What is Random Encounter Monday? Well, it is where I take a randomly generated combination of monsters and write a suitable encounter as a design challenge!
What challenge are we throwing at a 11th level party this week?
My encounter focuses around presenting a delicate balance of forces working together for solely their own benefit. Barghests are obviously scared of the dragons fire, but it is hard to argue with their devastating ability to slay warbands of goblins. Whereas the dragons have been tricked, and whose to say they'll respond well to discovering the truth. The heroes are placed in the middle to cause havoc as they are one to do.
Under Fire and Blood Two red dragon wyrmlings, Araes (Chaotic evil, he/him) and Ytara (Chaotic evil, she/her), were orphaned shortly after their birth when their mother was killed by a band of roving adventurers. Though both craved power, they knew they would have a greater chance of survival if they worked together. They've only barely managed to acquire enough food to survive over the past few years, but now a barghest named Grivist (Neutral evil, he/him) has an enticing proposition for them- destroy the goblin tribe of Arnost for him, and he'll provide them enough food to last them well into their adulthood.
When the group notices the duo, Ytara is torturing a restrainedgoblin named Havik for information on Arnost's defenses. Havik currently has 3 HP remaining. A DC 18 Dexterity (Stealth) check allows a player to sneak within 10 feet of Ytara, but she notices them if they get any closer. A DC 20 Strength (Athletics) or DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check allows a player to break the chain binding Havik, who immediately runs away as soon as he is freed.
Araes is resting at the time, but he awakes if a player comes within 10 feet of him or if Ytara or Grivist cries for help. The barghest, meanwhile, is eating rations while tending to a 10-foot-high campfire cautiously. He attacks if he spots the group, staying well away from the conflagration. With a successful DC 17 Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check, a player can convince Grivist they are enemies of the goblins, causing him to cease his assault. Araes and Ytara, however, continue to attack.
If the dragons are reduced to 30 HP or less and Grivist is reduced to 36 HP or less, the trio flees, leaving Havik behind. Likewise, if Grivist dies or is banished to Gehenna, Araes and Ytara flee. If one of the dragons dies, however, the other fights to the death. If the dragons perish and Grivist remains alive, he pleads for mercy and proclaims how monstrous the goblins of Arnost are. If this fails, he threatens them with the wrath of the yugoloths for killing him.
Grivist has 6,000 gp on his person, more than enough to feed the young dragons for a year. The dragons each have a small hoard of gemstones and treasures nearby, worth a total of 25 gp, as well as a dagger of venom.
What benefactor could give Grivist so much currency? Do the goblins of Arnost deserve the fate the trio planned for them? And what revenge might the yugoloths enact on the killer of one of their servants?
All stars fade. Some stars forever fall. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Homebrew (Mostly Outdated):Magic Items,Monsters,Spells,Subclasses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If there was no light, people wouldn't fear the dark.
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What is Random Encounter Monday?
Well, it is where I take a randomly generated combination of monsters and write a suitable encounter as a design challenge!
What challenge are we throwing at a 11th level party this week?
We have two barghest and two red dragon wyrmling!
My encounter focuses around presenting a delicate balance of forces working together for solely their own benefit. Barghests are obviously scared of the dragons fire, but it is hard to argue with their devastating ability to slay warbands of goblins. Whereas the dragons have been tricked, and whose to say they'll respond well to discovering the truth. The heroes are placed in the middle to cause havoc as they are one to do.
Here is my submission: A Delicate Balance
Post your thoughts, ideas, and encounters below!
Under Fire and Blood
Two red dragon wyrmlings, Araes (Chaotic evil, he/him) and Ytara (Chaotic evil, she/her), were orphaned shortly after their birth when their mother was killed by a band of roving adventurers. Though both craved power, they knew they would have a greater chance of survival if they worked together. They've only barely managed to acquire enough food to survive over the past few years, but now a barghest named Grivist (Neutral evil, he/him) has an enticing proposition for them- destroy the goblin tribe of Arnost for him, and he'll provide them enough food to last them well into their adulthood.
When the group notices the duo, Ytara is torturing a restrained goblin named Havik for information on Arnost's defenses. Havik currently has 3 HP remaining. A DC 18 Dexterity (Stealth) check allows a player to sneak within 10 feet of Ytara, but she notices them if they get any closer. A DC 20 Strength (Athletics) or DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check allows a player to break the chain binding Havik, who immediately runs away as soon as he is freed.
Araes is resting at the time, but he awakes if a player comes within 10 feet of him or if Ytara or Grivist cries for help. The barghest, meanwhile, is eating rations while tending to a 10-foot-high campfire cautiously. He attacks if he spots the group, staying well away from the conflagration. With a successful DC 17 Charisma (Persuasion) or Charisma (Deception) check, a player can convince Grivist they are enemies of the goblins, causing him to cease his assault. Araes and Ytara, however, continue to attack.
If the dragons are reduced to 30 HP or less and Grivist is reduced to 36 HP or less, the trio flees, leaving Havik behind. Likewise, if Grivist dies or is banished to Gehenna, Araes and Ytara flee. If one of the dragons dies, however, the other fights to the death. If the dragons perish and Grivist remains alive, he pleads for mercy and proclaims how monstrous the goblins of Arnost are. If this fails, he threatens them with the wrath of the yugoloths for killing him.
Grivist has 6,000 gp on his person, more than enough to feed the young dragons for a year. The dragons each have a small hoard of gemstones and treasures nearby, worth a total of 25 gp, as well as a dagger of venom.
What benefactor could give Grivist so much currency? Do the goblins of Arnost deserve the fate the trio planned for them? And what revenge might the yugoloths enact on the killer of one of their servants?
All stars fade. Some stars forever fall.
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Homebrew (Mostly Outdated): Magic Items, Monsters, Spells, Subclasses
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If there was no light, people wouldn't fear the dark.