Campaign Diary #2: Welcome to Phandalin!

The following is one of my Campaign Diaries, where I recap the latest game of Dungeons and Dragons that my friends and I play. Click here for the Campaign Diaries in order, click here for a “Who’s who” style summary, and click here for a Dungeons and Dragons introduction post!

After what can only be described as a baptism of fire, er, floodwater, the group of Dovogholz the Dragonborn Fighter, Theon the Wizard, Ser Donat of Rosenbeck the Paladin, and Gryff the Ranger arrived in Phandalin late at night. They brought with them Sildar Hallwinter and a wagon of supplies they were hired to deliver, as well as more supplies they found in the goblin caves. These supplies had an emblem on them.

This is a quote from the DM’s book for this adventure.

The rutted track emerges from a wooded hillside, and you catch your first glimpse of Phandalin. The town consists of forty or fifty simple log buildings, some built on old fieldstone foundations. More old ruins – crumbling stone walls covered in ivy and briars – surround the newer buildings are set on the sides of the cart track, which widens into a muddy main street of sorts as it climbs toward a ruined manor house on a hillside at the east side of town.

– Lost Mines of Phandelver, Wizards of the Coast

The group brought the wagon they were protecting to Barthen’s Provisions, and on the way see another building with the same emblem that the other supplies have on them. They asked Sildar what the building with the emblem was. He told them it was Lionshield Coster, a merchant company from Yartar.

The group decided to meet in the tavern, once they had delivered all of their found goods, and gathered in the Stonehill Inn. They meet plenty of townsfolk, all of whom are there for some warm food and a chat with their neighbours before settling down for the night. They all split up and talk to the locals, learning of many problems around the small town.

“Sister Garaele left town for a few days, and came back wounded and exhausted. She’s the one who keeps the Shrine of Luck down by Daran Edermath’s.” said Narth, an old farmer.

Lanar, a miner told them that “There’s some Orc raiders somewhere on the east end of the Triboar Trail. The townmaster wants to be rid of them. Paying good gold too I hear!”

Pip, the innkeepers son, told Dovogholz that his friend Carp found a secret tunnel but the Redbrands found him and kicked him out. Pip’s mother, Trilena, hushed her son on hearing him mention the Redbrands, saying that her friend Mirna was widowed by the Redbrands, and since then her and her two children have gone missing. The group, happy to have learned so much, decided to go to bed for the night, with the plan to check in with the townmaster in the morning.

The following morning, the group went to meet with Harbin Wester, the town-master. They talked with him for some time, learning that his was not an elected position, more one that he just ended up having. He told them of the Redbrands some more, the group that had settled in Phanadalin some time ago and set themselves up as the local government/police force. They hurt many, took money from anyone they could, and generally caused hassle. Sildar appeared, paying and thanking the group for his rescue, and adding in his own issues with the Redbrands.

“My friend Iarno Albrek was sent here by the Lord’s Alliance to investigate the matter. He never reported back.”

The group decided to investigate the group and their enigmatic leader “Glass-staff” When they left Harbin’s office four men, each wearing a raggedy dirty red cloak, greeted them on the street.

“Time for you to move on, strangers. Give us your stuff, and be on your way.”

Who are the Redbrands?

Who is Glass-staff?

Why did it take my players four hours to do so little?!

Find out the answer to these questions and more, next time!