Corruption in Kryptgarden Is a Three- Aid
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Confidential information of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Do not distribute. undeath. The new group, however, claims that attracts Thayan allies and claims it can help Corruption in living chromatic dragons rule the Realms. Claugiyliamatar watches the Cult through Kryptgarden crystal balls, directing the Zartruss hobgoblin clan to act as intermediaries for her. The two Cult groups now compete to construct the [Author: Teos Abadía hobgoblins a new stronghold, hoping to rule it Playtesters: Jonathan Duhrkoop, Max Hobbs, themselves should they win the dragon’s favor. Jeremiah Shepersky, Justin Turner, Matthew These efforts have caught the attention of Vincent.] House Brokengulf, a noble house of Waterdeep with a vendetta against the dragon. Working with the richer House Silmerhelve, the Introduction Brokengulf family contacts several factions for DDEP1-1 Corruption in Kryptgarden is a three- aid. The factions turn to adventurers from Phlan, hour DUNGEONS & DRAGONS adventure for four to who have recently proved their worth. six characters of 1st through 4th level. As a D&D Epics adventure within the D&D Adventurers League organized play program, Corruption in Overview Kryptgarden is a special interactive event As the DM, you have the most important role: bringing multiple tables together for an exciting facilitating the enjoyment of the game for the and challenging convention event. players. You are empowered to make decisions The adventure is set in Kryptgarden Forest, a and adjudications that enhance the fun of the hilly wood located within the Sword Coast adventure, while staying true to the adventure’s region of the Forgotten Realms and north of the story and intent. city of Waterdeep. The hilly wood is bounded by the Sword Mountains to the north and the village Adventure Tracks of Westbridge to the east. During the Player Introduction each table will A copy of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Starter Set choose one of three tracks (Necromancer, or Player’s Handbook is required. Corruption in Leaders, or Dark Fey). Each track offers a Kryptgarden is part of the Tyranny of Dragons different way to gather information and infiltrate story arc. Other adventures in the story arc may the enemy stronghold. While an adventuring be helpful but are not necessary to run this party is expected to stay on their track, if a party adventure. wishes to change tracks or deviate from the track, they may do so; provided you are comfortable in facilitating it. Background For more than a century the Cult of the Dragon Interactive Elements has ventured into Kryptgarden Forest to tempt Each track has different interactive elements, the ancient green dragon Claugiyliamatar with allowing adventurers’ actions to impact other the promise of immortality as a dracolich. The tracks. These opportunities begin with the terrible and cruel beast, known as Old header “Interactive Element”. The header may Gnawbones for her habit of flying with a corpse direct you to report a result to the interactive in her jaws, has until now ignored the offer; administrators or to look for a visual cue from instead seeking shapeshifting magic to grant her the administrator headquarters (HQ) – immortality in another form. indicating the element is active. The Cult has returned, but this time as two If during play you feel your party has taken an different competing groups. One group still unscripted action that could impact other tables, worships dracoliches and offers Claugiyliamatar contact an admin so that they can make a ruling. D&D Next Playtest ©2013 Wizards 1 Confidential information of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Do not distribute. Imminent Failure And there are many gathered here. Several Epics are challenging adventures. If an hundred adventurers from the Moonsea have adventuring party is about to fail at its task, the answered the call of their faction. table may visit surrounding tables and request Representatives from the Emerald Enclave, help from another table that is both on the same Harpers, Order of the Gauntlet, Lord’s Alliance, track and has at least one faction present at both and even the Zhentarim are all here. Two nobles tables. A player with a matching faction may and their retinue are here as well. One of them, momentarily join the table in need, appearing tall with tanned olive skin, shouts to be heard. and acting at the next initiative count. When they wish to rejoin their original table they may “Greetings, and well met! I am Valero, of House spend an action, appearing at the end of their Brokengulf, and this is Dala, our ally from House original table’s current initiative round. Report Silmerhelve. any such events to the interactive administrators. “Long has my family kept watch over this forest, for it is the lair of our enemy: the ancient Character Death and despicable green dragon, Claugiyliamatar. A corrupting influence on her own, we have If a player character dies or cannot be revived recently learned that she’s had visitors! The Cult during part one or two of the adventure, the of the Dragon is here in large numbers, and the player has a way to continue play. A member of Harpers have spied them working with the the Cult of the Dragon has been watching the vicious hobgoblins of the Zartruss clan in the player character. Upon seeing the character fall, construction of a stronghold deep in the forest. the cultist has a change of heart and We ask you to help us in one of three ways. permanently renounces their evil ways. The Lord’s Alliance has seen wagons of stolen If the players are in dire straits, one of the foes supplies, headed towards the stronghold’s can become the new character. Otherwise, the leaders. We call upon some of you to intercept reformed cultist enters the scene at the those supplies and learn the location of the Cult’s beginning of the next round. Use one of the leadership.” pregenerated characters as the cultist. Dala Silmerhelve steps forth, continuing. “The A reformed cultist will not appear if a player Emerald Enclave asserts the forest’s balance is character dies during part three of the adventure, changing as Claugiyliamatar grows in power. The or if the player is already playing a reformed Order of the Gauntlet has learned that hobgoblin cultist. emissaries are making their way toward the shadowy glade where a dark fey lord resides. An alliance could change the forest forever. We need Player Introduction – A courageous heroes to convince the fey lord not to ally with the dragon! Meeting in the Woods “Finally, the Zhentarim claim red-robed Expected Duration: 20 minutes wizards are to meet with the cultists, and that The adventure begins with the characters, their robes bear symbols of undeath. We must faction representatives, and nobles gathering on know if Thay is involved, and what role they the edge of Kryptgarden Forest. Once the players would play.” are seated and have character sheets, but before “Speak with the organizations gathered here to in-character introductions, read the following: learn all you can, then select your mission. Dark times have come to Kryptgarden. May gods and The mighty trees of Kryptgarden Forest rise up heroes end the corruption on this day!” before you, but all is not well. The shadows under branches and thickets seem too deep, the The players should now introduce their colors of the forest too pale, and the sounds of characters, state their faction, and then proceed those around you too muffled. with gathering information. D&D Next Playtest ©2013 Wizards 2 Confidential information of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Do not distribute. The Zartruss hobgoblin clan has long served Gathering Information Claugiyliamatar, at times acting as her Use the information below to guide your role- emissaries. play. At your discretion, characters from a Old Gnawbones is generally been a loner. Any different faction may earn information requiring additional alliances would threaten all of the membership if they provide exceptional role- Sword Coast, if not the whole of Faerûn. play, skill use, or class/background features. She does not trust the Zhentarim; though the Lord’s Alliance tells her all must unite against Valero Brokengulf this threat. (I have made up this name. Switch to another The Red Wizards of Thay are very dangerous. name if there is a suitable named NPC) Tall with They often divide themselves by school of the tanned olive skin of a Tethyrian, Valero study, such as illusion and necromancy. cannot hide his hatred for Claugiyliamatar. Quote: “For too long has my family suffered Harpers under Old Gnawbones!” A scattered network of spellcasters and spies who advocate equality and covertly oppose the House Brokengulf has long had an enmity with abuse of power, magical or otherwise. Harper Claugiyliamatar. She tricked and killed many of Windle is a sly rogue. She decorates her green his family, driving them to bankruptcy. They and brown leather armor with small brass and have only recently recovered, with help from copper circles. Quote: “I used to be based in House Silmerhelve. Neverwinter’s graveyard… a Harper agent’s life Claugiyliamatar is also known as Old is never dull.” (Note: the NPC appears in the Gnawbones, for when she is sighted she often Neverwinter MMO. Please change the name if has a corpse hanging from her jaws. not desired.) She is a significant threat, having laid waste to the kingdom of Elfrin and devoured whole orc The stronghold is being built upon a hilly hordes! region where the great elven kingdoms of The host gathered here today is not strong Illefarn and Rilithar once stood. enough to defeat her, but can perhaps hold her Elven portals once existed within the forest, at bay long enough to dismantle her and the but it is not known if any remain.