Adventures in D&D: Part 1

I have been a fan of Dungeons and Dragons since I first started playing 3^rd edition in middle school. After 4^th edition came out, I had a small group going for about a year and a half until life got in the way. When 5^th edition came around, I purchased the basic books along with the starter set in hopes of getting a game going again, but it never materialized. Until two weeks ago. A small group of friends has finally found time to sit around in my basement and throw dice around like we used to. This series of posts is my way of tracking our ongoing adventures while also providing me an opportunity to expand on my rather poor fictional writing skills. Warning; there will be spoilers about the starter set in these posts as we are following it until Level 5 when our DM will then take us through a homebrew adventure. With that said, however, that set has been out for more than a year so if you are interested in D&D at all, you probably either played through the adventure or, at the very least, read through it.

For this adventure, our party would be built around three regular players (along with the DM) and a few drop-in players who will not be able to make every play session. The characters for this adventure were self-created rather than using the pre-set characters so that we could add a little bit more flair to the adventure. The characters, despite being level 1, are surprisingly well thought out and I am hopeful for some really good roleplaying throughout the sessions as each player becomes better acquainted with their character and the group in general. 

Our first plucky hero (and he is definitely the one with the most hopes and dreams) is Theren Wanakin, a first-level Elf Druid from one of the myriad forest-elf cities in Faerun. Theren is a combat druid who directly engages opponents with either his quarterstaff or scimitar while assisting the party with his healing spells (both Cure Wounds and Goodberry). He packs a decent combat punch having a solid attack bonus for a first-level character and the amazing first-level spell Thunderwave (which will hopefully keep the group in control of the combats during the first few games).

Next, is Bentar Smakserbotom, a first-level human noble fighter. Bentar’s family is a minor noble household from the city of Waterdeep. As a fourth-born son he has set out to make his own way in the world as his family will only provide him a limited inheritance and the family name to support him. Trained from birth by the family’s head guard, Bentar has learned the ways of fighting with various two-handed weapons including halbreds and glaives. As such, he is a great weapon and polearm master that will be able to continuously add extra damage in combat. He also wears a decent set of chain mail giving him the highest AC in the group at 16.

Last, but definitely not least, is Lord Easton Greymane (me), a first-level human noble wizard. Lord Easton is the second-born son from the Greymane family, another minor noble house in Waterdeep. Lord Easton is the youngest member of the Greymane family by nearly twenty years. His birth was quite a surprise for everyone involved, apparently. He is also the youngest member of the party at 19 years old. Lord Easton learned early on in life about his innate magical abilities and has finally been given leave by the family to pursue his own personal interests (whatever they are and wherever they may lead) so long as he does not injure the family’s reputation. Lord Easton is the weakest close-combat member of the party and the one with the lowest AC (10), lowest HP (8), and lowest damage potential. However, Lord Easton makes up for these deficiencies with his magical talents which include several interesting rituals and some very long range magical attacks (Identify, Light, Comprehend Languages, and Chill Touch for example). He also has an interesting though limited past with Bentar, an old family acquaintance. Although Bentar is better acquainted with several of the older Greymane sisters (Lord Easton has seven) than he is with the young lord, more than a decade his junior.

Our adventure begins, as many do, around a table covered in empty cups, assorted coins, scattered dice, and the occasional spilt liquid. A tall man, dark of hair that falls across his broad shoulders stares at the triad of recently thrown dice, a scowl on his face. Bentar Smakserbottom is well dressed, a black velvet doublet covering a well-muscled chest. Visible on the back of the doublet is a sewn symbol, the family crest of the Smakserbotoms: an outstretched hand, slightly cupped, with thumb bent and resting above four fingers. Across the table sits Lord Easton Greymane, now twenty-four, and a well-seasoned adventurer and founder/owner of the adventuring company Greymane, Smakserbotom & Elf. A broad smile leaps upon his face as he scoops a pile of coins to his ever growing pile. He is also impressively dressed in a well-fitting robe edged in silver and fine fur. At his side is an elf, dressed in practical attire for someone who spends the majority of his time outside in the wild. His clothes are well-worn, though of decent make, and give him an appearance of an avid outdoorsman. The elf is characteristically silent watching the two nobles gamble their money away to each other occasionally.

The table has devolved into small talk about upcoming adventures, when another round of drinks is dropped on the table. A lovely girl with bright red hair and high cheeks above a slim mouth stares in awe at the band of adventurers. It is rare for travelers to pass through this small northern town, let alone adventurers. She is curious as to what brings the group this far north where the only adventure that can be had is at the annual harvest festival later in the year. Lord Easton begins to discuss the importance of a particular trade route planned through a nearby area when Bentar Smakserbotom interrupts. “Ah, lass, present talk of adventures is not fit for such an evening of revelry, especially when lord talks-to-much will put you to sleep discussing the political effects of ore trading on the sea port of Neverwinter. I have a much better story to tell. How would you like to know how such a handsome man as I deigned to work with these slovenly fools? It started five years ago in a tavern in Neverwinter. I had been personally hired by a . . .” Bentar is startled out of his story as his drink flies across the table and splashes across his chest and lap. “Ha,” cried Lord Easton, his fingers in a concealed hand sign “mayhaps you should clean yourself up before you spread false claims to the lady. Let me tell it,” he said. With a quick hand pulled the barmaid down to an empty seat on his left. “It all started in a tavern, much like this one, with the Elf and I sitting at a table playing at dice . . .”