Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Elder Runara

Elder Runara is the leader of Dragon's Rest. She appears as a human woman, but she is actually an adult bronze dragon disguised in human form. She guides the residents of the cloister in their contemplation and study. The cloister's inhabitants know Runara's true identity, but they do not speak of it to visitors.

Runara's initial attitude toward the characters is indifferent (see "Social Interaction" in the Basic Rules). She becomes friendly as soon as the characters demonstrate that they care about the cloister's safety, such as by fighting the zombies at the beach or undertaking any of the quests she offers them (see "x" later in this chapter). If the characters harm any of the residents of Dragon's Rest, she becomes hostile and insists the characters make amends for the harm they did before she is willing to deal with them in any way.

Runara's mission is to help those whose lives have been shaped by violence find new paths forward in peace. Ultimately, she would like to see chromatic and metallic dragons find a peaceful way to coexist in the world. In the meantime, she finds comfort in helping humans and other people escape from cycles of violence.

Runara maintains a secret lair in a cave accessed by an undersea tunnel, a short distance from the cloister and not shown on the map of Dragon's Rest. She is careful not to enter or leave the cave when anyone might spot her, and she enters and emerges from the water in the open ocean, out of sight of the cloister. The other residents of the cloister think she lives in the temple at the top of the island (x), or they simply laugh away queries about her accommodations, explaining that she's always in the temple, or in the library, or checking on the rest of the residents—she never seems to sleep!

Kobolds

Kobolds are small reptilian Humanoids who believe they are descended from dragons and often live near them. Over the centuries, many bands of kobolds have been drawn to Stormwreck Isle by the lingering draconic magic that suffuses the island. Nine kobolds utterly devoted to Runara now live at Dragon's Rest.

[image: Ever since an unfortunate incident in the kitchen, Laylee is no longer allowed to handle Myla's alchemical fire.]

The kobolds of Dragon's Rest are lawful good, sharing Runara's ideals of justice and compassion. Since they are sensitive to sunlight, they work at night and avoid moving about during the day. Unless otherwise noted, the kobolds are initially friendly toward the adventurers.

The kobolds are summarized below. They can offer a local perspective or be a way for you to pass hints to the players if they're having trouble putting things together. But don't feel like you need to bring all nine of these kobolds to life! Pick one or two of these kobolds that you and the characters like the most and let them be the focus of the characters' interactions with the kobolds:

Agga speaks little and has no patience for nonsense. She keeps the rest of the kobolds organized and in line. She is indifferent toward visitors, but if the characters show respect for the cloister and help keep the more rambunctious kobolds in line, her attitude improves to friendly.

Blepp has a sharp danger sense and is convinced he's supernaturally lucky. His prized possession is an ordinary dagger he claims is magical.

Frub has limitless energy and desperately needs help finding productive directions to channel it. He loves to ask questions about everything other people are doing.

Kilnip has terrible insomnia and sleeps only a few hours each day. She is always tired but an eager conversationalist.

Laylee has a curious mind and a talent for tools and building. She serves as Myla's helper.

Mumpo is so audaciously courageous that he stole a copper piece from Runara's hoard. He's convinced she has no idea. (He is wrong, but Runara finds the situation amusing and lets Mumpo continue to believe in her ignorance.)

Myla (lawful good kobold tinkerer) is a winged kobold whose brothers, Mek and Minn, now follow Sparkrender, the blue wyrmling in Clifftop Observatory (see chapter 4). When Myla's wings were badly injured in an attack by stirges (which she describes as "hungry, icky, blood-sucking, bat-things"), Runara helped in her recovery. Now Myla spends her time experimenting with alchemy, engineering, and magic.

Rix is pious and tends to the temple, acting as Runara's assistant. She adores puns. Rix recently witnessed a ship crashing on the rocks to the north (see "x" later in this chapter).

Zark is rude and fond of colorful insults. His favorites are "Eat my sword, bugbear breath!" and "Your father was a gas spore!" He is indifferent toward visitors.

Tarak

Tarak is a human in late middle age. He has pale skin tanned darker with many freckles, auburn hair and a beard that is mostly gray, and gray-blue eyes. Faded tattoos in an abstract design peek up the side of his neck from beneath his dirt-stained robes.

An avid botanist, Tarak tends the cloister's garden plots, growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables. He is soft spoken and helpful, eager to share his knowledge of herbalism. But his kindly demeanor belies his past as a ruthless poisoner for a thieves' guild. After his work led to the death of his lover, he fled the guild and plans to spend the rest of his life atoning for his past evils.

Tarak is initially friendly toward visitors, but if a character pries into his past, his attitude shifts—first to indifferent, then to hostile if the character continues to push. When he's hostile, his demeanor becomes cold and clipped, and he avoids the characters if he can.

A gold hangman's noose is worked into the design of Tarak's visible tattoos. A character who studies the tattoos and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check recognizes the mark as a symbol associated with the Gilded Gallows, a thieves' guild that operates in a country far to the southeast called Elturgard. A character with the criminal background automatically succeeds on this check. Tarak does not willingly discuss the details of his past with anyone but trusted friends.

Tarak frequently visits the sea caves on the south side of the island to acquire heart cap mushrooms from the myconids that live there. He uses the mushrooms to make potions of healing. But the myconids have installed a fearsome guardian at their caves—a fungus-covered octopus monster—that has turned him away on his latest visits, and he is worried (see "x").

Varnoth

Varnoth is a muscular human whose black hair is cropped close to her scalp. Her light brown skin bears many scars—one of which runs across her left eye, which is milky and blind. An elegant prosthetic made from wood and metal replaces her right leg below the knee.

Varnoth was a feared general at the head of a mercenary company called the Azure Wolves. Age and battle have taken a toll on her, and she is spending her twilight years in reflective contemplation at Dragon's Rest. Her demeanor is gruff, but she is observant and empathetic. Above all, Varnoth believes in second chances and redemption.

Varnoth has a set of mason's tools that she uses to maintain the temple and other areas of the cloister. While working in the temple recently, she witnessed a ship change course and crash into the rocks to the north (see "x").

Varnoth is indifferent to visitors, but a character can shift her attitude to friendly by engaging her in conversation on her favorite topics: history, ethics, and the impact of individual actions on the world.

A character who learns Varnoth's name and succeeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check recalls hearing of General Varnoth Wender and the Azure Wolves, which was a mighty force in the east about a decade ago. A character with the soldier background succeeds on this check automatically.

A1: Path and Monastic Cells

A2: Winch House

Inside the building is a winch that allows the pallet to be lowered down to the water, 50 feet below. When boats deliver supplies to the cloister, the residents use this pallet to haul goods both up and down.

A lever locks the winch in place. If a character pulls the lever, the pallet falls down to the water and floats there. As an action, a character can operate the winch to pull the pallet back up 10 feet.

A3: Kitchen

The cloister residents share three daily meals here. They take turns cooking and cleaning up after meals. Nobody says it out loud, but the days when Tarak cooks are everyone's favorite.

A4: Library

The cloister library holds books and scrolls covering a variety of topics, but focused on theology and history. Runara spends nearly half her time in here, studying, copying, and annotating the library's collection. Tarak and Varnoth also come here to read and discuss various works. Many of the kobolds visit as well, but mostly for the quiet; only Myla could be described as studious.

A5: Temple of Bahamut

The temple is very simple, with the statue (represented by the star-in-a-circle symbol on the map) as its only furnishing. The statue depicts Bahamut, the Platinum Dragon, in mortal disguise, surrounded by seven canaries that represent gold dragons who accompany him on his travels. A character who examines the statue and succeeds on a DC 10 Intelligence (Religion) check recognizes Bahamut, and any resident of Dragon's Rest identifies the god if asked.

Depressions in the statue's pedestal at the four cardinal directions hold offerings of incense made to Bahamut. Runara spends about half her time here, tending and maintaining the temple, offering prayers and incense, or in quiet contemplation. Other residents of the cloister help her, most often Varnoth and the kobold Rix.

The feeling of serenity that pervades the temple is the result of protective magic. A non-evil creature who makes a saving throw within the temple can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw. If a character casts detect magic in the temple, the spell reveals a faint aura around the statue. Runara is the only inhabitant of Dragon's Rest who knows that this is a lingering effect of the death of a dragon on this site—her father, Astalagan.

More Zombies

If the characters defeated the zombies when they first arrived on the island, you can use this encounter at any point during the adventure to add a little extra combat spice to the characters' lives. If the characters have already reached 2nd level, you can use from four to six zombies to give them a good challenge.

The Cleric

The cleric was led here by a recurring dream involving the shadow of death. If the character talks to Runara about the dream or their quest, Runara listens closely, then pauses to think. "Well," she says, "I am no expert on interpreting dreams, but perhaps the zombies you fought are the 'hunger of death' you spoke of." She points the character toward the wreck of Compass Rose (see "Shipwreck" above) to investigate further.

The Fighter

The fighter has come to Dragon's Rest in the hope that Runara can help the character understand the sense of destiny that weighs on their shoulders. If the character talks to Runara about this on first arriving at the cloister, Runara invites the character to consider how their reaction to the zombies on the beach might reflect their destiny—or not. If the character talks to Runara after having completed one or more of the adventure's quests, she encourages the character to consider whether their heroic actions might be the first manifestations of that destiny taking shape. At the end of the adventure, Runara encourages the character to continue on their path: "If your destiny is not clear to you yet, I'm confident it soon will be."

The Paladin

Disillusioned with the corruption of Neverwinter, the paladin comes to Dragon's Rest seeking rest and new resolve. Runara welcomes the character and encourages them to talk to Tarak and Varnoth, who both know about escaping lives of corruption and violence. She also encourages the paladin to spend time in the temple of Bahamut. At the end of the adventure, she asks the paladin if they have learned anything about how to live in a world plagued with such corruption. If the character has no answer, she suggests, "Perhaps your adventures here have shown you a way to combat evil on your own terms. Perhaps other such adventures await you."

The Rogue

The rogue comes to Dragon's Rest in search of a lost fortune supposedly secreted away on the island by a member of the Gilded Gallows. The thieves' guild member in question is Tarak, who did in fact betray the guild, though the story has been twisted in the retelling. Tarak's last assignment for the guild was to assassinate a traitor, who was his lover. The two tried to flee Elturgard together, but his lover was killed by another assassin. Tarak escaped, but no treasure was involved. If the rogue asks him about it, he explains he has left the life of crime—and suggests perhaps it's time for the rogue to do the same.

The Wizard

The wizard carries a letter from a colleague about lost knowledge held in the Clifftop Observatory (see chapter 4). If asked about the observatory, Runara says, "Many have sought the knowledge contained in that place. I can direct you there, but first you need to show me you are worthy." She promises to direct the wizard to the observatory after the characters help deal with the other problems on the island.

Hot Springs Havoc

This encounter poses a simple challenge for characters of 2nd level or higher, or a harder challenge for 1st-level characters. It's particularly appropriate if the characters are rowing around the island or making their way along the coast at sea level.

Not immediately visible to the characters are the guardians of the spring: three fume drakes. These mischievous creatures are initially indifferent to the characters and ignore their arrival, but if anyone attempts to gather mushrooms or enter the water of the hot spring, the fume drakes become hostile, emerging from the water to attack the group. A character who examines the water and succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check spots the shimmering outlines of the fume drakes in the water.

There, There, Owlbear

This encounter poses a medium challenge for 3rd-level characters and a difficult challenge for 2nd-level characters. Use it if your group enjoys combat or the players need a chance to practice using their characters' new abilities after gaining a level. It's particularly appropriate if the characters are traveling across the island rather than following the coast.

This owlbear is hostile toward the characters. It views them as intruders in its territory, though its goal is to drive them away rather than kill them. Originally a part of a performing troupe, the owlbear was stranded here after the ship carrying the troupe crashed on the northern rocks.

Any character within 5 feet of the owlbear notices a small wooden whistle hanging around its neck. This whistle was (and still can be) used to train and command the owlbear. A character within 5 feet of the owlbear can use their action to attempt to grab the whistle. If the character succeeds on a DC 12 Strength check, the whistle comes free. With the whistle in hand, a character can take an action to blow into it and make a DC 10 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check. On a success, the owlbear calms and immediately becomes friendly toward the whistle holder and indifferent toward the other characters. However, it won't leave the area it now considers its territory, and any attempt to force it to leave makes it hostile again.

Kobold Renegades

This encounter is a difficult challenge for 1st-level characters and can be scaled up for 2nd- or 3rd-level characters as noted below. It's appropriate whenever characters are traveling around the island by land.

A group of kobolds tries to ambush the characters. They're hiding in the rocks and light foliage, hoping to get the jump on the adventurers. Make a Dexterity (Stealth) check for the kobolds, rolling once for all of them and using the Dexterity modifier (+2) of the wingless kobolds. Compare the result to the characters' passive Wisdom (Perception) scores. Any character whose score is lower than the kobolds' check result is surprised and loses their turn during the first round of combat (see "Surprise" in the Basic Rules). Read this text when the kobolds attack:

Four kobolds and one winged kobold (all lawful evil) participate in this ambush. These cruel, vicious kobolds reject both the peaceful teaching of Runara and the tyrannical rule of Sparkrender, and they prey on travelers who stray away from Dragon's Rest. They haven't had much success and are desperate, so they're hostile and fight to the death.

Their desperation means that they can easily be persuaded to stop fighting with an offer of money or food. Otherwise, they're not interested in conversation or negotiation.

What Lies Beneath

As described in the "x" section in the introduction, Stormwreck Isle was formed from magic-fueled volcanic activity in the tomb of a monstrous red dragon named Sharruth. Some legends and rumors suggest Sharruth is not actually dead, merely imprisoned beneath the island, and the activity in Seagrow Caves suggests that all is not well beneath Stormwreck Isle.

You can devise your own adventures around characters investigating Sharruth's tomb. Characters might scour the island until they find hidden vents they can use to access winding tunnels leading deep into the earth. More fume drakes and fire snakes might lurk below. Perhaps there's even a group of kobolds who serve mighty Sharruth.

Such an adventure is yours to devise, and you can put your unique spin on what the characters do and discover there. Of course, if you're not ready to craft an expedition into the caverns beneath the island, then the characters simply don't discover those subterranean passages no matter how much they search.