Wizards of the Coast has unveiled new details about Dungeons & Dragons‘ upcoming return to a beloved setting in Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk.
In Phandelver and Below, D&D makes a return to the famous region of its first Starter Kit for 5E, Lost Mine of Phandelver. The new adventure module expands on the town of Phandalin, following a tale of consuming darkness that could spell doom for Faerûn. The physical release of the book and (its variant cover) arrives on September 19. However, players can access it early through a digital version on D&D Beyond beginning September 5. The official Dungeons & Dragons website will also sell a digital/physical bundle.
D&D players face a strange corruption in Phandelver and Below
“In Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk, players are immersed in a story that gets stranger and becomes more ominous as the adventure goes on,” said Amanda Hamon, the Senior Designer in the D&D Studio who took lead on the book’s design. “Once the nature of the threat to Phandalin becomes clear, the characters must race against the clock to save this beloved town against classic D&D villains we’ve given a fresh, terrifying twist.”
Key features of Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk include a classic dungeon crawl with an element of horror. The adventure also adds 20 new creatures to the bestiary, many of which use the relatively rare psionic magic. In many cases, the unexplained corruption has mutated the creatures beyond recognition. Phandelver and Below’s designers claim this corruption features beyond the characters and beasts in the story.
“The corruption doesn’t appear only in the story’s characters and locations, it is a part of how the book’s art and visual design shifts, too,” said Bree Heiss, the D&D Studio’s Art Director. “We wanted to create an immersive and thoughtful experience for the players that was as visually compelling as the story is exciting.”
Dungeons & Dragons’ Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk releases in book format on September 19. A digital version launches through D&D Beyond on September 5.
