Mike’s free Encounter #22

Frostcursed Docks

A CR 9 Encounter

by Dr. Michael LaBossiere

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers
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Hero Lab and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com System Reference Document 5.0 Copyright 2016, Wizards
of the Coast, Inc.

Copyright 2019 Dr. Michael LaBossiere

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MFE#22 1

CREDITS
Author: Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere
Cover Illustration: Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere
Cartographer: Dr. Michael C. LaBossiere
Additional Art: Ice texture designed by
freestockcenter / Freepik.
Some artwork copyright Michael
C. LaBossiere
Contents
Credits ................................................................ 2
Contents ............................................................. 2
Introduction ....................................................... 2
History/Background ........................................... 2
Getting the PCs Involved .................................... 4
Map Key ............................................................. 4
Encounter ............ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Hook? ................................................................. 7
Free Stuff! .......................................................... 7
Free Map Collections ..................................... 7
Free Rules ....................................................... 7
Free Encounters ............................................. 7
Stuff to Buy! .................................................... 7
Adventures ..................................................... 7
About the Author ............................................... 9
Map .................................................................. 10
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2
INTRODUCTION
This is the 22nd in an ongoing series aimed to
provide the overworked DM with ready-to run
encounters. The PCs face off against the
Frostcursed at the docks.
It includes a history/background for the
encounter, a map, and monster stats.
The companion ZIP file contains JPEG
versions of the maps (with and without grid), a
Hero Lab file, the Word file of the encounter, and
a PDF with character sheets for all the monsters.
HISTORY/BACKGROUND
The Ironpick clan of dwarves rose to fortune
and prominence by following the dogma and
dictates of their deity, Therl. While almost as
greedy as Abbathor, Therl takes a much more
organized approach to his evil. He commands
that his worshippers live within a strict hierarchy
built upon economic class. This is known as the
Doctrine of Wealth. Because the lower classes
are so much worse off and the upper classes so
well off, worshipers are obsessed with increasing
their wealth and are willing to do almost anything
to this end.
Knowing that utter selfishness would destroy
any society, Therl also imposes upon his
followers the Doctrine of Social Debt: his
followers are forbidden from acting in ways that
would destroy their society and each member
must have at least some chance of accumulating
wealth. Therl also forbids theft, narrowly defined,
between his worshippers.
For centuries the Ironpick clan balanced these
two requirements: their elites acted to
concentrate wealth in their hands but were
careful to allow the underclasses enough
opportunity to keep them from rebelling. The clan
thus rose to prominence and eventually used their
wealth to create their own city, Theroria, within
the stone of Mount Gelida. While cold and harsh,
Gelida contained great mineral and metal wealth,
including diamonds.
For decades the lower classes of the Ironpick
clan toiled away within the mountain, mining gold
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and diamonds for the upper classes and society
stayed stable. The status quo endured until the
arrival of an agent of Durakor, a demon lord of the
undead, posing as the dwarf Hubren.
At first, Hubren offered the Ironpick elites his
knowledge of improved mining and smelting
techniques. Once he had gained their trust and
determined their weaknesses, he offered them a
replacement for their labor force: zombie miners.
The elites had considered using zombies as
miners, but they did not have enough priests and
clerics to animate and control a viable undead
labor force. Hubren solved their problem by
providing task masters who could control large
numbers of zombies. While a few of the mining
elites opposed the idea, they soon met with
unfortunate (but plausible) accidents and the
zombies were deployed.
Realizing they no longer needed to pay the
underclasses to mine, the elites stopped doing so.
The miners then appealed to Lady Morellena, the
leader of the clan. Unfortunately for them, she
was profiting handsomely from the zombie labor
force. When the miners tried to start mining on
their own, warriors were sent to stop them, and
dwarven blood was shed.
Realizing that the social order was being
threatened, the High Priest Herrel took up the
cause of the miners and beseeched the Lady
Morellena to send the zombies and Hubren away.
The Lady Morellena wavered, for she respected
the wisdom of her husband Herrel. Seeing this,
Hubren persuaded another priest, Relleg, to
arrange a fatal mining accident for Herrel.
Upon learning of the death of Herrel, the
miners rose up and civil war erupted within the
city. Since the underclasses had the greater
number, the matter would have been settled
quickly but for the intervention of Hubren—he
brought powerful undead into the fight on the side
of the elite.
Therl sent warnings in the form of visions to
Relleg, but Relleg had been seduced by the
wealth and power offered by Durakor and ignored
these warnings. So the war raged on.
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3
When the undead and elites eventually won the
civil war, they set about converting their prisoners
into undead miners and Relleg turned the
temples of Therl into temples of Durakor.
Therl responded with the Frostcurse. This
curse plunged the mountain into perpetual winter,
transformed the diamonds the undead mined into
ice, and turned the dwarves into frozen corpses.
Durakor intervened on behalf of his followers,
transforming them into frozen undead. Whatever
his other flaws, Durakor’s devotion to his faithful
is a thing of legend.
The few living dwarves who escaped the civil
war brought word of these events to other
dwarves. When they learned that the city was now
haunted with undead, several dwarven clans
contributed funds to build guard posts to watch
the mountain. Fortunately, the frozen undead
could not endure long outside of the freezing cold
and proved vulnerable to fire. They also proved
little inclined to leave their cursed city—the elite
continued to direct their undead miners to add to
their ever-increasing but utterly useless wealth.
While the curse transformed the mined
diamonds into ice, the vast wealth of a dwarven
city remains within the mountain, tempting
adventurers and the Ironpick survivors.
During the construction of the city, the
Ironpicks found a great under ground river and
decided to use it as a means of transportation.
Since dwarves are not particularly skilled at
building wooden ships and they found
transporting trees into the depths challenging,
they decided to play to their strengths and
constructed stone vessels. The early attempts
often proved unsuccessful and many rest on the
bottom of the river. Eventually, they were able to
hit on effective designs and soon they were
transporting large quantities of ore via the river.
The dwarfs found that they were not the only
ones using the river—the cargo ships occasionally
encountered what they called river worms—giant
eel-like creatures that could devour a whole crew.
To protect their precious cargos, the dwarfs
constructed a force of fighting galleys suitable to
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battling the river worms and any other intruders
that might threaten to disrupt the flow of wealth
from the poor miners to the rich owners.
These ships operated out of various docks
along the river until the Frostcurse froze the river.
Some vessels were mid journey when the curse
struck and they remain frozen in the ice.
GETTING THE PCS
INVOLVED
There are a variety of ways to get the PCs
involved in the encounter. One option is to have
the PCs wander into the cursed city, the classic
random encounter.
Another option is for the PCs to be in the area
for a reason. This could be because they were
hired by dwarves to scout the city or because they
are investigating the tales of the lost wealth of this
cursed city. This encounter can easily be tied in
with Mike’s Free Encounter #15: Dwarven Guard
Post , Mike’s Free Encounter #17: Frostcursed
Guard Post,Mike’s Free Encounter #19:
Corporagelida, Mike’s Free Encounter
#20:Frostcursed Headless, and Mike’s Free
Encounter 21: Frostcursed Forge.
MAP KEYS
The encounter takes place within the fallen city
of the Frostcursed.
The encounter area is dark and the vaulted
ceiling is 40 feet high at the highest point. The
frozen river lies 5 feet below the stoned docks,
which are slick with ice. The stone doors (each
door is AC 17 HP 18) are locked (DC 15 Dexterity
(Thieves’ Tools)).
DOCKS
1-2. Corridor: A corridor leading to the docks.
3. Dock Yard: This open are was used to hold
cargo that was to be loaded or removed. There
are numerous old boxes and barrels of long
frozen food, drink and other mundane items.
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4
Stone stevedores, Garum and Frostcursed
dockworkers stand about this area, rimed with
frost and waiting for their return to work. The
stevedores and Garum can easily be mistaken for
stone statues.
3. Bridge: The bridge is slick with cursed ice and
is considered difficult terrain. Anyone using the
dash action must make a DC 10 Dexterity
(Acrobatics) check to avoid falling prone. A
creature pushed back on the ice will move an
extra 5 feet.
4. Valuable Cargo: This room is used to store
valuable cargo awaiting transport. While the
religion of the Ironpicks forbids outright theft,
creative acquisition still occurred. There are six
barrels of frozen elven wine, twelve locked chests
(DC 20 Dexterity(Thieves’ Tools) to open) each
holding 1,000 silver coins, and six large boxes
holding 1,000 gp in silver ingots each.
5. Paperwork Room: This room has a desk,
chairs and shelves with the paperwork for the
ships and cargoes. On the table is the paperwork
for the Gold Piece, the stone boat frozen in the ice
at the end of the docks, as well as the amulet of
construct control for the four stone stevedores on
board.
6. Office: The dock master’s office. It features a
desk, paperwork and a long cold fireplace. A floor
safe (DC 20 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tools)) holds the
various payments he received just before the
Frostcurse: 434 gp, 1,212 sp, and 765 cp.
STONE BOAT
The stone boat is a sturdy cargo vessel
designed to ply the great underground river. At
the start of the encounter, the boat is frozen in
the ice at the end of the docks. It could be freed
by the fire elementals from Mike’s Free
Encounter #21: Frostcursed Forge and they can
heat up the bow enough to allow it to operate as
an icebreaker.
MFE#22
Deck 1
1. Open Deck: The open deck area. There are
stone cargo doors and a stone trapdoor.
2. Quarters: The first officer and navigator slept
here on cots.
3. Captain’s Quarters: This cramped stateroom
holds a bed and desk.
4. Galley: The galley has an iron stove and
frozen supplies.
Deck 2
1. Cargo Bay: This is the empty cargo bay.
2. Quarters: The crew slept here on bunk cots.
3-6. Rower’s Stations: The boat is rowed by
stone stevedores. Each station is manned by
one, waiting their command from the wearer of
the amulet.
ENCOUNTER
The encounter will begin when the PCs enter
the dock area. If the PCs are stealthy, they might
be able to surprise the dockworkers and
dockmaster. If the dockworkers become aware of
the PCs, they will yell to alert the dockmaster. If
alerted, the dockmaster will use his amulet to
order the stevedores and Garum to defend the
dock.
The encounter can be adjusted by adding more
monsters or decreasing their number.
Languages Common, Dwarvish
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Cursed Chill. The frostcurse infects the cursed with a
soul deep cold that spreads into their melee weapons.
Melee weapon and unarmed attacks by a frostcursed
inflict an extra 1d6 cold damage.
Stonecunning. Whenever a dwarf makes an Intelligence
(History) check related to the Origin of stonework, they
are considered proficient in the History skill and add
double their Proficiency Bonus to the check, instead of
their normal Proficiency Bonus.
Actions
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature.
Hit: 6 (1d6+3) slashing +1d6 cold damage.
Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target.
Hit: 6 (1d6+3) bludgeoning damage.
Command Construct (1/day). The dockmaster can
attempt to take control of a construct within 30 feet. The
construct must make a DC 12 Charisma saving throw,
and does so with advantage if the dockmaster or its allies
are fighting it. If the construct fails, it is under the mental
control of the dockmaster for 1 minute. Using this ability
requires concentration.
Repair Construct. The dockmaster can magically repair a
construct by touching it. The dockmaster has a pool of 40
hit points it can draw on for these repairs. The pool
replenishes each dawn.
Treasure: Amulet of Construct Control, wand of construct
repair, 1d100 cp, 1d20 sp, 1d10 gp.

Dockmaster Glin Description: Glin was an assistant dock master until he

Frostcursed dwarf profited greatly from taking up the worship of Durakor.
Medium undead, chaotic evil He used his new wealth to bribe his way into his current
dockmaster position which he has held even through his
Armor Class 12 (chain shirt) death.
Hit Points 60 (8d8+24)
Speed 20 ft. Glin is a greedy bureaucrat at heart and will try to avoid
combat, preferring to rely on the stevedores and
STR 16 (+3), DEX 9 (-1), CON 16 (+3), INT 14 (+2), WIS dockworkers. If he feels that he is in danger, he will try to
12 (+1), CHA 14 (+2) flee.

Saving Throws Con +5

Skills Investigation +4, Perception +3, Persuasion +4
Damage Resistances necrotic Frostcursed Dwarf Dockworker
Damage Vulnerabilities fire Frostcursed dwarf
Damage Immunities cold, poison Medium undead, chaotic evil
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
paralyzed, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
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Armor Class 12 (studded leather) paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Hit Points 22 (3d8+9) Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Speed 20 ft. Languages Dwarvish
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
STR 14 (+2), DEX 10 (+0), CON 16 (+3), INT 10 (+0),
WIS 10 (+0), CHA 10 (+0) Actions

Saving Throws Con +5

Damage Resistances necrotic Multiattack. A stone stevedore makes two attacks.
Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Damage Immunities cold, poison Shovel. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, target.
paralyzed, poisoned Hit: 28 (6d6+7) bludgeoning damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Dwarvish Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) creature.
Hit: 25 (4d8+7) bludgeoning damage.

Cursed Chill. The frostcurse infects the cursed with a Description: Garum is a great stone stevedore, carved in
soul deep cold that spreads into their melee weapons. the image of an Ironpick. He wields his great shovel in
Melee weapon and unarmed attacks by a frostcursed battle, though it was normally used to shovel ore and
inflict an extra 1d6 cold damage. coal. Glim’s amulet controls Garum.

Stonecunning. Whenever a dwarf makes an Intelligence

(History) check related to the Origin of stonework, they Stone Stevedore
are considered proficient in the History skill and add Large construct, unaligned
double their Proficiency Bonus to the check, instead of
their normal Proficiency Bonus. Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 76 (8d10+32)
Actions Speed 30 ft.

STR 20 (+5), DEX 9 (-1), CON 18 (+4), INT 4 (-3), WIS 10

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one (+0), CHA 3 (-4)
creature.
Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing +1d6 cold damage. Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
Light Hammer. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20 ft./60 ft., one target. Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage. Languages Dwarvish
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)
Treasure: 1d20 cp, 1d4 sp
Actions
Description: While most dockworkers stayed loyal to
their dwarven deity, some saw opportunity in embracing
Durakor. This opportunity turned out to be death Multiattack. A stone stevedore makes two attacks.
followed by icy undeath.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
creature.
Garum the Great Mover Hit: 14 (2d8+5) bludgeoning damage.
Stone stevedore
Huge construct, unaligned Description: The stone stevedores are constructed in the
likeness of Ironpick dwarves. While made to carry cargo
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) and row the stone boats, they are quite capable in
Hit Points 175 (14d12+84) combat. The stone stevedores in the dock yard are
Speed 30 ft. controlled by Glim’s amulet.

STR 24 (+7), DEX 8 (-1), CON 22 (+6), INT 4 (-3), WIS 10

(+0), CHA 3 (-4)

Damage Immunities poison, psychic

Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened,
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6
 Mike's Free Maps Collection #1
HOOK? Mike's Free Maps Collection #2
The obvious hook for this encounter is more Mike's Free Maps Collection #3
adventure within the Frostcursed city. An entire Mike's Free Maps Collection #4
city of undead certainly provides interesting Mike's Free Maps Collection #5
opportunities. Mike’s Free Maps Collection #6
Mike’s Free Maps Collection #7

NEW MAGIC ITEMS
WAND OF CONSTRUCT REPAIR
Wand, uncommon
This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you
can use an action to expend 1 or more of its
charges to heal a construct or object by touching it
with the wand. For 1 charge, you repair 1d8 hit
points. For each additional charge you expend you
will repair1 more hit point.
The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended charges
daily at dawn. If you expend the wand’s last
charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the wand crumbles into
ashes and is destroyed.
AMULET OF CONSTRUCT CONTROL
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
When a construct is created, it can be linked to
an amulet of construct control. This amulet allows
the wearer to mentally command the linked
constructs.
On each of your turns, you can use a Bonus
Action to mentally command any construct linked
to the amulet if it is within 60 feet of you (if you
control multiple constructs, you can Command
any or all of them at the same time, issuing the
same command to each one). You decide what
action the constrict will take and where it will
move during its next turn, or you can issue a
general command, such as to guard a chamber or
corridor. If you issue no commands, the construct
engages in its default behavior. Constructs that
lack the ability to make decisions on their own will
only defend themselves against hostile creatures.
FREE RULES
Mob Rules
FREE ENCOUNTERS
Mike's Free Encounter #1: Necromancer's Stash
Mike’s Free Encounters #2: Worg Riders
Mike’s Free Encounter #3: Haunted Stones
Mike’s Free Encounter #4: Kobold Emissary
Mike’s Free Encounter #5: Gnark Horse
Mike’s Free Encounter #6: Ghost of Kella Thar
Mike’s Free Encounter #7: Capraemortu
Mike’s Free Encounter #8: Bonewalkers
Mike’s Free Encounter #9: Alena Trel the Eye
Piercer
Mike’s Free Encounter #10: The Bog Witch
Mike’s Free Encounters #1-10 (pay what you want)
Mike’s Free Encounter #11: Shadow Fang Gnolls
Mike’s Free Encounter #12: Shadowed Fields
Mike’s Free Encounter #13: River Pirates
Mike’s Free Encounter #14: Bad Mercenaries
Mike’s Free Encounter #15: Dwarven Guard Post
Mike’s Free Encounter #16 Necrolossi
Mike’s Free Encounter #17: Frostcursed Guard Post
Mike’s Free Encounter #18: Death Captain
Mike’s Free Encounter #19: Corporagelida
Mike’s Free Encounter #20: Frostcursed Headless
Mike’s Free Encounters #1-20 (pay what you want)
Mike’s Free Encounter 21: Frostcursed Forge
Stuff to Buy!
I also sell stuff for D&D:

FREE STUFF! ADVENTURES

I regularly make free D&D stuff available,
including map collections and encounters. Arrogo's Tomb
Belmey (pay what you want)
FREE MAP COLLECTIONS Broken Mine 5E
Dragon Hunt

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 Tower of Zakelana

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Michael LaBossiere is a gamer/runner from
Maine who went to school in Ohio and ended up
a philosophy professor in Florida.
While acquiring his doctorate in philosophy at
Ohio State University, he earned his ramen
noodle money by writing for Chaosium, GDW, R.
Talsorian Games, and TSR. After graduate
school, he became a philosophy professor at
Florida A&M University. His first philosophy
book, What Don't You Know?, was published in
2008. He continues to write philosophy and
gaming material. He is also a blogger, but these
days who isn't?
When not writing, he enjoys running, gaming
and the martial arts. Thanks to a quadriceps
tendon tear in 2009, he was out of running for a
while, but returned to the trails and wrote a book
about it, Of Tendon & Trail. He can be contacted
at ontologist@aol.com.
Michael LaBossiere’s Amazon Author Page
Michael LaBossiere’s Paizo Page
Michael LaBossiere’s DriveThru RPG Page
Michael LaBossiere’s Dungeon Masters Guild Page

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MAPS

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