A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

A DUNGEON AND A
DRAGON
A Dungeons and Dragons (Fifth Edition) Adventure

The Green Dragon Valturnax has attacked the nearby village of Hartsvale,
threatening to destroy them completely if they do not submit to his rule by
nightfall. To save the town, adventurers must ascend the mountain by climbing
through the caves housing the dragon’s minions and face him in his lair– and
they need to do so before the sun sets.

A Four to Six Hour Adventure for 11th-16th Level Characters

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A Dungeon and A Dragon
Overview
This adventure is a straightforward dungeon
crawl culminating in a fight against an adult
green dragon in his lair. The players will explore
caves filled with classic Dungeons & Dragons
minions – but these minions are prepared for
the adventurers. This adventure was
designed to be challenging and
potentially lethal. Be sure you are
comfortable running a more lethal adventure
and consider warning your players that their
characters may die if your campaign is not
normally very lethal.
Using This Adventure
This adventure is designed for use with
Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition rules.
Creature names are printed in bold font, and
their stats appear in the back of this adventure,
in the appendix.
This adventure is designed for 4 characters
with an Average Party Level (APL) of
level 14. Your party may be more or less
powerful. Please adjust the adventure using the
following guidelines, though you should also
consider magic items, player experience and
team composition when doing so:
 3 characters, APL of 11-13: Very Weak
 3 characters, APL of 14: Weak
 3 characters, APL of 15-16: No change
 4 characters, APL of 11-13: Weak
 4 characters, APL of 14: No change
 4 characters, APL of 15-16: Strong
 5 characters, APL of 11-13: No change
 5 characters, APL of 14: Strong
 5 characters, APL of 15-16: Very Strong
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By Chris Bergman
Adventure Background
Three months ago, Valturnax, an adult green
dragon, was forced to leave his prior lair
hundreds of miles from Hartsvale when another
green dragon, his half-sister Verslexia, attacked
him and drove him out. Wounded and plotting
his revenge, he settled in a ruined temple to
Bahamut about 10 miles into the forest outside
of Hartsvale, along with the cave complex below
the temple. He has convinced and coerced the
local goblinoids and kobolds into working for
him. Prior to his arrival, the hobgoblin warlord
Stregurd was the most powerful and influential
creature in the Hartsvale forest.
Hartsvale has been a small farming and fishing
town for hundreds of years. It was originally
founded on the most fertile land near the local
Temple of Bahamut, providing lodging and
supplies for pilgrims and priests. When the
temple was abandoned, the town remained,
though many have forgotten its history. Some of
the older villagers blame any misfortune,
especially misfortune related to dragons, on the
town’s failure to protect the temple of Bahamut.
Yesterday, Valturnax attacked Hartsvale, killing
several guards and the town wizard, before
announcing that he would be back for their
tribute this evening. Valturnax knows that
Hartsvale is likely to ask for help rather than
bow before him, and he believes that when he
comes back with the bones of the mercenaries,
guards, or adventurers sent to kill him, the town
will be forced to become his vassals. Ultimately,
he hopes to combine a human militia with his
monstrous minions to serve as a strike force
when he travels back to kill his half-sister.
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Adventure Overview

A Dungeon and A Dragon is divided into five

parts:
Part 1. A Town in Need. The
adventurers learn from Fulsan Hayward, a
messenger from Hartsvale, that the town has
been attacked and is in dire need of help.
Part 2. Kobold Tunnels. Arriving at
Valturnax’s lair, the adventurers are warned
and maybe attacked by a kobold zealot wearing
explosives. They must then confront or bypass
the kobold warrens.
Part 3. Goblins on the Stairs. After
goblins cut the rope bridge across the gorge, the
adventurers need to find another way across
and then kill the goblins and their booyahg
sorcerer.
Part 4. Hobgoblin Ambush. The
adventurers find themselves in a trap designed
to counter and capture magic users.
Part 5. Valturnax’s Deception.
After reaching Valturnax’s temple, the
adventurers find the dragon waiting for them,
seeking parlay before he attacks. In the fighting,
the temple is destroyed and much of his hoard
is lost.

Adventure Hook

The adventure begins when Fulsan Hayward

reaches the adventurers. This is probably best
after the adventurers have had downtime and
are back at their primary city or town – Fulsan
has heard of their exploits and has come to find
them in particular. Alternately, the adventurers
could be passing through a different village or
town; they could even be in the middle of
another quest that is not time-sensitive.
However, it is clear that they are the only ones
who are close enough and powerful enough to
deal with the dragon in time.

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A Dungeon and A Dragon
Part 1. A Town in
Need
This adventure begins when Fulsan Hayward
bursts in to where the adventurers are having
breakfast. The time is 10am.
The Messenger Arrives
You are halfway through breakfast when a
battered and bruised human messenger
dressed in traveling leathers bursts
through the door. He looks wildly around
before his eyes settle on you and your
companions.
“Professional heroes? Just who I was
looking for! Please, I – we – need your
help. If you don’t stop the dragon, he’ll
come back tonight, and I don’t think
anyone in Hartsvale will survive.”
Roleplaying Fulsan Hayward
Fulsan Hayward has watched several of his
friends die, hasn’t slept in a day and a half, just
rode for several hours, and is concerned his
family and friends will be killed tonight. He is
exhausted and desperate, turning to the
adventurers as the only hope to kill the dragon
before nightfall.
Fulsan is a member of Hartsvale’s city watch
who has been pressed into service as a
messenger, seeking help. He was not on duty
when Valturnax attacked and did not witness
the beginning of the attack, but he arrived in
time to assist with the aftermath. After several
hours of tending to the wounded and the dead,
he has spent the last 8 hours riding from town
to town, looking for someone strong enough to
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By Chris Bergman
challenge Valturnax. During the course of
discussion, he provides the following
information:
 At nightfall – 8pm – the day before, a
large green dragon attacked the town,
using his poison breath on several
guards before killing and eating the local
wizard
 The dragon announced his name,
Valturnax, and told the surviving guards
and gawking villagers that Hartsvale was
now his, and that he would be expecting
“tribute”
 Tribute involves half the town’s fighting
age men serving as his militia
 Hartsvale’s men have little combat
experience – most are simple farmers or
fishers, and Valturnax already killed half
the town guards
 If Hartsvale refuses to send him
soldiers, they will be destroyed tonight
at nightfall
 Hartsvale doesn’t have much gold, but
they can offer the rights to claim
whatever treasure is available in the
dragon’s hoard
 Valturnax has made his lair in a ruined
temple to Bahamut, an hour into the
forest of Hartsvale
 It takes 4 hours to get to Hartsvale, and
another hour to get to Valturnax’s lair
 Fulsan has 3 healing potions and a map
to Valturnax’s lair that he’s willing to
offer the party
 Several villagers and some surviving
guards reported seeing the dragon use
magic during the fight – one said the
dragon dispelled the wizard’s
enchantments, and another claimed he
saw the dragon turn invisible. A third
said that he saw the dragon create an
illusionary monster.
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

If questioned further, Fulsan also knows that
Valturnax has only recently come to the area
around Hartsvale in the past few months, but
already most of the local goblinoids seem to
have stopped their random raids and have
become organized. The forest itself has also
changed. Fulsan suspects that the dragon has
taken control of the forest and its denizens.
Hartsvale
It takes 4 hours to get to Hartsvale, and another
hour to get to Valturnax’s lair. Encourage the
players to mind the in-game time, and let them
know there might be consequences if they
haven’t reached Valturnax himself by 8pm.
Light – Rays of sunshine trickle through the
trees. The deeper they travel into the forest, the
less and less light filters through.
Fulsan’s map leads you deeper into the
Hartsvale forest, and as you head deeper
in, the few signs of civilization fade away.
Soon, small animals begin to act strangely.
Birds watch your progress, flying from
branch to branch to keep you in view.
Small rabbits and mice keep pace with you
about 30 feet away, staring unblinking at
you as you walk, though they don’t let you
approach close enough to touch them.

If they choose to stop in Hartsvale, the town is a

quaint farming village full of older stone
buildings that have been patched and rebuilt to
protect against the ravages of time. The largest
house – the mayor’s house – has been partially
destroyed, one wall and half the roof collapsed.
A watchtower set up near the edge of town,
close to the forest, has been toppled as well.

Any villagers that the players meet are terrified,

and half of them are visibly leaving or preparing
to leave before nightfall. Town guards, if spoken
to, are happy to hear that Fulsan is alive, but
have no additional information to provide
beyond what Fulsan knew.

The shops in Hartsvale can sell anything worth

10gp or less listed in the Player’s Handbook, but
they don’t have more expensive items available.

Hartsvale Forest

Time – The adventurers should reach

Hartsvale Forest around 2pm (or later, if they
took time to stop in Hartsvale) and take an hour
to travel through it.

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A Dungeon and A Dragon
Part 2. Kobold
Tunnels
The Kobold “Negotiator”
As the party gets close to Valturnax’s lair, the
trees begin to thin out. The kobold Raznark is
hiding in wait, preparing to parlay – and to try
to kill the adventurers, if necessary.
As you come out from the trees, you see a
sheer cliff wall ahead. At the base of the
cliff is a large cave entrance, set up with
large stone doors. Regular foot traffic has
created a dirt path in front of the cave.
In front of the cave, there are a few large
stones. From behind one of the stones, a
stick with some white strips of cloth tied to
is shoved into the air, then waggled back
and forth. In broken Common, a squeaky
kobold voice shouts the word “Parlay” over
and over again. Walking out from behind
his stone, the two and a half foot tall lizard
person is carrying a makeshift white flag in
one hand and a burning torch in the other.
He squints his eyes against the harsh
daylight. He’s wearing robes that bulge
cartoonishly out from his body. He begins
waddling towards the party, cringing in
fear as he does so.
Raznark is wearing an oversized robe that has
been soaked in oil. He has filled the pockets of
the robe with nails and other small sharp metal
objects. Underneath the robe, he has pouches of
black powder, flasks of oil, and bottles of liquor
strapped around his body. He attempts to get as
close as possible to the party to talk with them,
and then he tries to learn their intentions. If
their intentions will kill kobolds or pass through
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By Chris Bergman
the kobold warrens, he tries to blow them up
using himself as an improvised explosive
device.
Roleplaying Raznark the Kobold
Raznark cares first about the eggs in the
hatchery, then about the living members of his
tribe, then his own life, then finally his dragon
lord. He has volunteered to buy time for the
rest of the kobolds to finish setting traps for
the adventurers and to do his best to kill them.
He is terrified but determined, and he has
accepted that he will probably die today.
However, if he can be convinced that the
adventurers will not pass through the kobold
warrens (though he has no idea how to reach
the dragon without doing so), he may be
willing to leave peacefully back into the kobold
tunnels.
If the adventurers refuse to negotiate, or if they
can’t convince him of their good intent
regarding the kobolds, he will use the torch to
set his robe on fire, then run and leap towards
the middle of the party (or the biggest group of
adventurers if the party is split), trying to catch
as many of them as possible in the explosion.
Everyone in a 20 foot radius of Raznark makes
a Dexterity saving throw, taking 15 piercing
damage and 15 fire damage on a failure and half
of that damage on a success.
If the adventurers kill Raznark before Raznark
can set himself on fire, Raznark drops to the
ground and the torch has a 50% chance of
falling close enough to light Raznark on fire and
trigger the explosion regardless. Raznark has
the statistics of a kobold.
If the adventurers try to convince Raznark that
they will not harm the kobolds, they can make a
Persuasion (Charisma) check with
disadvantage, with a DC of 15. Raznark is
A Dungeon and A Dragon
immune to intimidation – he has mostly made
peace with the fact he is about to die. The party
can make the persuasion check without
disadvantage if they take active steps towards
avoiding the kobold warrens, such as casting fly
and starting to fly over the cliffs, or beginning to
climb the cliffs. For the purpose of charm spells,
Raznark is considered hostile.
Raznark can relay the following information in
Draconic or Common, but he prefers and starts
in Draconic:
 The dragon god Valturnax will kill and
devour all who oppose him
 The kobolds live to serve the dragon
god, but many of the kobolds in these
tunnels are hatchlings and eggs who are
not warriors
 He begs the adventurers to reconsider
their assault on the dragon, and that the
kobolds have done nothing to harm
them or the town of Hartsvale
If Raznark is convinced of the adventurers’ good
intent or if he is magically charmed, he can
relay the following information:
 Valturnax is “a powerful spellcaster”
 Valturnax has 2 pet hill giants (1 if party
is weak or very weak) who have been
starved and driven into a crazed frenzy
 There are several spellcaster minions –
the Hobgoblins have some wizards, and
the Goblins have a “Booyahg Booyahg
Booyahg” who overflows with magic
The Cliffs of Insanity
One way forward without passing through the
kobold tunnels is to climb or bypass the cliffs.
The cliffs ahead are about 60 feet tall. There are
strong winds coming off the mountain at all
times, making it difficult to climb or fly over. If
the party tries to climb, they need to make a DC
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By Chris Bergman
20 Athletics check to climb without
complications, or a DC 12 Athletics check to
climb, taking 10 bludgeoning damage from
being battered by the wind. Failing the DC 12
check means they take 10 bludgeoning damage
and spend 30 minutes trying to climb, but
ultimately couldn’t make it up and will have to
remake the Athletics check to climb or find
another way forward.
If the party flies over, they need to make a DC
12 Dexterity Saving Throw or take 10
bludgeoning damage from the high winds
bashing them against the rocks. On either a
success or failure, they are able to fly to the top.
If the adventurers take this route, they skip Part
2 and reach Part 3 immediately. However, the
next time the party takes a short rest in the
caves, the Kobold Chieftain, 2 Kobold
Dragonshields, and 4 Kobold Alchemists
travel where the party takes the short rest and
attempts to ambush the party as the party
comes out of the short rest. This is not a
random encounter – Valturnax is following
their progress and tells the kobolds where the
party is resting.
Adjusting the Encounter (these changes are
not cumulative)
Very Weak: Remove 2 Kobold Alchemists
Weak: No change
Strong: Replace 2 Kobold Dragonshields with
2 more Kobold Chieftains
Very Strong: Replace 2 Kobold Dragonshields
with 2 more Kobold Chieftains
1. Into the Caves
Light – None of the races in the caves need
light to see – there are no torches or sources of
light and the adventurers may need to provide
their own.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Smell – Stale air mixed with unwashed lizard
body odor
Sounds – Periodically, squeaky kobold voices
echo through the tunnels, though they’re not
loud enough to make out individual words or
distinguish the direction.
The Adventurers enter into a small room
through the front doors, labeled 1 on map 1.
Entering into the cave, you find yourselves
in a small stone and dirt room. To your
right and left are small holes, maybe a foot
and a half in diameter, that even a kobold
would need to squeeze to get through.
Ahead of you, a door lies unbarred and
open, revealing a long hallway. Halfway
down the hallway, it intersects with a
perpendicular corridor, forming a “plus
sign” shape.
Above the door, a sign has some words in
Draconic. Below the sign, someone has
scratched out a word in Goblin.
The kobolds have put up a sign calling this “The
Trap Room” in Draconic. They use these
hallways to practice trapmaking and as a way to
kill or deter intruders.
In Goblin, the hobgoblins have scratched in the
word “Danger” to remind their minions that
they need kobolds to escort them through these
hallways.
The small kobold tunnels have openings sized
for Tiny creatures, though Small creatures can
squeeze through. The tunnels then open up into
enough room for Small creatures to stand and
move freely. The party should not be able to
enter these tunnels unless they are all size Small
or can be made size Small. If the party does
travel through the kobold tunnels, the kobolds
will not engage them in the tunnels themselves
and will wait until the party leaves for the main
rooms to fight; the kobold war party in area 3
and the 2 alchemists in area 5 will attempt to
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By Chris Bergman
ambush the party when they leave. If the party
passes through the kobold tunnels to the gorge,
move them to part 3, Goblins on the Stairs, and
the kobold war party will attempt to ambush
them the next time they take a short rest.
2. The Trap Hallway
There are 16 traps in the trap hallway, 4 in each
wing of the plus sign. These traps are not meant
to surprise players unless they start moving
quickly through them or put someone who is
not proficient in perception.
For mechanical purposes, all the traps in the
hallway can be seen with a Passive Perception of
15. Inform your players that if they travel at half
their movement speed each round or announce
that they are moving slowly they can get a +5
bonus to their Passive Perception. If they dash,
they get a -5 penalty to their Passive Perception.
Whoever is in the front row can all use their PP,
but all of the ones in the front row may get hit
by traps if they miss something.
Every trap, if spotted, has a way to pass around
it without disturbing it – trip wires can be
stepped over, pressure plates can be stepped
around, pit traps can be walked around, sticky
threads can be ducked under. Don’t call for a
check to pass by a trap undisturbed.
If the party would like to disable a trap, that will
require a DC 12 Thieves Tools (Dexterity) check
or a DC 15 Dexterity check if no one has Thieves
Tools. On a failure of 5 or more, the trap is
triggered. For saving throws, assume a DC of 14.
For attack rolls, assume a “to hit” modifier of
+7.
Feel free to choose traps that are thematically
appropriate for kobolds. The following are
recommended:
2A (from entrance heading to the middle)
 Trip Wire - fires crossbow bolt (attack
roll, 9 piercing damage [1d10+3])
 Covered Pit Trap - 10 foot drop, sharp
wooden spikes (Dex save to take no
damage, 4 bludgeoning damage and 10
piercing damage [1d6 and 3d6])
A Dungeon and A Dragon
 Pressure Plate - spear juts out from
holes in the wall on the right side (attack
roll, 8 piercing damage [1d8+3])
 Strings hang from the ceiling with sticky
stuff on the ends, when pulled, viscous
oil pours from the ceiling (Dex save to
avoid, gives disadvantage on saving
throws versus fire damage and adds an
additional 3d6 fire damage if lit on fire;
can be cleaned off during the next short
or long rest)
2C (from middle heading towards the top)
 Pressure Plate – swinging axe from
ceiling (attack roll, 12 slashing damage
[2d8 +3])
 Trip Wire – poison darts (Con save to
take no damage, 11 poison damage
[3d6])
 Pressure Plate – floor spikes (Dex save
to take half damage, 11 piercing damage
[3d6])
 Pools of acid hidden under a cover (Con
save to take half damage, 14 acid
damage [4d6])
2D (from middle heading left)
 Sticky Threads with oil (as with 2A trap
number 4)
 Pressure Plate – acid sprays from holes
in the bottom/south wall (Con save to
take half damage, 11 acid damage [3d6])
 Trip Wire – makeshift frag grenade
made from black powder and nails (Dex
save to take half damage, 7 fire damage
and 11 piercing damage [2d6 and 3d6])
 Covered Pit Trap with wooden spikes (as
with 2A trap number 2)
2E (from middle heading right)
 Trip wire – 2 hand crossbow bolts from
left and right (2 attack rolls, 6 piercing
damage each [1d6+2])
 Sticky Threads with oil (as with 2A trap
number 4)
 Pressure Plate – stone block from ceiling
falls on player (Strength save to take half
damage, 11 bludgeoning damage [3d6])
 Pressure Plate – a stone block cuts off
the room to the right, preventing the
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By Chris Bergman
party from moving to the right. No
damage to the party.
2. B. Tucker’s Kobolds
When the party reaches 2B, the center area
between the hallways, kobolds spying on the
party through small holes to the kobold tunnels
see the party enter the middle (DC 15
perception (wisdom) check to notice the
spying). When either the entire party is in the
center area, or when a party member attempts
to leave the center area, the spying kobolds
begin to bang hammers against metal pans and
pots.
As you pass through the center of this plus
shaped hallway, an enormous clamor starts
up all around you, the sound of several
hammers pounding over and over against
pots and pans. At this sound, the doors at
each end of all four hallways swing open,
revealing 2 things: First, you see the stairs
up ahead, in the next room at the end of
the hallway through which you’ve been
traveling. Second, and more concerningly,
you see 4 large, crude, wood and metal
ballistae, one at each end of the 4 hallways.
Each ballista appears to be loaded with a
barbed bolt with a length of chain running
behind it. Two kobolds man each ballista,
hiding behind large wooden covers and
peeking through eye slits.
The 4 ballistae, 8 kobolds, and 2 kobold
alchemists do not benefit from the element of
surprise during the ambush. The kobold
alchemists begin in area 5 (the room with the
stairs) behind total cover, peeking out on their
turns to throw Molotov cocktails, before
running back behind total cover. The ballistae
target whoever is closest so that they can drag
them through the traps – if multiple characters
can be dragged through the traps, the ballistae
focus on the least-heavily-armored characters.
The kobolds simply operate the ballista, fleeing
if their ballista is destroyed while they still live.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
If a ballista is grappling a target and has at least
1 kobold operator, the ballista instead attempts
to drag the target closer to the ballista. The
target makes a Strength saving throw against a
DC of 20. On a failure, the target is dragged 10
feet towards the ballista; on a failure of 5 or
more, the target is dragged 25 feet towards the
ballista.
If the ballista is not grappling a target, if it has 2
kobold operators, it can fire every round,
pulling back the bolt on a miss. If it has 1 kobold
operator, it takes one turn to reload and then a
second turn to fire again. If the bolt or chain is
destroyed, a ballista takes an extra turn to swap
out the bolt and chain for a new one. The chain
has AC 12 and AC 10 and resistance to piercing
and slashing damage; it has immunity to poison
or psychic damage.
The ballistae are attempting to spear characters,
grapple them, and then drag them through the
trapped hallways, triggering every trap the
character passes through. Also keep in mind
that if the characters use their full range of
motion, they do not get the +5 to passive
perception, and if they dash, they get a -5 to
passive perception.
In area 3, protecting the living quarters of the
kobolds, there is a Kobold Chieftain, 2
Kobold Dragonshields, and 2 Kobold
Alchemists.
This kobold war group will stay in area 3, out of
sight, and will not engage the party unless the
party travels into area 3. The Kobold Alchemists
and Kobold Scale Sorcerer will attempt to stay
behind total cover and only come out briefly to
attack before running back behind total cover.
The Kobold Chieftain carries a small emerald
worth 25gp in a pouch on his belt that he was
saving to give to Valturnax.
If the party leaves without entering area 3, the
war group in area 3 will attempt to ambush the
party at the end of the next short rest.
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By Chris Bergman
Adjusting the Encounter (these changes are
not cumulative)
Very Weak: Remove 1 Ballista and 2 kobolds
from area 1.
Weak: No change
Strong: The war group in area 3 moves to the
tunnels between area 3 and area 5, and
engages the party when the party enters
either area 3 or area 5.
Very Strong: The war group in area 3 moves to
the tunnels between area 3 and area 5, and
engages the party when the party enters
either area 3 or area 5. Replace 2 Kobold
Dragonshields with 2 more Kobold Chieftains.
3. Kobold Living Quarters
In the kobold living quarters, there are crude
beds made out of straw, several rusted mining
tools, a hastily dug latrine, and a small table
with a half-eaten squirrel on it. The kobold war
party stays here until either the party enters
area 3 or until the party takes a short rest (or in
area 5 for strong or very strong parties).
4. The Hatchery
The hatchery is only accessible via the kobold
tunnels. There are no adult kobolds in the
hatchery, though there are five defenseless
kobold eggs and three baby kobolds.
5. Stairs Up
This room starts with the 2 kobold alchemists,
one ballista, and 2 kobolds that spring the trap
in area 2, Tucker’s Kobolds. The door to area 3,
the kobold living quarters, starts closed but is
unlocked. There is a visible entrance to the
kobold tunnels, but only Small or smaller
creatures can enter.
The Kobolds prefer to capture prisoners alive
rather than killing them in event of a TPK,
handing them over to the goblins in Area 12b.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Part 3. Goblins on
the Stairs
In this section, the party must find a way to
cross a ravine when the rope bridge is cut.
Afterwards, they encounter a goblin sorcerer
and the dragon’s crazed pet giants.
As you step out into the cold mountain air,
you see before you a rope bridge to
continue through the mountain over a 50
foot drop. Around you are several trees, a
large clumping of bushes, and the stairs
back down to the kobold tunnels. In the
distance across the ravine, you hear deep,
frenzied bellows echoing off the mountain
walls.
On the other side of the gorge, across the
30 foot gap, 2 goblins have just finished
cutting the ropes to the rope bridge as they
laugh like maniacs. They turn to flee,
giggling the whole time.
Light – Outdoors, during the day, the sun
shines brightly on the ravine
Ravine – The ravine is 30 feet wide, with a 50
foot drop to the ground. Anyone who climbs or
falls down can attempt to climb back up with an
Athletics (Strength) check, DC 12, spending half
an hour on a failure but making it to the top.
The high winds from climbing the cliffs outside
the kobold caves are not a factor here.
Bushes – In the bushes near the adventurers,
found with a DC 10 investigation (Intelligence)
check, is another kobold ballista. If they find it,
this ballista can be used by the adventurers to
attach a rope to the other side.
Trees – There are several tall, sturdy trees on
both sides of the ravine. If the adventurers
attempt to use the trees, the trees are strong
enough to support weight but are only 20 feet
Page 11 of 26
By Chris Bergman
tall and are not long enough to bridge the gap
by themselves.
The two Goblin Bosses that just cut the rope
attempt to flee, running to the area in Map 2 to
join 1 Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg, 2 more
Goblin Bosses, and 2 Mouths of
Grolantor.
Once the players cross the ravine, they can
move forward until they can see area 6.
As you turn the corner, you see the source
of the frantic bellows: two hill giants who
look thin and almost gaunt with hunger.
They both immediately turn towards you,
straining against massive iron chains that
bolt them to the ground.
Behind them are two stairs leading to a
higher level, and two stairs on that level
leading higher still. A goblin voice cries out
from above, and the giants’ chains pull free
from the ground as the giants prepare to
rush you.
The two Goblin Bosses who start on the stairs
start in area 7. They are hiding out of sight of
the 2 giants, and if they see the party, they pull
the lever to release the 2 crazed giants. The two
Goblin Bosses who cut the rope bridge, if they
survive, run over to join the other two Goblin
Bosses in area 7 and hide. The Goblin Bosses
prefer to throw javelins (they have a pile of
crude javelins near them and should not run
out) rather than engaging in melee combat, and
will disengage and flee if dropped below 10 hp
or if the giants die, fleeing to area 12a in the
goblinoid barracks.
The 2 Mouths of Grolantor begin in area 6,
chained up and unable to move. The chains are
attached to hooks underground, and when the
lever in area 7 is pulled, they will run to attack
the nearest living thing they can see. The
goblins know they will do this and the goblins
all know to avoid line of sight with the hill
giants until the giants are engaged in combat.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
The Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg starts on the
top steps near area 8, and has pre-cast mage
armor. He likes to drop ice storms and fireballs
from afar, thunderwave to shove people off the
third level, and shield or counterspell to protect
himself. He is 100% willing to include the
Mouths of Grolantor in the area of effect of his
spells. Each turn, he walks to the edge, casts a
spell, then walks back, breaking line of sight
with anyone not on the same level as him, and
then bonus action hides. If he drops below 10
hp or if the giants die, he casts misty step to flee
to the goblinoid barracks and then casts greater
invisibility while he runs to the goblin
chambers in area 12a.
Every single time the Booyahg Booyahg
Booyahg casts a spell – even a cantrip – roll on
the wild magic table in the Player’s Handbook
on page 104 or the below table. For AOE spells
and wild magic effects involving the “target”,
use the target closest to the center of the AOE.
Adjusting the Encounter (these changes are
not cumulative)
Very Weak: Remove 1 Mouth of Grolantor
Weak: Remove 1 Mouth of Grolantor
Strong: No change
Very Strong: The Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg
starts the fight by casting greater invisibility on
himself while out of the line of sight of the
players and, if forced to flee, casts cone of cold
before casting misty step to escape
The Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg is carrying a
Scroll of Hold Person that he will use if he runs
out of spell slots or if he is confronted in close
quarters, but otherwise he will save it for later.
Optional: If your players are struggling or do
not have a healer, consider adding 1 Healing
Potion (2d4+2) and 1 Superior Healing Potion
(8d4+8) on the body of a dead Goblin Boss.
Once the players have finished, they can
continue on into the caves in area 8 to reach
Part 4.
Page 12 of 26
By Chris Bergman
D20 Wild Magic Surge Table
1 A fireball centered on the caster explodes
for 8d6 damage, dex save DC14 for half
2 Target is healed to his full HP
3 Target’s feet sprout wings, functioning like
Boots of Flying for 1 minute
4 Caster’s clothing turns to green slime
5 Caster’s feet become cloven hooves
6 Caster’s head turns invisible for 60 seconds
7 All females within 100 feet incorrectly
think they’re invisible for the next minute
8 All grass within 100 feet is turned into
spaghetti
9 All males within 100 feet are covered in
blood
10 All trees within 30 feet of the caster burst
into flame
11 Target thinks that he will rust if he gets
wet, lasts for 1 day
12 Magic mouth appears on target’s back,
shouting obscenities for 60 seconds
13 Target’s entire body appears to throb in
time with his heart, lasts 10 minutes
14 Target grows a beard made of feathers that
blows off the next time he sneezes
15 Target thinks that his allies cannot see him
no matter what they say, lasts 10 minutes
16 Target thinks that his own name is a Power
Word and is afraid to say it, lasts 1 day
17 Target sprouts rabbit ears that last for 1
day before falling off
18 Target’s sense of up and down are flipped
180 degrees for d6 turns
19 Target’s presence enrages giants for 10
minutes
20 Target’s feet take root – movement speed
drops to 0’ for d6 rounds
Credit to “The Net Libram of Random Magical
Effects” by Orrex; and to the Player’s
Handbook wild magic table on page 104.
In event of a TPK, the goblins prefer to capture
players rather than and hold them in cells 12b
in map 3. They use rope to bind hands (DC12
Dex check to escape) and they do a sloppy job
searching for weapons (light weapons and
spellbooks may be missed in the search).
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Part 4. Hobgoblin
Ambush
In this section, the party will deal with 3 waves
of enemies – bugbear ambushers, followed by
hobgoblin spellcasters, followed by the
hobgoblin warlord and his retinue. Afterwards,
they can explore the goblinoid barracks and
take a short rest before heading on.
9. Entering the Barracks
Climbing the stairs once more, you enter
another cavern of roughly worked stone,
this time with one clear exit. Walking down
the corridor, you can see a few natural
vents with a greenish gas spewing out.
Even from a distance, the greenish gas
makes it a little harder to breathe. The
walls around the vents are charred and
blackened, as if by extreme heat from a
nearby explosion.
The vents here are easily bypassed and are not a
direct threat, but are to give the party an idea
that the vents in the next room are both
poisonous and flammable. Clever parties will
know to both avoid them and find ways to use
them against the enemies.
Vents – The poison gas vents in areas 9 and 10
are poisonous and flammable. The first time
any creature enters them in a turn or starts
their turn in the poison, they need to make a DC
15 Con save or else take 14 (4d6) poison
damage. If the vents are set on fire, creatures
that enter them in a turn, start their turn in the
fire, or are there when the vent gets set on fire
need to make a DC 15 Dex save or else take 18
(5d6) fire damage. The vents are set on fire by
either being included in an AOE that sets things
on fire (lightning bolt, fireball), having a
Page 13 of 26
By Chris Bergman
creature targeted by fire damage while in the
vent (scorching ray, fire bolt), or the vents can
be targeted with fire spells directly.
10. The Ambush
This room contains 2 poison gas vents, many
recessed alcoves that provide half cover, and 2
raised platforms at the north end of the room,
opposite the entrance the adventurers used.
Adventurers trying to stealth their way into this
room can only stealth while in the corridor
unless they create magical darkness or
invisibility – there is no way to break line of
sight when they enter the room.
This room contains 2 Bugbear Murderers
hiding in wait (DC16 to spot them, Passive
Perception 15 – they have advantage as they are
lying in wait) in the recessed alcoves to the right
and left of the south entrance. The room also
contains 2 Hobgoblin Devastators and 2
Hobgoblins in total cover in the recessed
alcoves behind the raised platforms on the
opposite (north) side of the room. The
Devastators and Hobgoblins are waiting for the
sound of combat from the Bugbears.
If the Bugbears are able to surprise the party,
the bugbears attack during the surprise round,
and the Devastators and Hobgoblins appear in
the 1st round that is not a surprise round. In the
3rd round that is not a surprise round, the
Hobgoblin Warlord and 2 Hobgoblin
Captains in area 13a join the fight. If the
Bugbears are not able to surprise the party, the
bugbears, devastators, and regular hobgoblins
all appear in the 1st round, and the warlord and
captains appear in the 2nd round.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Adjusting the Encounter (these changes are
not cumulative)
Very Weak: Replace 2 Hobgoblin Captains
with 2 Hobgoblins; the Hobgoblin Warlord
and 2 Hobgoblins arrive on round 4 rather
than round 3
Weak: The Hobgoblin Warlord and 2
Hobgoblin Captains arrive on round 4 rather
than round 3
Strong: No change
Very Strong: The Hobgoblin Warlord and 2
Hobgoblin Captains arrive on round 2 rather
than round 3
The Bugbears focus on attacking obvious
spellcasters first and obvious archers second.
On the first round, they will attack twice; on
future rounds, if possible, they will attack once
and grapple once and try to drag spellcasters
and archers into the poison gas vents.
The Devastators will use reactions exclusively
for counterspell and will attempt to use
counterspell on every spell cast by the party. On
their turns, they will use ice storm, scorching
ray, melf’s acid arrow, and thunderwave as
appropriate. If they can shove someone into a
poison vent, they’ll prefer to do so with gust of
wind or thunderwave. If an enemy is in a
poison gas vent, the devastators will prefer to
use scorching ray on them to set the poison gas
vent on fire with the enemy in it. They save one
1st level spell slot, and if they run out of all other
spell slots, they will try to cast fog cloud and
then flee to 13a.
The regular Hobgoblins will take the dodge
action every round unless an enemy is in melee
range of the Devastator and use their reactions
exclusively to enforce disadvantage on the first
attack on the Devastator near them. If an enemy
gets into melee range, the Hobgoblins will
attack them while staying within 5 feet of the
Page 14 of 26
By Chris Bergman
Devastator, if possible. Each regular Hobgoblin
is assigned to protect a Devastator. They will
also stand in front of the Devastator to provide
half cover from ranged attacks.
The Hobgoblin Warlord and Hobgoblin
Captains will act as the situation demands once
they join combat; they are intelligent and aware
of tactics, and are willing to accept an attack of
opportunity to get at spellcasters and archers.
They also are willing to grapple an enemy to
drag them into the poison vents. The
Hobgoblins fight to the death.
Treasure: One of the Devastators carries a
scroll of dimension door that he may use in case
of emergency to escape to the Goblin Stairs
(map 2) before fleeing to the kobolds. The
Hobgoblin Warlord carries a carved ivory
symbol inlaid with silver. The symbol is a holy
icon of the Hobgoblin God Nomog-Geaya,
featuring a longsword crossed with a handaxe.
This icon is worth 50gp if sold.
If the Hobgoblins TPK the party, they prefer to
capture rather than kill the players, stabilizing
them and then holding them in cells in 12b
while discussing how to deal with the party.
They use rope bindings (Dex check DC 12 to
escape). They wait for Valturnax to return from
destroying Hartsvale at 8pm, and then deliver
the prisoners to him if the prisoners have not
escaped. The prisoners can take a short rest
while they are prisoners, either before escaping
or before being taken to Valturnax.
11. Bugbear Den
In this room, there are several crude straw
mattresses thrown on the floor and crude
latrines carved into one side of the wall. There
are no valuables in this room, though several
rusty morningstars are strewn about in a
corner.
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

12. Goblin Hovels 14. The Stairs Up

In area 12a, there are piles of grass and leaves. A
stand for several crude javelins and a few
dented daggers rests against one wall. The most
interesting part of area 12 are the cells in 12b.
Any goblins who fled from previous battles will
surrender. They are cowardly and know that, if
the party has found them in area 12a, the party
has defeated the hobgoblin ambush. If they get
a chance to flee, they will take it. Otherwise,
they will say whatever they think they need to
say to avoid being killed outright.
In area 12b, there is the corpse of a dwarf in
shackles. This is where the party will be held if
captured during one of the encounters. The
dwarf has been picked clean of valuables.
Light trickles in from the staircase in the
middle of the room – and with the light
comes a sense of foreboding. The hair on
your arms and neck stands on end. The
dragon may not have been here for long,
but he has made this place his lair, and his
power has seeped into the very stones.
Throughout the trip through the caves,
small rat eyes have followed your progress
from the shadows. The rats finally come
forth, forming a circle around you and the
stairs, as if pushing you onwards, blocking
you from any other path.
Go to Part 5.

13. Hobgoblin Barracks

In 13a, there is a very Spartan set of furniture –
military-style bunk beds with chests at the
bases of the beds. The chests in 13a carry little
of interest, but the locked wooden door to 13b
(thieves tools DC 10, otherwise Dexterity check
DC 12, or the door can be broken down with a
loud noise that alerts everyone in maps 2, 3,
and 4 to the party’s location.

Area 13b is the Hobgoblin Warlord’s private

quarters. It has a chest with a potion of supreme
healing and (optionally if your party has been
struggling or is running out of hit dice to heal
with or has no healers) 2 greater healing
potions.

The party can take a short rest in 13b and lock

the door if they get in; the hobgoblin warlord is
the second-most respected individual behind
Valturnax, and no one else will come into his
private room.

Page 15 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Part 5. Valturnax’s
Deception
The below assumes that the party successfully
fought through the minions in the previous
sections, or that the party successfully escaped
after being caught and then took a short rest
and healed up before coming to confront
Valturnax. If the party is brought to Valturnax
as prisoners, give them a chance to escape and
flee down to the 12a in map 3 where their stuff
is being kept, and continue the adventure from
there. If the party refuses to try to escape,
Valturnax will taunt them with his image and
then kill all of them but one, keeping that one
alive to tell the village of Hartsvale that
Valturnax killed their heroes and that Hartsvale
must surrender to Valturnax.
While you have hopefully been urging the party
to reach Valturnax by 8pm, Valturnax will not
leave his hoard unguarded while adventurers
are in his caves. Hartsvale is not in danger until
the adventurers are killed.
“GMs have a moral obligation to run dragons
as best you can. Dragons are half of this
system's name. They aren't something that just
sits in a room. They are memorable. Each and
every single one.” -- /u/BrosEquis , reddit
Important: Before you read the following,
make sure to ask the party what spells
they have pre-cast, and note any spells with
duration of 5 minutes or less. Valturnax is
hoping to use a drawn-out conversation as a
way to burn time on spells before attacking the
party when their shorter duration magic has
run out.
To prevent metagaming, consider dropping in
the phrase “… depending on what boss fight you
select”. The players will end up fighting
Page 16 of 26
By Chris Bergman
Valturnax regardless, but this allows both the
players and characters to consider his words.
Valturnax has pre-cast Mislead. He has been
following the party’s progress the entire time
through the eyes of rodents and birds.
Valturnax is actually sitting invisibly on the
walkways inside the temple, 20’ up, on the west
side in area 18. However, he has moved his
image to area 16 to negotiate with the party. He
can see, hear, and speak through his image. If
the party attacks the image, the image will
disappear, though Valturnax remains invisible
until either an hour has passed or he attacks the
party. As he is invisible, perception checks to
see him have disadvantage with a DC of 16. He
will not let any adventurers steal from his
hoard, but otherwise he will try to find a way to
hit as many of the party at once with his poison
breath to start the fight.
Assuming the adventurers are willing to
negotiate, you should roleplay Valturnax as the
most charming, conniving, cunning bastard you
have ever played. He knows how to tempt
selfish characters, he knows how to guilt good
characters, and he knows how to lie without
being caught. He promises another dragon’s
hoard, he promises to leave peacefully if a small
favor is completed, he promises many things…
but he is going to poison breath the party when
he gets them bunched up and he can move
between them and the exit of the temple.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
As you step forth from the stairs, the land
around you is barren and desolate, a
shadow of its former glory. Dead grass and
withered, dying trees surround ancient
marble. Ahead of you lies a small stone
tower, built in ages past. To the left is a
large temple with huge stained glass
windows and Corinthian columns. The
rubble from broken columns and ruined
walls litters the ground. What looks like
what once were statues of Bahamut have
been desecrated, the heads removed and
formed into one dragon statue with five
heads.
On the watchtower directly in front of you,
about 20 feet up, a huge green dragon
lounges and stares into your eyes.
“It has taken you long enough. I have been
waiting for you. I have heard the sounds of
the slaughter below. I can smell your foul
odor on the wind. And I know you covet my
treasure.
“If it’s a battle you want, I will provide it –
but I hope to parlay. If you value your lives,
you should hear me out. I come carrying,
as the human custom goes, the white
banner of peace. Step into my lair as guests
and no harm shall come to you.”
If the adventurers are willing to parlay, or if
they stay quiet, his image moves into the ruined
temple, and the players will need to decide if
they’re going to follow in. Valturnax waits in the
temple after offering the host/guest courtesy.
Once they come in, he continues. You can make
up your own cunning, charming lies for
Valturnax to say – as always, adjust the
conversation based on what the adventurers
say. However, the below is a sample of the type
of things Valturnax would say. He wants to get
the party to take time talking to him, come with
his image into the ruined temple, then bunch up
Page 17 of 26
By Chris Bergman
while his invisible body moves between them
and the exit from the temple and breathes
poison gas all over them.
Insight checks to determine if Valturnax is lying
has a DC of 18 when he is telling outright lies
(like the draconic guest rite lie), and a DC of 23
otherwise (he does have a half-sister Verslexia,
and does want to kill her, but that’s not the full
truth). Speak confidently. Roleplay
Valturnax as if you believe his lies. Make
the players believe what he says.
 “Let us put aside our weapons. To be
welcomed into a lair of a dragon is a
trust and honor no dragon dare go
against! I am issuing the old draconic
guest rite. It is an ancient custom
between host and guest, one that has
evidently passed to some human
cultures. May Tiamat strike those that
defy this rite down!” (this custom does
not exist; this is a lie)
 “As part of my role as host, my full name
is Valturnax the Wise, though my half-
sister calls me Valturnax the Wise-ass.
Tell me, heroes, what are your names?”
(truth)
 “The truth, adventurers, is that this fight
is more evenly matched than I prefer.
Now, don’t get me wrong! I would surely
destroy you. But while I was wounded
from this fight, licking my wounds, I
would be a prime target for my half-
sister’s attack. I may be inclined to be
evil, by your standards, but I’m not
stupid. I would much prefer fights I can
overwhelmingly win.” (truth)
 “The town of Hartsvale? Of course, I
asked them to become my vassals. I
killed several of their guards. But did
they tell you the rest of the story? That
they sent two adventuring parties to
attack me before I finally retaliated?
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Had they attacked an elven forest, or a
dwarven stronghold, or a human
kingdom, would your peoples have been
as merciful as I have been, demanding
fealty rather than destroying them, root
and branch? Their motives are no purer
than mine, their hands no cleaner than
my own.” (lies – Hartsvale did no such
thing)
 “Wait a moment. Have you seen any
animals… watching you? Verslexia, my
devious half-sister, sometimes uses such
spies to look upon my holdings! She
can’t hear what we are to talk about!”
(technical truth, though he has been the
one using animal spies in this
adventure; but Verslexia can do the
same as well)
 [Valturnax slithers around from stained
glass window to stained glass window,
“looking for spies”; ask any players who
are near where his image is moving if
they’d like to move away from him while
he’s looking out the stained glass
windows on the right and left sides.
While he’s doing this, his true form
moves towards the entrance, about 10
feet behind his image, which settles near
the entrance as well]
 “There are more of her spies now… I can
feel them! I must whisper now. We must
be quiet enough that the rabbits and
mice outside cannot hear us.” (not
technically a lie)
 (whisper) “You see, I need a favor. Yes,
one as powerful as me. If you do this for
me, I will consent to leave Hartsvale
behind, to move my lair to a more
remote forest where I will no longer
need to deal with civilized villages. But I
can’t do that until my half-sister,
Verslexia, has been dealt with. Should
she be killed, I will take my surviving
followers and move to her lair. Quiet,
Page 18 of 26
By Chris Bergman
come a bit closer. If you slay her, not
only will you be able to take her hoard
for yourself, but I will even give you
some magic items from my own hoard!
Such is the gratitude of dragons.” (lie)
 “I will consent to… let’s say, for each of
you, one magical item and as much gold
or gems as you can hold in your
separate, unaltered hands.” (lie)
 “Come closer. You must listen to me! I
would rather not risk my life or leave my
treasure unguarded. You can find
Verslexia deep into the woods, away
from civilization, about 30 miles from
here. She has a cave behind a waterfall,
and I know that she does not keep
minions. She does not trust them.”
(truth)
 (Giant grin) “Thank you for trusting me.
I always try to get along well with my
meals!”
If the adventurers have stayed along for the
conversation through this point, I would roll
initiative with advantage for Valturnax and
would ask the adventurers to roll initiative with
disadvantage, to represent that Valturnax does
initiate combat but no one is surprised.
A Dungeon and A Dragon
1. The Dragon’s Gambit
Adjusting the Encounter (these changes are
not cumulative)
Very Weak: Reduce Valturnax’s hit points to
160. Do not use lair actions. Do not use
stinking cloud in the first 3 rounds.
Weak: Do not use lair actions. Do not use
stinking cloud in the first 3 rounds.
Normal: Do not use lair actions. The first
legendary action Valturnax takes is to drop a
stinking cloud on as many of the party as he
can.
Strong: Use the Grasping Roots and Wall of
Thorns lair actions, but not the Magic Fog lair
action. The first legendary action Valturnax
takes is to drop a stinking cloud on as many of
the party as he can.
Very Strong: Use all lair actions. The first
legendary action Valturnax takes is to drop a
stinking cloud on as many of the party as he
can.
Valturnax initiates combat with his poison
breath, and then will attempt to target lightly
armored healers, then lightly armored
spellcasters, then anyone else who is not heavily
armored. If he gets surrounded, he uses his
wing beat to reposition. He is willing to forego a
claw attack to grapple someone, and is willing
to take hostages. He loves to use his poison
breath when it is up, unless it is clear that the
party is resistant or immune to poison. He only
uses spells as legendary actions except in dire
situations.
He will try to stop anyone from getting too close
to his hoard, but if that person is a heavily
armored individual or if it is clearly being used
as a distraction, he is willing to ignore it in
order to win the fight and down high priority
targets first. Anyone who does so anyways, can
use their action, bonus action, and movement to
Page 19 of 26
By Chris Bergman
search his hoard for one of the magic items
listed in part 2 or to get 200gp each turn that
they forego their action, bonus action, and
movement to steal from his hoard.
Valturnax will not initially hit unconscious
characters. As soon as a character has been
downed and then brought back up with healing
magic, though, Valturnax narrows his eyes and
will start attacking downed characters (if you’re
mean) or taking them hostage, grappling them
and then flying up to the second floor to
negotiate. He is willing to let most of the
adventurers leave alive if he gets to keep one of
them. Showing off a live hostage hero instead of
several dead ones can be just as terrifying to the
town of Hartsvale.
When either Valturnax hits 100 hp (75 hp for a
very weak party) or Valturnax uses his last
Legendary Resistance, it’s time to move to Part
2.
2. The Temple Falls
Valturnax bellows a primal roar. His wings
have become a tattered mess, with more
holes than flesh. His green blood oozes
forth from between his scales. He opens his
eyes wide, frenzied with pain and rage.
“If I am not to have my treasure, neither
shall you!”
He slams his body against one massive
stone column, then against another. A
rumbling starts as stone blocks begin to fall
from the ceiling, and Valturnax slithers out
of the temple.
“If you still seek my gold, die from your
greed!”
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Each character now has a choice: Leave the
temple immediately to continue the fight,
grabbing some gold or gems worth 100g on the
way out, or take 1 round to grab a magic item
instead, dealing with some crashing stone
blocks while they do.
Valturnax’s wings have been shredded and he is
unable to fly, so he is no longer able to leave this
fight. He also can no longer use the “wing beat’
legendary action. If the party’s health is still
high, have his poison breath recharge during
Part 2. Otherwise, continue as before.

For any characters that just take the gold and
gems, place them outside the temple. For those
who grab a magic item, give them the option of
one of the below magic items or roll on tables B,
C, and F for magic items in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide. Then, once they have selected
their magic item, they must make a Dex save
DC 15. On a failure, they take 20 bludgeoning
damage from falling rocks, but manage to make
it outside of the temple. If this would knock
them unconscious, they are close enough to one
of their friends, who can come drag their
unconscious body out of the temple as it
collapses and the hoard is lost. Go to Part 3.
If Valturnax knows he is definitely going to die
and can’t win and you’re an asshole DM, his
strategy is to grapple a character, use the rest of
his attacks on the character, and then leap off
the side of the mountain. It’s about a 120’ drop
off the mountain, so 12d6 falling damage.
If Valturnax kills the party, he tries to make any
who succeed at their death saving throws into
his new minions, though they are likely to have
many chances to escape; his previous minions
had remained out of fear and because he
controlled their homes, so they had nowhere to
run from him.

Appearance
2 Spell Scrolls
Item
1 scroll of Ending the
Hallucinatory Terrain
and 1 scroll of Nystul’s
Magic Aura
Adventure
Magic Goggles Goggles of Night
2 Potions Potion of Fire Breath With Valturnax dead, the town of Hartsvale
and Potion of Water rejoices, pronouncing them heroes. Valturnax’s
Breathing hoard will, unfortunately, take much time to
Magic Spectacles Glasses of Minute excavate, and the forest of Hartsvale still holds
Seeing
dangerous creatures – many of whom are now
Magic Ring Ring of Swimming
coming back into the forest after being scared
4 arrows/bolts One Arrow/Bolt of
(tailored to party) Giant Slaying and away by Valturnax’s presence.
three +2 arrows/bolts
Magic Brooch Brooch of Shielding The town mayor gives the party an additional
“What appears to be a Bag of Devouring 300 gold pieces for killing the dragon, and the
Bag of Holding” local innkeeper promises free food and lodging
whenever the heroes are in town.

3. Valturnax Dies
Once all of the party is outside the temple,
combat resumes from where initiative had been.

Page 20 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Appendix A

Map 1: Kobold Tunnels

Kobold Tunnels pass underneath the gorge and connect behind the goblin stairs

=
Ground Floor: Kobold Tunnels
< 5 foot square

2c 4

B B
2d 2b 2e

= Kobold tunnels

2a = Trap locations

= Door

B = Ballista

B =
<
Stairs up (to gorge)

Page 21 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Map 2: Goblins on the Stairs

= 5 foot square

2nd Floor: Goblins and Giants

Stairs (left is up,

= right is down)

Stairs (left is up,

= right is down)

8 10' Lever 7 10' 6

Third Level Second Level First Level

20' Total Above First Level 10' Total Above First Level

Page 22 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Map 3: Goblinoid Barracks

3rd Floor: Goblinoid Barracks <

= 5 foot square
14

12a 12b
< =
Stairs Up (To Gorge)

Elevated Platform
10' =

10' 10'

13a 13b
10

11
Chest
C =

Recessed Alcove
=

Flammable Poison
Gas Vent
=
9

> Stairs Down (To

Kobolds)

> =

Page 23 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon By Chris Bergman

Map 4: The Ruined Temple

> >
20' 20'
Valturnax's Lair: The Ruined Temple

18

Valturnax's hoard
= 20' 20'
17
Elevated walkway
(temple) or
20' =
watchtower

Temple Column
= 20' 20'

Rubble from
= Destroyed Column

Off the Mountain

=

> =
Stairs Down

30' 30'
15 16

> 30' 30' Don't Fall Off The Mountain

120' drop to the ground

= 5 foot square

Page 24 of 26
A Dungeon and A Dragon
Appendix B
Kobold (Monster Manual
[MM])
HP: 5 AC: 12
Speed: 30’
STR -2 DEX +2 CON -1
INT -1 WIS -2 CHA -1
CR 1/8, 25xp, small humanoid,
lawful evil
Passive perception 8
Darkvision 60’
Sunlight Sensitivity:
disadvantage on attacks when
in sunlight
Pack Tactics: ADV attacks if
an ally within 5’ of enemy
Dagger: +4, 4 (1d4+2)
piercing
Sling: +4, range 30/120, 4
(1d4+2) bludgeoning
Ballista (homebrew)
HP: 45 AC: 10
Speed: 10’
CR 4; 1,100xp, large construct
Vulnerability: Fire
Immunity: Psychic, Poison
Operators: Requires at least 1
ally to operate it to function,
falling inert otherwise
Barbed Bolt: +9, 22 (3d10+5)
piercing damage and target is
grappled on hit (escape by
breaking grapple and pulling
the bolt out of the body, escape
DC 16, taking 5 points of
piercing damage while breaking
the grapple; or attack the chain
and break the chain, leaving the
bolt in the body to be removed
with a medicine (Wis) DC 15
check later). Barbed Bolt can’t
be used if a target is already
grappled by this Ballista.
Reel them in: Action: A
grappled creature must make a
Con saving throw DC 20, on a
failure they get dragged 10’
closer to the ballista, on a
failure by 5 or more they get
dragged 25’ closer to the
ballista
Kobold Alchemist
(adjusted, Tome of Beasts
[ToB])
HP: 44 AC: 15
Speed: 30’
STR -2 DEX +3 CON +2
INT +3 WIS -1 CHA -1
CR 2, 450xp, small humanoid,
lawful evil
Saves: Dex+5
Passive perception 9
Darkvision 60’
Immunity: Poison damage,
poisoned condition
Page 25 of 26
Sunlight Sensitivity:
disadvantage on attacks when
in sunlight
Pack Tactics: ADV attacks if
an ally within 5’ of enemy
Multi-attack: 2 dagger or 2
dart
Dagger: +5, 5 (1d4+3)
piercing plus 5 (2d4) poison
Dart: +5, range 20/60, 5
(1d4+3) piercing plus 5 (2d4)
poison
Explosive Flask (Recharge
5-6): Action: Throws a flask at
a point within 60 feet; flask
explodes, 15’ radius; 17 (5d6)
poison, fire, acid, or cold
damage (kobold’s choice) and
gain the poisoned condition
until the end of their next turn;
DC 13 Dex save for half damage
and no poisoned condition
Prepare Flask
Use a bonus action to recharge
explosive flask
Kobold Dragonshield
(Volo’s Guide to Monsters
[Volo’s])
HP: 44 AC: 15
Speed: 20’
STR +1 DEX +2 CON +2
INT -1 WIS -1 CHA +0
CR 1, 200xp, small humanoid,
lawful evil
Passive perception 11
Darkvision 60’
Resistance: Poison damage
Heart of the Dragon: If
frightened or paralyzed by an
effect with a saving throw, can
repeat save at start of turn to
end effect on self and all
kobolds w/in 30’; kobolds that
benefit get ADV on next attack
Sunlight Sensitivity:
disadvantage on attacks when
in sunlight
Pack Tactics: ADV attacks if
an ally within 5’ of enemy
Multi-attack: 2 melee
Spear: +3, 4 (1d6+1) piercing,
range 20/60
Kobold Chieftain
(adjusted, ToB)
HP: 82 AC: 17
Speed: 30’
STR +0 DEX +3 CON +2
INT +0 WIS +1 CHA +2
CR 4; 1,100xp, small
humanoid, lawful evil
Saves: Dex+5, Cha+4
Passive perception 11, stealth
+5
Darkvision 60’
Immunities: Charmed,
Frightened
By Chris Bergman
Sunlight Sensitivity:
disadvantage on attacks when
in sunlight
Pack Tactics: ADV attacks if
an ally within 5’ of enemy
Multi-attack: 2 attacks
Shortsword: +5, 6 (1d6+3)
piercing plus 10 (3d6) poison
Shortbow: +5, 6 (1d6+3)
piercing plus 10 (3d6) poison)
Inspiring Presence
(Recharge after Rest):
Action: Up to 6 allied kobolds
w/in 30’ get immunity to
charmed + frightened, and get
+2 to all attack rolls for 1
minute
Booyahg Booyahg Booyahg
(Volo’s, MM)
HP: 40 AC: 15
Speed: 30’
STR -1 DEX +2 CON +0
INT +0 WIS +1 CHA +3
CR 6; 2,300xp, small
humanoid, neutral evil
Saves: Con+3, Cha+6
Passive perception 11
Darkvision 60’
Nimble Escape: can
disengage or hide as a bonus
action
Wild Magic: A Wild Magic
surge occurs on every spellcast,
including cantrips
Spellcasting: 9th lvl
spellcaster, spell save DC 14, +6
on spell atks
Cantrips: fire bolt, light, mage
hand, prestidigitation
1st Level (3 slots): detect magic,
mage armor (precast), magic
missile, shield
2nd Level (3 slots): misty step,
suggestion
3rd Level (3 slots): counterspell,
fireball, fly
4th Level (3 slots): greater
invisibility, ice storm
5th Level (1 slot): cone of cold
Dagger: +5, 4 (1d4+2)
piercing (20/60 if thrown)
Goblin Boss (MM)
HP: 21 AC: 17
Speed: 30’
STR +0 DEX +2 CON +0
INT +0 WIS -1 CHA +0
CR 1; 200xp, small humanoid,
neutral evil
Passive perception 9
Darkvision 60’
Nimble Escape: can
disengage or hide as a bonus
action
Multi-attack: 2 scimitar
attacks, 2nd attack has
disadvantage
Scimitar: +4, 5 (1d6+2)
slashing
Javelin: +4, 5 (1d6+2)
piercing, range: 30/120
Mouth of Grolantor
(adjusted, Volo’s)
HP: 105 AC: 14
Speed: 50’
STR +5 DEX +0 CON +4
INT -3 WIS -2 CHA -5
CR 6; 200xp, Huge Giant,
chaotic evil
Passive perception 11
Immunities: Frightened
condition, “Confusion spells
and similar magic”
Darkvision 60’
Mouth of Madness: On each
turn, the giant moves to the
nearest creature or source of
food. Roll a d10:
1-3. 3 fist attacks on random
creature within reach (10’)
4-5. 1 fist attack on every
creature within its reach (10’)
6-7. 1 bite attack on one
random target within reach (5’)
8-10. 1 bite attack (5’) and 2 fist
attacks (10’) on one random
target within reach
Bite: +8, 5’, 15 (3d6+5)
piercing and regains hp equal
to damage dealt
Fist: +10, 10’, 18 (3d8+5)
bludgeoning
Hobgoblin Devastator
(adjusted, Volo’s)
HP: 45 AC: 13
Speed: 30’
STR +1 DEX +1 CON +2
INT +3 WIS +1 CHA +0
CR 4; 1,100xp, medium
humanoid, lawful evil
Passive perception 11
Darkvision 60’
Arcane Advantage: 1/turn,
can deal extra 7 (2d6) damage
when hitting with a damaging
spell if target is w/in ally of
hobgoblin
Army Arcana: Can choose
self and any # of allies to be
immune to damage caused by
its spells and to succeed on
saving throws of own spells
(can spell sculpt)
Spellcasting: 7th lvl
spellcaster, spell save DC 13, +5
on spell atks
Cantrips: acid splash, fire bolt,
ray of frost, shocking grasp
1st Level (4 slots): fog cloud,
thunderwave, shield
2nd Level (3 slots): gust of wind,
Melf’s acid arrow, scorching
ray
A Dungeon and A Dragon
3rd Level (3 slots): counterspell,
fireball, lightning bolt
4th Level (1 slot): ice storm
Qstaff: +3, 4 (1d6+1)
bludgeoning or 5 (1d8+1) with 2
hands
Hobgoblin (adjusted, MM)
HP: 11 AC: 18
Speed: 30’
STR +1 DEX +1 CON +1
INT +0 WIS +0 CHA -1
CR 1/2; 100 xp, medium
humanoid, lawful evil
Passive perception 10
Darkvision 60’
Martial Advantage: 1/turn,
extra 7 (2d6) dmg if target w/in
5’ of ally
Longsword: +3, 5 (1d8+1)
slashing, 6 (1d10+1) if 2 hands
Longbow: +3, 5 (1d8+1)
piercing, 150/600
Protection: Reaction: When
within 5’ of an ally, can enforce
disadvantage on 1 attack
against them
Hobgoblin Captain (MM)
HP: 39 AC: 17
Speed: 30’
STR +2 DEX +2 CON +2
INT +1 WIS +0 CHA +1
CR 3; 700 xp, medium
humanoid, lawful evil
Passive perception 10
Darkvision 60’
Martial Advantage: 1/turn,
extra 7 (2d6) dmg if target w/in
5’ of ally
Multi-attack: 2 greatsword
attacks
Greatsword: +4, 9 (2d6+2)
piercing
Javelin: +4, 5 (1d6+2)
piercing, 30/120
Leadership (1/rest): action:
1 minute, can give d4 to ally
w/in 30’ to add to attack rolls
or saving throws any time those
are made
Hobgoblin Warlord (MM)
HP: 97 AC: 20
Speed: 30’
STR +3 DEX +2 CON +3
INT +2 WIS +0 CHA +2
CR 6; 2,300 xp, medium
humanoid, lawful evil
Saves: Int+5, Wis+3, Cha+5
Passive perception 10
Darkvision 60’
Martial Advantage: 1/turn,
extra 14 (4d6) dmg if target
w/in 5’ of ally
Multi-attack: 3 melee attacks
or 2 javelin attacks
Longsword: +9, 7 (1d8+3)
slashing
Page 26 of 26
Shield Bash: +9, 5 (1d4+3)
bludgeoning, DC14 strength or
knocked prone
Javelin: +9, 6 (1d6+3)
piercing, 30/120
Leadership (1/rest): action:
1 minute, can give d4 to ally
w/in 30’ to add to attack rolls
or saving throws any time those
are made
Parry: reaction: add 3 to AC
against 1 melee attack that
would hit
Bugbear Murderer
(adjusted, MM)
HP: 37 AC: 17
Speed: 30’
STR +2 DEX +2 CON +1
INT +0 WIS +0 CHA -1
CR 2; 450 xp, medium
humanoid, chaotic evil
Passive perception 10
Darkvision 60’
Surprise Attack: if surprises
a creature and hits in 1st round,
extra 7 (2d6) damage
Multi-attack: 2 melee attacks
Morningstar: +4, 11 (2d8+2)
piercing
Javelin: +4, melee 9 (2d6+2)
piercing, range 5 (1d6+2)
30/120
Valturnax, Adult Green Dragon
in lair (variant spellcaster
rules, MM)
HP: 207 AC: 19
Speed: 40’, fly 80’, swim 40’
STR +6 DEX +1 CON +5
INT +4 WIS +2 CHA +3
CR 15, 13,000 XP or if using
lair actions: 16, 15,000 xp; huge
dragon, lawful evil
Saves: Dex+6, Con+10, Wis+7,
Cha+8
Skills: Deception+8, Insight+7,
Perception +12, Persuasion+8,
Stealth+6
Immunities: poison, poisoned
Passive perception 22
Blindsight 60’, Darkvision 120’
Amphibious: can breathe
water or air
Legendary Resistance
(3/day): If fail saving throw,
can choose to succeed instead
Innate Spellcasting: Spell
save DC 16, spell to hit +8. Can
innately cast the following
spells:
1/day: Mislead, Dispel Magic,
Stinking Cloud
Multi-attack: Can use
Frightful Presence, then make 1
bite attack and 2 claw attacks
Bite: +11, 10’, 17 (2d10+6)
piercing plus 7 (2d6) poison
Claw: +11, 5’, 13 (2d6+6)
slashing
By Chris Bergman
Tail: +11, 15’, 15 (2d8+6) Valturnax leaves no physical
bludgeoning evidence of his passage unless
Frightful Presence: all of he wishes to. Tracking him is
choice w/in 120’ and aware of impossible except through
it, DC16 wis save, frightened for magical means. He ignores
1 minute on fail, can repeat at movement impediments and
end of each turns; on save, damage from plants in this area
immune for 24 hours that aren’t magical or creatures.
Poison Breath (Recharge Plants remove themselves from
5-6): 60’ cone, DC18 Con save, his path.
56 (16d6) poison damage or Rodent Eyes and Ears:
half on successful save Rodents and birds within 1 mile
of Valturnax’s lair serve as his
Legendary Actions eyes and ears. Deer and large
3/round, recharge at beginning game are strangely absent,
of Valturnax’s turn hinting at the presence of an
Detect: Wisdom (perception) unnaturally hungry predator. If
check Valturnax dies, the rodents and
Tail Attack: Tail Attack birds lose their supernatural
Wing Attack [2 actions]: link to him.
Beats wings, all w/in 10’ of
dragon, DC19 Dex save or take
13 (2d6+6) bludgeoning and be
knocked prone; dragon can
then fly 40’
Cast Spell [2 actions]: Can
cast a spell
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20, losing
ties
Grasping Roots: roots and
vines erupt in a 20’ radius w/in
120’, ground becomes difficult
terrain, each creature DC 15
Strength saving throw or be
restrained; can try to free self or
others can try to free with a DC
15 Strength check; disappears
when dragon uses this again or
dies
Wall of Thorns: wall of
thorns, 60’ long, 10’ high, 5’
thick, within 120’ of dragon,
when it appears all w/in wall’s
area must make a DC15 Dex
save or take 18 (4d8) piercing
and pushed to one side of its
choice. Moving through the
wall takes 4x as much
movement as normal and DC 15
Dex or take 18 (4d8) damage.
Each 10’ section has AC 5, 15
hp, vulnerability to fire,
resistance to bludgeoning and
piercing, and immunity to
psychic; wall sinks into ground
when dragon uses this again or
dragon dies
Magic Fog: Magical fog
billows around one creature
w/in 120’ the dragon can see,
creature must make a DC15
Wisdom save or be charmed
until initiative count 20 on the
next round.
Regional Effects
Pass Without a Trace:
Within 1 mile of his lair,