#Phandelver and below

[mothdogsart]

Party art for a campaign that I’m going to start DMing this week ☺️ The last campaign I DMed was a three-year-long Saltmarsh game that ended in 2022, so I’ve had a nice little break of being a player.

These three characters are all starting off in pretty dark and desperate states of mind. I’m curious to see how they’ll respond to the various adventures that await, and whether they’ll find that the power to seize their dearest wishes comes at too high a price—or not.

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk - Ash Zombies by Vicki Pangestu

[hplrules]

Neverwinter's Protector's Enclave, a place of law and order compared to the docks or river district: our story begins with a local Mob All player, the monk Zen Cobain, strolling to his morning meditation at the beach the day after his Golden Griffins won the tournament.

Enter the Griffin, Zen Cobain thinks back to his winning play as he travels the quiet morning streets to the dock. He reached the goal because he follows the Way of the Fist, but he used his Chi power to score, and a little heroic inspiration.

He always enjoys peace, wishing well upon all folks, but playing and winning for the Golden Griffins has make him unpopular with their rival, the Sea Wyverns. The new local competition is a civilized move away from arena fighting, but moving an oblong leather ball between goals turned out to be as violent as any other sport, and that's just during the game.

Zen travels through the Dock district, Sea Wyvern territory. His own team is made up of the city's crafters, and his woodworking trade puts him solidly in their company. His rivals are the dockworkers, sailors, and salty rogues of the harbor. There are some military and a few other trades that take up with them, but none of those are fine folks. Being a hero is always a matter of perspective, and to this angry rummy lout, the monk isn't at all welcome.

Zen drops his pulse with slow breaths, listening to the quiet dawn at the Broken Anchor Inn, which was almost silent but for this mugger. The rough man steps up with bravado and sneers, "A Griffin in the Wyvern docks", he taunts as recognition comes to his blazing eyes, "Are ye mad? That's yer last mistake, Sonny Jim!"

Zen bows his head and salutes, slowly lowering his staff out of sight, "I wish you peace." It was the only response to aggression that his sect, the Sun Temple, allowed to be spoken. He actually meant it, but this blighter paid no mind to his chance to walk away. With the threat still heavy in his voice, he chides, "You're a monk, eh? What's the style you'll be losing with today?"

After a moment of silence, the Griffin champion answers with a hint of good humor, "It's the art of fighting without fighting." The Wyvern player cackles derisively, "ah ha ha haaa...that just sounds like yer afraid t' fight meee!

Holding his salute in place, Zen Cobain affirms his blessing, "Peace to you."

Mohag the Wanderer, a solitary barbarian, feasts at the Broken Anchor Inn on Neverwinter's Dock District. On this fine morn, his plans are to sign on for work at the Porthaven Adventurer's Guild for a wagon escort job supplying Phandelver, a modest mining town forty miles south and east down the High Road to Leilon. While stronger than most, faster than many, and tough as a bag of hammers, Mohag is a troubled soul driven mad with the loathing of his racial enemies, which are many and varied, but chiefly goblinoids, orcs, and frost giants. He attacks with the abandon and fury of a berserker, and then his strength matches his passion. Mohag is a Battle Rager, the unhinged type of spike-wearing wildman that only dwarves are capable of. This tavern is the last in this rough part of Neverwinter that serves him, his last chance to not use the furnishings as weapons, and he's gotten extremely primal of that as late. He just needs an excuse to go, and he'll go big enough for all of the Jotun that leveled his village while he was delivering ore for his forge, dooming him to a lost life of mayhem and lust.

Mohag notices the mugging outside his window at the Broken Anchor, and picks a champion in it. He grumbles to himself, "Tha skinny lad is gonna get 'is arse handed to 'im by tha rummy mobber. He may shoulda slept in t'day, or stayed in bed all t'gether. Either way, I get a match wit' me meal, so it's lookin' a fine day." But even as he says as much against the wimp, there's something about him that compels Mohag to back him, an odd coolness that he's never witnessed and doesn't understand.

Nyx Ningle and Vanaer Larium are nightowl adventurers at the Broken Anchor Inn, closing down a long night of celebration of red wine and dark ale, a half-eaten spiced goose and baked yams on the platter between them. They're keeping tabs on the burly mountain dwarf near the entrance who's made to sit apart from others for his rowdiness. The gnome rogue and half-elf ranger/cleric have travelled together locally for a couple seasons, and their team is about to expand.

Nyx casts her Mage Hand cantrip and leaves it visible, a "Mad Science" green, to get Vanaer's attention. Taking the cue, he quickly removes his cowl before she starts goofing with it. She admits in the influence of her cups, "My mentor left me last night when I told him about your Umbral Vision ability. Now he's off to be a Gloom Stalker and become unseen in darkness, and to gain Dark Vision himself." She took a last bit of dark meat and fed herself with the hand before raising it high.

Vanaer lifts his holy symbol as Nyx tests her balance without regret, and heartily exclaims "Selune's mystical glow, that's amazing! Aye, being a halfling, Hatchwork doesn't have that naturally, and there's very few creatures in the world that can see us by other means... Say, have you considered branching out to something a little more academic? You'd be a fine mage, and then we'd have it all covered: my bow and healing, your skills and arcane!" The half-elf knew his plan was the only one for his brilliant friend, as Nyx was running wild with the powers she'd been gaining since he'd met her.

"Aye," Nyx answers candidly, "it's something I've always been drawn to, but there's another path to magic that suits me. It's much closer to what I already do, right in line with my style. And there's no better time for it than now, while I'm still young and beautiful." She watches her partner blush at her closing, knowing that her sharp sylvan features had captured his interest.

Vanaer relaxes as her mischievous spell cancels, then wonders how dangerous she'll become with a full spell book in hand. It had been a wild theater of cardsharping for their expenses through the autumn festivals these last couple tendays of Lowsun, and he'd enjoyed the chance to protect his darling fey muse each night.

Just then, out on the street, the Wyvern mobber takes a swing at Zen Cobain, "I'll have a piece of you!" As the thug steps in, the monk channels his Chi power into a Flurry of Blows, gaining an extra attack, and swings his staff up and forward in a smooth arc as he steps to the left and away from the punch. He catches his attacker in the groin with the staff and punches his face in a vertical long fist. Wasting no time, the interception continues.

Zen spins his staff down and to the left, checking the man's right arm at the elbow and pulling him forward unbalanced as the monk switches his stance to the right, palm striking with his left to his opponent's jaw with the start of an energy vocalization, "KI..."

"YAH!!!" Stepping in with a crescent motion, Zen brings his left hand to his weapon and whips the back of it over in a fast arc, crashing down on the man's head, knocking him prone and pained.

The Griffin collects himself as the Wyvern sprawls on the cobblestones. "Without fighting?" he groans low, "you fought."

"Yes... but you didn't", Zen replies calmly as his opponent blacks out.

Zen is quickly surrounded by Wyvern players, one coming across from the butchery with his cleaver in hand! With him is a pirate, certainly no surprise to this fel and motley crew. A drunken rake finishes his bottle and breaks it, and a huge squire in a gambeson coat draws his sword. The Griffin considers the serious techniques he'll need to stop them all as he steps clear of his first opponent's body with flowing cranelike movements, surveying the threat of this deadly dual.

Inside the Broken Anchor, Mohag watches from his table, and his ire is stirred by the wicked mobbing.

Seeing the crowd mobbing the lone monk enrages the barbarian, who keeps a strong code of honor despite his wildness. Downing his ale horn in two heartbeats, he rushes outside to join the fight armed with a fat drumstick.

Mohag bursts out of the entry, swinging with all his raging might at the rake, smashing the meaty leg across his face! It doesn't break, luckily enough, but the bone is the only part left as the meat flies away to some lucky wharf rat.

Zen hears a rapier being drawn behind him and the crunch of heavy boots just past that. As the big squire advances and steps awkwardly onto the arm of his fellow, the monk spins backward to the two opponents behind him.

Mohag takes no notice of the condition of his weapon as he pummels his opponent, ending his wind and a couple of ribs with a punch to the belly, his arm spikes doing further damage as he follows up with a savaging rip.

The squire stumbles forward over the thug's arm, too late and well out of range as Zen spins away, and the pirate misses as well with his backstabbing lunge. The monk catches the butcher with a staff strike to his neck, stunning him, and the man falls to his knees.

Mohag hooks the rake's arm with his drumstick bone and grabs his belt buckle with his left, then steps into a throw and the man is flung at the squire. The big man turns in time for the impact, but is clobbered by it anyway.

Zen kicks the butcher to the curb, and he tumbles away as the monk also strikes at the pirate. That opponent is a better match, and deftly parries the staff with his rapier.

Nyx and Vanaer rouse to their feet as Mohag shouts and storms outside. The trickster sets her empty goblet down with a hop to the floor, and draws her crossbow from over her back. With the normal use of her Mage Hand Legedermain cantrip, a bolt flies into place from her quarrel by the unseen force, nocks itself, and the weapon draws ready. The ranger stows his holy symbol while replacing his hood. They hear a melee now, the distinctive knock and ring of wood on steel and the loud thumping of big fists.

Mohag the Wanderer assaults the big squire with berserk fury, clubbing his jaw with the bone. The melee becomes a fist fight as the squire drops his sword and they exchange a few mighty blows, but nothing slows the raging dwarf who lives for battle.

Zen Cobain finds a greater challenge with the pirate than he's known in a long while, and the cutthroat's blade commands respect as his footwork keeps him in the duel. They dance to a deadly tune.

Nyx and Vanaer enter the scene as the melee closes with Mohag crushing the squire as he insults the big man, his hot fury now a growling temper. Zen has out-dueled and disarmed his opponent. The pirate runs off to get help.

The rogue is shocked by how quickly the fight resolved as she and the ranger rushed outside, and speaks quickly without an introduction, "Well fought, fellows, but you mustn't overstay this. I can help you get away before they return with too many more. Shall we fly before the rest of them show?"

Having no options, the new party takes Nyx's lead through backstreets and allies that the others have never used, avoiding attention by anyone but a few homeless tramps, waifs, and urchins. She gives out coppers to them for their silence, should they be questioned later.

The four travel together, giving brief respects. "I'm Nyx Ningle, a finder of wondrous antiquities, and this quiet fellow is Vanaer Larium, a gob hunter and priest of Selune, the Moon Goddess," she reports, starting their conservation. "I am Zen Cobain of the Sun Soul Temple," the monk replies with a respectful nod to them. "Call me Mohag," the barbarian offers gruffly, recovering himself from the fury.

They save any more talk until they arrive at a rustic inn on the outskirts of Neverwinter, far to the east of the waking metropolis.

The party winds through nearly all of Neverwinter until they reach a welcoming business, the wind bringing pine and the clang of a dropped teapot from the kitchen. "This is it, lads," Nyx reports happily, "sounds like the cook is hung over again." She laughs merrily, adding to the charm of this rural sanctuary. "I think you'll like the Woodsman Lodge, my favorite escape, far from the bothers and cares that found us today. We'll cool our heels a bit and have some tea, though half of you will want their..."

"Red ale!" shouts Vanaer, giving a thumbs up as he interrupts from behind them. Mohag chuckles and turns back to wink his agreement. They laugh with the start of their brotherhood, feeling that a great connection is at hand.

Zen listens to every creature, drinking in the rural morning tranquility as a smile overtakes him. This is his kind of day shaping up.

The four adventurers go inside and greet the cook, who's up before the innkeeper. He's baking bread, and the smell of it finishing fills the place with a natural magic. Only the tea is ready now, and Zen and Nyx each get a cup, hers with fresh cream and honey.

The monk politely insists on using an old wooden bowl from his pack, and the trickster wonders what is so special about it. Could it be enchanted with purification properties? Her eyes note the chip in its brim, damage that doesn't usually happen to most enhanced items. Maybe it's an heirloom... She concentrates on sensing its magic.

While they're waiting for their ales, Vanaer follows Mohag to the hearth where a crackling fire is blazing. He draws forth his holy symbol to Selune, and shows it to his slightly battered companion. It's a black field with the white outline of mystical eyes orbited by seven stars, which begin to glow with a pale silvery blue light as the clerical healing spell is cast by a short prayer to the Moon Goddess.

The divine illumination dances across dwarven chainmail, healing the cracked ribs underneath, and Mohag exhales loudly with relief. He's only had divine healing a few times, and so long ago that he'd forgotten the wonder of it.

Zen watches it with total approval, his soul warmed by the goodwill of such a healing without any charge of payment. These are good and humble fellows, he considers.

The ale arrives with a cold drumstick, as requested, and Mohag wastes no time in getting the first couple of bites. "Thanks to you and your moon mistress, Van Ear," he misses on the half-elf's tricky name. "Any dwarf will take a healing, but no other magics, if ye get me."

Vanaer, pronounced Van-air, gracefully responds in Dwarvish, "I've little else and none of it arcane, so no worries, my friend."

Mohag's eyes fly open wide with the shock, "you speak my people's tongue, a rare thing indeed! We should travel well together. It'll be a treat to break from the Common speech and still be understood." He raises his tankard in salute and takes a large swallow before continuing. "There's a wagon escort job south to a mining town I'm signing onto today, could use your help. I've worn out my welcome here anyway." He sets into his meal intent on finishing this one, which is far better without the smell of the harbor ruining his day.

Vanaer also feels at ease being in the outlands, and slaps his bow to his cloak in a ranger's salute of agreement to the offer. "You might call me Van Lar, if you like."

"Vanlar, aye," the barbarian agrees through a mouthful of roasted meat, crunching the names together.

Zen and Nyx overhear the job offer and nod an agreement to it. The shaggy monk takes the initiative, "I'll return to my order to collect my trade gear and give my farewells. I have little in the world, but I shouldn't leave without notice."

Nyx's response comes almost as a fencing riposte, "I'm just the reverse, keep my gear with me and never owe any goodbyes." Her eyes light up with mischief in this idle moment. It's time to test this man and see if she can beat him at her game.

Nyx deftly lifts Zen's monk sash from his belt while he drinks, then holds it waiting as he quickly notices, alarmed that she got past his keen alertness.

[lesbean05]

Yo humans in dnd are so fuckin boring I just got reincarnated from a halfling to a human and they get literally nothing the d100 roll real fucked with me on that one

[hearthdraws]

New oc who this

This is Elayne! My new Paladin for delving in Phandelver! If she makes it to level 3 I'll be putting her onto the Oath of the Watchers!

[vimoftheforest]

shadarkai warlock named Verna for Phandelver and Below :>

She is a hexblade who likes to cook and has a donkey named donkey.

[educationaldm]

James Grebey @Fatherly reviews the latest WotC D&D release: Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk and asks whether it is kid friendly.

[dndpartyofthree]

Early Campaign Higlights

- First excursion, Addy trips into a tiny goblin trap and twists her ankle.

- Poor goblins lay the worst snare in the whole world, Addy picks up the rope.

- The whole party manages to beef our stealth rolls so bad that we get caught in a room with a loud ass waterfall. Azari gets KO’ed for the first time

- Cragmaw Castle, Adelaide tries to show off and take out goblins on towers, beefs her rolls and breaks her nose t h r e e times trying to climb a ladder.

- We meet Pip, Toblin’s son, a young lad of about 5 years old. He and Adelaide immediately have Beef. Large prank war ensues.

- Our intrepid DM, Kyle cannot pronounce the word ‘brazier’ this results in many monsters around the world being in possession of flaming lingerie.

- Azari’s first investigation, she beefs the roll and ends up head butting a guard in the crotch. This is Gary, and she now hates him.

- Wave Echo Cave, we gain The Slub™️ a club made from the remains of an Ochre Jelly

- Also in Wave Echo, Addy- who’s hella backed up from the amount of health potions she’s downed, takes a 6lb shit. Amber and Azari are Concerned.

- In Thundertree there’s a dragon cult. We the players assume they will be an annoying threat and decide to take them out. Amber tries to pull a push door, which makes a loud noise. Addy, who has taken an invisibility potion thinks this is her signal, kicks open the back door and immediately blows out the knees of the leader and kills half the cult before Azari and Amber can open the door.

[humblegoatart]

daily sketch 5/26/24

hengroen! another shattered obelisk friend, our beastheart’s companion. (next up will be to draw the beastheart himself, fionn)

[quillowisp]

From my new Lost Mines of Phandelver Pack which is made to be compatible with my Phandelver and Below: Shattered Obelisk handout pack on Etsy.

My version of the Zhentarim crest. I like to make my own crests since obviously just straight ripping someone else's would be stealing. But also there are a ton of real world crests out there and I think when I use those as inspiration the crests end up looking a lot more medieval-y, which I think is cool

[geekcavepodcast]

“Dungeons & Dragons in 2023 and Beyond” D&D Direct

Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford give a glimpse to the next few years of D&D content:

Keys from the Golden Vault - a series of 13 heist adventures

Bigby Presents Glory of the Giants - Bigby expands on the origins of giants

Phandelver and Below the Shattered Obelisk - a Phandalin adventure about the mysterious obelisks that have been popping up in recent adventures

Planescape Adventures in the Multiverse -  adventures set in the city of Sigil, which will set up major stories for 2024

The Deck of Many Things content - will delve into the multiverse-spanning story about the magic item

Vecna returns in 2024 in a world hopping adventure 

The Red Wizards from Honor Among Thieves will feature in their own adventure in 2025

Venger from the 1980s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon is returning for a D&D adventure

The League of Malevolence from Wild Beyond the Witchlight will return in the future

[zerohitpoints]

Phandelver & Below (Spelljammer edition)

Farmland Phandelver & Below is a pretty solid book at first and fifth glance. I haven’t read it all honestly. For whatever reason, I only played through small bits and pieces of the original 2014 campaign with my group, probably because I was excited to start on Hoard of the Dragon Queen instead. And since the redux + expansion book deals heavily with Illithids and Far Realm crazy bullshit, it…

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk - Beadle & Grimm Legendary Edition DM Screen by Sidharth Chaturvedi

[hplrules]

Enter the Griffin, Part 2.

This is the conclusion of the forming of an adventuring group for Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk. If you're new to this tale, start here:

https://www.tumblr.com/hplrules/762263632517218304/neverwinters-protectors-enclave-a-place-of-law?source=share

Nyx chuckles as she returns the sash to Zen, gaining Van's attention. As he laughs, knowing this game and being thankful enough that she's found a new victim, she turns briefly to give him a sly laugh. While her facing is turned away from Zen and they're all distracted, she whispers the verbal somantics for her Trickster cantrip, "Reconditus Artificium". She turns back to the monk and unties his pack with the invisible force while he replaces the symbol of his order's martial ranking, amazed that this rogue was able to get it from him.

By the time his attention returns, she's holding the first thing she found in his open bag, a flute. "I have some trouble with personal property laws, so you know. You're quite the wary challenge, no easy mark. This "fell" from your pack, which is still open," she reports with a sardonic show of concern.

Nyx allows Zen enough peace to replace his flute, turning away with a salute to her new best victim. The arcane touch slaps his pouch forward before her cantrip fades. Zen realizes that it wouldn't matter how many steps away he was, and that there's no way to control it, one strange wonder after another.

"I'm off now to the Sun Soul Temple to give notice to Master Hill," Zen reports to the group.

Nyx pauses, then turns back grinning. "Hill, of Hill Securities?" she asks, referencing the lockbox and custom cabinetry business that temple produces. "Give him my regards. This is going to play well!" Now she's thrilled to be working with a crafter of security devices, and looking forward to teaming with him on their dungeon delves.

Van Lar removes his cloak and tosses it to Zen Cobain, slings his bow in a very rare break of his style, which causes Nyx to stare with curiosity. She's never seen him uncloaked, and seldom without his weapon in hand, so she wonders as to the meaning. He seems oddly comfortable with both of these new fellows.

The half-elf explains, "Take my cloak, Zen. It should hide you on your travels, and don't worry about drawing my enemies. They all sleep in the day."

Zen answers quietly, "My deep thanks, brother Vanaer. I shall return presently," and he salutes before departing.

Mohag turns to Nyx and speaks through and with his meal. Nyx takes this social affront with her perpetual gnome humor, delighted to have found such a natural oaf. Were it not for his deadly temper, she muses, he could be a court fool. "So I've got a friend with a small job escorting a supply cart down to Phandalin. Doesn't pay but ten gold crowns each, like as why it's listed all week without any takers, but work's work and it'll get us out 'o here."

Nyx returns, "I've heard of that sleepy little town, not much traffic. I'm for it. Maybe after that we could go on to Tri-boar or push south to Waterdeep. I've always wanted to explore Undermountain and Skullport, and the way you and Zen fight, I'd say that we stand a chance there."

Mohag blushes with the compliment and nervously finishes eating, recalling the rumors he's heard of those dangerous places.

The odd sound of a coin spinning and catching in a glove is heard from the stairway, but no boards creak as the coin flip grows louder. Pendor Caldair appears and joins the company, grinning with mischief as he calls out to them. "Greetings and good morn, Finder and fellows. I'm able to manage a proper farewell after all, if I'm not out of your heart already."

Nyx quips, "That implies that you were ever in it, Pockets. Mohag, this dapper lad is my former mentor, Pendor, and he's here to rob us blind on his way out of town."

Pendor counters, "Come now, I'm a legitimate woodsman now, or will be soon enough, so your purses are safe today. I'm reformed!" he finishes with a funny pained look.

Nyx chortles, "If only I could believe it, that you could grow so boring." It's clear that these two have seen few dull moments, and neither of them wants those to end.

Mohag brings over a barrel to sit near the fire as Nyx continues with Pendor.

The halfling thief flips his coin to Nyx, who catches it without looking, their old game, and he draws the crossbow from over his back.

"That your new bow, then? It looks to be an antique," Nyx remarks, holding back her covet of a new magic item.

Pendor quietly brags, "Aye, it's a reloader with a hidden quarrel."

Nyx smartly returns, "Hidden, as in one of your dimensional pockets. Most convenient, but I was rather hoping that you'd pass that old jacket to me."

The master rogue deflects, "Oh, sorry dearest, but my love has a few limits, even for you."

Pendor lowers his bow and moves up to show it off in the light of Mohag's candle, which is lighting his bloodstained pipe. Nyx stiffens as her rogue master passes, her hand covering her tool pouch and hidden dagger. She isn't going to be taken easily in their last competition. Van, great with ale now after a night of feasting, toasts his Harper friend's fine enchanted bow, happy to make this cheerful farewell with him.

Van offers, "You'll find my woodsmaster, Xuban Dagonet, in and around Sharandar, and he'll have you well into pathfinding by the end of the season. Say, that's a right fine cap!"

Pendor laughs and replies, "Haaa, always dress for the job ye desire! Me thanks for the referral. It's almost uncomfortable changing me ways after so much success, but life is a river."

Van returns, "Oh, I like that one lots. Mind if I use it to order the next ale?"

Pendor consents, "I'll give ye the rights for a copper each, just pay the royalties to Nyx!"

[storyteller4hire]

Phandelver & Below (Spelljammer edition)

Farmland Phandelver & Below is a pretty solid book at first and fifth glance. I haven’t read it all honestly. For whatever reason, I only played through small bits and pieces of the original 2014 campaign with my group, probably because I was excited to start on Hoard of the Dragon Queen instead. And since the redux + expansion book deals heavily with Illithids and Far Realm crazy bullshit, it…

[wehavekookies]

Character arts made for Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk.