Gond

Gond was an exceptionally talented dwarf who lived during the legendary Age of Arcanum. He is best remembered as the creator and master blacksmith of the Forge of Spells during the golden era of the Pact of Phandelver.

The Forge of Spells & Gond’s Smelter

Gond’s greatest achievement was the Forge of Spells, an extraordinary magical engine hidden deep within Wave Echo Cave. To operationalize the forge, Gond designed a complex starting mechanism known as Gond’s Smelter. Activating the smelter required representing the unique contributions of the three allied races of the Pact:

• The Mettle of the Dwarves: Hard ore harvested from the surrounding caverns.
• The Grace of the Elves: Originally recorded in ancient texts as “Elvish Tears,” this was later understood to refer to the magical light of the moon goddess Selûne, specifically harnessed via the moonbeam spell.
• The Ingenuity of the Humans: A special hard, dark wood that burns with a hot, blue flame, combined with elvish enchantments.

The Calamity and Gond’s Fate

When the catastrophic war known as The Calamity reached the northern regions of the Sword Coast, the Pact of Phandelver fractured from both internal political strain and external threats. Anticipating his own death within hours due to an imminent siege by orcish, undead, and Betrayer-aligned armies, Gond left behind a projection of his likeness made of starlight to speak to future adventurers.

In his final hours, Gond sealed the Forge of Spells and left its protection in the hands of his crowning achievement, a colossal metal automaton known as The Blacksmith (or the Guardian of the Forge). This massive construct was programmed to test the mettle, courage, and hearts of any who managed to breach the final seal to ensure they were worthy of Gond’s legacy.