Iron Falcon: The Dragon of Duncaster

[solomoriah]

So here's the deal. In July, I'll be running Iron Falcon at Quincon XXX in Quincy, IL. I need a short adventure, something that can be completed in a single three to four hour session (official time is different, but I know from experience if they're having a good time the players will hang around until the organizers kick me out). Here's what I'm considering:

A dragon is menacing the people of Duncaster, eating their sheep and cattle and extorting money from those traveling the trade road to the south. Its lair has been discovered, in a cavern high up on the river bluff; adventurers have tried climbing up to it, but giant spiders infesting the face of the bluff have made that approach impossible.

Atop the bluff is an ancient ruined fortress, overgrown with trees and briars. Rumor has it that the dungeon beneath that fortress connects to the dragon's lair... but who will dare to enter the dungeon and slay the dragon within?

So anyway, that's the concept. I envision a modest above-ground level, perhaps a tower or two (with the upper floors long since collapsed, and thus suitable only for the lair of an unintelligent monster or two), a proper dungeon level, and a lower level that's half dungeon, half cavern. What I'm looking for are some suggestions regarding denizens, traps, etc. I want this to be a classic dungeon, no gimmicks that wouldn't be found in the period IF focuses on.

I've started a thread on my forum for this project here: basicfantasy.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1656

However, I'm more than happy to have suggestions right here in this thread.

[solomoriah]

Okay, so I've drawn up the above-ground map:


Click the picture for a full view.

The crosshatched areas are thick, thorny briars. The stairs in areas 2 and 5 both lead down to the first dungeon level; the monsters in the dungeon use area 5 as their main access, and have allowed the briars to grow up over the badly-stuck door of area 2 (so adventurers who try to enter that way will have to hack through the briars and then force the door, a time-consuming operation that will cause an extra encounter check).

The titular dragon needs to speak and cast spells; since this isn't the right sort of territory for either a white or black dragon, and I don't want to go up to a red one, I'm thinking a green dragon, adult and of average size. As it's the "final boss" monster, I need to scale the other encounters to the levels of adventurers who can reasonably defeat such a monster.

... have to sit down and do some math. Later.

I'm thinking area 2 should be the lair of something nasty, just because I'm a vindictive sort. Areas 1 and 3 aren't really encounter areas, just numbers to match to my key for descriptive purposes. I'm thinking area 4 should have a monster encounter, but not anything that would prevent the inhabitants of the dungeon from coming and going; area 5 should have an encounter with the dungeon inhabitants themselves.

Because seriously, there have to be some humanoids here. Just because. Probably something with a couple of hit dice at least, maybe bugbears.

... more to come.

[solomoriah]

And I've decided the dragon's name is Sygoreth.

[solomoriah]

So here's the first level below ground:


Click picture for the full version.

[Zenopus]

Nice surface map. How close is it to the entrance to the dragon's lair?

Are the paths through the briars covered (like a tunnel) or open to the surface?

Encounter 4 on the surface would be a good place for a group of small monsters that can hide in the briars and surprise attack. Large Spiders, Giant Ticks (dropping on prey), Stirges (could have nests high in the briars). Perhaps the inhabitants use torches to dissuade them.

[solomoriah]

Apr 26, 2015 15:56:24 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

Nice surface map. How close is it to the entrance to the dragon's lair?

Pretty close... if you want to climb down the bluff (not drawn, but just outside the walls of the ruin) and risk the giant spiders.

I'm about to post the second level map, so you'll be able to see for yourself.

Apr 26, 2015 15:56:24 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

Are the paths through the briars covered (like a tunnel) or open to the surface?

Actually hadn't decided. Open, I suppose... climbing over them is probably not a good idea (thorns) but I suppose a party of a level to challenge an adult green dragon might have a spell or potion of flying.

Apr 26, 2015 15:56:24 GMT -6 Zenopus said:

Encounter 4 on the surface would be a good place for a group of small monsters that can hide in the briars and surprise attack. Large Spiders, Giant Ticks (dropping on prey), Stirges (could have nests high in the briars). Perhaps the inhabitants use torches to dissuade them.

Hmm. All good ideas. I don't want to overdo the spiders, but giant ticks might be a good challenge.

[solomoriah]

And here's that map I mentioned:


Click on the image for a larger view.