Blessing of the Drake
Blessing of the Drake
Level 5–6 Adventure. Adventurous. Investigation. Wilderness.
Lanterns hang from the trees, jolly carols ring out, and feasts are being prepared. This could be the best Winterfest yet! But, the Great Fir Drake hasn't come to bless the village this year, and a local druid fears disaster. Can the party find the beast before the festival begins?
Starting the Adventure
"Pine-cone bunting is strung from roof to roof, and fir wreaths hang on every front door and fence post. The people around you are upbeat and preparing for the annual winter celebration of nature and family. Not everyone is joyous in the run-up to Winterfest, however. You were contacted by the settlement's local druid, Gram, who fears something may be wrong with the area's mighty draconic guardian."
x, the Great Fir Drake, guards a territory spanning fifty miles around the settlement. The people of the village place carved tokens, beaded jewellery and coins beneath a statue in the weeks leading up to Winterfest, as an offering of thanks and peace to the mighty beast. Normally, Ysilwen visits the village to collect the offerings and then isn't seen again until the next year. There has been no sign of the creature this year, and x is starting to worry this Winterfest may end in disaster
Suggested Story
Set the scene, have Gram offer to pay the party if they can find Ysilwen in her lair, then continue:
Into the Pines
Gram draws the party a map: head east from the village, cross a bridge, then go north to Pineshelter Cave. Gram gives them a shard of amber resin as an offering, in case the drake is angry with the village.
The party walk to the forest and start their search.
Broken Branches
A trail of damage leads over the bridge to a thicket.
While investigating, the party are attacked by a kobold spellcaster (Cultist Fanatic) and three Kobold Warriors, who were hiding in the branches.
Seeking Shelter
Pressing on, they discover the drake injured in her lair. She tells them about x and his ambush.
Ysilwen asks the party to remove the nets caught in her claws and spears buried in her side. The party need to be careful of her sharp spines.
Drake Versus Dragon
Ysilwen asks the party to ride her into battle against Lotorrix. They all charge towards the thicket.
The party find Lotorrix, four kobold spellcasters (Cultist Fanatics) and ten Kobold Warriors in the thicket. The mob attacks. Once per round, a party member may use one of Ysilwen's actions instead of their own. The party take half damage while riding the drake.
If Lotorrix is defeated, Ysilwen carries the party to the village and blesses its people for Winterfest.
Important Characters
Gram Iceback
Orc-Human, Female, 48 (Druid)
A local druid who looks after the offering ceremony every year. She is growing more and more stressed.
"Gram wears thick goatskin wraps and fur boots. She stares into the forest, biting her nails."
Ysilwen, the Great Fir Drake
Dragon, Female, 677 (Great Fir Drake)
This drake has guarded her territory for centuries. She was injured by Lotorrix and his rabble, then fled.
"Her green scales twinkle, and her tail ends in a glowing star. She pants heavily. Bruises and red scratches on her side are causing her pain."
Lotorrix the Bitter
Dragon, Male, 91 (Young White Dragon)
A spiteful dragon who leads a rabble of kobolds. He wants to take the pine forest territory for himself.
"The cackling dragon's oversized snout is full of crooked teeth. His jaw sits to the left slightly, as if it was dislodged in a brutal fight long ago."
Quick Stats
| Name | AC | HP | Initiative | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | 44 | initiative 2 | Necrotic blade | |
13 | 44 | initiative 1 | Nature knowledge | |
19 | 162 | initiative 14 | Incandescent breath | |
14 | 7 | initiative 2 | Pack tactics | |
17 | 123 | initiative 3 | Can burrow and fly |
Key Locations
Drake Statue
"A stone likeness of the Great Fir Drake gazes into the quiet pine forest. At its base rests a broad bowl brimming with coins, beaded jewellery and wood-carved tokens."
This is where the villagers, led by Gram, give offerings to the drake every year as a sign of gratitude. Gram is sat on a rickety stool beneath the statue, next to the stone bowl full of offerings.
Bloody Thicket
"This was clearly the site of a desperate and hard-fought battle. Broken trees lie shattered on the floor, and splashes of red streak across the white snow."
Lotorrix and his rabble ambushed Ysilwen here. There are signs of two large creatures fighting, bent weapons, and four slain kobolds. Ysilwen used an illusion spell to confuse Lotorrix and the kobolds before fleeing back to her lair, injured.
Pineshelter Cave
"The lair of the drake is lined with dazzling green crystals. Offerings from past Winterfests sit in organised piles around the cave, like treasured gifts."
Pineshelter Cave is marked on the map, but the entrance is hidden by an illusion of a snowdrift. Ysilwen is curled up in her lair, licking her wounds. She may be temporarily hostile if the party don't announce themselves.
Secrets and Clues
There are fewer Winterfest offerings this year; x thinks that's why the drake is absent.
Gram once stumbled across x lair when she was gathering potion ingredients.
The kobolds used to inhabit a network of mountain caves, until x arrived and claimed it.
The kobolds are terrified of Lotorrix and his icy wrath, and will do anything he orders them to do.
Lotorrix wants to extend his territory into the pine forest, and sees Ysilwen as a threat.
Lotorrix and his rabble fanned out to search for Ysilwen after she fled the ambush, to no avail.
Quest Rewards
Gram will pay 300gp if the party can find the Great Fir Drake, and she will gladly gift her Staff of the Python if they bring the drake to bless the village. Each kobold wears a white agate on a necklace (10gp each) to show their allegiance to Lotorrix.
Level Changes
Easier (Level 3–4)
You could remove the Cultist Fanatics from the adventure, and make Lotorrix a White Dragon Wyrmling.
Harder (Level 7–8)
The party could take full damage while riding the Great Fir Drake. Lotorrix could bring his White Dragon Wyrmling younger sibling to the fight, too.