Oh, 2020.
What a year, no? Between hoarding toilet paper, honing the sourdough bread recipe, and adjusting to the mask-wearing life, this year has just been…something else.
It seems appropriate, then, to pick up an old hobby. Brent and I have not played Dungeons & Dragons for nearly five years, but now certainly seemed like the right time to restart.
And it seemed like a good time to take the leap into 5th edition. Because, 2020. Why else?
New friends, a new group, a new adventure. Follow along here as I, your trusty scribe, pen the quick-moving and quick-witted adventures of THE QUARANTINE QUESTERS! (Insert less lame name later! :-))
For posterity’s sake, let’s introduce the party!
- DM: Brent
- Draeya: Half-Elf Ranger CG (Heather)
- Brenna Badger: Forest Gnome Druid NG (Maddy)
- Dallian Lorgo aka “Dealio”: Rock Gnome Rogue CN (Kurt)
- Eldewyn: High Elf Fighter CN (Anderson)
- Kit Kat: Half-Elf Bard NG (Jenny)
And away we go!
***Scribe’s note: Accuracy in the recounting of events here is of utmost importance. We have no interest in fake news, only truthful reporting. But, mistakes and errors happens. It’s human nature. We offer no apologies.***
The DM, testing new campaign software and protocols, asks each character for a backstory that would explain why each of them are in town. Phandalin is a small village of roughly 150 people, nestled in the snowcapped Sword Mountains. Crumbling ruins surround the town, suggesting the grandeur of days gone by; however, Phandalin thrives with honest, hard-working folk who wield plowshares just as easily as they wield their axes and forgehammers. Each party member responds to the DM request as follows:
- Draeya says she has been roaming the wilds around Phandalin for nearly four weeks and is in the town to replenish her rations and other provisions.
- Dallian is here to sell his wares and look for opportunities to procure magical items.
- Kit Kat has actually been in Phandalin for a few days, proclaiming the village to be welcoming and full of smiling faces.
- Eldewyn declares he is passing through as he undertakes a longer journey. Further questions here lead to an interesting fact: Eldewyn, a high seas pirate, is on a quest to search for the villains who sunk his ship.
- Brenna has been sent by her family tribe on a mission to locate a historical artifact.
The DM then asks where everyone would like to go here in town. The rock gnome first plans to stop at Barthen’s Provisions, while the ranger is hankering for a bite to eat. The others follow Draeya to Stonehill Inn for similar reasons as well.
The scribe’s notes indicate at this point that trouble may be brewing on the horizon as Dallian makes a disparaging remark about the forest gnome. When someone (unclear who) asks the relevant question, “Aren’t you both gnomes?”, Dallian informs the party that “forest gnomes aren’t very bright.” It is difficult to gauge Brenna’s reaction, although she responds to Dallion’s slight with a cheerfully indignant, “You are rude.”
Before the fisticuffs break out between the little people, however, Dallian departs for Barthen’s. At Stonehill Inn, the four other adventurers are met by a short, stocky man who jovially introduces himself as Toblin Stonehill. Draeya asks for “a seat, a cheese plate, a bowl of stew, and a tankard of ale.” The others enter shortly, and in an embarrassing incident of “I just said it wrong”, the DM means to ask Kit Kat if she is carrying an instrument or wearing a colorful, bard-y outfit…but instead it comes out as, “Are you wearing clothes?”
After the laughter dies down, Kit Kit explains that she has a lyre and is willing to play music for the crowd. Toblin is ecstatic and seats Kit Kat at the beer-hall type table, next to Draeya. Eldewyn enters, in search of sustenance, and Toblin, obviously not caring about his Yelp reviews, makes an odd remark about the slightness of the high elf. Eldewyn either does not hear the comment or does not deign to reply, but he too is seated at the communal table.
***Scribe note: Have typed ‘Toblin’ enough times here now, it’s beginning to look like the word ‘goblin’.
Brenna the forest gnome asks for a “bowl of blueberries and a glass of apple juice.” Brenna is a very chipper, friendly gnome and spends a great deal of effort in memorizing and pronouncing the names of the people Toblin has just sat her with. There is then discussion about the music Kit Kat will play. Eldewyn says he prefer sea shanties, which prompts Brenna to begin with a rousing chorus of “Oh, I love the ocean”, to which the high elf wryly responds with, “Something like that.”
Toblin soon returns to the table with a huge bowl of fruit, and Kit Kat expresses concerns about sharing the communal food, which causes the ranger to wonder if the bard has some kind of hidden Augury or Divination skills, and is able to see far into the future. The rumination is cut short as Toblin takes the moment of silence to warn the party of rumors of white dragons in the area. He claims there have some reports of death and/or injuries, but the details are sketchy. There are a few questions on the adventurers’ part, but the conversation does not go much further. The more interesting tidbit of information seems to be Eldewyn’s confession that he “hasn’t had berries in some time.”
Dallion, meanwhile, comes by his nickname “Dealio” honestly over at Barthen’s Provisions. Elmer Barthen, Prop., is utterly smitten with the cute, wing-flapping, spark-making, wind-up dragon toy Dealio has brought. Even though Barthen’s Provisions carries mostly general store-type items, Elmer B. is willing to shell out one gold piece for Dallion’s amazing trinket. The shop owner then mentions two of the other clerks, Ander & Thistle, and that they would be able to assist Dallion with…? Hm. Exactly what these two NPCs could assist with is unclear, although helping the rock gnome carry stuff is a practical answer. During the exchange, Elmer mentions the white dragon danger, and asks Dallion, “Are you here to protect us?” To which ol’ Dealio responds cavalierly, “I’m here for shiny things.”
As the transaction is wrapping up, Elmer mumbles something about healing potions, and the scribe realizes she should pay more attention when NPCs mention healing potions. The notes at present are sparse on this matter.
Dallion exits and makes his way to the center of the town, where all the excitement is happening. Kit Kat has been entertaining the patrons of The Stonewall Inn, and Toblin is beside himself with pleasure at her performance. The innkeeper then brings a new addition to the table: Dallion the rock gnome. Greetings go around the table, and it would seem the previous gnome tensions are subdued. For now. Draeya pays her tavern bill and excuses herself from the party.
Then, there is much exciting discussion about starting a band. Brenna is enthusiastically trying to recruit Eldewyn, who is obviously reluctant to give up his pirate-revenge quest for a rock n’roll life. Kit Kat offers to take Brenna under her musical wing, and the forest gnome is happily satisfied.
The party of four eventually departs the Stonewall, and at Dallion’s suggestion, head down the street to visit the job board. There are three “jobs” available, and it is the “Gnomengarde” quest that Dallion is immediately drawn to. Because, obviously, it has to do with shiny things!
This conversation immediately ensues:
- Dallion: You all seem like fine folk. Any interest in going on a quest to Gnomengarde?
- Brenna: Are we gonna fight anything?
- Dallion: I hope not.
Famous last words.
The group is directed to seek out a man named Harbin Wester, whose official title is Townmaster. He lives in a house further south, and his job description is suspect because the man is somewhat of a hermit and doesn’t like to coming out in public. Doesn’t quite sound like the man for the job, really, but alas. Draeya happens to stroll by at this point and Dallion enlists her assistance on this quest. The ranger, though, has questions – hopefully Hermit Harbin will have the answers.
Kit Kit is nominated as the All-Time Door Knocker as she has the highest Charisma. Brenna tags along, reveling in her new job as “Assistant Door Knocker”. Harbin barely opens the door for them and answers their queries in brusque, near-monosyllabic responses. In regards to the dragon, there are reports of a young, white dragon roaming the coast, and the body count is right around three or four. Whether that is over the last few weeks or last few months is unclear. Harbin then proceeds to give rewards for each of the three quests (completed, mind) listed on the job board. The group, upon Draeya’s asking for clarification, learn the 50 gp is to be divided between the entire party. Also of interest is the veiled expectation in the quest description that the adventurers would not only collect valuable items in Gnomengarde (which, for some reason, the notes now indicate people have started referring to as Gnomengarden – appropriate), but also use them to defeat the white beast.
And while Draeya is no greedy mercenary, she’s keen to point out that 10 gp is a pittance for a potentially dangerous quest like the Gnomengarden one. She doesn’t care for being taken advantage of, and is probably a little gruff with the Howard Hughes-wannabe Harbin. This is precisely when soothing, friendly Kit Kat steps in to calm the waters. The DM has the bard roll a Charisma check, and while it’s not quite enough to persuade the Townmaster to emerge, he does compliment her music and now offers 75 gp to the questers.
It is a handsome sum, indeed, if all goes well and no adventurers are so much as even scratched in the effort. Draeya’s “Ranger Danger” radar is alert, though; as she expects danger nearly everywhere she goes, and thus, figures the 75 gold pieces payment is simply a jumping off point for later negotiations. But she keeps that information to herself.
And now, the quest begins!
Cheers,
Your Scribe, Heather