Epic Level Handbook

What’s Needed: The first requirement is an extremelypowerful dragon. There are some provided in this book,and it’s a relatively simple matter to create one—butgive careful consideration to the skills and abilities thisdragon possesses. In addition to amazing skill in combat,this dragon requires the means to take, and keep, followers.Leadership becomes essential. Also, the dragonrequires spells or powers that focus on controlling thethoughts and minds of others. An epic dragon is likelyto have developed epic spells (or epic psionic powers) ofits own, most likely of the compulsion, charm, andrelated varieties. See the dragon in the example below;it’s not even an epic dragon, but it possesses some ofthese requirements. You can build on it for an evenmore powerful version.The dragon requires a lair. This can be the traditionalcavern, or deep swamp, or whatever else is appropriatefor the type of dragon you choose. Even though an ordinarysort of lair is something of a cliche, it might bebetter than setting the dragon up as a wolf in sheep’sclothing in the middle of civilization. Consider that epiccharacters have ways of finding out just about anything;divinations and detect spells function so well that it’s hardfor the DM to keep his NPCs’ identities, alignments,thoughts, and general nature a secret. And, after all, it is adragon. It likes remote wilderness.Next, the dragon’s followers. Some of them should behigh-level characters in their own right. Imagine that aband of 16th- to 18th-level characters, followingrumors of a dragon, set out to take it on. The charactersdiscover the hard way that they were no match for thedragon. But instead of disposing of the characters, thedragon makes a deal with them: Serve me, and youshall live. And the characters agree. Such charactersshould have all the personality and complexity of anyof the players’ characters, because they are going to domuch more than just function as a front line of defensefor the dragon.Finally, you need a reason for the dragon to gather servantslike he gathers gold. Why not just kill any invaders?That’s the easy route, and certainly in keeping with draconictradition, but this dragon is smart. It has a bundleof different interests, ideas, or even the need for mentalstimulation. Or, perhaps the dragon has aspirations ofbecoming the leader of an empire.The secret here is that you want to involve the dragon’sunderlings in your plots first, so that your players begininteracting with the dragon’s organization long beforethey ever meet the dragon. In fact, the NPC servantsshould not initially be adversaries. They could be goodalignedcharacters who have been genuinely convincedto uphold the dragon’s banner. The causes they are workingtoward themselves might very well be benign, at leaston the surface.Example: A green dragon named Rhovaelia hunts ahigh-level character: a rogue with levels in the perfectwight prestige class. The perfect wight stole a preciousartifact from her. The dragon knows only that a reallyskilled thief managed to get into her lair and make offwith the item. Rather than go hunting for the offenderherself, the dragon decides to turn the next group ofroving heroes into her personal trackers. In the shoes ofher simulacrum (see below), she persuades the charactersinto serving her, willingly, provides them with amplegold to outfit their mission, and tells them to go find hergoodie for her.The characters, taking the name of the Forgiven,decide to dedicate their lives to stopping crime (in thedragon’s name—she is pretty persuasive). By honingtheir skills at hunting down thieves, they hope to eventuallyfind the real culprit the dragon seeks. The Forgivenbegins to take on the traits of an organization,signing on many dozens, or even hundreds, of members(who do not know that the founders of the organizationserve Rhovaelia).When the PCs encounter members or bands of the Forgiven,they are asked to get involved in a well-organizedplan to clean up the city. Perhaps they even sign on for afew gigs, participating in a fabulous thwarted robbery, orcatching a high-caliber crime boss.Of course, the founders of the Forgiven organizationsecretly cull the stash of every thief they catch, lookingfor the artifact that started it all so they can return it tothe dragon. Rhovaelia: Female great wyrm green dragon; CR23; Gargantuan dragon; HD 38d12+304; hp 551; Init+4; Spd 40 ft., swim 40 ft., fly 200 ft. (clumsy); AC 43,touch 6, flat-footed 43; Atk +49 melee (4d6+14, bite),+44 melee (2d8 + 7, 2 claws), +43 melee (2d6 + 7, 2wings), +43 melee (2d8+21, tail slap) or +48 melee(4d6 + 21, crush); or +48 melee (2d6+21, tail sweep);Face/Reach 20 ft. by 40 ft./15 ft.; SA Breath weapon,frightful presence (DC 35), spell-like abilities; SQ.Blindsight 360 ft., DR 20/+2, immunities, keen senses,darkvision 1,200 ft., SR 30, water breathing; AL LE; SVFort +29, Ref +21, Will +29; Str 39, Dex 10, Con 27, Int26, Wis 23, Cha 22.Skills and Feats: Bluff +47, Concentration +48, Diplomacy+51, Escape Artist +42, Hide –11, Intimidate +51,Knowledge (arcana) +49, Knowledge (history) +49,Knowledge (local) +49, Knowledge (religion) +48, Listen+51, Scry +49, Search +49, Spot +46; Alertness, Cleave,Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Leadership, Power Attack,Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Sunder, Weapon Focus(claw), Weapon Focus (bite).Breath Weapon (Su): Cone of acid, 60 feet, damage24d6, Fort half DC 37.Immunities (Ex): Rhovaelia is immune to acid, sleep,and paralysis effects.Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day—dominate person, suggestion;1/day—command plants, plant growth. Caster level17th; save DC 16 + spell level.Sorcerer Spells Known (6/8/8/7/7/7/7/6/4; base DC 16+ spell level): 0—arcane mark, dancing lights, detect magic,CHAPTER 6:AN EPICSETTING287