Chapter 13: Return of the Triple Threat

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About the Saga

The venerable -- and deadly -- wyvern ol'Triple Threat catches up with our heroes as they journey north to Steel Skull Fortress.

Timeframe

Cast of Characters

Notable Quotes

  • "If we survive this, we should go and loot the wyvern's lair. Reading all those field reports finally paid off!" -- Telthanas

What Has Come Before

Our heroes have narrowly defeated a warband of Death's Head gnolls. The gnolls, dispatched by the *Death’s Head Sisters*, sought to capture the elusive adventurers. They would have succeeded if not for the intervention of a patrol of "General" Kor's Wyverns operating out of the old Steel Skull Fortress.

The patrol consists of a dozen newly-trained soldiers operating under the command of Lt. Feld Deathspeaker. Eight of these men were traditional foot soldiers, while four were dedicated archers. They have been patrolling the land around the Steel Skull Fortress looking for threats, recruits ... and the heroes. "General" Kor sincerely hopes that his friends while join him in forging the Wyvern Empire.

Unfortunately for Argnar and the heroes ... the would-be empire was about to go face-to-face with its namesake.

The Saga

Planting 2, CY 515

After the battle against the Death's Head gnolls, the heroes and their Wyvern Empire escorts rested for the night. The Steel Skull Fortress was a day's ride over broken terrain away. The exception was Roaryk, the notorious former pirate and current warlock, chose to seek travel to a remote location to community with his pact lord about the source of the strange green and purple lights to the east.

At dawn, disaster struck. Ol'Triple Threat, the ancient wyvern who had long hunted the south-central Pomarj, had sensed fresh meat in his domain. Even worse, this meat had delusions of power, delusions that he could not allow to stand. Dragons to the east, humans to the west, humanoids rampaging in between ... they were all food, and they had to be reminded of that.

He swooped in before the sun had risen above the horizon, killing one "Wyvern" guards by stabbing him through the heart with his stinger, then grabbing the other one with his talons. He flew straight up over the camp, tossed the guard into the air and stabbed him through the heart.

His bloody corpse falling into the middle of the camp was the first indication the Wyverns had that something was wrong. Fortunately for the heroes, Tanevir -- who had been on patrol when the attack happened -- witnessed the attack and immediately began rousing the camp.

Once roused, the Hextorite soldiers grabbed their swords and bows and struggled to defend themselves against the wyvern. The creature laid about its attackers with talon, wing, and stinger, glorying in the death it caused. When the heroes joined the frey ol'Triple Threat took to the skies, returning to its fly-by attacks.

The wyvern's attacks were relentless, slaying Lt. Deathspeaker and all but two of his men before the heroes were able to wound the beast well enough to drive it off.

With most of the Hextorites dead, the heroes grabbed their supplies, rallied the two surviving soldiers, and headed northeast toward the Steel Skull Fortress. Throughout the day the heroes would glance back toward the horizon and catch glimpses of ol'Triple Threat skimming the far-off tree tops before dipping behind a hill.

Knowing that it was only a matter of time until the wyvern attacked again, the adventurers decided to set a trap. The Hextorites recalled that there was an abandoned mining complex nearby. They quickly made their way to it. As they did so, Telthanas recalled that he'd read field reports about the possible location of the lair. "If we survive this, we should go and loot the wyvern's lair. Reading all those field reports finally paid off!".

Once they arrived at the abandoned iron mine they found several rundown structures and a large warehouse-like structure. They immediately set about rigging the warehouse with lamp oil while simultaneously weakening important supports. As they worked.

Then they waited for ol'Triple Threat to arrive. True to form, the wyvern arrived at dusk. Two of the Hextorites panicked and ran to a nearby out building, which the creature destroyed, killing the two soldiers. He then turned its baleful eyes toward Burgell, who'd charged onto the field as bait for the creature.

The wyvern charged after the gnome, who ducked into the boobytrapped building. The dragonkin flew into building, at which point Finn and Tanevir triggered the trap. The building collapsed, igniting as it did so. The heroes escaped, but Ol'Triple Threat didn't. The wyvern died in the conflagration.

Experience

Player Characters

  • Burgell Nackle: 1400 xp
  • Finn Underbow: 1400 xp
  • Tänévir Calywyn: 1400 xp

Non-Player Characters

  • Telthanas: 700 xp

Treasure

  • None
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