Aerie of the Roc • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

Small Island

Your ship approaches an island dominated by a single massive mountain surrounded by steep cliffs. The island is ringed by coral reefs and jagged rocks. Any attempts to navigate a large ship near this island’s rocky shores are likely to end in disaster.

This mountainous island soars 500 ft. into the air, has no natural bays, and is surrounded by dangerous reefs and rocky shallows. Approaching the island requires the use of a rowboat. Navigating the rocks and reefs in the rowboat requires a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Survival) check. Magical transportation would also work.

The craggy island is the nesting place for a mated pair of Rocs who have produced a clutch of young—a once per decade event. The rocs have been hunting aggressively to feed their voracious young. Normally, rocs have enormous, world-spanning hunting grounds, but this pair have confined themselves to the waters around Thylea, in order to remain close to their nest. The rocs are protective of their nest, making them more aggressive than they would typically be.

Climbing to the Nest#

There are no easy paths up to the rocs’ nest. Climbing requires three successful DC 18 Strength (Athletics) checks. The party can make the climb easier by using ropes and pitons. Falling from any height results in 30 (10d6) Falling damage.

Other flying scavengers nest on the lower parts of the island, eating whatever scraps that the rocs leave behind. Amongst these scavengers are a half dozen Perytons nesting in a cave halfway up the cliffs. The perytons are hungry and thus very aggressive.

The Rocs’ Nest#

This massive nest is constructed from splintered tree trunks and ship masts. The nest is splattered with heaps of bird droppings, some of which seem to hide salvage from destroyed ships. Around the nest’s rim lie broken statues of winged humanoids with birdlike legs, their stone faces shattered and limbs snapped. Six towering fledglings with hooked beaks gaze at you hungrily.

Six fledgling rocs (use Giant Vulture statistics) live in the nest. They won’t leave the nest, but they will attack anything that comes within pecking distance. Whenever they reduce a target to zero Hit Points, they tear it apart and devour it hungrily.

The statues depict sirens and were raised millennia ago, in the age when their kind dwelled in the greatest city of Thylea. This aerie served as the final refuge for the last survivors of that fallen glory. At the base of one statue, faded runes are carved in a long-dead tongue. With magic to decipher them, the inscription reads as follows:

illustrated quote — The Forgotten Sea comprises thousands of miles of ocean churned by storms, whirlpools, and elemental magic. The waters are home to massive creatures, cyclopean ruins, and the tower of the ocean god himself. You cannot conquer the Forgotten Sea … you can only survive it. —Vallus, Goddess of Wisdom

Treasure#

Amid the droppings of the fledgling rocs are spoils from the wreckage of many Thylean ships. Each hour spent searching through the nest uncovers 4,000 CP, 2,000 SP, and 400 GP. In addition, there is a cache of magical potions that can be discovered. Each hour spent searching allows the heroes to attempt a Wisdom (Perception) check to uncover the cache, with the DC being 15.

After three hours, all the coins will be salvaged and any Wisdom check to find the cache will automatically succeed. The cache includes three Potions of Healing (greater), a Potion of Flying, Potion of Heroism, and Potion of Mind Reading.

Return of the Parents#

For each hour that the heroes spend searching, there is a 20% cumulative chance of the two adult Rocs returning to the nest (20% in the first hour, 40% in the second, 60% in the third).

Battle Against the Rocs#

The following encounter happens if the heroes stay too long in the nest. It can also happen if the heroes kill the fledglings and flee before the parents return. In this case, the two rocs will be pursuing to exact vengeance.

Far on the horizon, two dark shapes soar lazily through the sky, little more than distant specks against the blue. As they glide through a drifting cloud bank, the mist parts around them and their true scale becomes clear: wings broader than galleon sails, bodies large enough to carry elephants as playthings. These gargantuan birds start to descend, drawing ever closer.

How the Rocs attack depends on the heroes’ location.

If the heroes are still on the aerie: The rocs swoop down, seizing a hero in their talons and hurling them into the ocean far below. This drop exceeds 200 feet and deals 70 (20d6) Falling damage. Once no heroes remain on the aerie or airborne, the rocs return to their nest.

If the heroes are aboard a ship: Each roc carries a shattered fragment of a siren statue. As they pass overhead, they release the stone pieces, slamming them down onto the vessel. Each strike deals 70 (20d6) Bludgeoning damage to the ship. Every creature on deck must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 28 (8d6) Bludgeoning damage. Each roc carries one statue fragments in each claw. After dropping both, they turn and fly back toward the aerie.