Session 01

General Summary

The History of Phandelver

More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver’s Pact, by which they would share a rich mine in a wondrous cavern known as Wave Echo Cave. In addition to its mineral wealth, the mine contained great magical power. Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge (called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin (pronounced fan-duh-lin) prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path.
A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost.

The Mystery of Wave Echo Cave

For centuries, rumors of buried riches have attracted treasure seekers and opportunists to the area around Phandalin, but no one has ever succeeded in locating the lost mine. In recent years, people have resettled the area. Phandalin is now a rough-and-tumble frontier town. More important, the Rockseeker brothers — a trio of dwarves — have discovered the entrance to Wave Echo Cave, and they intend to reopen the mines.
Unfortunately for the Rockseekers, they are not the only ones interested in Wave Echo Cave. Rumors of a mysterious villain known as the Black Spider have begun to swirl. Merchant caravans have been waylaid by unknown assailants. The town's mayor blames the attacks on bandits, but the townsfolk whisper of Orcs and strange dragon cultists.

Arrival of Heroes

The characters were in the city of Neverwinter when a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker hired them to escort a wagon to Phandalin. Gundren wennt ahead with a warrior, Sildar Hallwinter, to attend to business in the town while the characters followed with the supplies. The characters would be paid 10 gp each by the owner of Barthen’s Provisions in Phandalin when they delivered the wagon safely to that trading post. Unfortunately, they caught up with Rockseeker's wagon not far from Phandalin. It had been abandoned in the road, and a group of goblins ambushed the party. The group quickly dispatched all the goblins except one, Drobo, who offered to guide them to the goblin hideout in exchange for his life. The group agreed, and Drobo led them as promised. Inside, the party ambushed the goblins. They found Sildar Hallwinter imprisoned and freed him. The leader of the goblins carried a shield with a strange symbol painted on it, which Makyra recognized as the emblem of the Many-Arrows Orcs, whom she sought vengeance against. The party left to take Sildar to Phandalin, and Drobo, who had been guarding the wagon, remained behind to become the new leader of the Cragmaw goblins (there weren't any left).

Report Date

07 Oct 2023