Tyranny of Dragons was the first full D&D 5e campaign I ran, starting back in 2015. Here’s the write up from the 18th session in which the party continued their assault on the Cult of the Dragon’s Flying Fortress, Skyreach Castle.
After this session I clamped down on the call woodland beings spell, introducing a random table so Gwastdyn the druid couldn’t automatically summon eight pixies!
Begin here with Session 1 – Greenest in Flames.
3rd Eleint, 1490 DR (contd.)
Rosie casts disguise self to appear as Rezmir and opens the doors to the barracks. Meanwhile Gwastdyn has summoned eight pixies and ordered them to become invisible. Rosie orders the dragonwings resting inside to line up, telling them that intruders have been seen in the castle. The cultists fall for the deception and are standing together in a group when Turin casts shatter. This is followed by hunger of Hadar from Rosie, and sleep, confusion, and entangle spells from the pixies. Turin and Ug attack the hapless cultists near the edge of the darkness while Crake waits outside and picks off ones escaping through the side doors with his bow.
With the dragonwings dealt with, the characters enter Rezmir’s chamber. Crake is attacked by a rug of smothering but manages to avoid suffocation. The rogue checks the chest carefully for traps before opening it. Inside is the Black Dragon Mask and a large cache of gems, jewellery and coins.
Deciding to report to Blagothkus, the party head through the Upper Courtyard to the cloud giant’s tower, but the ogres on the battlements tell them their boss has gone to the steering tower. The characters walk over there to find it locked, and there is no answer at the door. They return to Rezmir’s room to rest for the night.
That night, while Gwastdyn is on watch, the vampire Sandesyl Morgia appears and attacks. The others wake up and join in but are unable to stop the dwarven druid falling unconscious. Ug strikes her with his divine smite, inflicting radiant damage which stops the vampire from regenerating. Sandesyl flees into the courtyard and gives the party the slip. Shaken, they heal Gwastdyn, Rosie casts an alarm spell, and the party finish their long rest.
4th Eleint
The next morning the characters explore the storeroom and guest chambers before returning to the Upper Courtyard. As they look at the horizon, they realise the castle has turned around and is now heading north.
Deciding to explore the crumbling tower, Ug climbs up to the balcony 75 feet above. Unfortunately it’s not strong enough to bear his weight, and gives way, sending him plummeting to the ground. The others dodge out the way but Gwastdyn isn’t quick enough and is struck by falling debris.
Ug climbs back up and throws a rope down to Turin who joins him. The pair go through the door into the vampire’s lair and are attacked by two vampire spawn. Crake starts climbing up the tower, while Rosie casts dimension door to transport herself and Gwastdyn up to the top. The warlock is grabbed by one of the vampires and is bitten twice as Ug and Turin battle the other one. Crake arrives and takes down one of the spawn, but the coffin opens and Sandesyl appears. Ug turns on her, destroying her with his divine smite. Finally, Turin slays the last vampire spawn.
The adventurers have a short rest, then visit Blagothkus in his tower. The cloud giant tells them he is taking the castle to the Spine of the World but will gladly drop them off en route – at Waterdeep for example. He urges them to go and deal with the dragon. Exhausted after their battle with the vampires, the characters return to the Lower Courtyard and have a long rest.
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Richard Green | Game Designer 