Axe From the Grave
Dungeons & Dragons 5e | One-Shot
About the adventure
Froderic Dartwild—Frody to those who knew him well—was a gifted human bard born and raised in the hamlet of Toadhop. He could play the mandolin by age three and performed regularly at Toadhop’s local tavern until his eighteenth year, when he left this bucolic backwater and became an adventurer. But his adventuring exploits paled in comparison to his reputation as a performer. So gifted a musician was he that an admiring wizard gave Frody an instrument of the bards—a famous Canaith mandolin called Golden Axe. The mandolin’s magic served Frody well during his many adventures but wasn’t enough to save his life. On a crisp autumn day, Frody and his companions were beset by manticores on a lonely stretch of road, and Frody was killed by a manticore’s tail spike. Frody’s body was returned to Toadhop and laid to rest in the earth next to his mother, Veena, and his sister, Marigold. Golden Axe was buried with him. Shortly after Frody was interred, a tiefling named Sythian Skalderang, who lived many miles away, learned of the famous bard’s untimely death. Sythian had inherited his parents’ estate and debts, but a mysterious poison killed off the family’s olive orchard, leaving him with nothing but the mansion and its furnishings. Those furnishings included a multitude of musical instruments Sythian’s parents had bought in the hopes of making him a musical prodigy. While he excelled at none of the instruments, he realized he could pay off his family’s debts by turning his home into a conservatory for young musicians from wealthy families. One of his current students, Wylie van Timmel, shows great promise. Sythian hatched a plan to snatch Golden Axe from Frody’s grave and give it to Wylie as a present, hoping to earn the favor and long-term financial support of her wealthy family. Sythian hired a pair of halflings named Mackerel Mudbottom and Trout Bonanza to dig up Frody’s remains and pry the Canaith mandolin from his hands. They did just that, leaving behind an open grave. After the halflings fled with the mandolin, Frody awakened, crawled from his coffin, shambled to his mother’s old cabin, and knocked on the door. The young family living there fled in terror at the sight of him and took shelter in a neighbor’s barn. The good folks of Toadhop have been on edge ever since.
The tale of Froddy Dartwild is one of triumph and tragedy. A renowned bard, whose songs enchanted the hearts of kings and commoners alike, Froddy’s life was cut short within the labyrinthine depths of a far-off dungeon. His body was returned home to Toadhop, laid to rest beside his mother’s old cottage—a resting place for a hero. But legends don’t die so easily… Enter Sythian Skalerang, a tiefling with ambition burning like the embers of his infernal bloodline. In an attempt to secure the patronage of a wealthy family, Sythian—along with a pair of hired halflings—desecrated Froddy’s grave and stole his famed Golden axe, an instrument of great power. But the theft had unintended consequences. The desecration called Froddy’s spirit back to the material world, and now, he roams the town of Toadhop—not as the legendary bard, but as a zombie, hungry for his axe and angry at those who dared disturb his rest. As the residents of Toadhop beg for help, the Skalerang Conservatory sits ominously just a few miles away, nestled in an olive orchard, its gates standing between Froddy’s relic and those who seek it. The golden axe is now safely stored within the college’s walls, But how will you approach the situation? Will you try to talk your way into the Conservatory, posing as prospective students eager to learn the ancient musical arts? Or will you infiltrate the college like shadowy thieves, sneaking through its defenses to reclaim the axe? The path is fraught with danger, deception, and the music of the undead. Will you be the ones to return peace to Toadhop, or will you end up as pawns in a dangerous game of ambition and greed? Your destiny awaits at the crossroads of music, death, and magic. Will you answer the call?
5.0
(8)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
2 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Rule of Cool, Inclusive
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Game Master Reviews (8)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Rule of Cool
Inclusive
doug
Played 1 sessions
This was a great game. I had been wanting to try dungeons and dragons again for the first time in 30 years and I really didn't know how to start. Alex was good and patient with us beginners and even with a problem I had with getting discord to work (mike issue).
Travis
Played 1 sessions
I ran a heist oneshot with Alex and he put on a great game. He was very familiar with the material which was really helpful in a game where the group was going back and forth to figure out a plan.
Samhein
Played 1 sessions
Highly recommend Alex! I did one of his one shots and felt in only just a 4 hour session there was allowed a lot of ability for puzzle solving and roleplaying, whilst still having some murder and mayhem to engage with.
Rory Mitchell ii
I’ve had the pleasure of playing in a homebrew D&D campaign with Alex as the Dungeon Master, and I can confidently say he’s one of the best DMs I’ve encountered. His storytelling ability is top-notch, weaving immersive narratives that keep everyone engaged while leaving plenty of room for player creativity. Alex has a natural talent for balancing detailed world-building with the unpredictable chaos of a D&D session, ensuring that every moment feels meaningful and fun. What truly sets Alex apart is his flexibility. He has a remarkable ability to adapt to the group’s preferences, creating a fun, casual atmosphere without sacrificing the depth of the story. Whether it’s making space for silly character antics or pivoting the plot based on unexpected player decisions, Alex ensures that everyone feels included and valued in the campaign. If you’re looking for a DM who can bring your D&D sessions to life with engaging storytelling and a laid-back, fun vibe, Alex is the one to call. I’m grateful to have experienced his campaigns and can’t wait to see where his stories take us next!
Colin Testa
This campaign is a brilliant blend of epic battles, cunning plots, and lol moments thanks to Alex’s personality. Our DM deserves kudos for turning what could have been a typical villain encounter into an entertaining comedy goldmine. I can’t wait to see what surprises lie ahead with Vladin.
Sam Thomas
This is a friend of a friend that I hadn't truly gotten to know until our first session. This was my second campaign I had been apart of and it was an absolute treat. Alex was knowledgeable and accommodating to all 6 players about skills and options available throughout the campaign. He not only had a laid out plan for everything but took the time to write new possibilities for variations created by the players. Everything felt in world and cannon. Also he does fun voices 👍
Additional details
How to prepare
Players should have working mic to communicate, and accounts for d&d beyond, discord, roll20 or owlbear rodeo. Players can bring a character in advance to expedite our sessions though not necessary.
What I provide
I'll be bringing my d&d beyond account with a campaign with several books shared for character creation. I'll be using owlbear rodeo for maps. I do use music bots on my discord server that I use for communication. My style of DMing focuses on shared storytelling. I do enjoy all aspects of the game and try to use each of the pillars equally (combat, exploration, social) though after I learn more of my players I try and gear the sessions towards their interests. I aim for interesting encounters in all pillars, and I try to make multiple outcomes are possible, leaving the resolution to players and the dice rolls. I do tend to lean towards deadlier combats at the table. I usually stick to Rules as written though I love epic moments for PC's so I do allow the rules to bend for sake of cool moment.
Gameplay details
I’ll be scheduling break for players during session. I use an open door policy if a player needs to step away we can pause the game or let them return when ready no issues. And finally and the end of a session ill check with players for feedback in a stars and wish format.
Content warnings
• Animal Death
• Death
• Violence
• Devils / Demons / Fiends
Safety tools used
• Breaks
• Open Door
• Stars and Wishes
How will character creation work
I have a link to join my D&D beyond campaign Which i share the several resource books i own. At the start of our session, we can quickly make characters or players can make characters in advance with any resource they like whether it be pen and paper or virtual. characters will be 6th level in this adventure using point buy or standard array for stats. any official class or subclasses are ok.
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Medium
Roleplay
Medium
Puzzles
Medium
Experience level
Open to all
Platforms used
• D&D Beyond
• Discord
• Owlbear Rodeo
$20.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Once / Monday - 11:15 PM UTC
Mar 17
5-5.5 Hour duration
0 / 5 Seats filled
Requirements
Experience required: Open to all
Age: All Ages