Exceedingly rare and suspiciously dragon-like in appearance, the elusive Lindwyrm is a creature regarded with extreme caution throughout the Hammerlands. Rumours about them and their abilities run rampant and if the truth is known, it has been lost in an ocean of fiction and embellishment.
In this post, I want to provide you with a variety of assets that you can craft into an exciting encounter for your level 7-8 party! The post will include creature stats, magic items, battle maps, and plot hooks, but the implementation of these things will be down to you.
The Lindwyrm
Despite their dragon-like appearance, the Lindwyrm is not one of Nidhogg’s offspring. They are native to the Hammerlands and have been quietly living in the shadows since the realm’s creation. Within the Hammerlands, they take the role of a classical D&D Hag, if a little less inherently evil.
Through ritualistic magics, performed by their summoned servants, and the infamous Lindwyrm’s Promise, they ‘help’ humanoids with any problem they deem worthy of their aid. This aid will often backfire for the person seeking it as the Lindwyrm, by nature, lacks the awareness to make assumptions or judgement calls. They will give you what you want in a very literal and final sense. If someone was to ask a Lindwyrm to resurrect their killed pet, it would do so. Yet it would not have the foresight to also heal the creature, leaving the pet either in agony or to immediately die from its wounds once more.
Kolgruf of Eld
One such Lindwyrm is Kolgruf of Eld. Living deep beneath the overgrown forests of the Western Hammerlands, Kolgruf specialises in age-based magics and promises. While they could, in theory, perform miracles to solve many issues, they have become infamous in the local area for the altering of a person’s age.
There have been stories of these requests going both well and poorly, depending on the wording of the request. Some have been given back years of their life, while some have been made to live out their lifetimes in a single day.
All Lindwyrm have the ability to summon unique minions that take a form that the creature finds pleasing. In Kolgruf’s case, these appear as decrepit humans, old beyond compare. They find the process of humanoid aging fascinating and their alien mind finds great joy in the wrinkled patterns of an elder’s skin. To them, it is akin to art.
Kolgruf Stat Block
Kolgruf’s Minion Stat Block
Kolgruf in a Fight
When Kolgruf engages in a fight they begin by trying to stall their enemies, knowing the magical, aging effects of their lair will slowly weaken them. They will call forth their minions to harry the enemy and force them to waste time dealing with lesser threats. Meanwhile, they will make ranged attacks Spit against those that look physically weakest, hoping to charm them and force them to engage their clone. They will engage in melee only once their minions have been damaged and their foes are aged and weakened. Kolgruf will seek to ensure that they can make the most of the Aged Lost’s deaths, being initially reckless, with the knowledge that he will be healed.
This fight is intended to become harder, the longer it goes on. Kolgruf knows he has the best chance of success by dragging the fight out and letting his lair take hold. They are not so bold as to ignore underhand tactics if the opportunity presents itself.
Battle map
Day and Night Versions Download link: Click Here
Loot and Rewards
When building an encounter around Lindwyrms and Kulgruf specifically, they can be used as either friend or foe. It is just as viable to have the Lindwyrm be the answer to a challenge than it is to have them be the cause of a terrible scenario. Either way, there is an opportunity to provide rewards through a Lindwyrm, either as a gift or as part of the creature’s valuables.
Lindwyrm’s Promise:
The most impactful reward you can give your party for allying with a Lindwyrm is a Lindwyrm’s Promise. When this creature makes a promise it becomes an unbreakable vow that will bend reality to be kept. When your party puts themselves in an unwinnable situation where there seem to be no right answers, you can introduce a Lindwyrm, and after doing something in return, the Lindwyrm may grant them a promise, and an opportunity to change the reality of their situation. Just remember, a Lindwyrm will take their request very literally, with no room for adaptation.
Ring of Ravens:
This magical ring can be either offered as a quest reward for handling the Lindwrym or be found within the creature’s loot hoard. It is a rare magic item that does not require attunement.
The ring is a black, metallic band that is carved to display a feathered motif. Black gemstones are hidden through its design, barely noticeable without close inspection. When listened too closely, the distant sound of ravens can be heard, although, this sound fades after the ring’s power is used for the day.
As an action, you can summon a Swarm of Ravens within 30ft of you. This creature acts immediately after you and instinctually knows your objective. The Swarm of Ravens disappears after its HP is reduced to 0 or if you dismiss them. You can use this feature once before needing to take a long rest.
As a bonus action, you can teleport to the Swarm of Ravens summoned by this ring, instantly reducing its HP to 0.
Andradite of Aging:
The Andradite of Aging is Kolgruf’s most prized possession and they always keep it on their person, via a chain around their neck. It was formed by the continued casting of time-based rituals. This could be rewarded to the players for helping the Lindwyrm with a problem or it could be taken off the creature’s body if it is slain. The stone is a very rare, wonderous item. It does not require attunement.
This angular, brown garnet displays no inherent magical properties yet gives off a feeling of finality when being held. It has an extremely long, primitive chain bolted to it, but this can be easily removed.
This Gemstone holds 8 charges.
As an action, you may expend 4 charges and target a creature within 30ft and have them make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + Wis Mod + Prof Bonus). If they fail they are magically aged and have their Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores reduced to 8 for 1 minute. At the end of the affected creature’s turn, these stat increase by 1 until they return to the original score.
At dawn, the gemstone regains 1d6+2 charges.
In addition, you may shatter the gemstone, expending all remaining charges. If you do so, you may target a corpse within 10ft and transfer all your remaining years of life into them. They are resurrected at full HP and you immediately die.
Plot Hooks
When seeking to add these encounter assets into your game, consider if they are going to be a friendly ally or a fearsome enemy. Below you can find some example scenarios that may lead to an encounter with Kolgruf:
| D8 | Scenario |
|---|---|
| 1 | The party comes across an old woman crying in the woods. She is clearly elderly from her physical appearance yet her speech, clothes and hairstyle are all very childlike. |
| 2 | When facing an impossible choice, the party hears rumours of a magically gifted monster. One who can change the fate of those it deems worthy. |
| 3 | The party joins a band of Norn warriors that are seeking to slay the rumoured dragon in the nearby woods. Yet as they draw nearer, it seems the creature in question is no simple dragon. |
| 4 | When stories of a settlement in which no one ever ages reach the ears of a local Jarl, the party is hired to find the cause and bring it back to them. |
| 5 | When searching for somewhere to sleep one stormy night, the party finds themselves wandering into the lair of a mysterious monster. |
| 6 | A party member’s relative who was once older, is now significantly younger than them and is refusing to elaborate. |
| 7 | The rumours of a ‘fountain of youth’ have been wildly misleading for the foolish and greedy folk that successfully seek it out. |
| 8 | When passing through dense woodland, a silent call for aid rings through a party member’s mind. Mjolnir’s Hounds have surrounded a large underground den and the creature within needs help. |
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading through this encounter asset pack! You may be wondering why I didn’t just write a full encounter, rather than just creating the stats and ideas. Well, to be perfectly honest, I simply lack the confidence in my writing abilities to be able to present such a story in a useable format. I’m much more comfortable in my ability to create mechanical content. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better.
I think Kolgruf will make a formidable encounter to a lot of groups. The creature uses some mechanics that are not seen anywhere else in the game so your party is sure to be surprised by the effects that occur should they engage them. The magic items are simple, yet fun and useful. If you find them relying on the Andradite of Aging too heavily, try upping the number of charges it requires to activate.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog! I surely enjoyed writing it! Many of the creatures and magic items used in this post were designed on my Twitch stream which you are welcome to join! You can also contact me and join the community through my discord server!
Veneon Reforged 
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