Sugar Plum Yuletide (Gingerbread & Dragons)

Note: This adventure is based on the "Gingerbread and Dragons" module for 5e. It has been adapted for edition and level.

21 Frostkolt 348 AC

The two adventurers receive directions to Nonna's and set out to climb the trail leading up the mountain.

Grotto remarks that the giant maggots he fought were certainly tougher than the ones they faced in Carla's cabin and that it is possible they have yet to discover the true source of the troubles Womford faces.

Raven nods, "The pair I fought were also more formidable. Perhaps they need a host to grow in?" After a few minutes of walking, he adds, "Everytime I have had to deal with this Faerie nonsense, it has always turned out to be more convoluted than it ought to be."

The pair trudges onward, following the road as it winds back and forth up the mountain slope. As they climb, they begin encountering patches of snow and ice. After about three hours (and Grotto estimates 3,000 feet of elevation), the snow is about a foot deep and sections of road are only recognizable as such because of the trees growing to either side of the path. The thin plumes of smoke rising from the chimneys of the town below are barely visible, with the buildings blocked from view by the slope and forest growing upon it. Another hour passes and the sounds as if someone was chopping wood not far away begins to carry through the trees. The duo rounds a bend in the road and spot a pair of woodcutters, loading logs into a mule-drawn sled.

The older of the two men turns as Grotto and Raven approach, "Thank the gods you've come!" The younger man pushes past, "Are you here to slay the dragon?"

"Dragon! What kind? Are you really sure it is a dragon? Lord Harrick mentioned nothing of dragons when we agreed to search for Nonna the Baker on this mountain."

Grotto then asks the woodcutters who they are and further details about the "dragon" and if they know the whereabouts of Nonna.

"It is definitely a dragon. It's the color of old shillings and bigger than a horse! He says his name is Gordolin!" The young man blurts excitedly.

The older man adds, "The dragon showed up about a week ago. It began demanding Noona's pastries and tore the back wall off of her shop so it could eat them more easily. Nonna has been trapped there ever since, baking for the wyrm, trying to quench its insatiable hunger. Since arriving, the monster has fattened considerably. It's nearly twice the size it was when it got here - and all of its new bulk is fat!"

Grotto then looks at Raven, "If we are to fight a dragon, we will need to rest. I must pray to Hanseath to replenish my spells. If this is truly a dragon, then I will need all the healing spells I can cast when we fight it. Plus, I want to examine these potions we found at Carla's to see what they are."

Raven nods to the dwarf before turning to the men, "How much bigger than a horse?"

Both men shrug, "Not much, maybe by a couple of hands plus its tail?"

"Very well, I will deal with this dragon. Grotto, you may wait here if you wish but I believe I have a plan."

The bakery is the biggest building of the village, and the only one made of stone bricks (all the others are made of wood). On the steep tiled roof there are three large chimneys, two of which churn out thick white smoke. The back wall has been torn open, and a large orange metallic tail is coming out in the street. It moves like that of a cat every now and then, and it is connected to a massive, scaly backside that completely blocks the entrance.

"Oh no, there is no way I am letting you go at a dragon alone!" Grotto rebukes Raven. "Plus, I want a piece of that sweet dragon action as well! Fill me in on this plan as we walk to the bakery. Plus, I have been promised pie since we got here and have only seen minced maggots! Good enough for a dragon, good enough for a dwarf!" Grotto quips with a hearty laugh.

"It is relatively small so it is young. It is the color of coins, so it is metallic. It should be open to reason. Or, intimidation. We'll see what happens," Raven smiles as he strides over to the tail and grabs a hold of it and gives a sharp tug.

The entire dragon goes perfectly still for a second before its tail jerks out of Raven's hand. It whirls to face him. The creature snarls with jowls caked in powdered sugar, "Hey you! Come to steal my sweets, have you?! I will eat you too, and digest you like a candy cane! I swear I will! I'm a drag..."

Raven cuts the dragon off by slapping it across the snout.

He gets right up in the dragon's face, jabbing it with his finger between words. "You are a scaly, overfed housecat with wings and delusions of grandeur. Your kind are Supposed to be paragons of good company and fine conversation not gluttonous bullies who behave like an entitled child in need of a spanking and a nap!"

Grotto plays the hype man to Raven and adds,

"Yeah, Candy is for children and babies!"

The dragon's face contorts with rage. It bares its teeth and snarls. "I..."

Raven slaps it again. "Your teeth are rotting. Your scales have lost their shine. Your belly is dragging the ground. Can you even fly? Are your wings strong enough to lift you off of the ground?"

Grotto points at the dragon, "Yeah, show us you can fly!"

Raven changes course, feeling a little guilty about attacking the dragon in this way. "You are better than this. You are a member of a noble and proud lineage, not a brigand who holds an entire town hostage to satisfy his sweet tooth. Look around at these people. They are afraid. You are acting no better than a greedy white dragon."

"Yeah! Don't be that way!" Grotto shouts. The dwarf takes a step forward, axe gripped in his hand.

The anger fades from the dragon's eyes and its hindquarters drop. It looks down at the ground sheepishly. "I, er, I mean, it's just that everything was so tasty. I got carried away and just couldn't get enough."

Grotto looks to Raven for the next step of his plan.

Raven shrugs, having not given his plan any thought beyond this point. He clears his throat, "Well, you should atone for what you've done here. A damaged wall, all of the pastries you've eaten. Tell me, what do You think would be an appropriate form of compensation?"

Grotto speaks up, "Yes, young noble dragon, a being as wise and benevolent as you can surely make things right for this village. Repair your damage and compensate these people for their loss. Become a protector of these people rather than a tormentor. Take this village under your wing. Think of these people as your loving pets that you will protect from all harm hence forth as you mature into a mighy long lived force of nature! I am willing to bet, that if you protect these people as your loving pets, they will make all the sweets and confections to your hearts content!"

The dragon looks down at the ground, tracing small circles in the deepening snow, almost as if embarrassed to.meet either adventurer in the eye, "I can do that," he mumbles dejectedly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble."

A voice floats out of the gap in wall, "Well spoken, all of you!" Hobbling out through the opening in the rear wall of the bakery is a matronly old dwarf, Nonna Pynar herself, gray hair cascading loosely down around her shoulders, wooden spoon in hand, and a floral apron covering her clothes. "I think that is a perfect recompense. However," she turns and gives the dragon a stern look, "my deliveries are still late. You, young Gordolin, are going to start your penance by helping with that pressing issue and give these two a lift back to whatever village sent them!"

Grotto greets the fellow dwarf in their native tongue. "Glad to see you are not in danger. Seems the tale of you being held hostage by a fierce dragon may have been over embellished! So you and this youthful dragon are friends?"

Nonna chokes back a.rueful laugh, "Ha! I've been stuck in that kitchen for weeks. I ain't stepped outside in so long, I was starting to forget what snow looks like! And it's hard to make friends, be it with Dwarf or Dragon, when all they can mumble is 'more' between mouthfuls of cookies!"

"Well, glad you are safe and sound! Would you like for us to take some of your wares to the village for the various cooking contests," Grotto asks the old Dwarven cook.

"No, child. I cook for the joy of cooking. I like seeing people fed. Besides," she adds, "if I did compete, nobody else would stand a chance! Do you cook?"

Grotto puffs out his chest in pride, "Well, in our adventuring party, I am the cook and medic. I don't get much time in the kitchen though. Most of what I cook is on the trails and in the forests over a fire. I am an alchemist, so with my knowledge of plants and herbs, i am able to turn the most wild of rabbit into a dish for a king!"

"In that case, wait here. There is something I would like to pass on to you. I don't need it anymore and I think you may enjoy it," Noona turns and shuffles back through the broken wall, emerging a few minutes later with a book with wooden front and back covers. Thin slices and food stains mar the surface. "All of my people have read this and it would be good to get this back out into the world." She presses the book into his hands. It carries the leftover scents of onions, garlic, sage, and some other herbs Grotto can't immediately identify. 

Grotto mounts the dragon for the flight home. The beast unfurls its wings, gives itself a shake and leaps into air. And lands a few feet later. It stops for a second, looks around sheepishly. Then it repeats the process, this time beating its wings frantically. Slowly, it rises into the air and makes its way down the mountain in starts and fits, breathing heavily the whole time but after about an hour, the chimney smoke of Womford comes into view.
Raven directs the dragon to land a few miles from town to avoid causing a panic. The copper dragon gratefully complies. With a reminder of the agreement for the dragon to return to Nonna's to right its wrongs, the two adventurers untie the sacks of treats and make their way back to the town just as the sun touches the western horizon. 

In the short time they were gone, quite a few temporary shops and food vendors have set up along the main street through town. Raven finally begins to relax, hoping that he will finally be able to enjoy the holiday festivities.