dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 5
DRACONIC
CAMPAIGNS
Affiliation
Score Title: Benefits and Duties
3 or lower Threat: Not trusted in any way; if you express interest in the group, you are considered a potential spy.
4–10 Contact: Occasionally hired for your expertise, but kept in the dark as to the purpose of the work.
11–16 Lesser Fang: Gain +2 morale bonus on Sense Motive checks to oppose Bluff checks, level checks to oppose
Intimidate checks, and saving throws against mind-affecting spells.
17–22 Bloody Fang: You can fence items through the Shadow’s Fangs for 60% of their base value, up to a maximum
value per month of 1,000 gp × your level. You must carry out an assigned mission once every three months.
23–26 Dark Fang: Sorcerer members will cast spells for you cheaply. Discount the base cost of the spell by 5% × your
level (maximum 50% discount), though you still pay full price for special materials or experience points used in
the casting.
27–29 Dread Fang: You are often trusted to lead small cells of Fangs. You receive a monthly income of 1d6×100 gp.
You must show good judgment in your dealings. At the end of each month, you must succeed on a DC 20
Appraise check or you lose either 1 point of affiliation score or 1,000 gp (your choice).
30 or higher Lord of the Fangs: You receive your own cell of Fangs to run as you see fit, within the limits established by the
Master Dragon. You gain as many agents as you would hirelings if you took the Leadership feat, as well as a
half-dragon cohort (also based on your Leadership rank as if you had the feat). If you already have the
Leadership feat, any cohort or hirelings you gain can be Shadow’s Fangs or not (your choice).
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Criterion
Affiliation Score Modifier
Has sneak attack, skirmish, +1 per die of extra damage
or sudden strike
Can become invisible or hide in plain sight +2 per ability
5 or more ranks in Bluff, +1 per 5 ranks in each skill
Hide, or Move Silently
Fewer than 5 ranks in Bluff or Sense Motive –2 per skill
Succeeds in a mission
+1 per mission
for the Shadow’s Fangs
Fails on a mission for the Shadow’s Fangs –4 per mission
Undertakes a mission for any dragon –2 per mission
outside the Shadow’s Fangs
Slays a dragon not affiliated
+1 per dragon
with the Shadow’s Fangs
Titles, Benefits, and Duties: The assassins, spellcasters,
warriors, and other members of the Shadow’s Fangs
serve the cause of a single Master Dragon. They further its
goals without regard for the moral, economic, political, or
personal impact of their actions. Ultimately, they see themselves
as tools of a great power, with no more responsibility
for what they do than a sword or writing quill. Only the
most senior members of the cabal are aware of this core
philosophy.
Once you gain a high rank within the Shadow’s Fangs,
you become a trusted member of the inner circle. The group
shares its deepest secrets and grants you access to valuable
resources, but it also expects you to recruit and guide new
members, ensuring their loyalty without revealing any of
the dread knowledge that you have earned.
Executive Powers: Assassinate, raid, terrorize.
DRACONIC LOCATIONS
A world with dragons is full of places they’ve built and locations
others have built to appease them. Draconic locations
come in two basic varieties—the places dragons use and the
places they have affected. Places they use include various
kinds of lairs, but also temples, redoubts, libraries, and sites
to receive tribute and sacrifices. Places they have affected
include magical locations built by dragons and sites that
have become magical through exposure to draconic energies
(possibly including spells, auras, or the death of one or
more dragons). While dragon-influenced locations are rare
in a typical campaign, they are encountered more regularly
in a dragon-heavy game.
DRAGON LAIR
Though this is a natural cave, it is obvious that an intelligent crafter
has worked the rough rock into a more functional or pleasing form.
Rough crags have been sheared off, simple but striking runes have
been carved into the walls, and a mat of crushed vegetation covers
the floor. A strong scent of musk fills the air, making it difficult to
breathe easily. The great scale is also striking, with every corridor no
less than 15 feet wide and equally tall. This is a place for a creature
of considerable size.
Not all dragons choose a remote cave for their lair, but a large
interior cavern makes a good starting point. It’s easier to
modify a space already large enough to accommodate a dragon
than to start such a big building from scratch. A dragon
might well choose a cave close to town, however, to keep an
eye on its subjects or to open peaceful relations. Large caves
of this kind can be found in many different environments,
ranging from underwater caverns enjoyed by black dragons
to rocky ground in the middle of a desert claimed by a brass
dragon. Although the map shows no barrier or camouflage
at the lair’s two entrances, many dragons use spells or innate
abilities to conceal their homes.
The interior appointments of such a lair vary wildly,
depending on the taste, wealth, and needs of the dragon
living in it. A dragon scholar keeps piles of salt in rooms full
of scrolls to dry the air and preserve its knowledge trove. A
noble gold dragon king uses tapestries, works of art, and
expensive furnishings (scaled for guests of many sizes) to
project power and consideration for visitors. A red dragon
tyrant appoints only his throne room and primary hoard,
allowing other areas to be furnished (if at all) by those who
use them.
Area 1: Main Entrance. This is the only ground-level
entrance to the lair. It might be guarded by allies or slaves