Session Notes: The Road to Phandalin
Party Members
- Krot
- Dragonborn mercenary.
- Hired muscle fueled by anger and rage
- Vault Grumple
- Aasimar / Half-Tiefling warlock.
- Former merchant and ex–Thieves’ Guild associate attempting to turn over a new leaf.
- Edward Teach
- Ex-pirate.
- Swindler and ambush specialist.
The Job Offer
Gundran Rockseeker hired the party to escort a wagon to Phandalin, southeast of Neverwinter.
Gundran appeared enthusiastic but secretive. He claimed that he and his brothers “have found something big, something colossal.”
Terms of employment:
Deliver the wagon to Barthen’s Provisions in Phandalin.
Payment offered: 10 gold pieces per party member.
Early Departure
Gundran Rockseeker set out ahead of the wagon with Sildar Hallwinter, a human warrior of the Lords’ Alliance. He claimed he needed to arrive early to take care of business.
Gundran left behind Lina, a cleric of the Lords’ Alliance, to accompany the wagon.
The Journey
The party traveled several days south along the High Road from Neverwinter, then turned east onto the Triboar Trail.
No incidents occurred at first, though the trail is known for bandit activity.
Roadside Ambush
The party discovered two dead horses in a narrow valley. Arrows were embedded in their bodies, and the forest pressed tightly against the trail, forming a natural choke point.
Krot and Vault examined the horses while Jaxewell scouted ahead, expecting an ambush.
Goblins attacked from hiding.
After the fight, all goblins were slain except one. The party chose to pursue the survivor. They tied off the oxen, concealed the wagon beneath brush, and tracked the goblin to its hideout.
Goblin Cave
A stream flowed from an open cave mouth. Three goblins stood guard outside.
During the engagement:
- One goblin was set on fire.
- One was killed in melee.
- One was captured and bound with a chain and drown in the river.
The captured goblin revealed the following:
- Approximately 15 goblins in the camp.
- One bugbear.
- Three wolves.
- The bugbear leader is named Clarg.
The Sacking of the Goblin Camp
Once inside the party stumbled into 3 wolves, had their healer washed away in the river, and fought to the death with Goblins tooth and nail until they'd resuced Sildar Halwinter and killed Clarg and making sure no goblins lived to tell the tale!
Information Gained from Sildar
Wave Echo Cave:
Gundran and his brothers believe they found the entrance to the long-lost Wave Echo Cave.
Phandalin’s Pact:
- Humans and dwarves once agreed to share a powerful mine known as Wave Echo Cave.
- Human spellcasters and dwarves created the Forge of Spells within the mine.
- Phandalin prospered until orc attacks aided by evil mercenary wizards destroyed the caverns.
- The mine’s location was lost.
Current leads:
- Gundran carried a map to the cave, but it was confiscated.
- He was taken to Cragmaw Castle.
- Sildar believes a figure known as the Black Spider operates there.
Missing wizard:
- Iarno Albrek of the Lords’ Alliance was sent to establish security and order in Phandalin.
- He has gone missing and failed to report back.
- Sildar was traveling to Phandalin to investigate his disappearance.
Supplies and Inventory
- Wagon contents:
- Two oxen.
- 100 gold pieces.
- Mining supplies, including pickaxes.
- Two kegs of ale.
- Five lanterns.
Recovered personal supplies:
From Gundran Rockseeker:
- A map.
- 10 gold pieces.
- A waterskin
- Given to Krot.
From Sildar Hallwinter:
- 5 gold pieces.
- Two days of rations.
- A waterskin
- Given to Vault.
Loot and Equipment
Weapons recovered from goblins:
Scimitars and shortbows from fallen goblins.
- Encounter tally noted as: 6 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 2.
Goblin boss loot:
- Three gold teeth.
- Fifteen silver pieces.
Goblin grunts:
- Ten silver pieces total.
- One scimitar and one shortbow per goblin.
Total loot claimed:
- 600 copper pieces.
- 110 silver pieces.
- Five gold pieces in a red pouch.
- Two potions of healing.
- A jade statuette of a frog holding a tiny golden orb, worth approximately 40 gold pieces.
- One morningstar.
- Two wolf pelts.
Rewards and Payment
- Sildar offers 50gold pieces for safe escort back to Phandalin.
Payment breakdown:
16 gold pieces per party member.
6 silver pieces per party member.
6 copper pieces per party member.
2 copper pieces remaining.
Outstanding Objectives
Immediate:
- Retrieve the oxen and wagon.
- Escort Sildar Hallwinter safely to Phandalin.
Short-term:
- Receive full payment in Phandalin.
- Investigate the disappearance of Iarno Albrek, starting with clues in Phandalin.
- Ascertain the location of Cragmaw Castle to find Gundran Rockseeker.
- Investigate the interference of the Black Spider at the castle.
Long-term:
- Establish the party as traveling arms dealers using recovered weapons.
- Develop traveling pit fights and promotions, featuring Krot as their champion.
This feels like a strong opening that understands how a "simple job" DnD start is supposed to collapse into something bigger. The Triboar Trail ambush is set up cleanly, using the environment and aftermath to build tension before the goblins ever appear, and the cave sequence keeps that chaotic, costly energy that makes early encounters memorable. I also liked how Wave Echo Cave, the Black Spider, and Phandalin’s Pact are introduced without dumping lore, it all feels earned and immediately relevant. Do you see future chapters sticking to the session-log format, or letting some key moments breathe more as the plot tightens around Phandalin??