phandelver and below the shattered obelisk pdf
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is a high-fantasy adventure starting in the town of Phandalin, expanding on the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign.
It introduces a rich setting, new threats, and opportunities for exploration, blending the familiar with fresh challenges for both new and veteran players.
1.1 Overview of the Adventure Setting
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk unfolds in the iconic town of Phandalin, a setting familiar to many from the Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign. This high-fantasy adventure expands the original story, introducing new threats and deepening the lore of the region. Players explore Phandalin and its surroundings, uncovering the mysteries behind goblin ambushes and sinister forces threatening the town. The adventure seamlessly blends the charm of the Starter Set with fresh challenges, offering a rich and immersive experience. The setting includes detailed maps, tokens, and resources for GMs, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic world for both new and veteran players to engage with.
1.2 Significance of Phandalin in the Adventure
Phandalin serves as the heart of the adventure, providing a vibrant and familiar backdrop for players. Its rich history, established in the Lost Mines of Phandelver, makes it a cornerstone for both new and returning players. The town’s proximity to the Underdark and its role as a frontier settlement create a unique blend of danger and opportunity. As a central hub, Phandalin allows for diverse storylines, from uncovering goblin threats to confronting darker forces. Its significance lies in its adaptability, offering a setting where players can explore, interact with NPCs, and face challenges that shape the adventure’s progression and the region’s fate.
The Main Plots of the Adventure
The adventure features dual main plots: uncovering threats to Phandalin and exploring the Shattered Obelisk’s mysterious role, intertwining local dangers with deeper underworld connections.
2.1 The Threat to Phandalin and the Surrounding Region
Phandalin faces dire peril as goblin ambushes and darker forces disrupt the region. The Cragmaw tribe, emboldened by external influences, threatens local stability. Heroes must investigate strange occurrences, uncover goblin motives, and foil menacing plots. A malevolent cult, operating in the shadows, seeks to exploit the chaos, endangering the entire area. The adventure begins with the party arriving in Phandalin, only to find the town and its surroundings gripped by fear and uncertainty. As they delve deeper, they uncover the cult’s sinister plans, which pose an existential threat to Phandalin and its people. The heroes’ actions will determine the fate of this beloved town and its future.
2.2 The Role of the Shattered Obelisk in the Storyline
The Shattered Obelisk serves as a central plot device, symbolizing ancient power and chaos. Its remnants hold the key to the adventure’s unfolding mystery, linking Phandalin’s present danger to its forgotten past. The obelisk’s shattered state has unleashed dark energies, attracting malevolent forces, including a cult aiming to exploit its power. As the heroes progress, they discover the obelisk’s significance and the cult’s plan to restore it, which could plunge the region into destruction. The Shattered Obelisk’s role is pivotal, driving the narrative forward and connecting various plot threads. Its restoration or destruction becomes a critical decision point for the adventurers, shaping the adventure’s outcome. The obelisk’s legacy ties deeply into the world’s lore, enriching the campaign’s depth and stakes for all involved. The heroes must navigate its influence carefully, as the obelisk’s power is both a tool and a menace, capable of reshaping reality itself.
Connections to the Lost Mines of Phandelver
Phandelver and Below expands on the Lost Mines of Phandelver, returning to familiar locations with new depth and connecting original characters to fresh plot elements seamlessly.
3.1 How the New Adventure Expands on the Original Campaign
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk enriches the Lost Mines of Phandelver by delving deeper into the lore of Phandalin and its surroundings. It introduces new locations, NPCs, and plotlines that expand the original campaign’s scope; Players revisit familiar sites like the Redbrand Hideout and Wave Echo Cave but encounter fresh challenges and story arcs. The adventure also explores the Underdark, offering a broader context to the region’s history and threats. This expansion provides DMs with additional resources and opportunities to create custom adventures, enhancing the overall campaign experience for both new and returning players.
The Underdark and Its Role in the Adventure
The Underdark plays a pivotal role in Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, expanding the adventure’s setting beyond Phandalin. This vast network of subterranean realms introduces new locations, factions, and challenges, enriching the story with ancient secrets and hidden dangers. The adventure seamlessly connects the surface town of Phandalin to the depths of the Underdark, offering a layered narrative that explores the region’s history and its ties to the shattered obelisk. Players and DMs alike are provided with detailed maps and resources to navigate this mysterious environment, making the Underdark a cornerstone of the adventure’s immersive experience.
Key Features of the Adventure Module
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk includes detailed maps, tokens for VTT, and extensive GM resources, enhancing gameplay and immersion in the adventure’s expansive world.
5.1 Maps, Tokens, and GM Resources
The adventure module includes a double-sided poster map, featuring the Phandalin region on one side and the town with multiple dungeons on the other. It also provides pre-placed tokens for VTT platforms, enhancing online gameplay. GM resources are abundant, with battlemaps for every location, checklists for tracking progress, and detailed NPC lists. These tools help DMs create immersive experiences, offering visual aids and practical organization. The resources are designed to streamline gameplay, ensuring smooth transitions between exploration, combat, and role-playing scenarios. This comprehensive package makes it easier for DMs to bring the world of Phandalin to life in both physical and digital formats.
Availability of the Adventure in PDF Format
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is not officially sold in PDF format. Legal digital options are limited to Virtual Tabletop (VTT) versions, ensuring accessibility for online play.
6.1 Legal Digital Options and VTT Versions
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is not officially available in PDF format, as mainline 5e books are not sold digitally. However, legal digital options exist through Virtual Tabletop (VTT) platforms like Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds, offering convenience for online play. These versions provide maps, tokens, and resources optimized for digital storytelling. While fan-made PDF conversions circulate online, they lack official endorsement. Players and DMs are encouraged to support the adventure through VTT versions, ensuring they receive high-quality, legally licensed content designed to enhance the tabletop experience.
The Shattered Obelisk as a Campaign Setting
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk presents Phandalin, its surrounding region, and the Underdark as a versatile campaign setting, enabling DMs to craft unique adventures and stories.
7.1 Opportunities for Custom Adventures
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk offers extensive opportunities for custom adventures, allowing DMs to expand upon the core storyline. The module provides a detailed setting, including Phandalin, its surroundings, and the Underdark, offering rich environments for unique quests. DMs can craft adventures tailored to their players’ preferences, incorporating the existing NPCs, locations, and plot hooks; The inclusion of maps, tokens, and GM resources further enhances creativity, enabling the creation of immersive and dynamic experiences. This flexibility makes the adventure a versatile foundation for both novice and experienced DMs to explore endless storytelling possibilities.
The Adventure’s Structure and Chapters
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk is structured into multiple chapters, guiding players through a progressive narrative. The adventure begins in Phandalin, where the party uncovers local threats, and expands into the surrounding region and the Underdark. Each chapter builds on the previous one, blending exploration, combat, and role-playing opportunities. The modular design allows DMs to adapt the pacing and focus to their group’s preferences. The adventure includes detailed descriptions of key locations, NPCs, and encounters, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience. Maps, tokens, and GM resources further enhance the storytelling, providing a robust framework for epic adventures.
Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk offers a captivating adventure that expands on the beloved Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign. By blending familiar settings with fresh challenges, it provides a rich narrative for both new and veteran players. The adventure’s modular design and extensive resources make it a versatile tool for DMs, allowing for tailored experiences. With its deep connections to Phandalin and the Underdark, this module not only delivers an engaging story but also serves as a foundation for custom adventures. Whether exploring the town, battling new threats, or delving into the unknown, this adventure promises unforgettable journeys in the world of high fantasy.