For a wile now, I've been using the LMoP campaign as a framework for a story that I use as a warm-up and palate cleanser for and from my main work. Figured I'd share some of it here for folks interested in reading fantasy stories in smaller, more digestible bites while still scratching that specific D&D fiction itch. So without further ado, here are the introductory stories of our heroes: Rose (Hexblood Wizard), Sonny (Human Fighter), Verne (Wood Elf Ranger), Peri (Tabaxi Cleric) and Viola (Lightfoot Halfling Rogue). I hope you enjoy!
This journey has proven to be a bit more complicated than I thought it would be. Waterdeep ended up being a bust, and while I'm sure the Eltorchul, Wands and Waymoot Magical Academies are all fine schools, I think I've outgrown the classroom at this point. Not to be one of those mages, but I mastered most of their third-year curriculums before I could walk. Perks of being raised by a witch, I suppose.
On the bright side, in talking to headmaster Krothus of the Waymoot school, we learned of an abjurer who lives in Neverwinter. While I've always had better luck with charms and illusions than wards, it doesn't hurt to stay versatile (and besides, it could be helpful to learn some nondetection magic, in case Brunhilde decides to come looking for me.) It took some convincing to get Sonny to come along, and I suppose I can understand wanting to get back to his family, but who in their right mind would choose some smelly old farm over traveling the world? Thankfully, we got him to see reason, and were soon on our way, but not without some unpleasantness on our way out.
We stopped by the bookstore to check out their selection of grimoires, and Verne caught this grubby little halfling girl stealing books! Verne told the shop keeper that we would “see that she faced justice” but when we got outside, rather than turn the little thief over to the proper authorities, Verne offered her a place in our party! Can you believe that? I had always heard that their long lives gave elves wisdom, but now I'm not so sure. What I do know is, for as long as Viola's around, I'll be keeping a close eye on my spellbook.
As for our other party member, I have no complaints! Peri is an adorable little kitty, and a fascinating creature. I hope to learn more about divine magic through talking with them. Though previous attempts have been a bit…unfocused…I'm determined to keep trying. There's not a spell out there I can't crack!
Anyway, diary, it's getting late and I should probably get some sleep. A good witch needs her rest, after all! While things didn't work out in Waterdeep, I'm excited to see what comes from Neverwinter and beyond. Faerün is such a wonderful place, and I can't wait to see it all!
Sorry it's been a while since I last wrote you. We've been on the open road so dang long this is the first chance I've had to get to a post office. Is everything ok at home? I know the plan was for me to be back in time for Daisy's birthday, but it actually looks like I'll be gone a bit longer. Tell her I said sorry, and be sure to give her the bag of candies I'm sending along with the courier. Things kinda took a turn, so I'm actually writing this from the Lionshield Coster in Neverwinter.
I know we said we'd only be going as far as Waterdeep, and we did go there first- actually made it there in less time than we thought thanks to Mr. Verne's guidance. But when we got to the magic shop Rose talked about, she and the owner got to talking about some big-shot abjurer (whatever the heck that is) in Neverwinter, and she insisted that we go to meet him so she could learn his craft. I wanted to say no, honest, but you and pa taught me never to ignore a friend in need. I couldn't just let her and the others go up north by themselves. You always told me about how dangerous the countryside can be- what if they run into monsters?
Speaking of, there's all kindsa crazy critters out here. Clement and Gil would lose their beans if they saw half of it- giant birds with axes for faces, talking frog men, suits of armor that move without anyone in ‘em? Real spooky stuff. So far no gnolls, thankfully. After my run-in with our ‘cellar guest’ I've had my fill of the nasty things.
Anyway, sorry for taking so long to get back. We linked up with this dwarvish fella the other day, and he hired us to move some supplies down to Phandalin, but I promise, once that's done I'll be right back home to help with planting time. This adventuring business is fun and all, but I won't forget where I belong.
I write this journal in the hopes that I can capture the essence of my adventures so that I can relay them when next we meet. While you may find it strange that one could forget the wonders of a journey such as this, you must understand that after nearly three centuries of life, my perspective on what makes an important detail is slightly skewed. And as I am no natural storyteller, it falls to me in the present to record the goings-on so that I may share them accurately in the future.
You'll be pleased to know that I will not be undergoing this journey alone. Through a series of happenstances, I find myself with four young charges, each with stories of their own.
Rose, a witch traveling the world in search of magical secrets. Her appetite for knowledge is as all-consuming as the brightest flame.
Sonny, a warrior from Goldenfields leaving home for the first time. Ardent and steadfast as the earth he used to farm.
Peri, a tabaxi gifted with divine power. Yet despite the responsibility such a gift entails, they are as carefree as a summer breeze.
Viola, a thief who grew up on the streets of Waterdeep. Hers is a turbulent journey, ever-changing as the tides.
Our travels brought us to the city of Neverwinter, where we met a dwarf by the name of Gundren Rockseeker. Gundren claimed that he and his brothers had discovered an opportunity in Phandalin, and that he wished to set up shop there. He hired our party to transport a wagon of provisions along the High Road to the Triboar Trail, heading southeast. Though he wasn't very forthcoming about what this opportunity was, he assured us it was ‘something big’ and offered us ten gold pieces each for safely transporting his supplies to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin. Gundren set out ahead of us on horseback, accompanied by a warrior named Sildar Hallwinter. He claimed that he needed to arrive early to ‘take care of business’ once again refusing to elaborate on what that business was.
After securing the provisions we headed south from Neverwinter along the High Road. In the several days of travel, I got to know more about my young charges. Their names and basic histories, of course, but I find that those only give half the measure of a person. It's in the expressions and subtle behaviors that you truly begin to understand someone- something that I, with my elven senses, am well-equipped to perceive. Like Rose, with her notebook, constantly jotting down or sketching what she sees, ever-curious and delighted by new experiences. Or Sonny's glances across the wagon, ensuring that everyone is still safe, but lingering ever-so-slightly on Rose, with an expression that tragically overlooks Viola, who gazes at him in much the same way. And then of course there's Peri, for whom my sharp eyes and ears are not only useful, but indeed a necessity, as their curiosity has proven to be much less constructive than Rose's (thankfully nothing of value has been destroyed…yet.)
As we make our final push eastward down the Triboar Trail, I end this entry with excitement for what's to come. I eagerly await the moment I am able to share my tale with you, and I pray to Mielikki, mistress of the woods, that your rest is a peaceful one.
The elf told me we'd find treasure on this trip, but so far it's just been long, stupid cart rides and meetings with boring old wizards.
Guess I can't complain too much. Food in my belly and a roof over my head is better than starving in an alley back in Waterdeep. But still, the people I'm traveling with are driving me nuts.
The cat keeps fiddling with things in the cart and breaking them, and the elf does nothing to stop him. When he brought me into this team, I figured he must be in charge, but he doesn't do anything to corral anyone. He just sits there with this far-out look on his face while everything goes to sod around him. If Rockseeker docks our pay for broken goods I'm not giving up my share, that's for sure.
The girl is the worst. Always shooting me these side-eye glances across the cart and clutching her stupid book bag. Why would I want her ratty old books or her bag full of garbage anyway? Besides, what kind of weirdo keeps bundles of charcoal, incense, herbs and flower petals with them on the road? Creepy witch.
Sonny is ok, I guess. He's…nice.
Once we get to Phandalin, we better find some treasure or something, or I might bail on this stupid trip.
Spring along the Sword Coast is a marvelous thing. The breeze blows sweet with the scent of flowers, the air is rich with bird song, and colorful wagons roll down the road, following the promise of wealth and adventure.
On the 15th of Tarsakh, one such wagon trundled down the road bearing a motley crew of adventurers. At the helm was Sonny, a tall blond-haired youth who beckoned the horses on in a gentle tone. Immediately behind him in the wagon was Rose, a girl with magenta robes who thoughtfully twirled her hair while poring over a leather-bound tome. At the back of the wagon were Peri and Viola, a tabaxi and halfling respectively, who were both silently fuming from the argument they'd just had. Meanwhile Verne, a wizened wood elf, sat between the two of them, taking a much-needed rest after mediating said argument.
The party was heading south on the orders of Gundren Rockseeker, a dwarf that they had met in the city of Neverwinter. They were unsure who or what the goods in the wagon were for, as Gundren had been rather secretive when discussing their contract. He simply stated that he and his brothers had found “something big” and offered the party ten gold pieces each for escorting his supplies safely to Barthen's Provisions- a trading post in the rough-and-tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple days’ travel southeast of Neverwinter. Gundren himself had set out ahead on horseback, along with a warrior escort named Sildar Hallwinter, claiming he needed to arrive early to “take care of business.”
The party had spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and had just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. So far, they hadn't encountered any trouble, but knew that the countryside could be dangerous, especially for a supply wagon. Bandits and outlaws had been known to lurk along the trail, so they were on the lookout for anything suspicious.
A few hours after they'd made their turn, the party reached a stretch where the woods pressed close to the trail, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side. It was there that Sonny spotted two dun-colored lumps lying about fifty feet ahead of the wagon. He called back to Verne, whose elven senses were better equipped to observe the situation. Verne climbed forward, and after a moment informed the group that the two forms were dead horses, and that he planned to go investigate. The elf lighted down to the ground and strode over to the horses, taking care to scan the clearing for any sign of the ones responsible.
Upon closer inspection, Verne found that each of the bodies had several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The saddlebags had been looted and nearby on the ground was an empty leather map case. The elf gently picked up the case and turned it over in his hands, finding the emblem of the Rockseeker clan emblazoned on the side. He was about to turn and inform his fellows, when all of a sudden he heard a rustle in the thicket to his left. His muscles tensed and he slowly put his hand up towards the wagon, holding up four fingers and gesturing sharply toward the forest with his head.
In an instant, a twang rang out in the clearing and Verne dropped quickly to the ground, narrowly avoiding two arrows as they whizzed over his head. The elf scrambled to draw his bow as four goblins emerged from the brush, two on each side of the road. The party, seeing their ally in danger, sprang into action.
First was Rose, who stood up and pulled a blue satin bag and a blackthorn wand from her hip. She reached into the bag, pulled out a handful of rose petals and began to recite an incantation as the petals swirled in the air. With a flick of her wrist and a flash of arcane energy, two of the goblins slumped to the ground.
Next came Sonny, who pulled hard on the reins and commanded the horses, who had begun to buck in the chaos, to calm down. Impressively, the horses heeded the young warrior and were still, providing him enough time to leap from the wagon and run to Verne’s side, where he planted himself, shield drawn, between his elven ally and the remaining goblins.
With Sonny providing defensive cover, Verne jumped to his feet and quickly fired an arrow, which embedded itself into the chest of one of their assailants, felling it in one shot.
The final goblin, seeing how easily its allies had been dispatched, made the wise decision to retreat and live another day. However, a flash of radiant light from Peri and the slashing of Viola's twin blades cut those notions (and the goblin) to ribbons.
When the dust settled, the party gathered itself and took stock of the situation. On one hand, none of them had been harmed, which was certainly a good thing. But on the other, it appeared that their benefactor and his escort hadn't been so lucky.
“Well that's just great,” Viola whined. “I guess we can forget about getting paid.”
“Who cares about that?” Peri cried. “The Bearded One is in trouble! We have to help him!”
“I'm with Peri,” said Sonny. “We can't just sit on our hands while a friend is in need.”
“‘Friend’ feels like a bit much, considering we met the man three days ago.” Viola mumbled. “But alright, say we do go on a rescue mission. Where do we start? I don't think these guys are feeling very talkative.” She gestured with her toe at the dismembered goblins at her feet.
“Thankfully,” Rose drawled, “not all of us go around butchering intelligent creatures.” She gestured to the two goblins that she had downed which, upon closer inspection, were simply asleep, one of them snoring loudly.
“Ok, princess,” Viola sneered, “the next time someone starts shooting at us, I'll be sure to sing them a lullaby, too.”
Rose rolled her eyes and ignored the comment, instead asking, “I don't suppose any of you have something to tie them up with?”
Sonny eagerly stepped forward, pulling a thick cord of rope from his pack. “I've got it, Rose. Just sit tight and I'll have ‘em hog-tied in no time.”
Viola scoffed and folded her arms. “‘I've got it Rose’.” she mumbled. “I swear, it's like watching a dog beg for scraps.” The halfling turned away, accidentally meeting the silent, knowing gaze of Verne. After a brief moment, the young thief turned her eyes downward.
Once the goblins had been secured, Rose released the enchantment on them and they began to struggle like mad to get free. Verne held up a hand and then said something in the Goblin tongue that made the two stop struggling. He appeared to ask them a question, and the two of them nodded. “Now,” the elf continued, this time in Common, “We have several questions for you, and it would be in your best interest to answer them truthfully. We do not wish to hurt you.”
“Speak for yourself,” Viola snarled. The halfling plucked a dagger from her left boot and tossed it into the ground, mere inches away from where the goblins sat. The goblins began to shake as Verne, unfazed, said, “Well, I suppose most of us do not wish to hurt you.”
With that display of intimidation, the goblins agreed to tell the party everything they knew. Gundren and Sildar had been captured a little over a day ago by a goblin hunting party and taken back to their leader, Klarg. Klarg answered to King Grol, chief of the Cragmaw tribe, who dwelled in Cragmaw Castle, which lie about twenty miles northeast of the Cragmaw hideout in Neverwinter Wood.
According to the goblins, Klarg had received a message from King Grol a few days ago saying that somebody named the Black Spider was paying the Cragmaws to find the dwarf Gundren Rockseeker, capture him, and send him and anything he was carrying back to King Grol. Klarg followed his orders, and had Gundren ambushed and taken along with his personal effects, including a map. Gundren and the map had been delivered to King Grol as instructed, while the dwarf's human companion was being held in the “eating cave.”
“Eating Cave?” Sonny cried. “Y'all eat people?!”
“No!” The goblins cried, disgusted. “Would never eat humans! Probly taste terrible! We eat normal food like fish. Sometimes rabbits!”
“Then why are you keeping Sildar in your ‘eating cave’?” Rose asked.
“That where we have most goblins at a time.” One of the goblins replied. “Many goblin keep watch while they snack.”
“But not on human.” The other goblin snarled and stuck its tongue out at Sonny.
“I-I'm sorry,” Sonny stammered, “I didn't mean-”
Verne held up a silencing hand and gave Sonny a pointed but gentle look. “I apologize for my friend's insult. We are grateful for your help today, and in honor of our agreement, I will see that you are not harmed.” The elf plucked Viola's dagger from the dirt and held it momentarily before him, the goblins eyes growing wide as they stared at the gleaming blade. Then, with one swift motion, Verne cut through the rope and took a step back as the goblins scrambled over one another and fled into the forest.
Viola started to move after them, but Verne caught the young halfling and stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder. “What're you doing?” She snarled. “They're getting away!”
“Yes, they are.” Verne replied, handing the dagger back to its owner. “As we agreed they'd be able to.”
“As you agreed to.” Viola growled.
“You wish to kill them, then?” Verne asked. “Why would that be?”
“They shot at us with arrows!” Viola cried. “That isn't reason enough for you?”
“As I recall,” the elf replied calmly, “our attackers shot at me. And yet I bear no grudge against them. Why, I wonder, do you?”
“Oh, never mind.” Viola grumbled, thrusting her dagger back in its holster. “With all the time you spent lecturing, they're probably long gone by now. So now what? They told us where Cragmaw Castle is, but not the hideout where they're keeping Hallwinter.”
“That much, I can discern for myself.” The elf said as he strode over to where the goblins had initially broken through the brush. Hidden behind the thicket on the north side of the trail was a path that stretched far into the wood, heading northwest. Verne pointed out several sets of footprints and two deep tracks in the dirt, denoting about a dozen goblins, as well as two human-sized bodies that had been hauled away from the ambush site.
Noting the trail, the party decided to steer the wagon away from the road and tie off the horses while they followed the hidden path on foot. Verne took point, with Viola close behind, Rose in the middle, then Peri and Sonny at the rear.
About ten minutes into their trek, this marching order proved advantageous, as Verne's heightened senses alerted him to the traps that the goblins had set. The first being a snare trap that Viola quickly disabled and pocketed for later use, and the second being a pit trap, which had been cleverly disguised with branches and leaves, but not cleverly enough for a seasoned ranger. Once the party had successfully navigated the trail, they came upon a break in the forest overlooking a rolling hillside and a narrow river. Near the base of the hill, Verne noticed two goblins lazily standing guard on the other side of the river, clearly marking the entrance to the Cragmaw hideout.
With their query in sight, the goal was clear. To infiltrate the goblin hideout, rescue Sildar Hallwinter, and retrieve the goods that had been stolen by the Cragmaws. But for now: it was time to plan.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
For a wile now, I've been using the LMoP campaign as a framework for a story that I use as a warm-up and palate cleanser for and from my main work. Figured I'd share some of it here for folks interested in reading fantasy stories in smaller, more digestible bites while still scratching that specific D&D fiction itch. So without further ado, here are the introductory stories of our heroes: Rose (Hexblood Wizard), Sonny (Human Fighter), Verne (Wood Elf Ranger), Peri (Tabaxi Cleric) and Viola (Lightfoot Halfling Rogue). I hope you enjoy!
LMoP - Chapter 0: The Road to Phandalin (Rose)
15 Tarsakh 1491 DR
Prepared Spells
Disguise Self
Magic Missile
Shield
Sleep
Component Pouch
1/4lb charcoal
5 sticks incense
1 pkg herbs
15 rose petals
Dear Diary,
This journey has proven to be a bit more complicated than I thought it would be. Waterdeep ended up being a bust, and while I'm sure the Eltorchul, Wands and Waymoot Magical Academies are all fine schools, I think I've outgrown the classroom at this point. Not to be one of those mages, but I mastered most of their third-year curriculums before I could walk. Perks of being raised by a witch, I suppose.
On the bright side, in talking to headmaster Krothus of the Waymoot school, we learned of an abjurer who lives in Neverwinter. While I've always had better luck with charms and illusions than wards, it doesn't hurt to stay versatile (and besides, it could be helpful to learn some nondetection magic, in case Brunhilde decides to come looking for me.) It took some convincing to get Sonny to come along, and I suppose I can understand wanting to get back to his family, but who in their right mind would choose some smelly old farm over traveling the world? Thankfully, we got him to see reason, and were soon on our way, but not without some unpleasantness on our way out.
We stopped by the bookstore to check out their selection of grimoires, and Verne caught this grubby little halfling girl stealing books! Verne told the shop keeper that we would “see that she faced justice” but when we got outside, rather than turn the little thief over to the proper authorities, Verne offered her a place in our party! Can you believe that? I had always heard that their long lives gave elves wisdom, but now I'm not so sure. What I do know is, for as long as Viola's around, I'll be keeping a close eye on my spellbook.
As for our other party member, I have no complaints! Peri is an adorable little kitty, and a fascinating creature. I hope to learn more about divine magic through talking with them. Though previous attempts have been a bit…unfocused…I'm determined to keep trying. There's not a spell out there I can't crack!
Anyway, diary, it's getting late and I should probably get some sleep. A good witch needs her rest, after all! While things didn't work out in Waterdeep, I'm excited to see what comes from Neverwinter and beyond. Faerün is such a wonderful place, and I can't wait to see it all!
Until next time,
Rose
LMoP - Chapter 0: The Road to Phandalin (Sonny)
Hey Ma,
Sorry it's been a while since I last wrote you. We've been on the open road so dang long this is the first chance I've had to get to a post office. Is everything ok at home? I know the plan was for me to be back in time for Daisy's birthday, but it actually looks like I'll be gone a bit longer. Tell her I said sorry, and be sure to give her the bag of candies I'm sending along with the courier. Things kinda took a turn, so I'm actually writing this from the Lionshield Coster in Neverwinter.
I know we said we'd only be going as far as Waterdeep, and we did go there first- actually made it there in less time than we thought thanks to Mr. Verne's guidance. But when we got to the magic shop Rose talked about, she and the owner got to talking about some big-shot abjurer (whatever the heck that is) in Neverwinter, and she insisted that we go to meet him so she could learn his craft. I wanted to say no, honest, but you and pa taught me never to ignore a friend in need. I couldn't just let her and the others go up north by themselves. You always told me about how dangerous the countryside can be- what if they run into monsters?
Speaking of, there's all kindsa crazy critters out here. Clement and Gil would lose their beans if they saw half of it- giant birds with axes for faces, talking frog men, suits of armor that move without anyone in ‘em? Real spooky stuff. So far no gnolls, thankfully. After my run-in with our ‘cellar guest’ I've had my fill of the nasty things.
Anyway, sorry for taking so long to get back. We linked up with this dwarvish fella the other day, and he hired us to move some supplies down to Phandalin, but I promise, once that's done I'll be right back home to help with planting time. This adventuring business is fun and all, but I won't forget where I belong.
Love,
Sonny
LMoP - Chapter 0: The Road to Phandalin (Verne)
My Dearest Anais,
I write this journal in the hopes that I can capture the essence of my adventures so that I can relay them when next we meet. While you may find it strange that one could forget the wonders of a journey such as this, you must understand that after nearly three centuries of life, my perspective on what makes an important detail is slightly skewed. And as I am no natural storyteller, it falls to me in the present to record the goings-on so that I may share them accurately in the future.
You'll be pleased to know that I will not be undergoing this journey alone. Through a series of happenstances, I find myself with four young charges, each with stories of their own.
Rose, a witch traveling the world in search of magical secrets. Her appetite for knowledge is as all-consuming as the brightest flame.
Sonny, a warrior from Goldenfields leaving home for the first time. Ardent and steadfast as the earth he used to farm.
Peri, a tabaxi gifted with divine power. Yet despite the responsibility such a gift entails, they are as carefree as a summer breeze.
Viola, a thief who grew up on the streets of Waterdeep. Hers is a turbulent journey, ever-changing as the tides.
Our travels brought us to the city of Neverwinter, where we met a dwarf by the name of Gundren Rockseeker. Gundren claimed that he and his brothers had discovered an opportunity in Phandalin, and that he wished to set up shop there. He hired our party to transport a wagon of provisions along the High Road to the Triboar Trail, heading southeast. Though he wasn't very forthcoming about what this opportunity was, he assured us it was ‘something big’ and offered us ten gold pieces each for safely transporting his supplies to Barthen's Provisions, a trading post in Phandalin. Gundren set out ahead of us on horseback, accompanied by a warrior named Sildar Hallwinter. He claimed that he needed to arrive early to ‘take care of business’ once again refusing to elaborate on what that business was.
After securing the provisions we headed south from Neverwinter along the High Road. In the several days of travel, I got to know more about my young charges. Their names and basic histories, of course, but I find that those only give half the measure of a person. It's in the expressions and subtle behaviors that you truly begin to understand someone- something that I, with my elven senses, am well-equipped to perceive. Like Rose, with her notebook, constantly jotting down or sketching what she sees, ever-curious and delighted by new experiences. Or Sonny's glances across the wagon, ensuring that everyone is still safe, but lingering ever-so-slightly on Rose, with an expression that tragically overlooks Viola, who gazes at him in much the same way. And then of course there's Peri, for whom my sharp eyes and ears are not only useful, but indeed a necessity, as their curiosity has proven to be much less constructive than Rose's (thankfully nothing of value has been destroyed…yet.)
As we make our final push eastward down the Triboar Trail, I end this entry with excitement for what's to come. I eagerly await the moment I am able to share my tale with you, and I pray to Mielikki, mistress of the woods, that your rest is a peaceful one.
With love everlasting,
Verne
LMoP - Chapter 0: The Road to Phandalin (Peri)
15 Tarsakh
Prayer
“I gratefully thank You, O Morning Lord, for restoring the sun to heavens above.
Abundant is your faithfulness.”
Thanks
Thank you for giving me the chance to spread your teachings.
Thank you for raising the sun each morning to light my path.
Thank you for sending the bird that flew into the cart. It was very tasty.
Blessings
I pray for blessings for my allies, who keep me company on the road.
I pray that the red one can find some new magic spells. She seemed sad when she didn't get any in Waterdeep.
I pray for good health for the yellow one's family. He talks about them a lot.
I pray for guidance for the green one. So he can lead us where we need to go.
And I'll pray for the purple one too, I guess. Even though she's really mean.
Closing
Thank you Lathander, Inspiration’s Dawn, for all you do. For the warmth and light you wash over us. Till the next dawn comes.
Amen.
LMoP - Chapter 0: The Road to Phandalin (Viola)
Currently on the road to Phandalin.
The elf told me we'd find treasure on this trip, but so far it's just been long, stupid cart rides and meetings with boring old wizards.
Guess I can't complain too much. Food in my belly and a roof over my head is better than starving in an alley back in Waterdeep. But still, the people I'm traveling with are driving me nuts.
The cat keeps fiddling with things in the cart and breaking them, and the elf does nothing to stop him. When he brought me into this team, I figured he must be in charge, but he doesn't do anything to corral anyone. He just sits there with this far-out look on his face while everything goes to sod around him. If Rockseeker docks our pay for broken goods I'm not giving up my share, that's for sure.
The girl is the worst. Always shooting me these side-eye glances across the cart and clutching her stupid book bag. Why would I want her ratty old books or her bag full of garbage anyway? Besides, what kind of weirdo keeps bundles of charcoal, incense, herbs and flower petals with them on the road? Creepy witch.
Sonny is ok, I guess. He's…nice.
Once we get to Phandalin, we better find some treasure or something, or I might bail on this stupid trip.
- V
Chapter 1: Goblin Ambush
Spring along the Sword Coast is a marvelous thing. The breeze blows sweet with the scent of flowers, the air is rich with bird song, and colorful wagons roll down the road, following the promise of wealth and adventure.
On the 15th of Tarsakh, one such wagon trundled down the road bearing a motley crew of adventurers. At the helm was Sonny, a tall blond-haired youth who beckoned the horses on in a gentle tone. Immediately behind him in the wagon was Rose, a girl with magenta robes who thoughtfully twirled her hair while poring over a leather-bound tome. At the back of the wagon were Peri and Viola, a tabaxi and halfling respectively, who were both silently fuming from the argument they'd just had. Meanwhile Verne, a wizened wood elf, sat between the two of them, taking a much-needed rest after mediating said argument.
The party was heading south on the orders of Gundren Rockseeker, a dwarf that they had met in the city of Neverwinter. They were unsure who or what the goods in the wagon were for, as Gundren had been rather secretive when discussing their contract. He simply stated that he and his brothers had found “something big” and offered the party ten gold pieces each for escorting his supplies safely to Barthen's Provisions- a trading post in the rough-and-tumble settlement of Phandalin, a couple days’ travel southeast of Neverwinter. Gundren himself had set out ahead on horseback, along with a warrior escort named Sildar Hallwinter, claiming he needed to arrive early to “take care of business.”
The party had spent the last few days following the High Road south from Neverwinter, and had just recently veered east along the Triboar Trail. So far, they hadn't encountered any trouble, but knew that the countryside could be dangerous, especially for a supply wagon. Bandits and outlaws had been known to lurk along the trail, so they were on the lookout for anything suspicious.
A few hours after they'd made their turn, the party reached a stretch where the woods pressed close to the trail, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side. It was there that Sonny spotted two dun-colored lumps lying about fifty feet ahead of the wagon. He called back to Verne, whose elven senses were better equipped to observe the situation. Verne climbed forward, and after a moment informed the group that the two forms were dead horses, and that he planned to go investigate. The elf lighted down to the ground and strode over to the horses, taking care to scan the clearing for any sign of the ones responsible.
Upon closer inspection, Verne found that each of the bodies had several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The saddlebags had been looted and nearby on the ground was an empty leather map case. The elf gently picked up the case and turned it over in his hands, finding the emblem of the Rockseeker clan emblazoned on the side. He was about to turn and inform his fellows, when all of a sudden he heard a rustle in the thicket to his left. His muscles tensed and he slowly put his hand up towards the wagon, holding up four fingers and gesturing sharply toward the forest with his head.
In an instant, a twang rang out in the clearing and Verne dropped quickly to the ground, narrowly avoiding two arrows as they whizzed over his head. The elf scrambled to draw his bow as four goblins emerged from the brush, two on each side of the road. The party, seeing their ally in danger, sprang into action.
First was Rose, who stood up and pulled a blue satin bag and a blackthorn wand from her hip. She reached into the bag, pulled out a handful of rose petals and began to recite an incantation as the petals swirled in the air. With a flick of her wrist and a flash of arcane energy, two of the goblins slumped to the ground.
Next came Sonny, who pulled hard on the reins and commanded the horses, who had begun to buck in the chaos, to calm down. Impressively, the horses heeded the young warrior and were still, providing him enough time to leap from the wagon and run to Verne’s side, where he planted himself, shield drawn, between his elven ally and the remaining goblins.
With Sonny providing defensive cover, Verne jumped to his feet and quickly fired an arrow, which embedded itself into the chest of one of their assailants, felling it in one shot.
The final goblin, seeing how easily its allies had been dispatched, made the wise decision to retreat and live another day. However, a flash of radiant light from Peri and the slashing of Viola's twin blades cut those notions (and the goblin) to ribbons.
When the dust settled, the party gathered itself and took stock of the situation. On one hand, none of them had been harmed, which was certainly a good thing. But on the other, it appeared that their benefactor and his escort hadn't been so lucky.
“Well that's just great,” Viola whined. “I guess we can forget about getting paid.”
“Who cares about that?” Peri cried. “The Bearded One is in trouble! We have to help him!”
“I'm with Peri,” said Sonny. “We can't just sit on our hands while a friend is in need.”
“‘Friend’ feels like a bit much, considering we met the man three days ago.” Viola mumbled. “But alright, say we do go on a rescue mission. Where do we start? I don't think these guys are feeling very talkative.” She gestured with her toe at the dismembered goblins at her feet.
“Thankfully,” Rose drawled, “not all of us go around butchering intelligent creatures.” She gestured to the two goblins that she had downed which, upon closer inspection, were simply asleep, one of them snoring loudly.
“Ok, princess,” Viola sneered, “the next time someone starts shooting at us, I'll be sure to sing them a lullaby, too.”
Rose rolled her eyes and ignored the comment, instead asking, “I don't suppose any of you have something to tie them up with?”
Sonny eagerly stepped forward, pulling a thick cord of rope from his pack. “I've got it, Rose. Just sit tight and I'll have ‘em hog-tied in no time.”
Viola scoffed and folded her arms. “‘I've got it Rose’.” she mumbled. “I swear, it's like watching a dog beg for scraps.” The halfling turned away, accidentally meeting the silent, knowing gaze of Verne. After a brief moment, the young thief turned her eyes downward.
Once the goblins had been secured, Rose released the enchantment on them and they began to struggle like mad to get free. Verne held up a hand and then said something in the Goblin tongue that made the two stop struggling. He appeared to ask them a question, and the two of them nodded. “Now,” the elf continued, this time in Common, “We have several questions for you, and it would be in your best interest to answer them truthfully. We do not wish to hurt you.”
“Speak for yourself,” Viola snarled. The halfling plucked a dagger from her left boot and tossed it into the ground, mere inches away from where the goblins sat. The goblins began to shake as Verne, unfazed, said, “Well, I suppose most of us do not wish to hurt you.”
With that display of intimidation, the goblins agreed to tell the party everything they knew. Gundren and Sildar had been captured a little over a day ago by a goblin hunting party and taken back to their leader, Klarg. Klarg answered to King Grol, chief of the Cragmaw tribe, who dwelled in Cragmaw Castle, which lie about twenty miles northeast of the Cragmaw hideout in Neverwinter Wood.
According to the goblins, Klarg had received a message from King Grol a few days ago saying that somebody named the Black Spider was paying the Cragmaws to find the dwarf Gundren Rockseeker, capture him, and send him and anything he was carrying back to King Grol. Klarg followed his orders, and had Gundren ambushed and taken along with his personal effects, including a map. Gundren and the map had been delivered to King Grol as instructed, while the dwarf's human companion was being held in the “eating cave.”
“Eating Cave?” Sonny cried. “Y'all eat people?!”
“No!” The goblins cried, disgusted. “Would never eat humans! Probly taste terrible! We eat normal food like fish. Sometimes rabbits!”
“Then why are you keeping Sildar in your ‘eating cave’?” Rose asked.
“That where we have most goblins at a time.” One of the goblins replied. “Many goblin keep watch while they snack.”
“But not on human.” The other goblin snarled and stuck its tongue out at Sonny.
“I-I'm sorry,” Sonny stammered, “I didn't mean-”
Verne held up a silencing hand and gave Sonny a pointed but gentle look. “I apologize for my friend's insult. We are grateful for your help today, and in honor of our agreement, I will see that you are not harmed.” The elf plucked Viola's dagger from the dirt and held it momentarily before him, the goblins eyes growing wide as they stared at the gleaming blade. Then, with one swift motion, Verne cut through the rope and took a step back as the goblins scrambled over one another and fled into the forest.
Viola started to move after them, but Verne caught the young halfling and stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder. “What're you doing?” She snarled. “They're getting away!”
“Yes, they are.” Verne replied, handing the dagger back to its owner. “As we agreed they'd be able to.”
“As you agreed to.” Viola growled.
“You wish to kill them, then?” Verne asked. “Why would that be?”
“They shot at us with arrows!” Viola cried. “That isn't reason enough for you?”
“As I recall,” the elf replied calmly, “our attackers shot at me. And yet I bear no grudge against them. Why, I wonder, do you?”
“Oh, never mind.” Viola grumbled, thrusting her dagger back in its holster. “With all the time you spent lecturing, they're probably long gone by now. So now what? They told us where Cragmaw Castle is, but not the hideout where they're keeping Hallwinter.”
“That much, I can discern for myself.” The elf said as he strode over to where the goblins had initially broken through the brush. Hidden behind the thicket on the north side of the trail was a path that stretched far into the wood, heading northwest. Verne pointed out several sets of footprints and two deep tracks in the dirt, denoting about a dozen goblins, as well as two human-sized bodies that had been hauled away from the ambush site.
Noting the trail, the party decided to steer the wagon away from the road and tie off the horses while they followed the hidden path on foot. Verne took point, with Viola close behind, Rose in the middle, then Peri and Sonny at the rear.
About ten minutes into their trek, this marching order proved advantageous, as Verne's heightened senses alerted him to the traps that the goblins had set. The first being a snare trap that Viola quickly disabled and pocketed for later use, and the second being a pit trap, which had been cleverly disguised with branches and leaves, but not cleverly enough for a seasoned ranger. Once the party had successfully navigated the trail, they came upon a break in the forest overlooking a rolling hillside and a narrow river. Near the base of the hill, Verne noticed two goblins lazily standing guard on the other side of the river, clearly marking the entrance to the Cragmaw hideout.
With their query in sight, the goal was clear. To infiltrate the goblin hideout, rescue Sildar Hallwinter, and retrieve the goods that had been stolen by the Cragmaws. But for now: it was time to plan.