Both Lost Mine of Phandelver and Dragon of Icespire Peak contain magic items to outfit a classic dragon slaying hero.

In LMoP, Dragonguard lays forgotten for centuries in Wave Echo Cave. It’s a magical breast plate which grants its wearer a bonus to their armor class and advantage on saving throws against the breath weapon of creatures that have the dragon type.

In DoIP, Lady Tanamere’s dragon slayer longsword, which deals substantial damage to creatures that have the dragon type, is interred with its owner at the Dragon Barrow for a century.

If we add one more dragon-focused magic item to this formidable pair, you could create a sort-of Deathly Hallows legend and quest for the characters to undertake. The quest for the Dragon Hallows.

So, what should the third magic item be?

One hallow wards its bearer (Dragonguard).

One hallow gives strength to their arm (Dragon Slayer Sword).

One hallow calls upon the dragon to face its bearer in combat (Orb of Dragonkind).

Orb of Dragonkind

While you control the orb, you can use an action to cause the artifact to issue a telepathic call that extends in all directions for 40 miles. Evil dragons in range feel compelled to come to the orb as soon as possible by the most direct route. Dragon deities such as Tiamat are unaffected by this call. Dragons drawn to the orb might be hostile toward you for compelling them against their will. Once you have used this property, it can’t be used again for 1 hour.

The orb has a host of other beneficial (and detrimental) features beyond just summoning a dragon, and it would be the most powerful item of the three Dragon Hallows, by far. Perhaps its ability to summon dragons is the only part of the legend remembered about this ancient artifact, with its other abilities to be discovered by its bearer once they have attuned to the orb.

Where would the characters find such an artifact? If we’re staying within the map of the Sword Coast, I’d go with the Sunless Citadel, north of Neverwinter. As the former site of a Cult of the Dragon sect that venerated Ashardalon, it’s a good fit narratively. A good location to hide it within the Sunless Citadel would be the Tomb of the Failed Dragon Priest, retrofitted to challenge higher level characters.

The Orb of Dragonkind is an artifact, and definitely a Tier 3 or Tier 4 level quest far beyond the confines of the Starter Set or Essentials Kit. But it’s a grand quest that could start in little ol’ Phandalin nonetheless, and keep your adventure in the lands between the High Road and the Long Road long past 5th level.

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