Help me make an icy dragon's lair!

[DM_Matt]

Ok, so my PCs have figured out where the nasty bounty hunter that stole one of their friends is hiding, and they are gunna go get him.

The bounty hunter in question is a Mature Adult Tarterian Dragon with some modifications (one more hd makes 21, 8th level sorc spells, no frightful presense, and the ability to assume human form while retaiining all abilities, including natural ability scores and claw/bite dmg anbd routines). He rides a bone golem shaped like a dragon with magically-preserved dragon skin draped over it and a magical item that allows him to use his breath weapon and other dragon abilities through it (he still spends the action, but the effect seems to come from the fake dracolich).

The PCs think he's human and that the golem is a dracolich. The dragon likes to go invisiable with his Imp Invis, and as a backup can make sure hes in a dark place and use his Ring of the Darkhidden (invis to darkvision). His other favorite item is a Spider Rod (Magic of Faerun), which can entangle targets, with a save DC of 20.

His lair will be in some icy mountains...any ideas for how he'll defend himself from a well-optimized 13th-level party and what other thigns they sohuld find up there?

 

[Crothian]

for encounters in the cold I like an obvious entrance that is pure snow, like 20 feet deep covering a chasm. the party might not think to check to see if there is any firm ground under the snow, which there of course isn't. Unless the character has snow shoes or magical way, the're going to fall into and through the snow.

 

[der_kluge]

What level is your party?

I think nothing would instill more fear into them than having to fight *multiple* dragons at a time. Have like 3 dragon children attack from 3 directions simultaneously. That'll scare the bejeesus out of 'em.

 

[alsih2o]

take advantage of polished ice surfaces for free "illusions" and maybe some sculptures for cover too. big, honking ice-dragons sculptures.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Y'know, Dungeon 87 has a module that deals with an ancient white dragon's lair in extensive detail ("Glacier Season"). Might want to check this out for ideas.

 

[DM_Matt]

for encounters in the cold I like an obvious entrance that is pure snow, like 20 feet deep covering a chasm. the party might not think to check to see if there is any firm ground under the snow, which there of course isn't. Unless the character has snow shoes or magical way, the're going to fall into and through the snow.

Unfortunately that is not that useful for this party. The mage doesnt leave her flying carpet, the Pally doesnt leave his asperii mount/cohort, the Cleric moves on her large air elemental, and if the fall is enough that they have a round, the Druid's blink dog cohort/companion can blink him to safety and the Monk can abundant step. This party is about as mobile as it gets.

Take advantage of polished ice surfaces for free "illusions" and maybe some sculptures for cover too. big, honking ice-dragons sculptures.

Melikee, melikee.

What level is your party?

I think nothing would instill more fear into them than having to fight *multiple* dragons at a time. Have like 3 dragon children attack from 3 directions simultaneously. That'll scare the bejeesus out of 'em.

13, with lots of cohort/companions, but the dragon is Cr 16 or 17 (and thats in dragon CRs) and they will probably blow a bunch of resoucres trying to kill the "dracolich." Maybe some really young dragons, though...

Hmmm, the guy has summoned some Abyssal Drakes at them before...those will work nicely. Wyvern poison stinger, 10d6 breath weapon, 30str, rend, 95 hp, CR9...those should work well....I'll just chnage them from fire subtype to cold subtype.

 

[Piratecat]

What a cool bad guy. You're definitely going to want to hit the flying carpet with a dispel magic.

KidCthulhu suggests: weaken parts of the ceiling. When area effect spells begin flying, they're going to get crushed.

Make the floor shiny ice. Dragons have claws, but PCs don't. Balance checks suck.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

A few for you:

Have a selection of large (huge!) stalagtites on the ceiling of the dragons lair. Body slam into the roof (on a clear patch!) drops the rest of them down onto interlopers - much like a super ice storm.

Frozen lake plungehole in the lair - pick up armoured guy - drop into freezing water. Ouchy. Even worse if it has a pet underwater monster or two living down there - perhaps cold subtyped Scrags living off the beasties scraps...

Pillars of snow and ice - slam into the sides of them to drop onto PCs, pinning them in their own private mini-avelanche.

 

[Ferox4]

Make the floor shiny ice. Dragons have claws, but PCs don't. Balance checks suck.

And a slope of shiny ice is even worse.

 

[Ysgarran]

As mentioned, deep icy waters is a good place to drop characters. Also a nice to place to hide.

Some ice chutes could also douple for a handy place to drop characters and a quick get away if needed.

If the dragon really wants to ground the characters, he would pick a fight where there might be unnaturally high winds. The kinds of winds that can blow characters off of carpets...

It sounds like the dragon can pick the location of the fight. He will use that to give himself every edge he can.