Cragmaw Cave, and the bants that go with it

Hello and welcome back! I had found that the first session went very well and the intrigue I left it on was clearly too much for some folk. They were gathered around the foot of a pathway leading through the forest, surely danger followed? It was by this point that people's schedules had already become an issue, you see people worked and in fact two of my players lived in Russia. But worry not dear readers, I had a plan. I told them that they disappeared in a flash. They would awake in some kind of void where a mysterious Elf was trying to fight them, they'd then blip back, just in time for the next session!

Now, the pathway. I was introducing the group to some of the usual rules, such as who wants to walk in what order. Always a good test of people's belief in their own abilities and how they'd protect the weaker players. They walked through the forest and eventually came upon a cave, outside of it was two Goblins. A fight naturally broke out, they splattered the very concept of these goblins against the cave wall. We love to see it.

They then entered Cragmaw Hideout. Now I studied this story portion and the map extensively, I knew exactly what I was gonna do and when I was gonna do it. But it was this session I found out my group had other ideas. They entered the cave network, before them lay a very long and very dark tunnel, but just ahead and to the right, light spilled round the corner of an opening in the wall. Naturally they headed towards it, where they were faced with three very angry Wolves chained to the wall. To their right was a pile of rubbish below a natural chimney. I gave the group the option to go up the chimney, threatening them with a hefty HP bash should they fail. Surely no one would bite? Surely. Nope. Dan Firebeard/Dan and Gro'Nak/John rolled successfully and made their way up the chimney. The rest of the group faced the now furious wolves. I had broken the cardinal role of being a DM. I had split my group up.

The Wolves were slain and the majority of the group had to carry on. Firebeard and Gro'Nak however, they found themselves behind some crates. They peered around and saw the room was full of crates and chests, stacked to the nines with treasure. In the centre of the room was a dim fire and beside that, a Bugbear and a Wolf. Firebeard and Gro'Nak were now trapped in a room and needed to decide what they were going to do? Fight a Bugbear or hide?

Meanwhile the rest of the group were making their way through Cragmaw. They followed the sound of running water and saw another lit passageway and decided to follow. They found themselves in a room full of Goblins. Like stacked full. Naturally, hell broke loose. I could sense Goblin fatigue but they must press on. With significant noise and a hearty struggle, they dispensed of the Goblin hoard, taking a hilarious chunk of damage. It was in this session that Tom/Tohm had learnt how to properly wield Eldritch Blast. The quarters in which the Goblins lives wasn't much to write home about, no loot worth taking. However, there was someone chained to the wall. Sildar Hallwinter, a prominent figure in Phandalin. They freed Sildar and carried him along on their adventures. A stone passageway led away from the Goblin chambers and it needed exploring.

Meanwhile, Firebeard and Gro'Nak were still trapped at the mercy of a sleeping Bugbear. That was until it stirred awake, and then shot up in a start. A massive commotion nearby had awoken him. It was Tohm's Eldritch blast. The Bugbear got up and ran towards the commotion, away from his hoard of treasure. The cheer I received from Firebeard and Gro'Nak was monumental. They immediately set about looting the place. Potions, gold and a Jade Frog was the loot. The latter would return in a mysterious fashion.

Back to the main group. They came around the corner of a stone tunnel. Before them was a rickety cross bridge which went over a small stream. Across from that the mild essence of light greeted them. Easy? Nope. In that instant the Bugbear came around the corner. Mass panic. Were they ready to face a Bugbear? Absolutely not. They panicked as it drew closer, that was until someone had the bright idea to cut the rope of the drawbridge as the beast was crossing it. One failed attempt. Bugger. It's getting closer. Second attempt? Nailed it. Not only was this a genius move but I watched the group's building excitement as it happened. I watched the joy when it went down. They were really enjoying themselves, felt good.

The Bugbear was now in a ditch, angry and not thinking straight it tried to climb up. That left it prone to attack. Cue an onslaught of arrows, slashes and axes being thrown. On the other side of the raveen, Firebeard and Gro'Nak joined in on the assault on the beast. They eventually downed the creature, it's carcass filled with arrows, slashes to pieces and burnt to a crisp. It lay, bested and bloody in a small running stream. The group were relieved, this was the first enemy they'd faced that could dwarf most of them. The group then jumped over the raveen and looted it's lair, all getting a decent share each.

They left the cave, happy with their bounty, and with a new friend in tow. But little did they know, a Goblin had seen this all, and escaped seeking out help...

Being a first time DM can be intimidating business. No matter how much you prepare, or how ready you think you are, literally anything can happen. You also have to strike a kind balance between leniency and discipline. I found my balance when I let Moses the Mystic throw a great sword down at the Bugbear, a move you don't often see. I also realised splitting up the group has both drawbacks and advantages. On the plus-side; you get to explore some threads and exciting story concept that may not have happened and it allows for unique experiences. On the down-side; I left Firebeard and Gro'Nak alone for such long stretches of time they wondered if I'd abandoned them.

So, yeah. Second session as a DM down, further lessons learnt, and some new characters to come. Despite all the joy, their doom still lurked around the corner, peering at them.