So I missed a session and came back to find out that there is a hunting party of nobles trying to kill a gold dragon. I can not let this happen but I can neither diplomacies the nobles(they will not listen as the king ordered the hit on the dragon or something) nor can I kill them (it would have very bad political repercussions, and would likely result in not only my death but the death of the party).
The last session ended in a different area(presumably a decent distance away from the hunting party) with a good aligned elemental thing fighting an evil aligned elemental thing, I'm going to try and make the good aligned elemental win the fight as best I can but there is no guarantee I will be able to do so(the party left the room the fight was in(the elementals were pretty much attacking the entire party) but I'm staying behind to help kill the evil elemental. If the evil elemental is killed I'm going to try to diplomacies the good elemental into helping me save the gold dragon but there is no guarantee it will work.
There is one member of the hunting party currently with the party so I need to be discreet about my plans to foil their hunt.
Tough spot.
The good elemental may be just as limited as you are in its options to offer assistance.
If you or it tell the dragon of the hunting party, and the dragon ambushes the hunters, the king will have good reason to send another hunting party, offer a large reward/bounty, etc.
The best course of action is to somehow convince the hunting party through bribery or magical suggestion to tell the king the dragon is dead. Or deliver a forged note to the hunters calling it off, signed yours truly, the king.
Can you warn the dragon and give it a chance to get away. Sending would let you do so right after your done fighting. Perhaps gift it a scroll of teleport.
Perhaps you can help the dragon fake its death. Illusion spells would do so pretty easily. Pretending to shoot it down so that it falls into a lake, bottomless pit, or deep ravine works.
Is there any locals that can help? Kobolds would definitely do so provided you could convince them there was a dragon in the area. Good folks in general would probably help a good dragon. Most dragons can shapeshift. Add in a few more illusion spells to block divination and the word of some of the locals and it can hide in plain sight
You could kill the hunting party while in disguise. Perhaps just kill them and blame it on the dragon
If you have anything with the dragon's scent you could probably lead the hunting party in the wrong direction
Fake a copy of the note or modify the original. Use invisible ink to add extra text to make the note something more agreeable.
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Oopsy for got to add in some details that in hindsight is rather important. We are level 2, the party has a druid, a summoner, 2 barbarians, a kinetisist and a slayer.
Also one of the people in the hunting parties jobs is impaling any and all people who oppose the king/high nobles so getting support from common folk is not really likely. We also can not kill this person as they themselves are a noble and killing a noble is treason which will get you put to death in very unpleasant ways.
On the plus side I have just over a week and a half to come up with something.
Well, Gold Dragons can Polymorph, can't they? If the dragon polymorphed into an little lost boy and appealed to a farmer, the farmer would be happy to take him in, feed him, and make him do chores. It would be very hard for the King and his huntsmen to find the Dragon.
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Dragon hires adventures to travel into a 'reverse dungeon' (castle) and hunt down the leader of an invading force and either kill or drive it from the kingdom. Expect traps, guards, magical defenses, and discretion is a must. PCs may keep any loot they find.
Treason, schmeason. Sometimes outlawry is the best . . . ry.
Have a bard spread a rumor that the presence of the dragon is a hoax being perpetuated by the hunters. Once the king finds out that the hunters are actually con-artists then the hunters will have to face the charge of treason. In the mean time the gold dragon should probably lay low for a few hundred years until the whole thing blows over.
Start a forest fire.
Cut ropes to a swinging bridge with the hunting party on it.
Forge a letter calling off the hunt.
Level 2 party options are quite limited...
Even if you beat the hunting party to the dragon, why would it listen to you and not just eat you? How many encounters with dragons start with a conversation and not with Frightening Presence instead?
Maybe summon nature's ally, hopefully the dragon will listen to a raven because it's too small to immediately want to eat it.
The raven could tell the dragon to lead the hunting party into a cave, and collapse the cave. This way it's an unfortunate accident and the dragon isn't pursued even more so for killing the hunting party.
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The first thing it that it seems that you and the rest of your party need to get on the same page. The party leaving and you staying to help is a red flag that says you aren't all working together and don't have the same goals. This is a team game, and unless you all build characters with fairly compatible morals and goals it is likely to not work out very well. If you haven't already done so, you and the other players (not the characters) and the GM really need to have a conversation about what the party stands for, what it is trying to achieve and why each of your characters would want to be a part of the group (and perhaps alter/remake characters if their concept doesn't fit.)
As for the Dragon, even the weakest Gold Dragon is more powerful than your entire party put together. I wouldn't expect your party to be able to influence the outcome measurably beyond perhaps getting a warning to the dragon.
Pizza Lord wrote: Dragon hires adventures to travel into a 'reverse dungeon' (castle) and hunt down the leader of an invading force and either kill or drive it from the kingdom. Expect traps, guards, magical defenses, and discretion is a must. PCs may keep any loot they find. Much like me, the dm believes there are certain things one should not be able to reasonably do depending on your level as such the king is likely high level with the and the guards are likely lvl 10-12 meaning it would literally be an impossible task for our lvl 2 party. Not that there is anything wrong with that like I said I agree with the premise a party should not be able to go around and tear down a kingdom at low level just because they expect a "level appropriate challenge".
So trying to do something like this would take several months (of both in game and out of game time) to pull off and would require us to still save the dragon in the 1st place. Doing so is not outside the realm of possibilities but it would require an extensive amount of effort from every one involved and would have political ramifications towards us from the rest of the wold which is something I don't think the entire party would be willing to burden myself included.
Dave Justus wrote: The first thing it that it seems that you and the rest of your party need to get on the same page. The party leaving and you staying to help is a red flag that says you aren't all working together and don't have the same goals. This is a team game, and unless you all build characters with fairly compatible morals and goals it is likely to not work out very well. If you haven't already done so, you and the other players (not the characters) and the GM really need to have a conversation about what the party stands for, what it is trying to achieve and why each of your characters would want to be a part of the group (and perhaps alter/remake characters if their concept doesn't fit.) while we may not have the best cohesion we still try to work together, the issue is there is me and one other person who can out range the aoe effects(both damage and status effects) coming off both of the elementals and the two barbarians and the slayer are all in low single digit hit points at the moment and just a single hit will either knock them out or if they get crit they will die so they retreated. Which leaves just me as the only one who can effect the battle in any way.
don't stop the plan... champion it.
Has anyone seen the dragon?
You need to provide proof that you killed the dragon or find a scape-dragon.
Maybe you need some virgins?
Certainly this is going to take a lot of gold!
Sneak up on another dragon with a bucket of gold paint and give him a new paint job. Gold foil is also very handy for this. Probably more practical to just do the head.
Watch Dragonslayer, learn how it's done.
In a pinch, an old horse, a gold dragon costume with Disguise skill and perhaps Silent Image or a higher illusion, and your Champion.... yay! Victory! (burn the corpse, Burn IT!). Hypnotism may come in handy.
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Warn the dragon. It will likely be able to easily go somewhere else or hide.
Dragons are prideful. It's unlikely that any dragon worthy of the name would flee its den on the word of some random adventurers. It may, however, give the dragon time to prepare.
If you can't convince the hunting party of the error of its ways, have the courage of your convictions and turn them aside.
If they're just way too strong to face head-on, get clever. Set traps. Separate the opposing party and take its members down individually. Lure other threats into the hunters' path. Consult your inner Tucker's Kobold. Use every means at your disposal to confound the hunters, and then use means at someone else's disposal.
As for "level appropriate challenges": if this is so far out of your league, why is the GM setting up such a conflict in the first place?
Wait until the hunting party sets camp.
Light several fires surrounding the party, but far enough away that they are full on forest fires by the time the night watch sees the blaze.
They all burn in a tragic forest fire before reaching the dragon. Too bad, for them.
Sadly, gold dragons breath fire, so this may get the dragon into more trouble by the king who sent the hunting party.
I just don't know how to take out an entire hunting party at your level, without using the environment... rockslide, forest fire, tunnel collapse, cutting the ropes of a bridge, etc.
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This sounds like a very effective and classic way for a hunting party to get toasted, even if the dragon is unprepared.
No, I say let them go. These type of problems usually resolve themselves.
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So... how to save a dragon hunted by a party sent by the king. A gold dragon.
From what has been mentioned, the party will have characters around level 10 or higher as its core. Depending the specific formation, it might be a group on the adventuring model, which means 4 to 8 people of roughly equivalent level, with different classes allowing for versatility, maybe familiars, animal companions and even cohorts.
It might also be a tournament party, in the medieval meaning : a bunch of nobles with PCs class, easily up to 40 of them, mainly cavaliers, knights, paladins, fighters, but rangers and arcane spellcaster are entirely possible too, and they're used to work together, and they'll be accompanied by their cohorts. Since they've been noticed by the king, roughly 2/3 to 3/4 of them will have a cohort, whose work essentially is to set the camp and do chores, but easily a quarter or half of them can be competent in actual combat.
Or even a crusade party, from 20 to lots more members, specialised in dragon extermination or not.
In any case they'll have prepared themselves.
As for the dragon, he might be a baby, from what I read. Basically, if he's a wyrmling or a young one, he's screwed, but he's probably immature enough that you might convince him to hide or something, and even if he's not immature, given he has around 15 or 17 in Wisdom, he'll understand he can't survive if he faces on his own on this one. That he's a gold and not another helps because they've got some brains.
If he's adult, it's gonna be pretty tough against an adventuring party, and he'll probably wind up dead if he isn't prepared, also he's gonna die for the other configurations. He's got a lot of pride, and his territory is his, so even if he understands he has almost no chance of winning, he'll probably stay. But, since he's got good mental scores, figures he'll have an idea to protect himself and his lair. Since he's been in the area for quite some time, he already has defenses into place, he only has to check they're up and make full use of them. That's probably not enough to save him, but warning him definitely is a good start and the best you could take. Then if you don't have a plan he'll give you one.
If it's the adventuring part, if they're not very well trained, they'll have a real problem faced to a mature adult gold dragon. It's still possible, mind you ; if it's an adventuring party, depending their level, they might take anything on. Larger groups tend to have lower average levels. Now, this dragon definitely is not gonna leave or hide. But, like the adult, he'll have a plan. He's not much clever, but he's more experienced and had more time to prepare. Warn him. He'll know what to do.
If the dragon is ancient or even if it's a great wyrm, the king has to want it dead a lot, because he has to know that whatever he sends, he's probably gonna lose people. They're still proud enough they won't want to go, but they're cunning enough to not play it knightly. An adult might take it in fight or die fashion, and want a glorious death. Those old ones will use everything they have, and either ridicule or destroy whatever is thrown at them. They might even call reinforcements on their own. Given their age, they have many friends, and gold dragons generally have many connections among their kind (I remember they patron the Wyrm conciles, and some silver dragons respect them enough to ask them favours ; since silver dragons are so full of honour, if asked, they'll show up), and there is a non nul chance that they know famous and powerful parties of adventurers on their own too.
Also I considered the dragons on their base stats, but most of them will have class levels too, so they might be an even harder challenge. And they all have brains, probably more than your spellcasters. Sure, the baby will be less prepared and experimented, but if he's that young, given he's a gold dragon, he might call on his mum or whatever adult if refers to, and that will probably be very harsh on the poor dragon hunting party.
Having considered all that, I recommend that you warn the dragon as fast as possible, though you should priorize a serious talk over a quick communication (you don't want him thinking it's a prank). In the event he doesn't have a plan, or knows he is unprepared, he will listen to your opinion. Even if he is a dragon, and a proud one, he will not blindly jump in combat. Depending his particular situation, he might accept to lay low for some time, and most of the time he'll have people to contact if he has the time ; or he could indeed choose to fight, but then he knows what the risks are. Your job, if he gives you one, will probably be to spy a bit or to talk to people, maybe to find some items or components he hid or knows where they are.
I think I went overboard. Seriously, if you know the specifics of the dragon and/or the hunting party, it might not be needed for you to interfere. Brashly going against the hunters, that I strongly recommend to NOT do.
blahpers wrote: Dragons are prideful. It's unlikely that any dragon worthy of the name would flee its den on the word of some random adventurers. It may, however, give the dragon time to prepare.
If you can't convince the hunting party of the error of its ways, have the courage of your convictions and turn them aside.
If they're just way too strong to face head-on, get clever. Set traps. Separate the opposing party and take its members down individually. Lure other threats into the hunters' path. Consult your inner Tucker's Kobold. Use every means at your disposal to confound the hunters, and then use means at someone else's disposal.
As for "level appropriate challenges": if this is so far out of your league, why is the GM setting up such a conflict in the first place?
While I suspect the hunting party to be out of our league, its not nearly as much as trying to fight the king and his royal guard like my statement above but it would still be a bad idea to fight them.
The initial quest was to actually help the nobles in their hunt but when we took the quest we thought it was a large boar or wolf not a dragon. As my character is descended from dragons(but only the kobold knows) and one of our party members is a kobold we aren't having any of it and want to save the dragon(also no one but the party knows there is a kobold and we hope to keep it that way for the kobolds safety).
Also given that I missed the previous session I only found out about the dragon hunt like 25mins till the end of the session we just played only found out about it cuz one of the party members made a remark to the npc traveling with us.
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If you are already part of the hunt, there are a million ways to slow them down and derail the hunt. Bad mushrooms in the cook pot; you eat them too, to avoid suspicion. Everyone gets sick and either goes home or delays the hunt. Be clumsy and make a racket as you approach the lair. Volunteer to scout ahead, and cruelly warn the dragon. That sort of thing. Not as extreme as killing the nobles, so less likely to result in you being banished or worse. Just don’t get caught...
Does any one have any ideas on how we could try and get a message to the dragon with out alerting the hunting party?
Have the druid use summon nature's ally and have an eagle deliver the message.
VoodistMonk wrote: Have the druid use summon nature's ally and have an eagle deliver the message. doesn't that only have a duration of 1 round per level?
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doomman47 wrote: VoodistMonk wrote: Have the druid use summon nature's ally and have an eagle deliver the message. doesn't that only have a duration of 1 round per level? Animal Messenger or Animal Ambassador is what you'd want.
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doomman47 wrote: Does any one have any ideas on how we could try and get a message to the dragon with out alerting the hunting party? A royal, or even genteel, hunting party can make lots of noise. If you make more noise and boast about Dragon Slaying loudly enough for a sensitive and intelligent dragon to hear it, your hunting party is likely not to notice.
You stand a fair chance of finding the dragon yourself by casting Commune with Birds. Then lead the hunting party in the wrong direction. There are also the spells Lay of the Land and Riversight.
Or, once you find the dragon, cast Animal Messenger, a level 2 Druid Spell, to warn it. Your situation seems exactly what this spell was made for. There is also an inexpensive 1-shot item, a bird feather token, that can deliver a message.
If you encounter the dragon yourself, you might cast Carry Companion on it, and hide the dragon on your person.
Sounds to me like we have a plot train kind of DM
Genoin wrote: Sounds to me like we have a plot train kind of DM Not in the slightest they actively encourage us to do what ever we would like to do but to just keep in mind any potential drawbacks(or benefits) from doing any kind of action.
Bloodrealm wrote: doomman47 wrote: VoodistMonk wrote: Have the druid use summon nature's ally and have an eagle deliver the message. doesn't that only have a duration of 1 round per level? Animal Messenger Scott Wilhelm wrote: doomman47 wrote: Does any one have any ideas on how we could try and get a message to the dragon with out alerting the hunting party? You stand a fair chance of finding the dragon yourself by casting Commune with Birds.
Or, once you find the dragon, cast Animal Messenger, a level 2 Druid Spell, to warn it. Your situation seems exactly what this spell was made for. There is also an inexpensive 1-shot item, a bird feather token, that can deliver a message. Really good suggestions and pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. The item how ever is a no go, magic items are rare in this setting so we only get what we find or make ourselves, we have no ability to buy them.
Scott Wilhelm wrote: ]If you encounter the dragon yourself, you might cast Carry Companion on it, and hide the dragon on your person.
A dragon is neither an animal nor a magical beast.
Otherwise, good stuff!
blahpers wrote: Scott Wilhelm wrote: ]If you encounter the dragon yourself, you might cast Carry Companion on it, and hide the dragon on your person.
A dragon is neither an animal nor a magical beast.
Otherwise, good stuff! Good point: Dragon is a class by itself, neither Magical Beast nor Animal. I'd say they are beasts, and they are magical, but yeah, per RAW, they are a different class of monster. Still, worth asking the GM.
Ooops forgot to make an update post so here we go, so I managed to make a deal with the elemental and hopefully they keep their end of the deal. Couldn't use commune with birds because that is apparently a tengu only spell(unless some one has a source that says otherwise or some way non tengu can use it), so no way to find it ourselves so no way to get it a message, only time will tell weather or not the dragon lives now.
So does anyone know if its at all possible for a non tengu to learn the commune with birds spell?
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