Session Zero/Goblin Arrows

Session 1: Goblin Ambush

The heros have started out on their journey to Phandelin. Most of them have not met each other before, with the exception of Rex and Skip, who served together on the same vessel. They are, however, all bound by their allegiance to Gundren Rockseeker, who has tasked them all separately with protecting a wagon of supplies bound for Phandelin. The party is aware of the history of Phandelin and the Mines of Phandelver that remain lost to time, and that the Rockseeker brothers are attempting to finally excavate and re-open the once prosperous mines.

The party's journey to Phandelin is initially very smooth, until the road becomes blocked by a couple of dead horses they recognize as belonging to Gundren Rockseeker and Sildar Hallwinter, the human warrior that accompanied him to Phandelin ahead of the wagon. The party was ambushed here by goblins, whom they defeated after a hard-fought battle. It is clear that Peter is still learning the ropes of being an adventurer, as he is only 17. Navmar also seems consistently surprised and unsure of his own powers.

While all of the goblins lay dead by the end, Disney was able to commune with some local birds to find out that the goblins took their prisoners - Sildar and Gundren - along a path through the woods. Skip and Peter examine some of the bodies and find that the goblins belong to the Cragmaw tribe, known to inhabit Cragmaw Castle

After a long rest to recover from the battle, the players tie up and hide the wagon and oxen off the road. During the evening, Peter tries to share some food with Navmar, who refuses it. It is also noticed that Navmar doesn't appear to sleep much (or maybe at all?) during the night. Peter borrows some supplies from Skip, because he doesn't have a bedroll.

In the morning, the party makes their way through the path in the woods, which they recognize has been well traveled by goblins. Rex leads the way and successfully avoids both a snare and pit trap. Disney safely engages the snare trap so that it is no longer active. Once through the path, the party finds itself at the entrance to a cave. Disney crosses a small stream to find a couple of goblins on watch duty, who attack her. Skip manages to scare one away and the other is dispatched without much trouble. Continuing on into the cave, the party finds three feral wolves tied up inside. Peter distracts them with an illusion and attempts to make his way past, while Disney attempts to bribe them with food. The bribery fails and the wolves only get more angry. One wolf breaks away and attacks Disney, who panics and lets out a loud scream that echos throughout the cave. In her panic, she also fires an ice dagger, which misses, shatters, and knocks her out cold. A second wolf escapes the bounds and attacks Peter, but is handled by Rex and Barbie. Finally, the third wolf, still tied up, is killed by the party.

The party now finds itself with three dead wolves and an unconscious princess. Barbie, who scouted ahead previously, saw a glimpse of a bridge with something or someone on it. They can now hear the bridge creek and groan as something walks on it saying "is someone there?".

Next time: with the element of surprise nearly lost, will the party make their way through the cave to find their captured friend and his companion?