I am the father of teenagers, and the weirdest part about the whole experience has been watching my kids go through growth spurts. For instance, my eldest son is now taller than me, seemingly overnight. I assume it explains why he suddenly sleeps and eats so much lately.

Now apply that to a young green dragon. According to the Monster Manual, a young dragon is anywhere from 6-100 years old. What if Venomfang is closing in on 100 years old, about to make that transition from a young dragon to an adult dragon within days, weeks, or months? That would mean he’s getting ready for a massive growth spurt where his size category will soon go from a Large (10 ft. x 10 ft.) as a young dragon to Huge (15 ft. x 15 ft.) adult dragon.

Based on what I’ve seen going on with my son, I have some thoughts on what Venomfang transitioning into adulthood might look like, and how I can use it in-game:

Sleeps a lot: Venomfang isn’t some new apex predator in the area. He’s been there for decades. But when he sleeps, he sleeps. For like, a few years at a time – especially as he gets closer to the transition from young dragon to adult dragon. He wakes up, helps himself to a shepherd and their flock, maybe a community of homesteaders, then it’s back to the Neverwinter Wood where he spends a few years of light reading from ancient tomes taken from the ruins of Sharandar and Xinlenal before nodding off to sleep for another few years.

Wakes up hangry: Venomfang is at his most dangerous when he wakes up hangry. And now that he’s in a growth spurt, it’s worse than usual. Normally, he’s mindful of the fact the last green dragon who tore through the grasses between the High Road and the Neverwinter Wood is now interred in a barrow southeast of Thundertree. But with his caloric needs so great as his body is set to nearly double in size, he can hardly help himself.

With homesteaders and loggers now fleeing to Neverwinter with tales Venomfang terrorizing the lands between the Neverwinter River to the Triboar Trail, Lord Dagult Neverember has assembled a great host to ride south beneath the banner of Neverwinter and put an end to Venomfang, Terror of the Grasslands. This could be the adventure seed that takes the characters from Neverwinter, to the Logger’s Camp, then to the Dragon Barrow until they finally track Venomfang to Thundertree.

When finally confronted, Venomfang puts on a charm offensive:

“I must say, I do owe the good people of these lands my sincerest apologies.You see, I had been asleep for several years, and I fear I woke up with a ravenous hunger. My dear mother, ClaugiyIiamatar, says I am never quite myself until I’ve had a sip of water and a bite to eat after such a long slumber. No doubt, my boorish behavior out in the grassland has caused alarm and distress. But I assure you, my hunger has been sated, and I can see by the great host that sits upon my doorstep, perhaps it is time I take my leave and go enjoy the tranquility of the Neverwinter Wood.”

Of course, Venomfang isn’t so easily cowed. He’s just using his honeyed tongue to distract the characters while the twig blights infesting Thundertree creep closer, stealthily surrounding the players until they’re close enough to pounce on the party and soften them up for the green dragon, who’s still feeling peckish.

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