Gloom Tunes!

It’s time to put another brilliant miniature sculpt under the microscope and build a one-shot DnD encounter around it! This new NPC mini is that good!

Today’s featured 3D-printed miniature is the work of Claymore Miniatures. Like many creators on MyMiniFactory.com, they offered a free trial, and 3DRPG snatched it up. That particular month included The Soloist, and we instantly downloaded it.

Fast-forward to resident painter Kimmy Utah, who worked her usual brush magic to deliver a bone-chilling performance. She beautifully captured the swirling movements of the sheet music and cello. We can practically hear the speedy tune from 3DRPG Studios in sunny Chandler, AZ.

So, which comes first — the DnD campaign need or the print itself? We’ve explained in the past that our ongoing campaigns usually dictate what we print and paint in any given week. However, sometimes the STL is so epic that we print the mini or scatter terrain piece first and then backfill an encounter behind it.

So, even though we 3D printed and painted this undead musician first, it turns out we have a timely opportunity to insert him into our current DnD work campaign. We love it when that type of DnD coincidence happens by accident. 🙂

Our party of daring adventurers just stormed the Witch’s cabin in The Highwood Forest, and it was an absolute bloodbath. The party was inadvertently split thanks to an unexpected pit trap (and a series of terrible player rolls).

From there, her undetectable mimics overwhelmed the remaining characters, and one player was quickly killed! Then, one of the other players betrayed the party (by making a side deal with the Night Hag), which led to two more players being turned to stone! It was absolute chaos! 

DM Ben had worked behind the scenes with the sneaky Bard (who wanted to make a different character), and the player’s faces during the betrayal were priceless. He never wants someone to think he/she is stuck with a character, so if they came to him on the side and asked for a change, this DM was happy to accommodate the request and write it into the campaign storyline. 

Our two new characters (a monk and a sorcerer) stormed the Witch’s cabin and rescued the remaining players (with some Restoration Potions). Rumors swirled in Waterdeep of several adventurers turning to stone while attempting to find the kidnapped kiddos, so they were prepared for this tactic.

The witch fled the scene shortly after dismantling most of the party (thanks, Etherealness spell) as she knew the jig was up and had to find a new hideout. She was in a hurry and left some critical items and much of her lair completely intact.

We’re all super excited about the players creating their own Bastion and building it up over time, especially because the new 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide has a whole new section on this topic, including several cool random encounter tables. So, we’re going to use an empty cube here in the office and build out their new hideout with 3D-printed terrain as they work to make it their own.

So, how might we integrate our undead cellist?! During the rescue, the players discovered an underground secret passage within her basement. DM Ben added a few hidden rooms to elevate the overall spookiness. They’re going to explore these mysterious tunnels for our next December game session, so the timing of it all couldn’t be better! 

As the players enter the secret tunnel, they will hear faint cello music echoing off the cavern walls. After all, you’ll never find better acoustics! As they walk towards the sound of the beautiful music score, they ultimately come to an empty room with nothing but this floating spirit strumming his cello.

Our new NPC was captured by the Night Hag long ago (as he attempted unsuccessfully to rescue his own child). Henndi Jemricks was a gifted member of the Water Deep Symphony but was never a skilled fighter by any means. However, he desperately wanted to save his firstborn. Of course, his rescue attempt failed miserably, and his spirit was indebted to the Witch forever. That’s right, poor Henndi became her record player, as it were.

Freeing poor Henndi Jemricks will be a mission for later. For now, they learn that he’s stuck down here, but his instrument wields immense power, and unlocking it is up to the players.

His brilliant musical scores create the following:

• magical potions
• one-off scrolls
• make a clearing in the forest
• even construct an addition to the cabin

Basically, they just found their own unique Muiscial Genie-us! Get it?! Buhahahaha. Upon hearing the evil Witch is gone, a stunned Mr. Jemricks will grant the players an initial wish (a healing potion for each player) as a thank you.

Beyond that, DM Ben intentionally is keeping the other possibilities wide open to see what the group wishes for and how the players might appease him in order to have their next request granted.

Until next time!