Xibalba Hex: The Greedy Gold Dragon of the Weeping Wispy Willow

20 miles southeast of the Opal-Cutter's Outpost is the Weeping Wispy Willow. It marks the entrance to the Moonless Fen and bends over the blasted ruins of the Gold-Latticed Prison. One can see it some miles away, as this weeping willow bends hundreds upon hundreds of feet high, so high that clouds sometimes dip below and dance amongst its branches, naming it true.

In the tree rests the Greedy Gold Dragon. His horde threads the willow's roots. Sculptures finely painted and perfectly carved, calligraphy scrolls of high poetry, ceramics handmade by legend'd masters--these are what the Greedy Gold Dragon wishes for.

As one approaches, his head, bearded, slips down to greet his visitors. In a voice long and low he asks if any of them are artists. If they are, he will ask them what kind. If they tell him, he will ask them for a tithe in the form of their art. Present it, and should it make him weep--and the Greedy Gold Dragon is quick to cry over beauty--then you will be granted passage to the Gold-Latticed Prisons below, or the Moonless Fen beyond. Should his eyes remain dry, he will ask for another piece of art. And another. And another. Always more, until his greed turns into tearful appreciation.

If you present him no art but are an artist, he will be enraged. He will ask you once more, and tell you that if you do not bring art to his horde, that he will hang from his tree's branches the corpses of those you hold dear. Do not tempt him. The Greedy Gold Dragon is friends with the darklings in the Moonless Swamp. They will kill for him, to pay off their debt.

And if you are not an artist, then the Greedy Gold Dragon cares not for you. He will ask you to give him a sacrifice of flesh, or to bring him an artist, or to leave. If greed is not slated, then greed is not interested.

From Old School Essentials

MONSTERS:

• The Greedy Gold Dragon, a 12 HD gold dragon.
• The Weeping Wispy Willow, an 8 HD ent and ally of the Greedy Gold Dragon.
• 1d10 + 5 gargoyles, hidden as beautiful statues amongst the treasure horde.

TREASURE:

• Roll 3 times for each category on Treasure Table H.
• In addition to the above, Pathlost, a cursed -2 sword of lawful alignment. Pathlost has the ability of speech, and the tongues of Darklings, Mankind, and Demons. Pathlost also has an Ego of 12--creatures with Intelligence less then this will be taken over by it, and slaves to the sword. It speaks forlornly of tragedies that it has seen. Pathlost has the following three powers in addition to its curse:
• Detect Evil: Hostile creatures within 10"* causes Pathlost to glow blue.
• Detect Gold: Amounts of gold worth 500 or more coins within 10" causes Pathlost to glow gold.
• Detect Halls: Hidden hallways within 1" causes Pathlost to hum.

Pathlost.