Ghouls
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Since characters often deploy their long rest mechanic at the end of an adventuring day, it’s not uncommon for a nighttime random encounter to occur as the party sleeps – especially when camping outdoors. It’s why there’s almost always a discussion around which characters are standing watch as the rest of the party dozes. And…
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Ghouls are the only monster on the Lost Mine of Phandelver’s Wilderness Encounters table (Chapter 3: The Spider’s Web) that does not call for a daytime encounter, and I approve! These are creatures of the night, and they’ll make for a more memorable encounter when they go bump in the dark. That being said, there’s…
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When I was writing The Festival of Faces (my Halloween-themed mini-adventure), I decided that Phandalin needed an “Old Nan” type character. I love Old Nan and her stories. If you’re a fan of the A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF) novels, you know exactly what I’m talking about. For those of you who haven’t…
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No, really. Ghouls are totally gnarly. And in thinking through Sister Garaele’s side quest this week, I came to the realization that I haven’t leaned into their true nature on the occasions where I’ve deployed them in my games. Unless they’re under control by some outside force, ghouls are not guardians or belligerents. They’re predators.…
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So for the past couple of days, my thoughts have been bent upon a barrow north of Gnomengarde that’s inhabited by a pack of ghouls. The barrow’s proximity to both Phandalin and Gnomengarde is of concern to Sister Garaele. An Elvish priestess of Tymora, Garaele journeys to the barrow by herself, with the expectation that…
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In yesterday’s thoughts, I proposed a side quest given by Sister Garaele using the ghouls from the Wilderness Encounters table in Lost Mine of Phandelver Chapter 3: The Spider’s Web. With her religious training, Garaele knows the telltale signs of a ghoul pack, as well as what makes this particular undead creature dangerous. So, in…
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Meanwhile, at the Stonehill Inn: Dungeon Master: So according to Ol’ Narth, Sister Garaele left Phandalin for a few days and then “returned wounded and exhausted.” Players: Hmm. Interesting. I wonder what happened? Dungeon Master: (oh, shiiiit…) Players: Let’s head over to the Shrine of Luck. Dungeon Master: (fuuuuuuhhh…) Don’t get caught flat-footed. If you’re…