Session A01 – The Road to Phandalin

Summary

The campaign began on the Triboar Trail east of Saltmarsh, where three travelers converged by accident.

Roland was escorting a wagon of mining equipment for dwarf Gundren Rockseeker to the new settlement near Phandalin ruins — a mission from Vajra Safahr, Blackstaff of Waterdeep. Gundren had gone ahead on horseback days earlier to meet his brothers at the mines.

Jonah (a pale, star-eyed elf) was traveling from Saltmarsh toward Phandalin to find a Temple of Selune. He had been directed by Eda Owleland at the Seafoam/Rist Hall to follow the trail east. Roland noticed him and recalled a prophecy: "The Path to your Birthright Lies with the Pale outsider from among the Stars."

Kavu was standing beside his destroyed tiny wagon — destroyed when a runaway cart collided with it. He introduced himself to Roland and Jonah in his characteristically bold fashion, joining their group immediately ("you need many sticks to start a fire").

Key Events

Goblin Ambush on the Trail

The party encountered an overturned wagon on the Triboar Trail with a young girl — Pip Stonehill — pinned underneath. Goblins were swarming the wreck.

Roland, Kavu, and Jonah engaged the goblins directly while working to free Pip. Kelvin hung back in the treeline, watching. He moved toward Pip — then reconsidered, transformed into a wolf, and melted back into the woods. Pip's reaction was immediate and furious: "He left me… HE LEFT ME. NO WOLFMAN." In truth, Kelvin had judged Pip safe under the wagon and circled back to the fight, helping finish off the remaining goblins.

Groznak Interrogation

The party captured a goblin named Groznak and interrogated him:

• Goblins had been attacking travelers on the trail
• Their lair was a large cave 5 miles north of the road — Cragmaw Hideout, run by a bugbear named Klarg
• 27 traps lined the trail to the lair
• Groznak carried a ring bearing the symbol of the Lord's Alliance

The Goblin Cave — Cragmaw Hideout

The party chose to push on to the goblin cave. Pip wanted to come. They almost let her. They did not — she would have died.

The Chained Wolves: Inside, the party discovered a side burrow containing wolves bound in chains. Kelvin attempted to melt the chains — and burned the wolves badly in the process. Only the pack leader survived: a wolf named Arctis. He was freed, but before departing he turned back and cursed Kelvin.

The Winter Wolf Ambush: Pressing deeper into the cave, Klarg's Winter Wolf caught them in a flanking ambush — a near-TPK. A cave trap was triggered mid-fight. The party was flushed out of the cave entirely.

Arrival in Phandalin

The party arrived at the new settlement near the Phandalin ruins. Key contacts made:

• Elmar Barthen (general shopkeeper, Barthen's Provisions) — Gundren is 18 hours late, fears the worst. Asked the party to return to Cragmaw Hideout and rescue Sildar Hallwinter, who was important to the town. The party informed him they were going back anyway and would help.
• Stonehill Inn run by Toblin and Trilena Stonehill; Pip Stonehill their daughter runs gossip intel
• Sister Garaele — cleric of Tymora and Harper agent in town. Chided Kavu about her Harper connections — as the town's only healer, she collects gossip for the Harpers from everyone who comes through
• Lionshield Coster managed by Linene Graywind (aka Granny Graywind)

Town Gossip (from Pip)

• Old Farmer Narth: Sister Garaele left and came back wounded
• Thel Dendrar stood up to the Red Brands ten days ago — they murdered him in town
• Boy from Alderleaf farm found a secret tunnel near the woods; Redbrands almost caught him
• Alger Frakk (blacksmith) has been missing 14 days — Redbrands scared him off

NPCs Introduced

Threads Opened

• Where is Gundren Rockseeker? (Taken by the Black Spider)
• Who are the Redbrands? Who leads them?
• What is in the Alderleaf farm tunnel?
• What is the significance of Jonah's connection to Roland's prophecy?
• Arctis cursed Kelvin — what does that mean?
• Pip's fury at "Wolfman" — the beginning of a long grudge
• Sildar Hallwinter still captive at Cragmaw Hideout — party returning in A02