gear, so don't have any camping things. 10g should be enough to get some. I'll check the shopping list later.))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
So, the first job you decided to head towards was Gomendarde.
In order to get to the mountainous caverns of Gnomengarde, the party must travel to the east just a handful of miles. It only takes about 2 and a half hours, which brings the party into mid-afternoon. Along the way, you begin to follow a river uphill which turns into a stream that leads you right to the home of these mountain gnomes. Waterfall erosion has carved out a natural concavity. The roaring waterfall creates a cloud of mist as it plunges into a shallow pool of water, within which rise two small islands covered with two-foot-tall red, green, and purple mushrooms. Several cave openings overlook the pool from rocky ledges twenty to thirty feet above. The mountain blocks any sunlight from reaching this place.
Big picture view of the entrance.
Zoomed in view of the entrance
Looking into the concavity, you can see that there are two raised cliff outcroppings and one switchback pathway that leads to an opening into the caves. If you had to guess, you would say that the cliffs are between 20' and 30' tall.
There is no response. Perhaps the sound of the waterfall echoing off of the walls of the cavern are masking either your call, or any potential response...if anyone is still here, at all.
Nestled in the rocky foothills of the snow-capped Sword Mountains is the mining town of Phandalin, which consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings. Crumbling stone ruins surround the newer houses and shops, showing how this must have been a much larger town in centuries past.
Phandalin’s residents are quiet, hard-working folk who came from distant cities to eke out a life amid the harsh wilderness. They are farmers, stonecutters, blacksmiths, traders, prospectors, and children. The town has no walls and no garrison, but most of the adults keep weapons within easy reach in case the need for arms should arise.
Visitors are welcome here, particularly if they have coin to spend or news to share. The Stonehill Inn at the center of town offers modest lodging and meals. A couple of doors down from the inn, posted outside the townmaster’s hall, is a job board for adventurers.
==========================================================
==========================================================
All of you have your reasons for having made your way to Phandalin, but the one thing that all of those reasons have in common is rumors of a certain young white dragon. You have all already been here for between a few days and a couple of weeks, staying at the Stonehill Inn, and taking odd jobs off of the job board outside the townmaster’s hall. In such a small town, with only a handful of jobs available at any one time, you all have worked with one or another of you at least once in the time you've been here.
Right now, it's early afternoon, and you're all back at the Inn getting a quick bite to eat together.
While you're eating you overhear the innkeeper, a short, friendly male human named Toblen Stonehill, talking with one of the local residents at the bar, "Did you see the job board? Harbin has already put three more jobs on there."
The other gentleman, an elderly Dwarf that could easily be over 250 years old, responded, "Well, what with all of this dragon nonsense...people can't do nothin' to protect themselves if they don't even know there's something they need to protect themselves from..."
After that, the conversation trails off.
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Rush is waiting for a familiar face to show up to go to the job board with him. He hates having to go anywhere by himself, and is getting anxious about how people might look at a man eating breakfast by himself out in public.
Admittedly, people do stare, sometimes. Besides the green-blue tinge to his skin, Rush looks... moist. He doesn’t glisten, or shine. He just looks wet. His hands are a bit clammy, his pits damp. He tries to blame it on the heavy chain mail, but it happens even when he wears just his clothes. He has a blue-green braid that hangs down to his shoulder blades. He carries a shield, and a mace on his belt. He shoulders a pack full of odds and ends needed for travel.
But right now, he’s waiting for anyone familiar to come down so he can bring himself to go look at the job board
Paladin - warforged - orange
A frazzled older gnome runs quickly walks up to the job board and starts to look things over, barely aware of the Genasi beside him, and starts mumbling to himself "dragons dragons... a town with dragon problems and just this on the board.. bah" He then looks up to the white raven sitting on his shoulder and adds "What do you think Duncan... at least one of these will help us make some connections in town eh."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
As the three of you approach the Townmaster's Hall, you see that it has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower at the back. The job board next to the front door features a sparse number of notices, all written in Common and in the same hand.
On the job board are the following job opportunities. You, as a party, must choose one.
==========================================================
Dwarven Excavation Quest
“Dwarf prospectors found ancient dwarven ruins in the mountains southwest of here, and have been working an archaeological dig seeking treasure and relics. They need to be warned that a white dragon has moved into the area. Take the warning to them, then return to Townmaster Harbin Wester to collect a reward of 50 gp.”
==========================================================
Gnomengarde Quest
“A clan of reclusive rock gnomes resides in a small network of caves in the mountains to the southeast. The gnomes of Gnomengarde are known for their magical inventions, and they might have something with which to defeat the dragon. Get whatever you can from them. If you bring back something useful and don’t want to keep it for yourselves, Townmaster Harbin Wester will pay you 50 gp for it.”
==========================================================
Umbrage Hill Quest
“The local midwife — an acolyte of Chauntea named Adabra Gwynn — lives by herself in a stone windmill on the side of a hill a few miles south of Phandalin. With dragon sightings becoming more common, it’s not safe for her to be alone. Urge Adabra to return to Phandalin. Once she’s safe, visit Townmaster Harbin Wester to claim a reward of 25 gp.”
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Oban walks in to the inn, shaking the trail dust off his clock. Oban likes to watch the sun rise easch morning from a hilltop not too far out of town. JZust after he enters he hears the little gnome mumbling about dragons, dragons!? Seeing Rush sitting alone, he waves him over as he heads to the job board. "Good morning Rush, eating alone again I see?"
Reading over the board Kwisatz continues to mumble to himself "Rock gnomes! Magic to deal with Dragons! We should be off at once!" and suddenly feeling a pinch at his shoulder as his raven squeezes it and points towards the others in the Inn "Duncan! That hur... ah... yes... You're right... We could use some help!" He then looks around and finally notices that there is a Genasi and an Elf both also looking at the board next to him. Turning to them he starts quickly rambling "Ah! Hello hello! Are you two also looking for work? I've come to research the dragons I've heard of in the area. Seems a facinating chance to see one up close. White dragons aren't common even amongst their own, so I'm quite curious to see what's happening. Perhaps if you're heading the same way we could travel together. I've read that traveling in a group is far safer than alone... though I haven't much experience with either really... oh! I'm sorry. Where are my manners!? I'm Kwisatz! This is Duncan!" holding out (and up, since he's rather short) a hand.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
“Hullo, Oban. Just... ya know... waiting.” He follows Oban and the weird gnome to the bounty boards. “Yeah. Looks pretty good. Hi Duncan.” He waves at the bird, realizes it probably looks stupid to wave at a bird and puts his hand down.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Turning to the gnome, one brow raised in a high arch, giving that typical look of elven disapproval, “The only good dragon is a dead dragon.” Bringing out his necklace with several dragons teeth, eyes going distant to a flash back of the night his clan slayed the dragon, the night they all died, hearing his mothers screams. Coming back to the moment, clearing his throat “My apologies, I seem to be distracted this morning. I’m Oban Tullamore” taking the gnomes hand, “I am very interested in seeing what these gnomes may have invented for slaying dragons.”
"Fantastic fantastic!“ Kwisatz rattles "Oban, and Rush? was it? It's great to meet both of you! And yes... If the dragon is a threat I suppose it will need to be.. dealt with.. though until then I hope to have a chance to study it." Taking a breath he finally adds "Should we be off to the Townmaster? Straight to Gnomengarde? What exactly do adventurers need again?" He then pulls out a small paperback book titled Adventures and You and starts flipping through it quickly.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Reading the title of Kwisatz book, Oban's eyebrow arcs a bit higher, and his look of typical elven disapproval gets a bit deeper.
If you all want to check out the various stores and places within Phandalin, feel free to do that. If you want to head out straight on one of the quests you may feel free to do that, as well. It's up to you. If you want to explore the town, just scroll back up to the map of the town and let me know where you want to go, or what you want to know more about.
As a side note, our 4th person hasn't joined, yet, it doesn't appear. That's fine. If he/she decides to join, we'll get them caught up; but, these quests can be accomplished with a party of three.
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Rush looks at the book excitedly but doesn’t say anything after he sees Oban’s disapproving look.
“We could go from East to West, completing the whole kit and caboodle in one sweep. I mean, if that’s alright with you all.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
So, you want to go Barthen's Provisions --> Shrine of Luck --> Lionshield Coster --> The Miner's Exchange?
Since you all have been here for at least a few days, if not a couple of weeks, you're at least somewhat familiar with each of the locations on this map. You've been to each of them at least once before. (Except maybe the shrine if you don't consider yourself religious.)
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
(I meant the job board postings, Gnomengarde, Umbrage Hill, Dwarven Expedition.)
Paladin - warforged - orange
(Oh! Gotcha! lol Well, I'll give the others a chance to chime in before we move on.)
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Noticing the glance from Rush, Oban quickly changes his face. Clearing his throat, "Rush that is an excellent idea, what say you Kwisatz? Shale we take all three jobs at once?"
"Ah here!" Kwisatz says "Camping on the road! I may need provisions to keep me warm at night. I left in too much of a hurry and only packed my research materials."
He then replies "All three jobs!? You're very confident in your abilities! I certainly could use the coin to purchase some more papers and inks... and perhaps those Dwarves have found something interesting... Why not!"
((I took the 'scholars pack' starter gear, so don't have any camping things. 10g should be enough to get some. I'll check the shopping list later.))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
So, the first job you decided to head towards was Gomendarde.
In order to get to the mountainous caverns of Gnomengarde, the party must travel to the east just a handful of miles. It only takes about 2 and a half hours, which brings the party into mid-afternoon. Along the way, you begin to follow a river uphill which turns into a stream that leads you right to the home of these mountain gnomes. Waterfall erosion has carved out a natural concavity. The roaring waterfall creates a cloud of mist as it plunges into a shallow pool of water, within which rise two small islands covered with two-foot-tall red, green, and purple mushrooms. Several cave openings overlook the pool from rocky ledges twenty to thirty feet above. The mountain blocks any sunlight from reaching this place.
Big picture view of the entrance.
Looking into the concavity, you can see that there are two raised cliff outcroppings and one switchback pathway that leads to an opening into the caves. If you had to guess, you would say that the cliffs are between 20' and 30' tall.
12
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
“Hullo? *cough* I mean, HULLO??” Rush calls out twice after a crack in his voice happens.
Paladin - warforged - orange
There is no response. Perhaps the sound of the waterfall echoing off of the walls of the cavern are masking either your call, or any potential response...if anyone is still here, at all.
Wiley Gambit Gaming
A Sometimes-DM
Speedwell | Harengone | Fey Wanderer Ranger | The Wild Beyond the Witchlight