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ERIC DESCHAMPSTallasht suggests or requests several of the PCs’otherwise unrelated adventures that follow. Most ofthem involve the recovery of magic weapons, but ina few instances the characters must eliminate potentiallydangerous creatures, such as the leader of agnoll tribe or the leader of a human cult of Tiamat.Eventually, through questioning or eavesdropping,the PCs learn that several of these enemies servesomeone or something called Virrikai.If any PCs read through the book on dragonsbefore turning it over to Tallasht, they recognize “Virrikai”as the name of a brown dragon that was younga few hundred years ago. If none of them read thebook, they can learn this information by consultinga sage. Also, in the dungeons and ruins that Tallashtsends the PCs to explore, allow the PCs to makePerception checks to notice dragon tracks and otherclues of a dragon’s recent presence.In case these measures aren’t enough to demonstrateTallasht’s involvement with dragons—and toreveal that she hasn’t told them the entire truth—anadult brown dragon soon attacks the PCs. They realizethat the brown is far from home and too young tobe Virrikai. They struggle in the battle but should beat a level just high enough to overcome the dragon.Paragon Tier:Welcome to the WarFor a time, the PCs cannot make contact with “LordTallasht.” He has vanished.After the PCs experience several unrelated adventures,the emissary from their earlier adventuresagain approaches them. He explains that the personthey knew as Tallasht has been slain and that it istime for them to meet their true employer.Helping the PCs fight off several attacks on theway, the emissary leads the PCs to the blue dragonTallasht’s lair deep in the hills of a rainy highlandregion. After assuring the PCs that she means themno harm, Tallasht explains that she had hoped to keepher involvement secret, for her protection and theirs.She reveals that, for centuries, several rival families ofdragons have warred over the region, working primarilybut not entirely through agents and dupes ratherthan risking their lives fighting each other directly.She explains that her rivals are two ancient dragons,the gray Qumasthes and the brown Virrikai,both far more powerful than she. Although sheadmits that she places more value on her own lifeand on the lives of her hatchlings than she places onthe lives of humanoids in the region, she claims thatif Qumasthes and his clan of grays win the conflict,all the communities will become nothing but dragonhunting grounds. If Virrikai proves dominant, he willattempt to transform the region into his domain. It istherefore in everyone’s best interest if the PCs continueto allow Tallasht to serve as their patron.Tallasht’s interaction with the PCs becomes moreopen from this point. They still have time for severalunrelated adventures, but she frequently points thePCs toward agents and followers of the other dragons,or requests that they find ever more powerful magicfor use against their rivals when the day of reckoningfinally comes. Between fighting the powerful minionsof Qumasthes and Virrikai, and surviving assassinationattempts sent in return, the PCs should advanceto the epic tier with alacrity.Epic Tier: EndgameConcerned by the PCs’ successes against their minions,Qumasthes and Virrikai briefly put aside theirdifferences to concentrate their efforts. Marshalingtheir forces, they wipe out many of Tallasht’s alliesand operatives in the local communities and tribes.Tallasht, in turn, ups the ante further, requesting thatthe PCs go after Virrikai himself. She explains thatVirrikai is easier to find and less powerful than Qumasthes.Further, Virrikai is the more organized of thetwo. If he falls, Qumasthes might have difficulty controllingboth armies.The PCs’ greatest adventure to date involves trackingVirrikai to his lair, fighting their way through hisforces, and slaying him. Upon killing Virrikai, theystill aren’t through with him: After another adventureor two, Virrikai’s children, a pack of elder browndragons, seek vengeance.Although the PCs survive, they suffer a great loss.While they were killing Virrikai, the vile Qumastheswas slaughtering Tallasht.Tallasht’s hatchlings have survived, havinghidden in secret caves throughout the lair. Theydescribe their terror as the ancient gray tore aparttheir mother and her soldiers. They beg the PCs tocontinue the task set to them: to destroy Qumasthesbefore he and his clan of gray dragons consolidatetheir dominance of the region.CHAPTER 2 | DM’s Guide to DragonsDRACONIC CAMPAIGNS59