[IC] The Journey to Phandalin


"I see. Well, then perhaps it's time for a bit of a story." Sildar clears his throat.
"About five hundred years ago, a group of dwarf and gnome prospectors stumbled across a series of particularly rich mines, deep in the hills around the village of Phandalin. The caverns containing these mines came to be known collectively as Wave Echo Cave.
"The dwarf and gnome clans responsible for the find decided to strike a bargain to share the mines, since their riches were vast and sufficient for everyone. This deal was known to history as the Phandelver's Pact.
"However, it soon became clear that Wave Echo Cave held much more than just a lucrative mining claim, when a nexus of great magical power was discovered there. So the dwarves and gnomes sought the help of human wizards to channel and bind that energy into a great forge, called the Forge of Spells, where magical items could be crafted.
"Times were good, and much wealth flowed from the mines through the nearby town of Phandalin, bringing prosperity to all. But then disaster struck when a vile horde of orcs swept through the north and laid waste to everything in their path. Phandalin was sacked, and the secret location of Wave Echo Cave was soon uncovered by the orcish horde.
"Reinforced by evil mercenary wizards, the orcs laid siege to Wave Echo Cave, hoping to claim its riches and magical treasures for themselves. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost.
"In the centuries since then, many adventurers and treasure seekers have tried in vain to find the hidden mine and salvage its buried riches. But only in recent years have more practical prospectors returned to the area, seeking new claims in the otherwise rich hills. The abandoned town of Phandalin was resettled, and now serves the rough-and-tumble mining community of this frontier region.
"Among those prospectors were the three Rockseeker brothers: Gundren, Tharden and Nundro. Somehow they managed to succeed where so many others had failed, and found the hidden entrance to Wave Echo Cave. And, being the enterprising dwarves they are, they immediately got to work on reopening the mines for their profit."