Summary
The Lost Mines of Phandelver has been the go-to starter adventure for the fifth edition ofDungeons & Dragonsever since its publication in 2014. With Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, the setting has gotten an update. There’sa treasure trove of contentfor DMs everywhere.
The adventure has a cast of interesting NPCs for you to unleash on your players. While some of these characters made their first debut in the original starter module, others are newcomers to the world of Faerun. We’ve assembled a list of some of the most memorable NPCs.
8Shalfi Lewin
You’ll Forget You’re Not Playing Call Of Cthulhu
Shalfi is a human devotee to the demigod Ilvaash, an entity from the Far Realm. The undying loyalty Shalfi has given to a horror beyond all comprehension has left its mark on both his mind and body, giving players a taste of what awaits them if they fail in their quest.
Shalfi spends his days digging through the earth with a rusty spade, searching for a hole to kill a dragon that exists only in his imagination. He has a loyal pet named Jitterjaws. The fact that Jitterjaws is a writhing mass of mutated flesh is a minor detail, but it adds a bit of charm to Shalfi’s character.
7Ruxithid The Chosen
The Chosen One, As The Prophecy Foretold
Ruxhithid the Chosen is the prophesied hero. He was once an ordinary goblin, but his abilities were enhancedthrough psionic forces. Now, Ruxhithid has clairvoyant abilities, along with a huge boost in power. He’s not initially hostile to the party, even if his demeanor is a little disturbing.
Unfortunately, Ruxithid’s status as ‘the chosen one’ is only a ruse. The ‘mighty gods’ he servesare actually ilithids, and Ruxithid is only a pawn in their schemes. Ruxithid is unaware of his status as the mind flayers' lackey, and only becomes hostile to the party if they try to explain the situation or interfere with the ilithids' schemes.
6Glasstaff
Simply The Worst
Iarno ‘Glasstaff’ Albrek is a slippery knave if there ever was one. This human wizard was a former member of the Lords' Alliance, but eventually broke off and became a founding member of the Redbrands. As a villain, his eventual demise marks the perfect end to the early stages of your campaign.
Glasstaff is a pompous and conniving mage whose self-importance belies his true role as Nezznar’s second fiddle. He knows he’s only a puppet for the Redbrands' true leader. This insecurity is something that you should play into when running this NPC, as it gives his inflated ego more depth.
5Droop
The Comic Relief Sidekick
Every campaign needs an NPC that can only be described as ‘skrunkly’, and Droop certainly fits the bill. This plucky goblin provides some much-needed comic relief for the first half of the campaign. What’s more, he can be befriended by the players, making him a potential ally throughout the entire adventure.
Droop is a member of the Scraptops, a goblin clan of tinkerers. If you don’t mind a little homebrew, you can give him a few levels of artificer, since it fits his character. His skills and chaotic personality make him a potential favorite for your players. Just make sure to scale up his skills as the players progress, to keep him relevant.
4Klarg
He’s Back!
Early campaign villains are a bit of a hit or miss. They need to be memorable, but not so menacing that they overshadow the main villain. Thankfully, Klarg the bugbear is as memorable as it gets. He’s the leader of the goblins that menace the players in the first chapter, and the first boss your players will face.
Klarg is a bombastic bully who mistreats the goblins under his command. While he thinks of himself as a mighty king, his kingdom is little more than a few wolves and a throne made of garbage. He also always refers to himself in the third person, which is sure to provide some comic relief for your party.
3Honna
An Artistic Genius
Honna is an artist with an innovative (if ethically dubious) medium. As a medusa, she travels all around Faerun looking for rare and exotic creatures to turn into stone, adding them to her repertoire of statues. An abandoned chapel serves as both her lair and studio.
It’s hard to hate Honna, even as she tries to turn the party into stone. She’s creative and charismatic, pouring hours of effort into her craft. Honna also has a number of galeb duhr that serve as both her bodyguards and pets, so she’s a challenging encounter if your players choose to fight her.
2Nezznar
He’s Back, Too!
Nezznar is the true leader of the Redbrands. It’s implied that he controls the gang through his assorted puppets and lackeys due to the prejudice he facesas a drowon the surface. Motivations aside, he’s intelligent and shrewd, doing everything he can to mislead the players.
Your players will meet Nezznar at Wave Echo Cave, where he’s set up camp in an attempt to plunder the cave’s hidden secrets. His merciless behavior becomes apparent when the players discover that Nezznar has killed Tharden Rockseeker and taken his brother, Nundro, hostage. Defeating him is sure to be a satisfying conclusion to the first half of the adventure.
1Townmaster Harbin Wester
You’ll Hate Him More Than The Actual Villains
Political figures always make for compelling NPCs in Dungeons & Dragons. Just as politicians in real life are full of intrigue and hypocrisy, so too arepoliticians in fantasy. Townmaster Harbin Wester is the figurehead for Phandalin, and he’s definitely a character players will love to hate.
Wester is as corrupt as they come, caring more about his own wealth and safety than the well-being of Phandalin’s townsfolk. He’s also a terrible coward who barricades himself in his home when a dragon flies into town. Thankfully, the people of Phandalin oust him. If your players are so inclined, they can even participate in the revolt.
