Malacholar

* Original
* Blessed

Malacholar is a green dragon first encountered at Malacholar's Pinnacle.

They were subsequently re-encountered at The Sleeping Mire.

## Description

*"A striking slender crest and head hued a vibrant yellow blends with a tapered neck covered in narrow interlocking green scales, its movements slick and serpentine. Powerful attachments at shoulder and wing ripple with a graceful movement, a faint trail of acrid scent disturbed into the air with the motion."*

When Anivia cast *Legend Lore* in an effort to learn more about Malacholar, she was delivered the following description by means of the divination spell.

> *"Haunt of the Garden, from stone’s pinnacle to swamp’s deepest bed,*
>
>
> *Amongst mould bright and vibrant, vines twist and grasp,*
>
>
> *And in it all, the sallow stalks, while servants secure coin in their stead,*
>
>
> *By loyalty, by devotion, by fear of poison-dripped rasp.*
>
>
> *Make trophies of the body, as it feasts on the blood of the wild,*
>
>
> *Their demise swift and coursing, like sudden blade in the night,*
>
>
> *While addiction’s trail brings further wealth still, a garden of rarity compiled,*
>
>
>
> *From the heart the rhythm of the forest echoes, played to the beat of wings’ swash and flight."*
>
>

Although it is uncertain exactly the full extent of where the dragon claims dominion, Malacholar seemed to treat at the least Mkitos' Garden as their territory. The stone stack on the eastern edge of the region named in their honour by the Yuan-Ti residents, Malacholar's Pinnacle, seemed to be an outpost and watchtower, and in absence of the dragon's hoard, it is thus presumed that Malacholar's lair is therefore elsewhere.

Malacholar had enjoyed the fealty of the Yuan-Ti of the Pinnacle for a number of years, before being ousted by the young white dragon Lynfrizgestas, who with use of a *Periapt of Proof Against Poison* to negate the green dragon's breath weapon, and a *Rod of Rulership* with which to make the Yuan-Ti subservient, seized control of the stronghold. Malacholar was subsequently trapped with a cage near a totem that sapped their strength, as well as rending them from their conventional senses, with attempts were made to extract the location of the dragon's hoard - to little avail.

## History

Malacholar was encountered by an adventuring party from Amber Run in 133WD, roughly a year after Lynfrizgestas' takeover. After significant back and forth, the party ultimately declined to free the dragon, despite their ardent offers to help them slay the "Bleak-Faced Usurper" to prevent the enslavement and consumption of many more locals that ever occurred under their watch. Unbeknownst to the party, the boggle Walnut watched their subsequent battle with Lynfrizgestas, spying the white dragon's tumbling body and taking the opportunity to apply a measure of Black Sap (previously recovered from the belongings of Hywell Genest and hidden by the boggle) to one of the charmed Yuan-Ti Malisons left living by the adventuring party. The Malison would subsequently free the dragon, who with a cacophonous roar, circled the peak several times before setting off into flight.

On the trial of Malacholar, a pair of journeys were subsequently made into Mkitos' Garden. The first discovered the nature of the gifts said to be offered up by an entity from the Feywild known as the Verdigral Blight, in which the seemed patron provided Malacholar with a number of fey creatures to do with as they sought fit. The second followed a trail of followers and servants to The Sleeping Mire, where is now assumed that Malacholar maintains their lair, deep within the murky waters of the caverns at their base. Tended to by gatorfolk, the growth of Wandercap prompted steady visits from smugglers and other criminal activity, who sought the very rare fungus to produce the illicit substance Alegrem.

When the party entered Malacholar's lair, they found themselves near immediately outmatched by the dragon within its domain, which played and toyed within them for a time, striking suddenly before peeling off once more into the gloom. When Rinn managed to land a significant blow against the dragon, they immediately retaliated, near tearing the cleric limb from limb in their fury. The assault promised to the rest of the party was however cut short by Malacholar seemingly to recognise Elinor in a manner, before growing increasingly confident. In exchange for Elinor agreeing to return to her Mother, Malacholar offered the rest of the party to depart, declaring the reward offered and yield promised for her return would sate him for the time.

The party would return near the end of 135WD, seeking both answers from the dragon, and an end to their villainy. With preparations made in the form of *Oils of Slipperiness*, castings of *Protection from Poison* and further concoctions - a *Potion of Nighteyes* for Rinn and a *Potion of Hill Giant Strength* for Adrian, they travelled to the Sleeping Mire once more, attempting to beguile their way into the lair, or coax Malacholar out of it. Despite the promise of a gift from Elinor (in truth a disguised Arnica), the offer was rejected - it quickly established that Malacholar had already received a gift from Mother, a pair of additional heads - each as ravenous for the blood of fey as the last. In a close fought fight, Malacholar would tear Rinn Zelnolar apart, be forced to retreat by the retaliating party, only to then shred Adrian Frostbrooke into ribbons, and ambush Enor, eating him largely whole. Gwyneth and Arnica, both left undefended and grievously wounded, used Dimension Door to retreat, carrying with them parts of Rinn and Enor to facilitate their resurrection.

## Abilities

Malacholar seems to possess the ability to innately turn themselves invisible at ease, using this to strike with sudden and devastating force. Likewise, when within their submerged lair at The Sleeping Mire, they possess extensive control over their surroundings, using vines and kelp to separate and harass would be invaders both directly and through the undead animation of the dead scattered throughout.

Malacholar has carefully cultivated their lair to best aid their talents, filling it with creatures capable of stupefying would-be invaders, allowing them to sweep in and tear them limb from limb - a hunger only heightened after being gifted a pair of additional heads.