Shadowmire

Cruel and aggressive, Shadowmire is a master of evil within the Witchlight Fens. The black dragon haunts the swamp in his quest to accumulate more wealth, control his underlings, and protect his territory. His ability to appear unexpectedly out of the swamp is legendary and, much to the horror of his opponents, all too common.
For well over two hundred years, the black dragon Shadowmire has called the Witchlight Fens his home. Like many of his kind, Shadowmire is a cruel and evil creature that loves wealth and power over lesser creatures. Somewhat less typically, he is one of the most aggressive dragons of the Nentir Vale. He is obsessed with his domain and is willing to protect it by wielding his personal power or expending his underlings. Though he regards the fens as entirely his territory, he is not strong enough to control most of it. He does, however, hold dominion over many of its inhabitants, including most of the lizardfolk, and often uses them to subjugate or influence his opposition. He counts among his victories the conquest of Kalton Manor, though in reality he was but one of many monstrous contributors to its downfall. Shadowmire is slowly expanding his power base, despite occasional setbacks from greater opponents.
Prideful and Cunning: Shadowmire takes great pride in his knowledge, wealth, and power. To challenge him on any of these points is to invite swift rebuke, whether verbal or physical. He always has schemes in play to expand his power and cruelly defeat his enemies. He takes any encroachment into his territory as a personal affront, and works tirelessly to destroy  challengers or burgeoning settlements. When he cannot win through brute force, he attempts to contain opponents through crafty agreements or outright deceit.
Always on the Move: Shadowmire’s obsession keeps him moving throughout the fens, but his mode of transport depends on his current interest. At times, the great dragon takes to the sky in a display of power and intimidation. Several times a year, Shadowmire can be seen flying over the Nentir River where it passes through the fens. Most of the time, he prefers to travel in a stealthier manner to surprise his enemies and underlings. Where the water is deep enough, he might also swim.
Secrets of the Fens: Shadowmire’s age and ambitions make him extremely knowledgeable about the Witchlight Fens and its secrets. Thanks in part to his draconic heritage, he knows where the veil between the Shadowfell and the world is at its weakest in the deep swamps. Shadowmire also knows and understands much of the history of the larger local settlements and their more influential inhabitants. He uses this knowledge to his advantage, manipulating current events wherever possible. He knows many of the area’s tombs and ruins, because he has often been responsible for them.
Underwater Hoard: The location of Shadowmire’s lair is the subject of much speculation and debate, and the dragon works to keep it that way. His true home lies deep under the Cairnwater, a large tributary of the Nentir River located near the center of the fens. The lair is submerged beneath the stream, within a natural cave system that is strongly connected to the Shadowfell. It has three separate entrances, all underwater, and  consists of a central chamber surrounded by lesser rooms where Shadowmire stores his ever-growing hoard.
False Lairs: Shadowmire conceals his lair’s location through frequent movement and outright deception. He has a number of false lairs established around the fens, and he visits them regularly to firmly establish them as red herrings for would-be treasure hunters. Shadowmire has even gone to the trouble of establishing fake hoards at some locations, including the most commonly known one, the ruins of Crestwater Tower. This tall, ruined tower was once a Fallcrest outpost that was  dedicated to patrolling the Nentir River from the Witchlight Fens to the city gates. Shadowmire destroyed it years ago with the aid of his underlings. Though much of the stone tower remains, the fens have reclaimed most of the surrounding buildings and dilapidated docks.
Allies and Enemies: Shadowmire holds great influence over the lizardfolk of the Witchlight Fens. Most of their tribes follow him, willingly or not. The dragon  regularly visits them to remind them who is in charge, to convey his expectations, and to give them directions. In addition to the lizardfolk, a great number of dark allies work for the dragon out of fear, reverence, pragmatism, or some combination of the three.
One group, the Daggerburg goblins (page 38), dares to oppose Shadowmire, venturing into the fens from the nearby Harken Forest. They clash regularly with Shadowmire’s agents and lizardfolk allies, though the goblins might not always realize that the dragon is the one in charge.
Forever Greedy: Shadowmire wants treasure as much as power and is always ready to add to his hoard. His favorite raiding targets are boats traveling on the Nentir River within the fens. He particularly covets unique items, whether actual magic artifacts or normal objects that have a significant history. When told of such an item, Shadowmire gathers as much information as possible, using spies or underlings if needed. He then devises a scheme to lure the owner to the fens so he can acquire the item personally. He takes special pleasure in drawing wealthy adventurers into his realm, often ambushing them at one of his decoy lairs.