Dragonbane: Secret of the Dragon Emperor, Ep. 4

The Wight-Slayers set out from Outskirt towards a cave in the southern mountains, seeking another piece of the mysterious statuette. Their journey was interrupted by the discovery of a wrecked farmstead. The sole adult survivor, a blind woman named Hildy, recounted a horrific attack by a long, slithering beast that killed her husband. Her niece, Gunnhild, had recklessly pursued the creature to its lair, armed with nothing but vengeance. Learning the beast was a basilisk, which fears chickens, the party struck a deal with Hildy: her niece’s rescue in exchange for a half-dozen of the birds.

Upon reaching the cave, the party was immediately ambushed by three black-robed mallard cultists invoking the name of Sothmog. After a fierce battle where Theoline was gravely wounded, Andromone’s devastating fireball turned the tide. Pressing deeper, they discovered five more blindfolded cultists, whom they managed to ambush and subdue, keeping one alive for questioning. The captive, Gerald, revealed they also sought an ‘idol’ from the basilisk’s horde—another piece of the statuette—before he was mysteriously struck dead by some unseen force.

Joining forces with Gunnhild, whom they found just outside the final chamber, the party prepared for the main event. They tossed the chickens into the lair to distract the monstrous basilisk, a terrifying hybrid of rooster and snake. The ensuing battle was chaotic and perilous. The beast’s sweeping tail and petrifying gaze proved deadly, knocking Lunarium unconscious and nearly turning Theoline to stone. In a spectacular display of marksmanship, Theoline, recovering from the gaze, fired an armor-piercing arrow that found the basilisk’s eye, felling the great beast for good.

In the monster’s horde, they found not only a trove of gold and silver but also the second piece of the statuette: the thighs and waist of an armored knight. After harvesting valuable parts from the basilisk’s corpse, they returned to Outskirt. They delivered the statuette piece to Annabelle, sold the basilisk’s eye for a handsome sum, and entrusted its scales to the local dwarves for future crafting, their quest now halfway to completion.

OUTLINE:

A Plea at the Ruined Farm

• The party discovered a farm destroyed by a mysterious beast.
• They met Hildy, a blind woman whose husband was killed and whose niece, Gunnhild, went seeking revenge.
• They identified the monster as a basilisk and learned of its fear of chickens.
• The party agreed to rescue Gunnhild in exchange for taking six chickens to aid them.

Ambush by the Cult of Sothmog

• The party arrived at the cave and were attacked by three mallard cultists.
• A tough fight ensued, with Feline taking heavy damage.
• The cultists were defeated, thanks in part to a powerful fireball spell from Andromone.
• They found a strange symbol burned onto the hands of the cultists.

The Blindfolded Guards

• The party ventured deeper and found five more cultists, all wearing blindfolds.
• They successfully ambushed the cultists, neutralizing them quickly.
• One cultist, Gerald, was captured and interrogated.
• Gerald revealed they sought an ‘idol’ (a statuette piece) before he died mysteriously.

The Basilisk’s Lair

• The party met Gunnhild and convinced her to join forces with them.
• They entered the final chamber, using the chickens to distract the massive basilisk.
• A chaotic battle began, with the basilisk using its tail whip and petrifying gaze.
• Lunarium was knocked unconscious but was healed by Andromone.
• Gunnhild’s bowstring snapped, forcing her into melee.

Triumph and Treasure

• Feline landed a critical, armor-piercing shot to the basilisk’s eye, killing it.
• The party found the second piece of the statuette in the basilisk’s horde.
• They also recovered a large amount of gold and silver.
• They harvested valuable parts from the basilisk before returning to Outskirt.

NPCs:

• Annabelle: An ally at the Three Stags inn in Outskirt. She is knowledgeable about the statuette pieces and serves as the party’s primary quest-giver and confidant.
• Gerald: A mallard cultist of Sothmog captured by the party. He revealed that his group was also seeking the statuette piece before being mysteriously killed by his dark master.
• Gunnhild: Hildy’s hot-headed niece who rushed off to fight the basilisk alone out of vengeance. The party convinced her to join them, and she fought bravely, if recklessly, in the final battle.
• Hildy: A blind farmer whose husband was killed by a basilisk. She is resilient despite her trauma, and provided the party with chickens to help them defeat the beast in exchange for her niece’s safety.
• Quasimund: The leader of a rival gang of mallards also searching for the statuette pieces. He is a known antagonist to the party and remains a looming threat.
• Sothmog: A mysterious and powerful entity worshipped by the mallard cultists. Sothmog seems to have the power to kill followers remotely to prevent them from revealing secrets.

ITEMS:

• Basilisk Eye: A magical, faintly glowing eye harvested from the basilisk. It has petrifying properties and is highly valuable to alchemists and mages.
• Basilisk Scales: Tough, reptilian scales harvested from the basilisk. They can be used to craft high-quality leather armor.
• Chickens: A half-dozen ordinary chickens that proved instrumental in distracting the basilisk, which has a supernatural fear of them.
• Diadem of the Witch King: A black iron diadem worn by Feline, resembling that of the Witch King of Angmar. It grew icy cold when she killed the basilisk.
• Scimitar of Sothmog: A black-bladed scimitar wielded by the mallard cultists. A functional, if grim, weapon.
• Statuette Piece (Thighs/Waist): The second of four pieces of a black basalt statuette depicting an armored knight. This piece forms the lower torso and legs.

LOCATIONS:

• Cave of the Basilisk: A dark, sulfurous cave system in the southern mountains. It served as the lair for a deadly basilisk and a hideout for the Cult of Sothmog.
• Hildy’s Farm: A remote farmstead wrecked by a basilisk attack. It’s where the party learned of the beast and its weakness.
• Outskirt: The main town and hub for the Wight-Slayers, where they rest, re-equip, and receive information from allies like Annabelle.

FACTIONS:

• Cult of Sothmog: A mysterious cult of mallards who worship a dark entity named Sothmog. Members are branded with a diamond-and-horns symbol and seem to be searching for the statuette pieces.
• Quasimund’s Gang: A rival faction of mallards led by Quasimund. They are also seeking the statuette pieces and are hostile towards the Wight-Slayers.

QUESTS:

• Find the Statuette Pieces: Collect the four scattered pieces of a black basalt statuette of an armored knight before Quasimund’s gang does.
• Rescue Gunnhild: Find and save Hildy’s niece, Gunnhild, from the basilisk she went to fight out of vengeance.

PLAYER CHARACTERS

• Andromone Stormhand: A young, boisterous elven elementalist who proudly proclaims herself the ‘Destroyer of Worlds’. While her ego is immense, her power is undeniable, capable of unleashing devastating fireballs and raising stone pillars from the earth. She views herself as the leader and most powerful member of the group, and isn’t shy about telling everyone.
• Eric Redbeard: A dwarf of mean countenance and a mariner’s rolling gait. As a new warrior in the group, he quickly proved his worth with a long spear, stabbing and jabbing at the party’s foes from the frontline. He has a hearty appetite and a practical mindset, suggesting the party eat their chicken companions.
• Feline Dobilt: A young, foul-smelling halfling orphan who is a deadly archer. Quiet and preferring naps to conversation, she becomes a focused killer in combat, capable of sneaking into position for devastating assassinate attacks. She wears the scalps of her enemies as trophies and is surprisingly compassionate, as shown by her gift of honey to Hildy.
• Ladrick: A pragmatic dwarven artisan who has found a new calling as the party’s sturdy frontline fighter. Armed with a mighty axe, he is not afraid to get his hands dirty, whether it’s by brawling with cultists or tying them up for interrogation. He is resourceful and protective of his newfound companions.
• Lunarium: A Wolfkin scholar who claims to be ‘all-knowing’ but seems to have a knack for finding trouble. Despite not being a trained warrior, he contributes with his sling and staff, though he often finds himself prone on the battlefield after a clumsy charge. He values knowledge and is often found sleeping when not in mortal danger.