My party wanted nothing to do with Ilthane's egg when they encountered it in the Twiasted Branch Lair, after convincing the Lizardfolk to relocate the tribe.
So Ilthane discovers her egg, alone and unprotected in the egg chamber. Furious, she vents her rage on Diamond Lake, rounding up the townspeople and herding them into the Feral Dog. She then deposits her egg in the Dog as well, intending to let the worms do their work on the townsfolk instead of the Lizardfolk. Depending upon how cruel I feel, the party will either find an abandoned town inhabited by Spawn of Kyuss when they return, or they'll find an abandoned town with townsfolk who need to be saved from a terrible fate.
Thoughts?
My party wanted nothing to do with Ilthane's egg when they encountered it in the Twiasted Branch Lair, after convincing the Lizardfolk to relocate the tribe.
So Ilthane discovers her egg, alone and unprotected in the egg chamber. Furious, she vents her rage on Diamond Lake, rounding up the townspeople and herding them into the Feral Dog. She then deposits her egg in the Dog as well, intending to let the worms do their work on the townsfolk instead of the Lizardfolk. Depending upon how cruel I feel, the party will either find an abandoned town inhabited by Spawn of Kyuss when they return, or they'll find an abandoned town with townsfolk who need to be saved from a terrible fate.
Thoughts?
What did Allustan and Valkus Dun have to say (or do) about all this? They're not chumps. Allustan, in particular, has powerful connections (i.e., Manzorian). Despite their falling out ten years ago, Manzorian is not likely to ignore Allustan's request for help against a rampaging black dragon. Then there are the rangers of the nearby Bronzewood Lodge, who, with the combined aid of the clerics and warriors of Heironeous, could mount a stiff resistance against the dragon.
If this isn't enough, the directors of Greyhawk have far too much invested in the mines of Diamond Lake to tolerate such a situation for long. The PCs certainly aren't the only ones capable of handling a dragon menace such as Ilthane's. If they were, all of the Flanaess would have been overrun with far worse evil long ago. In other words, in the long run the party doesn't really need to react to this threat at all, unless, of course, they are the every-individual-life-is-worth-dying-for kind of heroes.
What did Allustan and Valkus Dun have to say (or do) about all this? They're not chumps. Allustan, in particular, has powerful connections (i.e., Manzorian). Despite their falling out ten years ago, Manzorian is not likely to ignore Allustan's request for help against a rampaging black dragon. Then there are the rangers of the nearby Bronzewood Lodge, who, with the combined aid of the clerics and warriors of Heironeous, could mount a stiff resistance against the dragon.If this isn't enough, the directors of Greyhawk have far too much invested in the mines of Diamond Lake to tolerate such a situation for long. The PCs certainly aren't the only ones capable of handling a dragon menace such as Ilthane's. If they were, all of the Flanaess would have been overrun with far worse evil long ago. In other words, in the long run the party doesn't really need to react to this threat at all, unless, of course, they are the every-individual-life-is-worth-dying-for kind of heroes.
Whoops - I failed to mention that the scenario I outlined above was just an additional layer I was going to add on to the scenario presented in A Gathering of Winds. All of what you mention can be said about AGoW even without the addition of the dragon egg.
From what I'm reading in the plot synopsis for AGoW, Allustan is not present for the dragon attack. Without him, Valkus Dun and the other higher-level NPCs would be hard pressed to defeat Ilthane, especially if she were to employ hit-and-run tactics against the town and its defenders, staying alert for any messengers fleeing the town, seeking reinforcements.
Actually, I'd say that Auric's Warband, Valkus Dun, and Tolliver Trask (along with the entire garrison brigade) are more than equiped to not only drive off Illthane, but kill her should the dragon choose to get up close and personal with the people of Diamond Lake. Certainly if Allustan is present and is properly buffed (protection from energy, stoneskin, fly, etc.), Illthane stands no chance against those combined forces. The dragon should make swooping passes to raise wooden buildings, but she should stay well clear of the garrison and the scores of archers that could mass along its walls, not to mention the various adventurers and spellcasters of the town. Maybe if you bumped her up a few age categories she could actually land and not doom herself, but as she stands in issue #129, she should stick to the air.
I do like your ideas, though. Dousing a crowd of people with Kyuss worms could lead to the entire town being infected, which could be a real threat to the region. PCs might show up and immediately turn and bolt in the other direction when they see a crowd of hideous spawn milling about, and seek desperate aid.
You might have Illthane "crop dust" Diamond Lake with her egg of worms, sprinkling them over a crowd of people milling about the main plaza of the town. That could be enough to really decimate the people and terrify the few survivors.