The Siege of Dragon's Castle / SESSION 0 / 20 March 2023 Party/Players Landan, Larry, Ethan, Isaac, Spencer, Eli, London Premise Write your premise or truths about the world here. ● The Lord's Alliance has been in turmoil since the ancient dragon, Vorgath, claimed one of their castles as his own. Vorgath's power and influence have grown as he hoards treasures and enslaves nearby villages. The Lord's Alliance has finally decided to take action and has hired a group of adventurers to take back the castle and defeat Vorgath once and for all. The adventurers will need to navigate through the treacherous terrain surrounding Vorgath's mountain stronghold. They will encounter various obstacles, such as traps, ambushes, and hostile creatures. The group will need to be careful since Vorgath's minions are always watching for intruders. ● Once the adventurers reach the castle, they will need to find a way to breach its defenses. The castle is heavily guarded, and the walls are almost impenetrable. The group will have to come up with a plan to enter the castle undetected or face a difficult battle. ● Once inside, the adventurers will have to fight their way through Vorgath's minions and finally confront the dragon himself. Vorgath is a powerful foe, and the adventurers will need to work together to overcome him. He will use his fire breath, razor-sharp claws, and powerful wings to defend himself. ● If the adventurers succeed in defeating Vorgath, they will be hailed as heroes by the Lord's Alliance, and they will receive a significant reward. However, if they fail, they will suffer the wrath of Vorgath and may never leave the castle alive. ● Are you brave enough to take on the challenge and help the Lord's Alliance take back what belongs to them? The fate of the castle and its people rests in your hands. Party Hooks ● Are you ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime? The Lord's Alliance needs your help to take back a castle from the fearsome dragon, Vorgath. But it won't be easy. You'll need to navigate treacherous terrain, overcome deadly obstacles, and face Vorgath's minions in battle. And if you're lucky enough to make it inside the castle, you'll have to face Vorgath himself. Do you have what it takes to defeat the dragon and reclaim the castle for the Lord's Alliance? The fate of the realm is in your hands. Locations Nearby Village - Raven's Hollow ● ● ● The nearby village is a small settlement located at the foot of Vorgath's mountain stronghold. The village has been greatly affected by Vorgath's influence and the adventurers may encounter villagers who have been enslaved or forced to pay tribute to the dragon. The village is in a state of despair and the villagers are living in fear of Vorgath and his minions. The adventurers may hear rumors of a nearby village that has been raided or destroyed by Vorgath's minions. This could be a side quest for the adventurers, to investigate the rumors and potentially provide aid to the survivors. The village may also have a local leader or mayor who is willing to offer the adventurers information or assistance in their quest to defeat Vorgath. The adventurers could potentially help the villagers by providing protection, supplies, or even leading a rebellion against Vorgath's minions. Vorgaths Castle ● ● ● ● Vorgath's castle is a formidable stronghold located on a mountain peak. The castle is built of dark stone and is surrounded by a high wall with towers and battlements. The walls of the castle are almost impenetrable, and the few entrances are heavily guarded by Vorgath's minions. Inside the castle, the adventurers will find a maze of corridors, chambers, and dungeons. The castle is filled with traps, secret passages, and hidden rooms, making it difficult to navigate. The minions of Vorgath are everywhere, and the adventurers will need to be careful not to be seen or heard. The castle's central chamber is where Vorgath himself resides. This chamber is enormous and is filled with treasure, including gold, gems, and magical artifacts. The walls are lined with shelves that hold ancient tomes and scrolls, and there are many mysterious and dangerous objects scattered throughout the room. Vorgath's lair is located at the top of the castle, deep within the mountain. The lair is a massive cavern that is filled with treasure and guarded by Vorgath's most loyal minions. The adventurers will need to fight their way through the lair to reach Vorgath's throne, where the dragon himself awaits. Raven’s Hollow Locations Tavern: The Gilded Ale House ● ● ● ● ● Owner: Marla Location: In a small alley. The street outside is filled with the smell of damp earth and has a crowd watching performers. Description: The tavern is a stone-walled tower, with an orange shingled roof and moss-covered walls. A small dragon's skull hangs over the hearth. It contains low ceilings and a small kitchen in the back. A small table of a few men are seen playing some sort of gambling game. Quests and Rumors | Map Specials: ○ Meatballs Pie with Onion (4 sp) ○ Goose Soup with Egg and a Glass of Brandy (5 sp) ○ Bison Cake with Peaches and a Glass of Brandy (5 sp) General Store: Ceaseless Center ● ● ● ● Owner: Anthony Lathalas, Male Half-Elf Location: In a small alley. The street outside is recently paved with worn brick. Description: The general store is a wooden cabin, with a reinforced wooden door and a smooth stone floor. It contains religious paraphernalia on the walls and the walls are covered in paintings and advertisements. Specials: ○ Vial) (1 gp) ○ Signet Ring) (5 gp) ○ Mirror, Steel (5 gp) Main Objectives Here are some main objectives for the adventurers to achieve: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Navigate through the treacherous terrain surrounding Vorgath's mountain stronghold. Find a way to breach the castle's defenses and enter undetected. Fight their way through Vorgath's minions and reach the dragon's lair. Defeat Vorgath in battle using their skills and wits. Retrieve valuable loot items from Vorgath's treasure hoard. Complete side quests to gain additional experience, information, and rewards. Discover clues that will help them on their quest and reveal Vorgath's weaknesses. Survive and emerge victorious, earning the respect and gratitude of the Lord's Alliance. Side Objectives 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Investigate a series of disappearances of townspeople in the forest. Retrieve a stolen heirloom from a local gang of thieves. Help a local farmer deal with a group of goblin raiders that have been stealing his crops. Escort a merchant caravan through dangerous territory to a nearby city. Investigate a haunted mansion on the outskirts of town. Retrieve a magical item stolen from a local wizard's tower by a group of bandits. Help the town guard capture a dangerous criminal who has been terrorizing the area. Antagonists ● Vorgath - Vorgath is a massive ancient dragon who has claimed a castle as his own. He is feared and respected by his minions and has hoarded treasures beyond measure. Vorgath is not to be underestimated, as he is incredibly powerful and can use his fire breath, razor-sharp claws, and powerful wings to defend himself. He is also highly intelligent and cunning, and he will not hesitate to use any advantage he has to defeat his enemies. Vorgath will make a formidable foe for any group of adventurers daring enough to face him. Antagonists’ Goals ● Vorgath's goals are to hoard as much treasure as possible and to expand his power and influence. He has enslaved nearby villages and forced them to mine for more treasure, and he will stop at nothing to protect his wealth and territory. Vorgath is also known for his intelligence and cunning, and he may have plans beyond simply hoarding treasure. The adventurers should be prepared for a challenging and unpredictable opponent when facing Vorgath. Clues & Secrets Here are some possible clues that the adventurers could discover during their quest: ● ● Dragon Scale Armor: The adventurers could find armor made from dragon scales that is resistant to fire damage. This could be a clue that Vorgath is vulnerable to cold-based attacks. Ancient Map: The adventurers could discover an old map that shows secret tunnels and passages leading into Vorgath's castle. This could be a clue that there is a hidden entrance that the adventurers can use to bypass the castle's defenses. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Journal Entry: The adventurers could find a journal entry written by one of Vorgath's minions that describes the dragon's lair in detail. This could be a clue that helps the adventurers prepare for their final battle with Vorgath. Magic Item: The adventurers could acquire a magical item that is particularly effective against dragons, such as a sword that deals extra damage to dragons or a potion that grants temporary immunity to fire damage. This could be a clue that Vorgath is weak to certain types of attacks. NPC Information: The adventurers could talk to NPCs in the nearby town who have information about Vorgath and his castle. This could be a clue that helps the adventurers plan their approach or learn more about Vorgath's weaknesses. Environmental Clues: The adventurers could find environmental clues that indicate the presence of dragons, such as charred trees or rocks that show signs of being melted by dragon fire. This could be a clue that Vorgath is nearby or that the adventurers are on the right track. Magical Barrier: The adventurers could encounter a magical barrier that blocks their path. This could be a clue that Vorgath is using powerful magic to protect his castle and that the adventurers will need to find a way to bypass the barrier or dispel the magic. Minion Weaknesses: The adventurers could encounter Vorgath's minions and discover that they are vulnerable to certain types of attacks or that they have a weakness that can be exploited. This could be a clue that helps the adventurers prepare for their final battle with Vorgath. Secret Document: The adventurers could discover a secret document that reveals Vorgath's plans or weaknesses. This could be a clue that helps the adventurers plan their approach or learn more about Vorgath's motivations.’ Encounters Here are some possible encounters for the adventurers to have in the nearby town: ● ● ● ● The Drunken Dwarf: A surly dwarf who can be found drinking at the local tavern. He claims to know a secret entrance to Vorgath's castle, but he will only reveal it if the adventurers can win a drinking contest against him. The Mysterious Stranger: A hooded figure who approaches the adventurers in the town square. They claim to have valuable information about Vorgath's weaknesses, but they will only share it if the adventurers complete a dangerous mission for them first. The Suspicious Shopkeeper: A shopkeeper who seems to be selling rare and valuable items at suspiciously low prices. When questioned, they reveal that they have a source for these items but refuse to divulge any more information. The adventurers must decide whether to trust the shopkeeper or investigate further. The Eager Apprentice: A young wizard's apprentice who is eager to prove themselves. They offer to help the adventurers in any way they can, including providing magical ● assistance in battle or deciphering ancient texts that may contain clues about Vorgath's castle. The Vengeful Villager: A villager who has been enslaved by Vorgath and forced to work in the mines. They seek revenge against the dragon and offer to help the adventurers in any way they can, including providing information about the castle's defenses or leading the adventurers through secret tunnels into the castle. Relevant NPCs Here are some NPCs the adventurers could encounter in the nearby town: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Mayor Thorne: The mayor of the town, who is concerned about the recent disappearances and is willing to offer a reward for their investigation. Innkeeper Marla: The owner of the local inn, who has information about the local gang of thieves and their whereabouts. Farmer Ben: A local farmer who is struggling to deal with the goblin raiders and is willing to pay for their removal. Merchant Caravan Leader: The leader of a merchant caravan passing through town who is looking for protection on the dangerous road ahead. Madame Zara: A mysterious fortune-teller who lives in the haunted mansion on the outskirts of town and may have information about the stolen magical item. Wizard Eron: A local wizard who is missing a valuable magical item stolen by a group of bandits and is willing to pay for its return. Captain Thorne: The captain of the town guard, who is leading the search for the dangerous criminal terrorizing the area and is willing to deputize the adventurers to help capture them. Loot & Treasure Here are some possible loot items for the adventurers to find on their quest: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Dragon Scales: The tough, fire-resistant scales of a dragon can be fashioned into armor or shields. Dragon Fangs: The sharp teeth of a dragon can be used to create deadly weapons. Dragon's Hoard: The vast treasure trove of Vorgath, filled with gold, gems, and magical artifacts. Potion of Fire Resistance: A magical potion that grants resistance to fire damage for a short period of time. Ring of Protection: A magical ring that provides additional protection against physical attacks. Amulet of Dragon Control: A powerful magical amulet that allows the wearer to control dragons under their command. Scroll of Fireball: A magical scroll that contains the spell Fireball, which creates a large explosion of flames. ● ● ● Staff of Lightning: A magical staff that allows the wielder to call down bolts of lightning on their enemies. Cloak of Invisibility: A magical cloak that grants the wearer the ability to become invisible for a short period of time. Wand of Magic Missiles: A magical wand that can shoot bolts of magical energy at enemies. These items could be found in Vorgath's castle, in the treasure hoards of his minions, or as rewards for completing side quests. Maps: