Minions for a Green Dragon?

[Dunjin]

I am planning an adventure for my campaign in which a society of outcast elves asks the players to do an errand for them. The errand involves placing scrying devices inside the lair of a green dragon without arousing the dragon's suspicion.

Here are some details about the dragon:

She's a Juvenile green who has just moved into the forest. The forest itself is filled with magical beasts and other creatures, as well as grappling vines and the like. Its magical nature is what led the elves to settle there 130 or so years ago as a response to the large city nearby that doesn't allow elves to enter the city at all. The dragon came to the forest after being chased out of her old territory by an older dragon, and she's just starting to stake her territory.

She's found a series of caves created by the wanderings of a network of streams in the forest. The streams are believed to be sentient by the elves, and they have a tendency to change course and carve out new beds for themselves every few years. The lair has a main entrance underwater in a fairly large lake, and another entrance under a waterfall cascading over a cliff.

She's met and made a sort of peace with the elves, but the elves don't trust her to keep the peace once she's found some loyal minions. The elves also don't want her killed quite yet, because they see the dragon as part of the natural order to be dealt with as they'd deal with any predator or threat. Meanwhile, the dragon is out recruiting (read: conscripting) followers and finding minions, and she's been gone for nigh on a fortnight now. The dragon won't necessarily be planning to live in this lair forever, either--she's got her eyes on the elven city and the magical protections the elves have laid there.

When the players go to the lair, the dragon won't be there, but I don't want the lair to be empty. I'm currently thinking lots of monstrous spiders would be great, as well as the odd evil fey to make things interesting. The dragon is also "negotiating" with a local gnoll tribe, so gnolls could have taken to scoping out the lair and laying claim on parts of the surrounding territory.

The party is five PCs (Paladin, rogue, fighter/rogue, ranger, and sorcerer) who are all level 2 but will be at least level 3 by the time they get this adventure. Obviously I can't toss tons of gnolls at them, but I need to challenge them.

Any tips on designing this temporary dragon's lair and the minions within?

 

[Altalazar]

Anything comfortable with green clouds of noxious poison gas would be a good match. For some reason, I think Stinking Cloud when I think of green dragons.

Or perhaps just a creature with a noxious body odor - like Troglodytes. But then that is more of a "stinky poison gas" theme.

 

[Dunjin]

I'm currently thinking of having the cave's original inhabitants (a colony of monstrous spiders of some sort) that haven't moved out or been forced out, as well as a fey or two that has made a deal to serve the dragon in exchange for, well, the fey's survival.

I hadn't thought of the dragon breathing green gas everywhere. I forget, is the green dragon breath weapon poison-based, or acid-based? If it's poison-based, spiders have an advantage. If it's acid, well, creating an acid-based spider isn't a tough leap.

 

[ArcOfCorinth]

It sounds overused, but I suggest kobolds.

Kobolds worshipping the dragon. Throw in a sorcerer with the warriors and adepts. It makes sense and they're a perfect encounter for PCs of their level.

 

[Pants]

I recommend Troglodytes with some Kobold slaves.

 

[Leopold]

lizardmen..they rock..then make a bunch of half-dragon/half lizardmen

 

[Argent Silvermage]

I like the Kobold idea. Don't add any "master" race to them. Kobolds on thier own with the Green guiding them would be great.
To throw the players a loop have the dragon have found an ancient outpost for a dwarven or gnome fortress there and have an abundance of Dwarven/Gnomish items that are used. have some of the items fall into the players attention before they know about the Kobolds so they think Dwarves or Gnomes are working with the dragon.

 

[Dunjin]

Hrmmm. I've used a LOT of kobolds so far, but I think of all the races, they'd be perfect. I like the idea of a gnomish or dwarven outpost, though. I picked gnolls mostly because they live in the forest and are different from the goblins and kobolds the PCs will have slogged through by that point. I suppose a few little green kobolds wouldn't hurt anyone--especially armed with scavenged dwarven artifacts.

Any pointers on the lair itself?

 

[jgsugden]

Green Dragons breath a cone of corrosive acidic gas. It deals acid damage.

An efficient follower might be a creature that is immune or resistant to acid damage.

Demons have acid resistance 10. Angels and archons are immune to acid, but alignment issues make them a poor choice. Arrowhawks anf tojanida are also immune to acid, but tend to be something that people do not see as followers.

On the other hand, a creature with vulnerability to acid might be easily cowed into service.

A troll for instance, fears few things as much as acid. A green dragon would be a scary foe for a troll. It might bow down and serve the dragon rather than risking being hit by that corrosive gas attack.

 

[Pants]

Yugoloths (Daemons) are immune to acid as well, but most of them are higher CR. However, if you have the Fiend Folio, the Skulyvn is a CR 3. It's a weak, cowardly creature so it just might fit in.