The Dragon Cult

The Dragon Cult is an adventure set in the Astran League. It centers on the Keepers of the Secret Hoard, a cult dedicated to serving Chromatic Dragons and eventually bringing about the freeing of Tiamat, the Dragon Queen.

Summary

The Keepers of the Secret Hoard are starting to plant the seeds of chaos and disruption around the Astran League.

In Chapter 1 the players are sent to help the village of Lonstrem, which is suffering a mysterious illness that the local priest of Lathender can't seem to cure. On their way there, or in the village, the players will be able to find clues and piece together that there is no illness and that some sort of magic is plaguing the village. The magic is cast by a half-orc Warlock called Hunozur - who plans to destroy the village.

Adventure Intro

The village of Lonstrem is a small farmer’s town of about 200 on the Embraweave Plateau east of Suhder. Its mayor, Marwan Rosebelly, has called for aid from the Order of Dawn after almost a quarter of the population has fallen ill almost 3 weeks ago. You are to deliver a wagon with supplies to these people, and assist the local priest of Lathender, Zinfi Goldrest, with finding out where this sickness has come from, and hopefully put an end to it.

Minister Elreak from the Order of Dawn - part of the Church of Pelor - has promised you 100 gold pieces each for your efforts in delivering the cart of goods to Lonstrem, of which you’ve been paid 25 when you left Suhder. You have also been given 3 weeks worth of rations each, enough to get you to the village and back.

The wagon is pulled by two donkeys and contains:

• A chest of dry, herbal medical supplies
• A small barrel of liquid medicine
• A chest of bandages
• 4 flasks of strong alcohol (meant as a disinfectant) in a crate.
• A small, locked chest containing scrolls (1 person was given a key to be kept separately)
• A barrel of feed for the donkeys

The wagon has room for 2 people to ride in the front, and two inside (among the goods). The donkeys are called Hilk and Bitty, and are of calm demeanor (they are affectionate and like to be pet on the head).

By now you’re about 2 days away from Lonstrem. You’ve traveled the Godsroad Highway for a good while, before leaving its relative safety and well kept road surface to travel on the Embraweave Trackway - a much less traveled path leading through the Embraweave Plateau. The journey has been relatively uneventful, save a thief trying to rummage through your goods and wild animals being attracted to the smell of food cooking over a fire. Now, however, bad weather is headed your way as deep blue and gray clouds are blown north-east from the Inmer.

Chapter 1

The Journey starts as the party has traveled 9 days from Suhder and has crossed well into the Embraweave Plateau. Even if they did not know each other before this time, by now they might have gotten to know each other at least a little .

A day from Lonstrem

The coming Storm

• The storm is starting the get close, it will hit within the next few hours.
  • A DC 12 survival check makes it clear it will be an intense storm and the cart alone won't provide enough shelter. 20+ will make it clear it will be here in 4 hours.

Highwaymen
As the players come towards the apex of one of the many hills this road has taken them on they can hear shouting and pleas for mercy. 4 figures in dark clothes with cloaks surround an old man. One of the figures is holding the man while threatening to "- cut your throat if you defile her name again."

• As the players approach the figures pause for a moment and then draw their weapons, and proclaim that "The road is closed."
• They will refuse to let the players pass and attack the donkeys in an attempt to kill them.

These figures are part of Hunozur's posse:

• Velsalin Miani, glass canon
• Senid & Zaulok, infantry
• Stok, artillery

They will flee as soon as 2 of them are killed. Those who survive will later be encountered again at the House on the Hill.

Steven After the fight, the old man sits below a tree, looking bruised. He asks for the player's help, for food and transportation to the village.

• The man is called Steven, a human man in his sixties. He is dressed in simple farmer's garb and carries a, now broken, walking stick with him.
• He comes from Lonstrem and tried to make it to Merrock, several days south of here, but was robbed by a group highwaymen.
  • If pressed, he will say the highwaymen likely went up to the House on the Hill, which is only an hour from here.
  • Steven will also tell the House on the Hill is likely to be close-by enough to reach before rainfall, but he believes the highwaymen went in that direction.

Lonstrem is still a day away at this point.

House on the Hill

[Lonely_Cottage map]

• The house is owned by one Zinberos Rainvale, a rather reclusive Elf. Steven knows the name, but nothing more about him.
• The house is entirely empty, the doors locked, and the shed empty with evidence of someone having been tied up there.

Outside

• A DC 15 investigation check around the house reveals a fresh, hurriedly dug grave. Inside they find a naked, elven man.
• A DC 20 investigation check will reveal remains of tracks leading away from the house. A DC 15 survival, tracking check reveals these tracks to be about a day and a half old, and to be at least 3 people.

Inside

• The main room of the house shows evidence of having been lived in, in the last few days. Food scraps on the tables, dusty footprints all over the floor.
• The bedroom is a big mess. The bed hasn't been made and the covers are all over the place.
• The last room contains what looks to be a ritual magic circle. Its exact function would be impossible to determine, but a DC 20 Arcana check would reveal it has gone unused.
  • The room would also contain about 150g worth of common material components - half of which is ink-infused chalk with which the circle was drawn.
  • A DC 12 investigation check would reveal a leather-wrapped book in one of the drawers of the desk. The book is entirely written in draconic.
    • The front note would read "To Hunozur, may you learn some of its wisdom"
    • The book itself contains a myriad of different rituals describing spells from "Plane Shift" to "Desecrate" to "Dominate Person". Some of these rituals are described to use very unusual materials - including souls as substitutes for rare and expensive materials.
      • The Ritual on the floor corresponds to a Plane Shift spell targeted to the first layer of hell - Avernus.

Lonstrem

The players arrive late during the day, just after sun-set. With the last light for the day disappearing over the horizon, they meet the Priest of Lathender, Zinfi Goldrest, as he leaves the house of some villagers. He can be recognized by his typical priestly robes, a muddy brown with dark green, bright orange, and icy blue accents. This is Hunozur in disguise, who will try to get away as fast as possible and leave the down before his disguise spell fades (10 minutes after leaving the house).

NPCs

Marwan Rosebelly, the Mayor.

Zinfi Goldrest, the Priest of Lathender

Nemita Mildheart, innkeper and purveyor of the Rusty Through

• An older halfling woman. She has a friendly face, with laughing lines running deep, though she has a worried look on her face now.
• Knows about Baburk's daughter having gone missing and will mention it in conversation.

Baburk Heavyhand, the local blacksmith

• An older Half-Orc man. He is a man of few words, but generous and hardworking - well liked around the village.
• His daughter is missing, he will ask players if they have seen her.

Goings on

• Hunozur disguises himself as the local priest or mayor every night to convince people to let him into their homes and then puts them to sleep. So far he has done so undetected.
• Two of Hunozur's people are also in town during the day, dressed as travelers in the tavern when the players arrive.
  • The two are
• The Blacksmith's daughter has gone missing, and all Baburk knows is that she never came back picking flowers some 20 minutes north of the village. She was last seen yesterday.

Clues

• Hunozur in disguise just around dark.
• The Priest of Lathender will introduce himself to the players as if they never met.
• The Blacksmith's daughter was capture by kobolds and taken to a nearby overgrowth where they are looking to sacrifice her to a nearby young green dragon called Vazech - which leaves about 2 days of travel to the north-west, away from the road.
• Villagers don't have their souls stolen, they are simply asleep.
  • A Detect Magic spell will confirm that there is a spell on them of Enchantment Nature.
• Houses of villagers that have fallen asleep have been marked with a sign that looks like 5 lines carved to form a crude claw.
  • A DC 12 wisdom check on Chalk will relate this to the mark in the front of the book they are carrying, which is a more detailed drawing of a 5 headed dragon with a similar silhouette.

The Cave

Captured
"After you all were knocked unconscious, you rouse in a rather... dark place. The first thing you notice is the gag in your mouths - each of your mouths. The second thing you notice, is your hands: They are bound together tightly, and rather expertly, with rough ropes. The third thing you notice; Everything you were carrying on you is gone. From weapons, to backpacks, to armors. Rees and Chalk find themselves tied together by the feet, while Fayra and Catya are each individually cuffed and locked inside a cage. Each of you is hurting pretty badly - but you're alive."

PCs

• All on 1 HP
• Catya has her hidden thieves tools
• Rees only has his hidden thieves tools, the dagger is gone.
• Chalk needs to compete against an 18 investigation for anything hidden
• Fayra needs to compete against a 16 investigation for anything hidden

NPCs

• Senid and Menu are dead.
• The Twins and Ki Dakig are inside, licking their wounds.
• Hunozur is in his study.

Ah, you're finally awake
After the PCs start talking to each other Hunozur will start pacing the cave. The party will hear him say:
"Barros, Samine. You two take care of the bodies. Leave them near the riverside for the crocodiles. When you're done, start packing up. Ki, stand watch over the prisoners."

• Hunozur will interrogate them, starting with Rees, then Chalk, then Catya, then Fayra.
• For every PC he takes with him, the PCs get to talk amongst themselves and plan.

Stolen from the party

After going KO, the Keepers took everything on the players, which amounts to:

• Items
  • Darts
  • Sling
  • Light Crossbow
  • Eddie
  • Dagger
  • Scale Mail
  • Wand
  • Bag of holding
  • Shortbow
  • Rapier
  • Leather armor
  • Dagger & Dagger
  • Arrows

• Valuables
  • Gold: 45 + 25 + 40 + 50 (160)
  • 24 gems
    • 16 @ 10gp each
    • 7 @ 25gp each
    • 1 @ 50gp

Hunozur's Room

In the back of the cave Hunozur keeps what seems to be an impromptu study; a desk, chair, and chest are covered in pieces of parchment, several small bottles of a black liquid (ink), similar empty bottles, quills, and books. In a corner there is also a cage with what seems to be a sleeping halfling (they look almost starved), and a bedroll.

Parchment

About two dozen sheets of parchment are scattered around the desk. Reading through these there three distinct handwritings recognizable, one of which is in draconic, one in common, and one in different languages.

• Correspondences signed by one H. A..
• (In draconic) Correspondences signed by one Numeria
• A letter by Lady Viosephit

Books

• "Inhabitants of the Outer Planes Vol. 2"
• "The Elemental Planes and Tau"
• "Planar Convergence, signs and effects"
• "Minor Enchantments; a comprehensive study"
• "Dragonkin: Origins, Myths, and Facts"

Reagents

Different reagents in glass containers are found on the desk, each of them labeled:

• Diamond Dust
• Basilisk Gal
• Alcohol, pure
• Mystracide shavings
• Mercury
• Blood

Chest

• In a chest: 2500cp, 1300sp, 70gp, 7x gems worth 50gp each (Turquiose Tiger-Eye, black Onyx, red rubies)
• On each member of the possee:
  • Gems: 2x 10gp each, 1x 25gp each (Total: 10x10gp, 5x 25gp)
• On Hunozur's Desk:
  • Small statue of a Silver Raven (Figurine of Wondrous Power)
  • Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location

Next to the chest is the +1 Battleaxe. Inside of it are the aforementioned coins and gems, as well as a number of what seem to be steel objects:

• Two dagger blades
• A sword blade
• A dozen rings
• 4 bracelets
• A headband
• A mask
• A chain

Note; these are the Mystricide objects

Items from villagers

There are a number of seemingly miscellaneous items strewn around the cave, largely found around the chest.

• Silverware, from plates to cups to cutlery made out of silver-shiny material.
• Jewelry made of varying shiny materials
  • Lockets
  • Rings
• An old looking sword, kept in a scabberd of long faded but well kept dark brown leather. It is a short sword with stubby grip. A DC 12 history check would reveal this to be a sword issued to the Scalebound city guards about a century ago.
• A picture frame, painting of a smiling halfling woman included.

It is fairly apparent that these are valuables stolen from around the village of Lonstrem, or perhaps other villages.

Halfling

The halfling inside of the cage seems to be enchanted in the same way the villagers are. She's sleeping and looks starved, though next to the cage is a bowl, half filled with what seems to be a soup.

• Her name is Saula Greencheeks, she's around 12 years old.
• She comes from a town called Gilhold. She doesn't know where it is in relation to where they are now.
• She doesn't know how she got here, only that a half-orc man showed her a swinging flame.

Hunozur

A warlock of the dragon, a Half Orc named Hunozur, has been tasked with robbing the village of whatever riches it might have and bringing it to its master: A red Dragon named Viosephit. Additionally, once all the riches have been taken, the village is to be destroyed in in honor to Viosephit.

Hunozur has used his Firelight Pendulum to lull the villagers to sleep, slowly. Every day he is able to put 5 people to sleep.
He does this by sneaking into the town at night, and using a disguise self spell to make himself look like the local priest. Once he has gained the trust of people, he uses his Firelight Pendulum to put them under the suggestion spell and tells them to sleep until they are given a command ("Rise for the Queen").

• While he is inside people's houses like this, he will also rob them of their (meager) possessions.

Once he has about 75% of the villagers put to sleep he will move in with his compatriots and set the town ablaze, forcing the priest of Lathender to watch as his "Punishment" for serving a false god.

"The Firelight Pendulum"

• The Firelight Pendulum is a rare magic item that allows the user to cast "Suggestion" on a target that can see the pendulum swing for at least 30 seconds.
• The item has 5 charges, and one cast consumes one charge.
• The effect of this suggestion spell lasts for up to 30 days, or until dispelled by a "dispel magic" or "dispel curse" spell. The spell reads as enchantment on a detect magic spell.

Hunozur's Henchmen

Hunozur is accompanied by 7 followers, one of whom - the Half Elf Velsalin Miani - is encountered in the Cottage.

Infantry

The Twins
Barros and Samine, Tiefling Siblings.

• Each use a greatsword.
• Can use a bonus action to try and disarm. DC 14 STR/DEX or weapon is knocked out of the user's hand.
• HP: 15 | AC: 14 | +4 to hit, 2d6+2 damage.

Senid, Half-Orc Barbarian.

• Uses Rage.
• Uses Grapple during rage (Advantage)
• HP: 25 | AC: 12 | +5 to hit, 2d6+3 damage.

Zaulok Highhauler Nugalatho, Goliath Fighter.

• Uses Battlemaster Maneuver: "feinting" and "maneuvering" attack.
• Has a shield & spear (reach)
• HP: 18 | AC: 15 | +5 to hit, 1d6+3 damage.

Artillery

Delmik Hinzel and Ki Dakig, both human

• Use heavy crossbow
• Can use an action to shoot a Net Arrow (1 each) vs AC to knock a target prone. Removing the net costs an action.
• HP: 10 | AC: 12 | +5 to hit, 1d10+3 damage.

Stok, Bugbear sorcerer.

• Can cast Scorching Ray & Mage Armor.
• Uses Ray of Frost
• HP: 15 | AC: 15 | +5 to hit, 1d8 damage.

Glass Canon

Candle in the Dark, Tabaxi in leather armor

• Uses a shortbow and 2 shortswords.
• Can apply poison to 2 hits on either bow or swords.
• HP: 10 | AC: 14 | +4 to hit, 1d6+2 damage.

Velsalin Miani, Half-Elf rogue

• Uses a shortbow and 2 shortswords.
• Can use sneak attack
• Can cast minor illusion 1/day using a ring.
• HP: 15 | AC: 15 | +4 to hit, 1d6+2 damage.

Guard

Menu Flintbearer, Goliath lady, the Guard

• Uses a glaive
• Has a whistle to alert the rest of her crew.
• HP: 20 | AC: 12 | +5 to hit, 1d10+3 damage.