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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Waylander the Slayer" data-source="post: 5630084" data-attributes="member: 1830">Breeding Ground- Dragonspire, the plagueDisreputable Dragon-Cryaxx, purported breaker of dragon pactLost- Dragon’s Nest, Livingstone’s expedition, possibly the PartyWounded Pet- Wulfang- faithful guide and pet of LivingstoneWitchlord- LorathinInstitutionalization- Aaya, institutionalized in the AsylumDays of the Dragon 9-10th level Pathfinder AdventureDragonsport  clutches to the Far Coast like a drowning man to drift wood; the city the only vestige of civilization. The  antediluvian Darkreach  Jungle looms over the city like a predatory beast. Yet life thrives; natural bounty of the land, the ancient ruins of the Empire of Thringala, and the wealth of the sea a clarion call to many. When Cryaxx, the Crystal Dragon, breaks the dragon pact and besets those venturing from the city, and the Devouring Plague festers and kills the beloved Drakehounds and humanoids alike, will Dragonsport be consumed from within and without? Or will brave heroes save the city?Synopsis The PCs race against time to save Dragonsport from the dual threats of a plague and the disreputable dragon. Their quest takes them deep within the heart of Darkreach Jungle, to the Lost Ruins of Dragons Nest- once capital of the Empire of Thringala, where they confront the true threat facing Dragonsport; the reawakened Witchlords of Thringala.BackgroundThe crumbling ruins and shattered remnants of the Empire of Thringala bespeak little of its former glory. Yet hundreds of years ago, the Empire covered the entirety of the Morose Peninsula; its grand roads, edifices, and most of all, Dragon spires the envy of many.  The First Coven (5 in all, then and ever since), the founders of the Empire, drew their power from the creatures of true magic; dragons. Their bond with dragons were strong, formalized through Pact Magic- a Pact Stone given to each. The creatures were provided with care and breeding grounds, the largest of which was Dragon’s Nest. Here the ancient beasts would come to lay their eggs, in the floating Dragon Spires, prepared especially for the mating that occurred but rarely, their eggs and young tended to during that critical time. In return, the dragons provided the Witchlords access to draconic magic through blood bond. Yet the greed of men can erode that which is sacred, and the 13th Dragon Lord- Lorathin El, and his Coven craved greater power. They crafted the Crystalline Heart; the petrified heart of an ancient dragon, embedded with the 5 pact stones, thus twisting the power of the ancient pact to now control the Dragons.They used the enslaved dragons to expand their empire, subjugate tribes and nations. They perverted the eggs of Dragons in Dragonspires to create fell servitors like Wyverns and dragonmen. Such wanton power makes one blind; the dragons conspired with those sympathetic to their cause and dedicated to the Old Ways. Secretly they bred DrakeHounds- immune to witchcraft, and other magical weapons. The rebellion overthrew the Witchlords, shattering their Empire, and presumably killing them. Yet the Witchlords had planned well; their essence absorbed into the Crystalline Heart, stowed deep within DragonSpire.Thringala is now but a whisper in the wind, though to this day, a dragon guards the ancient ruins- Cryaxx is the current guardian. When new settlers arrived, Cryaxx came to an agreement where the two would leave each other alone.Marius Livingstone was a renowned explorer who set off with his expedition party in search of Dragon’s Nest a year ago. After braving the dangers of the Jungle, he and his party came upon the remnants of the city, and the floating Dragonspire, where they came upon the hidden Crystalline Heart, releasing the Witchlords who possessed their bodies. Only Marius’s faithful Drakehound, Wulfang, and the Cleric Aaya escaped. The beast resisted the Witchlord’s magic, but was wounded. The cleric escaped with a Pact Stone , her sanity shattered, guided back to Dragonsport by Wulfang.Now, The Witchlords turn their attention on Dragonsport- for the Pact Stone and for conquest. Cryaxx is their biggest threat, now kept at bay by the limited use of the Crystalline Heart.  To sow discord and to ensure that the City does not seek the Dragon’s help, Lorathin takes on  the  dragon form [via Form of the Dragon III- Transformation Patron]  and attacks  any easy prey.  The Witchlords unleash the Devouring Plague, [brainworms disease] through his centipede familiar that commands other infected vermin of its ilk.Hooks- The Council hires the adventurers to help find a cure for the disease and the dragon attacks.- One of the PCs /friends get infected or attacked by the Dragon.- The Wounded Pet [recommended that the PCs knew Livingstone beforehand]:Part 1- The Faithful FriendThe Party is approached by Wulfang. The drakehound is wounded and in bad shape.   A spellcraft/heal check [15] reveals that the wounds are caused by nail rakes.  The legible parts of a note tied to the collar reads:“Aaya, help.. loosing mind…witch…plagueborn…”A gather information check [DC 20] reveals that Aaya was the member of Livingstone’s lost party that set off in search of Dragon’s Nest. Gather information [DC 30] points towards a “mad ravening woman” of Aya’s descriptor institutionalized in the sanatorium. Other alternatives include divination and scry.Part 2- The Sanatorium Many of the criminally insane are shipped off to the Sanatorium in Dragonsport; Aaya is in a holding cell here. The Sanatorium and the city guard are overwhelmed by the sudden outburst in violent attacks caused by the onset of Brainworms; especially true of the Drakehounds.  The party will be beset by sudden random attacks by the hounds, strangers and loved ones. Some of the guards at the Sanatorium are infected; the place threatening to be overrun by inmates and others. When located, Aaya is raving mad. A spellcraft check reveals her under the effects of an Insanity spell.Developments: Aaya: is likely beyond the Party’s ability to heal; however she will provide information during moments of lucidity, enough to point the party towards Dragon’s Nest and provide some information on the Witchlords, as well as give them the last Pact Stone.  She mentions “thousand legs” erupting and “crawling death,” reference to the Centipedes. Witchlords: The Party can research the Witchlords via spell or book [DC 25]; they learn of some of the basic abilities of the Witchlords. Dragon’s Nest is not scryable due to the magics still protecting the city. The Witchlords take an active role in trying to locate the last Pact Stone and neutralizing any threats.  They’ll direct the infected centipede swarms at the PCs once the PCs have the Pact Stone. They attack the PCs whenever possible [see below]The Disease: Treating a patient/ casting diagnose disease reveals the Brainworms. There is also a possibility of a party member contracting the disease [the GM should secretly roll]. Preventing the spread of disease is a difficult task; a common cure is not known, though the City Council mentions that Cryaxx helped with curing diseases. The Dragon:  Gather Information [DC 20] reveals that the Dragon’s disreputable behavior is not in keeping with its nature. The town council sent out another party to confront and slay the Dragon for its misdeeds. The PCs can convince the council [diplomacy DC 30] that the Dragon’s not responsible.  They’ll have to stop the other party from trying to slay the dragon through diplomacy or strength of arms. The PCs can investigate further and locate Cryaxx; the Dragon cannot approach either Dragon’s Nest or Dragonsport due to the possibility of falling under the sway of the Crystalline Heart. If the last Pact Stone is placed in the Heart, the Dragon becomes the Witchlord’s thrall. If contacted [likely through magical means] the Dragon will explain the background and urge the PCs to go to Dragon’s Nest and disable the Heart; he can use a Dragon Portal to enter Dragonspire immediately and assist the Party.  The Dragon reveals that it was distracted by the recent eggs laid, and begs the party to save its hatch.Part 3- Into the WoodsJourney to Dragons Nest is not without peril. It is full of prehistoric beasts; raptors, pterodactyls and other such beasts are common. The thick jungle is hard to negotiate and easy to get lost in; the jungles were originally hunting ground for Dragons. If the Party brings Wulfang, the Drakehound  leads the party without much of a problem.  Developments: Further complicating matters, the witchlords send their servitors to attack the party:•Wyverns [3]- The Wyverns, twisted dragons, track and attack the party when they are most vulnerable.•Allosaurus Attack- A mated pair of Allosaurus claim vast swaths of the jungle as their own and attacks anything on sight since they have recently laid eggs.•Disconcerting Dreams: The Witchlord contracts the PCs via dream, trying to persuade them.•Control Weather:  While passing through the Switch Back Hills, labyrinthine rock formations or  while near any river, the Witchlords use the weather to flood the PCs, make it difficult for them to cross, or to separate them/ get them lost. Part 4- Mr. Livingstone I presume?The ruins of Dragon’s Nest stand apart from the surrounding jungle, deep within a vale; as if an invisible hand holds the wilderness at bay.  Walls of crystal rise up, with great towers spaced intermittently;. Once, these towers were clear as water, but ever since the betrayal of the Dragons, they are tinged blood red, sweating blood. Gigantic statues of Dragons and Witchlords dominate; many destroyed and defaced.  Enormous healing pools dot the ruins, now corrupted and fetid.Floating at the center of the ruins is the vast Dragonspire, shaped like a diamond, with the top levels once being aeries for dragons, and the bottom levels being for the Witchlords and others.  Four crystalline archways,  not fully intact, connect to the Spire. The returned Witchlords have summoned Wyverns and other fell drakes  who patrol the ruins.Developments: The Coven Members are powerful; Lorathin is 16th Level with the remaining 4 members all 10-12th level Witches[up to the GM to adjust as needed].  Rather than attack the party, Lorathin will offer the party wealth, power and any other enticements. If party refuses, the Coven attacks the PCs before they can reach Dragonspire, riding Wyverns, though they will retreat deep into the Aerie if hurt.Key Encounters within Dragonspire are:•The aerie is now a breeding ground for fell drakes; the cavernous and natural feel within is ideal for  breeding. The mid levels are infested by  mating pairs who attack PCs if the approach via air or otherwise.•The highest level is where Cryaxx  nested; the Witchlords use ritual magic and the power of the crystalline heart  to pervert these eggs; if not stopped, the eggs will hatch within a few days as Barbtongued Wyverns.•The Witchlords use the “Hidden Home” ability to hide the main Aerie. •Wulfang leads the party unerringly to the Witchlords since his bond with his former master was strong. The Drakehound knows that his master is no more, and will attack Lorathin with ferocity. •If the party disables the Crystalline  Heart, Cryaxx accesses Dragonspire via a Dragon Portal and assist the PCs.  If Lorathin succeeds in getting the last Pact Stone; he summons Cryaxx to attack the party. The Dragon is reluctant to use its breath weapon and area attacks due to its eggs.•Lorathin uses the Dragon Form ability  to use the vastness of the aerie to its advantage.ConclusionIf the party defeats the Witchlords, they possess the Crystalline Heart- useable only by a Coven.  Many witches covet the item and target the group. The safest idea might be to leave it with Cryaxx; the group will also have to repair relations between Dragonsport and Cryaxx; Cryaxx providing the cure  for the plague might be the best solution in restoring the Dragon’s reputation.  The Devouring Plague impacts Dragonsport, and perhaps other parts of the campaign world significantly, spreading if not contained . Wulfang serves the party faithfully.</blockquote>

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