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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Trit One-Ear" data-source="post: 7280280" data-attributes="member: 6678017">Hey all,I'm looking for any ideas or insight into helping me flesh out the next "chapter" of my campaign. Super open to hear any cool ideas you all come up with!The heroes are currently en route to a major city which has mysteriously closed it's gates and cut off all communication. One of the characters hails from this city, and is deeply concerned something is wrong (which of course, it is).The city of Hightower was built above the lair of a prismatic dragon eons ago. Using powerful rituals, the mages of the city were able to coax the dragon into an unbreakable slumber. While the dragon sleeps, the residents of the city profit from the amplification of any magical abilities. As such, Hightower has been the center of magical research for generations. The cause of this amplification however is a deeply kept secret, known only to the ruling family and their trusted attendants, who have all managed to keep this secret from even the most diligent prying eyes.Every 10 years, the slumber ritual must be renewed, lest the dragon awaken. Only one individual can cast the ritual - the Archmage of Hightower, or his/her direct descendant. When the first-born descendant comes of age (16), the ability to cast the ritual is passed from the Archmage to the child. As such, the bloodline of the Archmages has been carefully protected. One of my PC's is the only child of the current Archmage, and as such is responsible for casting the ritual. However, due to a trip in the Feywild which twisted time, he recently missed the window to recast the ritual...Behind the scenes, several houses of Drow have been uncovered the truth about Hightower and the dragon. They have spent years watching, waiting for a chance to claim the power of Hightower for their own. As the time of the ritual approached and the PC was missing, they put their plan into action. Arriving in Hightower through a secret entrance to the Underdark, they approached the Archmage with an offer. The Drow had discovered a second ritual which they claimed could keep the dragon in its safe slumber. They would cast said ritual, but had some demands. Without other recourse, the Archmage agreed. The second ritual worked, but has made magic in the area unstable. Meanwhile, the Drow have taken control of the city, using their power over the dragon as collateral.The heroes are soon to arrive and find the city gates shut. My plan so far is to have them slowly uncover the Drow presence in the city, and learn of the ritual and ideally a way to break it. This will likely lead to them venturing into the Underdark, to encounter the various hazards and monsters down there, as well as the political machinations of the Drow.Does this spark any inspiration for you? Any cool ideas for encounters or plot developments? Any critiques or issues you see?Trit</blockquote>

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