dragon, i got a couple things you'll like. one is a great plot for a story or game or Rp. the next is a website you'll LOVE!!
http://draconicum.ning.com/ihave sample plot type ideas, with examples for each, that help guide one in making plots for adventures. and i have alot of experience in twisting plots together. here, i'll fish out my Epic Level Handbook fo rthe D&D game. ^.^
Dragon's LairThe classic cornestone of teh D&D game is the Great Wyrm, hidden away in some long-forgotten cavern, slumbering on it's mammoth treasure hoard. Often, the dragon is much more than that, and epic dragons break the mold even more. What new and interesing things can be done with a dragon that's more powerfull, more cunning, and more intelligent? The concept of a dragon hiding among humans and shapeshifting is interesting, but it's been done before. What if the dragonused others to do it's "hiding" in plain view instead? Suppose the dragon, rather than killing adventurers who came after it and were overmatched, instead in some way charmed, compelled, or simply convinced them with diplomacy to become it's servants?
Such situations could make fr a wide variety of adventure possibilities. The plots surrounding such an arrangement could go on for many sessions and character levels, all before the heroes knew what thy wee up against.
What's NeededThe first requirement is an extremely powerfull dragon. Give carefull consideration to the skills and abilities this dragon possesses. In addition to amazing skill in combat, this dragon requires the means to take, and keep, followers. Leadership becomes essential. Also, the dragon requires spells or powers that focus on controlling the thoughts and minds of others. An epic dragon islikely to have developed epic spells (or epic psionic powers) of it's own, most likely of the compulsion, charm, and related varieties. See teh dragon in theexample below; it's not even an epic dragon, but it possesses some of these requirements. You can build on it for an even more powerfull version.
The dragon needs a lair. This can be the traditional cavern, or deep swamp, orwhatever else is appropriate for teh type of dragon you choose. Even though an ordinary sort of lair is something of a cliche, it might be better than setting the dragon up as a wolf in sheep's clothing in the middle of civilization. Consider that epic charactershave ways of finding out just about anything; divinations and
detect spells function so well it's hard for the DM to keep his NPC's identities, alignments, thoughts, and general nature a secret. And after all, dragons like remote wilderness.
Next, the dragon's followers. Some of them should be high-level characters in their own right. Imagine that a band of 16th- to 18th-level characters, following rumors of a dragon, set out to take it on. The characters discover the hard way that they were no match for the dragon. But instead of disposing of the characters, the dragon makes a deal with them: serve me, and you shall live. And the characters agree. Such charaters should have all the personality and complexity of any of the players' characters, because they are going to do much more than just function as the front lin of defence for th dragon.
Finally, you need a reason fo rthe dragon to gather servants like he gathers gold. Why not just kill any invaders? That's the easy route, and certainly in keeping with draconic tradition, but this dragon is smart. It has a bundle of different interests, ideas, or even the need for mental stimulation. Or, perhaps the dragon has aspirations of becoming the leader of an empire.
The secret here is that you want to involve the dragon's underlings in your plots first, so that your players begin interacting with the dragon's organization long before they ever meet the dragon. In fact, the NPC servants should not be initially adversaries. They could be good-aligned characters who have been genuinely convinced to uphold the dragon's banner. The causes they are working toward themselves might very well be benign, at least on the surface.
ExampleA green dragon named Rhovaelia hunts a high-level character: a rogue with levels in the perfect wight prestige class. The perfect wight stole a precious artifact from her. The dragon knows only that a realy skilled thief managed to get into her lair and make off with the item. Rather than go hunting for the offender herself, the dragon decides to turn the next group of roving heroes into her personal trackers. In the shoes ofher
simulacrum (see below), she persuades the characters into serving her, willingly, provides them with ample gol to outfit their mission, and tells them to go and find her goodie for her.
The characters, taking the name of the Forgiven, decide to dedicate their lives to stopping crime (in the dragon's name -- she's is pretty persuasive). By honing their skills at hunting down thieves, they hope to eventually find the real culprit the dragon seeks. The Forgiven begins to take on the traits of an orginization, signing on many dozens, or even hundreds, of members (who do not know that the founders of the orginization serve Rhovaelia).
When the Player Characters (PCs) encounter members or bands of the Forgiven, they are asked to get involved in a well-organized plan to clean up the city. Perhaps thy even sign on for a few gigs, participating in a fabulous thwarted robbry, or catching a high-caliber crime boss.
Of course, the founders of the Forgiven orgainization secretly cull the stash of every thief they catch, looking for the artifact that started it all so they can return it to the dragon.
Rhovaelia is as cunning a great wyrm as they come, and she utilizes her spells masterfully to maintain her position of dominance over her minions. in addition, she protects herself through a variety of arcane means.
First, she has a clone hidden away that has a parmanent
gentle repose cast on it so that it will not rot. She does not know it's true location; it was hidden far away from her current location by an underling (since killed). Should she ever be slain, she returns in teh body of the clone.
Second, she has disguised herself as a falcon familiar to a sorcerer. The sorcerer is actually a simulacrum Rhovaelia created of a former adventurer named Deboath she slew a long time ago. She polymorphs herself into the falcon and perces on the simulacrum's shoulder. Thus, it appears that the simulacrum is in charge, and Rhovaelia can observe and control events through subtlety and cunning. To maintain the guise, the dragon employs
mind blank and
nondetection[/i
Rhovaelia has a large stff of servants and a slew of guardians in her lair, hiredby the simulacrum. She manipulates a few through dominate person. None of the creatures that work in her lair realize that she is a dragon and that teh simulacrum is not realy in charge (though some suspect that the falcon is more than it seems).
next up i'll post "The Unsuspecting Dupes" and "The Mad Cult", but not now, it takes too long. 
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