I plan to let the PCs meet an NPC adventurer company on their way to slay a green dragon in their home forest (have not decided which forest yet, this adventure is not for quite a while, so you know). They meet the other adventurers at a little forest village they know well from their childhood.
Right after the NPC adventurers leave the village for the dragon-hunt the informal leader of the place asks the PCs for their time.
The village elder knows a secret. There is two green dragons in the neighbourhood. One to the west - the one NPCs are to hunt - and one to the east. No one seems to know where the second one has its lair. Both of them seems to be one or two days away from the village.
The elder knows from his great grandfather that those dragons have a deal; they have decided to let the territory between them (where this community is, to be distinct) be neutral ground. No hunt from neither of them here.
In this way the dragons don't feel they are threatened by the other. If their lairs or hunting grounds had been more close to each other they would have to worry a lot more.
Over all those years both dragons had respected this agreement. But now is the village elder really worried; "if the dragon hunters succeed in their slaying the 'balance' will be broken. The surviving dragon can hunt the humans in this village without any worries at all. We will be doomed."
The elder therefore asks PCs to stop the dragonhunters. First try to talk with them, or fight them if neccessary. No dragon can die, or then the elder is afraid this village will be no more.
Now to my question(s); is this reasoning believable? Is it possible for two green selfish dragons to come to such an agreement?
I like this idea because even if the good aligned PCs succeed in stopping the dragon hunters, they will know evil broods both to the west and east without being able to stop it; at least not easy.
But to hear your opinions about this, and eventual weaknesses in my reasoning, would be nice.
Now to my question(s); is this reasoning believable? Is it possible for two green selfish dragons to come to such an agreement?
-Of course. It is even affirmed in canon. Venom, the legendary scourge of Semberholme, was not just one Green Dragon, but two Green Dragons, who lived and operated in the same area, and associated with each other.
:D
Is, 'because its evil' a good enough reason?
Agree, plausible, I think you will need to look closely at motivations and alignment of the NPC party, if the balance overall was 'good' I'd suggest they may look at the wider picture, Why are they going to slay this dragon in the first place.
Is, 'because its evil' a good enough reason?
Mmm, yes I really should be careful about motivations and alignment of the NPCs.
Evil alignment in itself is seldom reason enough to kill a certain creature. Not in my book. The action of the "evil one" should decide that.
I think the NPC party will tend toward neutral alignment, presumably along the lines of chaotic neutral or so. They want treasures mainly I think. That and some glory perhaps for killing a dragon.
That way, I hope the PCs can have use for their diplomacy skills without it being too easy or too hard. If I put the NPCs at evil alignment, it is to predictable. Evil NPCs would hardly avoid the dragons "becuase of some commoners".
And if I give the NPCs good alignment it will be too easy for the PCs to talk them into not attacking the dragon, "because of the poor village".
Thanks for answer all of you. I liked the information you told me about the green dragons at Semberholme Karsus. I think I know some stuff of Faerun, but this forum in general makes me more humble ;)
Now if this was me, I'd probably be a right git to the party and have an agent of the Cult of the Dragon overhear the NPC parties intentions, divert the 2 parties while they negotiated with the dragon, let the players and NPC's in where they confront a new Dracolich (will still look alive for awhile), suggest to the players they may want to enlist the help of the other dragon, do so, get them to slay the Dracolich, then get the Cult to get there erstwhile Draco buddy to turn on them in exchange for more hoard etc etc so ultimately the players have to sort out 2 dragons and whose turning them in to the Cult at every step, I'd suggest one of the NPC party but not an obviouse one (make it a fighter).
Of small begininngs are heroes of legend born!!!!
Thanks for answer all of you. I liked the information you told me about the green dragons at Semberholme Karsus. I think I know some stuff of Faerun, but this forum in general makes me more humble ;)
It happens to every Realms Loremaster.
Now to my question(s); is this reasoning believable? Is it possible for two green selfish dragons to come to such an agreement?
Yes, absolutely.
Of course its entirely plausible Sharess that the parties team up to take out both dragons, ending the threat forever to the village.
Now if this was me, I'd probably be a right git to the party and have an agent of the Cult of the Dragon overhear the NPC parties intentions, divert the 2 parties while they negotiated with the dragon, let the players and NPC's in where they confront a new Dracolich (will still look alive for awhile), suggest to the players they may want to enlist the help of the other dragon, do so, get them to slay the Dracolich, then get the Cult to get there erstwhile Draco buddy to turn on them in exchange for more hoard etc etc so ultimately the players have to sort out 2 dragons and whose turning them in to the Cult at every step, I'd suggest one of the NPC party but not an obviouse one (make it a fighter).
Of small begininngs are heroes of legend born!!!!
I have a feeling your idea is really good, honestly. But I am not sure what you mean I am afraid. Can you please explain with other words? Would love to understand it all.
I have a feeling your idea is really good, honestly. But I am not sure what you mean I am afraid. Can you please explain with other words? Would love to understand it all.
HI Sharess,
See if the below helps.
1) Your NPC party meets with the players and suggests that they both kill 1 of the dragons.
2) the village elder explains the pact the 2 dragons have that keeps them from killing the village.
3) the NPC party continues on to slay the dragon after much roleplaying with the PC party as to whether its a good thing. The PC's are then faced with having to physically stop them.
4) a member of the NPC party(secretly a cult member) delays the NPC party while the cult negotiates with the dragon to turn it into a dracolich. This in turn delays the PC's as they don't have to stop the NPC's.
(they may think what an easy solution)
5) the dragon agrees to becoming a Dracolich, which would mean it could then betray the other dragon (been more powerful) and still attack the village. It is an evil dragon after all.
6) The NPC party after the delay, arrives to kill the dragon and so do the PC’s (to stop the NPC's) but they will have to realize that the dragon is now a dracolich.
7) the dracolich drives off the PC’s, whereupon it is suggested they enlist the aid of the other dragon (as it now under threat from the new dracolich) to eliminate the dracolich.
8) The other green dragon agrees to help and together the players and it kill the dracolich, but the dragon has already been negotiating with the Cult of the dragon ( via the NPC party) and it too turns on the PC’s.
9) the PC’s have to slay this dragon and find out whom has been notifying the cult to prevent either dragon been used for other reasons of the cult or the cult diverting the hoards towards yet another dracolich.
Obviously this needs work,it does pit you against my favourite villains in the realms and it gives a lot of scope to the players to work out what they have to do, but it does create a great little mini campaign
-Also, never forget, "Evil =/= Stupid". ;)
-
;) Why does greeny need to be killed again?18DELTA
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18DELTA
-Perhaps.
HI Sharess,
See if the below helps.
1) Your NPC party meets with the players and suggests that they both kill 1 of the dragons.
2) the village elder explains the pact the 2 dragons have that keeps them from killing the village.
3) the NPC party continues on to slay the dragon after much roleplaying with the PC party as to whether its a good thing. The PC's are then faced with having to physically stop them.
4) a member of the NPC party(secretly a cult member) delays the NPC party while the cult negotiates with the dragon to turn it into a dracolich. This in turn delays the PC's as they don't have to stop the NPC's.
(they may think what an easy solution)
5) the dragon agrees to becoming a Dracolich, which would mean it could then betray the other dragon (been more powerful) and still attack the village. It is an evil dragon after all.
6) The NPC party after the delay, arrives to kill the dragon and so do the PC’s (to stop the NPC's) but they will have to realize that the dragon is now a dracolich.
7) the dracolich drives off the PC’s, whereupon it is suggested they enlist the aid of the other dragon (as it now under threat from the new dracolich) to eliminate the dracolich.
8) The other green dragon agrees to help and together the players and it kill the dracolich, but the dragon has already been negotiating with the Cult of the dragon ( via the NPC party) and it too turns on the PC’s.
9) the PC’s have to slay this dragon and find out whom has been notifying the cult to prevent either dragon been used for other reasons of the cult or the cult diverting the hoards towards yet another dracolich.
Obviously this needs work,it does pit you against my favourite villains in the realms and it gives a lot of scope to the players to work out what they have to do, but it does create a great little mini campaign
That helped a lot Flicker. I think I will use your material actually, at least most of it. I like those dragon scoundrels too, their agenda is so unrealistic so you can't help but feel sorry for them ;)
Time for me to look into my upcoming campaign directly then. Will see where it ends. see ya, and thanks again
Anyway, I like this idea. Go for it.
I thought part of the point here was that the position of the lair of the other dragon was unknown, so you couldn't solve the problem that way.
Anyway, I like this idea. Go for it.
No that is right Zsych. But I think I will make a session in itself to find the position of the other dragon.
It begun as one playing session, but soon I will have a whole campaign it seems. Especially since I have other things in mind both before and after this "dragon problem". But I am not one to complaing, better to many ideas than to few I say
-Of course. It is even affirmed in canon. Venom, the legendary scourge of Semberholme, was not just one Green Dragon, but two Green Dragons, who lived and operated in the same area, and associated with each other.
Nice adventure hook that - have 2 dragons acting as one, mated and rearing young and controlling the wyverns of the wyvern rift (and no doubt other dragon-kin)
Got to like SES for slipping that one in :D
Damian
ps LOVE your adventure idea - what a [erfect adventure for 1st level characters to play - they probably don't have enough firepower to physically fght and stop the hunters so its rolpelaying first and then if that doesn't work guerilla style attacks to slow them down and break up their camp, steal supplies, get them lost etc. - Nice one
Seriously, this adventure strikes me as authentic and in the spirit of the Realms, in which blind meddling can interrupt fragile alliances and understandings.
Seriously, this adventure strikes me as authentic and in the spirit of the Realms, in which blind meddling can interrupt fragile alliances and understandings.
Yes, I agree with that.