The King’s Daughter • Odyssey of the Dragonlords

The heroes have been summoned to the Estorian Palace to meet with King Pythor, who is one of the Five Gods— the legendary God of Battle. Now, he is said to be mad with grief over his many lost loves and the imminent sacrifice of his daughter, Anora.

The Order of Sydon has demanded that the princess be sacrificed to the Lord of Storms in order to cleanse the region’s drought. Not only that, but centaurs of the Steppe have heard of this demand and gathered in a large army, threatening to finally destroy Estoria and slaughter its people if the sacrifice isn’t carried out.

Because King Pythor is one of the Five Gods, he is bound by the Oath of Peace (appendix D). He cannot take up arms against the Titans until the oath ends, and even then it likely wouldn’t solve the drought that hurts Estoria. Only the heroes can intervene to save his daughter and his city.

The History of King Pythor#

King Pythor has ruled over Estoria for several centuries, having taken power when he overthrew the tyrant king Lysis Arkelander, a descendant of Estor Arkelander (after whom the city is named). The long years have not been kind to the god-king. He has had more than a dozen wives and countless mistresses, but those he loved the most have almost always come to gruesome ends, thanks to the green dragon Hexia. No one knows why the dragon has such hatred for Pythor, but the loss of so many loved ones has driven Pythor to drink.

Although the people of Estoria love him, Pythor is essentially a womanizing drunkard. He abdicates all his responsibilities in favor of hunting, seducing the latest beauty at court, or indulging in drunken and self-pitying excesses that last for days.

Meeting the King#

When the heroes arrive in the throne room, Pythor is drunk and attempting to fight statues of the Five Gods that line the hall. As the Oracle’s Chosen arrive, his attendants withdraw, whispering nervously among themselves. This leaves only the king to speak with the heroes.

Once the room has emptied and the chamber doors are shut, the King tosses away his spear and sits heavily upon his throne, holding his head in his hands. He beckons you to come closer. “You are the Oracle’s Chosen, yes? Let me tell you of my woes …”

If Kyrah is with the heroes, then she will step forward to lecture King Pythor, who is her brother.

Before Pythor can continue, Kyrah brashly interrupts him. “Whatever your ‘woes’ may be, drowning yourself in wine will not solve them,” she scolds. “You have a duty to serve your people in these dark times! This wallowing does no one any good.” King Pythor hangs his head at her harsh words. “That may be true, but what can be done? The Oath of Peace binds my hands. And now, the Titans conspire to steal away my precious daughter, Anora. But perhaps … perhaps you heroes can aid me.”

Pythor will tell the heroes of the problems that face him. Several weeks ago, the Order of Sydon sent a detachment of warriors to Estoria with demands from the Lord of Storms. The Titan demanded that Pythor’s daughter Anora (LG Noble) should be chained to the Rock of Estor amid the rushing waters of the Arkelon River and left there overnight as an offering to Sydon.

The drunken god slumps on his throne, crown askew, eyes bloodshot. The statues of the Five Gods loom above like silent judges. His gaze meets yours—and falters. The wine-blurred haze clears, if only for a moment. “You …” he murmurs, rising unsteadily. “By the gods … I know that face.” His voice cracks with memory. “Your mother … she played the harp like starlight. I loved her, though I said it too rarely. And Hexia—damn that serpent—she took her. Took you. I failed her. I failed you. But if fate’s brought you back to me … maybe not all is lost.” He grips the hammer beside his throne, the bronze head etched with runes that shimmer faintly in the dim light. “You want to finish it, don’t you? The weapon I never had the strength to complete. Then take it—my hammer. You’ll need it to forge what I could not.” He steps forward, suddenly sober, his gaze hard. “But first, swear to me. On your blood and your wrath. Swear you’ll save Anora. Your sister. They mean to sacrifice her to Sydon.” His voice drops, raw and quiet. “Swear it.”

If the hero swears the oath, Pythor hugs them and then returns to this throne. If they refuse the oath, his mood sours.

Princess Anora#

Anora is Pythor’s only child by his last mortal wife, a woman he dearly loved. Years ago, Anora’s mother was carried away to the Forgotten Sea by the evil dragon, Hexia.

The Army of Sydon#

If the sacrifice is not made by the next full moon, the centaur tribes will march on Estoria and destroy it. Though Sydon cannot openly wage war under the Oath of Peace (appendix D), the drought he unleashed has spread into the Steppes, threatening the centaurs. Omens have convinced them that sacrificing Anora is the only way to restore the river. If Pythor doesn’t comply and sacrifice his daughter, it will mean the deaths of thousands.

The Rock of Sacrifice#

To be chained to the Rock is to be devoured by the beasts of the river. This is Estoria’s method of sacrifice, a ritual requiring an unprotected victim and no intervention. This is the first time a humanoid will be offered since the time of the Mad King. Princess Anora is resigned to her fate as she will do anything to protect her city. Knowing this, Pythor has locked her away in the dungeons to prevent her from leaving the palace.

Possible Solutions#

The heroes can discuss solutions with Pythor and Kyrah. The heroes need not act immediately; they have the time to complete one Great Labor before the next full moon. However, if the heroes fail to show up, the Order of Sydon will carry out the sacrifice by force, with Anora going willingly to her doom. Pythor, all kingly dignity washed away, will beg the heroes to help protect his daughter. He suggests the following possible courses of action:

Negotiate with the Order of Sydon. The heroes could persuade the Order of Sydon to choose another sacrifice. Pythor offers fifty oxen (worth 100 GP each) for this solution. He knows that the Order will also want another human, but he can’t bring himself to suggest anyone. If present, Kyrah will suggest that this may be the best option available. If the heroes propose

illustrated quote — I think people love the idea of my brother more than they love the man himself. It's true that his exploits are legendary, and as a poet, I can't help but love the stories. But centuries of wearing the crown have dulled his spirits. —Kyrah, Goddess of Music

themselves as replacements, Gaius will only accept this if the sacrifice adheres strictly to ritual law: The heroes must arrive unarmed, publicly bound, and chained to the Rock of Estor as helpless offerings. However, clever heroes may attempt to exploit the exact wording of the rite, disguising preparations or hidden tools in ways that do not violate its outward appearance.

Challenging the Centaur Chieftain. The heroes could goad the centaur chieftain into combat. If they prevail, they could demoralize the army of centaurs and cyclopes that have gathered along the northern banks of the Arkelon. This would be a feat worthy of the Dragonlords, but Kyrah thinks this would be suicide, as the only way to disperse the army would be to defeat the chieftain on unequal footing. If the heroes insist, Kyrah suggests that they have the centaur chief swear that, should he fall, the centaurs will take responsibility for appeasing Sydon themselves, ending the drought over both Estoria and the Steppes and restoring the river’s flow.
Let Anora be Sacrificed. The heroes can tell Pythor that they are unable to help. If they do so, Pythor will drink himself into a stupor before the sacrifice and remain insensible for a week afterwards.

One additional option is to secretly track down and kill the basilisks that petrify those offered on the Rock of Estor. Open interference would be treated as impiety so this must be a covert act, making Anora’s survival appear as fate. Kyrah or Aesop may hint that subtlety is essential.

Asking for Assistance#

If the heroes ask for help in accomplishing their Great Labors, King Pythor will direct them to talk to his father, the dwarf Volkan who runs the local smithy. If pressed as to how a dwarf could be his father, Pythor will apologetically explain that, “it’s … complicated.”

The Order of Sydon#

The seven Soldier Captains representing the Order of Sydon can be found lodging in the palace. They are led by a heavily-armored man named Gaius (appendix A). He will turn down the offer of fifty oxen and will initially be against anyone taking the place of Anora. However, Gaius will change his mind if any of the heroes suggest themselves as replacements. If they don’t think of this, he suggests it before they leave. He knows that Sydon wishes to see the Oracle’s Chosen killed, and offering them up on the Rock of Estor would be a fitting way to do it.

Gaius will only agree to a substitution if all of the heroes agree to be sacrificed together, arriving unarmed and chained to the Rock as helpless offerings. He is willing to swear that Sydon will be appeased in this way. Clever heroes may attempt to exploit his request, disguising preparations in ways that do not violate its outward appearance.

The Centaur Chieftain#

King Pythor arranges for the heroes to meet with the chieftain on the other side of Arkelon. The chieftain comes with a dozen centaurs and two cyclopes. The chieftain, Baenor, is a massive centaur (Centaur Hero, appendix B, Odyssey of the Dragonlords, with maximum Hit Points), and he can be convinced to participate in a ritual combat with a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check (or with a particularly strong provocation).

Ritual Combat. If the heroes convince Baenor, then he swears an oath that his army will leave the city in peace if his side loses. Baenor will demand that there are an equal number of combatants on both sides. He also demands that all of the heroes participate in the battle.

Baenor leads the fight, joined by one Cyclops Sentry, and the remainder of his force are a number of Centaur

Heroes (appendix B, Odyssey of the Dragonlords) to equal the number of heroes. It should be obvious that victory here will be almost impossible. Kyrah will advise against it, especially if the heroes intend to use trickery, as this will only anger the centaurs further. If the heroes persist and are killed, Kyrah will gather

their bodies and bring them back to the palace.

The Sacrifice#

You are part of a grim procession that leads toward the Rock of Estor in the River Arkelon. Gaius and his knights lead you through the ford and onto the sacrificial rock. After binding each of you by the leg to the central pole, Gaius motions to you and says, “You are now offered as a sacrifice to appease the Lord of Storms. Remain here until the sun rises. If you step away from the rock, this city will suffer the wrath of Sydon.”

Gaius and all seven of his captains accompany the heroes to the Rock of Estor. Each person chained to the Rock can only move up to 10 ft. from the central pole. The shackles can be unlocked with a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check with Thieves’ Tools. They can also be destroyed by attacks (AC 15, 10 HP each).

On the far side of the river, twelve Centaur Troopers gather to watch the proceedings. They will not intervene unless attacked or anyone tries to get to their side of the river.

The Harpies Attack#

Ten minutes after the heroes are chained, three Harpies will begin to circle one hundred feet above the rock. The harpies have been sent by Lutheria to watch over the spectacle of the sacrifice. The harpies won’t use their songs, but they will taunt the heroes. If any of the heroes leave the Rock of Estor the harpies will use their Luring Song to lure those particular heroes into the river, where they will swoop down and attempt to kill them.

The Basilisks Attack#

Twenty minutes after the heroes are chained, two Basilisks will emerge from the river and attack anyone on the Rock of Estor. If the basilisks have already been killed in their nest cave, then nothing appears. The harpies, the centaurs and the Order of Sydon will become increasingly agitated as they wait for the basilisks.

If the heroes survive until sunrise, then Gaius and his captains will grudgingly allow them to go free. The terms of the sacrifice have been met, even if the Titan himself is infuriated by the outcome.

Celebration with the King#

If the heroes survive the Rock of Estor or prevail in a battle against the centaur chieftain, Pythor will summon them back to his throne room in the palace.

When you return to the palace, King Pythor is already deep in his cups, celebrating your victory. He greets each of you with a bone-crushing hug and a painful slap on the back. “Warriors of the prophecy, you have my eternal gratitude!” “There was a time when I would have taken to the fields to battle the centaur army single-handedly, but alas, I fear my fighting days are behind me. Perhaps it’s time to officially retire my hammer …”

The king retrieves his hammer (Pythor’s Hammer, appendix C).

Pythor clasps your hand with surprising strength and places the hammer in your grasp. “Then go. Speak to your grandfather, Volkan. He’ll tell you what comes next.”

If he has no children present, he will give his hammer to the greatest warrior amongst the heroes.

Pythor’s Hammer. As the God of Battle, Pythor once used this hammer to smash entire armies of gygans, centaurs, and cyclopes. There are countless stories about this hammer, none of which Pythor can quite recall at the moment. He explains that his father, Volkan, the God of the Forge, created it. Volkan can use the hammer to craft mighty weapons and armor at the Mithral Forge.

Pythor’s eyes fall upon you. “So … you come seeking the lost treasure of the Dragonlords. The treasure you seek was last held by Estor Arkelander—hero, traitor, Dragonlord. He defied the oath and died for it, but death did not claim him.” His gaze hardens. “He commands the Ultros even now, a ghost ship bound to no sea. If you would take what he stole, you’ll have to face him.”

Celebrations#

Finally, the king declares a full week of celebration in Estoria, in honor of the heroes. The party may choose to stay and enjoy the week’s celebrations. There will be plays at the public theater that they can participate in, as well as much feasting and drinking. If Kyrah is present, she encourages the party to press on with their Labors.