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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nebulous" data-source="post: 6522564" data-attributes="member: 31465">Session #15<a href="https://app.box.com/s/1w6fswqz11qlu6fgxmfmeemfo0dr7noi" target="_blank">https://app.box.com/s/1w6fswqz11qlu6fgxmfmeemfo0dr7noi</a>So I'm in the process of incorporating Return to White Plume Mountain from 2e with Lost Mine of Phandelver.  My plan is that the Black Spider was "cursed" by a Keraptis-imprint and was seeking further knowledge and secrets in the region.  Helping the beholder in Mideon was just a stepping stone, for by giving it the Forge of Spells the beholder would in turn help the Black Spider find the weapons of power, at least one of which the Beholder claimed to already know the location (Frostrazor).   During his time spent deciphering an old history book, the Black Spider learned of the mountain and the history, and also copied several spell fragments that were actually K-Imprints.  This cursed him with a partial copy of the wizard's psyche.  Anyone who reads (or maybe even TOUCHES) one of these spell translations has to make a save or be automatically infected (this solves the problem of PCs refusing or neglecting to memorize a spell, which is likely) and immediately draws them into the adventure / drama - "OH CRAP, I HAVE A WEIRD TATTOO AND A NEW SPELL. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME??"The journal that they will find next session in the possession of the Red Wizard necromancer was actually stolen from the Black Spider, and it will be a daily/weekly journal from the drow wizard detailing the history of White Plume Mountain, his search for the artifacts, his meeting the beholder Xezzlolmax, the BS hiring the Redbrands in Phandalin, his kidnapping of Gundren from Neverwinter and the quest for the Forge of Spells to trade with the Beholder for information regarding the weapons of power, Frostrazor, Whelm, Wave and Blackrazor.I'm just spelling it out here in this thread to further cement it in my own head so it will flow more smoothly as I explain it to players.  Giving them a journal with handwritten explanations by a foe they've already slain (and who is reanimated as an undead servant by the beholder mage) will draw them into the story far better than giving them no reason at all to find the Mountain (which is very, very close to The Mine That was Lost But is Now Found of Phandelver)LASTLY - Sildar Hallwinter and Gundren are about to return from Neverwinter with a regiment of 20 heavily armed soldiers to take the mine by force, but how that will play out I have no clue.</blockquote>

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