Quest 14: The Dragon's Lair

Act II 2 Encounters Requires: Quest 13

Quest 14: The Dragon's Lair

Introduction

Sir Palamon rests his battle-nicked sword on Baron Greigory's desk. "This is the sword I was given when I was knighted, but it is not the blade I bore when I fought alongside the Shadow Binders. No, then I bore the legendary sword of Sir Arcite, the Dawnblade."

"What's so ruddy special about his sword, then?" asks Baron Greigory.

"Sir Arcite was a great hero of the Dragon Wars. It was he who drove Dragonlord Gryvorn back, he who forced that ancient evil to bind itself into the Shadow Rune. I believe his sword will be essential both to unlocking his power and to sealing it again."

"So, where is it now, then?"

"I returned the sword to its resting place in Sir Arcite's tomb. You must travel to the tomb before dawn. As the sun rises, it will cast its holy rays down into the burial chamber. When the sun's light reaches Arcite's grave, whoever is standing there shall wield the Dawnblade."

Monsters

3 open groups

Setup

Place 1 open group on the Sewer. The other 2 open groups are not placed during setup, but are available as reinforcements (see "Reinforcements").

Place search tokens based on the number of heroes.

Place 1 red objective token faceup as indicated. This objective token is Arcite's Tomb. Keep the white objective token off to one side within easy reach; it will be needed later as the Ray of Sunlight.

Special Rules

Ray of Sunlight

At the start of the Overlord's first turn, place the white objective token in the unique space marked with an "X." This token is the Ray of Sunlight.

At the start of the Overlord's second turn (and all subsequent turns), move the Ray of Sunlight in a straight line one space closer to Arcite's Tomb. The Ray of Sunlight ignores any figures or tokens in any space it moves into; it cannot be stopped, delayed, or affected in any way by any effect.

Encounter 1 ends when the Ray of Sunlight enters the same space as Arcite's Tomb.

Reinforcements

At the start of each Overlord turn, he may place 1 monster on each of the Entrance, Exit, and the unique space (where the Ray of Sunlight was placed). Each monster must be from a different monster group, respecting group limits.

Victory

Hero Victory

If a hero is in the same space as Arcite's Tomb when the Ray of Sunlight enters the tomb's space, read the following aloud:

When the sunlight brushes the top of Sir Arcite's tomb, it seems as if the long-dead knight sits up, looking youthful and radiantly beautiful. The apparition offers you his sword, hilt first, and when you take it the sunlight shines and reflects from the blade, filling the entire crypt. Shrieking with dismay, the Overlord's minions flee.

Following Sir Palamon's instructions, you proceed at your best possible speed to the edge of the Greatwood, to finish the job.

The heroes win this encounter! The hero players take the "Dawnblade" relic and choose one hero to carry it during Encounter 2.

Overlord Victory

Otherwise, read the following aloud:

When the sunlight brushes the top of Sir Arcite's tomb, it seems as if the long-dead knight sits up, looking youthful and radiantly beautiful. The apparition offers its sword, hilt first, but suddenly a black-mailed fist punches through the ghost's chest and grips the weapon by the blade. Sir Arcite wails and he seems to age, die, and rot away before your eyes. Darkness surrounds the sword and the light in the crypt dims as if the sun were setting. Sir Alric has arrived, and he lifts his new sword to the sky.

The Overlord wins this encounter! The Overlord takes the "Duskblade" relic. Sir Alric carries it during Encounter 2.

Introduction

"According to the map provided by Sir Palamon, the cave you seek is only a short journey north and east, on the edge of the Greatwood. "Gryvorn had many spawn," the old knight had said. "When we Shadow Binders found them, we sealed them into a cave with the same magics that bind Gryvorn within his rune. Now, I fear those bonds are weakening—and you can bet Baron Zachareth wants to undo them entirely. The Dawnblade is the key."

When you reach the cave, you find that the Overlord's minions have preceded you. You know Sir Alric is likely here somewhere as well. According to Sir Palamon's description, the back of the dragon's lair would contain a keystone. The Dawnblade can either refresh the wards keeping the dragons within... or shatter them forever. Keeping the sword out of Sir Alric's hands and getting it to that stone will be hard enough, but to make matters worse, you have to do so before the dragons within escape.

Monsters

Setup

Place 1 open group on the Frozen Cave. Place 1 open group on the Ettin's Lair. Place Sir Alric Farrow as indicated on the map. The shadow dragons are not placed during setup (see "Reinforcements").

As determined in Encounter 1, either Sir Alric Farrow carries the Duskblade or one of the heroes carries the Dawnblade. In addition to the Relic card, place a blue objective token under that figure—the token represents the sword and should be placed under any figure currently carrying it.

Place search tokens based on the number of heroes.

Place the red objective token faceup as indicated. This is the Wardstone.

Special Rules

The Sword

The blue objective token is the sword of Sir Arcite, variously known as the Duskblade or the Dawnblade.

As an action, a hero, master monster figure, or Sir Alric Farrow may pick up the Duskblade from an adjacent space, if it's not currently being carried. A master monster figure cannot wield the Duskblade, but as an action it may give the Duskblade to Sir Alric Farrow if he is in an adjacent space.

During this quest, Sir Alric Farrow follows the same rules for being defeated as a hero (he is knocked out when defeated and as an action, may stand up during his turn). While knocked out, ignore his Regeneration ability.

The Wardstone

The red objective token is the Wardstone. While adjacent to the Wardstone, as an action, a figure carrying the Dawnblade or Duskblade may attempt to either smash the artifact or refresh it. To smash it, the figure must test [Strength]. To refresh it, the figure must test [Willpower]. Passing either test immediately ends the quest (see "Victory"). Failing either test has no effect.

Reinforcements

At the end of each Overlord turn, he may discard 1 Overlord card to place 1 shadow dragon on the Dragon's Lair, respecting group limits.

Victory

Hero Victory

If the Wardstone is refreshed, read the following aloud:

You sink the sword into the wardstone, which seems to ripple like still water as the blade passes through it. There's a flare of bright sunlight which fades into a healthy glow emanating from the stone. As you withdraw the Dawnblade, you see the dragons settling into a torpid slumber. Success!

The heroes win!

Overlord Victory

If the Wardstone is smashed, read the following aloud:

As the wardstone shatters into a thousand pieces, a mighty roar echoes through the caverns. Suddenly two, three, a dozen dragons burst from icy caverns, all roaring with rage at their long confinement. You have no choice but to flee.

The Overlord wins!

If a shadow dragon moves off the map through the Entrance, read the following aloud:

As the dragon emerges into the wan sunlight of an overcast day, it screams its defiance at the sky and spreads its wings. Its cry is echoed by a dozen more great beasts, both within these caves and, apparently, elsewhere in the forest. It's too late—Gryvorn's spawn are free.

The Overlord wins!

Rewards

Win or lose, each player receives 1 XP.

If the heroes win, they receive the "Dawnblade" relic.

If the Overlord wins, he receives the "Duskblade" relic. In addition, for the remainder of the campaign the Overlord may choose shadow dragons as one of his open groups, regardless of the quest's listed monster traits. Mark this on the Campaign sheet as a reminder.

Map Tiles

Encounter 1:

Sewer
Crypt
Graveyard
Entrance
Exit

Encounter 2:

Dragon's Lair
Frozen Cave
Ettin's Lair
Entrance