The Sour Vintage • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

The Sour Vintage is a traditional country inn located at a crossroads, about thirty miles east of the city of Estoria. The exterior is rustic wood painted black, and the sign hanging from the door depicts a woman carrying a basket full of grapes. Inside the tavern, a haze of pleasant tobacco smoke lingers in the air. You hear the clinking of mugs and the muttering of patrons, most of whom are farmers. You have been summoned here by a woman named Kyrah who wants to hire you for a ‘difficult task’. She has promised a sizable reward, and more information about the Oracle’s prophecy.

The Poet from Mytros#

Kyrah (appendix A) has been sent by Versi the Oracle, but she is using the identity of a poet, one of some skill and renown. It is Kyrah’s task to gather the heroes from the oracle’s vision and ensure that they live up to their potential. Kyrah knows all of the rumors that have been circulating about the heroes, and she takes a moment to recognize their unique talents.

A dark-haired woman calls you over to a table in the corner. She wears a white traveling dress with practical leather boots, and she carries a large satchel that appears to contain dozens of scrolls, along with plentiful writing supplies. “Greetings, I am Kyrah. Thank you for answering my summons. I will be direct. I am here as an agent of the Oracle. She believes that great destinies await you all, but great destinies are forged by great deeds. “A terrifying giant boar has been laying waste to the Heartlands, slaughtering everything in its path. This boar was corrupted by the Titans and sent to punish the mortals of Thylea for their continued faith in the Five Gods. Many have attempted to hunt the boar. All have failed.” “If you wish to win fame and fortune, as great heroes should, then you must prove to the people of Thylea that you are the warriors of the Oracle’s prophecy. Hunt this boar and offer it to the gods as a sacrifice.”

illustrated quote — We gods can only do so much to keep the peace, especially when priests abandon our temples. In these dark times, it is we who must have faith in mortals, rather than the other way around. —Kyrah, Goddess of Music

Kyrah explains that the Titans—Sydon and Lutheria— have always hated the mortals of Thylea. For five hundred years, their hatred has been shackled by the Oath of Peace (appendix D). Now, the power of the Oath has waned, and this ancient beast is one of many signs that they are plotting war upon Mytros once again.

The poet offers the heroes assistance in accomplishing this task. She has hired two hunters who can help track down the corrupted boar. They will be waiting outside of the tavern an hour before dawn. She also offers the heroes a reward for slaying the beast: a golden arrow per hero worth 25 GP each. She will give the reward to the heroes once the Oracle is satisfied that they are the heroes from her vision.

Staying the Night#

The heroes can spend the rest of the night drinking and speaking to the locals. This is a good opportunity for the heroes to learn about each other, as well as hear of any recent events and rumors. Kyrah is willing to answer any questions they may have about Thylea. The heroes may also purchase common adventuring gear from Aetala, the innkeeper.

Injured Hunting Party#

These hunters are recovering from minor injuries sustained while hunting the boar. They set a trap for the beast by laying twenty pounds of rotten fruit in the middle of a field and hiding in the surrounding hedges. The boar took them by surprise. It gored one of their friends with its tusks and dragged him into the woods. They tried to follow but the sounds were too horrible, and so they came here to drink to the memory of their dead friend.

Forlorn Farmers#

Most of the other patrons in the tavern are farmers who are too frightened to tend their fields. Their families are holed up inside farmhouse basements, or else they’ve fled to the safety of Estoria until the beast has been killed. If any of the farmers recognize the heroes, they become angry with them: why aren’t they out hunting the boar? What else are heroes good for, anyway?

The Innkeeper#

The innkeeper is a retired hunter named Aetala (NG

Warrior Veteran). She knows the Heartlands better than most, and she knows all the rumors from Estoria. She recognizes at least one of the heroes and suggests that they hunt the boar. Aetala made her fortune hunting a similar beast decades ago.