Timeless Tales: Lost Mines of Phandelver - Session 17

Storyline (Session 17)

• After delivering letters and laying to rest the fallen people in Skywatch Keep, the party prepares to travel toward Krogma Castle (and ultimately Wave Echo Cave).
• They meet a gnome/halfling-like local who helps point them toward a map location for Krogma Castle.
• On the road, they subdue and capture a doppelganger pretending to someone in their circle (referred to repeatedly as “Eric” by the characters), using it as a guide through the forest.
• The party reaches the castle area near Krogma and enters through a ruined wall opening into a partially collapsed tower/chapel-like interior.
• Inside, they deal with ambush threats and hidden defenders:
  • A hanging ceiling monster is identified as possibly a grick (based on checks/knowledge).
  • They also discover goblins and combat-ready positions beyond a locked door in the next chamber.
• During the first major room conflict, they successfully fight:
  • A snarl-and-bite threat (a wolf that gets destroyed early)
  • A disguised/shape-related goblin leader and other attackers
• They find treasure/plot items in a hidden compartment under a mattress:
  • Coins (silver/electrum)
  • Healing potions
  • A crucial map to Wave Echo Cave, signed by Gundron Rockseeker
• They “extract” the informant: Gundron Rockseeker, who confirms the map and that the goblins in the place have been cleared.
• Despite securing their goal, tensions explode: the doppelganger “Eric” (or its impersonation) is treated as a traitor who misled/confused the party and interfered mentally/socially—leading into an argument and the start of a new combat sequence as the session ends.

Gameplay Highlights / Key Events

Deception + escorting

• The party uses the doppelganger as a guide to reach the correct path/entrance, despite mistrust and constant suspicion.

Night travel & watches

• Two-hour watch rotation with ritual/roleplay moments, including:
  • darkvision mechanics
  • star-themed devotion
  • perception checks

Star-themed druid casting and roleplay

• Moon Beam and star/constellation abilities feature heavily in fights, including:
  • radiant/psychic effects
  • follow-up ranged “luminous arrow”-style attacks

Stealth + tactical planning with Silence

• The team attempts to coordinate stealthy entry into the king’s quarters area.
• Silence is discussed as an area-control tool to prevent verbal spellcasting and keep combat contained.

High-precision stealth/utility

• A door is opened using makeshift thieves tools (slapstick-but-successful).
• Multiple perception/nature/history/investigation checks prevent surprises.

Big combat swing turns

• Moon Beam is used to pressure enemies directly and reduce their threat capability.
• The party leverages initiative/positioning, defensive flourishes, and tanking to survive.

Loot discovery

• The party searches the “bed area” and discovers a hidden stitched compartment containing:
  • the map to Wave Echo Cave
  • supplies

Non-stop meta tension

• Even after mission success, the party cannot agree on what to do with the doppelganger—setting up the next initiative/combat phase.

Strategies / Key Tips Mentioned or Demonstrated

• Contain combat with positioning tools
  • Silence is used to control where/when enemies can cast spells with verbal components, and to prevent combat from spreading too far.
• Don’t rush scouting if time/magic would be wasted
  • They decide not to use certain stealth tools (“pass without trace”) too early because arrival timing would reduce its value.
• Moon Beam as both damage and battlefield control
  • It’s repeatedly repositioned for safer line-of-fire and to punish enemies entering/standing in it.
• Use the environment/cover while advancing
  • Climbing, listening, scanning, and controlling camp lighting are emphasized to avoid detection.

Gamers or Sources Featured (End of Subtitles)

• No external sources listed in the subtitles.
• The DM (unnamed) and party members are referenced only by in-session character names:
  • Skip
  • Kon/Kug (referred to as Kon/Kugan/Kugan Rockseeker at times)
  • Isara / I s a r a
  • Buttermelt
  • Azara
  • Gundron Rockseeker
  • Doppelganger “Eric” (impersonation)