The Lost Mine of Phandelver, the first time around

Hello, welcome back. That is of course assuming you read the first time and decided to return. If you didn't then just a general 'welcome' is in order.

So in the last post we covered the creation of my character Sedruid and a brief look in to his history. I must confess I wrote a lengthy history for him but it's mostly irrelevant, let's kick start the story.

The campaign begins, everyone has their characters, the DM has his Starter Set and we are ready to go. Except I miss the first session along with another player, bad start. The following week I join, brimming to go, I fashion a cloak out of a thick blanket and fasten it with a nice brass badge. One problem however, it was around August and SWELTERING. We gathered in one of the players (Harry) kitchen and began. The DM (Joe) informs that due to the other player and I missing the first session, we have to sit out for a hot minute and he will introduce us in a dramatic way. The group go into a tavern and there the other player (Mike) and I are. I am in my cloak and sweating. I am addressed, I turn around and I stick on the charm as Sedruid might. Then the other player, a Wizard Gnome named Short'n'deadly walks in, on his knees, with his shoes on the floor. He naturally got an inspiration point. He did an impeccably difficult to understand Irish accent and off we went.

As a bunch of first time players we had a lot of fun, Sedruid being an Elven ranger made for a lot of fun for me, despite my awful roles at the beginning. As a social event, it was stellar. This was pre-COVID of course so we could all meet up at each others houses, or the pub, drink, eat, and kill goblins. Was bliss.

I enjoyed this campaign thoroughly, always went in with the acting to try and immerse myself fully in the scenarios and always got too carried away. Seeing as it was my first campaign I went a touch light on the story for Sedruid, allowing myself to be carried by the events unfolding before me.

Now, the main purpose of this blog is for me to write about my experiences as a DM, whilst I enjoyed being a player, I really came in to my own as a DM. But don't worry valued reader(s), instead of leaving you in the lurch I will tell you of some of my favourite stories from this campaign.

At one point we faced a Dragon, we were very low level and a Dragon could have spelt the end for us. I remember vividly entering the town the Dragon was nesting in and exploring. We were at the foot of the tower in which the beast had made its home, it was then it returned to the village and was alerted of our presence. As a group we were bickery and hardly ever agreed. So as we bickered about what to do, the DM decided to continue with the Dragon's wrath. Every little argument we had meant that the destruction and anger of the Dragon intensified. Eventually we had no choice but to face the damn thing. We didn't die but we came close.

Another story, which will be my last, is when Short'n'deadly, who at this point had become powerful and difficult to fight alongside, decided to teleport away during a battle. He had previously gotten hold of a powerful Glass Staff which he adored. The group weren't best pleased about his sudden disappearance but we couldn't do anything, we had a fight to win. Later on we returned to Phandalin, which was in utter ruin. Short'n'deadly had become trapped under a collapsed building, knocking his health down and destroying his Glass Staff. Penance for leaving his group in the lurch.

As a character, Sedruid performed admirably for me. He began as a long distance character but at some point I received a sword I could adjust the length of at will. I then had a healthy mix of front line assaults and ranged attacks, just to spice things up.

By the end of the campaign Sedruid found purpose, he found friends and found a home. But his brother was still missing and he needed to find him. He packed up and he head off in search, his story wasn't over yet.

I remember these times fondly, times such as when Harry went back to University so his character was killed and we had a funeral, in his kitchen. Times such as Tom's weird little dance. Times such as locking a group of enemies within a cage without realising there was a child in there and then having to kill them before they killed the child, which resulted in the child being sprayed in blood and guts. So, Joe, Tom, Harry, Grady, Patrick and Mike, thanks for being my first Dungeons and Dragon's group, let's hope we get to play again soon.

Courtesy of jay.pee.art on Instagram