Needle’s Bones is a 90-foot-wide circular sinkhole containing the skeletal remains of Ormalagos, an adult green dragon who went by the name “Needle” during her lifetime. The location serves as a potential treasure site that characters might seek out, particularly if guided by Faroul and Gondolo (who possess an accurate treasure map) or Bwayes O’tamu (a weretiger who knows the area).
The Site
The sinkhole’s walls are nearly vertical but draped with stout vines, making climbing in or out automatically successful. Thirty feet down, murky green water (3-4 feet deep) fills the bottom, covered with floating plants and hundreds of frogs. The massive rib cage and wing bones of the dragon rise above the water, festooned with vines, moss, and lichen. The surrounding earth is littered with goblin bones.
History
Needle used this grotto as her lair but suspected Batiri goblins had discovered its location. While she was in the process of relocating her treasure, the goblins struck. They dumped baskets of quippers into the water, then trapped the returning dragon with vine nets. The quippers attacked from below while goblin spears rained from above until Needle died. Nearly the entire goblin tribe perished in the assault as well.
Exploration
Searching the muddy bottom reveals hundreds of goblin bones and stone spearheads, disturbs the resident frogs, and attracts two swarms of quippers. A successful DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check while examining the dragon bones reveals regularity in the draped vines, indicating the dragon was netted. Identifying the remains as a green dragon requires lifting the skull from the water and muck (DC 15 Strength/Athletics check).
Treasure
While the source text mentions Needle’s treasure and Faroul and Gondolo’s belief in “an easily claimed dragon’s hoard,” specific treasure details are not provided in these sections. The dragon was relocating her hoard when killed, suggesting treasure may be elsewhere or partially moved.