step 1. prepare war maps administrative guidance

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 1 

Administrative Guidance: Reclamation of Phlan ThisdocumentprovidesguidanceonrunningReclamationofPhlan:aD&DEpics™adventure.

Overview Eachgroupwillplayoneofthreeadventuretracks.Thisadventuresupportsthefollowingtiersofplay:

1stthrough4th‐levelcharacters(optimizedforfive3rd‐levelcharacters)

5ththrough10th‐levelcharacters(optimizedforfive8th‐levelcharacters)

11ththrough16th‐levelcharacters(optimizedforfive12th‐levelcharacters).

Eachtablemustseatcharactersofthesametier.Thisisaspecialfour‐hourinteractiveadventure,designedformanytablesplayingtogether.Becauseoftheinteractivenatureoftheadventure,eachtrackpossessesinteractiveelementsthatwillimpactnotonlythecharacters,butothergroupsaswell.

Participants Theadventurerequiresthefollowingparticipantstorunsmoothly.

Groups:atableof3‐7playersrepresentingdifferentfactions.Theremustbeatleasttwogroupspertrack(minimum18playersfortheevent).

GroupLeaders:eachtablehasonerepresentativethatisresponsibleforreportingeventstotheCaptains.

DungeonMasters:eachtablehasoneDungeonMaster.

Captains:EachsectionhascaptainswhoareresponsibleforadjudicatinginteractiveeventsandansweringquestionsposedbyDMs.ThecaptainsforwardtheirresultstotheirindividualCommander.

Commanders:Eachtrackhasacommanderwhoisresponsibleforcountingvictoriesandannouncingimportantinteractiveelements.

Setup Thefollowingstepsareimportantforrunningtheeventsmoothly.

Step 1. Prepare War Maps EachtrackhasalargewarmapondisplayatHQ(seeAppendix1:WarMaps).Duringplay,eachgroupmovestheirbanneracrossthewarmaptoshowwherethey'refighting.Thewarmapsshouldbeeasilyaccessible.Ifprojectorequipmentisavailable,thewarmapscanbeprojectedontoscreens. Eachwarmapmusthavespaceforthefollowing:

Acontainerforvictorypoints.Thisisreferredtoasthetrack'sVictoryPool.

Thebannerforthetrack'svillain(seeAppendix2:VillainBanners).Thetrackvillainstartsoffthemap.

Flagsforinteractiveelements(seeInteractiveElements,below).Theflagsstartoutofview,andareraisednexttothewarmapwhenspecialeventsactivatethem.

Step 2. Prepare Tables Eachtablemusthaveauniquetablenumberdisplayedprominentlyonitssurface.Itisimportantthatplayersandadministratorscanfindothertables,andidentifywhichtracktheyareplaying.Ifpossible:

Tablesaregroupstogetherbyadventuretrack Tablesarearrangedintablenumberorder.Forlargeevents,theadministratorscanprovideeachgroupwithaplanofthetablesandtheirnumbers,orensureatableplaniseasilyaccessibletoall.

Step 3. Muster Groups / Assign Adventure Packs Duringmuster,eachtableshouldbesuppliedwithanadventurepackfortheirtrack.Thiscontains:

Thetrackadventure.AllDMsshouldreadtheadventurebeforehand.

Abannerforthetrack(seeAppendix3:GroupBanners).

Asetofvictorypointcounters. Handoutsforthetrack.

Step 4. Count Groups per Track Tocalculatevictories,theadministratorsneedtoknowhowmanygroupsareparticipatingoneachtrack.Beforeplaybegins,performatablecount.

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 2 

Step 5. Play! Whenplaybegins,theadministratorsshouldreadthebriefingaloudtotheplayers(seeAnnouncements,below).

Core Rules Banners Wheneveragroupmovestoanewsectoronthemap,theGroupLeadermustvisitheadquarterstomovethegroup'sbanner.Toavoidconfusion,theadministratorsshouldmovethebannersforthegroups. Beforeplaybegins,eachgroupwillwritetheirtablenumberontheirbanner.WhenaplayerfirstdeliverstheirbannertoHQ,checkthatithastheirtablenumberonit! Allbannersstartinthesamesectors(unlessplayersusetheCloaksabilitytoteleport):

Track Starting Sector 1: Lion L-A: Frozen Bay

2: Eagle E-A: Phlan

3: Broadsword B-A: Castle Dungeons

Boons Duringplay,groupsearnspecialbenefitsthataffectothertables.ThesearecalledBoons.Theadventurepackscontainhandoutsforeveryboononthetrack. Eachboonappliestoaspecifiedtrack.Whentheboonisearned,thegroupcanawardittoatableonthattrack,orhandittotheadministrators.Theadministratorsthenawarditontheirbehalf.

Victory Points Aseachgroupcompletesencounters,theyearnvictorypoints.VictorypointcountersaretakentoHQandaddedtothetrack'svictorypool.

Eachtrackneedsanappropriatecontainerforitsvictorypool.Whencountersareadded,theCommandermustkeepatallyoftherunningtotal.

Interactiveeventsoccurwhenthevictorypoolreachescertainthresholds(seeInteractiveEventsbelow).Whentheeventbegins,calculatetheamountofvictorypointsneededforeachinteractiveevent.

Attheendoftheevent,collectthetrackingsheetfromeachgroup.Thegroupthatrecordedthemostvictorypointsontheirtrackingsheetwinsaprize.Ifneeded,thiscanbeannouncedaftertheeventvianoticeboardoroverawebsite.

Final Hour Thegameendsafterfourhours.Atthispoint,theEpicStaffannouncewhichtrackssucceededorfailed. Inthefinalhour,itisimportantthattheadministratorsbuildsuspensearoundthesuccessorfailureofeachtrack(forthisreason,thetotalinthevictorypoolshouldbekeptsecret).TheEpicStaffshouldvisitdifferentgroupstoencouragethemandspreadexcitement.Inthefinalhour,thetrackvillainsalsoprowlbetweentables(seeTrackVillains,below).

Interactive Events Eachtrackhasinteractiveelementsthataffectothertracks. Whenaninteractiveelementoccurs,theadministratorsraiseacoloredflagatheadquartersandmakeanannouncement(seeAnnouncements,below).

Victory Pool Events TheCommandershouldkeeptrackofthevictorypoolandbereadyforthefollowingevents.

Victory Pool Threshold 1: Unlock Allied Sector Thefirstvictorypoolthresholdunlocksaninaccessiblesectoronanothertrack.Tounlockthesector,thetrackmustaccumulatethefollowingamountofvictorypoints:

5victorypointsmultipliedbythenumberoftablesparticipatingonthetrack.

Whenthevictorypoolreachesthisthreshold,consultthefollowingtabletoseewhichsectorisunlocked:

Unlocking Sectors Victory Pool  Sector Unlocked 1: Lion  B‐D: Maze of Ruins (Track 3). 

Raise purple flag. 2: Eagle  L‐D: Old Phlan (Track 1). 

Raise yellow flag. 3: Broadsword  E‐D: Grass Sea (Track 2). 

Raise blue flag. 

Example:FivegroupsareparticipatingonTrack1.Whentheirvictorypoolreaches25pointsorhigher,theyunlocktheinaccessiblesectoronTrack3.Theadministratorsraisethepurpleflag.

Victory Pool Threshold 2: Win Track Towinthetrack,thetrack'svictorypoolmustequalorexceedthefollowingthreshold:

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 3 

20victorypointsmultipliedbythenumberoftablesparticipatingonthetrack.

Thesuccessorfailureofeachtrackmustbekeptsecretuntiltheendoftheevent.

Example:EightgroupsareparticipatingonTrack3.Towinthetrack,theirvictorypoolmustequalorexceed160points.

Extending the Event Due to its open structure, Reclamation of Phlan can be extended to run comfortably for up to 8 hours. For each additional hour that the event runs for, change the calculation for winning the track as follows: 

5 Hours: 23 victory points multiplied by the number of tables participating on the track 

6 Hours: 26 victory points multiplied by the number of tables participating on the track 

7 Hours: 29 victory points multiplied by the number of tables participating on the track 

8 Hours: 32 victory points multiplied by the number of tables participating on the track 

Victory Missions Theadministratorswillassignthefollowingspecialqueststoindividualgroups.Onlythechosengroupplaysthequest.VictoryMissionsresolvepivotalmomentsinthebattleforPhlan.TheyalsodeterminethefateofkeyNPCsintheongoingstoryline.

Unlocking Victory Missions  Trigger  Mission   Track Start of Event 

1: Lighting the Beacon 

 1: Lion (Sector L‐A) 

Victory Mission 1 Complete 

2: Bomb the Gate  2: Eagle (Sector E‐A) 

Victory Mission 2 Complete 

3: The Pool of Radiance 

2: Eagle (Sector E‐D) 

Victory Mission 3 Complete 

4: Raise Doomguide Glandon 

1: Lion (Sector L‐E) 

Victory Mission 4 Complete 

5: Trap Tyranthraxus 

3:Broadsword (Sector B‐E) 

Whenavictorymissionistriggered,theEpicStaffusethewarmaptopickagroupinthelistedsector.Theadministratorsthenaskthegroupiftheywishtoplaythemission. VictoryMissionscannotbeassignedinthelast30minutesofplay.

Beginning a Victory Mission Ifthegroupacceptsthemission,theyhaveachoice:

Abandonanyongoingencounterorquest.Anyspellslotsthatcharactersexpendedintheabandonedepisodearerestored,andthecharactersregainanyhitpointstheylost.

Finishtheircurrentencounterorquestbeforeplayingthevictorymission.

Play Mission Theadventurecontainsrulesforplayingvictorymissions,includingrewards.Whenthemissioniscomplete,thegroupwillnotifytheadministratorsoftheirsuccessorfailure.

Success: Assign Victory Points Ifthegroupcompletesthemission,eachtrack'svictorypoolreceivestwovictorypointsforeverytableparticipatingonthattrack!TheCommanderssimplyaddthistotheaccumulatedtotal.

Failure: Reassign Mission Ifthegroupfailsthemission,theadministratorscanassignittoanothergroupintheirsector.Themissionmustbeasuccesstounlockthenextvictorymission.

Track Villains Eachtrackhasavillainthatmovesfromtable‐to‐table,attackingdifferentgroups.TheCommanderscontrolthesevillains.Villainsenterplayatthefollowingtimes:

Unlocking Victory Missions  Trigger  Villain   Track Victory Mission 3 complete or final hour begins 

Narle Shieldbiter 

2: Eagle (Sector E‐D). Raise red flag 

Victory mission 4 complete or final hour begins 

Glandon the Vampire 

 1: Lion (Sector L‐E). Raise black flag 

Victory Mission 5 complete or final hour begins 

Vorgansharax  3: Broadsword (Sector B‐E). Raise green flag 

Villainscannotenterplayuntiltwohoursofplayhavepassed.Forfullrulesonvillains,seetheControllingTrackVillainssectionbelow.

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Blowing the Stojanow Gate GroupsonTrack3cannotuseBoonsfromothertracksuntiltheStojanowGateisdestroyed.ThisoccurswhentheBombtheGatevictorymissioniswon.WhentheBombtheGatemissioniswon,raisetheorangeflagandreadtheDestroyStojanowGateannouncement.

Flag Summary Flag    Event Yellow   Sector L‐D: Old Phlan (Track 1) unlocked Blue    Sector E‐D: Grass Sea (Track 2) unlocked Purple  Sector B‐D: Maze of Ruins (Track 3) 

unlocked Black    Track 1 villain in play  Red    Track 2 villain in play  Green    Track 3 villain in play Orange  Stojanow Gate destroyed. Groups on Track 

3 can now use Boons received from other tracks. 

Controlling Track Villains 1. Introducing Villains Villainsentersthegamewhengroupscompletevictorymissions,orthefinalhourofplaybegins.Whenavillainawakes,theadministratorswill:

Placethevillainbannerontheappropriatesectorofthetrack'swarmap

RaisetheappropriateflagatHQ Readtheappropriateannouncement.

2. Moving the Villain Thecommanderusesthewarmaptotargetagroupinthesamesectorasthevillain(orthenearestgroupifnoothergroupsarepresent).Theadministratorsmovethevillain'sbanneradjacenttothetargetedgroup'sbanner,andthecommanderseeksoutthetable.

Arriving at the Table Whenthevillainsarrivesatthetable,theDMreadstheappropriateintroductionfromtheadventurebooklet.Resolveasingleroundofcombatagainstthevillain(see"FightingtheVillain",below).

Moving on Whenoneroundofcombatiscomplete,thevillainmovesontotargetanothergroup.Thevillainmustattackallgroupsinitssectoratleastoncebeforemovingtoanewsector.Toattackagroupasecond

time,thevillainmustattackeveryothergrouppresentinthesamesector.

Administrator Assistance Inlargeevents,anassistantcantargetgroupsforthecommanderaheadoftime,andrelaythetablenumbersinpersonorviainstantmessage.

3. Fighting the Villain Battlesagainstthevillainusesthefollowingstepsasitmovestoandfromdifferenttables.

Step A. Determine Initiative Combatoccursoutsidethenormalinitiativeorder.Anymonsterspresentwhenthevillainarrivesdonotparticipateinthebattle.Eachvillainbehavesdifferently:GlandontheVampire:

Duetohismasteryoverthemists,Glandontakeshisturnfirst.Thecommanderwillresolvetheseattacks.IftheplayershaveBoonL‐5B:MistsofRavenloft,theyactbeforethevampire.

WhenGlandonisdone,eachcharactertakesafreeturn.Theplayerscantaketheirturnsinanyorder.

NarleShieldbiter:

Duetohismasteryoverhissteed,Narletakeshisturnfirst.Thecommanderwillresolvetheseattacks.IftheplayersuseBoonL‐1A:EyesonHigh,theyactbeforeNarlebutdonotgainsurprise.

WhenNarleisdone,eachcharactertakesafreeturn.Theplayerscantaketheirturnsinanyorder.

Vorgansharax:

Vorgansharaxisslow,sothegroupalwaysgoesfirst.Eachcharactertakesafreeturn.Theplayerscantaketheirturnsinanyorder.

Keeptrackofhowmuchdamageeachcharacterdealstothedragon.

Attheendofeachcharacter'sturn,Vorgansharaxcanchoosetoexpendoneofitsthreelegendaryactions.

Step B. The Villain Attacks Eachvillainattacksdifferently:GlandontheVampire:

Atthestartofhisturn,Glandonregenerates20hitpointsifhehasatleast1hitpointandisn'tinsunlightorrunningwater.Ifhetookradiant

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 5 

damageordamagefromholywaterduringhispreviousattack,thistraitdoesnotfunction.

IfGlandonactsbeforethecharacters,heusescharmtotargetanyobviousspellcasters.

IfGlandonactsafterthecharacters,heusesmultiattacktograppleandbitethecharacterwhodealtthemostdamagetohim.

Attheendofeachplayer'sturn,Glandoncanchoosetoexpendoneofhislegendaryactions.NarleShieldbiter:Narleandhismanticoresharethesamestatblock.Onhisturn,Narletakesthefollowingactions:

IfNarleactsbeforetheplayers,heopenswithasalvofromhismanticore'stailspikes.Iftheplayersactbeforehim,hedoesnotusethispower.

Narlethenusesmultiattacktoattackthreetimeswithhisgreataxe.

Attheendofeachplayer'sturn,Narlecanchoosetoexpendoneofhislegendaryactions.Vorgansharax:Onitsturn,Vorgansharaxtakesthefollowingactions:

Ifthegroupdealsacombinedtotaloflessthan25damageperconsciouscharactertothedragon,itunleashesitsbreathweaponagainstthegroup.

Ifthegroupdealsacombinedtotalequaltoorgreaterthan25damageperconsciouscharactertothedragon,itusesitsmultiattackinstead;attackingdifferenttargetswitheachattack.

Step C. Hit points Eachvillainhasadifferentcalculationforhitpoints:GlandontheVampire:Glandonhashitpointsequalto25multipliedbythenumberoftablesparticipatinginTrack1(minimum144hitpoints).Forexample,iftentablesparticipate,Glandonhas250hitpoints.NarleShieldbiter:Narlehashitpointsequalto60multipliedbythenumberoftablesparticipatinginTrack2(minimum200hitpoints).Forexample,iffivetablesparticipate,Narlehas300hitpoints.Vorgansharax:Vorgansharaxhashitpointsequalto80multipliedbythenumberoftablesparticipatinginTrack3(minimum400hitpoints).Forexample,iffivetablesparticipate,Vorgansharaxhas400hitpoints.

Step D. Leaving the Table Wheneveryonehasacted,thevillainmovestoanothertable.

Step E. Chasing the Vampire (Track 1 only) IfGlandonretreatsbeforethegroupcanusetheir"GulthiasStake"boon(seebelow),oneplayercanfollowhim.Thatplayerleavesthetablewiththecommanderanddeliversthe"GulthiasStake"boontothenextgroupGlandonattacks.Thecharacterjoinsthattableforthecombat,andthenreturnstotheirowngroup‐unlesstheychoosetochasethevampirefurther!

Step F. Defeating the Villain Thevillaindiesifitdropsto0hitpoints.

Thegroupthatkilledthevillainearns5victorypointsandgainstheuseofanothershortrest.

Addonevictorypointtothetrack'svictorypoolforeverygroupparticipatingonthattrack.

Readtheappropriateannouncement.Glandonthevampireistrickiertoslay.IfGlandondropsto0hitpoints,heturnsintoacloudofmistandescapes.Thegroupearnsonevictorypoint.Glandonregeneratesto50hitpointsandattacksanothertable. ToslayGlandonpermanently,thegroupneedsBoonL‐3A:GulthiasStake.Iftheyhaveit,Glandondieswhenthegroup'sattacksreducehimto0hitpoints.

My Master, Tyranthraxus… Players who have participated in previous multi‐table events that feature dragons may decide to leap onto the dragon's back and follow it. If so, they are in for a surprise! If a character jumps onto the dragon's back, the spirit of Tyranthraxus possesses them! The player must follow the commander to the next table, where their character attacks the group alongside Vorgansharax! After Vorgansharax has taken its turn, the player takes their turn. Only remove curse spell dispels the possession.    The Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide also introduced Tyranthraxus as a warlock patron. If Vorgansharax arrives at a table that contains a warlock with this patron, the warlock is instantly possessed and leaps onto the dragon's back! At the end of the event, any warlock characters that have pacts with Tyranthraxus retain them: indicating that its spirit still lives.  

Announcements Whenaneventoccurs,theEpicStaffshouldreadtheboxedtextaloudtoallplayers.

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 6 

Mission Briefing (start of event):

You stand on the deck of the Gilded Trophy. It is winter, and 

fog has frozen vast swathes of the Moonsea. Summoned by 

your factions, you have set sail to reclaim Phlan from the Cult 

of the Dragon! Knight Commander Jhessail Greycastle 

addresses the alliance from the ship's upper deck. 

  "I remember the day the dragon took our town. When that 

green bastard tore the roof from Valjevo Castle, and its cultists 

crawled like vermin from the sewers. My knights failed Phlan 

that day. It was you who saved those refugees, and led them 

on their long journey to Mulmaster! 

  "We've licked our wounds too long! Winter has come, and 

these mists can work in our favor. The dragon has fortified the 

roads into Phlan, but won't be expecting a night attack from 

the frozen sea. It's time to take back what is ours!  

  "We attack in three banners! The lion will cross the ice on 

sleighs to liberate the streets! The eagle will secure the skies 

on griffons! The broadsword will teleport into Valjevo Castle to 

slay the dragon! 

  "The Cult of the Dragon is finished. Together, let us be the 

hammer that seals their coffin forever!"      

Unlocking Sectors Eachtrackhasonesectorthatisinaccessibleuntilanothertrackunlocksit(seeInteractiveEvents,above):

Unlock Track 1 Sector (Sector L-D: Old Phlan)

The magic thicket surrounding Castle Valjevo is ablaze! The 

griffon riders of Group Eagle have fire‐bombed the 

undergrowth, and exposed the gates into the old town. Group 

Lion: the streets of Old Phlan are now unlocked! 

Unlock Track 2 Sector (Sector E-D: Grass Sea)

Word spreads across the alliance that Group Broadsword has 

located the orc hideouts inside the Grass Sea! Group Eagle: 

The Grass Sea is unlocked! 

Unlock Track 3 Sector (Sector B-D: Maze of Ruins)

Alarms sound throughout Valjevo Castle! To the sound of 

marching drums, dozens of black‐clad knights file from the 

castle to deal with the attack on the docks. The diversion is 

working. Group Lion has drawn the enemy from the dragon's 

lair! Group Broadsword: The Maze of Ruins is now unlocked! 

Track Villains Enter Play Eachtrackhasavillainthatmovesfromtable‐to‐tableuntilslain(seeTrackVillains,above):

Track 1 Villain Enters Play

Freezing fog swirls through Phlan, and a mocking laugh echoes 

overhead. Rumors spread that foolhardy adventurers have 

unleashed a vampire in Valhingen Graveyard. Now it prowls 

the streets, hunting for your blood!   

Track 2 Villain Enters Play

Vorgansharax has learned of your actions outside town! Across 

Phlan, the cultists begin to chant: "Shieldbiter! Shieldbiter! 

Shieldbiter!" With a roar, an orog mounted on an armored 

manticore takes off from Valjevo Castle. Narle Shieldbiter of 

the Burning Banner is coming! 

Track 3 Villain Enters Play

A bellowing roar echoes across town! From the heights of 

Valjevo Castle, the green dragon Vorgansharax casts its 

shadow across Phlan! The Maimed Virulence is on the prowl!" 

Track Villains Die

Track 1 Villain Dies

Horns bellow across the battlefield. News reaches you that the 

vampire has been slain by [group name]! All around, the mists 

begin to recede! Group Lion is winning the fight!   

Track 2 Villain Dies

Narle Shieldbiter has been slain in battle by [group name]! 

Across Phlan, the orcs and goblins begin to tremble and rout! 

Group Eagle is winning the fight!   

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 7 

Track 3 Villain Dies

Its death cry echoes for miles. Vorgansharax, the Maimed 

Virulence, Tyrant of the Cinnabar Throne, has fallen in battle! 

In time, word reaches you that the dragon was slain by (group 

name). Broadsword is winning the fight! 

But what of Tyranthraxus? Did its spirit escape? 

… 

Somewhere, deep in Valhingen graveyard, a maimed corpse 

opens its eyes…. 

Destroy Stojanow Gate IfagroupcompletestheBombtheGateVictoryMission,readthefollowing:

Boom! Group Eagle has bombed the Stojanow Gate! A colossal 

explosion rocks Phlan as the gates collapse, and allied soldiers 

pour into the citadel! Group Broadsword: you can now use 

Boons gifted from other tracks! 

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 8 

Appendix 1: War Maps

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 9 

Appendix 1: War Maps (Cont.)

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 10 

Appendix 1: War Maps (Cont.)

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 11 

Appendix 2: Track Banners

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Appendix 2: Track Banners

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 13 

Appendix 2: Track Banners

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DDEP4: Reclamation of Phlan (Admin Doc) 14 

Appendix 3: Villain Banners