Rime of the Frostmaiden Chapter 2 | The Lost Spire of Netheril 

Is no one gonna talk about that AMAZING map transition at the beginning of the video?!

Dzan used a spell scroll to cast simulacrum. He was not that powerful, and the book states that he was disguised but was discovered by how he talked.

Great video! Really nice to have the dungeon map animated for easy navigation:)

Just started DM'ing for my kids after playing back the 90's. Your videos are very helpful, it breaks up the monotony after reading rules books.

I like that when I read in the book and say to myself "Im not doing that", "or this makes no sense" or "why would I give them these potions" - you point out the exact same things. Its a good sanity check

"Speaking of useless, there is four potions of resistance in the chest." hahahahahaha

Awesome review and summarization! - I believe it mentions in the book that Dzaan used a spell scroll of simulacrum, not an actual spell slot. :)

These are so helpful. I have used your videos for every thing in the adventure that I have ran so far! I am going to make you an NPC in the game!

Simulacrum is a construct, cannot heal, gain levels, or learn new spells, or regain expended spell slots - but is otherwise a fully fledged NPC The Chest with the disintegrating spellbook is a treasure itself ... and quite useful Dzaan used a spell scroll, he's only 9th level - He was captured by the Easthaven town guard after killing too many people, they have 13 veterans and up to 150 soldiers, caught him alone and by surprise and know how to capture a wizard, they gagged and bound him ...

the spell book in the chest most likely contained spells that are now forbidden by Mistral

The 2D effect stuff is really cool, especially when you descend! 6:20

Since books are mostly flavor, I added some spice to them and gave them a page count and reading time (downtime hours), along with a completion bonus that would grant an advantage on checks relating to X. So the Wizard in the Hallow gets on Netheril History checks. Mysteries of the Phaerimm give an advantage in tracking and identify Phaerimm activity and so on. This helps with downtime activity but does not cause a major upheaval (like, we want people to have successful checks right?)

One thing to note is that the original Dzaan's spellbook is in the Easthaven town hall. So you might have gotten it or found it in the Town Hall Capers (or maybe as a part of reward for the Cauldron Caves). In my story, I made it such that the real Dzaan was out traveling and gathering supplies when the formerly hired (betrayer) adventurers broke into the spire (after they saw him leave) and they tried to steal things. Dzaan's simulacrum was there, though, and he used a few spells to kill many of those adventurers, and the ones who got back to Easthaven concocted a story about it. The real Dzaan didn't know he was wanted in Easthaven while he traveled, so when the militia cornered him, he didn't want to cause a scene over some small squabble/confusion (because "he" hadn't done anything wrong) -- by the time he realized he was being detained for murder he was bound/gagged and unable to cast any spells. The witnesses of course identified Dzaan as the killer and he was burned alive. (I just like that his twin did something to get him in trouble and he wasn't prepared for it.)

thank you for all this ! you're great !

Yeah, it's worth the extra time and effort! I'm a sucka for smooth video editing and wish I could find a way to incorporate it into my face-to-face game ;0)

Dzann was obviously a problematic wizard that got placed in the Icewind Dale because of his ineptitude. (My idea). He was either a drunken lout, not skilled with adventuring or both to be overtaken by Towners. Order perhaps the goliath were-bear and her crew came in to deal with the Wizard. They do not like Towners much but this Red Wizard was going to cause issues due to some portents that their shaman saw. So maybe they came into town seeking this potential troublemaker and helped the Towners take him down. (My idea)

Even a level 20 wizard can have a bad day.

Ooph. Even with the up down distinction, I've played characters that get easily confused. Sounds like a fun time. "They're attacking from the ceiling!!" My Character: *looks down* "Huh?" *dies*

Party goliath understood gravity and noted the cracked glass underfoot and frozen multicolored ground. I had him roll 4 consecutive dex checks with increasing difficulty as all 4 dropped (since nobody else was within reach) end result: 3/4 potions caught

ooh, look at your new fancy graphic effect! i like it!!!

Why are the statues in p1 upright? If the floor is the ceiling?

I'm a dad DM - old and rusty. What potions did you use instead of the resistance ones that were listed in the book??

maybe I missed it, but how is the party supposed to get to the chests on the ceiling? They would only be level 4/5 at this point so wouldn't readily have access to a fly spell or anything. Would climbing gear be sufficient? Thanks!

From this Spire and the help of Dzaan's simulacrum who with the help of my character to become a real person so the new Dzaan he helped my character to get a Half-Plate Armor to the chagrin, of our party Goliath Barbarian who made his own Half-Plate he made by adding onto a Breast Plate he got so my character got a free Half-Plate

Can't find your Discord link