Forge Wardens — Campaign Master Index

minLevel: 2
maxLevel: 3

A Forgotten Realms campaign descending from the Sword Coast into the depths of the Underdark, where ancient powers manipulate mortal pawns and the line between savior and destroyer blurs with every choice.

Active Story Arcs

Primary Campaign Threads

The Demon Lord Incursion — Main Questline

All demon lords have been pulled simultaneously into the Underdark through a ritual at Sloobludop. The party's overarching goal is to understand and respond to this threat. Current plan: reach Neverlight Grove (return Stool home, gather intelligence), then travel to Gracklstugh to regroup in safety before coordinating a response.

Neverlight Grove — Time-Sensitive Journey

The party is on a time-sensitive journey to Neverlight Grove, where a drow woman awaits them. Xynia Vandree, an albino drow hunter who escaped the party near the Long Chasm and threatened the grove, is a potential threat already in play.

Kavu — Collecting the Wereguild

Gertie Orelsdottir attacked Phandalin after being deceived by Nezznar — told that Phandalin had stolen the Codicil of the White and caused the Rime. The party convinced her of the manipulation during Arc A. She returned to Icewind Dale and promised to pay a wereguild for the dead. Kavu is insistent on Phandalin collecting that promise.

Haldak — The Codicil of the White

Haldak's personal quest. The Codicil of the White — its nature, location, and purpose unknown. No leads yet pursued.

Chardalyn Supply — Powering the Forge of Spells

The party needs chardalyn to power the Forge of Spells in Phandalin. They have a map indicating deposits in northern Icewind Dale. No expedition yet mounted; this will likely require a return north after the Underdark arc concludes.

The Traveler and the Planar Merge

An extraplanar entity calling itself The Traveler ("Commodore Traveler") made contact with Kefkas in Session 5 via the party's collection of 20 dragon shards — the same entity first noticed through the Siberys Shard. The shards are remnants of a catastrophic merge between two planes, caused by an unnamed "friend." The Traveler warned the party not to accumulate more shards. The Spellforge was referenced but unexplained. The Traveler intends ongoing contact.

Character Side Arcs

The Blackrazor Problem

Blackrazor has attuned to Othorion and actively resists removal. In Session 4, Othorion gravely injured Selene while under its influence. The Crescent Blade prophecy — a blade taken from a living terror, a survivor pulled from certain death, a chain of events leading to catastrophe — is in motion.

The Hellfire Hammer and Roland's Lineage

Hellfire Hammer recovered in Session 4 bears inscriptions from Asmodeus ("To my blood, when you are ready to stop running from what you are") and Bel ("She still loves you. That is why she fell"). The hammer appears made specifically for Roland.

Othorion's Identity and Parentage

Othorion was poisoned with Styx water by Artemis Entreri, his identity and memories stolen. His true parentage points toward House Xorlarrin rather than House Baenre. Lolth was present metaphysically at his birth. His uncle Jarlaxle has watched over him since.

Background Threats

The Sleeping Tarrasque

The Tarrasque is sleeping in the Underdark. The party holds Titan's Tooth and has demonstrated the command words work. Ilsa Haze and Rump-a-Dump remain inside. The party has moved well away from its location.

The Scar

The Scar is a permanent planar wound where the Dragonspine volcano stood. Ertu was banished into it — not destroyed — but the banishment lasts approximately 100 years. Not a near-term threat. Caladorn and Arveiaturace are operating in the region, working against the demon incursion from their position in the Deep Dark — far east of where the party currently is.

Session Log

Arc A — Phandalin (Oct 2023 – Aug 2024)

The Forge Wardens are founded. Lost Mine of Phandelver. Forge of Spells recovered. Nezznar captured.

Arc B — The Road North (Aug 2024 – May 2025)

Escort to Revel's End. Neverwinter political intrigue. Selene and Lireal join. Luskan and Icewind Dale prep.

Arc C — Icewind Dale & Underdark (May 2025 – Present)

Dog sleds north. Velkenvelve. The Long Chasm. First Tarrasque entry. Return to the Tarrasque.

Arc D — Dragonspine Mountains (Nov 2025 – Jan 2026)

Detour de Kavu. Flamemeet. Vol'kathar's ascension ritual. The Scar. Ertu banished.

Player Characters

Key NPCs

Arcs 1–3 (Earlier):
| Jarlaxle Baenre | Bregan D'aerthe; "Robert Hidswell" in disguise | Active — Luskan area | Icewind Dale (last seen as guide) |
| Caladorn | Mysterious divine ally; true name Alek; rider of Arveiaturace | Active — operating near The Scar | Deep Dark (east) |
| Ranaer Neverember | Legitimate heir to Neverwinter; "Cloaked Descendant" | Active — Neverwinter | Neverwinter |
| Nezznar | Arc A Villain (Black Spider) | Imprisoned | Revel's End (Prisoner 243) |
| Sildar Hallwinter | Mayor/Constable of Phandalin | Active | Phandalin |
| Pip Stonehill | Former party contact; child from Phandalin | Active — Home | Phandalin / Saltmarsh |
| Drizzt Do'Urden | Legendary drow hero; intervened at Neverwinter | Active — Unknown | Neverwinter (last seen) |
| Vajra Safahr | Blackstaff of Waterdeep; Roland's superior | Active — Waterdeep | Waterdeep |

Locations

Earlier Arcs:
| Phandalin | Settlement | Active — party base | Arc A |
| Wave Echo Cave | Cave / Forge | Cleared — Forge operational | Arc A |
| Neverwinter | Major city | Active — political instability | Arc B |
| Luskan | Port city | Active | Arc B |
| Revels End | Arctic prison | Cleared — party departed | Arc B |
| Icewind Dale | Region | FUTURE PREP | — |

Key Items

Active Dramatic Questions

1. What is waiting for the party at Neverlight Grove — and has Xynia Vandree already acted on her threat?
2. How do the demon lords get stopped — and does anyone connect the party to the summoning at Sloobludop?
3. What is Blackrazor doing to Othorion — and what does the Crescent Blade prophecy actually mean?
4. Who is The Traveler — and who is the "friend" that collapsed two planes into each other?
5. What happened to Caspian inside The Scar?
6. What is the "plane within a plane" where Asteth is hidden — and does Kavu carry her essence?
7. Will Gertie Orelsdottir accept Kavu's restitution — and what does the wereguild actually want?
8. What is the Codicil of the White — and why does Haldak want it?
9. Whose blood is the Hellfire Hammer really meant for — and what does Asmodeus's inscription mean for Roland?

Open Threads

• Neverlight Grove deadline — drow woman awaiting party; Xynia Vandree's threat unresolved.
• Gracklstugh plan — party heading there after Neverlight Grove to regroup and plan demon lord response.
• Kavu — collecting the wereguild — Gertie Orelsdottir promised restitution to Phandalin; Kavu intends to hold her to it; she is in Icewind Dale.
• Haldak — Codicil of the White — personal quest; no leads yet.
• Chardalyn for the Forge of Spells — map points to northern Icewind Dale; expedition deferred until after Underdark.
• Roland — 6 levels of exhaustion (reduced from 8; still critical). Hot springs noted as potential recovery option.
• Selene's wound — permanent magical chest wound from Blackrazor; requires magical healing; non-magical recovery ineffective.
• Othorion and Blackrazor — sword resists all separation attempts; Crescent Blade prophecy in motion.
• The Traveler — extraplanar entity in ongoing contact with Kefkas via dragon shards. Planar Merge is an unresolved cosmological threat. See Quest Log.
• Lolth — aware of Othorion's existence and origin since his birth; unreturned favour owed.
• Artemis Entreri — stole Othorion's identity and memories. Purpose unknown. Location unknown.
• The Tarrasque — sleeping in the Underdark. Party holds Titan's Tooth. Ilsa Haze and Rump-a-Dump still inside.
• Xynia Vandree — escaped near the Long Chasm; threatened Neverlight Grove; tentacle-motif rapier; patron unknown.
• Stewards of Auril — Frostmaiden's servants tracking the party since Revel's End (C04). Not relevant while party is deep in Underdark; may resurface when party returns north.
• Valera Jazeera Vandree ("Laurel") — traveling drow companion; House Vandree; allegiances unconfirmed; developing relationship with Othorion.
• Father Corvan — fate unconfirmed after the Dragonspine arc. May still be active.
• Ertu — banished into The Scar; returns in approximately 100 years. Not a near-term concern.

Factions

Quick Reference

GM Master Notes

The Vault

This vault tracks the Forge Wardens campaign — approximately 70 sessions, beginning in Phandalin (Marpenoth, 1507 DR) and now deep in the Underdark (Hammer, 1508 DR). Current arc: Neverlight Grove → Gracklstugh → demon lord response. A return to Icewind Dale is planned later for the Chardalyn supply run. Session files for the full campaign history are to be created progressively from source documents.

Source Documents on File

• ForgeWardens_Vault_Handoff.docx — primary vault setup guide
• Ant Notes.docx — Anthilz/Selene player notes, Sessions 1–4 detail
• Haldaks Notes.docx — Pyrrus/Haldak, day-by-day early campaign
• Roland.docx — Aristenn/Roland perspective notes
• The Stinging Bard.docx — Young/Kefkas novella Chapters 1–4
• Swordcost Campaign Prep.docx — GM: OOTA timeline, Kelvin's Kids, Icewind Dale prep, vision texts
• Anthilz Phandalin Notes.xlsx — Phandalin people, places, events, inventory
• Phandalin Intro.docx — First session intro text (GM doc)
• Rangers Guide to Survival in the Rime.docx — Icewind Dale player handout

Tone & Themes

Manipulation, identity, faith, the cost of trust. The party is carrying instruments of apocalyptic potential — Tarrasque command, Siberys Shard, Blackrazor, Titan's Tooth — and has not yet reckoned fully with what that means.