D&D General Rewarding player empathy: restoring an NPC’s wings in a starter adventure (Stormwreck Isle)

[Aenwyn]

Hello everyone,

I’m currently running Stormwreck Isle for a beginner group (Level 2 → soon Level 3). I’m also a fairly new DM myself, and something really nice but unexpected happened at the table.
The group spent a lot of time in Dragonsrest with the kobold merchant Myla. In a fitting roleplay moment, I shared her backstory:
Myla was attacked by blood mosquitoes together with her brothers Mek and Minn. Her wings were badly mutilated, and her brothers left her behind, believing she was dead.
(In the final chapter at the Observatory, the party will encounter Mek and Minn. Learning that their sister is still alive is supposed to make them friendly and cooperative.)

My players reacted very emotionally to this:

• They are angry at the brothers
• They want revenge for Myla
• They repeatedly ask if there is any way to restore Myla’s wings

I absolutely love the roleplay and want to lean into it, even though this is not part of the starter adventure.

At the same time, I want to avoid the group later attacking all the kobolds at the Observatory out of pure revenge. One possible condition I’m considering is: Myla’s wings can only be healed if Mek and Minn are not killed.

My questions:

• Are there any official spells, rituals, or magical options that could regenerate wings?
• What kind of homebrew or story-based solutions would feel believable for Levels 3–4? (The party consists of a Bard, Sorcerer, Paladin, and Barbarian.)
• Does anyone have ideas for a small side quest, ritual, divine intervention, or moral compromise?

I want to reward the group’s emotional investment without completely derailing the adventure.

Thank you very much for your ideas!

 

[Reynard]

Side question: are the kobolds in this adventure special in that they have wings, or did you add that aspect? It isn't really relevant, I am just curious.

Anyway -- one thing that might be interesting is to have the characters learn of a Potion of Regeneration that will allow them to restore Myla's wings. But also give them another more selfish use for it, and see what they do.
Potion of True Vitality: When consumed by a creature that has suffered the loss of a limb or similar mutilation, they are restored to their previous state. If consumed by a creature that has not been so wounded, their Constitution score is permanently increased by 1.
Or something like that.

 

[Deset Gled]

The "Regenerate" spell seems like the obvious in-game solution. You'll need to find a way to give the characters access to it, as it's 7th level. I'd suggest finding a good spot to introduce a high level caster NPC (cleric, driud, or bard) that will do it for a small side quest.

 

[James Gasik]

I recall there are winged Kobolds, they used to be called Urds. They still appear in some adventures, I think an early encounter in The Lost Mine of Phandelver has some that drop rocks on enemies for some decent damage. Though I could be mistaken.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Yes, either the Regenerate spell, or Wish. But the construction of prosthetic (magitech) wings is also possible. An artificer is the most likely candidate, you should look at the magic item creation rules in the DMG, treat the new wings as any magical item that conveys the ability to fly.

There is an angel with a prosthetic wing in V:EoR.

A cleric might attempt divine intervention.

If the party can’t do anything yet the NPC might move to their bastion when they establish one, until such time as they are powerful enough to restore the wings.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I think the artificer magitech wing idea could work well. As far as the party not attacking the two brothers... if you haven't gone into much detail about who the brothers are or what they do... you could make one of the brothers an artificer himself. So if they idea comes to the party and Myla (perhaps through some Medicine checks) that her wings could be supported by a prosthetic support, Myla could reveal one of her brothers actually is an artificer. That way there's a reason for the party not to just go in guns ablazing at the Observatory, but instead want to find her brothers so that one of them could help her.

 

[Clint_L]

Because of the way damage works in 5e I don’t know that there are any spells that officially regenerate body parts, though I would rule that greater restoration, heal, and divine intervention are options. Plant a cleric NPC who can assist if the party proves their sincerity, etc.

As for the party killing the brothers, it seems like the players misunderstand the situation. Can’t you have Myla beg them to let her brothers know she’s alive, emphasizing how devastating her supposed death must have been to them?

 

[Deset Gled]

I think the artificer magitech wing idea could work well. As far as the party not attacking the two brothers... if you haven't gone into much detail about who the brothers are or what they do... you could make one of the brothers an artificer himself. So if they idea comes to the party and Myla (perhaps through some Medicine checks) that her wings could be supported by a prosthetic support, Myla could reveal one of her brothers actually is an artificer. That way there's a reason for the party not to just go in guns ablazing at the Observatory, but instead want to find her brothers so that one of them could help her.

I like the part with the artificer brother here. The obvious problem with allowing the PCs to make a permanent magitech wing is that they would then have the option to make it for themselves. And the party is too low level for that right now. But if the team comes up with something the brother has to recast with a limited duration, it should nip that in the bud.

Another work around would be to make the creation of the magitech wings require some macguffin that the party can only access once for the side quest.

 

[aco175]

I was thinking the magitech idea as well. You can always add a NPC to the observatory encounter as a prisoner of the dragon. Maybe the dragon wants him to repair the telescope for the comet's arrival or something.

He can add some roleplay to have the other kobolds be not that bad and telling him about the loss of their sister.

 

[AlViking]

I like the part with the artificer brother here. The obvious problem with allowing the PCs to make a permanent magitech wing is that they would then have the option to make it for themselves. And the party is too low level for that right now. But if the team comes up with something the brother has to recast with a limited duration, it should nip that in the bud.

Another work around would be to make the creation of the magitech wings require some macguffin that the party can only access once for the side quest.

I would simply say that the wings will only work because they're replacing wings. The prosthetics have to attach to musculoskeletal structures most humanoids don't have.

The other option is a regeneration spell as others have mentioned but that would require a high level NPC. If you go that route it could open up opportunities for future adventures and a possible patron and potential quest giver. Depends on what the OP is thinking after this mod and how comfortable they are with adding something like that.