Draconic Duality
A
pair of dragons have been ravaging the
countryside, leaving destruction and mayhem in
their wake. In response, the regent lord has
called for heroes willing to risk their life in
defense of the good common people. Even with
a reward promised that would leave most in
comfort for the rest of their days, few have
answered this call. Among these few are dragonborn
representatives claiming the rampaging dragons are actually
victims, but none will listen to their pleas. Now, those brave
souls seeking gold and glory gather together to begin their
courageous venture.
Background
Long ago, there were two powerfully evil dragon twins,
Aegraranprinisthasy and Whedabdocarmyvish. They
terrorized the surrounding lands for many years before finally
being defeated by two good dragons, Vantiaurixtorir and
Fewihlornxiekiv and their dragonborn followers.
So filled with hate and vengeance were the evil twins,
however, that their souls persisted even after their bodies had
been slain. Brooding in the depths of the ethereal plane,
these twisted spirits gathered their dark power and began to
plot their revenge.
After many long years, their plans are finally being enacted.
Having grown their power within the ethereal plane,
Aegraranprinisthasy and Whedabdocarmyvish have
discovered how to latch their essence onto the soul of
another dragon on the material plane. With this dark power,
they have taken possession of Vantiaurixtorir and
Fewihlornxiekiv's bodies and have once gain renewed their
tyranny upon the lands.
Vantiaurixtorir and Fewihlornxiekiv's loyal followers,
having discovered what has actually occurred, approached
the regent lord and begged to help free the good dragons, but
in the wake of devastation no-one will tolerate the idea of
saving these "monsters".
The Adventure Begins
Falstahd Ardengarde, the regent lord of the region, is seeking
out anyone willing to face against the draconic threat upon
his realm in exchange for land, a title, exceptional wealth, and
a place at his court. Despite such lofty rewards, however, only
three groups have come forward.
First were dragonborn followers of Vantiaurixtorir and
Fewihlornxiekiv, known as the Shimmering Scales. Though
they sought to plead for aid in rescuing the dragons from the
dark possession rather than slay them and were thus
unceremoniously thrown out.
Second were the Wyrmskewers, a band of dwarven
dragonhunters with a grudge against all dragonkind. They
travel in a large armored vehicle outfitted with several
mechanical harpoon cannons and winches designed to drag
their draconic targets to the ground.
Thirdly, are the characters. Once everyone is ready, begin the
adventure by reading or paraphrasing the following:
The journey to Ardengarde estate was one of somber urgency.
A pair of dragons have been razing the countryside leaving
only ashes in their wake. The roads are teeming with refugees
and fleeing civilians seeking asylum from the destruction,
draping a cloak of terror across the land.
In an effort to respond to the fearsome threat upon his
lands, the regent lord Falstahd Ardengarde has put out a
proclamation asking for brave heroes to come forth and slay
the rampaging monsters. In return for such valorous deeds,
the regent lord has promised land, a title, exceptional wealth,
and a place at his court. It is for this proclamation you all now
find yourself at the regent lord's estate.
Your audience with Lord Ardengarde has just concluded and
the mid-day sun is blinding as you emerge out into the
courtyard. Squinting while your eyes adjust to the sudden
illumination you make out two other groups, seemingly the
only other ones willing to take up the lord's offer. A pair of
gleaming dragonborn in polished regalia, and a band of
rugged-looking dwarves preparing a large vehicular
contraption with mounted winched harpoon cannons and
heavy metal plating.
Ardengarde Estate
Though Regent Lord Falstahd's abode would usually be best
described as lavish, the threat of draconic annihilation has
caused sweeping chaos throughout the region and left such
fanciful concepts on the wayside.
Area Information
Ardengarde Estate has the following features.
Dimensions & Terrain. The lush topiary has been
chopped down and replaced with ballistae, the walls are lined
with row upon row of nervous-looking archers, and servants
dash about in an attempt to be indoors as much as possible.
A palpable fear is thick in the air.
Lighting. It is mid-day, the high sun illuminating the entire
courtyard.
Smells and Sounds. The usual hustle and bustle of
civilization is absent, with only the low wind, hushed
whispers, and clattering armor resounding in the air.
Gathering
Having just finished their audience with Lord Ardengarde,
the characters find themselves on the estate grounds,
finishing their preparations for the quest alongside the
Wyrmskewers. Take some time to introduce the
Wyrmskewers and build the tension of the oncoming conflict.
Before the groups head out, the Shimmering Scales will
approach the characters and attempt to plead with them as
neither the lord nor Wyrmskewers will listen.
DRACONIC DUALITY
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Wyrmskewers
Though the Wyrmskewers want the glory of the kill and
Ardengarde's reward for themselves, they are not about
to turn down some extra hands for this job.
Dragonslaying is tough and risky business, and its wise
to have all the help you can. Depending on how well the
dwarves get along with the characters, they may end up
seeing them as equals and deserving a share, or see to
them "accidentally" perishing during the battle.
The Wyrmskewers are comprised of eight dwarves, all of
various personality and background, but unified in their
hatred for dragons:
Daerab. The aged leader with a personal grudge against
dragons after one scarred and injured him, and killed his
sister. Sunlight causes his burn scars to ache.
expedition heads out. The journey is fairly straightforward as
Viebs. Happy-go-lucky man who doesn't appear to be
easily rattled by the tense or outlandish situations around
him, instead choosing to make light of situations to
elevate the mood around him.
grove looms ahead.
Coerael. Newest member and most down-to-earth of the
Wyrmskewers. Romantically entangled with Sonachel,
much to Labysk's chagrin.
Sonachel. Daerab's fiery adopted daughter, currently
stuck in a love triangle with Coerael and Labysk. She
cares deeply for Daerab and worries his quest for
vengeance will be his undoing.
Labysk. Hotheaded younger man seeking to prove
himself to Sonachel.
Keseeg. Mentor to Coerael, Keseeg was born a noble but
gave up a life of ease to experience the world of which
he had only heard stories.
Dimensions & Terrain. The stones which make up the
Niiars. Very quiet and keeps to himself, but a terrific
warrior.
Daanck. Second-in-command and operates as the voice
of reason aboard the ship. He is beginning to become
disenfranchised with the way Daerab is leading the
Wyrmskewers.
rampage. Only the light rustling of grass in the wind remains.
Pleaded Plan
The Shimmering Scales will tell the characters about the
information found in the Background as well as what they
have discerned about the ghostly possessions. The
Shimmering Scales believe that the evil dragon spirits can be
defeated on the Border Ethereal, and if the physical bodies of
the two good dragons can be held long enough on the
material plane, the characters could journey to the Border
Ethereal and slay the evil spirits once and for all.
Assuming the characters are receptive, the Shimmering
Scales will inform them about the perfect ambush spot
located at an old ethereal crossing within a druid grove. The
druids have recently abandoned the grove to escape the
draconic wrath, but the evil twins would still not be able to
resist razing it to the ground on their path.
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Alliance of Convenience
If the characters have no way to incapacitate the good
dragons on the material plane, which is quite likely, it should
be obvious that the Wyrmskewers and their winched harpoon
cannons are the best option.
While the Wyrmskewers are willing to work with the
characters, they have no intention of doing any favours for the
good dragons. Though they may agree to go along with any
plans of saving the good dragons, the dwarves will absolutely
do everything in their power to slay them both during the
confrontation.
Heading Out
Once any agreements or plans have been made, the
beasts and bandits have no intention of sticking around with
two homicidal dragons on the loose. Soon enough the druid
Druid Grove
Resting in an open grassy field surrounded by a smattering of
rocky plateaus, the abandoned druid grove is little more than
a few squat stones arranged in a mystic circle surrounded by
meager shanty homes.
Area Information
The Druid Grove has the following features.
druid grove are big and heavy, arranged in a circular henge.
Mushrooms grow within the damp shade of the stones and
creepers snake their way along the smooth rock.
Lighting. It is twilight, the purple and orange expanse of
the dying sun creating long shadows within the grove.
Smells and Sounds. The cacophony of nature is curiously
absent here, the wildlife having all fled ahead of the draconic
Runes. Inscribed upon the henge stones are runes in
Druidic which unlock the secret to opening the ethereal
crossing.
Ethereal Crossing
In order to open the ethereal crossing, the characters must
first decipher the Druidic runes upon the henge stones. If
they do not have any way to do so, you can have one of the
Wyrmskewers know enough Druidic to discern them. If there
are no Wyrmskewers present, then consider changing the
runes to Primordial or something else the characters can
read that makes sense.
Opening the Gate
The runes depict each of the aspects associated with the
natural world: earth, wind, air, fire, life, and death. In order to
open the ethereal gate, the characters must activate each
rune with a representation of its meaning. For example, dirt
upon earth, seedling upon life, etc. Feel free to interpret the
symbolism however you like. Blood, as an example, could
represent either life or death. Perhaps even blood drawn
through violence represents death while blood freely given
represents life.
Once the runes have all been activated, the gate ripples and
appears in the center of the grove.
Read or paraphrase the following:
As the final rune activates, there is a faint shimmer in the air
within the center of the druid grove. A gray mist swirls before
you like a windswept stormcloud, coalesquing into a circular
rift. The very space inside the henge appears to congeal like
rolling fog over roiling waves until finally the gate stabilizes
and ripples powerfully.
When a character first steps into the gate, read or paraphrase
the following:
There’s a bright flash of turquoise and in an instant, you seem
to appear in the same space, but oddly different. Everything
around you now seems blurred and gray. You feel weightless,
and there’s a mustiness smell to the air and an eerie silence.
Gray roiling mist swirls at the edges of visibility, completely
opaque to your eyes.
Dragon Ambush
Shortly after the ethereal gate has been opened, the
characters (or Wyrmskewers) will notice the dragons flying
towards the grove on the horizon. The Wyrmskewers will
leap into action and begin preparing their harpoon cannons.
As they approach, anyone on the Border Ethereal will see
shadowy dragons overlapping those on the material. As soon
as the dragons are within range, combat begins.
Battle on Two Fronts
As the living dragons move on the material plane, so to do the
spirits of the evil dragons possessing them on the Border
Ethereal. They effectively overlap each other at all times. This
does not work the other way around, however. The evil spirits
cannot be restrained or stopped in any way.
If a dragon spirit is slain, the freed good dragon will either
flee, help, or remain aggressive depending on how it was
treated during the fight. If a good dragon is slain, the evil
spirit possessing it will flee into the ethereal mists, likely to
return once more in the future.
Combat Tactics
The Wyrmskewers will use their winched harpoon cannons
to latch onto the dragons and pull them down to the ground.
Though restrained, the possessed dragons will continue to
fight back, attempting to escape the harpoons and creating
risk for anyone remaining on the material plane. Anyone on
the Border Ethereal will witness the shadowy dragons get
pulled down with the physical dragons, restraining them as
well.
If the characters want to properly end the dragon threat,
they will want to venture into the Border Ethereal and slay
the evil spirits. However, this will leave the possessed good
dragons at the mercy of the Wyrmskewers and vice versa.
The characters will need to either travel back and forth
between the Border Ethereal or leave someone to assist on
the material side.
Confrontation
It is likely that rising tensions will explode during the conflict
and the characters will become at odds with the
Wyrmskewers. How this resolves will depend on what sort of
relationship the characters have with the dwarves. Run the
encounter however you see fit given the circumstances. Some
of the Wyrmskewers, such as Daerab, are incredibly unlikely
to be reasoned with, but its possible the characters may be
able to talk them down. If presented with an unwinnable
scenario, most of the dwarves are wise enough to retreat.
Daerab and any other zealous members will probably fight to
the death, however.
Trapped!
If any of the Druidic runes become marred, the ethereal gate
will close trapping whoever is still on the Border Ethereal.
There is a chance the Wyrmskewers will attempt this if
they understand what the runes do and the opportunity
presents itself. Though this, too, would depend on their
disposition towards the characters.
Conclusion
Once the battle is over, the characters can return to Lord
Falstahd and/or the Shimmering Scales for their reward
either with or without the Wyrmskewers.
Freed the Dragons
If they freed the good dragons and are honest about it, they
will not be received well and Lord Falstahd will likely try and
retract his offers on the grounds that they were to be given if
the dragons were slain. The characters will likely argue.
The Shimmering Scales will rejoice should the good
dragons be saved, and treat the characters as proper heroes,
though without such lofty rewards as proffered by Lord
Falstahd.
Slew the Dragons
If they slew the good dragons, Lord Falstahd will welcome
the characters home as grand heroes. A festival will be
planned in their honour, where their just rewards shall be
given.
The Shimmering Scales, however, will have marked the
characters as enemies. It is likely that they will attempt to
sabotage the festival and maybe even assassinate the
characters depending on how he characters act regarding
their actions.
Lying
If they lie to either Lord Falstahd or the Shimmering Scales
in an effort to get the best of both worlds, things may seem
grand for a time. At some point, however, these lies will catch
up with them and the fallout will be utterly spectacular.
DRACONIC DUALITY
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