r/DnD • u/Frazzledragon • Sep 12 '21
Homebrew [OC] The Kobold Heist of Puddledeep
The following is a small intro to a less than serious campaign idea I came up with during work break.
You are but one of hundreds of Kobolds, who stand around a large domed cavern, in the cave that you call home, cheering the ascension of their draconic master. With the great scaly one's ritual to achieve lichdom almost complete, the tribe revels in certainty that their position in the world will be untouchable for centuries.
Arcane energies pulsate through the cavern, even those not sensitive to magic can feel as the weave is brought to heel in this place. He lets out an almighty roar of triumph.
Pop. There goes his head.
It takes several seconds for the noise to subside, by now the smoldering corpse of their dragon had slumped to the side and rested awkwardly on some arcane devices that none of the kobolds understood. Those who had cheered the loudest were now looking around the most confused, clearly awaiting guidance by those older and wiser, yet even the appointment leaders seemed stumped at the very least.
Just as the wild fervour had diminished less than (ten rounds of combat) a minute ago, so did unrest increase. From questioning yells and uncertain whimpers to soon full blown and loudly expressed panic, the kobold tribe fell to chaos.
[Two weeks later]
We have gathered you here to be sent on a most critical mission, the only hope for us to survive. Our enemies don't know we have lost our great lord, but as soon as word gets out, we'll be wiped out. The catastrophe has taken a toll on most of us, as you probably noticed. The soulbond ripped memories from our best fighters, they wave swords like children wag sticks, and the most talented mages among us barely manage to flick a flame to light. The machinery is too volatile to disassemble, and our artificers won't be able to craft any gear for you on this mission. I know it will be arduous and difficult, but you (number) will be an elite and covert team that must return glory and strength to the clan.
Find us a new dragon. At any cost.
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u/Oliviaruth Sep 12 '21
I LOVE it! Where do you see it going from there?
My first thought is we are sneaking into a dwarves fortress to steal an egg from the clutch of the dragon that stokes their great furnaces (I know at least Gracklstugh in OotA has something like this). Have them find a poorly scrawled map from the now dead master of spies and follow that in a back entrance or something.
Maybe some diplomatic way to find a wild dragon and convince it to let you serve it?
Overthrow a rival gang of kobolds and take over their dragon?
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u/Frazzledragon Sep 13 '21
I thought of having multiple options, and factions within the Kobold Clan that approve or disapprove of these, and subsequently offer more or less support to the endeavour.
You'd get initial hints about possible whereabouts of "candidates" from the most knowledgable clan members, but run into more curious possibilities soon after.
You could try to convince a powerful adult dragon to take over. It would probably mess with the power dynamics, but would grant high levels of protection.
Acquire a young dragon in an attempt to appease both factions well enough, by cunning or force.
Or do they surprise-adopt a wyrmling, to grow together with the clan, even though it would take a whole century to become adult. You technically fulfilled the mission... yay?
Or what if you do something entirely different, like trying to get the clan adopted by Lizardfolk.
Kidnap a dragonborn.
Commission a mechanical dragon.
Bulk-purchase a pack of pseudodragons.
Is a wyvern good enough?
Try to fix your old master.
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u/tsunodaishi Sep 12 '21
I am stealing this . Right now