chromatic dragons.pdf - Free

EnvironmentHellkiln is a violent island, dominated by an enormousvolcano that is prone to erupt with unsettlingfrequency. The eastern side of the island is far easierto climb than is the west. The ground is rocky, pitted,and fraught with vents spewing steam. However, theapproach is easy, and the ground climbs gently acrosssmooth toes of cooled lava that become hotter thehigher one ascends.Hellkiln has the following features except whereotherwise indicated.✦ On the lower slopes, characters can move unimpeded.However, within 15 squares of the caldera,the terrain is difficult.✦ Outside the volcano, lighting depends on the timeof day. Inside, the fiery magma at the bottom providesconstant dim light.Hellkiln’s HazardsHellkiln is a dangerous place to explore, and PCs whospend time here are at risk from quakes and fierycinders. For every 10 minutes the characters spendon Hellkiln, there is a 10% chance that one of the twofollowing environmental dangers occurs.QuakeLevel 15 LurkerHazard XP 1,200Geological instability triggers an earthquake that shakes theentire island.Hazard: Every 10 minutes, check to see if this unstable island isjostled by an earthquake.PerceptionNo check is necessary to notice the quake.Additional Skill: Nature✦ DC 10: The character notices that the entire island is unstable.Initiative +7TriggerThe trigger for a quake is random and has a 10% chance ofoccurring every 10 minutes that the PCs are on the island.When triggered, a quake rolls initiative. After the trigger andbefore the quake’s attack, characters in the area know thatan earthquake is beginning. On its turn, the quake attacks allcreatures standing on the ground.AttackStandard Action Area islandTargets: Creatures in the areaAttack: +15 vs. ReflexHit: 1d10 + 10 damage, and the target is knocked prone.Miss: Half damage, and the target is not knocked prone.Special: At the end of its turn, roll a saving throw for the quake.On a success, the quake continues for another round. If thesaving throw fails, the quake stops.Countermeasures✦ A DC 23 Nature check and a standard action allow a creature tofind a way to brace itself, gaining a +4 bonus to Reflex defenseagainst the quake’s attacks.✦ The quake does not attack flying creatures.Cinder StormLevel 15 LurkerHazard XP 1,200The volcano lets loose a minor eruption, belching forth a cloud offiery cinders.Hazard: The capricious volcano shoots forth this cinder storm atinfrequent intervals.PerceptionNo check is necessary to notice the cinders.Additional Skill: Nature✦ DC 10: The character notices that the volcano is active.Initiative +7TriggerThe trigger for the cinder storm is random and has a 10%chance of occurring every 10 minutes that the PCs are on theisland.AttackImmediate Interrupt Area burst 10(centered on a random PC)Target: Each creature in burstAttack: +18 vs. ReflexHit: 1d8 + 4 fire damage, and ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends).Effect: The burst becomes difficult terrain.Countermeasures✦ A PC who succeeds on a DC 25 Nature check can successfullyintuit the most probable intervals and areas of cinder stormstrikes. This knowledge grants the PCs a +2 bonus to Reflexdefense for the cinder storm attacks.Approaching the LairWhen the PCs approach the island, read:Smoke billows from the caldera of an active volcano, andflashes of light and the occasional burst of lava spew fromits depths. The rest of the island is barren, a great expanseof black and silver igneous rocks, some smooth and ropy,others sharp and jagged. Piercing the crust are numerousmine shafts from which billow clouds of smoke, while rentsand fissures belch similar plumes. All around the island,the sea boils, steaming as the ground is slowly built up fromthe depths of the sea.Area 1: Black ShoreThe island’s lower shores are mostly black sand,washed up after the seawater rapidly cools superheatedrock from the ocean’s depths. The beach isfree of plant life, and no tracks suggest that anyonehas ever been here.Area 2: MinesThe azers excavated three mines into the island’s coreto extract minerals and ore from the cooled lava.When the PCs approach a mine, read:A massive hole burrows into the ground, descending nearly100 feet before ending in a shimmering pool of liquid rock.VOLCANO LAIRCHAPTER 3 | Dragon Lairs135