|
"What?" Replies the man. He is clearly agitated and nervous. But he's not afraid of you (the party). Rather, he seems to be afraid for his wife--and for you.
"Are you mad? The beast is enormous! You have neither the skill nor the numbers to face a dragon of his size--all you'll accomplish is an agonizing death, and then Aeteperax will raze Belhaim to the ground!"
|
|
Ethendril sighs.
"There is not enough treasure in all the land to satisfy its demands. That is impossible. But challenge it we must. Who is to say that the same luck and blessings that accompanied other dragon slayers of this land will not be with us? Where is your wife? And where is this beast? What else do you know that might help us?" the paladin asks.
|
|
The paladin seems calm and sincere. "Fine, fine! I’ll help you, but if it costs my wife and unborn child their lives, a dragon's wrath will be nothing compared to mine! Aeteperax has her hostage. He snatched up Rima, and allowed me to follow him back to the monastery, where the dragon's minions captured me. Aeteperax then offered his terms—I would serve the dragon's whims and needs for the following year, at the end of which my wife and child would be returned unharmed. I saw no choice, for if I went for aid, my loved ones would be forfeit."
"But, know the true nature of your quarry: he is a young green dragon who goes by the name Aeteperax. In my time here as the dragon's hostage, I have spent many weeks studying old journals and tomes I discovered in rooms throughout the monastery. I learned that the monks were tinkering with knowledge about the Dark Tapestry, a subject the green dragon Aeteperax is obsessed with. I believe that's the reason Aeteperax came to this region—to learn what dark secrets the monks discovered."
"The monks managed to construct an aperture, called the Dark Window, in a locked and hidden room accessible via the lectern library on the third floor. The Dark Window allowed them to observe and even communicate with alien entities on the far side of the universe. The first time they used the Window, the malevolent alien they contacted teleported into the monastery and attacked the priests. Abbot Kanjougas banished the alien back to the Dark Tapestry, but not before it slaughtered the monastery’s other inhabitants."
"Aeteperax used secrets gleaned from the monastery’s texts and the Dark Window to develop a method of conjuring monsters from the Dark Tapestry to serve him. These are the grioths, batlike monsters from an alien world. You must close the Dark Window to stem the endless tide of grioths."
"Once you close the Dark Window, Aeteperax will know you’re coming for him, and will likely vent his anger by attacking Belhaim soon thereafter. You must wait until you’re absolutely ready to invade the dragon’s lair before closing the Dark Window."
"Even a brief disruption from a successful dispel magic spell should be enough to undo the dragon’s work, at least for a time. Beyond this, my research has shown that force effects should be able to disrupt the window—but only if they are somehow be enhanced before being unleashed upon the Dark Window. Hopefully studying the window will provide some clues—when the time comes, I can aid you in that matter if you need help."
"Aeteperax’s lair is in a large cavern north of the monastery. Reaching it from above ground is difficult for creatures that can’t fly, but Aeteperax had his kobolds dig a tunnel between the cave and the monastery’s dungeons so the dragon’s minions could report to him secretly."
"Take some time exploring the monastery—there are parts of it that the dragon’s agents haven’t yet explored that could contain useful magical weapons or objects to aid in your coming confrontation."
"Seek out the dragon’s other three “lieutenants” here in the monastery and dispatch them to prevent Aeteperax from calling upon them as reinforcements. These three are the enormous grioth Goladryth in the Saint’s Library, the mad alchemist Pentosh who dwells up in the belfry, and the lunar naga Thaena who can be found somewhere on the third floor. Of the three, I know the naga has served Aeteperax the longest, and is nonsensical and distracted."
"Lastly, seek dragon’s original name. At least one other lieutenant—a half-orc named Hapscot—knew it, because Aeteperax had Hapscot killed for saying it. The dragon’s violent reaction tells me that you could use the name to distract the dragon and trick him into using hasty and foolish tactics. Perhaps, one of the other lieutenants knows his true name as well."
|
|
Harlis sits back somewhat taken by the amount of information to consider before speaking. "Well I can attempt the dispell, but from the sounds that will be our last thing prior to visiting the dragon. If the half orcs corpse still exists intact I could call upon his spirit to give us the name...?". He says looking at the man for the question.
|
|
"Your advise appears like it will be very helpful," Ethendril responds. "Perhaps if we can cut off all the henchmen and close this portal, we just might have a shot."
The paladin thinks for a moment. "Is this young green dragon the same one that has been harassing the town? Wasn't that one massive and black...and undead?
|
|
Afraid not. :-( He has mostly healing and one lesser restoration. His remaining spells for the day are:
4th—dispel magic, cure serious wounds
3rd—cure moderate wounds (2), gaseous form, protection from energy
2nd—chill metal (DC 15), lesser restoration, tree shape, wind wall
1st—cure light wounds (2), entangle (DC 14), goodberry, obscuring mist, produce flame
0 (at will)—detect magic, light, mending, read magic
|
|
Picking through the carnage, it is soon evident to the party that the hearts and livers have been removed from each body. This was a grisly, ritualistic evisceration.
Furthermore, you recognize a couple of villagers from Belhaim. These poor souls may have been captured while trying to escape the dragon's demand.
|
|
Nothing magical here. But, as you get ready to leave, some of the bodies begin to writhe on the ground. Suddenly, several of them burst open! Giant maggots and flies erupt from the bodies of the dead.
Needing a fresh place to plant their eggs, the giant flies attack and "swarm" the party! There's nothing more disgusting that a fly the size of a corgi trying to lay its eggs in your abdomen. Out of sheer revulsion, the party quickly dispatches the vermin.
__________
Next area (F6)
This grand hall is nearly 150 feet long, with a vaulted ceiling 25 feet overhead. Niches in the walls frame marble statues of monks in poses of meditation, and thick pillars run down the center of this impressive chamber.
Knowledge history or religion (pick one) to know more.
|
|
The party recognizes that: here aspirant monks wishing to join the order once presented themselves, crawling on hands and knees to the eastern double doors in supplication.
There are 4 grioths here. They all fly-charge the most armored among you and knock themselves unconscious!
The next area (F7): A blue mosaic dominates the floor of this chamber. The ceiling rises to several domes twenty-five feet above. A large marble statue of a robed man with hair braided in a loop and worn like a necklace looks down on the chamber serenely from the east.
You recognize that this is a depiction of Irori.