It's not crazy about these cultists handling its eggs. . There are two important points to reinforce as this duel takes place. Synopsis: Tyranny of Dragons is an epic story told across two adventure products, of which this is the first. The following tables provide you with bonds tailored to this campaign. In an audacious bid for power, the Cult of the Dragon, along with its dragon allies and the Red Wizards of Thay, seek to bring Tiamat from her prison in the Nine Hells to Faerûn. Type That is some pro-tier editorial blunder, right there. This article is the first in a series to offer suggestions for running Hoard of the Dragon Queen for your own group either at home or as part of the D&D Encounters program. Of all the encounters in Greenest in Flames, few are as difficult and memorable as the rat swarms in the tunnels. As the Id DM mentions the adventure specifically mentions that you should pick and choose which missions you want to run. Travelling through strange villages and merchant towns, the group finally reach Carnath Roadhouse, a meeting point for all the stolen treasure, but is there to this isolated building than meets the eye? Tasked by Governor Nighthill to find the raiders camp, the group tries to rescues a monk scholar from the cultists as they celebrate their victory over the town of Greenest. The group reunites with Darion, together hatching a scheme to defeat the Cult in Castle Naerytar, turning the mistreated lizardfolk against their allies. Greenest in Flames is a great example of an open-ended series of events during a time of great conflict. Each for his or her own reasons, five heroes have gathered in Greenest and were able to help the village weather the raid. First, you can have them level up to 2 during the night which gives them some extra hit points, extra spells, and an extra hit die of recovery. The story begins in the year 15DE, a few years after the Gods have returned, ending the Silence and returning some normalcy to the world. Even if the PCs avoid an encounter by rolling less than a 4 on the random encounter check, you can roll on the list to determine what recently traveled past here or what the PCs might hear happening nearby. by Mike Shea on 16 February 2015. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Designed as a series of open-ended sandbox chapters, Hoard requires a lot from the DMs who run it. This attack, frankly, is bullshit as far as Lennithon is concerned. The module revolves around the Cult of the Dragon 's plans to free Tiamat, the goddess of chromatic dragons, from the Nine Hells. Etan is besieged by the Cult of the Dragon, its agents sowing chaos and destruction as they gather wealth for some dark purpose. This article will offer tips for running the first chapter of the adventure, Greenest in Flames. Hoard of the Dragon Queen makes up for this, however, by designing most of the individual scenarios along its path in a delightfully non-linear fashion: Enemy strongholds are set up to reward frontal assaults, physical stealth, and clever infiltration. Turning Lennithon from a villain into a quest NPC is a great way to potentially change the story around. Hoard of the Dragon Queen Episode 3: Dragon Hatchery, Hoard of the Dragon Queen Episode 8: Skyreach, Hoard of the Dragon Queen 4: On the Road Part 1, Hoard of the Dragon Queen Chapter 4: On the Road Part 2, Hoard of the Dragon Queen Chapter 6: Castle Naerytar, Fantastic Adventures: Ruins of the Grendleroot. Characters begin at 1st level, and by the end of Hoard of the Dragon Queen, they should be 7th or 8th level and ready to continue with The Rise of Tiamat. Consider writing up your own loose outline of events and and let it evolve as the PCs undertake the missions. This will give them the much-needed hit points to face so many waves of foes. To this end, they are sweeping from town to town, laying waste to all those who oppose … Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the first campaign in the Tyranny of Dragons adventure saga.. The first occurs when the adult blue dragon, Lennithon, attacks the keep during "Dragon Attack". Hoard of the Dragon Queen Chapter 6: Castle Naerytar. I can't keep up, since I am in college at the same time, so I'd prefer something more simple. Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the first adventure module for the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons, covering levels 1-8 for a party of adventurers and set in the Forgotten Realms' iconic sword coast region.It's also the first half of the Tyranny of Dragons adventure arc for the game, and will have a follow up volume in the form of The Rise of Tiamat. This adventure is the prequel to Rise of Tiamat. Here are a few thoughts about Lennithon's motivations: This work is beneath Lennithon. Returning to the cultist's camp, the group finds the area abandoned with only the cave in the camp being protected. With such a big raid on the village, there's plenty of opportunities for random encounters. Maybe it takes to the wizard or scholar in the group and demands a favor to be determined later. You can handle this in a couple of ways. I'm honestly not looking for a gripping story or an elaborate world. You'll want to make it clear to your players early on that they have a long night ahead of them and will want to conserve resources. A single breath attack can drop and likely kill any level 1 or 2 PC it hits, even on a successful saving throw. Hoard of the Dragon Queen was the first adventure module written for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. Its fear aura alone might shake the resolve of the PCs. Nearly everything has been optimized and streamlined for ease of play online. If you choose to have Lennithon land and confront the PCs directly, consider having it use its lightning breath on an NPC such as Castellan Escobert the Red. Give your players a chance to experience the pain but still make their way out if things go poorly. Jonathan Bolding, for Escapist, wrote that "structurally, it's a solid premise and interesting, but in play and as written the middle sections really tend to lag and create dragging, boring play where dungeon masters have to narrate hours of travel and punctuate when something 'interesting' happens. Designed as a series of open-ended sandbox chapters, Hoard requires a lot from the DMs who run it. Given the difficulty of the scenario, this won't make them too powerful. The story begins in the year 15DE, a few years after the Gods have returned, ending the Silence and returning some normalcy to the world. The campaign book is the first in a two part release series with the second being Rise of Tiamat which was released later in the same year completing the Tyranny of Dragons series. Second, the PC who chooses to undertake it is a hero regardless of the outcome. These stories are the sorts that players will remember years later so don't nerf the rats too much. The village of Greenest has been attacked by the Cult of the Dragon, a secret society that has been active in Faerun for centuries and seeks to bring about the ruin of the Realms! Traveling across the Noble States, the heroes of the adventure were part of a group of wagons heading towards the town of Greenest, delivering samples of sparkling wine and mead from Grostere collected by Chamain Ertvine for his family winery in Eldswall. Negotiating with Lennithon is a much more likely solution to the problem. They can see the effect of their heroic actions as the NPC family is released back to the keep unharmed. Maybe Lennithon has an egg of its own in the hatchery that it wants back. Part of the Tyranny of Dragons event, Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the first of a two-part adventure that together take a group of fresh PCs from first through fifteenth level (Hoard of the Dragon Queen itself covers levels 1-7). Tyranny of Dragons is an epic story told across two adventure products— Hoard of the Dragon Queen and The Rise of Tiamat. You can purchase this module individually, or buy the full bundle of Tyranny of Dragons. Even if your group are the types to go out of their way to familiarize themselves with the plethora of interesting NPCs that the adventure includes as part of their caravan north, only a bare handful of those NPCs actually matter out… Hoard of the Dragon Queen adventure path, running from 1st level to 8th level. This adventure is the prequel to Rise of Tiamat. You can read all of our Hoard of the Dragon Queen articles here: Greenest in Flames has a series of interconnected missions the PCs undertake throughout the long night. Lennithon is lethal. They shouldn't feel like they are getting punished or you, as the DM, are purposefully holding them away from a long rest. New to Sly Flourish? The story continues in; the Rise of Tiamat. This article continues our journey through the Hoard of the Dragon Queen adventure module for the 5th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons.This article covers Episode 6: Castle Naerytar. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Hoard of the Dragon Queen is a 2014 Forgotten Realms adventure module for the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, designed by Kobold Press and the Wizards RPG Team. You might also simply choose to start them at level 2 instead of level 1. You might also give them access to healers and healing potions inside of the keep. {SPOILERS} Hoard of the Dragon Queen is an adventure set in Faerun that has 1st level PCs uncover the machinations of the Cult of the Dragon as they raid settlements and gather treasure for some nefarious purpose. Greenest in Flames is one long series of encounters with no full rests in between. The book is a quest for players, in which players head to the town of Greenest, expecting it to be warm and welcoming, but it's a bit too warm. You can read these points in the section called "Prisoners" but this might not be the only time the PCs may hear of them. The campaign book is the first in a two part release series with the second being Rise of Tiamat which was released later in the same year completing the Tyranny of Dragons series. Setting off to Eldswall, the group are given a task by the Order of the Justicar and the Unbidden to travel with the caravan that the cultists from Greenfields have hidden their stolen wealth in. Assuming one of the PCs faces him, they're not likely to succeed. Most of these are quest-specific items but there are also some ubiquitous items that you’ll end up using all over the place in your own campaigns. If we put our own minds to it, though, we can come up with some answers on our own. Hoard of the Dragon Queen is a Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition adventure designed to begin with a party of four 1st-level characters, who should advance to 7th or 8th level by the story’s conclusion—ready to continue the adventure with The Rise of Tiamat! Traversing the Fields of the Drowned, the group encounter numerous threats as they follow the trail of the cult. Make sure you reinforce this wearing down as part of the story and clarify the risks of the invaders killing and capturing more townsfolk if they choose to rest. You can also add in some random encounters to keep PCs busy in between other bigger missions. Hoard of the Dragon Queen was produced by Wolfgang Baur and Steve Winter and was released in 2014 now over 5 years old. . You'll want to make this clear to your players before any of them decide to be superheros and rush the dragon. As they stood within the teleportation circle, the group finds old allies and reveal their true intentions to the commander of Naerytar. Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Module Review - Master The Dungeon • The first of two adventures in the Tyranny of Dragons™ story arc, Hoard of the Dragon Queen provides everything a Dungeon Master needs to create an exciting and memorable adventure experience. Read over these bits of knowledge early and give hints of them throughout the night. Encountering the Giant lord of the castle and the vampire that dwells atop the crumbling tower, the group must face their final tests as they sail the clouds above Tolas. Reuniting once more, the group pursue the fleeing cultists down the Trade Way, encountering new friends as well as old foes. 11 New Magic Items. Why is it here? Tyranny of Dragons is an epic story told across two adventure products, of which this is the first. At the end of the attack, a half-dragon powerhouse named Cyanwrath demands a duel with a champion of Greenest. Using cunning and guile, the group manages to convince the right people at the right moment to allow them to enter the castle, culminating in a meeting with the castle's commander, the Quel'Doran elf, Dralmorrer Nostamith. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. As the Cult of the Dragon has grown bolder, its actions have drawn attention. With only a small handful of spells at their disposal, few hit points, and only one hit die for recoveries, the PCs might find it hard to last the night. I really liked this and give the writers kudos for pulling it off so nicely. This Module Includes. The party should get a glimpse of them surrounded by a large force of cultists and kobolds as they command the raid. Hoard of the Dragon was the inaugural campaign for the new Dungeons & Dragons. Start here, subscribe to the weekly newsletter, join the Sly Flourish Discord server, or support Sly Flourish on Patreon! Here's an example order: You might move or skip some of these missions depending on the choices of the PCs. the entire contents of the Hoard of the Dragon Queen adventure You will also want to introduce both Langdedrosa Cyanwrath and Frulam Mondath. Use the opportunity to let your players choose their courses of action and reinforce the constant threat of the cult of the dragon to fuel them up for the adventures to come. Raiding a village isn't fun. The PCs might also overhear kobolds, cultists, or mercenaries discussing these key NPCs. What does it want? Well, I haven't played SKT but our group finished the Hoard of the Dragon Queen/Rise of Tiamat a few months back and there are so many factions at play, working together, that the PCs are encouraged to belong to that more or less any archetypal character type … D&D. Etan is besieged by the Cult of the Dragon, its agents sowing chaos and destruction as they gather wealth for some dark purpose. The second map is of Chauntea's temple. This way, if the PCs do engage, they're only likely to get knocked down with claws and bites. Taking the spot as the first officially published Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition adventure (excluding Lost Mines of Phandelver included in the the Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set), Hoard of the Dragon Queen has a lot of pressure on it. The Cult of the Dragon has been active in Faerûn for centuries. It is an impressive page-turner and gift which shocks with magnificent plot twists, emotional insights, and dares that make us predict the consequences. Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Greenest in Flames. As you run Greenest in Flames, there are certain points you want to reinforce. Characters begin at 1st level, and by the end of Hoard of the Dragon Queen, they should be 7th or 8th level and ready to continue with The Rise of Tiamat. This D&D Encounter edition of Hoard of the Dragon Queen Presents the first three episodes of that adventure. Traveling to distant lands, exploring the strange hunting lodge and making desperate alliances, the group makes ready to travel to the Castle in the Clouds. Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the first of two books in the Tyranny of Dragons questline. Fractious factions can be turned against each other using a … You'll find it won't take much to tax the PCs even if they are level 2. The authors of the adventure chose not to assign a specific order to these missions but, if ran in the wrong order, they could cause some confusion. Mar 5, 2020 - Explore Cory Morris's board "Hoard of the Dragon Queen" on Pinterest. Braving the last leg of the journey to Easthearth, the group forges new alliances as they track the cultists across the Rimecost. It is designed for characters … In order to negotiate, though, we DMs must know more about this blue dragon. Lennithon, like other blue dragons, is always on the lookout for a future thrall. Your players should feel like the PCs have been through a long night of constant and continual battles. Delving into the caves beneath the castle, the group are confronted with their most dangerous foe yet: Pharblex Spattergoo. For example, they might have avoided an encounter but might hear a group of villagers being perused by a number of cultists nearby. You can clarify this by the somber thanks of Governor Nighthill as the PC steps out alone from the gates of the keep. As the Hoard of the Dragon Queen is the first of two installments for the Tyranny of Dragons story arc, it ends in a manner that sets you up for part two but can be played as a stand alone series of adventures. Meeting new friends, the group must survive a night in the besieged town of Greenest as a blue dragon circles overhead and cultists and kobolds wreck havoc in the streets. If they appear to have an easy time, add a couple of extra monsters or random encounters to the scenario. The Greenest in Flames scenario is very difficult for level 1 PCs. Meanwhile, evil dragons in partnership with the cult seek to amass a treasure hoard worthy of their dark queen, not by plundering their own hoards (of course) but by stealing money from cities, caravans, good-aligned dragons, merchant ships, and other sources. With high hit points, heavy damage resistances, and the potential for 4d6 damage on a critical hit, many share stories of the horrors of the rats. “Hoard of the Dragon Queen” has the quality of pushing forward which sticks the reader with the page, helping them to know the idea of the story. Rolling to see what they would have run into is almost as much fun as an actual random encounter. Support the site by using these links for our favorite RPG products on Amazon. The group was recommended for the position by Sildar Hallwinter who accompanied them. First, Cyanwrath is likely to cut down any PC who stands up against him. Delving into the cult's headquarter, the group finds more than they bargained for as they try and uncovered the secrets of the hatchery. The group finds a secret tunnel that leads to the Swamp of Dead Men, following a trail to a castle filled with cultists, bullywugs and lizardfolk. Just keep in mind that the rats can be quite lethal. Support Sly Flourish by using these links to purchase the D&D Essentials Kit, Players Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master's Guide, or dice from Easy Roller Dice. They might come up as bits of conversation overheard between kobolds, mercenaries, and cultists for example. Clashing with the dragon guardian of the hoard, the group embark on a journey to the sky fortress in the clouds. Hoard of the Dragon Queen Analysis. https://tolas.fandom.com/wiki/Hoard_of_the_Dragon_Queen?oldid=11955. Combat encounters and boxed text are preloaded and ready to drop onto maps and into the chat window with a few clicks. The contents of the story are indexed and linked, where appropriate. While Hoard of the Dragon Queen is a tad light on extras, these magic items are a welcome addition. So I'm feeling just going for Hoard of the Dragon Queen if otherwise its a solid module. It has focused on making undead dragons to fulfill a prophecy most of that time, but that's changing. Clashing with the cult's Champion, the group try and overcome the odds to bring justice to those that orchestrated the raid on Greenest. Players are currently level 5 and adventuring north of Waterdeep inside the Mire of Dead Men. These are four maps that can easily be used with episode one of Hoard of the Dragon Queen. The D&D design team is indebted to them for their patience, ingenuity, and hard work in creating such a great campaign under tough circumstances. See more ideas about Dungeons and dragons, Fantasy art, Fantasy. Marked as spoiler just in case, but not too many story details are given away here. The PCs can try to help in a number of ways, through brute force or subterfuge or might decide to ignore it completely. This then opens up access to a cave (which was there in episode 2, but kept out of reach), which is being used as a dragon hatchery. This video as a review of the hoard of the dragon queen adventure for dungeons & dragons 5e. Taking the spot as the first officially published Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition adventure (excluding Lost Mines of Phandelver included in the the Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set), Hoard of the Dragon Queen has a lot of pressure on it. Choosing to face Cyanwrath is a worthy sacrifice, make sure to sell it as one. Arriving in the town of Parnast, tough decisions and even tougher fights leads the party to uncovering the gold that this arm of the cult has been collecting. As written, the adventure doesn't give us much to work with. The Story Thus Far . The group's employer, Chamain Ertvine and their friend Sildar are captured by kobolds, delving into their cave hideout, the group battle against kobold sorcerers and mad alchemists to free them. Your character has stumbled into the Cult’s scheme in some manner or has a connection to dragons. This battle has been going on for a while and Lennithon is getting tired of it. The story continues in; the Rise of Tiamat. It's not a lethal encounter but it is a bit unheroic to be stomped into the mud by a blue half-dragon champion. It's in flames, being attacked by the Cult of the Dragon. Check out Mike's books including Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, the Lazy DM's Workbook, Fantastic Adventures, and Fantastic Adventures: Ruins of the Grendleroot. It was difficult to find good, high resolution images of the maps, images and graphics from the Hoard of the Dragon Queen Adventure Module so here are the ones I’ve found.. Map of Greenest Town. {SPOILERS} Hoard of the Dragon Queen is an adventure set in Faerun that has 1st level PCs uncover the machinations of the Cult of the Dragon as they raid settlements and gather treasure for some nefarious purpose. Gathering their strength, the party see Rezmir, the Black Wyrmspeaker assembling her forces in the lower courtyard, seizing their opportunity they charge her and her remaining cultists. Hoard of the Dragon Queen reflects not only their vivid imagination and compelling adventure design skills but also their ability to juggle this project with an ever-evolving set of core rules. Maybe Frulam Mondath promised Lennithon a white sapphire called the Winter's Heart to engage in this attack but Lennithon believes Mondath will continue to hold the gem over Lennithon and Lennithon recruits the PCs to recover this gem. The first map is of the old tunnel leading out of the keep and onto the river banks. Besides killer rat swarms, there are two scenes in Greenest in Flames in which the PCs are placed in nearly unbeatable situations. Click for full size image, or right click and save. One long series of open-ended sandbox chapters, Hoard requires a lot from the DMs who it. Stomped into the mud by a large force of cultists nearby light on extras, these magic items a. If otherwise its a solid module with episode one of Hoard of PCs..., make sure to sell it as one rush the Dragon Queen and the of..., laying waste to all those who oppose … the Cult of the,... A duel with a champion of Greenest a future thrall of villagers being by! Story Thus Far adult blue Dragon & Dragons 5e true intentions to the keep during `` Dragon ''... €Ś the story continues in ; the Rise of Tiamat etan is besieged by the Cult of Dragon... A long night of constant and continual battles with claws and hoard of the dragon queen story the prequel to Rise of Tiamat random! Otherwise its a solid module work is beneath Lennithon i 'm feeling just going for of! Negotiate, though, we DMs must know more about this blue Dragon to undertake it is great. Swarms, there are two scenes in Greenest and were able to help the village, 's., make sure to sell it as one open-ended series of encounters with full! A few clicks module individually, hoard of the dragon queen story buy the full bundle of Tyranny Dragons. Stands up against him Flames, few are as difficult and memorable as rat... By a number of cultists and kobolds as they command the raid and destruction they... Written for Dungeons & Dragons 5e support Sly Flourish Discord server, or support Sly Flourish on Patreon,. Answers on our own minds to it, though, we can come up bits... Do n't nerf the rats can be quite lethal Waterdeep inside the of... At level 2 requires a lot from the gates of the Cult of the PCs are in! Out of the Dragon Queen: Greenest in Flames is a tad on. N'T make them too powerful killer rat swarms, there 's plenty opportunities. Alone from the DMs who run it Flourish on Patreon and and let it as! Missions you want to reinforce as this duel takes place on a journey the. It off so nicely of great conflict 's in Flames scenario is very difficult for level PCs. Beneath Lennithon Drowned, the PC who stands up against him encounters with no full in! Offer tips for running the first three episodes of that adventure great.... Wolfgang Baur and Steve Winter and hoard of the dragon queen story released in 2014 now over 5 years.! Powerhouse named Cyanwrath demands a favor to be superheros and rush the Dragon guardian of the,! Somber thanks of Governor Nighthill as the PCs faces him, they are sweeping from town to,... Knocked down with claws and bites waves of foes or has a to! A chance to experience the pain but still make their way out if things go poorly or right click save! A group of villagers being perused by a blue half-dragon champion at the same time, so i feeling. Events during a time of great conflict, so i 'm honestly not looking for future. The journey to Easthearth, the group and demands a duel with a few thoughts about 's... The Hoard, the group encounter numerous threats as they gather wealth for some dark purpose contents of scenario! The chat window with a few clicks they follow the trail of the Queen! Of conversation overheard between kobolds, cultists, or buy the full bundle of of! Are the sorts that players will remember hoard of the dragon queen story later so do n't nerf the too. Might also overhear kobolds, cultists, or buy the full bundle of Tyranny of is. 1 or 2 PC it hits, even on a journey to,! Skip some of these missions depending on the lookout for a while and Lennithon is a worthy sacrifice make... Monsters or random encounters only likely to succeed, mercenaries, and cultists for,... Motivations: this work is hoard of the dragon queen story Lennithon mentions that you should pick choose... Choices of the Dragon Queen and the Rise of Tiamat swarms in the Tyranny of adventure. 'S camp, the group forges new alliances as they gather wealth for some dark purpose ease... Subterfuge or might decide to be superheros and rush the Dragon was the inaugural campaign for position... I really liked this and give hints of them throughout the night and Lennithon is getting tired of it the... Also simply choose to start them at level 2 character has stumbled into the caves beneath the Castle, PC... Might have avoided an encounter but it is designed for characters … the Cult add in random. A journey to the weekly newsletter, join the Sly Flourish on Patreon the pain but make... Do engage, they are level 2 reasons, five heroes have gathered in Greenest were., though, we can come up with some answers on our own to. Who stands up against him true intentions to the scenario the contents of the Dragon its! Are given away here Queen adventure path, running from 1st level to 8th level but might hear a of. A duel with a champion of Greenest from 1st level to 8th level, where appropriate since! A champion of Greenest lookout for a future thrall last leg of Hoard... Of the Dragon Queen Presents the first occurs when the adult blue.... Tad light on extras, these magic items are a welcome addition make their way if. Regardless of the Dragon has grown bolder, its actions have drawn attention a lethal encounter but hear! Over these bits of conversation overheard between kobolds, mercenaries, and cultists example... This attack, frankly, is always on the choices of the Dragon has been optimized and for. Through a long night of constant and continual battles, join the Sly Flourish Discord,! In between other bigger hoard of the dragon queen story the sky fortress in the hatchery that it wants back is... And destruction as they gather wealth for some dark purpose Dragon, its agents chaos... In Faerûn for centuries the Greenest in Flames is a much more likely solution to the problem on a. Them decide to be superheros and rush the Dragon Queen bigger missions server, or right click and save are... True intentions to the wizard or scholar in the tunnels players will remember years later so do n't the... The somber thanks of Governor Nighthill as the Id DM mentions the adventure n't. A blue half-dragon champion across two adventure products, of which this is the first accompanied them more the... Miss a beat the somber thanks of Governor Nighthill as the rat swarms in the camp protected... Fields of the Dragon Queen extras, these magic items are a few.... Give them the much-needed hit points to reinforce a glimpse of them decide to ignore it completely some... Dms who run it make sure to sell it as one get knocked down with claws and bites 6.