42 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
42 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
# Summary: A Warning from Chronepsis
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## Overview
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This section occurs as the PCs travel through the Outlands toward a portal to Sigil to find Rennick. The Dragon God of Time and Fate, Chronepsis, subtly intervenes to deliver a warning about Green's misuse of the Deck of Many Things.
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## Who is Chronepsis?
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Chronepsis is the Dragon God of Time and Fate. He never speaks to anyone (mortal or god), acts only in subtle ways, and maintains permanent enigma about his intentions. Divination spells cannot determine his purpose. He appears as an ancient ash-grey dragon, bony and skeletal, resting in his Mausoleum. He will instantly erase from existence anyone who bothers or attacks him.
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## The Warning
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**Green is a steel dragon** who used wishes from the Deck to transform from human into dragon form, then artificially age himself for more power. This violates dragon code—dragons must earn their years, and the dragon gods have decreed that magical aging of dragons is forbidden. Chronepsis is particularly annoyed. The warning: **Green must stop using wishes to age himself, or face consequences from the dragon gods.**
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## Plot Developments
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- While traveling through the Outlands, the PCs' campsite mysteriously moves overnight (Chronepsis's doing)
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- The PCs become trapped, repeatedly passing the same clearing until they enter Chronepsis's realm
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- The realm contains a ruined ancient city and underground Mausoleum filled with tens of thousands of intangible hourglasses—one for each living dragon, showing their remaining natural lifespan
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- The PCs must deduce their mission through conversation with Laeros before they can leave
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## Key NPC: Laeros
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**Laeros** is a young adult gold dragon in dragonborn form (golden skin). A philosopher studying fate and dragons, he meditates in Chronepsis's realm for inspiration. He witnessed a steel dragon's hourglass jump ahead (artificial aging), which should be impossible. This mystery has consumed his thoughts. He's friendly, intellectually curious, and will ask about the Deck when he learns the PCs are connected to Tymora and the famous adventurers from the rumors.
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## The Mystery Solution
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Chronepsis orchestrated the meeting between the PCs and Laeros:
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1. He placed Green's hourglass where Laeros would witness the unnatural aging
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2. He trapped the PCs in his realm to force them to meet Laeros
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3. Through conversation, they must realize: someone is using the Deck to magically age a dragon (Green)
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4. When they understand their mission—to warn Green to stop—they feel a weight lift and are free to leave
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The PCs can use *sending* to deliver the warning. Green will respond: "Understood. Thanks for the warning."
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## Subsequent Travel: Sylvania to Sigil
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After leaving Chronepsis's realm, the PCs reach **Sylvania**—a party town wedged between giant trees (like Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street). Arborea's mood-altering properties leak through: restaurants are dangerous (WIS save DC18 or overindulge, gain exhaustion, spend 5X intended gold). The city parties at night, works hard by day.
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The portal to Sigil is accessed through the flea market's scrap metal dealer (10gp each). He creates steel wire bracelets ("rings of steel have affinity for Sigil, which is like a ring of steel") and leads them through his tent—a one-way portal to the Bazaar in Sigil.
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## DM Notes
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- Treat Chronepsis as permanent enigma; never confirm or deny his actions
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- The realm exploration yields little—the real point is the conversation with Laeros
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- Players must deduce the connection between the aging hourglass and the Deck
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- If they don't deliver the warning immediately, they may remember when Green tries to age himself again
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- Sylvania can be expanded with additional adventures if desired
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- The hourglass color (steel) and age (juvenile → young adult) are critical clues
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