SERTORIUS CAMPAIGN NOTES: THE DRAGON OF DARGA

This is a new series on the Bedrock Blog where I will be posting campaign notes from my binder. These are all posted as they appear, raw. So they will get messy at times. The purpose is just to show I run some of our games. Keep in mind that while this appears here as one continues entry, these are taken from different sections of my binder that are relevant to the adventure or events in question. I did occasionally include parenthetical notes explaining terms that make no sense without context for the blog. 

SWORDS OF THE FOUR TAVERN CAMPAIGN: THE DRAGON OF DARGA

Enemy Present: Goresios Maorides and Joffler

Enemy Goals: Goresios hears rumors of their efforts and hires Joffler to snag Reu-Keska first so he can present the body to the king. Joffler sets a snare for the party to go capture the beast herself, but is amenable to working with them…with the aim of ultimately betraying the party.

ADVENTURE PREMISE

A Grim gives rise to a “dragon-god” in the eastern Gashta Forest. This unites the Darga Tribe and the Warngel Tribe, who start slaughtering western villages and taking the hearts from their victims to burn for Rue-Keska.  Those who brave her presence and demonstrate adoration receive the gift of scales (the tribes think this is because they offer sacrifices but it is really just a product of obeisance).  Hamil asks the party to help him destroy Rue-Keska to stop the carnage and pacify the riverlands. If they accept the players will have to venture into the Wangela and track down Rue-Keska while the local tribes try to stop them and the Appreans who may grow curious about Palan incursions into the region.

Background

The Dragon God, Rue-Keska arose in the Wargnela about seven months ago. Chief Belgash of the Warngela went to face the Dragon and came back anointed with scales. He had many of his sub-chiefs do the same and word spread to the Darga in the Red Hills. Chief Belpar-Skaug of the Darga heard stores and grew envious. Tired of the ways of Sur Vanker, he married his daughter Roona-Skaug to Chief Belgash, forming an alliance and granting him an appearance before the Dragon. Word continued to spread and the Gurhel also started worshipping the Dragon.

Places: Delga, Delhauch, Warnula, Beklan, Castle Theona and Tongtel.

People: Warngel, Darga, Gurhel.

The Vakla Clan

The Vakla are a clan of the Warngel Tribe, led by Chief Urshgella. There are 230 members of the tribe and they have been camped near Rue-Keska’s lair. Recenlty Urshgella was honored with the blessing of Rue-Keska.

TYPICAL VAKLA WARRIOR

Defenses: Hardiness 7*, Stealth 4, Evade 3, Parry 6, Wits 6, Resolve 6

Key Skills: Wrestling: 1d10, Light Melee: 1d10 , Medium Melee: 1d10, Heavy Melee: 2d10 or 1d10 (Great Sword, War Axe), Small Ranged: 1d10, Speed: 2d10, Muscle: 3d10, Endurance: 2d10, Command: 0d10 , Detect: 1d10, Languages (Glruskel): 3d10

Expertise: Hefty Crush

Wounds: 2

Equipment: Heavy Spear (4d10 or 2d10), Great Sword (4d10) or War Axe (4d10), Padded Armor

CHIEF URSHGELLA

Defenses: Hardiness 10*, Stealth 4, Evade 3, Parry 6, Wits 6, Resolve 6

Key Skills: Wrestling: 2d10, Light Melee: 1d10 , Medium Melee: 2d10, Heavy Melee: 3d10 or 2d10 (Great Sword, War Axe), Small Ranged: 1d10, Speed: 2d10, Muscle: 3d10, Endurance: 3d10, Command: 3d10 , Detect: 1d10, Languages (Glruskel): 3d10

Expertise: Hefty Crush

Wounds: 2

Equipment: Heavy Spear (4d10 or 2d10), Great Sword (4d10) or War Axe (4d10), Padded Armor

*padded armor plus scales

RUE-KESKA

Rue-Keska is a Monstra, a female Northern Sand Dragon born with Sertori powers. She has a long winding body resembling a worm and snake, with small lizard-like limbs and a massive crocodilian head. In size she is 130 feet in length and 12 feet in diameter.

Defenses       

Hardiness        9

Stealth             2

Evade               2        

Parry               9

Wits                2

Resolve           9

Key Skills    

Bite: 2d10 (Damage 6d10 Open)

Speed: 1d10 (40 feet)

Detect:            2d10

Qualities

Wounds: 11

Powers

Smothering Smoke: Rue-Keska can unleash a billowing plume of smoke that hangs like a fog in a 120 foot area. Roll 2d10 against Hardiness each round. Everyone affected in the area is drained by 1 point of Hardiness as the smoke depletes their lung power and attacks their body. Smoke lasts for three rounds.

Song of Penderghast: Rue-Keska sings a terrible song that sounds like a baying wolf in the mind of a single target. This can affect one person only and only that individual can hear it. This causes enormous pain as the person’s head slowly expands, causing the skull to split. Each round roll 1d10 against the Target’s Hardiness. If a Success that person functions as if they’ve taken a wound (though they really haven’t). Total Successes move this down by two. When they reach one step beyond incapacitated they die as their skull ruptures.

Supreme Vanity (affliction): Rue-Keska is her own greatest admirer and expects others to hold her in high esteem. Those who display obeisance or worship in her presence receive her favor gaining a scale like coat that improves Hardiness by 3. Those who fail to demonstrate their admiration for Rue-Keska age in her presence by 5 years ever minute (or roughly one year a round).

Bite: The bite of a young sand Dragon does 4d10 Damage while the bite of an adult Sand Dragon does 6d10 Open Damage. Additionally, adults can swallow victims whole on a Total Success for their bite attack.

Swallow Whole (adult): When a Total Success on a bite attack is made, the Target will be swallowed whole if small enough. If a creature cannot be swallowed whole, it will suffer a Damage Roll instead. Wormlings can swallow a Halfling, Kobold, or smaller creature whole on a Total Success with their bite. This will inflict 1 Wound each round to the victim until they find a way to escape or are cut free. Adults can swallow whole even an Ogre.