So today was our first adventure and I was admittedly nervous that I would kill my party, or they would figure something out about my adventure that would bring the whole structure down. But, thanks to some crafty improvisation and clever npcs the adventure carried on.

So basically, the players start in the tavern, and to my surprise they were not interested in booze, but REWARDS. So they were very on point to talk to the NPCs that seemed to be in the know. The first guy was a crying delusional dwarf that had clearly been through something traumatic, and he wailed about the mines! He says that the ghosts come from the mines and there are ghosts everywhere. He just rambles on about the ghosts and he's crying. There were local dwarfs that were not as important and they drew attention to themselves as they snickered at the adventures talking to the NPC. Of course, the Dragonborn threatens them with an intimidating roar and asks what their deal was. They respond in kind with fearful faces and say that they just think that he's crazy. But, when asked about the ghosts the dwarves direct the players to the tavern keeper Torias (a name that made Sydney laugh out loud?). She is actually asking me right now to do a side track adventure right now...favorite first year for sure.

Sel (Lipkin) wants to intimidate the barkeep, but Minerva (Savi) restrains him and says that we shouldn't go around baring our teeth at everyone. (A good thing as the barkeep would not respond well to this). So they basically discern there is something that is keeping all the sane people from talking due to an unexplained fear. Some type of unknown force has instilled fear in all the dwarves, driving some insane.

Anyway, the adventures do a perception check to 'Notice anything that they hadn't already,' now for these types of checks I try not to be generous I mean. I didn't tell the players you notice on the third shelf there is an insect that seems to be sentient, although they do roll admittedly high (a theme of the day apparently). Basically, the players notice the third NPC is an extremely powerful well-trained warrior. They, of course, approach him and ask him some questions. He kind of grunts at them, which nobody likes and they ask him about the ghosts, etc. He says that 'if I can't do anything about it you guys can't.'

Anyway, the players go to the mines and see a little girl dwarf! She immediately says "Hi, follow me!" and walks into the outside structure of the mines. They all freak out (like crazy) and then I'm like the dwarf girl is moving are you following? And they follow her into a pitch black shed, and upon lighting a torch they notice dwarf corpses against the walls and that they have been dead for weeks, etc. The girl actually turns out to be a changeling! Who Minerva (Savi) is very cautious of. The changeling tells the players that the dwarf town does not actually concern her, she just wants something that she believes the 'evil forces' want. She wants a ring that a powerful dwarf fighter Azbere has. She says the ring holds a mysterious power and she will give the players a large sack of gold (I'm thinking big enough sack for the players to need a wagon).

So I mention the wagon because Sydney and Ryan purchased a wagon that she really really really wants, even though they have no reason to use it. I feel this wagon may be the end of the party, lol.

Anyway the players figure they should try to talk to Azbere. He doesn't give them the ring, he is wearing a total of four rings, three of which Dwinn-Rae (Mike Lefours) detects magic properties about (along with all the equipment the dwarf is wearing). The dwarf tells them that he has many people who want this ring for some reward that they try to use to bargain with him. He does not know who really wants the ring, but he knows someone does. He does not know why, to him it is only an personal attachment. He does not think the ring is the cause of the chaos, and that the players were misled. But, he does kind of play into the players' motives, if you do something for me you can have this ring.

Then the players hear his story: Azbere had a daughter around the age of 8 years old (the same age as the dwarf girl the changeling was posing as, same hair color too). So everyone gasps, as they believe the changeling is acting as his daughter or is. Azbere explains that his daughter was kidnapped and killed by a brigade of goblins, all of which he defeated. However, he was distraught and ran from the scene leaving behind his daughter's body. He cannot bring himself to face her as he failed to protect her. It's a simple task, he wants them to retrieve the body. Then they can have the ring. So the players are pissed, particularly the cleric at the changeling.

So the players confront the changeling, who plays 'What you talking about?' card. She just says she has been here for 10 years, and they are all like hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The cleric still doesn't trust her, but the players decide they'll enter the mines, and are faced with three choices (as they have not asked anyone where to go woops?). So they eventually find the entrance after long debate, and they are into the first encounter room. Which I have a picture of...here!

So basically this room is a long hall, with a raised platform that I envisioned for dancing, but everyone thought it was an altar. So they notice a green glint from an object in the dirt pile, and they are very cautious and Sel (Lipkin) drops his hammer into the pile of dirt, and smashes into a zombie!!!!! First encounter begins, he missed! Lol, so the zombies are triggered and pop in through windows all around the room and close on the adventurers. It takes the paladin and cleric an eternity to land a hit and realize they could be mowing these guys down with radiant damage, but the players handle the zombies briskly. The deva shaman decides that she'll just wing her spear around and crits one of the zombies in the face at point blank range and kills him instantly. Very cool! So they discover they found their first magic item! A Rod of Corruption that is used primarily by warlocks.

However, Sel popped the zombie and caught the rod, and was very hesitant to give it up. (His love interest?) Minerva was very adamant that he share with the party! But, he kind of carries it around until they decide to leave the room. Then he says something along the lines if you guys do this I'll do this, and they find some gold pieces in some dirt and move on. Now the players have a choice between two doors, one is giving a sound of soft wailing and the other is giving a sound of dripping water. They do some checks and decide that they'll go towards the dripping water. The water is the result of a heavy condensation in the room that they enter. Once they enter the room the wall shuts behind them! They are seemingly trapped in a room with a giant turning lever that is surrounded by a pit, looks like this...

Basically the players quickly figure a way to turn the lever! They do so, and as they turn it more and more door start appearing in each crevice. The druid (Ryan) detects creatures behind each door, and they decide to turn the lever back and hide the other doors. But, then Sel convinces the party that they should turn it all the way and the players hear a loud cracking noise from the way they came! They ignore it and the druid approaches a door and kicks it open revealing a giant rat! Another five doors open and reveal rats as well. The rats are very fast and attack first, but the party does well to fend off these giant rats. Particularly the warlock, Dwinn-Rae (Mike Lefours) makes easy work of the rats. They don't find anything and realize the room was simply a trap. They also realize that the door opened once they completed the full turn. The rats were kind of not aware of the situation, so they were not going to attack unless instigated.

Actually at this point we had played for three hours. We all learned a lot and I think everyone had an awesome time, which was great. I really had fun, and we look forward to next week. The only thing I found to be troubling is keeping track of initiative as I was like mentally ill at this. I was pretty good at masking my mistakes (as usual). Anyways, I think the first adventure went REALLY well.

Well, as a little preview for next week, look for more ROLE PLAYING (and less META GAMING). Lol, like I care as long as everyone is enjoying themselves. But, do look for more storyline events to happen. And more DM commentary. This week was just a transcript as I have midterms and other stuff that occupies my time. I will upload the maps all at once at the end of next week. :)