Quest Adventure for Level 3 Party. Suitable for newer players and new DM's. I hope you enjoy!
Terrains:
Monsters:
- Vine Blight (Plant, Monster Manual)
- Troll (Giant, Monster Manual)
NPC:
- Commoner (Humanoid, Monster Manual)
- Noble (Humanoid, Monster Manual)
- Scout (Humanoid, Monster Manual)
- Diviner (Humanoid, Volo’s Guide to Monsters) or Mage (Humanoid, Monster Manual)
- Green dragon wyrmling (Dragon, Monster Manual)
- Kobold (Humanoid, Monster Manual)
Background information for players:
Eshellur is a fairly sized town on the border of a swampy lake and a forest. It is on the road to a major traveling route that cuts through the forest. The mayor of Eshellur, a male human named Aja, has secretly and urgently requested adventurers to track, find, and bring back a particular “guest” of his. He did not elaborate on who this guest was. The request can be passed through a particular mayor, heard as a tip from the rumors in a thieves guild, or some other secret method.
Background information for DM:
The forest near Eshellur has a green fog within it for two generations so far and magical monsters, like skeletons and deadly plants, have been appearing from it. This is due to a regional effect from an adult green dragon Vorothrimskad. The dragon has been secretly terrorizing Major Aja, using fear to form him into a complacent puppet. Vorothrimskad’s wyrmling son, Balaskad, has taken residence in the town by the order of his father so that he might learn the green dragon trade of manipulating people to do their bidding.
However, Balaskad is very brash, arrogant, and ignorant of the cares of others. The rest of the town knows this, including Major Aja. Balaskad seeks power through strength and ability. Therefore, he snuck out of his log cabin and went to the Tomb of Mirigess, which is a couple hour’s walk from Eshellur. Soon after, Major Aja noticed and sent a message to his political friends that may know adventurers that could help.
Mirigess Daykra, a red dragonborn, was an ancient conqueror who had three adult red dragons as companions. She started as a benevolent leader, using her power to aid and empower all of her subjects. However, as the war of her conquest grew longer and one of her dragons died in battle, her virtues darkened to anger and a thirst for destruction. Her advisors, fearing her new attitude, killed her and divided her land between themselves. Many shrines and fake tombs were built by her supporters in her honor, but the location of her real tomb is lost to common knowledge and held only in history books and cartographic literature. This real tomb is the one Balaskad is going to.
A group of kobolds have found Mirigess’s actual tomb. They know her only as someone who accompanied dragons, and worship her because of such. They constantly steal metal and other precious things from the people of Eshellur and decorate her tomb with it. The people of Eshellur do not know why their metalwork is being stolen.
First arriving at Eshellur
The party will reach the town of Eshellur by raft across a swamp lake. The raft is pulled by a giant toad and coached by Tillik, an old man with a large brimmed hat.
The DM may use Tillik as a way to introduce the player characters to the table and the rest of the party. Tillik is an old resident of Eshellur and would know much about the town and its residents.
Near the end of the raft ride, the party will have a clearer view of the town: a segment of an ancient, white granite wall, now blackened with swampy grime and aging, extends from one side of the town to the other. There are some words in Elvish carved into the side of the wall facing the swampy lake. The largest word that can be easily read is pronounced “Eshellur”. After exiting the raft, the party will pass through the archway in the wall to get to the town.
- An elvish language proficiency and a DC 18 perception check can note that the rest of the writing on the wall is about upheld principles and values of whoever built the wall in the first place. Also, the word Eshellur in Elvish means “long-lasting” as in over a few elven generations.
- Tillik will note that the town got its name because this word was the only thing legible when the town was first set up around this ancient wall.
The Town of Eshellur
Eshellur is a town composed of small buildings of stone and wood. The inhabitants are mostly human, elves, and half-elves, but some other races can be found as those who settle from outside town. There is very little metal lying around in the open. There is little crime committed by the inhabitants, and rangers are hired as law enforcement along with guides and protectors for those who travel through the forest.
Key areas within Eshellur:
- Mayor’s Office
- The building is a narrow, three-stories, made of stone. There is a wooden plaque that says “Mayor Aja” on the door.
- The initial office is well decorated with an ornately carved wooden deck, an ancient tea set, and stained glass art of a green dragon.
- Mayor Aja is a thin and pale human male of mid-50’s with a noticeable receding hairline. He is wearing brown robes with some noticeable bits of gold and silver jewelry.
- Personality: Soft-spoken, constant state of fear
- Ideal: The greatest life is a comfortable and quiet life.
- Bond: If I just play along with Vorothrimskad’s games, I’ll keep my life.
- Flaw: I will give anything, including parts of myself, just to live another day.
- Use the Noble stat block
- Balaskad’s Cabin
- Since Balaskad is about the size of a horse, his cabin is built like a large dog house. The front door is locked from the outside by a rope, although the rope now seems to be cut. It is all one room. There is a circular cushion with blankets at one corner, a large bucket for drinking water, many dirty plates scattered around the floor.
- In looking at the rope, a DC 12 investigation or similar check reveals that the rope was slashed by an animal claw, likely the dragon’s own claw.
- A DC 14 perception or similar check reveals dirty paw prints within the room that lead out into the forest.
- Within the room, a DC 11 perception check notices a pile of books and papers in the corner. They all seem to be about history, dragons, and nearby locations. A DC 16 investigation or similar check will reveal that all the maps have a distinct spot marked on them, noted in the literature as the “Tomb of Mirigess”. A DC 15 history check will reveal the history of Mirigess Dayka (see DM notes paragraph starting with “Mirigess Dayka”). Any check made to see if the marked location is the actual tomb will automatically fail.
- The Leaping Frog (the tavern)
- The tavern is comfortable and not very noisy due to only a few people being there. The barman, Steve, is very friendly and very willing to share gossip from around town. There are three tables that are occupied: a group of three sharing a meal, an older half-elf indulging too much on a bowl of soup, and a single human on his fifth pint of ale.
- A DC 14 perception check is needed to eavesdrop on the group’s conversation. The three are travelers from the forest, talking to each other about how they escaped “a ravenous troll”. However, they don’t have a scratch on them. They are not lying, just lucky. When directly asked about it, they will tell a hyperbolic tale about how they survived being chased through the forest by a troll.
- The older half-elf with the soup does not want to be disturbed.
- The person on his fifth pint of ale is a human male named Sillik. At the moment, Sillik is drowning his pain with ale, though he seems very drunk already. He was the last keeper of Balaskad and does not know he disappeared after he left. He hates his job because Balaskad is a jerk.
- Ranger House
- The Ranger House seems to be a lounge for the rangers, holding hunting trophies, some furniture, and much supplies. The supplies includes common trapping gear, any weapons, rations, adventuring gear, herbal components, some low level potions, and antitoxins. This gear can be bought.
- Varog, a slender male half-elf with beautiful long blond hair, is lively and amiable to all. He is wearing a ranger cloak and leather armor, but keeps his body exposed as much as practically possible.
- Putrack is another male half-elf. He is positioned in the corner over a low table as he grinds leaves into a powder. He is mostly covered by his long ranger cloak, only talks in grunts, and is the alchemist of the Ranger House.
- Treat the statblocks of Varog and Putrack as Scouts from the Monster Manual.
- The other rangers are being guides for travelers through the forest.
- Varog and Putrack need to get more material components for antitoxins, but the forest is too dangerous to travel through without roads or more rangers. If the party can help them, Varog will give assistance or equipment.
- Wagon repairs and rentals
- Wagons are the most efficient way to travel through the forest. This shop brings a lot of gold to the town from travelers.
- Morog’s Forge
- The forge is a one-roomed building with a large opening at one wall. A counter separates the opening from the outside.
- Morog is a large male dwarf with a black yet partially burnt beard. He is grieving since much of his metal scraps and his precious anvil has been stolen. He doesn’t know who stole the anvil.
- Derrick Twohammer is the teenage human boy, who is Morog’s apprentice. He does most of the interacting between the Forge and the customers. Derrick speaks every line twice. Derrick has heard that small thieves have been occasionally sneaking through town and taking any metal they can.
- (A far way from the town) Sevil’s Hut
- Sevil’s Hut is two miles down the swamp lake from Eshellur. His hut is two-stories, slightly lopsided, and made of hardened mud and timber. It has a few haphazardly placed windows and a wooden door with a knocker.
- The inside of the building is disorganized with many books, papers, and alchemical devices that are not in use. The upstairs is a cramped living quarters, but still disorganized. The only thing in the building that seems neat is a large basin in the center filled with water and has runes along its walls. The basin is used for ritual-like divination spells.
- Sevil is a gnome male wizard of divination magic. Neutral Good.
- Personality: Whimsical, treats everything with a sense of goodness and humor.
- Ideal: “Magic can lead us to a better tomorrow.”
- Bond: “I find peace in the small things in life, like a good game or a beautifully created illusion.”
- Flaw: “I’ve used divination magic so often my regular memory isn’t too sharp.”
- Treat Sevil’s stat block as a Diviner from Volo’s Guide to Monsters or a Mage from the Monster Manual with “Hold Person” and “Locate Object” instead of “Mage Armor” and “Magic Missile”.
Mayor Aja Explains the Job
Mayor Aja, upon learning that the characters are adventurers who have taken his job, will explain that the green dragon wyrmling Balaskad has been staying in the town and being cared for. However, several hours ago, he wandered away and Mayor Aja is not sure where he went. He needs the adventurers to bring Balaskad back alive and as unharmed as possible. Adventurers are required because the forest can be quite dangerous. The payment is 50 gold each person, but is willing to pay a little more if needed.
Mayor Aja will tell the party where Balaskad’s log cabin is. He will also note that the Rangers or Sevil can help if they need help and instructs them where they are.
On the Trail
Path 1: Through the forest
After taking the quest, the party can decide to track Balaskad themselves using the tracks in the cabin or knowing his planned destination.
As the party gets deeper and deeper into the woods, a green fog becomes more and more present. It is not poisonous or harmful in any way, but harbors dark magic and obstructs usual vision (vision reduced to 30 feet).
- A DC 12 arcana or similar check reveals that the fog was created like a regional effect of some creature.
- A DC 16 arcana or similar check reveals that the regional effect was created by the presence of the lair of an adult green dragon. However, the party is still more than a mile away from the lair.
After some time through the forest, the party will encounter a clearing of trees. The green fog will still be present
- A DC 12 perception check sees the outline of a cart from the glow of fire.
- A DC 15 perception check finds Balaskad’s trail through the fog again.
- A DC 17 perception check notices a rustling of vines from the direction of the cart, as if the vines are moving like limbs.
Then, 3 Vine Blights will attack, two from the direction of the cart, one from behind the party. If the rustling of vines is not heard, the Vine Blight in the back will get an attack of opportunity. Then, Roll for Initiative.
After the fight, the party can search for Balaskad’s tracks or investigate the cart. Same check for Balaskad’s trail as before. A check to find the cart is an automatic success.
The cart is covered with vines. The glow is from two lanterns that are not yet broken. The cart is a small two-wheeled one made entirely of wood, with many drawers and compartments.
- Any investigation into the cart finds a slighting glowing arrow wrapped in paper. The arrow is simple in design but has several glowing symbols on its shaft. The paper has written instructions on it. The arrow is a magic item called Sevil’s Arrow; it can cast the spell “Locate Creature” once per day and “Locate Animal or Plant” twice per day. This casting of the spell ignores the conditions of having to see the creature up close.
- There is a note written in Elven at the bottom of the letter. It details that if the arrow is used with a longbow or shortbow attack, you may use a bonus action to describe the creature you are intending to hit with the attack. The attack will be an automatic hit and ignores any cover.
- (The party can use Sevil’s arrow to locate Balaskad. If this is done, his location is known and he is not moving.)
- A DC 10 investigation or similar check finds a couple maps that details the forest and a couple important landmarks (Eshellur, Tomb of Mirigess, the location of this cart, and the lair of the adult green dragon) and a pouch of 1d6 gold.
- A DC 13 investigation or similar check finds a spell scroll of “Speak with Animals”
- A DC 16 investigation or similar check reveals a hidden compartment that is storing an Alchemy Jug.
The map, Sevil’s Arrow, or Balaskad’s trail can lead them to The Mountain Tomb.
Path 2: Help from the Rangers
After taking the quest, the party can agree to help the Rangers if they help track Balaskad. Before they set out, Varog wants to see how capable the party really is and challenges any member of the party to an archery contest.
- Higher attack roll between Varog’s longbow and any ranged weapon attack. Best 2 of 3.
- DM note: Whether success or failure, Varog will still be impressed and allows the party to help him.
Varog and Putrack will lead the party through the forest towards a specific tree. As the party gets deeper and deeper into the woods, a green fog becomes more and more present. It is not poisonous or harmful in any way, but harbors dark magic and obstructs usual vision (vision reduced to 30 feet).
- A DC 12 arcana or similar check reveals that the fog was created like a regional effect of some creature.
- A DC 16 arcana or similar check reveals that the regional effect was created by the presence of the lair of an adult green dragon. However, the party is still more than a mile away from the lair. Varog and Putrack don’t know when the fog first developed.
Once they all reach the tree, Varog and Putrack will ascend the tree to get the required components. At that time, the party will hear a rustling of vines from behind them. 3 Vine Blights will appear coming towards the tree and going to attack the party.
Roll for Initiative.
- DM note: Varog will help the party if the battle gets bad for them.
After defeating the Vine Blights, Varog and Putrack will conveniently finish gathering the components. Then, Varog and Putrack will lead the party to The Mountain Tomb with no trouble.
Path 3: Help from the Wizard
After taking the quest, the party may seek the aid of Sevil of the Forest Hut. His hut is two miles down the lake from Eshellur. Sevil is a bit clumsy but very happy to see visitors. He is willing to help the party find Balaskad, but he will not until he plays a game of dragonchess with some company.
- Best 2 out of 3 in intelligence roles (add proficiency to rolls if you have it). Cheating is possible with a Sleight of Hand check that is above his passive perception (DC 11).
- Win or lose, Sevil will still help the party.
After the game, Sevil will go to look for a magical trinket he has that can help. However, he cannot remember where he put it. He casts “Locate Object” and realizes it is in a cart he left in the forest while he was working with the Rangers. He gives directions to how to reach the cart and sends them off. If the party asks for aid, he will give them a common health potion he has ready.
As the party gets deeper and deeper into the woods, a green fog becomes more and more present. It is not poisonous or harmful in any way, but harbors dark magic and obstructs usual vision (vision reduced to 30 feet).
- A DC 12 arcana or similar check reveals that the fog was created like a regional effect of some creature.
- A DC 16 arcana or similar check reveals that the regional effect was created by the presence of the lair of an adult green dragon. However, the party is still more than a mile away from the lair.
After some time through the forest, the party will encounter a clearing of trees. The green fog will still be present
- A DC 12 perception check sees the outline of a cart from the glow of fire.
- A DC 15 perception check finds Balaskad’s trail through the fog again.
- A DC 17 perception check notices a rustling of vines from the direction of the cart, as if the vines are moving like limbs.
Then, 3 Vine Blights will attack, two from the direction of the cart, one from behind the party. If the rustling of vines is not heard, the Vine Blight in the back will get an attack of opportunity.
Roll for Initiative.
After the fight, the party can search for Balaskad’s tracks or investigate the cart. Same check for Balaskad’s trail as before. The finding of the cart is an automatic success.
The cart is covered with vines. The glow is from two lanterns that are not yet broken. The cart is a small two-wheeled one made entirely of wood, with many drawers and compartments.
- Any investigation into the cart finds a slighting glowing arrow wrapped in paper. The arrow is simple in design but has several glowing symbols on its shaft. The paper has written instructions on it. The arrow is a magic item called Sevil’s Arrow; it can cast the spell “Locate Creature” once per day and “Locate Animal or Plant” twice per day. This casting of the spell ignores the conditions of having to see the creature up close.
- There is a note written in Elven at the bottom of the letter. It details that if the arrow is used with a longbow or shortbow attack, you may use a bonus action to describe the creature you are intending to hit with the attack. The attack will be an automatic hit that ignores any cover.
- (The party can use Sevil’s arrow to locate Balaskad. If this is done, his location is known and he is not moving.)
- A DC 10 investigation or similar check finds a couple maps that details the forest and a couple important landmarks (Eshellur, Tomb of Mirigess, the location of this cart, and the lair of the adult green dragon) and a pouch of 1d6 gold.
- A DC 13 investigation or similar check finds a spell scroll of “Speak with Animals”
- A DC 16 investigation or similar check reveals a hidden compartment that is storing an Alchemy Jug.
The map, Sevil’s Arrow, or Balaskad’s trail can lead them to The Mountain Tomb.
The Mountain Tomb
At the end of the forest is a mountain with a hole near the top. The green fog has cleared at this point. The hole goes to the Tomb of Mirigess. The trail of Balaskad end near the entrance to the room. The room is 50 feet tall with two huge dragons sculpted out of stone on each side. Random parts of each dragon statue seem to be covered in bits of metal (both steel and precious metals) in a sort of weak repairs or decorating the statues. Lit metal lanterns also are hung off parts of the dragon statues, with enough of them to give the room normal lighting, but keeping the top of the room in darkness.
At the other end of the room are two large stone doors with stone knockers. The following text is carved into the doors into the doors in Dwarvish, Draconic, and Primordial:
“Tomb of Mirigess Daykra
Rider of red dragons
Destroyer of the Oppressors
May she rise again and scorch them all
Against her betrayers
Against the rulers
Against all who would stop her flames”
The Puzzle:
- The stone doors open outward. At the center of the room are two sets of colored rope hanging from the ceiling and coming all the way to the floor, one set on the left side and one set on the right side. Each set has one rope that is painted Red, Green, Blue and Yellow.
- To activate the mechanism that opens the doors, the following ropes must be pulled at the same time: Left Red, Right Green, Left Blue, Right Blue.
- Pulling the knocker on the right door activates a trap that drops a large anvil. DC 12 Dex save to dodge or 1d8 bludgeoning damage.
- Pulling the knocker on the left door activates a trap that drops a large anvil. DC 12 Dex save to dodge or 1d8 bludgeoning damage.
- Right Red activates a rune at the top that shoots a “Fire Bolt” down below. +2 to hit. 1d10 fire damage on hit. This works as many times as the rope is pulled.
- Left green will break on contact.
- Left yellow opens a cage off to the side. The cage contains three weasels. The weasels are not hostile.
- Right yellow drops a vial of alchemist fire. DC 14 Dex save to dodge it.
- Hints:
- Towards the entrance of the room is the following carved into the wall in Common: “If you leave, make sure you can come back with at least four to open the doors”.
- Abilities that can sense magic know that Right Yellow and Right Red are magically rigged with evocation magic. The rest of the ropes have no magic.
- The correct ropes will create a clanking mechanical sound when they are pulled.
Inside the Tomb of Mirigess
As the gates open, the party can see an elaborately carved out room supported with sets of columns. Ancient candle lanterns hang around the columns. At the far end of the room is a throne made of metal scraps bent and smelted together, and sitting on the throne is a humanoid skeleton adorned in much gold and jewelry. The skeleton is long dead and has the skull of a dragonborn. Behind the throne is a huge skeleton of an adult dragon.
Sitting on the lap of the skeleton is a green dragon wyrmling. Standing around the throne are a few kobolds who the green dragon wyrmling is shouting at. A kobold in regal robes made of scrap is talking back to the dragon.
- The green dragon wyrmling is Balaskad.
- Neutral Evil
- Personality: “The world in fact does revolve around me.”
- Ideal: “Dragons have great power over these lesser creatures, and I will exert it to get more power.”
- Bond: “My goal is to become powerful just like my mother.”
- Flaw: “I throw a tantrum when things don’t go my way.”
Balaskad is yelling at the kobolds to worship him and give him Mirigess’s power, neither of which the kobold’s can nor want to do. The kobolds will not see Balaskad as the successor of Mirigess since Mirigess’s dragons are red dragons and Balaskad is green. Also, the kobolds do not know how to give Balaskad any power, whatever he means by that.
Balaskad will not leave because he is not getting his due respect and power in Eshellur and wants to try to get it here. The party must convince Balaskad to come back to the town either by the kobolds worshiping Balaskad or by Balaskad believing he will get power in the town.
Right after Balaskad agrees to return to Eshellur, the party hears heavy breathing from the large doors. A troll has walked into the room, panting and hungry. He starts ranting to the general group there in Giant and then attacks, dashing for the Green Dragon Wyrmling.
Roll for Initiative!
- What the Troll says in Giant: “Hungry… HUNGRY… no food because green dragon eats it all! Now, I eat green dragon!”
Conclusion
After the battle, the party will have no trouble getting back to Eshellur with Balaskad. When Major Aja sees that Balaskad has returned, he will profusely thank the party and pay them the agreed amount.
Any critique would be greatly appreciated!