Dragon's Demand (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Ethendril uses his paladin powers to detect evil on the woman as he looks at her mournfully.

"What can you tell us of this Aeteperax?" he asks her.

"Justice for this one may need to wait for later," he whispers to the others.

Ethendril uses his paladin powers to detect evil on the woman as he looks at her mournfully.

"What can you tell us of this Aeteperax?" he asks her.

"Justice for this one may need to wait for later," he whispers to the others.

Yep. She's evil. Though, as a mortal, she is redeemable. She's essentially a mercenary.

"I can tell you his gold is good," she replies with a somewhat defiant tone.

Ethendril takes his entire 50' coil of rope and uses it to tie the woman securely.

With only her eyes and mouth showing, the paladin says "We will return for you later. Your devotion to gold may enrich you now, but it will canker your soul. Perhaps you can think on this until we return. If we return, supposing we survive the fight with this dragon. Which you should pray we do," the paladin adds. "I suspect this will not be easy to escape from, and I hate to think you would die here if we don't come back. If there is anything else you would like to add to aid us in this endeavor, now is the time."

Harlis nods towards Ethendril. "We can make sure to return her to the authorities or have them come for her. We should examine this place, is there anymore remaining of the monastery? We could go back and shut the Window into Darkness or wait a day?" he continues keeping an eye on their prisoner to see if any of the words create a reaction.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Perception to look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

There's nothing left in the tower. You just had combat in the belfry. All that's left is to descend in the cellar, make your way to the dragon, and have at it! :) At this point, you've found a couple of safe places to rest, if needed. The alchemist won't offer any firther information. She's just a mercenary, but she's also not a traitor.

So we return to the Window to try to close it before proceeding then? Note I will be out of 3rd level spells at that point if we do without resting.

Let's go rest then.

I think a rest would be ideal here. Any spells we can prep that would specifically help against the dragon? Do we know what kind of dragon it is? Ethendril will at least ask the alchemist if she knows what kind of dragon it is.

No joy. She's not going to volunteer any info. However, if the party comes up with a clever way to trick her...

Out of hearing of the alchemist. Would the druid know more details of the dragon. I have a wand of resist energy with full charges so I can hit all 6 of us 8 times and it lasts 30 minutes each so that should help when we reach the lair. Sounds like we go visit the druid, rest, dispel the Window then attempt the lower monastery?

Unfortunately, Azmur Kell, your druid friend, cannot help you further. As evidenced in Belhaim, Aeteperax is capable of using illusion. He doesn't know if anything that he has seen of the dragon is its real form.

Harlis, that sounds like a great plan. Let's go ahead with that. I wonder if this is a scenario where we may need to send in a scout to see what kind of dragon we are dealing with. It could be a dangerous mission, but we could prepare and buff for the scouting. But I think having resist energy up before we go in could be a game-changer.

Yes! Split the party. Mwahahahaha! Oops? Did I say that out loud? ;-P

So sounds like we go ahead with the plan. The other option when we reach the lair is to just buff resist against all the elements.

Hotspur has craft alchemy. Would it be possible for her to ask the alchemist about some of the work she has been doing for the dragon? One professional to another? I don't know if that would be an alchemy or diplomacy check, so I'll include both, on the off-chance it is acceptable.

Alchemy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Versatile performance: diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

The problem with trying to sneak up on a dragon is that they have blindsense and generally high perception scores. Moreover, if it turns out that there are no available places to hide, GM won't even give us a stealth roll. All things considered, we will probably need to play it by ear.

GM, is there any chance of us getting a final level-up before the big battle with the dragon?

yeah, it could be too risky to send Wayreth ahead. Let's see if Hotspur can discover anything, and if not, rest and then go dispel the window.

The alchemist volunteers no information. But Hotspur, taking time to examine her lab, finds th means to brew a wide variety of potions. He can't tell everything that might have been brewed. But, the most recent was a potion of gaseous form.

Harlis ponders what little they have found. "It looks like we should retire and prepare, if the tunnels under here lead to the dragon's lair then we may be facing the great evil tomorrow."

Where would you guys like to rest? You have a few options.

I think the alchemist tower would be ideal.

Okie dokie. You guys rest. You're full up on health and such. It's a little more quiet around the monastery, given all the underlings you've dealt with. (1d20 ⇒ 14) There's a small chance the lack of activity has been noted.

You head to the window and dispel it. Now, you *know* the dragon is aware something is awry.

You head back down to the tunnels that you know will ultimately lead to the dragon.

Plans? Marching order? Prep? Buffs?

There may be one or two encounters you face before you reach the dragon. Or there may be none.

Ethendril casts divine favor and protection from evil, then leads the way at the front of the party.

"We should spread out, to avoid its breath weapon," he suggests.

Not sure what else the others want to cast by way of preparations...but let's load up!

Reminder: You didn't go all the way through the tunnels. You don't know, for sure, that the dragon is next.

No buffs used yet until we think we are at the lair, lets see how we progress. Only one dispel magic is used.

Wayreth will ask Agnes to use his wand on mage armor on him.

Since nobody declared marching order, I'll presume that Ethendril and Wayreth are up front.

You follow the tunnels and come to a room that's roughly 35' wide x 100' long. Three fifteen-foot-diameter platforms lie in this room, each rising three feet high. In the center of each platform, a globe-shaped container of murky liquid sits in the embrace of an octopus-shaped brass cradle. Each globe is about two feet across—the two far globes are intact, and a dark, indistinct mass oats in the center of each. The nearest globe has been shattered, and a large stain has spread out around it on the floor. Along the wall near the door sits a tiny wooden cabinet with a message scribbled on its front. A similar one sits beside the far door.

The message nearest you reads "Herein lies safety—but know that to rely on such crutches is to fall from the Path."

Before you can enter into the room:

Ethendril: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 (Sorry, Ethendril. Preferred target is heavily armored PC.)

Everyone except Ethendril may make a sense motive check. Ethendril, for his part runs to the middle of the room to the middle platform--drawing his weapon as he moves.

"What the...Ethendril, wait up! Where are you going?"

sense motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Harlis starts as the paladin charges forward then he leans forward in the saddle to see while holding his lighted blade aloft.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Ethendril is under the effect of some kind of compulsion.

"A compulsion to draw his weapon but run towards that platform rather than attack us?" Wayreth thinks to himself as he adopts the snake stance and rushes forward to disarm Ethendril.

CMB: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"He's being compelled against his will! There's something about that platform he's running towards!"

Is the globe on that platform broken or unbroken?

Covering Wayreth and the compelled Ethendril, Hotspur readies to fire at anything that attacks.

By chance would my +2 to saves from protection from evil helped on my roll? It would have given me an 18, rather than 16...

I am guessing the compulsion effect is not from an evil source or your protection spell would have made you immune in the first place.

Harlis seeing this unfold try's to aid his fellow Iomedaen and prays to the goddess for relief from unknown magics.

Dispel magic on Ethendril.

Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

By chance would my +2 to saves from protection from evil helped on my roll? It would have given me an 18, rather than 16...

Yup! That'd do it. The DC was exactly 18.

Rewind...

The party is at the edge of the room. Ethendril feels a momentary twinge and shrugs it off. He realizes that the source is the middle platform.

The entire party may post actions. The platform is 50 feet away AND up three feet. So, no charging.

Guiding Daylight forward behind Ethendril, Harlis holds his blade forth to illuminate as much of the large room as he can while looking around.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Ethendril pounds his helm with his gauntlet.

"Something is up there...it almost overwhelmed me," he says quietly.

"Beware. But let us proceed," he says. The paladin moves forward carefully. double move

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

In the center of the middle platform, a globe-shaped container of murky liquid sits atop an octopus-shaped brass cradle. It's nigh impossible to see into it. However, from the brief moment of contact that Ethendril experienced, he's pretty sure that it was in touch with his mind... somehow...

Hotspur still covers her friends with her musket, ready to fire if anything attacks them. She slowly moves forward behind them.

Harlis Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

As the party approaches, the same thing happens to Harlis. He, too, feels his mind "touched" and shakes off the effect.

Harlis frowns at the touch and calls to his companions. "Gather next to me and I will protect us from evil influences while we find the source."

When everyone is within 10', or if they already are, cast Magic Circle against Evil 10'.

You're pretty sure that the source of this--whatever it is--is inside the globe of the middle platform.

Approach the source as a group. "Can anyone see it? Should I purge invisibility?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

It's definitely within the globe, but the globe is filled with murky water. Consider it to be opaque.

1d20 ⇒ 14

As the party approaches, someone else gets a psychic whammy (and succeeds on their save given the party's respective bonuses plus the prot spell).

It's clear that this will continue.

You could also simply walk past...

"Perhaps we should save our strength for the dragon," Ethendril suggests.

"I do not think it is here. Let us continue past."

Trapped inside the globe, the unknown creature impotently vents its rage at the party as it repeatedly tries to dominate you and fails.

LOL! I love that one possible solution to this problem is simply: "Keep moving. Nothing to see here." :-) The more you hang out in this area, the greater the chance that someone will fail a save. Then you might end up fighting each other.

Although strictly speaking a dominate wont work inside a Protection from Evil or Circle against Evil. :)

Harlis nods and agrees to move past in a tight grouping.

Although strictly speaking a dominate wont work inside a Protection from Evil or Circle against Evil. :)

Other effects do. This creature has a handful--all around the same DC. Dominate also allows an additional save if it tries to force the dominated creature to do something it normally would not do.

You go further along in the under-monastary and come across another incongruous room.

A tiled pool dominates this chamber, which has a fifteen-foot-high barrel-vault ceiling. The waters are clear and three feet deep. Three marble platforms featuring the same mosaic design found in the monastery above rise along the pool's center, protruding six inches above the water's surface. Four octagonal, domed alcoves in the corners each hold a marble pillar. Near the southeast alcove, a large hole has been dug in the wall.

Tiles of blue and gold on the north wall form the message: "In the Midst of Chaos, a Disciplined Mind Imposes Order."