Within the first week of the party’s departure, a Siren
Messenger lands on the deck of the Ultros and delivers a letter which reads: Hail to the Oracle’s Chosen Ones!As the keeper of the Dragon Shrine, I have a favor toask of you. Many believe that all the dragons of Balmytria’s brood were killed alongside her in the First War,five hundred years ago. However, my research indicatesthat the other four dragons may have been captured bythe Titans. If this is true, then they must be found andrescued.I beg you to be watchful on your journey. As theOracle’s chosen few, I believe that these dragons wouldserve you, so long as you hold to the ideals of their formermasters.—Aesop
Several events tied to some of the epic backgrounds occur during the voyage.
You dream of Versi on this night. She speaks to you, her eyes distant with prophecy. “A dragon egg waits for you beneath the stars of the Prisoner,” she whispers. “It lies on Fire Island, where flame and fate are one. I have also seen your legendary armor. It is no longer lost; it rests in the hands of Gaius, who hides himself away upon the Island of Yonder.”
This vision corresponds to the brass dragon egg on Fire Island (area V15) and the Vanished One’s armor on the Island of Yonder (area Y12).
A cold wind sweeps the deck as the ghost of Estor Arkelander rises from the shadows. “Hear me, heir of my legacy,” he whispers. “The lost treasure of the Dragonlords lies sealed in the shattered mirror that once bound the Kraken beneath the Nether Sea. But it is guarded by a dragon with a twisted soul. Defeat it, and the legacy of the Dragonlords may yet be reclaimed.” The spirit then vanishes into the night.
A soft, familiar voice drifts from the locket. “My child … do you hear me? I am your grandmother; the sorceress whom Sydon betrayed and destroyed. My blood flows in you, and through you, I may yet set right what was broken. The gods may have forgotten me, but you carry my spark. I will guide you toward your destiny, and together we will awaken what the world has lost. The voice fades, trembling with effort. “I cannot speak long … even this whisper draws his gaze. Listen for me when the winds are still.”
The Gifted One’s grandmother will reach out three more times.
When the Gifted One approaches the Island of the Fates or Fire Island (chapter 2):
“My dear one, seek the dragon’s egg, for there is one on this island. The egg is the seed of renewal, the heart of all that once soared in Thylea. Within it lies the future of the Dragonlords. Guard it as you would your own soul.”
When the Gifted One approaches the Garden of Helios (chapter 3):
“The fortress of the Dragonlords still stands, hidden in the treasure hoard of Helios. Reclaim it, and the banners of old shall rise again. There, you will find the strength to unite dragons and mortals once more.”
When the Gifted One approaches Praxys, the Tower of Sydon (chapter 5):
“My murderer sits upon his throne, believing himself unchallenged. But his blood flows in your veins. Strike him down, my child. Let thunder answer thunder, and may his fall echo through eternity.”
In the depths of slumber, you find yourself upon the silver shores of a strange sea. Mist curls around your feet, and from the fog steps Versi. Her eyes glimmer with longing. “I have watched the ages turn,” she whispers. “And I have found one who carries your blood, your descendant. Would you know where they dwell?” Her tone is both tender and possessive.
If the hero agrees, Versi reveals that one of their distant descendants lives in the world today. This is an heir separated by fifteen to twenty generations. Use the Descendants table to determine which NPC bears this lineage. You can choose a different NPC if you desire.
For a hero who is a dragonborn, gygan, nymph, or orc, the GM is encouraged to create a character to be placed in Mytros or Aresia.
Depending on the descendant, the Vanished One may find a strange reunion, or a bitter foe.
Descendants
Species
NPC Chapter
Centaur
Chieftain Agrius The Prison Fort in chapter 8
Dwarf
Lennicus Aresia in chapter 7
Elf
Jocasta Aresia in chapter 7
Gnome
Loopywoopy Indigo Island in chapter 2
Halfling
Haidee Aresia in chapter 7
Human/Tiefling/
Half-Elf
Commander Gaius Island of Yonder in chapter 2
Jancan
Bront and Steros Fire Island and Themis in chapter 2
Minotaur
Zakroth The Prison Fort in chapter 8
Satyr
Loreus Mossy Temple in chapter 2 of TheGreat Labors
This constellation leads to the mainland of Thylea. On clear nights it is always visible.
“See the Great Bear? She is always there in the sky, hunting to feed her cubs. Unlike the other stars, she never touches the ocean. “At the dawn of time, the Titans created many birds and beasts to live in the lands of Thylea but all the waters of the oceans remained empty. Only the Great Bear swam in the rivers and lakes. The Mother Goddess came to her and said, ‘Great Bear, you are the wisest of the land-walkers, so I will grant you a boon. I will fill the oceans with creatures, strange and colorful, and you will have dominion over them. Would this please you?’ “The Great Bear was quiet for some time until the Goddess prompted her to speak. Finally, the Bear said, ‘Mother Goddess, I am humbled by your generosity. The creatures you speak of sound marvelous, but I love the lands and rivers and lakes too much to leave them for the seas.’ “The Mother Goddess understood. She smiled, and with a wave of her hands, all the rivers and lakes of Thylea were filled with glittering fish, so that the Great Bear would never want for food. To this day, she loves to swim the rivers, catching fish. But she has never touched the ocean.”
