The Dragon Never Asked for Tribute
D&D 5e Plot Hook · Mountain Village · Dragon · Hidden Conspiracy
The Hook
Every spring, a mountain village sends livestock, silver, and crafted goods to a nearby dragon. The elders claim the tribute prevents another devastating attack, and old scorch marks across the valley seem to prove the bargain is necessary.
The dragon remembers things differently. It burned the valley decades ago while fighting something beneath it, never demanded payment, and has repeatedly tried to return the offerings. Someone intercepts every returned treasure before it reaches the village, profiting from keeping the “tribute” alive.
Possible Directions
The party can expose whoever controls the collection, negotiate directly with the dragon, or uncover who rewrote the original battle as an act of extortion. Ending the tribute could free the village from generations of fear—but it may also end the only regular arrangement keeping the dragon attentive to whatever still sleeps beneath the valley.
