Moschabbatt
(ancient)
Moschabbatt is an ancient magma dragon living in the southern portion of the Five Kings Range. The dragon has carved out a large lair deep beneath surface near the heart of the volcano Droskar's Crag. The lair is around a lava lake called the Blood of the Mountain and lies between two ancient subterranean dwarven transportation routes, now cut off from their original destinations. Moschabbatt never intrudes upon the territory of the red dragon Daralathyxl, eager to avoid his wrath.1
Early life
When he was a young dragon, Moschabbatt lived with a clutch of seven magma dragons near the heart of what was then known as Torag's Crag. They noticed the warning signs of impending eruption and understood that their home would soon be destroyed. The clutch decided to split up and seek a new place to call home.
By the time the volcano erupted in 3980 AR, in an event now known as the Rending, Moschabbatt had found a cave system beneath what is now Andoran. After the catastrophe, he returned to his former lair where he found only ruins and pools of bubbling magma. He located a small set of still-intact caverns, made his new lair, and began defining his new territory, intimidating those who objected to his expansion and slaying those who opposed it.1
Of the clutch, only Moschabbatt and his weaker brother Veshumirix survived.23 Soon after reclaiming their lair, Veshumirix also returned to confront him out of jealousy but was defeated and left for dead. He barely survived to escape and plot revenge.34
Hoard
Though the eruption had destroyed his original lair, Moschabbatt was pleased to discover a newly opened pathway that ascended toward the ruins of the dwarven capital of Jernashall. The dragon discovered dwarf-forged magic weapons and cultural artifacts, chests full of jewelry, and precious metals among the rubble and crushed corpses and this treasure became his new hoard.1
Moschabbatt became gradually fascinated with the stout folk whose treasures he had acquired. He started to study their history and observe them from afar, and what he saw troubled him. He watched the Forge War (4369–4382 AR)5 and the descent of the dwarven nations into apathy and drudgery, all the while remaining happy to gradually build his hoard with the rubble of their fallen empire.1
Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
Moschabbatt's first direct contact with the dwarves occurred when a secret team of explorers sent by the dwarven Theocrat Ordrik Talhrik—who ruled the Five Kings Mountains in the 44th and 45th centuries AR—ventured to Jernashall's ruins. The team was led by Bravitsor Broac, who carried the powerful artifact known as the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. The dragon killed the adventurers, but the axe survived both the dragon's breath and the magma that drowned their twitching bodies. The artifact is the key to a lost golden age of dwarven culture and became the most precious artifact in Moschabbatt's hoard.1
Followers
Moschabbatt's lair is supported by the munsahirs6 of Clan Zilleran, who escaped from Medina Mudii'a and now inhabit an ancient dwarven waypoint. Led by their cleric Noble Zilleran the munsahirs forge objects of exotic beauty which Moschabbatt trades with other Darklands denizens. Two hidden passages allow access to small platforms above the lava lake from where the munshairs could assist the dragon against invaders.7
The Flame Torrent tribe of red-scaled kobolds led by Ipmaark worship Moschabbatt. Their makeshift settlement stands on the banks of the lava lake in which their idol lives. The kobolds work as Moschabbatt's servants, lookouts, guards and excavation workers. Skilled tinkers, they have constructed levers and pulleys for transporting dwarven loot through a tunnel system as well as a lot of well-crafted traps to deter intruders.7
Scivia Zyrendox, an old drow8 ally and former lover from his days in Sekamina, is the dragon's closest advisor and one of the few to know he possesses the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. She spends most of her time studying metallurgy and geology.7
References
Paizo published a major article on Moschabbatt and his lair in Dragons Unleashed.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 . “Moschabbatt (Ancient Magma Dragon)” in Dragons Unleashed, 32–33. Paizo Inc., 2013
- ↑ . “Fires of the Haunted City” in Fires of the Haunted City, 5. Paizo Inc., 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 . “Adventure Toolbox” in Fires of the Haunted City, 90. Paizo Inc., 2019
- ↑ Dragons Unleashed 32 suggests that Moschabbatt was the clutch's sole survivor, and the only dragon of the clutch to return to the lair. This is retroactively changed by the introduction of his brother Veshumirix in Fires of the Haunted City.
- ↑ . “Timeline” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 36. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ With the publication of Rage of Elements, Paizo created new munsahirs to replace azers in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game mechanics. In canon, "munsahir" is the new name for the revived and liberated people as of 4723 AR. See also Rage of Elements pgs. 3, 113, and 132, and Pathfinder Core Preview pgs. 2 and 13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 . “Moschabbatt (Ancient Magma Dragon)” in Dragons Unleashed, 34. Paizo Inc., 2013
- ↑ Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting as part of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. A canon replacement for drow in this context might not exist. See Meta:Drow.