Dragons for My Current Game: Xagoranth of the South

 A few weeks ago I posted my adaptation notes (part 1 and part 2) to run Tomb of the Serpent Kings with Old-School Essentials.

The first post included a simple hex map I made so as to have a minimal "backdrop world" with the starting town of Fortana.

Of course one thing leads to another so I quickly added the modules I hoped to run after the Tomb: Brandonsford, renamed as Brandonia, and a village for Ominous Crypt of the Blood Moss.

And after that I added two dragons on the map... because why not? The implied setting in BX dungeons & dragons and Old-School Essentials is clearly has lots of them. And people in Fortana probably know about the two closest dragons.

So now? Time to roll their details with the tables in Deadly Dragons Dire & Daunting, the set of tables included in the Axian Library book to create unique dragons with their environment and context.

The first dragon I detailed in this post.

I've also added The Seers Sanctum, putting it on a not-so-pleasant islet in the middle of a lake.

Here's what I got for the dragon in the swamps south of Fortana:

Xagoranth

Black Dragon, Old, Male

Armour Class     2 [17]

Hit Dice                 8** (36hp)

Attacks [2 × claw (1d4 + 1), 1 × bite (2d10), sharp horns (2d10)] or breath

THAC0                 13 [+6]

Movement             90’ (30’) / 240’ (80’) flying

Saving Throws D8 W9 P10 B10 S12 (8)

Morale                 8

Alignment Chaotic

XP                    1,750

Breath weapon: 60’ long line of acid.

Secret weakness: Music scares, irritates or disgusts the dragon, who must make a Morale check if confronted with it.

Language and spells: Intelligent (INT 10). Speaks Draconic, Common, and 1 more language. Spells: 3 × 1st level.

Spells: 

• Level 1: Floating Disc, Charm Person, Read Languages

Sleeping: 20%. 

Motivations and Desires: Survival, greed, pride, paranoia (Halved chance of sleeping; -1 to THAC0 due to tiredness; both included above). Current desire: Wants another dragon dead. Of course, why not Korgathix?

Treasure

• total value 120,000gp
• 60,000gp
• 30,000pp
• Sword +1
• Sword +1, +2 vs spell users
• Plate mail + 1
• Shield + 2
• Potion of Healing
• Potion of Delusion (seems a Potion of Giant Strength)
• Spell scroll (esp, web, wall of ice, floating disc, feeblemind)
• Spell scroll (speak with animals, continual light (continual darkness), cure disease (cause disease), sticks to snakes, purify food and water)

Origin of the treasure: It is the accumulation of tributes of enslaved or defeated humanoid tribes. Obviously the dragon stole better part of Frindil's family treasure (see below).

Allies, Enemies, Adventure

Allies:  1 Cyclops, Oggamar

Ok this guy probably lives with the dragon.

Their treasure:

• 4,000ep
• 5,000gp

Allies:  30 Brigands, with their leader Fargan (level 2 fighter with plate mail, sword, lance).

Their camp is in the same hex as the dragon's lair. Fair weather friends.

Their treasure:

• 6,000cp
• 1,000sp
• 10,000gp

Enemies: 21 Dwarves, with their leader Frindil

They live in a mine in the hills north of the swamp. They moved to their current home about two years ago, and were attacked by the dragon who took a lot of their heirloom and slay half of their group. Of course they hate him and would gladly join an expedition to kill him (or at least recover their enchanted swords and armor).

I'll also consider these to be the cousins of the three dwarves in the Brandonsford scenario, because connections are good.

Their treasure:

• 40,000gp
• gem (50gp)
• 7 × gems (100gp)
• gem (500gp)

Frindil, level 3 dwarf leader:

Armour Class 2 [17] (plate mail + shield)

Hit Points 14

Attacks 1 × hand axe (1d6)

THAC0 19 [0]

Movement Rate 60' (20')

Saves D8 W9 P10 B13 S12

Alignment Lawful

STR 9 INT 7 WIS 10

DEX 9 CON 9 CHA 10

Adventure Hooks:

• The dragon’s enemies are willing to pay 4,000gp to have it baited out of its lair for one hour. I swear I rolled this one. It's perfect with Frindil's dwarves!

• Xagoranth wants Korgathix dead.
• He may trade information about his lair, allies and enemies in order to save his life.
• Xagorath may send his brigand allies to hire dragon-slayers.

• A local noble is looking for “trusted helpers” to join his dragon slaying expedition, but actually wants them to defeat the dragon for him, while he waits outside the lair and subsequently takes all the glory and fame for himself.

Lair: A ruined temple in the swamp.

I'll set this as serpent-themed, to continue the theme of the Tomb of the Serpent Kings. Ah, I might as well add a map to the temple among the treasures of the tomb, with a secret passage by-passing the magic ward (see below). 

• The temple is on an islet in the middle of a mire about 4' deep.
• Entrance is magically warded and requires the magic word "Saranta", only known to the dragon and the silly cyclops Oggamar.

Dragon Treasure Alternate Tables

Currently working on finishing the Deadly Dragons Dire and Daunting zine which will be part of the Axian Library book.

It is a LARGE set of tables and tools, and today I want to share this group, which tackles the dragon's treasure hoard.

It is designed to be compatible with Old-School Essentials and so, as usual, it is compatible with BX D&D and similar editions and retroclones.

Treasure Table 1: Value

Alternate Tables: All dragons in Old-School Essentials have treasure type H, with average value 60,000gp. This and the following tables aim at generating a dragon’s hoard more quickly, while maintaining randomness, and also at making it interesting.

Roll 2d6 to establish the overall value of the dragon’s hoard. Apply modifiers resulting from the dragon’s age, if any.

2	Nothing! The dragon’s hoard has been stolen and it is obviously mad about it.
3	5,000gp
4	10,000gp
5	25,000gp
6	40,000gp
7	60,000gp
8	70,000gp
9	80,000gp
10	90,000gp
11	100,000gp
12	110,000gp

Treasure Table 2: Composition

Roll 1d20 to establish the general composition of the dragon’s hoard.

1	Mostly silver and copper coins
2-3	Mostly silver and electrum coins
4-7	Mostly electrum and gold coins
8-11	Mostly gold and platinum coins
12	About half the value in coins (roll a d10 on this table to determine type of coins), and half in gems with an average value of 500gp
13	Mostly gems, with an average value of 500gp
14	Mostly jewels, with an average value of 1,000gp
15	About half the value in coins (roll a d10 on this table to determine type of coins), and half in unusual precious items: fine porcelain or glassware (easily broken); rare spice (ruined by water); cloth, tapestry, paintings, ancient books and scrolls of great artistic or historical value (all highly flammable). Each item is worth 1,000gp.
16	About half the value in coins (roll a d10 on this table to determine type of coins), and half in jewels with an average value of 1,000gp
17	About half the value in gems with an average value of 500gp, and half in jewels with an average value of 1,000gp
18	The value is divided in roughly equal parts between coins (roll a d10 on this table to determine type of coins), gems with an average value of 500gp, and jewels with an average value of 1,000gp
19	About 25% of the value of the treasure is in a single exceptional gem. Roll 1d12 on this table to establish the composition of the other 75%. Examples of exceptional gems: star crystal, moon pearl, ethereal diamond, astral amethyst, blood ruby, nether diamond.
20	About 50% of the value of the treasure is in a single exceptional jewel. Roll 1d12 on this table to establish the composition of the other 50%. Exceptional jewels may be made of platinum or even rarer, more precious metals, and may be studded with dozens of gems, or even exceptional gems (see above). They may also be dragon-sized!

Treasure Table 3: Magic Items

Alternate Table: All dragons in Old-School Essentials have treasure type H, which has a 15% chance to include 1d4 magic items plus 1 potion and 1 scroll.

This table determines in a single roll both if any magic item is present in the hoard, and the item type, making treasure generation easier and faster. The results are also more varied, and tied to the dragon’s HD.

Roll 1d20 and add the dragon’s HD.

1-10	no magic items
11	1 magic item
12	1 scroll
13	1 potion
14	1 potion, plus 1 scroll
15	1 magic item, plus 1 scroll
16	1 magic item, plus 1 potion
17	1 magic item, plus 1 potion, plus 1 scroll
18	2 magic items, plus 1 scroll
19	2 magic items, plus 1 potion
20	2 magic items, plus 1 potion, plus 1 scroll
21	3 magic items, plus 1 scroll
22	3 magic items, plus 1 potion
23	3 magic items, plus 1 potion, plus 1 scroll
24	4 magic items, plus 1 scroll
25	4 magic items, plus 1 potion
26	4 magic items, plus 1 potion, plus 1 scroll
27	5 magic items, plus 1 potion, plus 1 scroll
28	5 magic items, plus 2 potion, plus 1 scroll
29	5 magic items, plus 1 potion, plus 2 scroll
30	5 magic items, plus 2 potion, plus 2 scroll
31	6 magic items, plus 2 potion, plus 2 scroll
32	6 magic items, plus 3 potion, plus 2 scroll
33	6 magic items, plus 2 potion, plus 3 scroll
34	6 magic items, plus 3 potion, plus 3 scroll
35	7 magic items, plus 3 potion, plus 3 scroll

Treasure Table 4: Origin

Roll 1d20 to determine whence the dragon’s hoard came from.

1	It was an ancient dwarf king’s treasure. Add 2d6 gems with an average value of 500gp.
2	It was an elven queen’s treasure. Add 2d6 jewels with an average value of 1,000gp.
3	It was a giant king’s treasure. Add 1 giant-sized jewel worth 5,000 gp.
4	It is a collection of several princes’ and princesses’ ransoms. Add 1,000pp to the treasure.
5-6	It is the accumulation of tolls extorted to travelers crossing the area around the dragon’s lair.
7-8	It is the accumulation of tributes of enslaved or defeated humanoid tribes. Roll an additional humanoid tribe on the Allies table.
9	It is the accumulation of donations from several cities that paid to be spared. Add 20.000gp to the treasure.
10	It is the treasure of a long lost civilization.
11	It is the heirloom of the dragon’s ancestry.
12	It was the hoard of another, now dead dragon. Add a dragon skull!
13-14	It is the accumulation of riches taken from assaulted merchant caravans or ships. Add 2d6 items as listed in entry n. 15 of the Treasure Composition table.
15-16	It is the accumulation of donations and gifts from the dragon’s allies. Add 2d6 items as listed in entry n. 15 of the Treasure Composition table.
17-18	It is the accumulation of spoils of dead would-be dragonslayers. Add two more rolls on Treasure Table 3: Magic Items.
19-20	Roll twice!

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