MotM: Dragonhope

Hope you like this one; it takes the whole "love of
half-dragons" of 3e to a whole new level! ;)  Though
I'm sorry about the delay on this one; got hammered at
work (again, ugh).

Dragonhope
Small (D) Spherical Air
Climate: Temperate
Orbital Position: Outer Lunar
Day Length: 20 standard days
Year Length: 500 standard days
Native Races: Half-Dragons, any

In the void before you is a pale blue-green spherical
world.  The whole moon is one solid color, possibly
due to continuous, unbroken cloud cover.  The surface
features or interior of this moon are completely
obscured.

Dragonhope is a small air world about 1,800 miles in
diameter.  Much like other air worlds, it has a few
hundred floating islands drifting in its wind,
orbiting around the center of gravity.  The largest of
these islands is about 25 miles in diameter and half
that thick, while the smallest are just big enough to
fit a fair-sized castle on.  The islands move about by
their own will and cannot be affected by the actions
of ships or monsters.  Any ship that gets in the path
of an island crashes into it without altering its
course.

The air is constantly fresh and clean to breathe.  The
moon does not have seasons per say, but does have
areas that range from artic cold to tropical warm. 
The zones do not follow any sort of discernable
pattern.  An area of tropical air and weather exists
not far from an area of blistering cold.  The areas
shift from time to time, so no one area remains in
eternal summer or winter.  Overall the moon has a
temperate climate

This moon is both named for and controlled by one
Khyne Dragonhope, who created a secret society he
arrogantly named the Order of the Dragonhope.  In
short, the Order believes in nothing less than the
total subjugation of the Known Spheres under the iron
fist of half-dragon protégées.  It is their duty and
destiny to create the race of half-dragons that will
one day rule over all other lesser races.

Landmarks
Dragonbreath Haze: The uppermost portion of
Dragonhope’s atmosphere is a foggy region known as the
Dragonbreath Haze.  This Haze obscures the moon’s
interior from wildspace, and wildspace from the
interior.  The Haze is about 100 miles from its lowest
point to the highest.  There are numerous
unpredictably dangerous “air rivers” running through
the Haze, making crossing it chancy at best.  Any ship
passing through has a 15% chance of being struck by an
air river, suffering 2d6 hull points of battering
damage.

Footprint Islands: The Footprint Islands is a chain of
about 90 islands.  The islands are overgrown with lush
temperate rainforests, dripping with mosses and vines.
 The Order is looking to create a refuge for green and
black dragons on the islands, or possibly bronze and
gold dragons, should they managed to convince such
creatures to join their cause.  Several Order agents
are scouring the islands for suitable dragon lairs. 
To help secure the islands, construction has begun on
several small fortresses, from which they can protect
and pamper their draconic charges.

Dragonfire: This small flying island is the location
of the moon’s sole volcano, which rises over 15,000
feet above its base.  Inside its mile-wide cauldron is
a bubbling, churning mess of molten lava pools,
geysers, and hot springs.  The area is perfect for red
dragons, and one, Bileflame, has “retired” to this
area.  Bileflame is a mature adult red dragon and has
grown too “uncontrollable” by the Order for use in
their breeding programs.  In her time, she has laid at
least ten clutches of half-dragons and was well-paid
for each clutch.  She is neutral in how she relates to
the Order, although she finds them useful servants and
a nice source of gold.  The constant pampering and
worshipping doesn’t hurt, either.

Native Creatures
As Dragonhope is an air world, it is largely barren of
life.  At the bottom of the food chain are plants that
drift in the wind thanks to countless tiny airbags. 
These airbags serve both to keep the tree aloft and as
the leaves of the tree.  Animals can digest the leaves
without trouble.  Some trees grow editable fruit and
nuts that can be harvested.  The trees are remarkably
productive, more so than standard trees of similar
size.

The trees are grazed upon by vast herds of “cows of
the skies”, a large bulbous animal with an air-filled
body.  It uses fin-like appendages to maneuver as it
floats in the breeze.  The meat from these animals has
the taste of beef.  These animals are the primary
food-source for most of the inhabitants of Dragonhope.
 They travel in vast herds of tens of thousands
animals, ranging in size from small calves to enormous
bulls as big as wasp ships.

Animals that have been imported intentionally or
otherwise, include various types of rats, dogs, cats,
and birds.  These creatures inhabit the bowels of
Dragonhope’s settlements but are not numerous.  Their
territories are limited due to the planet’s nature. 
The Order has intentionally imported various types of
dragonettes as pets as well as a means of keeping
pests under control, and the larger dragonettes and
drakes are used as mounts.

Guide to Groundlings
The inhabitants of Dragonhope are all members of a
secret society known as the Order of the Dragonhope. 
The Order was founded about fifty years ago by the
disgraced paladin Khyne Dragonhope, who has come to
believe that the only hope for the Known Sphere’s
future is for human(oids) and dragons to sire a race
of half-dragons.  The half-dragons will lead the
entire Known Spheres into a new golden age of
enlightenment.  To this end, the Order seeks out
dragons willing (and unwilling) to participate in
their dream of creating a new half-dragon nobility.

Members of the Order were originally humans, but their
numbers have grown to include many dwarves, elves,
halflings, orcs, ogres, kobolds, and other races as
well.  All are fanatically loyal to the cause.  New
recruits are gleaned from ports all across wildspace,
and brought to Dragonhope to be fully indoctrinated
into the Order’s philosophy.  During this time, the
Order determines the best way to use the recruits’
talents.  Some are sent back to wildspace ports to act
as agents for the Order, while those with the most
potential are picked as dragonmates, to be mother or
father to a new generation of half-dragons.

Obviously, due to the Order’s activities, there are a
very large number of half-dragons on Dragonhope.  Most
are the spawn of human/chromatic dragon cross-breeds,
although the spawn of other races and other types of
dragons are in the general population.  Regardless of
their parents, all of the half-dragons are pampered
and provided with training and an education that would
be the envy of many a nobleman.  The Order teaches
them that they are destined to rule, that in time, all
of the Known Spheres will come to regard them as the
Chosen of the Gods.  Of course, this leads the
half-dragons with a sense of superiority over all
other races.

Of the various races serving the Order, none are more
numerous or fanatical as kobolds.  Though Khyne was a
noted slayer of kobolds, he earned their respect
through their many battles.  When Khyane began to
assemble his followers, many kobolds were swayed by
his philosophies and came to view him as a great
prophet.  So taken were they by Khyne that they
believe that his true form is that of a kobold and was
given human form by the gods to spread his message to
non-kobolds.  The Order is pleased with the kobolds’
fanaticism and uses them in many roles, from drudge
work to champions guarding their precious dragons.

Obviously, there are a number of dragons dwelling in
lairs on Dragonhope.  There is a little over forty
dragons on the moon, almost all ranging from juvenile
to mature adult.  When a dragon reaches the mature
adult age category, the Order pays the dragon well and
“retires” them, giving them new lairs on a suitable
world where they can continue their lives.  Some
dragons, particularly those who were willing
participants, maintain contact with the Order and work
with them to achieve similar goals.  Most of the
dragons are chromatic, especially red, green, and
black dragons, although there are a small number of
metallic dragons as well.  Some dragons have been
shanghaied into the Order’s service, others have
joined willingly, lured by promises of gold and power,
others still are simply misguided by Khyne’s words and
beliefs.

Ports of Call
The Dragonhope (Castle, 6,000): The Dragonhope is a
large, classical castle built on the largest floating
island.  This castle is the center of the Order’s
breeding programs.  The castle has a circular shape,
with a small town built between its outer and inner
walls.  Many of the Order’s lay followers, those who
believe in the Order’s mission but lack the skills or
magic necessary to make useful agents, dwell in the
town.  As a town, it operates as countless others
across the Spheres, although dragon imagery is
everywhere.  Citizens wear dragon-decorated tunics,
toys are made to resemble dragons, and dragon statues
decorate the streets.  Above the town is the
castle-proper, which is a strong fortress, heavily
patrolled by half-dragon footmen.  The towers are
given over to luxury apartments for the forty or so
captive dragons.  Through a combination of magic,
potions, flattery, and bribery, the Order keeps these
dragons under thumb and willing to mate with the
strongest humanoid mates that can be found.  Khyne
himself dwells in the highest tower, while large
caverns below the castle are carefully designed
nurseries to raise young half-dragons.

Destiny (Town, 3,000): This hidden town is the
location of a small academy where adolescent
half-dragons are trained and prepared to rule. 
Unfortunately, as the Order has become corrupted, many
of the half-dragons are trained in such things as
seduction, war, and thievery.  As a result, many half
dragons become seductive spies, charismatic dark
knights/blackguards, brutish pirates, nimble thieves,
fanatic priests (of Tiamat or other evil deities),
zealot monks, and frightful sorcerers.

Lair (Town, 2,400): This town can be found inside a
small floating island and is a minor pirate outpost. 
It is run by a half-red dragon son of Khyne who goes
by the name of Scarwing.  For the most part, the port
is a place where pirate ships loyal to the Order can
lay anchor, effect repairs, hire on new crew, and
spend their ill-gotten gains on booze and women. 
Order is kept by two score half dragon, half ogre
brutes.  The docks are large enough to accommodate a
ship as large as a squidship, and as many as six ships
can dock at once.

Resources and Trade
Dragonhope does not much in the way of resources. 
There is a surplus of foodstuff that can be harvested
and exported for profit.  There may be other resources
that might be exploited, although the inhabitants have
little interest in pursuing them.  The Order has other
means of generating revenue rather than exploiting
resources, including running several merchant
operations, sponsoring adventuring companies, as well
as setting up several baronies run by half-dragons. 
Of course, piracy and other illegal activities are the
primary source of Dragonhope’s resources.

There is only a limited trade to and from Dragonhope. 
The Order does not wish to create a trade center at
this moon, and discourage tradesmen from making
frequent stops at the moon’s ports.  There are few
deals to be had and civilian port facilities are poor.

History
The tale of the Dragonhope begins with one Khyne
Dragonhope, a paladin on a distant world.  Over the
course of many years, Khyne, a bastion of strength,
became increasingly disillusioned with the failings of
man.  Disappointment turned to bitterness, and Khyne
began to turn away from his fellow men.  In his quest
for a source of strength and courage, he turned
increasingly to dragons.  In these magnificent
creatures he found the strength and honor so lacking
in humanity.  “If only I could bring the strength of
the dragons’ blood to humanity, they would become the
guiding light to a new golden age”, he thought.  With
this in mind, he hatched a plan to breed dragons with
humanity to create a breed of noble dragonmen.  

Few saw the wisdom to Khyne’s plan.  It was rejected
by both his order and the elders of the metallic
dragons.  Undaunted, Khyne pushed his plan forward,
first by bribing some greedy chromatic dragons into
his breeding program, then subduing dragons into
cooperating.  When Khyne’s program was discovered, he
was stripped of his paladin status and banished.  Even
this did not deter the former paladin, and he
descended into madness.  He took the name
“Dragonhope”, citing that dragonblooded humans was the
only hope for humanity everywhere.  With an army of
followers, several captured dragons, and hundreds of
half-dragons, he fled to this moon to continue his
work.  His followers came to be known as the Order of
the Dragonhope.

In the decades since settling Dragonhope, Khyne has
fallen far from the light.  He is now a blackguard,
anti-paladin to some, although he does not even
realize this change in status.  He believes himself
righteous in is endeavor to create a superior race of
half-dragons.  In his mind, they will conquer the
Known Spheres and establish a new Golden Age of
enlightenment.  He personally has sired over 100 sons
and just as many daughters by his dragonwives.  

In recent years, Khyne has been researching means of
manifesting an Aspect or Avatar of Tiamat on
Dragonhope.  In his delusions, he seeks to seduce her,
the Dragonmother, and thus sire the ultimate
half-dragons, a line of kings for all of the Known
Spheres.  To achieve this great goal, the Order has
been quietly gathering the resources it needs to bring
Tiamat to Dragonhope.  Should they prove successful,
there is no telling what evil they would unleash upon
countless worlds.

Other Considerations
It is not likely the Player Characters will have
Dragonhope marked on any chart they possess.  It is
more likely they will learn of this moon when they
become targeted by the Order, perhaps via simple
piracy, or worst, kidnapped by the Order to be added
to their sinister breeding programs.  Famously strong
and powerful PCs are especially favorite targets of
the Order, who want to breed these qualities into
their half-dragons.  Or the PCs may never learn of
Dragonhope itself and instead the half-dragons can be
a source of half-dragon henchmen for an existing, very
powerful foe.  And finally, there is always a chance
that an NPC or even a PC might himself hail from
Dragonhope; after all, not all of those born on this
moon are evil!

Bibliography
Spelljammer: Dungeons & Dragons in Space
Monster Manual





 
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