*This adventure is based off of The Lost Mines of Phandelver but has been modded in many places by our DM (thus the title change). It may contain spoilers*
 |
| City of Neverwinter |
Our campaign starts with the players patrolling just west of Neverwinter for Eldritch Cult activity. As they patrol, Kaalut is once again going on about how, when the stars are right, great Cthulhu will rise from the depths, sending our world spiralling into a new age of darkness and glory. Sabrathan and Graylon having heard this more times than they can count, just look at each other and roll their eyes. As they continue down the road, they see in the distance a merchant wagon being robbed by bandits.
 |
| The woods west of Neverwinter |
Approaching unseen, they overhear the bandits demanding a scroll case from the three merchants.
Eager to test his long restrained warlock powers, Kuzulhu wastes no time and unleashes an Eldritch Blast, initiating the battle. With the whole group attacking by surprise the bandits are quickly slaughtered. The aftermath is not pretty; there are scattered goblin body parts on the ground and some hanging from the trees. The merchants, faces having been sprayed with blood from the death frenzy, are shocked by what they've just seen. Graylon, wiping brain matter off his great helm, approaches the merchants and apologizes for the brutality of the attack.
Graylon: Really sorry. We get carried away sometimes...
The merchants are questioned about the scroll case, which upon closer inspection is marked with unusual magical symbols. However, the scroll that was inside the case is gone; recently sold to a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker at a merchants' guild in Neverwinter. The merchants relay that the scroll was obtained as loot from guards who defeated some bandits or cultists.
The players head back to Neverwinter, where they learn that Gundren left the city the day before with a ranger called Sildar Hallwinter, for a town named Phandelver.
The group wastes no time and travels to Phandelver to locate Gundren and on their journey they are ambushed by goblins, who are defeated, but our heroes find evidence that the dwarf was taken to a nearby cave.
The next morning they approach the cave entrance which has a small stream running out from its mouth. Delving inside they encounterer some wolf hounds, goblins guards and narrowly survive a water trap. Navigating through many passages, they eventually make their way to a large cavern with a large bonfire and a massive bugbear standing beside it. Close to the bugbear is a large wolf hound and a few goblin guards.
 |
| Klarg the Bugbear |
Sabrathan (in common): Who are you?
Klarg: Klarg the Mighty. Ruler of this cave. You scream when I kill you.
Graylon: Surrender now and you will die quickly!
 |
| Graylon Winterwind, Human Paladin |
Klarg: Har! Har! Roast you over fire. Humans taste best!
Klarg beats his chest, snarls then charges Graylon while madly swinging his axe. Graylon blocks the blow with his shield but is sent backwards and to the ground. Klarg laughs as he moves in.
The goblins and wolf hound advance but are scattered like bowling pins by Eldritch Blasts and Fire Bolts from Kuzulhu and Sabrathan. The room strobes with green and orange light as the onslaught continues. Then suddenly from the ground emerges a 10-foot-long freezing tentacle that lashes out, chilling any goblin or wolf in reach.
Meanwhile, Klarg stands over top of Graylon, smiling. His huge, yellow fangs glisten in the firelight. The massive bugbear hefts his axe and brings it down with uncanny strength. The paladin just manages to block it with his shield but the brutal force from the bugbear leader, batters the paladin back down to the floor. Graylon suddenly rolls, getting behind Klarg and with one motion cuts deep into the bugbear's thigh. Klarg growls and curses in his native tongue then swings his axe and catches Graylon in the right arm. Graylon shouts in pain, almost dropping his sword.
Klarg: Weak. So weak, human!
Graylon quickly gets up, feigns a blow to Klarg's side then with blinding speed, slashes his long sword across the bugbears's throat. Klarg gurgles blood as he tries to laugh then staggers backward and falls. His giant form shakes the ground as it crashes next the fire pit.
All enemies now defeated, they search the room and find stolen goods marked with a lion-shield symbol, a chest containing an Eldritch Jade Idol (going to Kuzulhu) and a sword marked with the name Hallwinter (going to Graylon).
After a short rest, the players continued exploring the cave. Travelling as silently as possible, they hear what sounds like voices echoing down a passageway. As they approach they can make out one voice that sounds human and is pleading for his life. The laughter of humanoids soon follows.
Graylon, Sabrathan and Kuzulhu all step out into a large, dimly lit cavern. Before them they see a four goblin guards, one goblin leader and near him on the floor, a battered human male. When the player's enter the room the goblin leader grabs the hostage and calls out in common:
Yeemik: Stay back you thieving scum or I cut his throat!
 |
| Yeemik the goblin leader and Sildar Hallwinter (captive) |
Then, using his Telepathic Feat, Kuzulhu communicates with Yeemik: (using Deception) I am with these two fools against my will - taken captive. Look at my mask. I am a Warlock of Great Cthulhu! I will join your group and we will kill these two. Trust me, and the Idol and all of their riches will be yours!
 |
| Kaalut Kuzulhu, Human Warlock |
Yeemik: Hah! Hmmm...I trade but first you must kill Klarg! Then we make deal.
Kuzulhu: (Telepathy) You are very wise.
At that, Graylon runs out of the cavern and soon returns, holding up Klarg's head, displaying it for all to see.
Yeemik: Ha! Ha! Klarg not so strong. Even you beat him!
Kuzulhu: You see, we are trustworthy. Now, release the human and this priceless Jade Idol will be yours, proving to all who see you, that you are the Goblin King of this cave! (Telepathy) Be ready to attack!
Yeemik releases his hostage, Silvan, who then runs across the room and hides behind the player characters.
Yeemik: It is time. Gimme Idol!
Kuzulhu: (Telepathy) Here it comes...
Just then, Kuzulhu releases a torrent of eldritch energy that batters and burns the goblin leader. Yeemik cries out in pain.
Yeemik: Arrrghh! You traitorous pig dog! Kill them. Kill them all!!!
Fire Bolts from Sabrathan blast away as goblins are burned to cinders. Graylon then rushes into the room, hacking and slashing his way toward the goblin leader.
The goblin guards do some damage but not enough to slow down the PCs' relentless assault. Soon, the room is strewn with dead goblins and all that remains is their leader.
Yeemik: I'll kill you all myself!
Yeemik strikes with his axe hitting Graylon in the side and laughs but the paladin counters with a savage blow, his sword opening up the frenzied goblin's abdomen. Yeemik screams, then is suddenly blasted back with an Eldritch Bolt, sending him skidding across the stone floor. As Yeemik struggles to get up, Sabrathan utters a few arcane words and three glowing missiles speed across the room striking the goblin in the chest, creating a cannon-ball sized cavity.
 |
| Sabrathan, Assimar Wizard |
With Yeemik dead, the players question the beaten, abused and soiled (and stanky) Sildar, finding out he is Gundren's friend. He says there was a map in the scroll case to the legendary Wave Echo Cave and the Lost Mine of Phandelver. Gundren wanted to locate the mine and the mythical Forge of Spells because an item of great power was once used there to create magical artifacts. The goblins and bugbears wanted the map and Gundren is now captive at their leader's place called Cragmaw Castle.
The players agree to escort Sildar to his home town of Phandalin. But, Graylon wanting to keep Sildar's sword, kills him and the party cannibalizes the body.
Just kidding!
Sildar got his sword back.
No comments:
Post a Comment