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.



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:



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




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)


3: The Pool of Radiance

2: Eagle (Sector E‐D)


4: Raise Doomguide Glandon

1: Lion (Sector L‐E)


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.



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



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.



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!


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!


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!


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!




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!



Appendix 1: War Maps



Appendix 1: War Maps (Cont.)



Appendix 2: Track Banners



Appendix 3: Villain Banners

step 1. prepare war maps administrative guidance

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