NCAG Epilogue
After the events of The Lost Mines of Phandelver, the newly-formed New Cragmaw Adventurer's Guild were left in an very unstable position, with their grip over their new castle tenuous at best. This log details the happenings in the years that followed, to both the members of NCAG, their businesses, and the wider Phandelver region.
Month 1
Early autumn, rainy and gusty
Rumours are spreading across Phandelver of the return of Targor Bloodsword, brutal leader of a hobgoblin warband that once laid claim to Cragmaw Castle. On top of this, some of the farmers who operate around the periphery of Phandalin are reporting strange gray-skinned dwarves pillaging their grain supplies. Throughout this unrest, Harbin Wester proves once again to be a direly ineffectual Townmaster, and the people of Phandalin are unsettled. NCAG catches wind of the warband's return.
Zanston's Business
Business issues resolved in Waterdeep where a shortage of materials for scroll writing was found to be because of an error in address after the move to the new tower. Whilst in Waterdeep, Zanston stays a while longer than planned to purchase scrying tools to expand his business opportunities.
100gp profit reinvested (d4 to d6)
Total wealth: 300gp
Stev's Business
Stev's blacksmithing business is initially confounded with the non-arrival of a supplies caravan he ordered from Waterdeep. However, The Adventurer's Surgery is deployed to retrieve the supplies, and they do so.
400gp profit retained
Total wealth: 700gp
Month 2
High autumn, heavy downpour
The region is rocked by a huge skirmish at Cragmaw castle, as NCAG and Bloodsword's warband clash in the ruined keep. Both sides take heavy wounds, but no land changes hands. Meanwhile, in town, Harbin Wester's weak leadership catches up to him as he is impeached for embezzlement, leaving Phandalin without a leader. The duergar insurgents, having addressed their food shortages last month, are able to send out scouting parties. They hear reports that both NCAG and the hobgoblins are weakened.
Zanston's Business
Business turns no profit this month, with word received of competition in the area. Zanston sends The Surgery to tackle the issue. The competition turns out to be a new necromancer holed up in the old necromancer’s tower who is souring the reputation of wizards in the area. They prove too much for The Surgery, felling Erky, Aaron and Yelrin.
No profit
Total wealth: 300gp
Stev's Business
With trade carts running smoothly (for the most part), it is an easy month at the smithy.
300gp profit reinvested (d4 to d6)
Total wealth: 700gp
Month 3
Late autumn, heavy downpour
In Phandalin, hustings are held between the three candidates for townmaster: Toblen Stonehill, Linene Graywind, and Guni. Due to his popularity with the townsfolk, Toblen easily wins the election, and is now the new Townmaster. Elsewhere, the duergar, emboldened by the losses taken by NCAG and the warband, go to war with Venomfang and his dragon cult in Thundertree, aiming to gain a foothold in the surface world.
Missing Hobgoblin and NCAG activity logs
Zanston's Business
Poor trade in the heavy rain and the presence of the necromancer make for a terrible month’s work. Zanston tries in vain to rid himself of the necromancer thorn in his side, only for the Surgery to once more be driven off, this time by their reanimated friends.
300gp loss
Total wealth: 0gp
Stev's Business
More trade carts are going missing, and the adventurers that Stev hired failed to find the source of the problem, with Fenrehrt the only survivor of the expedition. The amount of missing goods and supplies make a dent in the smithy's finances.
500gp loss
Total wealth: 200gp
Month 4
Early winter, cold showers
The war between the duergar and Venomfang did not end well - for either side. The whole area around Thundertree has been reduced to rubble by dragonbreath and dwarven siege weapons. Further south, Toblen Stonehill settled into the role of townmaster very well, reinforcing his easy rapport with the people. Stranger things happened to the Hobgoblins however, as a series of mutations afflicted all of the newborns - each was born with four arms.
Missing NCAG activity log
Zanston's Business
In desperation Zanston deals with the necromancer problem himself, along with Stev, Doublelock and Bronvir. The party finish him for good, just as they did his predecessor.
Due to their successes, business slowly returns to the tower.
100gp profit Total wealth: 100gp
Stev's Business
Stev sent a party of new adventurers to track down exactly who or what was waylaying his trade carts. They found the culprits, a band of duergar scouts, and managed to defeat the dark dwarves, though it was a phyrric victory.
200gp profit
Total wealth: 400gp
Month 5
High winter, cold and cloudy
As the duergar became more entrenched in Cragmaw Castle, they began construction on a mighty dragon-salying ballista, with the intent to finally slay their old enemy Venomfang. The dark dwarves also sent out raiding parties to the surrounding lands to raise food supplies. These raids particularly target Phandalin, and the town's food supply is pillaged severely. The hobgoblin tribe do not fare much better, as they are struck by a peculiar and lethal plague - but one which only affects the older two-armed generation. The quick-maturing four-armed generation are left in a vulnerable position, with Bloodsword's son taking over as chieftan.
Missing NCAG activity log
Zanston's Business
A pair of adventurers demanded a refund for being given the wrong scroll, despite Zanston’s strict scroll case labelling methods. Knowing this couldn’t possibly have been a fault of his own, he sent new recruits from the New Cragmaw Adventurer’s Guild to investigate the issue.
The adventurers found that truck some fey had been swapping the scrolls as a joke. When confronted at their court, the matter was resolved by accidentally bargaining away two of the party’s lives to dance forever.
300gp profit Total wealth: 400gp
Stev's Business
Stev's smithy was robbed by common bandits, but the apprentice adventurers that Stev hired to deal with the thieves managed to recover all of his tools and wares.
100gp profit
Total wealth: 500gp
Month 6
Late winter, cold and cloudy
The fey never said anything about Zanston’s scrying business, and so come back to alter his predictions, leaving Zanston facing down civil charges. A team of NCAG adventurers proves fey involvement, leading to the imprisonment of the first fairy in Phandelver in a cold iron cage.
The new leadership in Phandelver takes this opportunity to enact new Forest Law, passing a bill that forbids involvement of mortal folk with fey in the woods.
200gp profit Total wealth: 600gp
Month 7
Early spring, sunny and cloudy
Having finally beaten his economic woes, Zanston has his first good month in some time. He hires new apprentices with the profits and pays Kai to ward his tower against fey for fear of further legal action.
100gp profit reinvested (d6 to d8) Total wealth: 600gp
Month 8
High spring, strong pollen
Zanston’s apprentices have a knack for the trade but Kai goes missing. Hoping to keep the profit ball rolling, Zanston sees to it that his huntsman is not harmed.
The men sent find Kai forcibly in attendance of a 13 year ent moot, which should he try to leave he would face his end. The party manage to rescue him.
800gp profit Total wealth: 1400gp
Month 9
Late spring, strong pollen
Accused of selling scrolls to the newly reestablished Black Spider bandits, Zanston puts two and two together and realises this is the cause of his lost shipments. He is unable to resolve the problem.
-200gp profit Total wealth: 1200gp
Month 10
Early summer, pleasantly warm
Zanston relies on the remaining members of the Surgery to dispatch the bandits interrupting his supply chain, to great success. His reputation is restored and business picks up once more.
300gp profit Total wealth: 1500gp
Month 11
High summer, warm and cloudy
Zanston is beset by demons on a research trip to find new spells. The demons arose due to the dwindling presence of the fry in the woods.
After running away from the confrontation, Zanston introduces them to the devilish social contract of Stev’s hammer.
700gp profit Total wealth: 2300gp
Month 12
Late summer, hot and windy
A large scale clash on home turf eats into Zanston’s time, but business goes swimmingly other than that.
200gp invested (d8 to d10) Total wealth: 2300gp
