Grain and seed mill.
This is an old pre-Rifts building that has Finally, Lady Cleo provides the character with the location of
been used over the years for a variety of things. Right now, it stores
large quantities of grain and seed that are for sale or trade.
Pig Farm. This is the largest farm within town. All kinds of
pork products are sold as well as fuel made from the pig waste.
Town Hall. The only new building in town and built within
the last ten years. This is a large wooden building with two floors.
This building serves as the office for the town mayor and his staff.
Operator Shop. Old man Cooper is the town’s Operator. He
can fix just about anything and has four assistants. If he’s not in
his shop he is at one of the farms fixing something. His rates are
reasonable and he can repair Mega-Damage armor and recharge
E-Clips.
River Side Pub. This is the best pub in town. They serve their
own brand of beer, mead and moonshine. Drinks typically go for
two or three credits. The pub has a dozen rooms for rent on the
second floor. Renting a room runs 50 credits a night and includes
breakfast.
Surrounding Orchards and Farms. Around the town are a
dozen farms that grow everything from fruit to vegetables.
Upon Arriving in Town
There are very few people in sight and those who see the char-
acters either run into their homes, closing the doors and shutters,
or run to get Lady Cleo, the town’s protector. This makes the place
look like a ghost town. Most of the town’s people do not trust
strangers, even our well intended heroes. People will not be rude,
but are clearly frightened. If pressed, they suggest that the group
speak to Lady Cleo. There is an air of fear in the town and most
people have been avoiding going outside.
Meeting Lady Cleo
Lady Cleo is very charming and speaks with an air of authority.
Most of the townspeople trust her completely. She is very disturbed
to learn that Mary Stocks was also victimized by this horrible beast
which she readily confirms is a Flame Wind Dragon. Lady Cleo
tells the player group that other children have gone missing as
well, but alas, the town does not have the resources or manpower
to face a powerful beast such as a dragon. She asks the player char-
acters for their assistance in tracking down this monster. While she
cannot offer much for a reward, she can offer repairs to their gear
and the recharging of E-Clips, and they can keep and divide the
dragon’s entire treasure among themselves, if they are successful
in slaying the dragon and bringing the children back safely. Natu-
rally Sir Cross volunteers and asks the player group to join him.
To further encourage the group to track down the evil dragon,
Lady Cleo, who is a Mystic (a psychic and a mage), offers the fol-
lowing: Using her “Mystic” powers she can tell them that the drag-
on has a sizeable dragon hoard and that the characters may claim
it as their own as their reward for risking their lives. (More details
on the dragon and treasure is are given below). Next, she says her
psychic abilities tell her that some of the children are alive, but be-
ing mind controlled by the wicked dragon. As a result, they cannot
be trusted and will probably lie for the dragon. Don’t be fooled,
she warns, the dragon is an evil beast that should be slain at first
sight. Lady Cleo suggests the player group should do their best to
sneak up on the dragon and attack him before he knows they are
there. This dragon is very powerful and can teleport on top of the
characters in an instant, so they should take no chances.
the evil dragon that she has gleaned from her premonitions and
dreams. The player characters should be able to get there in a few
hours on foot or an hour with a vehicle. The terrain makes travel
difficult for travel by vehicle. She also suggests that the group
stays together and not try to face the dragon separately. This is
something that Sir Cross absolutely agrees with.
Should the player group be tired from their trip, Lady Cleo can
arrange for free lodgings and food for them. This is compliments
of the town since the characters have so graciously agreed to help
out.
If asked about bandits, Lady Cleo says she knows nothing
about bandits. She does report that a small mercenary squad came
through town a few days ago. They turned down her request to slay
the dragon, drank and tore up the River Side Pub, before leaving.
If they are in the area they have not been heard from in a couple
of days.
Fire Fly, the Kidnaping Dragon
Getting to the lair of the evil dragon should not be too difficult.
Again, the Game Master can have the players roll their skills such
as Land Navigation and Detect Ambush. Since Lady Cleo pro-
vided the group with the dragon’s location, finding it should not
be much trouble.
From a good distance away (perhaps a mile or two), the player
characters are able to spot a large dragon lying in a field, sunning
itself. Not far from the dragon is a small tent village with six large
tents. Near the tents are crates of food and water.
Further observation reveals a very strange site. There are chil-
dren playing! Not only are they playing in and around the tents,
several are actually playing on the back of the dragon. Some chil-
dren can be seen climbing on the beast and sliding down its neck
onto its back or down its sides. Some of the children seem to be
tickling the dragon while another is right near its face talking with
it. The dragon seems to be talking back and allowing the children
to use it as a large jungle gym. All of the children seem to be in
good health and well fed. Taking a count of the children (or using
the Intelligence skill) reveals that all of the missing children are ac-
counted for, along with several others – perhaps from other towns.
Furthermore, the happy children do not seem to be in any kind of
trance or obvious mind control. They seem like ordinary kids play-
ing and having fun.
Options on Dealing with the Dragon
Attack? The Cyber-Knight, Sir Cross, will not agree to any
attack that puts the children in harm’s way. He insists no attack be
made while the children are anywhere near the dragon. Instead, he
will want to explore other options before settling on violence, and
that includes talking to the dragon and the children. But first, he
suggest they sneak around to see if there are any hidden dangers
as they get closer, and what else might be inside those tents. If the
players come up with a plan that keeps the children out of harm’s
way, Sir Cross may agree, but that seems possible only with stealth
and more observation to find out what is going on. In short, the sit-
uation is not what anyone expected, and Sir Cross (and our player
group?) wants to make sure he and the rest of the heroes have all
the correct information before taking any action.
Should the player characters attack, Fire Fly takes a defensive
posture to protect the children. He will put himself between the
children and the player characters (yet another sign that the dragon