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 prospered as well.
But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path. The Uruth Ukrypt invasion was devastating.
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.
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. A mysterious villain known as the Black Spider controls a network of bandit gangs and goblin tribes in the area, and his agents have followed the Rockseekers to their prize. Now the Black Spider wants Wave Echo Cave for himself, and he is taking steps to make sure no one else knows where it is.
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Gundren Rockseeker is a dwarven business man, his business interests are many and varied but recently involve a source of potential revenue near Phandalin. Working with his brothers Nundro and Tharden, and a veteran warrior named Sildar Hallwinter, Gundren decided to recruit help from Neverwinter.
Pulled together by Gundren Rockseeker - some friends, some relatives, and some simple opportunists - our party was momentarily side-tracked when they discovered a grisly scene on their way to rendezvous in Phandalin.
It was a battle which left behind only the corpses of Gundren’s horse and the horse of his sellsword protector, Sildar Hallwinter. Though slowed by a surprisingly ineffectual goblin ambush, the group discovered the nearby cave hideout of the Cragmaw tribe where Sildar was being held, tortured, and questioned to ends unknown.
Though they announced their presence thoroughly, both by attempting to steal treasure from under the watchful gaze of the hideout's Cragmaw warlord and by alerting goblin lookouts to their presence repeatedly, neither ambush nor water trap could dissuade our adventurers. Seeking to gain some form of upper hand, they clambered into the dark and collapsed recesses of the cave to flank their opponents.
Their enthusiasm eclipsed their dexterity and strength. The party repeatedly bludgeoned themselves on the unforgiving stone surface of the cave while they attempted to climb through its difficult terrain. Beleaguered and damaged, they rested for a short time in the darkness and then moved onward to discover Yeemik and his band of goblin raiders. Though loyal to Cragmaw, Yeemik was anxious to find a position of power over his clan brothers instead of the death our adventurers offered. His promises were many, and confusing, but all were cut short after Seraphina stealthily loosed Sildar's bonds and the sellsword bludgeoned the blabbering Yeemik to death.
Satisfied that they'd accomplished their purpose, the party briefly contemplated leaving immediately for Phandalin. However, their irritation won out over their sense of expediency, and they soon encountered the half-insane Cragmaw warlord who oversaw the hideout: Klarg. Though Klarg was both bestial and brutish while also being surprisingly sneaky, it was Seraphina's light-footed approach that set the tone for the fight. Like a whisper in the dark, she silently dispatched Klarg's attendant bodyguards before leaping onto his pet with such ferocity that the unsuspecting beast was slain before it could so much as yelp in protest. Rage overcame sense, and Klarg charged Seraphina's allies, only to be cut down by Lo Risten's arrows.
Though briefly interrogated as his life drained away, Klarg had little of use to offer beyond revealing that Gundren had been taken to the Cragmaw Castle. Count Alistair examined dead Klarg's morningstar carefully, finding it to be a shockingly well-crafted courier of death. Though attached to his family-crested greataxe, he could not relinquish the chance to wield such power and took Klarg's mace for his own.
With that, the party pressed onward to Phandalin
It was a battle which left behind only the corpses of Gundren’s horse and the horse of his sellsword protector, Sildar Hallwinter. Though slowed by a surprisingly ineffectual goblin ambush, the group discovered the nearby cave hideout of the Cragmaw tribe where Sildar was being held, tortured, and questioned to ends unknown.
Though they announced their presence thoroughly, both by attempting to steal treasure from under the watchful gaze of the hideout's Cragmaw warlord and by alerting goblin lookouts to their presence repeatedly, neither ambush nor water trap could dissuade our adventurers. Seeking to gain some form of upper hand, they clambered into the dark and collapsed recesses of the cave to flank their opponents.
Their enthusiasm eclipsed their dexterity and strength. The party repeatedly bludgeoned themselves on the unforgiving stone surface of the cave while they attempted to climb through its difficult terrain. Beleaguered and damaged, they rested for a short time in the darkness and then moved onward to discover Yeemik and his band of goblin raiders. Though loyal to Cragmaw, Yeemik was anxious to find a position of power over his clan brothers instead of the death our adventurers offered. His promises were many, and confusing, but all were cut short after Seraphina stealthily loosed Sildar's bonds and the sellsword bludgeoned the blabbering Yeemik to death.
Satisfied that they'd accomplished their purpose, the party briefly contemplated leaving immediately for Phandalin. However, their irritation won out over their sense of expediency, and they soon encountered the half-insane Cragmaw warlord who oversaw the hideout: Klarg. Though Klarg was both bestial and brutish while also being surprisingly sneaky, it was Seraphina's light-footed approach that set the tone for the fight. Like a whisper in the dark, she silently dispatched Klarg's attendant bodyguards before leaping onto his pet with such ferocity that the unsuspecting beast was slain before it could so much as yelp in protest. Rage overcame sense, and Klarg charged Seraphina's allies, only to be cut down by Lo Risten's arrows.
Though briefly interrogated as his life drained away, Klarg had little of use to offer beyond revealing that Gundren had been taken to the Cragmaw Castle. Count Alistair examined dead Klarg's morningstar carefully, finding it to be a shockingly well-crafted courier of death. Though attached to his family-crested greataxe, he could not relinquish the chance to wield such power and took Klarg's mace for his own.
With that, the party pressed onward to Phandalin