Page 18 - Tales from the Yawning Portal

16. KOBOLD GUARDROOM
Three rooms in the fortress serve as kobold guard sta-
tions. All have the same characteristics.
Door Trap. The door leading to the room is trapped
with a tripwire that the kobolds connect after shutting
the door. Hitting this tripwire, 2 inches off the ground
stretched between opposite door frames and running
up the frame, causes the trap to trigger. A character
who succeeds on a DC 10 Wisdom (Perception) check
spots the wire. If a character then succeeds on a DC 10
Dexterity check using thieves' tools, the tripwire is cut
without triggering the trap. A character can attempt this
check using any edged weapon or edged tool in place of
thieves' tools, but does so with disadvantage.
On a failed Dexterity check, the trap triggers, tipping
over a clay pot of offal, garbage, and dragon droppings
that falls on any creature in the doorway and splatters in
a 5-foot radius. A creature hit by the stuff must succeed
on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned
for 1 minute. An affected creature can repeat the saving
throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a successful save.
The kobolds release the tension on the tripwire when
If he is disturbed, Meepo is frightened but willing
they exit, meaning that any guardroom that has been
to talk. He is weepy. His numerous obvious scars are
vacated can be entered safely.
souvenirs of his job as Keeper of Dragons. If he is asked
about the cage or queried in any way that mentions a
dragon, he says, "The clan's dragon ... we lost it. The A small pit of embers, built of broken masonry and
wretched goblins stole Calcryx, our dragon!"
portions of shattered stone sculptures, smolders in the
To all other questions, Meepo responds by saying,
center of this chamber. Arrayed around the pit are several
"Meepo don't know, but Yusdrayl does. Meepo take you
to meet Yusdrayl, our leader, if you make nice. You get small rugs woven of matted hair and dead fungi.
safe passage, if you promise to make nice. Maybe if you
promise to rescue dragon, Yusdrayl make nice to you,
Creatures. The room serves as a barracks and guard
answer questions."
post for the kobold tribe's warriors. Three kobolds
Meepo perks up as he senses the possibility of getting
stand guard inside, unless they have already come forth
the dragon back. True to his word, he guides the char-
to reinforce other kobolds.
acters to area 21. Along the way, he shouts out "Tickle- If the characters try to talk and the interaction is suc-
corn!" (in Draconic) from time to time, explaining that cessful, the kobolds direct the characters to head toward
it's a password that tells other kobolds the characters "Yusdrayl on her dragon throne," giving them simple
are friendly. If the characters leave Meepo behind, or if directions to area 21 and warning them to avoid rousing
they are antagonistic toward him, the characters don't
the ire ofYusdrayl's elite guards.
learn the password, and all other kobolds are hostile
toward the party. 17. DRAGON CHOW
Development. If combat occurs in this chamber, the
A character who approaches the door can smell the
kobolds in the nearby area 16 are alerted, and they rush
stench of what lies beyond. If the door is opened, read:
out to meet enemies.
Investigating. The symbols on the walls are crudely
formed in Draconic and read, "Here There Be Dragons." Rats fill the room, trapped among their own waste. A
The metallic cage is all but destroyed and can't be used small half-barrier prevents the rats from easily escaping
to restrain captives. A search of the cage reveals white when the door is open.
scales that someone who has proficiency in Nature or
Survival can determine to be from no natural animal. A
successful DC 15 check using either skill identifies the Creatures. The rats are used as food for the dragon
scales as those of a white dragon wyrmling. The firepit, wyrmling that was once stabled in area 15. Since the
if its ashes are sifted, is found to hold charred bits of ko- abduction of the dragon, the kobolds have neglected the
bold bones and armor. rats, and in the meantime the rodents have chewed away
Treasure. The bench serves as a sort of tiny altar. the fastenings of the barrier. One round after someone
Resting on it are containers of green dye. a paintbrush opens the door, the rats knock the barrier over and rush
made of goblin-hair bristles, and four tiny jade figurines out, attacking as a swarm of rats for 1 round, after
of dragons (worth 15 gp each). A thorough search of the which they disperse into the dungeon.
firepit and a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception)
check reveals another jade figurine.

CHAPTER 1 I THE SUNLESS CITADEL
17