Sunset is Nigh

Start-class article · First seen: s03 · Last seen: s04
Sunset is Nigh
the wyrmling
Portrait of Sunset is Nigh.
Character
StatusDead
First seens03
Last seens04
FactionSunset is Nigh's cult, Corrupted elves

Sunset is Nigh was the small green wyrmling, son of Death-at-Sunset, who hid inside his mother’s skull in the cave across the poisoned stream from the Corrupted Redwood Grove and spoke from it to frighten off intruders [15][7]. The party met him in session 3: his poison breath opened the fight, a yuan-ti woman at his side killed Cholmondeley, and Vasquez maimed him with a critical opportunity attack and then took his head [18][23][2][11]. Fergus cooked the body for the town and cleaned the skull for Hugo [12].

Overview

Sunset is Nigh was a green wyrmling, the son of Death-at-Sunset, found in session 3 hiding inside the skull of his dead mother’s skeleton in the cave beyond the poisoned stream [7]. The skeleton lay in a pale green fog at the heart of the cave, and the voice that warned the party off seemed to come from the dead dragon [8][9][10]. He fought beside a yuan-ti woman and was killed by Vasquez within the same fight [2][11].

His body outlived him: Fergus cooked it for the town and kept eight portions for the road, and Hugo was given the skull as a trophy [12]. The meat was still worth temporary hit points in session 4 [5][6].

Appearance and demeanour

A tiny green wyrmling with wings, seen only once Caelumn’s Fire Bolt hit the skull and revealed him [13][14]. He is theatrical and boastful, speaking from his mother’s skull so that the voice seems to come from the dead dragon, and he leans on her name for protection [15][16]. Wounded, he turns to threats [17].

Abilities as played

  • Poison breath: a cloud that dealt 21 damage before halving for the save and again for the party’s poison-resistance potions [18]; the breath later recharged [19].
  • Bite and flight: a bite for 8 piercing and 3 poison damage, then a flight 35 feet up [20].
  • Voice: he spoke from inside the skull and taunted the party [15][21].

Relationships

Disposition towards the party

Hostile. He warned the party that it would pay for entering his land, and swore as he was maimed to kill them “and whoever you love” [15][17].

Notable quotes

“Your meager attacks can’t hit me. I have my mother to protect me.” — Sunset is Nigh, [16]

“My mother is Death-at-Sunset, and I am Sunset is Nigh.” — Sunset is Nigh, [25]

“You puny magics are fucking weak!” — Sunset is Nigh, [21]

“You bastards! I will kill you first and whoever you love.” — Sunset is Nigh, [17]

History in the campaign

Session 3: The Lair of Sunset is Nigh and the Death of Cholmondeley

Main article: Session 3

A voice from inside the skeleton of Death-at-Sunset warned the party that it would pay for entering his land [15]. Caelumn’s Fire Bolt then revealed a tiny wyrmling in the skull, who gave his name and his mother’s [7]. In the fight he breathed poison [18] and bit Vasquez; as he flew up, Vasquez’s opportunity attack was a critical that tore off his hind legs and tail [2]. On his next turn Vasquez sliced his throat as he dived [11]. Hugo carried the head out of the cave, and that evening Fergus cooked the body for the town, saved eight portions and cleaned the skull for Hugo [26][12].

Session 4: The Still Current, the Black Mask, and Hugo’s Pact

Main article: Session 4

The wyrmling’s meat was still on the menu. At the start of the session the DM said the party had eaten the dragon at Fergus’s grill and could take five temporary hit points [5]. The next morning Fergus reheated Hugo’s portion before the party left, and the DM gave Hugo five more [27].

Status

As of session 23. Dead, killed by Vasquez in session 3 [11]. His skull went to Hugo as a trophy [28], and his meat was eaten at Fergus’s grill [5][6]. He is not mentioned in play after session 4.

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 3, line 898-912: First seen inside the skull; claims his mother is Death-at-Sunset.
  2. ^ Session 3, line 1132-1142: Flies up after biting Vasquez; the opportunity attack is a critical and tears off his hind legs and tail.
  3. ^ Session 3, line 1286-1290: Decapitated by Vasquez.
  4. ^ Session 3, line 2166-2200: Meat butchered into eight portions; skull cleaned into a crown for Hugo.
  5. ^ Session 4, line 58: The dragon dinner at Fergus's grants the party 5 temporary HP.
  6. ^ Session 4, line 292: Hugo's reheated portion grants 5 temporary HP.
  7. ^ Session 3, line 894-912: Inline citation.
  8. ^ Session 3, line 796: Inline citation.
  9. ^ Session 3, line 840-852: Inline citation.
  10. ^ Session 3, line 882-886: Inline citation.
  11. ^ Session 3, line 1290: Inline citation.
  12. ^ Session 3, line 2162-2200: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 3, line 894-902: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 3, line 988: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 3, line 852: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 3, line 908: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 3, line 1142: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 3, line 952-968: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 3, line 1122: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 3, line 1132: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 3, line 1020: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 3, line 908-912: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 3, line 1214-1260: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 3, line 1218-1224: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 3, line 912: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 3, line 1432-1438: Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 4, line 274-292: Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 3, line 2200: Inline citation.