Tricking a Dragon

Last weekend my Swords & Wizardry campaign online made it to Session 40. I am not sure how much longer it will go on for but that seems like a fair accomplishment. We play almost every week. We started near the beginning of this pandemic in mid-April and we made it through 40 sessions.

Session 40 turned out to be a bit of a surprise much like a number of other sessions have been lately. I had already titled the session "Legacy of Madness" expecting we would deal with Synastarax the blue dragon and then descend back beneath the city to find out what lay in the crypt beneath St. Bethesda's church. The players did deal with the Blue Dragon - but not exactly as I had expected and it gave me an opportunity to have him reappear in the adventure. At several points in this adventure, I found I was not sure what should happen next and I just went with what popped into my head. I ended up having to restore a few maps from the Roll20 archive on the fly to keep up with the action.

The plot of the campaign would probably be easier to plan for if I could decide on a plot. I want to give the players the freedom to chose the course of events and where they decide to explore. So I have been reluctant to add an overarching plot. But as the players advance in level I think this is going to have to happen at some point.

Session 40: Return to the Well of Woe

Players: Lakima (Human Magic-user), Eathwund (Human Fighter), Moonshadow (Elven Thief), Domago (Human cleric NPC), Lantosh (Human Fighter NPC).

On the morning of Dechem 26, Lakima goes over to Malyn’s shop and picks up the Wall of Iron scroll he spent so much money upon. Moonshadow heads over to the Low Market and spends some time gathering information from his contact Snipe. Moonshadow also visits Cromly the smith and inquires on the price to get her two longswords enchanted. They agree on a trade. The Trident of Returning found in the flooded tunnels under the town for an enchantment of both her blades. But with the dragon set to arrive the next day she decides to wait on getting the swords enchanted.

At first light the next day the heroes hear the ringing of alarm bells from the watchtowers of the town. They hurriedly dress and head outside. Overhead they see the enormous blue dragon Synastarax circling over the town. When they arrive at the Market Square Synastarax is just settling to land. The blue dragon beats its enormous wings blowing over many of the tents and stalls in the Market square and in the process reveals the ballista hidden under tents on the edge of the square. The dragon pays them no mind and rumbles out something in draconic that only Moonshadow catches (foolish humans, etc). Seeing the Company of the Black Dragon at the edge of the square - Synastarax bellows at them to approach with the book it has requested.

Lakima approaches and places the Tome of Artifice on the ground near the dragon. The dragon reaches out and places one claw over the book. With gestures and magical speech, the dragon casts a spell to check the authenticity of the book. At this point, Lakima proceeds with his plan to "kill three birds with one stone" as he put it. Lakima then tells the dragon that the book is incomplete. That the ghost of a dragon told him that the book needs to be bathed in the Well of Mana. The dragon looks at Lakima and demands to know to which dragon he spoke. Lakima responds with the true name of the Ysar'n Drax. To which Synastarax laughs, dismissing the ramblings of the ghost of Ysar’n Drax. Lakima persists telling Synastarax that it will need to use the mana well. The dragon does appear to listen and asks for directions. Lakima sketches a quick map that the dragon looks at and then takes flight. Synastarax releases one bolt of lightning blasting a ballista atop the West Gate tower into splinters and then flies off to the north in the general direction of the Valley of Heroes (and the Mana Well).

Turning to the other members of the adventuring company, Lakima tells everyone to prepare for a return trip to the Mana Well in the Valley of Heroes. Eathwund, Lakima, and Moonshadow head over to the docks and ask the shipbroker about passage north. But they learn no ships are headed north. The recent cold weather has caused ice floes in the river making the trip too dangerous. Lakima produces 200 gold coins and the agent reconsiders. After talking to many captains at the dock he comes back and tells them that Captain Tolfin will take them. They go and check on Tolfin’s boat and find it is a battered old tub but it seems seaworthy. Tolfin asks when they want to get underway? They tell him they will leave within the hour. Tolfin goes off to press-gang some crew.

Lakima, Eathwund, Moonshadow, Lantosh, and Domago gather equipment and get on the boat. Their fellow companion Carric has not been seen in days and Alonso is busy with the Town Watch so only five companions set out. The two men hired by Tolfin look like street thugs but seem to know their way around a boat. The riverboat heads north upriver using sails and sweeps. Moonshadow watches from the bow for ice that might endanger the boat. As darkness falls, Tolfin takes the boat to shore and drops anchor. A plank is dropped to the riverbank and a campfire and tents are set up. The adventurers set watches and view a few clumsy attempts by the crew to rob them with amusement.

The next day the ship slows as they get in amongst the ice floes. Moonshadow aids Tolfin by pointing out ice in the river to avoid. The crew use sweeps to push off from the larger ice. They make it to the town of Caster’s Ford in the early evening. The river for the last few miles is frozen over but the ice is thin and the boat is able to safely break through it. Lakima gives Tolfin an extra 20 gold coins for getting them to Caster’s Ford safely. The five heroes check into three rooms at the Blue Dragon Inn. The tavern is full of the usual colorful assortment of traders, trappers, and adventurers.

On a whim, Lakima asks Geflion the innkeeper if there are any stoneworkers in town. Geflion is surprised by the question, asking if they are planning to bury someone in the Valley of Heroes. But he does direct them to the Greenstone Brothers. A group of seven dwarven brothers who maintain some of the tombs and monuments in the valley (at a price). Lakima, Eathwund, and Moonshadow decide to go over to visit the dwarves despite the late hour. The door to the shop is closed and locked but a dwarf named Belfin Hammerhand answers the knock at the door and invites them in once they make it known that they are looking to have extensive stonework done. Belfin and his brother Throst Redhand listen to Lakima detail work he wants to be completed on the Mana Well to make it more secure. When the dwarves learn that Lakima believes that evil necromancers may have taken up residence in the former temple, they suggest he clear the temple first and then contact them. Throst does mention some work the dwarves would like done at a nearby monument they maintain. They would be willing to knock 1,000 gold off the build costs for a quick job.

The trio of adventurers say goodbye to the dwarves and return to the Inn for a relatively quiet night’s rest. A thief does try to enter Moonshadow’s chamber but, a somewhat functional trap on the door alerts her to the intrusion and the thief runs off. The next day they buy five horses from a Horse trader who assures them that his horses know the way back to the stable should they be killed. They set out for the Well of Woe. On the clear trail through the river valley, the journey only takes four hours.

As they approach the Temple of Medamellara that houses the Mana Well they see that someone has refitted the door loosely over the entrance. When last they visited the doors were lying on the ground. They also see a dead body lying face down near the entrance. The blood pooled around the body is frozen but not more than a few days old. As they approach the entrance three mana wraiths approach and are quickly dispatched from a distance. Moonshadow is able to open the doors by lifting the bar that is on the inside. In the corridor beyond, they see two more human bodies lying on the floor. All of the corpses have knife wounds. The doors to the chamber of the Mana well are closed.

Moonshadow checks the doors and see they are not locked or trapped. Eathwund and Lantosh move up and push the doors open and rush inside. The room is still dominated by the fountain of mana rising up out of the mana well. They do notice that it is not spraying as high as it did before. Near the well is a man with greyish lizard-like skin. The man is seated at a table covered in books and parchment. Without turning he yells, “Fenris! Go away. I told you not to bother me!”

Eathwund and Lantosh circle around the mana well toward the man. Lakima shouts out, “Obviously we are not who you were expecting!” The man gets up from his desk and confronts the intruders. He angrily tells them they are trespassing and must leave immediately or they will face the consequences. Lakima says much the same. The man’s eyes begin to glow with blue mana - and Moonshadow fires a pair of arrows at him. One hitting. Eathwund runs forward with his sword engulfed in enchanted flames. Lakima casts Confusion on the man and he is stunned and unable to think clearly. Just as Eathwund shoves his sword through his chest. The mana glowing in his eyes blink out and the man collapses on the floor.

Lakima comes over to examine the notes and books while Eathwund checks the corpse for loot - finding a necklace and a dagger. Lakima finds the man’s spellbook and notes on the nature of the mana well. Some of the notes are insane ramblings but in the scribbles, he notes that the man was correct in realizing the mana well was a rip through to a higher plane. Holding open one book, Lakima finds a pouch full of gold. Moonshadow, Eathwund, and Domago head off to explore deeper in the temple. Lakima and Lantosh linger behind looking through the notes and then eventually join the rest. The rest of the rooms beyond the Mana Chamber seem unchanged from the last time they visited. A few books and scrolls have been removed or moved about and that is it.

After a few hours, they start preparing to pack up. Then they hear the flap of enormous wings from outside the main entrance. The light from outside is blotted out and they hear a booming, draconic voice, “COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE!”

Lakima and Eathwund duck into a chamber near the entrance to hide and Moonshadow goes to the hallway on the other side. Lantosh and Domago hide in the Mana Chamber. Synastarax the blue dragon continues to call out to them to show themselves from outside the temple. Seemingly unable, or unwillingly to squeeze its enormous frame into the entrance hall. With a loud crack and rumble than a flash of light - the blue dragon breathes lightning down the hallway clear through the temple and through the stream of mana. Synastarax keeps calling out to them - calling Lakima and Eathwund by name. The heroes hide for over an hour hoping the dragon will leave. While moving behind some crates Eathwund spots a man who is hiding and drags him out of cover. The man claims to be Fenris. A member of an adventuring company he names the Brave Blades of Northrun. He tells them he came here with Horatius the wizard, Conall their leader, and Griggs and Hartpole. He warns them to be wary of Horatius. Lakima tells Fenris that they killed Horatius. Fenris seems relieved by this news. He claims that Horatius began experimenting with putting his hands in the mana well and went mad. He claims Horatius killed the other three adventurers in the group when they wanted to leave. Fenris says that he has been serving Horatius out of fear for his own life.

The blue dragon bellows out that he has a lot of patience. With a sigh, Lakima carefully steps out into the hallway and into the dragon’s view. Synastarax asks Lakima why he lied about the book needing the mana well. It has practiced magic for hundreds of years and was well aware that the mana well was not necessary. But it came north to see what they were up to. Lakima tries sticking to his story but the dragon is not having any of it. He questions again if the Book is the real one and is seemingly assured that it is. Synastarax tells Lakima that then their deal is complete and he will abide by the deal despite Lakima trying to lure him here to the Well. But he will leave them with one more gift and the dragon opens his mouth to unleash a lightning bolt. Lakima quickly casts Wall of Iron from his scroll. The wall appears blocking the doors of the hallway. There is a loud boom when the lightning of the dragon stikes the wall and then a screech of anger from the dragon. Followed by rumbling noises. A short time later they hear the sound of a dragon taking flight.

Speaking with Synastarax

The heroes decide to wait for the full 2-hour duration of the Wall of Iron spell. Fenris asks them about their company and asks if they are hiring. Lakima tells him that he will consider it. Two hours later the Wall of Iron vanishes. But now they find the exit from the temple is blocked by a pile of rock debris. The dragon has buried them alive in the Temple. Fenris and Moonshadow check the debris and tell everyone it will take a week to remove the stones. Moonshadow checks throughout the temple and notes the numerous air vents in many of the rooms. She tells everyone they will not suffocate. But the vents are too small to use as a point of egress. Fenris produces a long metal stick and pushes it through the rockpile creating a tiny hole. He tells them the debris field is only three feet thick at its thinnest point. However, removing rocks might just cause more rocks to tumble down.

Lakima suggests using the two Potions of Gaseous form he has. Unfortunately, anyone using the potion will be naked when they become corporeal again. Eathwund and Domago volunteer. They drink the potions and pass through the debris. Then fly over to the horses. Becoming corporeal again they hurriedly put on clothes from the saddlebags. Domago and Eathwund lead a pair of horses back to the rock slide and examine it. They tell their friends trapped inside that if they remove rocks more will come down. The dragon dug up the entire cliff face. Lakima tells them to go for help. Eathwund goes over and grabs the spear from the dead body in front of the temple so the two are at least armed. Then the two men ride off for Casters’ Ford. They arrive after dark and have to bribe the watch to be let in. They head immediately for the Greenstone brother's shop - telling the dwarves what happened. Domago asks them if they can come immediately. Dored Blackbrow asks if their friends have air? When they admit they do he tells them to come back in the morning. Eathwund and Domago check into the Blue Dragon Inn.

Meanwhile, back at the Temple, the entombed heroes make themselves comfortable preparing for an evening in the Temple. Fenris claims his bed. There is only one other bed that used to belong to Horatius and it is messy so the heroes decide to use their own bedrolls instead. Just as they are getting comfortable they again hear dragon wings again from outside. Everyone goes quiet. Then they hear the familiar voice of Lethnearinos the silver dragon from outside asking if everything is okay? Lakima lets the silver dragon know what happened. Lethnearinos uses his claws to clear most of the debris from the entrance and then polymorphs into his other form of a human hermit. He enters and tells them that he observed Synastarax headed north over the Valen peaks likely headed for his lair in the north. Their bargain is complete and the Tome of Logic is safe. So he has come to serve his agreed-upon ten years of protecting the mana well. Lakima gives the silver dragon a tour of the temple and tells him of some of his plans. Lethnearinos listens and makes some suggestions, including a room for the dragon to relax in with an escape route should Synastarax return. Everyone settles in for the evening.