Betrayal of the Dragon Queen Campaign.
It has been a while since my last Betrayal of the Dragon Queen post. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was of a mind to give up on the campaign but I am very good at changing my mind.
Having given some thought to the matter, I think it would be a shame to just abandon the Betrayal of the Dragon Queen as I have invested quite a lot of time in it. So, the plan is to go over everything again, attempt to make sense of it all , develop NPC’s, particularly those that appeared in earlier posts them got forgotten, flesh out the background and pull it all together.
I will start by going over the characters and the NPC’s.
One of the issues with using blog posts to keep track of my games is that if I need to look up a particular NPC or Magic Item, indeed find anything, I can never remember which post it was in. To avoid this issue and track everything, I am going to use old fashioned pen and paper as well as experimenting more with pages and menu’s on the blog.
Review the Characters
The characters have left Northgate having fallen foul of the Stargazer and are now heading to Vorngard. They have made their way to Saltwater in a small riverboat, well, a boat big enough to accommodate the four characters, a big shaggy one eyed dog, four horses and an owl.
Derowen the Ranger. Currently on 13xp will gain +4xp next downtime. She has only 9hp remaining (max 16). She found a bronze neckless (non magical) which she wears around her neck and a magical longsword (+1 damage sword of wonderment ToA page 257).
She also has an Owl Companion called Heckle who has a mind of its own and prone to disappear for short periods of time.
Hedrag the Fighter. Currently on 15xp will gain +6xp next downtime.
He has 14hp remaining (max 16), His Luck is down to 10 and he has 1 reroll left. He found a tin ring (30sp), an ancient Helm known as Storm Caller and a fine waterproof wool cloak (150sp value).
Scraps the dog has attached himself to Hedrag, much to Hedrag’s annoyance.
Morwen the Magic User. Currently on 15xp will gain +7xp next downtime. She is currently on 15hp (max 16), Her DDM is now at 5 and she has 1 reroll left.
She found a Spellbook containing the spell Conclave of Wind & Sky, also a scroll (Rain of Stone spell).
Peran the Rogue. Currently on 15xp he will gain +4xp next downtime. He is on 16hp (max 19). He has found a double finger ring depicting fish, (50sp value), and 55sp. He also has a ‘Rock Key‘, A stone with runes carved in it, about the size of a human hand and in the shape of an axe head. Thought to be the only one in existence and once owned by the Black Duke, a twisted and evil lord now many centuries dead.
The characters also have in their possession a small mirror known as the mirror of dragons, a powerful magical item which allows passage to and from other planes of existence. With suitable knowledge, the mirror can be used to summon beings from these other planes.
Threat Levels.
The idea of threats is taken from Beyond the Wall and Other Adventures RPG. There are two threats in this campaign.
The Dragon Queen Threat.
Due to Morwens dreams this threat level increases by 1 so is now at Threat Level 3 and has become active in the world.
Army of the South Threat
Derowen and Morwen’s farther is leading a small army north. The two sisters are currently unaware of their fathers involvement.
The is still no activity from this threat so it remains at Level 0 and this threat is currently inactive.
So far I have not given a lot of thought as to who the Dragon Queen is or was, and what effect she will have on the game. I know the Army currently camped near Port Brax is commanded by Derowen and Morwens father, again I have not given any consideration as to why he is leading and army north, except it may have something to do with the Dragon Queen.
Over the course of the next few posts I will begin to explore these two threats further.
Fleshing out some NPC’s.
I am setting up a page to keep track of NPC’s in this campaign, but I thought it may be useful to detail the ones we may or will encounter in the next session.
Scraps the Dog.
I am not sure if I should class Scraps as an NPC, but as he seems to be becoming more important in the game I think he justifies being here.
AC 12, HD 1d8+2 (8hp), Bite 1d8.
Nat 19, Knocked Prone, Str contest to stand up.
S 13, D 14, C 15, I 10, P 12, W 10, Ch 10, Luck 4
Move – Far.
Advantage when tracking.
Scraps is a big white, shaggy, one-eyed, scruffy dog of no discernable pedigree. The battle scarred canine has attached himself to the party and in particular Hedrag the fighter, who named the dog Scraps, partly for the dogs ability to eat any old scraps he can get and partly because of its fondness for fighting.
Scraps has a connection to the Dragon Queen and the Mirror of Dragons, although the companions know nothing of this and its quite likely Scraps knows nothing of it too. Scraps will fiercely protect the mirror, (and the companions), should anyone try to steal it. Should the mirror be freely given to someone, Scraps will go with it, should it be lost, Scraps will try to find it.
For all that has just been said, Scraps is still a dog, as happy sleeping by a warming fire or chasing rabbits as adventuring with his human companions.
Sariel, Envoy of the Dragon Queen,
Right at the start of this adventure, in a tavern in a small village outpost, the characters had a chance meeting with a young serving girl. Hedrag new the pub and village well but the girl was unknown to him, even though she seemed to know the characters.
That serving girl is Sariel, Envoy of the Dragon Queen.
Born in a remote, mountainous outpost, her parents were humble herbalists living simple lives.
At the age of twelve, Sariel experienced a vivid, prophetic dream that changed her life. In the dream, she encountered a majestic dragon with scales as dark as the midnight sky and eyes that glowed with ancient wisdom. The dragon revealed itself to be an emissary of the Dragon Queen, marking Sariel as a chosen one—destined to play a pivotal role in the Dragon Queen’s return.
Adding some new factions.
Aylndra and the Azure Syndicate.
Overview:
The Azure Syndicate is a secretive and powerful group of magic-users and mercenaries, driven by their own agendas. They seek powerful artifacts to consolidate their control over the arcane forces of the realm. The Syndicate’s ultimate goal is to harness the power of the Mirror of Dragons to open portals to other planes, allowing them to tap into forbidden magics and summon otherworldly entities.
Alyndra’s Role:
Alyndra is a high-ranking member of the Azure Syndicate, posing as a loyal agent of the Dragon Queen to deceive those who stand in her way. Her true allegiance lies with the Syndicate, and she is determined to acquire the Mirror of Dragons for their nefarious purposes.
The keepers of the Shadow Flame.
Origins and Purpose:
The Keepers of the Shadow Flame were an ancient, secretive order formed in the wake of the Dragon Queen’s first reign. Their primary purpose was to safeguard the Shadow Flame, a powerful, enigmatic force tied to dragons, ancient magic, and the balance between the planes of existence. Over time, they became divided between those who believed the Shadow Flame was a tool for control and those who sought to protect it from being used at all.
Structure and Organization:
- Hierarchical Secrets: The Keepers operate in a strict hierarchy, with only the highest-ranking members knowing the full truth about the Shadow Flame’s origins and purpose. Lower-ranking members serve as guardians, scholars, and covert operatives.
- Ritualistic Practices: The Keepers perform ancient rituals to commune with the Shadow Flame, which they believe grants visions, guidance, or warnings. These rituals are shrouded in secrecy, often involving blood magic or dangerous incantations that come with a heavy cost.
- Fragmented Groups: Over centuries, the order has splintered into factions, some loyal to the Dragon Queen, others opposing her, and a few pursuing their own agendas. This schism adds complexity to their motives and interactions with the world.
The Keepers’ Role in the Story:
The Keepers could serve as both allies and adversaries to the companions:
- Allies: A rogue faction of Keepers might assist the companions in understanding the Mirror of Dragons or provide guidance on their quest.
- Adversaries: Loyalists to the Dragon Queen could view the companions as a threat to the Shadow Flame’s resurgence, opposing them at every turn.
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