Dragon in "Darkening of Mirkwood"

[Lifstan]

As Loremasters know, In "Darkening of Mirkwood", there is a Mirkwood dragon at the end of the campaign. But the scenario at this point is very short. I would like to use more this dragon in my campaign, doing maybe some forshadowing before he wakes up and so on.

I was wondering if some Loremasters went that far in "Darkening of Mirkwood" and how they introduced the Mirkwood dragon, how they played it and so on. Any idea about it is welcome.

[SirGamingScotsman]

I haven't reached that part yet but I have thought about some foreshadowing before the adventure happens. I'm thinking of having rumours and stories spread about trade caravans and herds of animals being attacked and eaten/killed, maybe even an entire farmstead or small village being destroyed. No details about what caused this, most people would think it's the work of orcs/goblins, spiders, wolves/wargs and perhaps even a group of bandits.

I would have my group of players stumble upon the aftermath of an attack, or be asked to investigate by a friend or Patron. My players have Beorn as a patron and also are friends with a retired character who has become the mayor of the town that is growing up from the Easterly Inn. Of course the players won't be able to identify it as the work of a Dragon, at least not until the adventure comes around. I'm thinking of throwing in a couple of red herrings, they might come across a band of orcs or group of spiders who could have been responsible. There will be other evidence that they can't explain, that would hint at something larger, but they wouldn't expect a Dragon to be living in the Mirkwood.

I would then bring their investigations to a point where they would suspect then confirm the presence of the Dragon and the adventure would take place. Give your players enough time to gather resources and allies to help them, as well as planning time to come up with a solution. Of course if they end up taking too long an attack on a place that is important to the players will give some urgency or even a time limit for them to finish the job.

[Otaku-sempai]

Well, in the scenario for Year 2970, the Forest Dragon awoke ten years ago. What if at some point she is ready to mate and is sending out calls from the Mountains of Mirkwood that threaten to attract suitors? Maybe she has already laid eggs and might even have a young brood to support (and which must also be destroyed).

[Summerhawk]

My players got interested in the Greydelve earlier than the campaign suggests and went there in 2960. Since that was the point at which the dragon is supposed to awaken, I put her there and my players woke her up. I adjusted her stats down and gave her the craven ability, and also gave her the goal of escaping rather than killing in this case (she's just been startled awake after all). My players tried to track her into the forest after she escaped them, but were not successful. So they have the Elves and everyone 'on alert,' but I'm going to say she goes to ground and let things go quiet for a while before I have her start causing trouble. That will be a task for the next band of adventurers.

[Lifstan]

Well, in the scenario for Year 2970, the Forest Dragon awoke ten years ago. What if at some point she is ready to mate and is sending out calls from the Mountains of Mirkwood that threaten to attract suitors? Maybe she has already laid eggs and might even have a young brood to support (and which must also be destroyed).

That's a very cool idea. What if the suitor that comes is the dragon that appears at the end of Tales of Wilderland, if he's still alive at the end of that mini-campaign? Would be cool to have some sightings of him coming to Mirkwood, then going back north... Just as a hint of something "strange" goint on in 2960... I like it!

[Otaku-sempai]

What if the suitor that comes is the dragon that appears at the end of Tales of Wilderland, if he's still alive at the end of that mini-campaign? Would be cool to have some sightings of him coming to Mirkwood, then going back north... Just as a hint of something "strange" goint on in 2960... I like it!

Hmmm. The Forest Dragon is described as a Long-worm; and Raenar is a Cold-drake. We don't know much about the ecology of Middle-earth dragons, but I suspect that a female that is 'in season' would tend to attract other drakes of the same dragon-type. Something in her call and/or scent would identify the Forest Dragon as a Long-worm, the line of Scatha (according to Erebor though Iron Crown's MERP characterized Scatha as a Cold-drake).

[Lifstan]

Hmmm. The Forest Dragon is described as a Long-worm; and Raenar is a Cold-drake. We don't know much about the ecology of Middle-earth dragons, but I suspect that a female that is 'in season' would tend to attract other drakes of the same dragon-type. Something in her call and/or scent would identify the Forest Dragon as a Long-worm, the line of Scatha (according to Erebor though Iron Crown's MERP characterized Scatha as a Cold-drake).

Good point! OK, not Raenar then...