Phandalin Miners' Trail

The Phandalin Miners' Trail connects Phandalin to Umbrage Hill and other locations to the south in the Sword Mountains. The trail is mostly used by miners traveling to and from the Phandalin Miners' Exchange.

When traveling south, the third bridge on the trail goes over a stream. When following that stream to the east, travelers arrive at the entrance to Wave Echo Cave.

Campaign Recap

Traveling to Wave Echo Cave

On Day 14 of the campaign (27 Tarsakh), Collateral Damage and Mosk camped on the miners' trail overnight on their way to Adabra's Potion Shop and then Wave Echo Cave.

On Day 15 (28 Tarsakh), the group visited the potion shop in Umbrage Hill, then turned around and followed the stream to Wave Echo Cave. After turning off the trail to head to Wave Echo Cave, the party witnessed a troll emerging from the forest and settling into a spot under the bridge; they decided to stay out of the troll's sight and continue their journey.

Cryovain and the Trolls

On Day 16 (29 Tarsakh), after leaving Wave Echo Cave, Collateral Damage (now with Smok and Nundro Rockseeker) started walking back to Phandalin. When they approached a bridge on the Phandalin Miners' Trail, they spotted three trolls.

One of the trolls started shouting toward the group, saying "I don't know you! You didn't pay the toll! You didn't pay..." He then stopped mid-sentence, looking around and then spotting a white dragon flying straight for him. The troll stood frozen in fear, and the dragon, in one motion, scooped the troll up in his teeth and flew away. The dragon flew then toward the Sword Mountains, with the tallest peak in the mountain range Icespire Peak off in the distance.

Back near the bridge, the two remaining trolls shouted in despair, one yelling "NO! SHENGIS!" and the other looking at the group and saying "It your fault Shengis dead. You no pay toll! YOU NO PAY TOLL!" Rayphlárd tried to shout back and reason with the trolls, but they charged ahead with rage in their eyes.

The group survived the fight, eventually killing both trolls. During the fight, Rayphlard's newfound magic weapon Talon released a surge of wild magic, transforming Herb Stoner from a gnome into a red-skinned tiefling. During the fight's final moments, Conor McGregor fell unconscious, but Shinzon Greenshadow revived him with a potion of healing.

After the fight, Herb looked under the bridge where the trolls kept their possessions. Among their crude camp, he found a giant pile of shoes and boots and other random footwear, and they were all left shoes. After looking closer, there weren't any right shoes in the pile.

"Smokey the Bugbear"

On the night of Day 16 (29 Tarsakh), Collateral Damage, Smok and Nundro Rockseeker rested near the bridge on the miner's trail. In the morning of 30 Tarsakh, the group realized that the bugbear friend they called "Timothy" was gone, but they found a note:

Hey guys, sorry I had to leave during the night, but it didn’t seem like you would let me leave. You didn’t even ask me what my real name is! My name is Smok. I’m done working for groups like you who just want to hurt others. I’m peaceful. I want to help others.

Now that the rest of my tribe is gone, I’m finally free to do what I want. I’ve been wanting to try this idea for a long time, but I finally get to do it now. I’m going to travel town to town, helping people and talking to them about the dangers of forest fires. My friends call me Smokey. I think that’s got a ring to it, right? Smokey the Bugbear!

Be careful with torches when you’re around trees, and for the wizard, don’t use fire magic in a forest. Take care!

Your friend,

Smokey the Bugbear

After reading the note, Conor McGregor played with his tinderbox, lighting fires to... honor... Smokey.

Type

Road