DM Brainiac's Ironfang Invasion: Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master DM Brainiac

How long has it been since the throne? Have the 10 min/lvl buffs expired (2 hours and 20 min)?

Knowledge Nature, taking 10: 10 + 18 = 28

Wulfram surveyed the terrain and warned his comrades, "Each of those clusters of mushrooms had a shrieker mushroom at the center; if someone gets too close to it, it will sound the alarm!"

Perception, taking 10: 10 + 22 = 32

While Rogar went scouting, he used one of his magic pearls to recall a previously cast prayer, then thickened his skin once more. He also prayed to the spirits for the courage to fight a dragon.

Recalling Barkskin (assuming that the previous one has run out) and recasting it on himself). Also casting Remove Fear on himself.

Karla narrows her eyes as Wendell disappears: "You think he's truly on our side?" she asks, but she doesn't wait for an answer. As rogar sinks, she weaves as many incantations as she can to protect her and Nik'o.

"Wulfram, can you protect some of us from acid?"

Casting, in this order, until interrupted: See invisibility (self), Invisibility (self), Mirror image 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 (Nik'o), Fly (self) (4 rounds).

Once she's cast, she flies 30 feet above the group.

I've got the acid protection for you." Eustoma casts Protection from Energy Acid on the whole group. Should we fly down? That would avoid the mushrooms."

140 HP protection for 20 minutes each person in the group.

Rogar Stealth: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24
Perception (40' Distance): 1d20 + 23 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 23 - 4 = 22

Rogar creeps ahead under the ground, peeking out once he gets close to the wicker warren. Within, the dwarf spots an immense black dragon wallowing amid a hoard of treasure. Her flesh is half rotted away, revealing fungal growths and mycelia quivering and pulsing underneath. This must be Naphexi.

The dragon growls and lifts her head, turning in the dwarf's direction, but he somehow manages to duck back just before she can notice him!

Rogar returns to the group, popping out of the ground without any warning, "Aye. She's in there. Doesn't look tha' good- tha blight has 'er. Once we're ready, it'll be a bit o' a fight."

Ready when the others are.

Is there a map for this fight? I'm interested to know if the mushrooms guard all the ground approaches to the lair.
I'm assuming that the previous buffs have expired.

Wulfram used another magic pearl to recall his prayer to counter fear, and prayed to the battle spirits to boost the party's strength and courage.

Recalling Remove Fear with the 1st lvl Pearl of Power. Casting Mass Bull's Strength and Bless on the party.

Yes, I will get a map up tomorrow morning. You can bypass the shriekers by flying or climbing down from the center of the ledge you are on.

Karla nods: "A dragon infected by the Blight... I wonder how this changes things? Well, better get ready. I'm surprised Naphexi is just standing there waiting. Could it be a trap, you think? What do evil dragons do in their free time? Scheme? Build small scale reproductions of their lairs? Count their gold? Probably that one..." she says, trailing off in wandering thoughts.

When everyone seems about ready, she connects Nik'o to the angelic plane, forcing her will to punch through the Blight.

Casting Angelic Aspect.

Fey casts Greater Magic Fang on both Nikko and Sia. "I'll use my own dragon when it's time." she pats her little statue. "Poor thing is blighted. That may change things. Who knows how it's going to affect her abilities."

"I wish we could see what lies under this water... The place looks like it could close down on us..." whispers Karla, invisible above the others, waiting for one of them to start combat.

"If we wish to draw her attention, I could also disguise us as blight satyrs, or perhaps I could make the whole cavern appears as if it is springing with renewed life, with flowers blooming everywhere..." she suggests.

We're Long range, more or less. Anyone wants to just shoot at it from here? I can also DD some of us there?

Wulfram said, "OK Rogar, we'll give you 30 seconds to get into position, and then we'll move forward."

He prayed to the battle spirits for victory, and motioned the dwarf to advance. He took out a scroll and read it, then prayed to the flame spirits to see through the dragon's deceptions.

Scroll of False Life temporary HP: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Casting Blessing of Fervor and True Seeing. Using a scroll of False Life.

Rogar takes a deep breath, and walks away, descending into the ground like he's going down stairs. Once underground, he glides through the earth and rock with ease, the ground parting in front of him and closing behind him as he moves. He stays within about 10 feet of the surface, his attunement with the earth allowing him to sense the surface. With the blessing of speed Wulfram granted him, Rogar quickly reaches the area near the dragon, and perches inside the stone of the cliff face behind the dragon. He reaches out to the stones and feels them respond, preparing to strike once the others engage.

Karla embues Sia with the ability to fly, then turns herself into a dragon! Except she's invisible, so no one notices.

"Guys! I'm a dragon, just so you know..."

Casting Fly and Form of the Exotic Dragon II: Large Cloud dragon.

Wulfram prayed to the battle spirits again, growing to double his height, and channeling their power. Then he started to fly forward.

Casting Righteous Might, and then Divine Power, with the last spell coinciding with the end of the 30 seconds for Rogar to get into place.
Blessing of Fervor: +30 movement

Blessing of Fervor: rnd 6 of 14
Divine Power: rnd 2 of 14

Stat line adjusted for spells.

As Wulfram starts to fly forward, Rogar can feel Naphexi shifting on the ground above. The rest of you can see the dragon leap out of the entrance to her warren and roar defiantly. "Reeking flesh bags! What manner of base intruders wander here uninvited, tainting the glorious home of Naphexi, Rotting Duchess of the Fangwood? You are not borne of Darkblight—the blighted share a mind and good sense alongside it. Present tribute to your duchess or your filthy flesh I will flense from your bones, and your miserable carcasses will be next to adorn my walls."

When Rogar is ready to attack, he may take a surprise round against Naphexi.

Rogar suddenly pops out of the wall behind her, "'Ere's yer tribute" he says, unloading all the power he was storing all at once.

Maximized Empowered Metal Blast: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 3792 + 35 + 17 + 24 = 168
Damage: 14d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 2, 5, 3, 6, 3, 5, 1, 4, 3, 5, 1, 3, 3) + (3) = 48

Rogar hurls all of his gathered power at Naphexi--and it skips off her hardened fungal scales, not leaving a scratch on the mighty dragon! The ancient wyrm roars with rage!

Everybody may act before Naphexi!

"Wha' tha...." Rogar is taken aback at what should have been a devastating blow doesn't so much as faze the dragon. He once again gathers power, blasting the wyrm twice in quick succession, but watches in dismay as only a single one of the blasts does even a bit of damage, then steps back into the rock, where the dragon hopefully can't reach him.

Maximized Empowered Metal Blast: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 4292 + 35 + 17 + 28 = 172
Damage: 14d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 4, 2, 4, 1, 5, 6, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5) + (2) = 56

Crit confirm?: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 2492 + 35 + 17 + 26 = 170
Damage: 14d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 5, 6, 3, 2, 3, 1, 6, 1, 4, 3, 5) + (1) = 52

Empowered Quickened Earth Blast: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 337d6 + 1d8 + 25 + 12 + 36 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 4, 5, 2, 6) + (7) + 25 + 12 + 36 = 108

Wulfram flew towards the dragon, preparing to engage the foul, blighted wyrm.

Blessing of Fervor: +30 movement speed
AC 34, DR 5/Evil
20 ft reach

Karla brings Sia and Nik'o with her as she opens a portal linking here and there.

With a pop, the three are moved to a corner of the cave.

Dimension door, Karla is still invisible.

Nik'o, once teleported, charges the dragon with a loud angelic roar, her silver wings lifting her to her target!

Pounce, Mirror image (8 images), Greater Magic Fang, Good-aligned weapons

Bite and Grab, PA: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 382d6 + 11 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 11 + 6 + 3 = 271d20 + 24 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 24 - 3 + 3 = 37

Claw: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 271d8 + 11 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 6 + 3 = 25

Claw: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 391d8 + 11 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 6 + 3 = 27

Rake: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 351d8 + 11 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 6 + 3 = 23

Rake: 1d20 + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 20 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 401d8 + 11 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 6 + 3 = 24

Bite AoO vs Sia: 1d20 + 34 ⇒ (12) + 34 = 46
Damage: 2d8 + 19 ⇒ (3, 7) + 19 = 294d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 3) = 16
Sia Bite, Charge, Fervor: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 33

Sia howls as she charges through the air at Naphexi. The dragon lashes out as the wolf draws near, biting into her flank. Sia's jaws fail to pierce the wyrm's fungal scales.

Eustoma Caster Level: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Eustoma attempts to scorch Naphexi with a flame strike, but the magic falters against the dragon's spell resistance.

Nik'o pounces upon the dragon, managing to wound the wyrm with two of her claws.

While Wulfram closes the distance, Rogar unleashes his fury again, this time managing to badly batter the dragon with a powerful earth blast!

Naphexi backs away from Sia and Nik'o, whipping her head around towards Rogar. She chants a powerful spell, attempting to paralyze the dwarf!

29 damage to Sia, 16 acid damage absorbed by protection.

Rogar must make a DC 19 Will save or be affected by hold monster. If he fails, he can attempt the save again on his turn as a full-round action. Everybody is up!

Karla spins in the air, collecting the energy of the cave and weaving it through her arms. Feeling the connection to her companions, she redirects the energy gathered to them, slowing time for them.

Cast Haste.

Nik'o growls in surprise at the thickness of Naphexi's scales and opts for caution.

Haste, No PA, Mirror image (8 images), Greater Magic Fang, Good-aligned weapons

Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 372d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 5) + 11 = 201d20 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 24 + 3 = 31

Claw: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 391d8 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Claw: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 351d8 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Hasted Bite and Grab: 1d20 + 20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 20 + 3 + 1 = 342d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 5) + 11 = 211d20 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 24 + 3 = 44

Will DC 19: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Rogar makes sure to keep himself mobile, stepping out of the rock once more and blasting the dragon.
Maximized Empowered Metal Blast, Blessing of Fervor: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 22 + 2 = 3192 + 35 + 17 + 23 = 167
Damage: 14d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 3, 1, 4, 2, 3, 6, 1, 4, 3, 4, 1) + (4) = 46

Empowered Quickened Earth Blast, Blessing of Fervor: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 22 + 2 = 347d6 + 1d8 + 25 + 12 + 36 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 5) + (5) + 25 + 12 + 36 = 109

No frightful presence?

Wulfram beseeched the battle spirits for aid against his draconic foe, descending and attacking the mighty wyrm with his spear.

Swift action: activate Enemies Bane (dragons), move and attack.
I assume that Naphexi is at elevation -35 (head at -20), so Wulfram can't reach her with a 5 ft step/hover.

dice=+3 Cold Iron Longspear (Righteous Might), Divine Power, Bane, Power Attack, Furious Focus, Blessing of Fervor, Bless: 1d20 + 22 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 22 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 35

Damage (Bane,Power Attack), Divine Power: 4d6 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 6) + 29 + 4 = 49fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5 acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3 electrical: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Blessing of Fervor: +2 to attack, AC and Reflex
AC 36
DR 5/Evil

If it's not too late, Karla would also cast a quickened Glitterdust (no SR, Will DC 19). Let me know if it's ok.

Nik'o growls in surprise at the thickness of Naphexi's scales and opts for caution.

Haste, No PA, Mirror image (8 images), Greater Magic Fang, Good-aligned weapons

[dice=Bite and Grab]1d20+20+3+1; 2d6+11; 1d20+24+3

[dice=Claw]1d20+20+3+1; 1d8+11

[dice=Claw]1d20+20+3+1; 1d8+11

[dice=Hasted Bite and Grab]1d20+20+3+1; 2d6+11; 1d20+24+3

Forgot the Bless... +1 to hit. Also don't forget the +1 fro haste to attacks, AC, and reflex saves.

Ah yes, forgot the frightful presence. DC 25 Will save or shaken for 4d6 rounds.

Sia Bites: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (2) + 23 = 251d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 391d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37
Damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 4) + 15 = 24
Eustoma Caster Level: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

Hasted by Karla's spell, Sia attacks the dragon again. She manages to land a single bite, as does Nik'o, but both animals might come to regret chomping down on the fungal wyrm as their mouths fill with a horrid poison!

Naphexi easily resists Karla's glitterdust. Eustoma fails to overcome the dragon's spell resistance again. Both Rogar's and Wulfram's attacks fail to penetrate her scales.

The dragon unleashes her fury on Sia, hitting the wolf with a claw and her tail slap!

Full Attack, PA: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (6) + 28 = 341d20 + 27 ⇒ (2) + 27 = 291d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 421d20 + 25 ⇒ (12) + 25 = 371d20 + 25 ⇒ (2) + 25 = 271d20 + 25 ⇒ (19) + 25 = 44
Damage: 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (3, 1) + 25 = 292d6 + 37 ⇒ (4, 2) + 37 = 43

72 damage to Sia. The wolf is currently at 16/117 HP. Both Sia and Nik'o must make a DC 30 Fortitude save against poison or take 1 Str damage, 1 Dex damage, and be nauseated for 1 minute. Everybody may act!

Who is hasted? The map scale is 10 ft per square; Wulfram is 25 ft up, so he might be more than 30 ft from Sia, not to mention Rogar. He does get an extra attack from Divine Power, so the only difference is the +1 to hit, AC and Reflex.

Will, Remove Fear: 1d20 + 18 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 4 = 38
Fly (DC 15 hover), Overland Flight: 1d20 + 9 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 7 = 29

Wulfram hovered in place, furiously stabbing the massive winged lizard.

dice=+3 Cold Iron Longspear (Righteous Might), Furious Focus: 1d20 + 28 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 28 + 3 = 39
Damage (Bane,Power Attack), Divine Power: 4d6 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 4) + 29 + 4 = 48fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3 acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3 electrical: 1d6 ⇒ 6

dice=+3 Cold Iron Longspear (Righteous Might), iterative: 1d20 + 28 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 28 - 5 = 29
Damage (Bane,Power Attack), Divine Power: 4d6 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 2) + 29 + 4 = 39fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4 electrical: 1d6 ⇒ 1

dice=+3 Cold Iron Longspear (Righteous Might)extra attack: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (7) + 28 = 35
Damage (Bane,Power Attack), Divine Power: 4d6 + 29 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3, 1, 3) + 29 + 4 = 46fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2 acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1 electrical: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Attack bonus: 22+4(divine power)+2(bane)+2(blessing of fervor) +1(bless)-3(power attack) = 28

Divine Power: round 4 of 14

The ones in melee would be hasted.

Will save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 Karla feels the overwhelming presence of the dragon. Glad to be invisible, she flies behind Nik'o to share her connection to dragons.

EDIT: Karla would have seen Nik'o curl up before casting, since it happened the round before. So no casting of FotED II yet (changed my action based on the post below).

But as Nik'o curls up, she changes tactics and appears above Sia, a magnificent cloud dragon, and opens her mouth to hurl electricity at the drake.

Breath electricity, Reflex DC 24: 8d8 ⇒ (8, 5, 6, 1, 8, 6, 6, 3) = 43

Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Nik'o shrinks under the awe inspired by the drake.

Fort save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 taken by the poison, Nik'o curls into a ball and tries to retreat!

Move 5 ft back.

Will DC 25: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 224d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 5) = 16

Rogar is thoroughly cowed by the dragon, but doesn't let that stop him continuing his (mostly useless) barrage of earth.

Maximized Empowered Metal Blast: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 3992 + 35 + 17 + 34 = 178
Damage: 14d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 1, 6, 3, 4, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5, 6, 1) + (6) = 69

Empowered Quickened Earth Blast: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 397d6 + 1d8 + 25 + 12 + 32 ⇒ (3, 4, 6, 5, 4, 1, 3) + (1) + 25 + 12 + 32 = 96

Not so useless. The dragon's AC is 39 so you just hit her with both attacks!

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Naphexi shrieks in pain and surprise as Karla the dragon appears, blasting her with lightning. Wulfram lands a solid stab with his spear, and as the fungal wyrm reels, Rogar buries her under a ton of rocks! Naphexi collapses, body twisted and broken and leaking noxious spores into the air.

After a few moments, Wendel reappears, capering and laughing and dashing around the swamp. "We did it! We did it! Ding-dong, the dragon is dead! Now we move on to the evil one's lair!"

Naphexi’s warren holds her vast hoard, scattered among the heaped fungus and moss that serve as her bedding. The following magic items make up the bulk of her hoard: a belt of physical perfection +2, a suit of celestial armor, a dagger of venom, and a dragonslayer’s shield; two greasy vials that each contain a dose of dust of disappearance; a suit of dwarven plate; a holy staff topped with a cloudy emerald; a luckblade (no wishes remaining); a set of marvelous pigments; and a bag of what appear to be bloodstained gold amulets of house sigils. There are 10 sigils in total.

The hoard also contains 5,812 sp, 8,408 gp, and 126 pp.

A thorough search of the warren reveals a large, polished mahogany box shoved underneath all of the coins and a thin layer of sticky moss. The box contains a scroll of ablative barrier, three scrolls of darkvision, two scrolls of gaseous form, two scrolls of heroism, and a scroll of hold monster (all CL 11th); plus a scroll of force cage, a scroll of foresight, and a scroll of power word stun (all CL 17th).

Finally, a tarnished, gold ring hands from a simple tin chain, high above the dragon's bed. The ring is inscribed with the words "Princess of the Blasted Heath."

When Wendel notices you examining the ring, he crowds into your personal space to examine it himself, quickly chittering in delight. "Oh, pretty-pretty-pretty! Yes indeed! It’s just like the one grandmother took long-long ago! Said it can protect us, yes she did! Keep us safe-safe-safe. But this one has a different lyric than grandma’s ever did. Different magic? Same? Why did serpent have grandma’s bracelet? Meril is supposed to wear it!"

Isn't there a -2 for being shaken?

He included that in his rolls since he had +2 from blessing of fervor. They canceled out.

Woah! I was getting worried. Nice return!

Yeah. It was close there, but the Blessing really helps out a lot- when I remember to include it, at least (I definitely forgot it round 1, for example, but at least the bonus was cancelled)

I don't think it was close at all!

Wulfram recited a prayer to heal Sia's grievous wounds, then examined Nik'o to find out what was wrong with her. She seemed to be poisoned, so her tried to counteract the affliction.

Casting Heal on Sia, healing 140 HP, plus ability damage, blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened, diseased, exhausted, fatigued, feebleminded, insanity, nauseated, poisoned, sickened, and stunned.

Heal, taking 10 (diagnosis: 10 + 11 = 21
Heal (treat poison): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 +4 on any subsequent saves vs the poison.

Karla moves to Nik'o side as the dragon collapses. At first, nik'o tenses, but soon recognizes Karla's smell and way of moving. She growls in pain and rests her head against Karla's scale, until she starts to feel better.

As they move in and explore the dragon's lair, Karla is overwhelmed by the number and variety of items. In particular, she gives a longer look at the staff to determine its interest.

Spellcaft: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

Finally, she growls and raises the spines on her dragon shape when Wendel starts crowding them, making it clear that the fey needed to give them proper space.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (16) + 26 = 42

Wulfram's spell purges Sia of the toxin afflicting her, while simultaneously healing all of her injuries.

Wendel squeaks when Karla growls at him, swiftly darting away and fading from sight again.

Is Nik'o suffering ongoing poison damage, or has it stopped?

She will have to make another DC 30 Fortitude save every minute for the next 5 minutes or take another 1 Str and 1 Dex damage. 2 consecutive saves cures the affliction.

Wulfram used one of his magic pearls to recall a spell, and then cast it on Nik'o to slow the poison. Then he meditated and memorized a more permanent solution.

Using his 2nd lvl Pearl of Power to recall Delay Poison, and then casting it on Nik'o. Then memorizing Neutralize Poison and then casting it.

Neutralize Poison caster level check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

That didn't work! Wulfram did beat the poison's DC with his Treat Poison check, so Nik'o will at least get +4 on the saves when the Delay Poison spell runs out in 140 min. He'll likely end up using a scroll of Restoration when the poison runs its' course.

Eustoma lands her dragon. "Thank you for healing Sia Wulfram. That went better than I thought it would. I wasn't expecting her hide to be so think." She looks at the ring. "I think one of us should wear or carry that ring. Sorry Wendel."

"It's okay, so long as we use it to defeat the evil one!" Wendel says. "Speaking of whom... Now what do we do? Maybe go back to the tree-throne, try to travel through it? Perhaps the key will help!"

Wulfram asked Wendel, "What do you know about the throne? It would be easier for us to help you if you would just tell us." He studied the fey's body language when he replied.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

He examined the ring carefully, and scanned it for magic auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24

Casting Detect Magic.

"Only what you said when you studied it!" Wendel says, cringing a bit. He taps his chin rapidly in thought. "Hmm-hmm-hmm. Maybe some of the fey in the woods might know more about it? Hard to get the evil ones corrupted by the Darkblight to talk, yes-yes-yes, but you can be very scary when you want to be!"

The ring radiates a strong aura of magic, but it is beyond your basic ability to comprehend its power.

It is an artifact.

Karla moves to Nik'o side as the dragon collapses. At first, nik'o tenses, but soon recognizes Karla's smell and way of moving. She growls in pain and rests her head against Karla's scale, until she starts to feel better.

As they move in and explore the dragon's lair, Karla is overwhelmed by the number and variety of items. In particular, she gives a longer look at the staff to determine its interest.

[dice=Spellcaft]1d20+18

Finally, she growls and raises the spines on her dragon shape when Wendel starts crowding them, making it clear that the fey needed to give them proper space.

[dice=Intimidate]1d20+26

Anything of interest from that spellcraft roll?

Sorry, missed that. It is a specific item: a holy staff.