A Dragon's Reward

[ewoods]

Suppose that hypothetically, a party of six level four characters frees a silver great wyrm from a magical imprisonment from which she could not escape herself. How might the dragon reward the party proportionately to the great deed they've done, but also with consideration for their relatively low level?

This is a pretty open question, so any and all suggestions are welcome. If it makes a difference, we're playing 3.5.

ETA: Forgot to mention that the dragon had been tortured for years by her captors, in case that affects your opinion. Do you think that the reward even has to be level-appropriate, given the dragon's situation and how desperate she would have been to get free?

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I gotta ask, how can level 4 characters accomplish what a Silver Great Wyrm could not? Hypothetically?

Since she's a Great Wyrm and they're level 4, I think any reward would exceed level-appropriate standards. Wealth by level for level 4 is 5,400gp according to the DM guide, increasing to 9000gp at level 5, so gaining 3,600gp in that level. I'd imagine a Silver Great Wyrm's freedom from years of torture would be worth more than 21,600gp split 6 ways.

A few ideas:

-Simple cash reward. Any Dragon has a horde of cash.

-Specific Magical Items from her horde. Dragon's gather Magical Items as well.

-Knowledge that pertains to their existing quest or points to a new one. She's been around for a long time and knows stuff.

-A favor of their choosing somewhere down the road. They just say her name three times or something and she'll teleport to their location in a moment of crisis.

-Silver Dragon you say? Don't they assume humanoid form every so often and wonder the world? Methinks she could join them for a short time as a seventh member.

-Advocates on their behalf with another very powerful being. If she vouches for you, it could get you far.

-Bonding to a member or the party somehow. See The MM V "Dragons of the Great Game" starting on p.38, or google "Xorvintaal". The “Xorvintaal exarch” template can be applied to PC's and grants minor abilities and a connection to a dragon.

 

[Lwaxy]

I'd have her stay in contact with the party, as someone to go to when there is no other resort. She can be a treasure box for information, come to the rescue if you want to avoid a TPK and help out when they are down on their luck and lost their stuff.

 

[kitcik]

After all those years, I'm sure she was awfully hungry. Maybe she could "honor" them by permanently including them as a nutritional supplement...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I gotta ask, how can level 4 characters accomplish what a Silver Great Wyrm could not? Hypothetically?

Get eaten by a troll?

Spend a lot of time away from the dragon's hoard?

 

[ewoods]

I gotta ask, how can level 4 characters accomplish what a Silver Great Wyrm could not? Hypothetically?

They happened upon a metropolis that had been completely decimated in a recent war and found her bound and left for dead in the labyrinth underneath. While trying to escape from the tunnels they found some magical keys that opened a series of locks, which released the dragon. So they didn't really know what they were doing, per se, and freeing her was entirely an accident (although they had spent considerable time trying to figure out HOW to free her), but nevertheless, since silver dragons are lawful good, I thought it appropriate for her to "repay the debt" so to speak.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions! I really appreciate the input. I like the idea of her granting them a favor or being a source of information or something in the future.

 

[Gilladian]

Yeah, she probably doesn't HAVE a treasure hoard right now... having been a captive for a long time, her lair was probably looted, either by her captors or by others who came upon it, later.

She would be a wonderful source of sage advice, of treasure maps and lore, etc... she might even ask the PCs to become her spies and "hands" working in the world to restore her position; she might think that they would find serving her to be a reward in and of itself...dragons not being immune to arrogance.

 

[Grogg of the North]

A couple of ideas:

1) I'd have the dragon offer sage advice, a safe place for the players to stay and rest, and offer them occasional access to its horde. Something similar to the shared trove that the Vassal of Bahamut gets or even provide expensive material components if needed.

2) Go with custom magic items that will help your players. Something that they each of them want/need. Shinies are always good.

3) A favor that they can each call in, as long as its reasonable.

I wouldn't let the dragon join the party as a (N)PC. It may quickly turn into "Lets follow the dragon around while it does all the work and are generally useless".

 

[Tovec]

Keeping in mind that she is a SILVER DRAGON in 3.5 I propose the following.

She should owe them one. Redeemable at any time they want.


She should keep her gold though, she is a dragon. I never considered silver dragons any less hoardy than reds in that regard.
She is silver, so she is the paladiny dragon, open to good deeds. Which is where the favour comes in.

Give them some way to call her, some random magical trinket that they can trigger once, maybe twice and she can just swoop in and help.

It solves the problem of having a big bad MOFO dragon journeying around with a low level party and gives them an ace in the hole. I would make sure the party knows that even though she is benevolent she is not to be taken for granted. So do not summon her to travel down a hall of traps, but call her to help you discover a way around them for example.

Just a thought.

 

[R.Carter]

To echo some of the above ideas a little bit, the dragon might make a great patron of sorts. She can provide adventure paths or help. Heck, maybe even set the party on the path to take out the bad guys that imprisoned her in the first place.