Solo LMoP - 12. The Battle for Cragmaw Castle

Knowing that it is probably just a matter of a few minutes at most before the inhabitants of the castle are all on alert and coming after them, the group rushes in a circular movement around the Northern side of the castle and - weapons drawn - attack from the front, prepared for open battle. 

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As soon as the party storms onto the balcony in front of the ruin they are greeted by a hail of arrows from slits in the two towers flanking the crumpled gate. Inside they find an outstretched hall with many doors. Goblins and Hobgoblins push through them, firing arrows and poking with their swords at the bellies of the adventurers. More and more join the fray as they are alarmed and for some time all the group can do is keep them at bay. Quillathe fires several Sleep-spells into the adjacent rooms, controlling the influx of goblinoids. Brandr and Harbek keep their comrades standing while sending spells at the enemies. In the end it is Haunui who gets through the defenses of his opponents and kills the first Goblin with a jab of his new hunting sword and the killing begins. One by one the enemies fall but more are coming in. A monstrous, tentacled snake-creature, a Grick, crawls through a door in the eastern part of the room but triggers a cave-in that crushes part of its body and makes it easier to be dispatched before it could do any harm. Quillathe falls under the hail of arrows but is quickly revived by Haunui and Harbek and together they finally manage to gain victory. Most of the goblinoids lay slain but they disarm and tie up three of them that are still under the influence of a sleep-spell. They push gags in their mouths and retreat into one of the smaller chambers, panting and bleeding. Harbek asks them to keep their ears open while he sinks down on his knees and prays to Marthammor Duin in gratitude for their survival and pleading for his help
🎲Prayer of Healing, 2d8+7: 9 (unbelievable...) HP healed to everyone.

With my knowledge as a DM I know that not all monsters in Cragmaw Castle have been slain. The ones remaining will however need to investigate first. I'll roll to see in what room they'll see the adventurers. 

🎲Roll for room, 1d12 (skipping 1 and 10 on the map): 3 => Archer post 
🎲Stealth Check opponent +6: 9 (failure against everyone's passive perception)

As the group is picking up their arms to investigate the castle, they hear metal shifting in the hallway and as they quickly open the door they see a large, furry figure hunched over the corpse of one of the hobgoblins, spying into the main entrance. It's a huge, grey-furred bugbear, whose eyes quickly shift from the dead, glancing over the tied up goblinoids and finally fixating on the adventurers. He roars in frustration and anger and tries to get away from the group that has slain his entire tribe. 

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The group chases the fleeing Bugbear through the castle to a door where he makes his stand, supported by a snarling pet wolf. Soon he bleeds from many wounds when he is hit from behind and sinks to his knees as a woman in simple, but refined clothes smashes a st0ol on his head. The blow cracks his skull and the party quickly disposes of his wolf as well, while the woman, whose face and arms are covered in bruises, backs up against the wall, panting. 

The group pushes into the room and Harbek shouts out: "Gundren!" as he runs over to a slumped figure in the corner. Drusa immediately turns to the woman and informs if she is alright. As soon as they are convinced that Gundren lives, the others (except for Harbek) join in the conversation. 

🎲Deception Check Vyerith, +6, adv (Read Thoughts): 21
🎲Insight Check Brandr, +6: 12

🎲Harbek Cure Wounds => Gundren, 1d8+6: 14 => healed to max HP

The woman introduces herself as Vyerith, a woman from Triboar who was traveling towards the High Road when she was ambushed by the Cragmaw Goblins. She claims to be a traveling fighter, specialized in unarmed combat and on her way from town to town, wrestling for coin. She is impressed by the characters' skill in combat and requests that she may join them for a while until she can get to a town. The group tells her that they are based in Phandalin and she expresses her interest to get there. They all agree that they'll take her with them. 

In the meantime, Harbek heals his cousin. Gundren is extremely grateful for his rescue but immediately asks if they have found his map and if Sildar is alright. A relieved smile spreads over his face when he hears the good news about his friend. Vyerith points the group to Groll who, according to her had shoved a piece of parchment into his pocket, before leaving to investigate.  And indeed, they find the map in his possession. The group, joined by Vyerith then continues to search the entire castle for treasure. 

They find: 
- Sildar Hallwinters chain mail and longsword
- a small cask of Dwarven Brandy
- a beautiful quarterstaff engraved with feathers (worth 10g)
- a gold statuette of a sun elf (worth 100g)
- golden ritual implements (worth 330g total), which Quillathe takes for the shrine
- three potions of healing, going to Harbek, Haunui and Vyerith
220 silver-pieces and 160 electrum-pieces, divided among the party, Vyerith takes 30 electrum

The group hears terrible roaring, hooting and scratching in the South-Eastern tower.
🎲Quillathe Nature Check +3 (DC 13, 10+CR): 11 (failure)
Not knowing what waits for them inside the tower, the group decides to investigate carefully. But when they open the door they see a large, angry owlbear that immediately charges for the door. 
🎲Who's first at the door, 1d10÷2 (1: Drusa, 2: Harbek, 3: Haunui, 4: Quillathe, 5: Brandr): 4 => Quillathe
🎲Secondary Nature Check Quillathe, +3 (DC 10): 13 (success)

Quillathe, realizing the creature just wants to get out, having been barred and locked inside a building, jumps aside and calls out to the others to make way. 
The roaring animal pushes its way through the door and, ignoring the party, makes its way out of the castle to freedom. 
🎲Perception Check Brandr +4 (DC 15): 20 (success)
When looking inside the room the party finds a hidden chest containing 90 electrum-pieces, 120 gold-pieces, one more potion of healing and two spell scrolls (Silence and Revivify). 
The money is divided (only among the party), the potion goes to Brandr and the spell scrolls to Quillathe (Silence) and Harbek (Revivify).

Quillathe has taken the relics to a room in the Northern part of the castle where the Goblins have defiled a shrine dedicated to Oghma, Mystra, Lathander and Tymora. She starts cleaning it and putting the relics they found back on the altar. While she does so in quiet contemplation, the rest of the group and Vyerith decide to spend the night in the castle to heal up. They clear out the corpses and throw them outside in the woods for the wild animals to devour, then they make camp in the driest part of the castle. The three captive goblinoids are released into the woods, having been shown the defeat of their tribe. Vyerith, seemingly very tired, quickly falls asleep and the rest of the group rests and bandages their wounds. Quillathe refuses their help gracefully and - when the shrine is cleansed - she sinks on her knees and prays. 

Solo LMoP - 11. The Search for Cragmaw Castle

The next morning the party wakes up and gathers at breakfast in the Stonehill Tavern, where they discuss their agenda. After yesterday they would all agree that their priority should be to try and find Gundren. They have a general idea of where the castle is located since they questioned one of the goblins at the Cragmaw hideout. Chances are that they come upon a patrol of the tribe's goblins when they get near and that might help them pinpoint the exact location. 
Before they leave, Haunui heads to the Lionshield Coster to buy a shield and Harbek heads to Qelines house where he lays copper coins on Egarts eyes and says a prayer that will keep his body from decomposing for the foreseeable future. (Casting Gentle Repose as a ritual) This should give his aunt the time to set up a proper funeral and inquire about his mother. 

Then the party says their goodbyes to Sildar and heads North towards the Triboar Trail.
🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 4 => No encounter
🎲Weather (3x 1d20 for each condition): Temperature (7: normal), Wind (6: none), Rain (9: none)

It is a pleasant journey as the sun is warm and the travel goes along the road. The group travels about 15 miles along the road and then turns North and head into the hilly grassland that separates them from Neverwinter Wood. They camp not too far from the forests edge. 
🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 14 => No encounter

The group spends a quiet night of rest (Consuming a ration each) and in the morning they talk about what to do now. The description they had was that the Castle was in Neverwinter woods, roughly 20 miles East from the hideout, but the exact location is a riddle to them so far. But it cannot be very far in, so they will need to head in there and hope that they either find the castle or hit a patrol. 

🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 15 => No encounter
🎲Weather (3x 1d20 for each condition): Temperature (11: normal), Wind (12: none), Rain (5: none)
🎲Investigation Check Quillathe, +5 (DC 20): 20 (success)

The group heads into Neverwinter Woods, leaving behind the beaten trails and wandering between the ancient trees of this outstretched woodland. The sounds of birdsong from above and now and then the cracking of a branch under their feet surround them in this world of shadow and light. Soft leaves cover the ground under their feet. It is halfway through the day when Quillathe, who has kept her eyes to the ground points out a set of footprints at the edge of a murky pool. The size and form appear to be similar to goblin feet. They have found a trail. Haunui inspects the area and starts to lead the party in an attempt to follow the trail. 
🎲Survival Check Haunui +3 (DC 15, soft, natural floor but it's been dry and the tracks were made by small creatures): 12 (failure)

Haunui tries to follow the tracks but eventually loses them in an area with little moss. As the afternoon is nearing its end the party makes camp for the night. 

🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 7 => No encounter

The party sleeps somewhat uneasy with the strange sounds of the woods around them but awake the next morning rested. (Consuming a ration each)
🎲Direction they travelled, 1d6 (1: N, 2: NE, 3: SE, 4: S, 5: SW, 6: NW): 6 => Northwest
🎲Weather (3x 1d20 for each condition): Temperature (1: normal), Wind (3: none), Rain (17: light rainfall) 🎲Amount of rain, 1d6x4: 3 => 12 hours of light rain

A soft rain has started falling. In the early morning-hours the tree-tops keep most of it at bay, but as the day continues and the canopy becomes drenched more and more moisture drips down onto the adventurers, slowly soaking into their clothing. 

🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 10 => No encounter
🎲Investigation Check Quillathe +5 (DC 20): 18 (failure)
🎲Direction they travel in, 1d6 (1: N, 2: NE, 3: SE, 4: S, 5: SW, 6: NW): 4 => South East

Quillathe leads the group back, trying to find the trail they had lost yesterday but at the end of the day the only tracks they run into are their own. Frustrated and tired they bed down for the night.

🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 20 => 🎲Encounter table, 1d12: 6 (Hobgoblins) => 🎲Amount, 1d4+2: 6
🎲Who is on watch, 1d10/2 (1: Drusa, 2: Haunui, 3: Harbek, 4: Quillathe, 5: Brandr): 4 => Quillathe

🎲Stealth Check attackers, +1, disdavantage because of armor (DC 13): 12 (failure)

In the middle of the night Quillathe suddenly calls out as on her command the campfire burns brighter again: "Wake up, we're under attack!"

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It only takes a few seconds. From the dark there are arrows shooting, released by red-skinned humanoids in heavy armour. The Hobgoblins quickly drop their bows and rush in, swinging longswords, but three of them are sent to sleep by Quillathe and the others are swiftly dealt with. The group leaves one of them alive and searches all of them, finding some coin and a very bad sketch of what apparently is supposed to represent Harbek's face with a note attached: 

25 gold pieces for this one

The party attempts to interrogate the surviving Hobgoblin but the creature keeps its teeth clenched together, only opening its mouth to insult them in Goblin and demand an honourable death. 

The party talks about how to deal with this and decides to purposefully tie her up in a way that she will be able to escape so that they can follow the footprints in the soggy ground in the morning. 
🎲Deception Check Drusa, +2: 12
🎲Insight Check Hobgoblin, +0: 11 (Drusa succeeds)

The party ties up the creature and tells her that they will decide her fate in the morning before going back to sleep, their weapons at the ready and keeping a guard up all night that does pretend to have a hard time staying awake. The party finishes a long rest and awakes in the morning to find the Hobgoblin gone. (One ration consumed by each of the partymembers)
🎲Direction they travelled, 1d6 (1: N, 2: NE, 3: SE, 4: S, 5: SW, 6: NW): 1 => North
🎲Weather (3x 1d20 for each condition): Temperature (1: normal), Wind (9: none), Rain (3: none)

The party gathers their belongings and decides to follow the tracks that are not too hard to see in the softened forest floor after a day of rain. 
🎲Survival Check Haunui +3 (DC 10): 18 (success)
🎲Encounter Check, 1d20 (Encounter on 17-20): 9 => no encounter

With Haunui in the lead the party follows the tracks Southwards for about two and a half hours until they see clear paths trampled through the underbrush by many armoured feet over a longer period of time. They are nearing the castle, and these must be the paths made by the patrolling groups of goblinoids. 

The party tries to find a quiet place to discuss what happens now. A stealthy approach would be preferable but three of them are wearing loud and noisy armour that will make it hard to get close undetected. They can either go in for a frontal assault or hope that nightfall makes it easier for them to approach undetected. Haunui offers to try and attempt to get closer, but not without the rest of his group waiting within earshot. Quillathe also informs the group that this castle is the location of a shrine to Oghma that she intends to cleanse. She understands that rescuing Gundren is the first priority, but if possible, she wants to try and clear out the Goblins. A peaceful solution will only work for her if the Cragmaws give up the castle, which she believes unlikely.

They advance slowly and carefully as they see crumpled stone walls emerge behind the trees. The castle is more of a ruin than a fortress. 

Given their travels the group advances from the North and slightly East. 

While his friends wait behind a few bushes Haunui tries to get closer as softly as he can. 

🎲Stealth Check Haunui +3 (DC 5, no one is paying attention on this side of the castle): 12 (success)
Haunui creeps closer to the North-Eastern tower and, hearing voices speaking what sounds like Common from inside he leans against the castle wall under one of the arrow slits and attempts to listen in. 
🎲Perception Check Haunui +3 (DC12 for some succes, DC 18 for total success): 10 (failure)
He hears at least two voices but cannot make out much of the conversation. 
🎲Direction Haunui goes from here, 1d6 (even=West, odd=South): 6 (West)
Making brief eye-contact with his compatriots Haunui skirts along the wall and around a big pile of rubble along the Northern side of the ruin. 
🎲Perception Check Haunui +3 (DC15): 5 (failure, he does not notice anything)

Haunui sneaks onward to the next tower, the third one along the Northern Side of Crawgmaw Castle. 
🎲Stealth Check Haunui +3 (DC9): 5 (failure)
As Haunui shirks around the next pile of rubble he dislodges one of the pieces of stone that tumbles down with a lot of noise. 
🎲Dexterity/Initiative Checks Goblins vs Haunui: Haunui +3 (11), Goblin +2 (8) => Haunui moves first. 

Haunui quickly looks around and then jumps behind a bush, kneeling and trying to hide himself from view. 
🎲Stealth Check Haunui +3: 6

🎲Perception Check Goblin, -1: 9 

Now, the goblins quickly climb up to one of the arrow-slits and spy Haunui shuffling away behind the bush. They would not directly attack, but instead raise the alarm. They'd back away from the arrow slit and rush to get help. They cannot go directly to their leader, since he is currently preoccupied and would not take kindly to them disturbing him, but instead they'd go and get help from their congeners in the hope to ambush the man outside. I'll treat this like initiative, with each round allowing a few things to happen. 

First, the goblins decide on what to do and spend one round to do so. 

Haunui in the meantime will try to figure out if he has been seen. 

🎲Stealth Check Goblin, +6: 9
🎲Peception Check Haunui +3: 4 (failure)

So Haunui does not know yet if he has been seen or not. He did not spy the goblin peering out, because it is much darker inside the ruin than outside. 

Now ("second round") some of the Goblins rush through the castle to get help. The one that is remaining behind tries to get a look at Haunui without revealing himself.
🎲Stealth Check Goblin, +6: 7 
🎲Perception Check Haunui, +3: 19 (success)
So now Haunui knows he has been found out, or can at least assume he is. That will however be his action, so he'll move his entire speed away from the tower, trying to get distance between himself and whoever saw him. He stays visible for this moment but tries to give the impression of fleeing. 
🎲Deception Check Haunui -1: 5
🎲Insight Check Goblins -1: 18
Very unconvincingly uttering things like "Oh no, what ever shall I do" and "Good grief, I must flee to get away", Haunui backs into the trees.
Next, the goblin who had gone for backup arrives at his destination and needs to convince a bad tempered cook to spare him some of his assistants for defending the castle:
🎲Persuasion Goblin -1 (DC 10: Moderate success, DC 15: Full success): 16 => Full success
Several Goblins are sent with him to back him up. This does however take a total of two turns while Goblins run and get their weapons. 

In the meantime, Haunui tries to get out of the way and hide in the forest. 
🎲Stealth Haunui +3: 15
🎲Perception Goblins -1: 18

Despite Haunui's best attempts the Goblin observing him still manages to get at least the general direction of where he is traveling. Haunui returns to the group quickly, informing them that he has been seen. They need to think fast and decide what to do, since now the Goblins are probably coming after them. They do not know from where to expect them, so the entire group backs up to get some distance and try to keep quiet. 
🎲Group Stealth Check (DC 9): Haunui, +3 (17), Drusa -1, disadvantage (6), Harbek, -1, dis (14), Brandr +0, disadvantage (12), Quillathe +2 (3, natural 1) 
            => 3 successes, 3 failures (nat 1 counting double), even chances. Average is 10 (rounded down) 
            🎲 Goblin Perception -1 (DC 10): 11 (success)

The group has a head start of approximately 60 ft, backing up towards a small stream that flows close to the castle when a shouting group of Goblins catches up to them. 

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The group of goblins advances as a closed formation, shouting, skreeching and notching 

arrows. But Quillathe releases a spell and the biggest part of the group collapses to the ground, fast asleep. The adventurers rush in and kill most of the creatures while Haunui and Drusa both manage to capture one. They put sharp objects on the creatures' throats and the goblins quickly spill all the beans they have. Apparently, the castle is ruled by a bugbear called King Groll who is the chief of the Cragmaw tooth. At the moment he is in a meeting with a 'dark elf woman' who has been sent by 'the Spider'. 
Drusa pricks the side the Goblins neck a little bit and tells him she'll cut his throat if he doesn't tell her anything interesting or important about his tribes castle.

🎲Intimidation Drusa +2 (DC 10): 16 (success)
The gibbering goblin tells Drusa that there is a hidden pit in the central hall and that the dark hall is guarded by "Lhupo's bitey pet monster". 

Drusa and Haunui tell the Goblins to get away from here as fast as they can or they won't live another day, before releasing them into the woods where they scramble to flee as far away as they can.  

The adventurers, aware that they are probably not going to get inside the castle unseen hope to make their entrance at least somewhat of a suprise and circle around to attack Cragmaw Castle from the front. 

Solo LMoP - 10. A sad day of downtime (Level up)

 The Redbrands are defeated, Glasstaff has fled and has little to return to with his men killed or captured and his lair discovered. The party has lived through some rather nasty fights and has both lost a friend and made a new one. With an unconscious goblin and a captured Redbrand they return to town where they march straight to the town hall. As this group of bloodied, grim-looking people with their quarry march through town villagers stop and stare in awe. 

At the town hall the blubbering Harbin Wester is overjoyed about the news that the Redbrands have been defeated and the two captives are locked in a cell under town hall. Sildar is grateful as well and plunders the coffer - much to Wester's dismay - to pay the party 200 gold that they divide amongst themselves. The party informs Sildar about Glasstaff and as they describe the wizard to him Sildar's face grows sour. He does indeed confirm that Glasstaff and Iarno Albrek appear to be the same person and is saddened about the betrayal to the Lord's alliance. He hopes to get his hands on Albrek one day. 

The party takes their gold and says their goodbyes for the day, needing rest and the completion of some errands. They agree to meet for supper in the Stonehill tavern and go each about their own business. 

Drusa heads to Halia Thornton who is less pleased about the news than Drusa would have expected. Halia stated that she wanted the Redbrand-leader eliminated, not driven off to return another day. 

🎲Persuasion Drusa +3 (DC 10 for some success, 15 for total success): 19 (total success)
After some talking the guildmaster agrees that with the Redbrands wiped out and the hideout uncovered the chances for Glasstaff returning are very slim. She pays Drusa the full sum of 100 gold (which will be divided among all adventurers).

After finishing this business, Drusa spends some time at the exchange, trying to sell off the collected gems that have a total worth of 345 gold pieces. 
🎲Persuasion Drusa +3 (DC 10: 75% value, DC 15: 100% value, DC 20: 125 % value): 14 
Drusa sells all the gems for a total of 260 gold (divided among the party)

After that Drusa heads to Barthen's Provisions to spend some money. She buys a second set of Fine clothes and a set of manacles (not wanting to tie up everyone they need to arrest with rope). She returns to the Stonehill inn, pays up front for herself and her friends (rooms and dinner for a total of 40 silver) and orders a bath to be drawn. After washing and dressing in her new clothes she returns to town hall to talk with Sildar and learn about the recent developments in Phandalin. Sildar has by now send Harbin Wester home and talks about the banker's messy bookkeeping, about having to get a clear picture of the villages finances, establishing a regular trade with Neverwinter and/or Triboar and other issues of government that have been neglected under the last townmaster. He does confirm that there are orcs somewhere nearby and tells Drusa that he will honour Westers recent offers to pay for the extermination of the creatures. However finding Gundren in Cragmaw Castle is another priority that he would prefer to be dealt with first. 

Haunui asks around and finds Mirna Drendar and her children. Their house has been ransacked and she is worried about the future. Haunui, putting her at ease tells her that all will be well. He helps her tidy up the house and then heads to Barthen's provisions and a few farms to shop. He gets a shovel and for 3 gold pieces he buys enough groceries to last her family for several weeks and he puts another 50 silver in her hand, not accepting any contradiction. One day he wants her and the children to return to Thundertree. Then, when the children have gone off to play, he helps Mirna dig a grave and retrieves the body of her husband from the hideout where the Nothic has been gnawing on it. They bury him and Haunui leaves Mirna to her sorrows. 
Climbing the hill to the ruined manor Haunui finds a quiet place and digs another grave, big enough for Egart. 

Having prepared this, he washes the dirt of his hands and face at the small stream Northwest of the village and heads back into town to purchase 20 new arrows at the Lionshield coster. Once there he also sells his Greatsword that has been rather unwieldy to combine with his large bow, as well as his old Leather Armor. Talking with Linene Greywind about his troubles with the heavy weapon, the course woman immediately has an idea and shows him a rather short, bent bladed with a thin point. This hunting sword (re-flavoured Rapier) might be of more use to him, she explains. Haunui gladly takes it off her hands. He asks if she could use some beaver pelts, Linene confirms and Haunui spends another hour retrieving the pelts from the hideout for her, selling them for full value (60 gold total which he'll divide among his friends). Finally, the shopkeeper informs him that she has sent a couple of men with a cart to the cave to pick up her shipment. She hopes to receive it the next day.

The archer then finds himself a quiet place in town, tending to his equipment and contemplating the past as well as the future. 

Brandr has a lot to think about. Having met these new adventurers and having finished his first task in Phandalin he is eager to do more, since the sense of achievement this gives him takes the edge of his constant sense of dread and guilt. After the fight he heads to the graveyard and strolls in between the long overgrown and the few newly dug graves. He finds a quiet spot behind a crumpled wall where he sits down and prays as well as he is able to. He thanks the foehammer for turning his power against people that deserved it and beseeches him to guide him further. He feels deep sadness and misses his family but finds comfort in the prayers he learned and repeats over and over again. 
When he finishes, he heads to the nearby stream to wash his face and hands. While he does so, he sees a motherly halfling woman approach with buckets. He greets her in her native tongue and offers help. Pleased by his good manners the two of them talk for a bit and Brandr talks about what he and his friends have done. Qeline - because of course it is her - is shocked but also pleased. She speaks very fondly of her nephew who had just warned her about these thugs and so it falls to Brandr to bring the news about Egarts death. Qeline is thunderstruck and fights against the tears. She asks where her nephew is now and Brandr must confess that he does not know. But he will inform with his new compatriots at supper and bring her the news. She asks where they will meet and tells Brandr that she will come to the inn herself to speak to those so-called adventurers that did not even manage to keep her nephew save. Then she turns her back and leaves, carrying both buckets herself. 

Brandr, too challenged by this encounter to continue his contemplation heads into town and visits the shops. He buys some ink, parchment and sealing wax at Barthens and - using his shield as an improvised table - writes a letter to his family that he leaves unfinished, not having access to a someone who might take the letter all the way to Waterdeep. 

It is at this point that - while looking through the possible things he might be interested in - I realize Brandr would not even be able to wear Chain mail, since it is far too heavy for him. I switch it out for Ring Mail, dropping his AC by 2, which I'll try to compensate with buying a shield for him, even though he won't be able to use that when switching from his bow to his sword.  

Harbek heads to Daran Edermath to inform him briefly about the end of the Redbrand's reign of terror and the old elf asks him to return to him, he might have more work for the group. Harbek however is not in the mood for swapping stories of bravery. He is still angry and sad about all that has happened and spends most of the day exploring the outskirts of town, searching for any sign of his cousins Nandro and Thurden. 
🎲Investigation Check +0 (DC 10): 16 (success)

Halfway through the afternoon Harbek comes upon a small campsite South of town. He investigates the site and finds that by the size of the boot-prints it is very likely that there have indeed been dwarfs camping here. But the site has been abandoned since days it seems and except for some half-eaten, rotten leftovers he does not discover anything of interest. Now that he knows he does not need to search any further Harbek returns to town. He does not have anything else to do, so he spends the rest of the afternoon at the inn, slowly emptying a large pitcher of ale. He overhears a couple of farmers, who came in for a drink after a long day of work. They talk about Sister Garaele - a priest overseeing the local shrine of Tymora - getting hurt on an errant recently. Harbek makes a mental note of that information. If he meets the priestess, it might be interesting to ask about what happened. 

Speaking of Sister Garaele, that is where Quillathe is going first. She informs the priestess of
the Redbrand's demise for which she receives gratitude, before leaving quickly on errands of her own. She visits both the Lionshield Coster and Barthen's provisions and is disappointed to find that neither sells anything that is of interest to her. She buys a second bottle of ink, to get rid of some of the silver in her pockets and a bedroll for comfort on the road. After that, she take a brief walk through the town to clear her head and decides to head to the inn. When she finds out that Drusa has already paid for rooms, she retreats to her room, washes and spends the rest of the day writing down the story of her adventures in her journal. 

It is nearing dusk when the party reconvenes in the Stonehill Tavern and Brandr just finds time to warn them before Qeline arrives. In silence they head to the woodshed, where they had left Egart for now. Qeline does not weep but asks that the group help her carry Egart to her house, so she can wash and prepare him for his final rest. When her husband died a few years ago, she had family come in and help with the construction of a grave mound. It is simple, but there is enough room for Egart and she wants him to rest with family. But first she wants all the family that she has within a day or so to come and pay their respect to her nephew. She does not know if her sister, Egarts mother, still lives or not and where she might be, but there are plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins living nearby that can help organize a proper halfling burial. She will speak with Sister Garaele about rites, but she hopes the group will attend. 
Harbek has an idea how to help her get the funeral set up properly but he needs to sleep about it first. He does promise to return the next day to tell her if he found a solution. They leave Qeline to her solemn duty and return to the inn. There is little they care to discuss now; it can wait until breakfast tomorrow. The day has been eventful enough as it is. They eat their meal and retreat to their respective rooms to sleep for the night. 

Level Up Drusa => Level 3
🎲HP Lvl 3, 1d10+2: 9 => 25 HP total

Choosing a Subclass: Drusa is clearly a frontline fighter, focussing heavily on her greataxe. - In the Redbrand Street fight she several time put herself into a flanking position with Haunui, landing heavy blows.
- In the fight against Glasstaff she had trouble to get to enemies a few times because of lack of range and allies standing in her way but killed one of the Ruffians
- In the crypt she took a lot of damage but slayed one of the skeletons
- In the slave pen fight she dealt a lot of damage and was first into the fray
- In the final fight in the hideout she missed twice and then had to move a lot to get into a position where she could fight. The Nothic blocked her and after a failed attempt to negotiate Drusa attacked, took two of the creature's strongest attacks before killing it after a chase. 

She also focussed on learning about government. With her need to navigate easier and get control of situations the Battlemaster Subclass seems to fit her best in my opinion. This subclass puts her closer to her goal of being a leader. Based on the experiences she has had she'll go for the following three manoeuvres: Bait and Switch, Commanding Prensence and Precision Attack. Her Hitdice restore to full and her other abilities reset. 

Drusa, Level 3 Character Sheet

Level Up Haunui => Level 3
🎲HP Lvl 3, 1d10+2: 12 => 31 HP total
Choosing a Subclass: Haunui, being an archer has often stayed to the back of fights, but also has used his Greatsword a few times, to varying degrees of success. 
- In the Redbrand Street fights he did not manage to get into a ranged stance and killed one of the Redbrands with his Sword
- In the Glasstaff Fight he was the one to overhear that Egart knew Glasstaff. He killed a Redbrand with his Arrows and hit several times. He sent arrows after Glasstaff, hitting the Wizard from over 250ft away and forcing him to use his shield-spell twice
- He hit twice with his sword and missed twice with his bow in the Crypt-fight
- In the slave pens he took the brunt of the damage and went unconscious. He managed to keep the Redbrand here from fleeing. 

- In the final fight against the Redbrands he focussed on his bow and dealt a lot of damage to several different opponents    

Besides that, he has shown himself kind and generous, helping the Drendars, spending time with Linene Graywind and digging graves. He truly is a Champion of the Good and he will take that subclass. With an easier chance to score Critical Hits, he'll deal more damage and help his group enormously in that way. With his many HP he will also be able to tank a bit when he gets into melee. 

Haunui, Level 3 Character Sheet

Level Up Harbek => Level 3

🎲HP Lvl 3, 1d8+2: 8 => 30 HP total
Harbek gets access to Lvl 2 spells and a bonus to his Health. Besides that, there are very few changes. 
Harbek, Level 3 Character Sheet

Level up Quillathe => Level 3
🎲HP Lvl 3, 1d6+2: 4 => 18 HP total
Quillathe's Arcane recovery improves to being able to restore 2 levels of spell slots, and she gets access to lvl 2 spells.
New spells: Identify and Misty Step
Quillathe, Level 3 Character Sheet

Solo LMoP - 09. Finishing off the Redbrands

I return to my adventure at the point that the party has gathered South of Phandalin around the dead body of their compatriot Egart. They talk about what to do with him and what to do next. 

Let's first deal with the mechanical part before we go into the storytelling. 
For killing the three Redbrands the party gets a total of 300XP that is divided among the remaining four members and we divide Egarts money among the survivors. Haunui takes his Thieves tools, but no one is proficient with it. The rest of Egarts Gear they leave on him as they take his body back to town. Haunui regains 4 of the arrows he shot. They don't know much about him, except that he must have had some history in Phandalin, especially since the leader of the Redbrands seemed to know him. 

That is a good incentive for them to return to the hideout and deal with the rest of the Redbrands. They want to question one of them about their possible knowledge about Egart and how he came to know the wizard with the glass staff. They also need to tell Halia about Glasstaffs flight. Having no idea if the wizard will be coming back or not, they decide to not take any chances and only rest briefly. 

🍖 A short rest is had during which Quillathe uses her arcane Recovery to regain a spellslot. 

The party retraces their steps to the ruin atop the hill. Here they re-enter the basement where they find the corpses of the Redbrands still undisturbed. There is some coin on them (12 gold, 15 electrum and 28 silver)and two gems that are taken by Harbek. Behind the door they came from is a small side chamber that was used as barracks. A few red cloaks are lying around here. 

Now, there are two options here: They can retrace their steps to get back to Glasstaff's quarters to find some information, or they could try the other door in the basement. 
Quillathe would want the information first and the others would not have a strong preference, but especially Harbek would be hesitant to cross the crevasse again if not necessary, since they lost their negotiator with the creature that lives there. So the group would agree to try the other door, hoping to find another way to the same goal. 

They head through the doors and find themselves in a corridor. 

Thick dust covers the flagstones of this somber hallway. The walls are decorated with faux columns every ten feet, and the double doors at the west end of the hall are sheathed in copper plate, now green with age. A relief carving of a mournful angel graces the doors.

There is something to find here, but only if the party actively looks for it. Since I know that it's there it, does not seem fair to decide they do search for it, so I will roll a luck check.

🎲Luck, 1d20 (1-10: bad luck, 11-20: Good luck): 2 => bad luck
🎲Determine first character to trigger trap, 1d4 (1: Drusa, 2: Haunui, 3: Harbek, 4: Quillathe): 4 => Quillathe

Her time in the temple has made Quillathe susceptible for religious imagery and she quickly steps forward to examine the carving on the door. But halfway down the hallway a loud snapping sound rings through the space and the floor under her feet breaks away.

🎲Dexterity Save +2 (DC 15): 3 (failure)
🎲Damage, 2d6 bludgeoning: 10

Quillathe falls forward and, hitting her head on the wall of the pit crashes down 20 feet before smashing into the stone floor below, groaning in pain. 
The other party members need to skirt around the pit to help Quillathe climb out of it from the other side. 

🎲Dexterity Check Harbek -1 (DC 10): 1 (failure)
            =>🎲Dexterity Saving Throw -1 (DC 15): 13 (failure)
                        =>🎲damage, 2d6: 5
🎲Dexterity Check Drusa -1 (DC 10): 5 (failure)
            =>🎲Dexterity Saving Throw -1 (DC 15): 5 (failure)
                        =>🎲damage, 2d6: 3 
🎲Dexterity Check Haunui +3 (DC 10): 20 (success)

As Quillathe falls Harbeks hand shoots out to grab her, but he loses his footing too. Instinctually he grabs hold of something, the something being Drusa's arm. Like tumbling stones, the three people fall into the pit. It's a mess of tangled limbs and bruises when Haunui carefully, slowly lets down his rope to them to pull them out.

🎲Harbek Cure Wounds => Quillathe, 1d8+6: 11 healing received=> Full HP
100XP are divided among them for surviving the trap 

Now at this point the only way of healing they have left is a singular healing potion and a possible Channel Divinity from Harbek. Things are getting tight. Carefully, they push open the door to the next room. 

Three large stone sarcophagi stand within this dusty crypt, and propped up against each sarcophagus is a human skeleton clad in bits of rusty mail. False columns along the walls are carved in the image of spreading oak trees. The double doors in the southeast corner are sheathed in tarnished copper plate.

🎲Determine marching order, 1d20 each: Drusa (17), Haunui (15), Harbek (17), Quillathe (13)

As they are halfway through the room the three skeletons suddenly animate and draw rusted weapons to attack. 

Download full Battle Report

The shambling bone-men are easily dispatched. Drusa cuts one of them down with her axe and Harbek grabs his holy symbol and utters a prayer. Suddenly the other two skeletons turn and run away from him. One of them dashes past Quillathe and falls head-over-heels into the pit where it smashes to pieces. The last one flees through a door into a hallway on the North side of the crypt. Drusa chases him and takes a nasty stab from the creature before arrows and spells from the others that sail over her head reduce it to a pile of splintered bones. 

150XP are divided among the adventurers and Drusa, who took the most hits takes a platinum signet ring from one of the coffins.

There are two possible exits from this room, the door at the end of the Northern corridor, which is locked and the other door leading Eastwards. After having stumbled consecutively into a pit trap and a trio of animating undead the group is careful now. They push open the door carefully with the handle of Drusa's axe and from inside a male voice with a strong Northern accent calls out: "Careful! Behind the door!"
A second voice shouts back from just around the corner of said door: "Fuck you, asshole! You'll die next."

Download Full Battle Report

The sound of a dolorous bell echoes through the next room and the group pushes in, hacking away at the two Redbrand Ruffians that had been waiting with drawn swords try to ambush them. Haunui falls under their strikes, but a figure pushes up against some metal bars, that part the room and mutters a word of divine magic. Haunui's eyes open again, and he rises to his feet. Together they manage to kill off one of the thugs and as Harbek shouts out: "Surrender and you might still live!", the other Redbrand, bleeding profusely from a slash he took from Drusa's axe, drops his sword.

As the man surrenders, he is quickly bound. 
"Thank you, stranger.", mutters Haunui, tracing the quickly healing wounds and addressing the blond, pale-skinned man who is locked into a cage in the Northern part of this room. There is another cage on the opposite side and now that the fight is over a woman in her thirties shuffles out of the shadow in the back, followed by two young children. 

The people here get very quickly acquainted while a few things happen. Harbek drags the bound and disarmed thug into the crypt to interrogate him. The frightened prisoner tells Harbek all he knows, mainly that their leader is a wizard called Glasstaff and that recently the Redbrands have enjoyed the patronage of someone called 'The Black Spider', who has sent bugbears as extra muscle. The Redbrands have been intimidating the local populous and driven off adventureres under the Spider's command. 

In the meantime, Haunui tries to get the locks open with Egarts Lockpicks: 
🎲Lockpick check +3 (DC 10): 6 (fail)
🎲Second try +3 (DC 12): 12 (success)
🎲Lockpick check +3 (DC 10): 20 (success)

After some initial trouble with the lock, Haunui manages to get both cages open. The woman introduces herself as Mirna Drendar, a townswoman from Phandalin. Her husband opposed the Redbrands and was killed. She and her two children were taken captive the night after. She explains that she does not know anything of value about her captors, but Haunui suddenly walks towards her. "Mirna?", he asks and the two of them are overjoyed to recognize each other from their early childhood. Both were born in Thundertree, where Mirna's family ran a small apothecary. After the eruption of Mount Hotenow and the ash-plague that befell the town and forced the villagers to flee and scatter in all direction they never saw each other again. 
Mirna tells Haunui abuit an heirloom of hers that must still be in the apothecary, offering that up as a reward for the rescue of her and her children. The group thanks her but Haunui tells her that he plans to deliberate Thundertree one day and hopes that she will return with him to the town once he has managed to do so, to help rebuild it. A small, awkward moment long Mirna doubts his intentions, but she is struck with grief and exhaustion and begs the group to help her get out of the hideout. 

To do so, the Drendars must somehow cross the pit in the next hallway and with the experiences the party has made they do not even try to skirt past it. Using ropes and pitons they climb down into the pit and back out on the other side to get the family of commoners to safety. 

Then finally there is the man in the other cage who introduces himself as Brandr, a traveling servant of the god Tempus, who - aiming to come and help in Phandalin as much as he can - has been captured by the Redbrands. He is grateful to be free of his bonds and asks the party if he can aid them in finishing off the bandits. He is welcomed by the party but - unarmed for the moment - he has to rely on basic spells. 

For killing off the Redbrands and rescuing the Drendars the party (now back at full strength) is rewarded a total of 300XP

The tied up Redbrand knows nothing about someone named Egart (who had been using a pseudonym among the thugs), but he does remember him when Harbek gives a description of the halfling's physicality. All he knows is that he wasn't very well liked and has fled a few weeks back when it was discovered he was a traitor. He also knows that keys to the locked door (that contains the Armory) are held only by Glasstaff and the leader of the bugbears, who is called Mosk. 
When asked if there is another way to get to the boss's quarters than by crossing through the ravine, the redbrand tells the party about the secret door across from the armory. 

 Haunui will try to pick the lock on the Armory, since Brandr's gear is in there.

🎲Lockpick check +3 (DC 10): 23 (success)

The door opens and the party does not find much of use, except for Brandr's gear that he quickly dons and searches. His money has been taken but he finds his coin-purse in the possession of his jailors. 

Now at this point the party really needs a moment to think. The two fighters are both rather hurt and only Brandr has a possibilty to heal them still, except for the Healing Potion that Quillathe holds and that they want to save for emergencies. But, using the secret doors to get back to Glasstaff's Quarters the party can at least avoid the Nothic for now. 

The party tosses the tied up Redbrand into the slave pens and leaves him there for the time being. 

🎲Dexterity Check Haunui, +3 adv (help): 19 
🎲Dexterity Check Redbrand Ruffian, +2 dis (restrained)(DC 19): 16 => failure to get out of ropes

Passing through a storeroom at the Northern end of the Crevasse Haunui sees a stack of beaver pelts that are probably worth a bit, but he does not bother to take the bulky goods with him. Through the secret hallway they found when pursuing Glasstaff earlier they head into the Wizards private chambers. A chest at the foot of his bed is open, part of its contents taken by the fleeing bandit-leader. His treasure however is still untouched. 
The party divides 130 gold and 180 silver amongst themselves as well as five carnelians (that go to Brandr, "Red seems to be your color", jokes Harbek), two peridots (going to Haunui) and a pearl (that Quillathe takes since it will enable her to cast Identify, when she learns it). On the table they find a letter that is of great interest to them.

Lord Albrek,
My spies in Neverwinter tell me that strangers are due to arrive in Phandalin. They could be working for the dwarves. Capture them if you can, kill them if you must, but don’t allow them to upset our plans. See that any dwarven maps in their possession are delivered to me with haste. I’m counting on you, Iarno. Don’t disappoint me.

This information suddenly links Sildar to the story. Didn't the old knight tell them about his compatriot Iarno Albrek, another member of the Lord's Alliance? Could it be that this Albrek and Glasstaff are the same person?

Thinking this through, taking turns to keep an eye out for any ruffians that might come this way (none are coming, because the ones that are still alive will not disturb their master and are differently occupied), the party takes a short rest in Glasstaff's quarters. 

🎲Hit Die Harbek, 1d8+2: 5 HP healed => full HP, no hit die remaining
🎲Hit Die Drusa, 1d10+2: 7 HP healed => 15/16 HP, 1 Hit Die remaining
🎲Hit Die Haunui, 1d10+2: 11 HP healed => 18/19 HP, 1 Hit Die remaining

None of the characters have any alchemical knowledge to determine if anything in Glasstaff's laboratory is of any value, but Harbek would find a book in Dwarvish, the journal of an adventurer named Urmon, talking about the "Mine of the Phandelver Pact" and the "Forge of Spells", a bound source of magical power inside the mysterious Wave-Echo Cave, channelled into a great forge that could be used to make magical weapons. It was attacked by a force of orcs and evil wizards and the tremors stemming from the battle collapsed many entrances and the location of the mine was lost. From the journal's dating Harbek deduces that all of this happened several hundred years ago. 

This information is interesting to Harbek, who now understands better what his cousin Gundren was looking for. He takes the book with him. Reading about the mine and remembering how happy Gundren was when he came to see him in Neverwinter makes Harbeks blood boil. He reads over the letter that is only signed with a drawing of a spider again and then draws his warhammer. 
"I don't know about you, but I want to finish off these bastards. Let's chop off some more spider-legs."

And as the rest of the party scrambles to follow up he crosses the hall and kicks in the door to the next room, where a group of four roudy, but rather drunk Redbrands look up from their game of dice. 

Download full Battle Report (including all rolls and maps)

Harbek steps up to the first of the ruffians and clocks him in the head. Quickly running to their friend's help the other adventurers rush in. The Redbrands stink of booze and sway on their feet after a night of heavy drinking and gambling. Their strikes are uncoordinated and one of them turns and runs to the South end of the room where he opens a door to a hallway that he storms into, shouting for help. Only a few moments later three muscular bugbears push their way through the room and join in the fray. The narrow intersection where the fighting happens hinders both defenders and attackers so that one of the bugbears and the Redbrand who went for help take the path through the main cave and attack from the side. Drusa and Haunui, who cannot get into an opportune position to attack rush through the wizard's quarters and the secret passageway. However, when they try to cross the crevasse the spiked creature blocks their way. Muttering vile thoughts into Drusa's brain it demands gifts but does not take the ring she offers up. It asks for magic and, hearing the sound of fighting from the hallway Drusa and Haunui attack. The rotting gaze of the creature injures Drusa badly but in the end, it has to flee. 
Meanwhile Quillathe has put a spell on one of the bugbears that can do nothing but laugh loudly, laying on his back while the constant clanging of a giant, invisible bell, echoes everywhere. Brandr, the new member of the group does not bear any arms, but his spells come at a rapid pace and when the first bugbear falls, he walks to the laughing one and places his hands on him. The creatures flesh crackles and dries out as a terrible, necrotic wound spreads from where Brandr touched him. The bugbear scrambles to his feet, swings his weapon against Brandr but turns to flee when the cleric won't budge. The bell rings again and the hairy monster falls dead, blood pooling from every orifice.

Harbek and one of the Redbrand have been trading blows for some time while Quillathe has backed him up with rays of freezing cold energy shot at his opponents while, on the other side, a bugbear had been clumsily throwing javelins at his head. With a final blow he smashes the thug's head while the bugbear flees. After a brief encounter with Drusa, it is quickly killed off as the female fighter runs after the fleeing Nothic. Dropping her axe Drusa draws a javelin and ends the wretched creature's with her throw. Quiet sets in in the tunnels, the hideout cleansed. 

The adventurers take some time to search the new rooms and take what treasure they can find. The most extraordinary thing they find is a magnificent sword that the Nothic had kept in his filthy lair.
🎲History Check Quillathe +3 (DC 15): 10 (failure)

Drusa does not want to part with her Axe so Harbek takes the sword that has a beautiful, silver scabbart and the name 'Talon' enscribed just below the bird-of-prey-shaped hilt.

The total loot the party finds is as follows:

- 75 copper, 248 silver, 22 electrum and 135 gold (divided among the adventurers)
- 2 potions of healing, going to Drusa and Haunui
- a spell scroll of augury, going to Brandr
- 5 malachites, a jeweled eyepatch and a gold earring with a tiny ruby, that go to Drusa to sell
(the party has talked about this and Drusa will try and sell off all the jewels that they don't need for spell components)

After this fight each of the partymembers is granted a total of 290XP which means that everyone except Brandr will level up. 

The party also finds and unconscious goblin in one of the rooms. They tie him up and bring both him and the bound Redbrand outside. Hurt and mourning but satisfied with their feats the party descends the hill into Phandalin.

Solo LMoP - 08. New Character (Using XGtE's This is Your Life Tables)

 Last session ended with the death of Egart, our Halfling Rogue. Having been pregenerated for the game by the Starter-Edition he had an interesting connection with the Redbrands that made him exceptionally interesting to play during this chapter. His main motivation for the entire campaign was to have his revenge on Glasstaff. With prior knowledge of the hideout and the Nothic he made it easy for the group to head directly to the leader of the Redbrands and - having a character trait stating that he likes to improvise instead of making a plan - that seemed to be the way to go. Now of course Glasstaff, warned by his rat familiar, left the hideout injured, but not hurt in any major way. I did not even see the need for him to drink a potion of invisibility as the book suggests, since he never dropped below 50% health. With his spells and items he was well equipped for an offensive strategy against a singular opponent or a defensive strategy in case he was swarmed. But, lacking the speed to stay ahead of Egart during the chase, it seemed logical for him to use his Magic Missiles, knowing that they would not miss. 

This actually was the first time I ever ran a chase sequence as stated by the book and I really enjoyed the experience. I will definitely use that in my games again. 

Now, I did like the dynamic of a five-person party and it makes sense for me to roll up a new character. To do that I will use as much randomizing as I can, using the tables provided in Xanathar's Guide to Everything, chapter 1: This is your life and Appendix B: Character Names

Creating a new Character for Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Solo-Run)

🎲Race, 1d100: 39 => Human
🎲Subrace, 1d4 (1-2: Regular Human, 3-4: Variant Human): 3 => Variant Human

🎲Class, 1d100: 22 => Cleric

🎲Name Origin, 1d20 (reroll 18 or higher): 13 =>Norse
🎲Name gender, 1d6 (even=male, odd=female): 4 => male
🎲Name, 1d100: 19 => “Brandr”

🎲Occupation, 1d100: 96 => Soldier

Here we have Brandr, a Human Cleric with the Soldier background.
To determine how his Childhood was, we need his Charisma-modifier, so we need to roll for Stats: 🎲 6 x 4d6 (remove lowest die on each roll) => 9, 10, 17, 12, 10, 9

🎲Parents, 1d100: 46 => Brandr knows who his parents are or were
🎲Birthplace, 1d100: 88 => Among People of a different race
            🎲Race of those people, 1d100, reroll 40 or lower: 70 => Halfling

🎲Siblings, 1d10: 6 =>  🎲1d4+1 => 3 Silblings
            🎲Birth Order, 1x2d6: 4 (older Silbling)
                        🎲Name Gender, 1d6 (even=male, odd=female): 5 => female
                                 🎲Name, 1d100: 18 => Birghild
          🎲Birth Order, 1x2d6: 5 (older Sibling)
                        🎲Name Gender, 1d6 (even=male, odd=female): 6 => male
                                 🎲Name, 1d100: 92 => Sven
            🎲Birth Order, 1x2d6: 8 (younger Sibling)
                        🎲Name Gender, 1d6 (even=male, odd=female): 1 => female
                                 🎲Name, 1d100: 50 => Iona

🎲Family, 1d100: 94 => Mother and Father
🎲Family Lifestyle, 3d6: 14 => Comfortable (+10 to next roll)
🎲Childhood Home, 1d100+10: 27 => No permanent residence; they moved around a lot

🎲Childhood Memories, 3d6+0 (Charisma Modifier): 10 => Brandr had a few close friends and lived an ordinary childhood

Brandr a man with average abilities and high wisdom, coming from a normal family, the third of four children, living a comfortable life while moving around a lot.

Personal Decisions

🎲I became a soldier because (1d6): 6 => Invaders attacked my homeland. It was my duty to take up arms in defense of my people.

🎲I became a cleric because (1d6): 6 =>I realize that my god works through me, and I do as commanded, even though I don’t know why I was chosen to serve.

So when war came, Brandr was drafted to take up arms, and apparently was also commanded by someone in his priesthood. This does sound like a god of duty or war. With his high Wisdom Brandr feels that what he does is right, even though he does not know why.

Coming from a traveling family, this might either mean that his family is in service to a temple all along, traveling about to help where they can or that he had to leave his family to return home to fight against invaders. A lot of this will depend on Brandr’s age and memories, which we’ll roll for now.

Life Events

🎲Age, 1d100: 5 => 20 years or younger (1 Life Event)

🎲Life Event, 1d100: 36 =>Brandr made an enemy of an adventurer.
            🎲Blame, 1d6: 5 (odd) => Brandr is to blame for the rift.
            🎲Adventurer Race, 1d100: 51 => Elf
            🎲Adventurer Class, 1d100: 86 =>Sorcerer
            🎲Name Gender, 1d6 (even=male, odd=female): 3 => female
            🎲Name, 1d100: 12 => Antinua
            🎲Adventurer Alignment, 3d6: 9 =>Neutral
            🎲Adventurer Status, 3d6: 13 => Alive and quite succesful

Assembling a backstory

Now, from all this information we know a few things about Brandr’s life. He is still very young (I tend to use the roll on the d10 when making the roll for age as the exact count of years above the decimal. So that would make Brandr 15 years of age, very young. He has two older siblings and a younger sister, plus his parents who are both still alive but also there has been an invasion in his past and an enemy of an elf Sorcerer. We have an interesting duality of a good live and bad things happening. That he became a cleric because his powers made him realize his god works through him even though he does not understand his calling is logical for someone his age and experience, though a very wise young man like that would perhaps just follow his feelings instead of question a calling. 

When I compare the reason for becoming a cleric (realization and obedience to a divine being) with the reason for becoming a soldier (duty), there is an interesting contrast that I want to use.

A theme in Brandr’s life however seems to be his strife for following up on orders and fulfilling the expectations of others (his country, his god…) so being guilty of a rift with a neutral sorcerer might be because of that dutiful attitude. This make me think that Brandr is/was a good character, either Lawful or Neutral Good, but with strong opinions on duty and honor. Perhaps the rift is because Brandr made a conscious choice to do something that is perhaps not for the best, but it is what is right - possibly even ignoring his own conscience and intuition telling him so. That idea pushes his alignment into the Lawful Good spectrum, at least for the moment when he made that enemy. 

His family however was a family of travelers, though comfortable. That makes me think they are successful merchants, traveling with large caravans that were well-secured, perhaps trading in something that is coveted in many places. His name makes me think he comes from a Northern country, somewhere that is cold. And that idea makes things click into place in my head. Because cold is hard on everyone, not only the good guys. And as I imagine a snowy landscape with mountains, fjords and deep, dark pine forests covered in white powder and glistening ice Brandr's story comes together: 

Brandr was born as the son of wealthy traders from the Ten Towns in Icewind Dale. His
parents were owners of the Tuskhunters Guild, a gathering of rangers, trackers and trappers specializing in the hunt on Mammoths. The meat they brought in fed hundreds of mouths but the most precious part of the beast were the enormous tusks of ivory. This precious material, cut into pieces of art or sold by the ounce was picked up once a year by Brandr and his family. They spend the rest of the year traveling the lengths and breadth of the Swordcoast, selling these goods and making a fortune with it that could not only ensure their livelihood but also the life of many of the villagers back home. When on the road Brandr usually spend a lot of time in conversation with the people they met or listening to the conversations his parents were having. He had a good intuition about other people work and therefore his father liked to have him around when negotiating. More than once it was Brandr who threw his father worried looks that made the merchant back out of a business deal with an untrustworthy individual.
Back home Brandr spend a lot of time near the small shrine of Tempus, listening to the stories of the hardened warriors that had lived through the bitter cold of the arctic tundra and fought bitter wars against Frost Giants or undead Draugr rising up from the eternal ice of their graves.

It was during an extremely harsh winter that Brandr and his family returned to the Ten Towns and found that the village of Good Mead was taken over by a tribe of goblins lead by some human sorcerer. The inhabitants of Good Mead had fled to other settlements but were planning to assemble a militia to retake their home. Brandr begged to join, feeling the strong urge to come along that he did not entirely understand. He felt a strong urge to fight in this battle and his father allowed him to be a part of the militia. Together they attacked the invaders and quickly cut their way through their numbers. Brandr, wielding a long spear felt the rush of the battle wash over him even though something felt off, as if he was missing the point of the calling that led him here. Most Goblins fled from him, others only offered feeble resistance but his father and the other experienced warriors shouted for blood and Brandr followed their commands, killing many of the small creatures.

The battle was won in less than an hour and the last of the invaders had holed themselves up in the old shrine. The fighters did not want to beat down the door, fearful of angering the foehammer. Brandr did know of a low window that granted entrance to the basement of the cellar beneath the shrine. He, being the youngest of the militia was the only one old enough to enter through the window. He snuck through the basement into the main prayer room, prepared to fight his way to the door but what he found was a handful of half-starved, frostbitten goblins shivering in fear and woman in fur-lined robes bitterly insulting him and the ‘murderers’ he brought. This woman, an elf from the snow-covered winter woods had found this tribe of goblins that were being decimated by the bitter cold and had marched them straight into this town, expecting to negotiate a price for shelter and food. But instead the townsfolk had fled from them and now returned to bring more death. A fire of righteous fury burned in her eyes and Brandr understood how badly he had chosen when he went against his feelings and killed just because he was ordered to do so. It had seemed the right thing to do, even if his emotions had told him differently. Guilt-ridden he opened the front doors and convinced the mob not to hurt anyone else. He managed to negotiate a temporary truce but when negotiations between the deeply hurt elf woman – who introduced herself as Antinua – and the villagers went sour he once again took his fathers side and voted for the sorceress and her goblins to leave the town. He would never forget the look of hatred and disappointment in her eyes as they led the shambling group of survivors into the wilderness.

The next day Brandr stole provisions and warm furs and followed them but he only found the goblins. They had died in the snow, not far from the town. Some of them had frozen but others had been killed by a blade to the heart. They seem to have gone without resistance, accepting this quick death instead of starvations and hypothermia. The elf-woman was no where to be found.

For weeks on end Brandr spent his days in the shrine, filled with self-loathing and regrets,
praying to the statue of Tempus for an answer. One night he had fallen asleep, half-kneeling at the foot of the foehammer’s effigy when a voice called to him in his dream: “Go, pick up your spear and find another fight. A worthy fight, a fight that means something. Go, take your arms and shield yourself with wisdom and insight, and find worthy foes to battle in a way that brings honor to you. Restore yourself with deeds of righteousness and bravery, fight for a worthy cause. Protect those that cannot defend themselves. Your way is clear.”
When he woke up he found that his spear had fallen and was pointing at the door of the shrine. And when he picked it up and walked through the door he found the first sun of spring shining into his eyes. He said his goodbyes to the village when his family left for the South but only accompanied them for a while. They traveled around the Spine of the World to Luskan and Neverwinter. Here he heard about the small town of Phandalin, where civilization was starting anew in the ruins of an old settlement, surrounded by wilderness and dangers.
When his family travelled South towards Waterdeep he said his goodbyes and headed East on the Triboar Trail, heading for this town where he hopefully would be able to restore his honor. A symbol of Tempus that he had taken from the temple around his neck he hoped to find what the voice in his dreams had told him to seek.

This backstory makes him an interesting character to add to the party, and with Tempus as his God he will be a War-domain cleric. And this is how a character is born.

I really like working with these random tables, because it forces me to think creatively. Life is strange in many ways and having to combine these different, sometimes almost contradictive pieces of information into a logical story that leads to the adventure is a challenge that gives me great joy. 

Now all that's left to do for now is to fill out the rest of the character sheet. 

Racial Feats
A variant human offers us two +1 boni to put into any attribute we see fit. I went for Dexterity and Wisdom. Since he was born among halflings - I immagine him having a halfling Godmother, perhaps Qeline Alderleaf - I'll choose halfling as his second language.  Now there is only the feat to choose. I doubted a bit about using the Shield Master feat, since I like the idea of a shield imbued with divine blessing but in the end Tempus is a more offensive god and given the fact that Brandr has a very high Wisdom an no physical capabilities that would enable him to hit his opponents with weapons very well I went with War Caster in the end, which utilizes his higher spellcasting ability better instead of weapon attacks. 

Background
Besides proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation I get to choose a game proficiency and of course I choose the playing cards to fit in with the party. He has a badge made of a bit of wood with dried snowberries that is a memorial for all former militia members and a necklace with wolf-teeth that he took as a reminder from one of the dead goblins and that he wears around his wrist. 
I choose his traits as logically as possible: 
Personality Trait: I’m haunted by memories of war. I can’t get the images of violence out of my mind.
Ideal: Independence. When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. 
Bond: I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Flaw: I made a terrible mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to
keep that mistake secret.

Class
First order of business with a Cleric is to choose the divine domain. As said, Brandr will be a War Domain Cleric, following Tempus, the God of war. Adding to the Background Proficiencies I take the Insight and Medicine Proficiency for him. I take a spear instead of a light crossbow since he will rely on spells anyway and the spear is in his background.

For cantrips we need good offensive cantrips so we'll go for both Toll the Dead and Word of Radiance, since Brandr is a front line cleric. (which is so far also true for Harbek and hasn't turned out very well for the dwarf)

🎲HP for Lvl 2, 1d8+1 (reroll 1): 9 => Total of 18 HP

As an addition to that we'll take the Light Cantrip, since Brandr does not seem self-secure enough to go for Guidance (which on a mechanical level would have had my preference). 

The war domain gives us access to the following spells at lvl 1: Divine Favor and Shield of Faith and while that second one will come in handy, Divine Favor works on weapon attacks and Brandr will not often make those. So I replace Divine Favor with Heroism.

Looking at the features we get, only War Priest seems more or less worthless, since Brandr will not be making many Weapon attacks. I am therefore tempted to allow him to use that feat on Cantrips as well (but the damage of a second cantrip will always be the damage it would do at lvl 1).

And there we have it, Brandr is finished and ready for adventure. On the next blog I'll explore options for him to enter the story. 

Download full Level 2 Character Sheet