War of the Burning Sky Session 4

On the way back to the safe house, we were ambushed by thugs dressed up as guards, who said they were taking us in because we had a wizard in our midst. As we were beating down the thugs, we were joined by a handsome human with a greatsword, who introduced himself as Rantle.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 10

The two of us stood together, while Xanth and Falcon waited 150 feet back.

War of the Burning Sky Session 3

In the center of the district and surrounded by a fenced compound, we found the Depository Tower. Torrent gave one of the guards a password and we were escorted to the tower entrance.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 9

We drew our weapons to prepare for combat with the half-orcs and boars.

Icewind Dale 8-10: The Lake Monster

In Termalaine, we encountered kobolds, who had been brought into town from the gem mines, skulking through town. We followed them briefly, but found no indication of mayhem.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 8

We immediately charged the dancing half-orc, who didn’t seem to have noticed us.

Icewind Dale 7-8: The White Moose

After reaching the surface, Erling and his companions soon met with Frizzt. After burying their dead companions, they left for Lonelywood.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 7

We departed Axeholm, leaving the portcullis closed behind us, and traveled back to Phandalin.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 6

Elongated tongues dropped from the mouths of the rasping dwarven zombies as they dropped their bones and turned their attention toward us. We charged at them.

Frizzt J'ffa

Drow male ranger

Frizzt J'ffa is a 166 years old drow from Menzoberranzan; a large drow city in the Northdark. He served as the First Prime of House Zapophis.

Chosen because it means "free spirit" in Undercommon, Frizzt was named by his father, Friz'ac. He was born in a Menzoberranzan district under the control of the drow noble Vronus, where his father served as Vronus' First Prime. After failing to win an unwinnable battle, Vronus killed Friz'ac in a prolonged and agonizing death. Vronus also exiled young Frizzt—along with Frizzt's mother—to the surface where he grew up.

Icewind Dale: Session 6

My nightmares of being hunted by powerful enemies and their agents everywhere I went were abruptly ended by Erling jumping on my bed and shouting, "Wake, up, wake up! Sephek's here! Wake up!"

Roleplaying During A Pandemic

By Andrea Kamander

Dungeons and Dragons, or D&D, is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game. Each player usually runs one character within an adventuring party. The game is run by a Dungeon Master, or DM, who controls the environment and any non-player characters. Playing D&D consists of three aspects: exploration, social interaction, and combat. Personally, I like the combat and intraparty interaction most.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 5

Once we arrived at the mine, we searched the bodies of our dead enemies. Then, the three of us took a short rest in a room to the northwest, which was filled with food and drink.

Icewind Dale: Session 5

Erling lit a torch and we continued further into the gem mine.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 4

After a long discussion, we were unable to ascertain the use of the mystery key. At a loss for ideas, we decided to camp out inside the altar room in the shrine until the next morning.

Icewind Dale: Session 4

After we recovered from the fight with the crag cats, we continued our trek up Kelvin's Cairn.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 3

As Berreck regained consciousness, Don-Jon hollered from across the field as he approached, finishing off an orc that was getting up. Once Berreck was back on his feet, he retrieved his two javelins, and we began searching the bodies of the orcs, finding a handful of copper pieces and a few silver. 

Icewind Dale: Session 3

As we sat in the Luskan Arms, Erling was determined to try to rescue the sacrifice.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 2

As we talked to Adabra, Berreck pointed out how the tail of the dead manticore appeared to be frostbitten.

Icewind Dale: Session 2

The next day, we left Bryn Shander over the snow covered path to Targos. In fact everything was covered in snow as far as the eye could see. The bright reflection of the morning light caused Earling to squint, he put his head down and pulled his fur lined cloak tighter around his body to conserve heat in this frigid wasteland.

Icehammer Dwarves: Session 1

When we set out from Torunedar, dawn was just breaking. We had left in a hurry, with me only finding out about Berreck’s vision the day before. It was certainly a disturbing fantasy, to think that there were enemies as powerful as dragons and hordes of orcs just roaming around.

Berreck Grimshield

Dwarf male barbarian

Born and raised in Torunedar, Berreck was a dwarf of brute strength. From a young age, he showed great potential as a warrior and seemed to have a knack with any weapon handed to him. With his utter strength and skill with weapons, Berreck quickly became one of the greatest warriors in the defense force found in Torunedar. Although he has the physical strength, Berreck struggles with following orders and has many disciplinary issues preventing him from rising through the ranks. Although it is clear that Berreck is trying his best to do good in the world and rid the world of evil, unlike most dwarves, he seems to have a mind of his own with little respect for the law and authority.

Diesa Starforger

Dwarf female cleric

Diesa grew up in Turendar, where men lead the clan. However, she always thought the person who taught her the most valuable information was her mother, who educated her on Berronar Truesilver, the matron goddess of the dwarves and goddess of hearth and home. Diesa was always surprisingly wise, and took to Berronar Truesilver's ways quickly, adopting the role of faenor with enthusiasm.

When Berreck approached her about his vision and ultimately decided to go out to try and prevent disaster from occurring, Diesa felt compelled to accompany him, needing to make sure he didn't get himself into too much trouble.

Icewind Dale: Session 1

It was the first week of Eleasis when we passed north of the Spine of the World, towards Icewind Dale, and into the frigid expanse of windswept tundra that seemed locked in a perpetual dark winter. Ferocious blizzards made the mountain pass exceedingly treacherous.

Dead PC: Clairisma Greysky

Human female sorcerer

The sage Antonidas always appreciated the chaotic storm within me that manifested in unexpected ways. He always I was born with these power, though he also said he found me as an infant, almost passing by the bundle of blanket lying in the snow. All I know is that he treated me well.

And so I spent my formative years in his care and under his tutelage, assisting him in his studies and slowly exploring my own powers, never venturing far from home in Luskan, the City of Sails.

War of the Burning Sky Session 2

The Poison Apple Pub was dark and empty, its many tables and chairs pushed to one wall and covered with sheets. A single table sat in the middle of the room.

Session 74: The Friends We Made Along The Way

As the rest of the group withdrew into the cave, Lawrence challenged The Black Knight to fight Philip with honor.

Session 73: Run!

Having destroyed the congregation of undead skeletons and zombies, the group searched the temple before taking a rest.

Session 72: An Unholy Congregation

Having defeated the high priestess and her cohorts and gone through their belongings, the group took stock of the prisoners' room.

Session 71: The Queen Attacks!

The group considered what they should do about Dervek and the two dead prisoners.

Session 70: Eggstraction

Fifty feet from where the rest of the group waited in Sapphira's room, Yanliz watched as the kobold further down the corridor sniffed the air all around.

War of the Burning Sky Session 1

When we woke from the explosion, we found ourselves in a clearing. Once we regained our senses and explored the area, we saw a road nearby, crowded with what appeared to be refugees.

Session 69: Check!

Valeria commanded the group to run to the kobold cave as the Black Knight charged toward them and Yanliz was hit by an arrow from the treeline to the north.

Session 68: Out of the Silence and Into the Knight

In the silence, the group was unaware of the Black Knight, pointing toward Prynhawn from the darkness down the corridor.

Session 67: Castled

Yanliz tried to open the door, while the rest of the group hung back, by the alcove.

Session 66: Pawns in a Game of Chess

Yanliz waited just outside the boulder room for the rest of the group to catch up.

Session 65: The Spring Equinox

It was dark when the group returned to the keep, and, looking forward to Brother Martin's dawn sermon, they all hurried to their quarters so they would be fully rested.

Session 64: Key to the Labyrinth

The group debated how they could get the kobolds to tell them how to open the secret doors without giving them back their dragon egg.

Session 63: Uninvited Guests

The group woke up early, hoping to make it to the caves in time to keep their appointment with the priests of Nergal.

Session 62: Dark Seeds

The group continued along the right wall, past where they had fought the second Minotaur, hoping to make it out of the labyrinth.

Session 61: Back in the Labyrinth

When the ping of a mental alarm woke Yanliz, alerting him to danger approaching, he quickly woke the rest of the group.

Session 60: Right out of the Minotaur's Labyrinth

The group finished a short rest, as well as a light meal Philip quickly prepared, under the round metallic door in the ceiling of one of the labyrinth's natural dead-ends.

Session 59: Left in the Minotaur's Labyrinth

"So, will you pray with me?" Bethany repeated again, specifically to Lawrence and Vernim, as the group tried to decide how to deal with the priestess of Apep.

Session 58: Snakes In A Cave

The group was woken from their sleep by an audible alarm, which meant something had entered the cave from the south.

Session 57: Demise of the Bugbears

As Brother Martin's spiritual shield extinguished the columns of radiance like candles on a cake, the group braced themselves for the onslaught of bugbears descending down the stairs towards Lawrence.

Session 56: Assault on the Bugbear Stronghold

After many errands and investigations, it was late in the morning before the group departed the keep and headed for the caves.

Session 55: Cat's Cradle

Philip approached Lady Lenore, while Pynhawn kept his eyes on Jeff and Yvonne, and the rest of the group was gathered around Norman's body with Lord Sylvester and his manservant, Dag.

Session 54: Playing With Fire

As the group turned toward the clamor from the stairs, Valeria and Prynhawn ignored the small tapestry hanging on the north wall.

Session 53: Prisoners Lost, Prisoners Found

With all their precautions in place, the group rested in shifts, while Norman still lay tied and bound in the carpet.

Session 52: The Bandit Hideout And Beyond

As the group approached the cave above the kobold cave, from where they had been spied upon the previous day, Vernim could not detect anyone spying on them from the direction of the cave, but as they got closer he noticed something in the nearby tree.