Page 59 - Tales from the Yawning Portal

MAP 2.G: THE BLACK LAKE

throw to catch itself on the ledge. On a failed save, a hit points or fewer, she tries to escape through the pas-
creature falls, takes 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage from sage in area 54.
falling timbers and stones, and is caught in the river's Negotiation. Nightscale isn't inclined to parley with
current (see "Fast-Flowing Water," page 51). the characters unless they surrender, give her all of
their treasure, and throw their arms and armor in the
52. NIGHTSCALE'S LAIR lake. If the characters seriously injure her, Nightscale
When the characters first approach the southeastern might bargain to buy time so she can later move her
shore of the lake, Nightscale is dozing on her hoard on hoard. Only when she is near death does she abandon
the island (area 53). The dragon is immediately alerted her treasure.
to their presence if the characters make noise, carry
light sources, or trigger the collapse of the bridge. Oth- 53. NIGHTSCALE'S HOARD
erwise, the characters don't draw the dragon's attention When the characters come into view of the island for the
unless they move all the way to the ledge directly south first time, read:
of area 53.

A short distance offshore sits a small isle thirty or forty
The dilapidated bridge leads to another ledge that winds feet across. Stalagmites thrust up at the ceiling above,
southeast alongside a very large lake, apparently the and the dark waters lap quietly at its shores. Several
source of the underground river. The cavern is quite spots on its surface glimmer even in the gloom, suggest-
large; the lake's far shore is lost in shadow, and the ing the promise of treasure to be had.
echoes of water seem to indicate a very sizable cave.

Nightscale keeps her treasure on the small island in the
Creature. When Nightscale becomes aware of intrud- lake, and she spends most of her time resting here. If
ers, the young black dragon slips into the water, quietly the characters have avoided attracting her attention so
swimming to a point near the three stepping stones far and want to approach the island, they can do so qui-
shown on the map. Any character watching the lake etly if every character's Dexterity (Stealth) check meets
can make a Wisdom (Perception) check contested by or exceeds the dragon's passive Perception score.
the dragon's Dexterity (Stealth) check. On a successful Treasure. Nightscale has accumulated considerable
check, the character catches a glimpse of a serpentine wealth from her plunder of Khundrukar. Her hoard con-
form moving in the darkness. tains 6,200 sp, 1,430 gp, two garnets worth 20 gp each,
The dragon takes full advantage of her aquatic envi- a black pearl worth 50 gp, a wand of magic missiles,
ronment and never offers an easy target to enemies. She a +2 greataxe bearing Durgeddin's smith-mark, a +l
begins combat at a range of 20 to 30 feet, raising only shield, a potion of healing, and a potion of flying.
her head and part of her neck above the water (granting
her three-quarters cover) and breathing acid. Then she 54. THE DRAGON'S PASSAGE
submerges and waits for her breath weapon to recharge. Beneath the surface of a small pool is an underwater
Nightscale doesn't resort to melee combat unless she is passage that links the Black Lake to the Dark Mere on
confronted underwater. If the dragon is reduced to 40 the east side of the Stone Tooth. The submerged pas-
sage is about 700 feet long.

CHAPTER 2 I THE FORGE OF FURY