Extra extra, read all about it! Goblin bandits and Redbrand ruffians plaguing Phandalin!

This article contains a copy of the latest issue of the Phandalin Post, a newspaper that covers events in Phandalin. The handout below is the perfect prop to provide your players before they strike out on their adventures to the frontier town found in Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk and Lost Mine of Phandelver. You can send them the image file or even print it out to physically give to your party!

Click the below image to open the full version of the handout.

Included art from Julio Reyna and Zoltan Boros

Goblin Ambush Shocks Travelers on Triboar Trail

What’s Behind Surge in Hostile Encounters?

Ches 25, Phandalin – Ambushed wagons, dead travelers, and a town looking for answers.

“I was supposed to receive a shipment of equipment last week,” says Linene Graywind, owner of Lionshield Coster in Phandalin, “These provisions are crucial to keep things running smoothly in town.”

These goblin attacks are a grim reminder of the events that occurred 500 years ago when a band of marauders destroyed the city after battling over Wave Echo Cave.

“Who’s going to stop these attacks?” said one townsfolk who asked to remain anonymous. “What is Townmaster Wester going to do to keep us safe?”

Get Paid for Your Gold!

Looking for competitive payouts for quality ores and top-of-the-line mining supplies? Come to the Phandalin Miner’s Exchange, located just south of the town green!

Redbrands' Reign of Terror

A group of bandits called the Redbrands have set up shop in Tresendar Manor at the edge of town.

“They’re getting bolder and shaking down local businesses,” said Freda, a gnome resident of Phandalin. “The only one they haven’t tried to hassle is Mrs. Thornton’s Miner’s Exchange. I think they’re scared of her.”

Emboldened by a lack of resistance from Townmaster Wester, the Redbrands have quickly tightened their grasp on Phandalin. “They murdered Thel–our local woodcarver,” said Toblen, the innkeeper of the Stonehill Inn. “He tried to run them off after they threatened his shop, and now his wife, daughter, and son have gone missing.”

What’s in This Issue of the Phandalin Post?

This issue of the Phandalin Post covers the conflicts the players will face in the first two chapters of the adventure. It serves as an excellent tool to hand your players before their first session.

Goblins on Triboar Trail. The excerpt on goblin attacks should warn the party that there are dangers on the Triboar Trail, which will allow them to prepare contingencies in case they are attacked. These preparations will pay off during the "Goblin Ambush" encounter in Chapter 1.

Redbrands in Phandalin. The section detailing how the Redbrands have overrun Phandalin is a good way to establish the threat of the ruffians to your players in Chapter 2. Just in case they don’t go to Stonehill Inn, where rumors of the Redbrands are discussed by townsfolk, they can still hear that businesses are being hassled, and the Redbrands have gone so far as to murder one of the townsfolk.

These articles also make it clear that Townminster Weston hasn’t been of any help with the issues that the town is facing, so the players shouldn’t expect any formalized support with these challenges.

Get Your Adventure to Phandalin Started!

Phandalin has appeared in numerous adventures before, but Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk will introduce the beloved town to its greatest danger yet! From malevolent cults and twisted monsters to dungeon crawls and powerful magic artifacts, can your party save the town from the grave threats it faces?

Mike Bernier (@arcane_eye) is the founder of Arcane Eye, a site focused on providing useful tips and tricks to all those involved in the world of D&D. Outside of writing for Arcane Eye, Mike spends most of his time playing games, hiking with his girlfriend, and tending the veritable jungle of houseplants that have invaded his house.