MC1S10

## Of Squirrels and Dragons

The party travels to Thundertree and defeats Venomfang, driving him South.

“
*Hmm. How silly of me.*
”
— Venomfang, after dropping Sofiel from a great height, only to realize she has wings.
**Of Squirrels and Dragons** was the 10th session of the Lost Mines of Colmanth mini-campaign.

## Summary

The party shrewdly secures the assistance of the Lion Knights in their mission to Thundertree. The Miners travel to Thundertree, where they discover that the village is afflicted by a strange curse. After meeting Reidroth, he agrees to guide the party to Wave Echo Mine in exchange for driving away Venomfang, the Green Dragon threatening the region. The party agrees. A three-way fight between the Dragon, blights, and the party erupts in the village. Sir Chabert uses a grappling hook to allow himself and Godric to enter melee with the Dragon even as it flies over the battlefield. On the ground, Herbie provides supressing fire, while Sofiel and Sir Viator heal Godric and Chabert. Sir Priscian keeps the blights at bay. After many near-brushes with death, Godric is able to cleave deep into the Dragon's wing, dealing a devastating injury. The dragon makes a frantic escape as Sofiel helps Godric return to the ground. The party is victorious!

## NPCs

* **Venomfang:** The Green dragon terrorizing the local region. Venomfang is assisted by a group of dragon cultists. The cultists were easily dispatched by the Lion Knights, but the Dragon proved to be a harder challenge for the Aldians.
* **Reidroth:** A Druid of the Primeval Circle. Full-time misanthrope. Interested in removing Venomfang from the village of Thundertree so that the Circle can erase the curse afflicting the area with blights, undead, and other hazards.
* **Sir Moriset Chabert:** He and his men appear to have had some doing or other with L'aiq. Perhaps they slew him. In any case, the party was able to coerce them into joining the battle against Venomfang, in contrast with their original plans, which they have now had to alter to save face in Phandalin.

## Inventory

### Gained

* 3 fire resistance vials.
* 2 acid resistance vials.
* 3 potions of healing.

### Lost

* 500 gold (Five resistance vials)
* 150 gold (Splint armor for Godric)
* 2 acid resistance vials
* 1 potion of healing

## Quests

### New

* **The Spiders's Web (Everyone):** Defeat the Black Spider.
* **Venture Capitalism (Everyone):** Probe further into getting a smithy established in Phandalin.

### Ongoing

* **For the Glory of doG (Herbie and Sofiel):** Return to Sister Garaele once she has fully healed from her recent misadventure.
* **Ascending to doGhood (Herbie):** Acquire Divinity by freeing 1000 dogs or wolves. 3 / 1,000

### Completed

* **The Village Squirrel (Sofiel):** Rescue Reidroth from Thundertree. Drive Venomfang away.
* **The Snake and its Venom (Everyone):** Investigate the rumors of the Dragon at Thundertree. Wound or slay the dragon to eliminate its threat.

## Reflections

* **Herbie:** ... A dragon... a *dragon*... I really fought a *dragon*... Well, it was Godric who struck the final blow but I had it on the run! We even got to fight beside true dragonslaying knights, and I mean true dragonslaying, not dragonfly-jousting like Morel. What do you say to that, Pollen? I wasn't too sure for a bit, they seemed to be right ol' stick-in-the-mud types, but when they were surrounded they just whipped out their swords and charged. The dragon tried to fly away, but did they care? Oh no, they just threw up a chain and *climbed* on it. And Sofiel had it chasing her through the air, *and Godric went up with them!* Oh, Godric, the beast blasted us and swung at us (good thing I prepared, no way would it get me), but did he care? No siree, he held through it all and whacked, whacked, whacked its wing to bits! You should have seen it. It was glorious... You know, I kind of owe him an apology. I've spoken to Genevieve and Sofiel, but not really him. I thought he was kind of a sourpuss. But that fight, he ran in head on and he held on. He was a **hero**. He was even tricksier than we were, fooling the knights into coming with us. I do hope we have more adventures together. No way that dragon will ever think twice about coming near us, I didn't even have to convince it. Its' fleeing tail between its legs down south... south, why do I feel like there's something I'm forgetting?
* Godric: "I had never felt so alive as in those moments - atop a dragon's back, standing, sword in hand... so high above the world. Fighting a mighty beast, inches from death, giving it all you've got to come out on top. Is that heroism? It was kind of like the fight against the werewolf, on my first hunting trip so long ago - I wasn't worried, I wasn't afraid, I was completely in the moment. Maybe that's what drove me to do something so... reckless - had I paused to think, I would have realized that I had no way off of the dragon's back beyond a terrible fall. It is only thanks to Sophiel that I didn't die there - I could say that for most of our ventures, now that I think of it, I'll have to thank her properly at some point. Right now, I'm thankful for all those rough beatings I've endured in the past few days - I survived stabbings, explosions, fireballs, rotting gaze from within, and more, each time I got up, stronger and more determined. It was that strength that let me hold on today, that kept me conscious as wings and tail beat on my head, and the wind tore into me. Is that what it takes to be a knight? Throwing caution to the wind, and trying the impossible, no matter how the odds are stacked? or is it determination and grit, holding out no matter the circumstances? I guess, I still have a lot to learn about being a real hero. In truth, I had doubted that Sir Chaubert had slain a dragon before - but, he proved himself this day. I shall have to be kinder to him, now - perhaps, he can show me the answer to some of these questions. Speaking of doubting Sir Chaubert - I don't care what comes next, the true terror awaits me in Phandalin. Genevieve will throttle me when she learns what she missed, and how I acted. Maybe facing her is the real measure of heroism."
* Sofiel: "Thank Ceros we survived a dragon attack, but they've all gone mad riding on the back of a dragon like that! Its just reckless. I mean what if they fell or the dragon decided to eat them or pick them up. I was lucky it didn't notice the wings on my back or it may have done something other than drop me. I was nearby Godric to catch him but still what if it had flown away with one of them stuck on its back. I can't imagine we would have gotten through it without the help of those Lion Knights. Hopefully they will forgive us for our persuasive methods, but it was for the good of the town. I bet Sir Viator gets it having to look after that crazy knight. I mean who throws a grappling hook at a dragon! Oh well, we made it through alive. I wonder if Godric will take up their offer. I think it would be good for him and these people having a good hearted knight like him by their side. Hopefully Reidroth can cure this village of the curse and restore things to its natural order. Although, I'm not sure what we should do once he guides us to the cauldron. If he knows about it, then it surely must exist, but what do we do once we are there. That has to be too much power for any person to have, and there is already war brewing in the land. I suppose we will figure it out if we make it there."

## Appendix

Lost Mines of Colmanth Sessions
**Chapter 1: The Frontier**. Session 1 · Session 2 · Session 3 · Session 4 · Session 5 · Session 6 · Session 7
 Session 8 · Session 9 · **Session 10** · Session 11 · Session 12