THE DUERGAR MINDFORGE

The Duergar Mindforge is a Fifth Edition adventure for three to five characters of 6th to 8th level and optimized for four characters with an average party level (APL) of 7. A mercenary band of dark dwarves has discovered an ancient forge thought lost to time. Their psionic master has corrupted it and is creating weapons for the forces of Deepshade to rise again.

This adventure takes place in the Freelands campaign setting but fits into any existing campaign with only a few modifications and name changes. 

Background

The duergar psionic master, Grondar, has long been obsessed with the power of the mind and has spent years searching for a way to harness that power for his personal gain. When he and his band of duergar raiders discovered the ancient ruins of a long-lost dwarven forge hidden deep in the mountains, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to achieve his goals. The forge holds the legendary Ironsong, whose flames can manufacture magical weapons and armor.

Grondar and his duergar set to work, using his psionic powers and living sacrifices to corrupt Ironsong into a forge capable of imbuing weapons with psionic power—a Mindforge. They began producing powerful psionic weapons, including swords and shields imbued with psychic energy, and selling them to the highest bidder.

As word of Grondar's activities spread, it attracted the attention of the Stormbelly dwarves, the original owners of the forge before they were forced out of their home by the Dark Horde thousands of years ago. Unwilling to let the dark dwarves twist their long-lost legacy, Admiral Joslyn Stormbelly gathered her crew to reclaim the Ironsong and take down Grondar and his duergar. The oceanic dwarves met resistance from Grondar's allies, including drow, ogres, and deep gnomes, who each see the Mindforge as a source of power for their clans.

Admiral Stormbelly believes her forces can distract Grondar’s allies while a smaller group can sneak behind the enemy lines and assault the forge directly. As each day passes, Grondor’s control over the Mindforge increases, and he can forge more weapons to defeat the oceanic dwarven forces.

Adventure Summary

The party begins their adventure by sneaking through a treacherous mountain pass to avoid the enemy army guarding the main path to the Ironsong forge. They must make their way through the pass, using their stealth and cunning to evade detection. Once they reach the forge, they must confront the duergar guards and make their way inside.

Inside the forge, the party must battle through the duergar defenders and overcome the traps and defenses that the mercenaries have set up. They find a potential ally in Jhalszar T'azza, a captured drow spy who was trying to gather information on missing drow from her clan. 

Finally, the party reaches the forge, where they find the duergar psionic master waiting for them. Grondar is powerful and well-prepared for their arrival, aided by a dark iron construct he manufactured using the Mindforge and drow sacrifices. The party must defeat Grondar and reclaim the forge for the Stormbelly clan before Grondar can secure his position even further.

Adventure Includes:

• 18-Page Adventure PDF

• 2 VTT Ready Maps by the MAD Cartographer

• 4 New Monsters

• 1 New Magic Item

• 11 VTT Tokens