Hell Bend (Session 1)

(10.04.15)

Smokefall Ridge
October 16, 1875

Smokefall Ridge is beset by fear and paranoia, leading many settlers to vacate the premises.  More than half the current population has departed, and arrangements for supplies and commodities may be in danger.  The player group meets with the remaining townsfolk and a town meeting at the Lord's Chapel is arranged.

Many of the long-time residents of Smokefall see the characters as "veterans" even though they've technically only been there a few months.  At the town meeting, the uneasy subjects of current events are talked about as little as possible, though solutions are discussed.  Mrs. Maxwell prods this issue, asking about local supernatural phenomena.  In the end, Ignacio is elected sheriff - but the jailhouse has been burned down.

The group meets later, and Don Juan begins to outline his plans for the development of the town.  Doc and Ignacio talk with Mrs. Maxwell at length about Smokefall Ridge and it's problems.  As the dusk rolls in, the characters depart to their homes to think about their place in the universe and why it's so weird in the west.

Heroes of the Sword Coast Campaign Log

We begin our 5th Edition journeys with Reverend Greg at the helm of the new series of adventures, The Rise of Tiamat.  The Basic box set has a ton of cool adventures in it, and the DM decided this is where we should begin.  Straight from the box set and the new editions of books (as they are released) comes the Reverend's tale of terror and tyranny...of dragons.

The City of Neverwinter, 1489 D.R.

In these desperate times, struggles to retain normalcy after so many disasters threatened to destroy it.  To this city come our brave adventurers, determined to take on the world and forge their place in it.  They come from many backgrounds, but all share one thing in common - reverence for the Platinum Dragon.

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Heroes of the Sword Coast is a campaign for Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition.  The campaign will utilize the new Basic Set, as well as the Player's Handbook and other basic rulebooks.  This season  kicks off the new edition with a bang, and heading forward we'll be tackling the first adventures to be published for the new edition.

Heroes of the Sword Coast will dovetail with the club's other Season 1 campaign, Tyranny of Dragons.  As players achieve the goals of the battle games, they will be granted boons - various bonuses and boosts that will apply to their Heroes player characters.  In this way, our games become "nested" - a trend that will be continuing throughout the coming campaign seasons.

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Current Player Characters
Total Party Levels: 20

• Axelbjart McElfatrick, Lawful Good Human Paladin 4
• Raine Copperleaf, Chaotic Good Pixie Monk 2 / Warlock 2
• O'thun'udun (Dennis), Good Tiefling Fighter 2 / Sorcerer 2
• Axelkirk McElfatrick, Lawful Good Skeleton Cleric 4
• Tod, Good Kobold Cleric 4

Deceased Player Characters

• Mehmet / Betsy, Lawful Good Dragonborn Monk 4
• Grimely Goronorok, Chaotic Good Half-Orc Fighter 4
• Zinge, Lawful Good Half-Orc Dragon Blood Sorcerer 4
• Boris, Neutral Good Human Druid 4
• Gnash Crump, Lawful Good Gnoll Fighter 2 / Cleric 2

Disbanded Player Characters

• Lydia, Neutral Good Halfling Rogue 2 / Bard 2

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Campaign Log
Total Game Time: 55.5 hrs

The Lost Mines of Phandelver
(Season 1:  01.04.15 to 03.29.15)
Total Session Time: 32 hrs

Our characters need hops to brew beer, so head to Neverwinter to sell some Blue Dragon Ale.  What this simple, mundane trip leads to is an adventure they weren't really looking for, but managed to find anyway.  Seizing the opportunity to both aid others and secure the money they need to get some really good hops, the characters venture out.  Where they go, the light of the Dragonfather shines on the oppressed...

• Session 1 (01.04.15)
• Session 2 (01.11.15)
• Session 3 (01.18.15)
• Session 4 (01.25.15)
• Session 5 (02.08.15)
• Session 6 (02.22.15)
• Session 7 (03.08.15)
• Sessions 8 & 9 (03.15.15 & 03.22.15)

The Lost Mines of Phandelver
(Season 3:  07.12.15 to 08.02.15)
Total Session Time: 9.5 hrs

Our characters need hops to brew beer, so head to Neverwinter to sell some Blue Dragon Ale.  What this simple, mundane trip leads to is an adventure they weren't really looking for, but managed to find anyway.  Seizing the opportunity to both aid others and secure the money they need to get some really good hops, the characters venture out.  Where they go, the light of the Dragonfather shines on the oppressed...

• Sessions 10, 11 & 12 (07.12.15, 07.19.15 & 08.02.15)

Following a failed set of negotiations with the inhabitants of the Lost Mines, most of the adventurers were never heard from again.

Beneath the Lost Mines of Phandelver
(Season 3:  08.30.15 to 09.27.15)
Total Session Time: 14 hrs

This time, a paladin, a skeleton and a gnoll encounter a cluckromancer and a pixie warlock under the sacred Tree of Cocks.  The decide to incorporate and create a traveling religious experience, leaving converts to the Truth of Torm all over the Sword Coast.

• Session 13, 14 and 15 (08.30.15, 09.06.15& 09.13.15)
• Session 16 (09.27.15)

After a series of failed officiations, all the monsters in the mines are killed and their stuff is taken.  For Goodness.

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Campaign Resolution

As the players leave the mines of Phandelver and reach the surface, they are greeted to the sight of a blood moon on the horizon.  Though they must bury their companion Gnash, they are a lot richer - and have great plans for the future.  We'll return next year to find out what kind of hilarity derails thier plans, but for now Phandelver is safe.  That's important because our PC's have a 5% stake in the mine there.

Return to Smokefall Ridge!

Only a few days have passed for our intrepid settlers since the conclusion of The Rough Edge of Night.  In those few days, the entire tone of the area seems to have shifted.  Folks are leaving the Territory...perhaps for no reason but Fear itself.

It has been four years since we played that chronicle, and it's been a "fan-favorite" ever since.  I have been determined that the sequel not let anyone down, and I hope this new set of stories delights and gives the frights to everyone who is going to play.  Sequels are always a challenge, but the Territory is ripe with all sorts of great seeds for chilling tales.

Going forward, the games will focus on a Twilight Zone-like mood and set of themes.  Investigation and innovation, not combat and exploration, will be the focus of the sessions.  While this is somewhat of a different gear than our normal Dungeons & Dragons games (murder-hobos) I hope it will be a welcome change.  The difficulty level of the mysteries have been adjusted as well, as I have somewhat of a reputation for plots too convoluted for tabletop gaming.

I should write a book.

As well as the World of Darkness game this season, we'll be adding in some skirmish action in the form of Dead Man's Hand.  This will expand the tales of the territory during the season, and we're going full on wild west!  In fact, the next TWO seasons will be spent in the Territory...plenty of time for awesome six-gun skirmish action.

So saddle up, vaqueros!  It's time to save the settlements from the dark legacies of the Territory.  Just remember - the days are short in Smokefall Ridge, and the nights seem to drag on forever.