On an ordinary battlefield, Haze-of-Death would undoubtedly make his lair in a cavern of bones. The weird properties of the Mournland, though, have instead created a horrific den of dead flesh. Out of the slick earth of the dragon’s cavern jut the corpses of soldiers, most clad in armor and some still clutching weapons. Torsos hang from the ceiling or protrude from walls, their limbs dangling to brush against creatures that move past.
Keyed Locations
The following features correspond to numbered areas on the map.
- Mouth of Banners: The cavern itself is natural, a series of hollow hills possibly inhabited by another rogue dragon before the Day of Mourning. Haze-of-Death decided to decorate the entrance to his lair in a manner befitting his imagined stature. He collected hundreds of tattered standards from the battlefield and hung them like banners around the cave entrance and from the ceiling within. Most have faded to gray and all are mudstained and tattered, but in the dragon’s eyes, they flap brightly in a nonexistent breeze.
The cavern entrance measures 25 feet in height, and extends 30 feet into the hillside. From time to time, mud-slicked banners come loose and flutter down like giant bats, possibly startling trespassers.
Stones, refuse, and old bones have frozen into the chamber’s floor. Haze-of-Death drags in mud every time he returns, forming a slick coating over the frozen, bumpy floor that makes for treacherous footing. This area counts as difficult terrain.
Characters can identify any still-visible symbols on the banners as crests of Cyran and other Five Nations’ noble houses with a successful DC 20 Knowledge (nobility and royalty) check. - Central Chamber: Haze-of-Death sleeps in this enormous chamber, which extends 40 feet upward, almost to the top of the hill, and 60 feet across. He has built up a giant “nest” of ice along one side of the chamber with repeated applications of his breath weapon.
When Haze-of-Death goes hunting, he sometimes leaves a living breath weapon behind to guard his lair, especially if Drugor stays as well. As a result, a thin film of ice covers the floor. A few masticated bones and other rubble lie frozen in the ground. - Hoard of Mourning: Haze-of-Death keeps his pitiful hoard in this side chamber. In his madness, the dragon believes priceless riches abound within; in truth, the “hoard” is little more than a junkheap. Dented helmets, rusted shields, broken weapons, smashed warforged components, and other trash lie in a massive pile—tribute to Haze-of-Death’s obsession and broken mind. A few items of value might be hidden in the trash, but if so, they reside there by chance.
Haze-of-Death values his hoard of junk as much as any other dragon’s heaps of gold and silver. Were a creature to remove even the smallest tarnished buckle from the pile, Haze-of-Death would fly into a rage and neither eat nor sleep until he had tracked down the thief and reclaimed his property. - Sleeping Chamber: This tiny chamber, little more than a niche in the wall, serves as Drugor’s sleeping area. Drugor suffers from horrible nightmares, though, and prefers to sleep as little as possible. He spends his waking hours serving Haze-of-Death or wandering aimlessly through the lair.
Drugor poses no real threat to any heroes strong enough to challenge Haze-of-Death, but he could serve as a source of information about the dragon. Talking with the man is difficult, especially while he is under the impression that he is a surviving Cyran noble. A con artist and petty thief in his old life, Drugor possesses just enough talent and force of personality to make his delusions believable. - Back Door: This winding tunnel leads out of the lair by a hidden opening. Haze-of-Death has ordered Drugor to always use the rear entrance, but the poor man hates the sight of the dangling corpses. He requires great convincing (or a direct order from Haze-of-Death) to use this passage, but also refuses to disobey his master by using the main entrance.