The Shattered Obelisk

Forgotten Realms, Toril
Faerun, The Sword Coast, 1499 DR

Introduction - Welcome to Phandalin
Nestled on the northern Sword Coast, between Neverwinter Wood and the Sword Mountains, is the town of Phandalin. Centuries ago, Phandalin was a thriving settlement with deep ties to its neighboring communities. But then bandits overran the town, and Phandalin lay abandoned for centuries.

Only in the past few years have settlers built a new village on the ruins of the old. These townsfolk hope to grow Phandalin through hard work, camaraderie, and the shared purpose of building a lasting home. Threatening their efforts and their survival are bandits, brigands, and monsters.

WARNING
If you don’t wish to delve into themes of unseen horror, evil fanatics, or malevolent elder entities this game ain't for you, thank you for your time.

Starting PCs at level 10, Private Message me or post character name, race, class, and background using the official WotC 5th edition source books in the Faerun setting. Player characters can be the same Class but must be a different Subclass. Please complete your character sheet on Roll 20 in the Journal tab, I do not own the complete compendium (I have the Player's Bundle and MPMM) nor do I have DnD Beyond so please copy & paste, and if needed from notable online sources (5e tools). Do not include any UA spells and/or features, no DM's Guild material, homebrew, or outside settings such as Magic the Gathering, Exandria, etc. as this is a Forgotten Realms campaign. If unsure, just ask me.

Your character starts with background equipment, class starting equipment, and class wealth (PHB Pg.143). Starting spellcasters with consumable material components that have a value (such as 300gp diamonds for revivify) start with one use for the prepared spell, after spending the use the character will have to acquire as usual means in game. I will be using milestone leveling from the module. The module comes with some Adventure Hooks based off of a character's background which is very helpful.

We shall be using Discord for audio, the link is posted in the game chat [launch game]. Any questions please feel free to PM me, post them in the game's chat, or preferably on the Discord server. Each session runs for 4 hours, sometimes goes into overtime and I try to take a 15-20 minute break at half time. Sessions are alternating Fridays posted on the game's main page and in the Discord text channel "calendar". I am in the North American west coast time zone PST, caution to EU players especially in the GMTs that the game starts very late (midnight for some) - double check the start time. Once invited to the game launch the game, a blank character sheet will be posted on the Journal, and the invite link to the Discord server will be posted in Chat (scroll up past the Roll20 advertisements).

Chapter 1 - A Dangerous Journey
More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver 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 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 town of Phandalin prospered as well. But disaster struck when bandits swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path.

A powerful bandit force 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 caveins and tremors, and knowledge of 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 located the lost mine. In recent years, people resettled the area, and Phandalin is now a rough-and-tumble frontier town.

Chapter 2 - Trouble in Phandalin
The frontier town of Phandalin is built on the ruins of a much older settlement. Hundreds of years ago, old Phandalin was a thriving town whose people were firmly allied with the dwarves and gnomes of the Phandelver Pact. However, the same bandits who sacked the mines at Wave Echo Cave attacked the settlement, and Phandalin was abandoned for centuries.

In the last three or four years, hardy folk from the cities of Neverwinter and Waterdeep have begun settling atop the ruins of Phandalin. A bustling frontier town has developed on the site of the old settlement. It’s home now to farmers, woodcutters, fur traders, and prospectors drawn by stories of gold and platinum in the foothills of the Sword Mountains. Unfortunately, more than a few ruffians and bandits have settled here as well, taking advantage of the fact that the area has no local authority to chase them off. A gang known as the Redbrands has been hounding Phandalin, extorting and bullying everyone in town. The gang is led by a mysterious figure known to the townsfolk only as “Glasstaff.”

Chapter 3 - The Spider's Web
Once the characters have dealt with Iarno “Glasstaff” Albrek, they’ll likely want to find Wave Echo Cave and confront the Spider. So far, the characters haven’t learned the cave’s location, but they have several leads that point to the wilderness outside Phandalin. The characters may also complete any quests they received from townspeople in Phandalin.

The characters can’t learn much more in town, and with the Redbrands defeated, Phandalin isn’t in immediate danger. The heroes must enter the forests and hills surrounding the town to uncover the larger plots they’re caught in.

The Banshee. Sister Garaele wants the characters to find the banshee Agatha and ask her about Bowgentle’s spellbook. (completed)

Old Owl Well. Daran Edermath wants the characters to discover who is exploring the ruins at Old Owl Well. (completed)

Thundertree. Qelline Alderleaf suggested the characters go to the ruined town of Thundertree and consult with the druid Reidoth. (completed)

Wyvern Tor. Townmaster Harbin Wester wants the characters to head east on the Triboar Trail and chase away raiders near Wyvern Tor. (completed)

Cragmaw Castle. Sildar Hallwinter wants the characters to stop the Cragmaw goblins’ attacks and search for Gundren Rockseeker, and he encourages them to explore Cragmaw Castle. (completed)

Chapter 4 - Wave Echo Cave
Fifteen miles east of Phandalin, Wave Echo Cave lies in the deep vales of the Sword Mountains. The rich mine of the Phandelver Pact was lost five hundred years ago during bandit attacks that devastated this area.

In the centuries since, countless prospectors and adventurers have searched for the lost mine, but none succeeded until the three Rockseeker brothers found the entrance a month ago. Unfortunately, the dwarves didn’t realize they were being followed by spies working for Nezznar the Spider, and the Rockseekers inadvertently led the villain to their prize.

The Spider and his followers captured the two brothers who were guarding their find, then arranged for Gundren Rockseeker’s ambush. After learning of the adventurers’ involvement with Gundren, or of their exploits in and around Phandalin, the Spider issued orders for the characters to be dealt with. He then began exploring the depths of Wave Echo Cave.

The drow is searching for the Forge of Spells, where the human mages of old Phandalin enchanted dwarven weapons and gnome gadgets. However, the Spider’s exploration has been hindered by the dangerous monsters that lurk in Wave Echo Cave.

The adventurers now have the chance to aid Gundren, find his brothers, and end the nefarious schemes of the Spider. Additionally, the abundance of powerful magic rumored to be hidden in the mines is a rich prize.

Chapter 5 - Paths of Peril
When the characters return to Phandalin after their adventures in Wave Echo Cave, they find the town in upheaval. Thievery, vandalism, and violence plague Phandalin—all perpetrated by a band of goblins, some displaying strange psionic powers. These goblins have been pursuing their goal in the background of previous chapters, and their efforts have now become the adventure’s main story.

Distressed and unsure how to help the victims, let alone find and stop the criminals, townmaster Harbin Wester asks the characters to investigate these crime scenes, find the culprits, and put a stop to the incidents. This task eventually leads the characters to the goblins’ base far underground in an old duergar mining post called Zorzula’s Rest, where a goblin leader who calls himself Ruxithid the Chosen receives orders from powerful overlords.

Chapter 6 - The Shattered Obelisk
The characters have defeated Ruxithid, the Sawplee goblin leader who collected fragments of a Netherese obelisk. However, an unsettling truth has emerged: Ruxithid acted at the behest of much more powerful overlords who want the obelisk pieces to impose some terrible fate upon the town.

The characters discovered Ruxithid’s map, which shows the locations of the remaining obelisk pieces. Further, some townspeople are still missing and could be captives at one of these locations. To save Phandalin and its missing inhabitants, the characters must collect the remaining obelisk shards before the overlords do. Along the way, the heroes learn more about the shadowy threat looming over Phandalin.
- Acquired 3 of 3 obelisk shards, sent to Thay.

Chapter 7 - Rifts in Reality
While hunting obelisk fragments in the previous chapter, the characters learned of the fanatics’ headquarters: a mind flayer enclave called Illithinoch deep in the Underdark below Phandalin. In this chapter, the characters learn more about the fanatics and rescue the kidnap victims from Phandalin. However, doing so—as well as stopping the ritual that threatens to turn Phandalin’s townspeople into mind flayers—will be far more harrowing than the characters realize.
- Rescued 3 of 14 townsfolk.

Chapter 8 - Beyond a Lightless Star

The Party (Level 10, Chapter 8)
(Name, race, Subclass and Class, background)
Caspian, high elf, Battle Master Fighter 5 / School of Divination Wizard 5, spy
Sivo, "tiefling", Mastermind Rogue, urchin
Galendir, drow, Gloom Stalker Ranger, faction agent
Taron, human, Arcane Archer Fighter 6 / Battle Smith Artificer 4, fey touched
open slot
DMPC - Scudbutte, bugbear, School of Abjuration Wizard, anthropologist