Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 6 (Final)
September 22, 2024 ◇ 8 min read
In the previous chapter, the party began exploring the Clifftop Observatory in search of the lost bronze dragon wyrmling, Aidron. The delve is nearly finished, only a few more steps remain before they reach their goal.
- Part 1: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 1
- Part 2: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 2
- Part 3: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 3
- Part 4: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 4
- Part 5: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle 5
- Part 6: You're here
Resources (purchasing items using the links below is a great way to help me maintain this blog):
Preparing for the Chapter
Besker Duskwinter
Insightful, Skilled, Stubborn human Paladin
Assets: Empowered, Loyalist, Shield-bearer (2)
Edge: 1, Heart: 3, Iron: 2, Shadow: 1, Wits: 2
Health: 5, Spirit: 5, Momentum: 9
Nellandra Dalarandar
Powerful, Dependent, Selfish elf Wizard
Assets: Improviser, Slinger (2), Invoke
Edge: 2, Heart: 2, Iron: 1, Shadow: 1, Wits: 3
Health: 5, Spirit: 5, Momentum: 10, Essence: 4
Shared supply: 3
The party descended the stairs that had formed after all the statues at the observatory tower were aligned toward the constellation.
Delve the Depths (Nellandra)
Strong hit: 6 + 3 (wits) = 9 vs 5, 4.
Mark progress and Reveal a Danger.
Delve progress: 10/10
Area #5
Feature: Rubble-choked hall
Find an Opportunity
Opportunity: The terrain favors you, or you find a hidden path. Gain insight or prepare: Take +1 momentum.
Aspect focus: Abundant Corruption
Stale air heavy with the smell of old parchment floods your nostrils. The walls are lined with shelves stuffed full of old tomes and yellowing scrolls. Glass cases, toppled over and shattered, have strewn their contents across the stone floor. The sound of splintering wood echoes through the space, and a moment later you see an agitated bronze dragon the size of a bear, picking himself up from the wreckage of the old desk he apparently crashed into.
The secret library was Aidron's prison.
Reach a Milestone: Find the Lost Wyrmling. Milestone: Found Aidron.
Progress 8/10
The bronze dragon glanced at the exit and asked if they were there to help him or end him. Were they the blue dragon’s allies? How had they gotten there, if not?
Besker and Nellandra explained the current state of affairs, their journey, and how they managed to unlock the entrance. They also told him that Sparkrender was currently asleep on the floor above.
Upon hearing that, he rushed to the exit.
Is the silence spell still active?
Ask the Oracle (Unlikely): 19, No.
Aidron half ran, half flew directly at Sparkrender. The sleeping dragon opened his eyes but did not have enough time to react before the impact.
He was in no shape to win this encounter on his own, but he would not back down. The conflict was unavoidable.
Enter the Fray (Nellandra)
Strong hit: 2 + 2 (heart) = 4 vs 1, 3. +2 harm (slinger).
Enter the Fray (Besker)
Strong hit: 6 + 3 (heart) = 9 vs 4, 2.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 2/10
Spell
Spell intent + essence: Conjure Animal
Spell descriptor + focus: Shrouded Hazard
Spell action + theme: Demand Corruption
Spell components: Chant + Gesture + Material
Summon
Size: Small (hound-sized)
Form: Beast / mammal
Characteristics: Tentacles / tendrils
Abilities: Powerful bite
Both of them ran after the hotheaded wyrmling. With Sparkrender surprised by the sudden attack, they momentarily had the upper hand. Nellandra stopped at the top of the stairs, pulled out a small piece of sulfur she had gathered while exploring Seagrow Caves, chanted a spell, and threw the sulfur in the direction of the fighting dragons. The sulfur dissolved into smoke and formed a misty hound that flew directly at Sparkrender, bit him, and disappeared, leaving burning marks.
Combat action: Attack with power.
Combat method: Impact.
Combat target: Stress.
Strike (Nellandra)
Miss: 4 + 2 (edge) = 6 vs 7, 10.
Pay the Price: It causes a delay or puts you at a disadvantage. -3 momentum.
Strike (Besker)
Weak hit: 5 + 2 (iron) = 7 vs 5, 9.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 4/10
The dragon shook them off, bellowed with rage after being hit by a glancing strike from Besker, and knocked his assailants back with his tail and wings.
Combat action: Reinforce defenses.
Combat method: Impact.
Combat target: Protection.
Face Danger (Besker)
Weak hit: 2 + 1 (edge) + 1 = 4 vs 2, 6. -1 health.
Endure Harm (Besker)
Weak hit: 6 + 4 (health) = 10 vs 10, 6.
Face Danger (Nellandra)
Strong hit: 6 + 2 (edge) = 8 vs 7, 6. +1 momentum.
Triumphant after his successful retaliation, Sparkrender began preparing his lightning breath. Aidron was immune, but the party was not. As quickly as they could, they sought cover behind the four statues on the plaza. The lightning strike swept across the area, missing Nellandra, who was tucked behind a statue, but reaching Besker, who had not made it in time.
Strike (Nellandra)
Miss: 4 + 2 (edge) = 6 vs 9, 9. Match event: Manipulate Ruin.
Pay the Price: It wastes resources. -3 supplies.
Out of Supply Mystic backlash: Your ritual has the opposite affect.
Spell
Spell intent + essence: Conjure Earth
Spell descriptor + focus: New Supply
Spell action + theme: Destroy Opportunity
Hidden behind the statue, Nellandra touched the ground with both hands and began chanting, envisioning a huge earth spike impaling the dragon. Both dragons thrashed around, clawing at each other. Aidron was bashed against the statue she was hiding behind, and at that moment she lost concentration. The unleashed magic consumed all her components. The spike missed its mark and instead demolished a statue on the other side of the plaza, sending cracked stones flying from the impact.
Face Danger (Besker)
Strong hit: 2 + 3 (heart) + 1 = 6 vs 3, 3. Match event: Advance Risk. +1 momentum.
Combat method: Shove.
Combat target: Advantage.
Aid Your Ally (Besker)
Miss: 2 + 3 (heart) + 1 = 6 vs 10, 6. Burnt momentum. Weak hit: 2 + 3 (heart) + 1 = 10 vs 10, 6. +1 momentum each.
Covering himself with his shield from both rocks and potential blows, Besker moved to a better position to give Nellandra much-needed support and protection.
Strike: Hold them back (Nellandra)
Weak hit: 6 + 2 (edge) = 8 vs 2, 9. Retain initiative, inflict 1 harm.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 5/10
After the earth exploded right next to them, both dragons took to the air and exchanged claws and bites. Nellandra changed her tactics and decided to avoid as much risk as possible. She also did not want to accidentally hit their ally. Carefully calculated bolts flew through the air to hit their mark—less lethal than before but still effective.
Clash (Besker)
Weak hit: 6 + 1 (edge) = 7 vs 5, 9.
Pay the Price: It forces you to act against your best intentions.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 7/10
Unable to do much else, Besker switched to ranged combat, took position, aimed, and fired. Not being in his element, he felt exposed and vulnerable.
Face Danger (Besker)
Weak hit: 6 + 2 (iron) + 1 = 9 vs 7, 9. -1 spirit.
Endure Stress (Besker)
Strong hit: 3 + 4 (spirit) + 1 = 8 vs 7, 2.
Annoyed by the projectiles, Sparkrender dove straight at Besker. He landed on the ground with a solid thump, sending up clouds of dust, took a few incredibly fast steps, and clawed at Besker, who barely managed to defend himself in time. Besker deflected the blow, but the sheer power shook him. One wrong move could lead to his demise.
Aid Your Ally (Besker)
Strong hit: 2 + 3 (heart) + 1 = 6 vs 5, 1. +1 momentum each.
He shook off the dread and retreated back to Nellandra to shield her from whatever might come next.
Strike: Hold them back (Nellandra)
Weak hit: 5 + 2 (edge) + 1 = 8 vs 8, 1. Retain initiative, inflict 1 harm.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 8/10
Strike (Nellandra)
Strong hit: 4 + 2 (edge) = 6 vs 2, 3. +3 harm.
Challenge track (formidable): Battle with Sparkrender.
Progress: 10/10
She continued the barrage while the dragons circled and exchanged blows. After each strike, they moved to a new position, attempting to confuse Sparkrender and avoid becoming easy targets. Sparkrender grew increasingly annoyed and frustrated. These weak hits were not enough to bring down a dragon like him, but with both these humanoids and Aidron now free, the completion of his ritual was slipping further away.
End the Fight (Besker)
Battle with Sparkrender resolved. Strong hit: 10 vs 6, 6. Match event: Uncover Opinion.
Besker rammed into one of the effigies required for the ritual they had helped build earlier. The makeshift statue collapsed, stones rolling across the ground. Without all the effigies and with Aidron free, the ritual could not be completed. Sparkrender bellowed in rage. Furious, he landed on a part of the collapsed tower wall, glared at them, and promised revenge. Next time, it would not be so easy. He would have centuries to prepare. Sneering, he added that some of them would not be around to stop him anyway. One last time, he unleashed his lightning breath. The bolt danced dangerously across the plaza and soared into the sky, leaving them behind.
Reach a Milestone: Find the Lost Wyrmling. Milestone: Resolve conflict with Sparkrender.
Progress 10/10
For now, the residents of Stormwreck Isle are safe. Even if Sparkrender returns the next day, he will not be able to do anything about the interrupted ritual.
Fullfil Your Vow
Find the Lost Wyrmling resolved. Strong hit: 10 vs 9, 6. +2 exp each.
Locate Your Objective
Clifftop Observatory completed. Weak hit: 8 vs 8, 6.
Action: Break.
Theme: Home.
There was, however, one more pressing matter. During the fight, the structure, already in poor condition, had taken so much damage that it was now crumbling, the floor cracking and rocks falling into the sea. It was time to evacuate.
Invoke: Face Danger (Nellandra)
Weak hit: 4 + 4 (essence) = 8 vs 6, 9. -1 stress.
Endure Stress (Nellandra)
Weak hit: 3 + 4 (spirit) = 7 vs 7, 4.
Spell
Spell intent + essence: Control Earth
Spell descriptor + focus: Damaged Portal
Spell action + theme: Aid Creation
Using the essence she still had, Nellandra chanted a spell, and a secure path formed in front of them, leading toward the cliff and the bridge. Cracks were held together for a brief moment by an unseen force. It held just long enough for them to escape, and while the structure still stood tall over the rocky shore, each step could have had fatal consequences.
With Aidron in tow, they traveled back to Dragon's Rest.
Runara was pleased by the bronze wyrmling's safe return and welcomed everyone to stay at Dragon's Rest as long as they wished. With the Clifftop Observatory now in an even worse state than before, and the draconic knowledge buried and inaccessible somewhere in the secret library, Stormwreck Isle should enter a time of relative peace. A lot of time will pass before the King-Killer Star comet is once again visible in the sky, and so Sparkrender should not bother them anytime soon.
End stats and summary
Besker Duskwinter
Insightful, Skilled, Stubborn human Paladin
Assets: Empowered, Loyalist, Shield-bearer (2)
Edge: 1, Heart: 3, Iron: 2, Shadow: 1, Wits: 2
Health: 4, Spirit: 4, Momentum: 5
Experience: 5, spent: 2
Nellandra Dalarandar
Powerful, Dependent, Selfish elf Wizard
Assets: Improviser, Slinger (2), Invoke
Edge: 2, Heart: 2, Iron: 1, Shadow: 1, Wits: 3
Health: 5, Spirit: 4, Momentum: 9, Essence: 3
Experience: 5, spent: 2
Shared supply: 0
Debilities: Unprepared (Both)
Vows (Quests): 3 (Stop the plague of zombies, Reestablish contact with the myconids, Find the Lost Wyrmling), all dangerous.
Journeys: 3 (to Compass Rose, Seagrow Caves and Clifftop Observatory), all troublesome, total of 8 waypoints.
Delves: 2 (Compass Rose, Clifftop Observatory), both dangerous, 5 waypoints each.
Tracks (for combat encounters): 7, from troublesome to formidable.
Fun: A lot.
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle was a nice introduction to the world of D&D and an adventure that was easy to solo. It required much less work than usual when converting one system into another. With three separate parts, it was easy to recover and keep all the stats high, so there is room to increase the difficulty. However, that would also add more rolls to the story and extend encounters. Thank you for reading this campaign. I hope it was enjoyable and, perhaps, will also serve as a player aid when facing the challenge of running pre-made modules.
