GM Arkwright's Curse of the Trimmed Sky

Game Master Arkwright

Ganorok-cloud approaches, and with his high pitched voice asks.
"Do we need to be solid, like physically touching, for the spell to work?"

Kenjakana nods.

"Affirmative. You can just grab my arm or shoulder. As for Jensai, I can place my hand on his neck. If you mean as clouds? ...Good question! Technically, clouds are somewhat solid. Based on my knowledge of the spell, a good physical swing would still hurt you. Hence I am inclined to say yes."

The rules are vague on if it would work as clouds, but since the clouds can still be targeted with physical attacks (they only gain immunity to some forms of damage, not all), I think it should work since you can still be physically touched. Note: Kenjakana declouded so she could cast.

Ganorok-cloud starts to coalesce, and small Ganorok reforms next to Kenjakana.
"I like it. We should do it again."
He takes a couple of wands and applies them on him, the last one just before they teleport.
Blend and Shield.

The clouds blink out of existence and reappear past the swirling shades patrolling the halls.

After about a mile of elevation gain (approximately 2 miles of lateral travel), the Deep Tunnel levels out and reaches an intersection after about 50 feet. One path is smooth and continues in the same general direction for another 100 feet. The other is rough, dug out of stone with powerful claws. Its obvious that the second tunnel's digging is quite old. Fresh air comes from the rough tunnel, suggesting it must connect to the surface above.

Can we (and by "we" I mean somebody else :-)) determine what direction the rough tunnel was dug from? Ie, somebody digging in or somebody digging out

Both were dug away from you and the tunnel you're in

Ganorok sighs...
"I guess going out to a refreshing lunch is out of the question... so we go the nice tunnel, right? Let me go first to prevent a trap from getting us."
He gets yet another wand and uses it on him.
Wand of Heightened Awareness, gains +2 competence bonus on Perception checks and on all Knowledge checks he knows for 10 minutes.
"Go some 40 feet behind me. But no more!"
He scurry in front of the others, really quickly quiet as a... mouse.
Stealth Check (+4 Blend): 27 + 10 + 4 = 41 Skill Mastery with Fast Stealth (so he keeps his 40' speed, but only moves 40' in a full round to use the Blend spell bonus)
Perception Check (+2 Heightened Awareness): 1d20 + 29 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 29 + 2 = 32 (+7 if traps with Trapfinding and gets a check to notice a trap automatically within 10' of it with Trap Spotter)

Bladud considers the two directions. ”Seems like our dragon should be downward,” he mutters to Kenjakana, ”unless you see anything that indicates otherwise?”

As he waits for an answer, he calls on his gifts, pushing a powerful resistance to flames onto each of his teammates.

Ganorok’s plan sounds good. Just wanted to give Kenja an opportunity to verify that we’re headed the right direction (via Survival, I guess). While waiting for Kenja’s clarification, Bladud casts Communal Resist Energy: Fire, giving each of us Resist Fire 30 for 30 minutes.

Survival (Buffs): 1d20 + 14 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 12 = 39

Kenjakana studies the tunnels for signs of which way the dragon went.

When Bladud offers to cast Resist Energy: Fire on her, the Sage Sorceress gently reminds him that she already covered herself so that his spell would last longer on the others.

The smooth tunnel proceeds down another hundred feet, smooth and echoey, though Ganorok's careful movements fail to cause much audible disturbance. After a few minutes of walking, the tunnel turns and reveals the edges of a large chamber ahead.

An ancient lava bubble that drained centuries ago, the cavern has been expanded over a great period of time by claw-digging and rock-melting. Its edges seem almost liquid, with cooled lava forming the flaw, and carved pillars and walls covered with melted obsidian, becoming a palace of black glass in a multitude of eerie and unusual shapes.

Ganorok's careful ears hear the breathing of an immense creature just out of sight.

Map updated

Hpw high is the ceiling in here?

... though Ganorok's careful movements fail to cause much audible disturbance ...

With Bladud clanging his way behind. :/

When the group stops, Bladud stops, leaning on his polearm.

I'm assuming we're waiting on a report/description from Ganorok, but I want to give him the chance to do any preliminary looking/knowledge-gathering before making any comments.

Ganorok stops, impressed, and after a couple seconds remember his task. He examines the place, using his detect magic and detect poison magic abilities.
Perception Check (+2 Heightened Awareness): 1d20 + 29 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 29 + 2 = 34 (+7 if traps)
After that he returns to the others, keeping as quiet as possible.
Stealth Check (+4 Blend): 27 + 10 + 4 = 41 Skill Mastery with Fast Stealth (so he keeps his 40' speed, but only moves 40' in a full round to use the Blend spell bonus)
"A great place! Magnificent! And I think the dragon is there! I hear it breathing. You surely don't want me to scout ahead by myself to see where it is, right?"
His small beady eyes look at you, pleading...

"Sneaking up on a dragon is probably suicide. No, I think that we get ready for combat and move on together from here"

Ganorok sighs relieved.

40ft high; the side balconies are higher. Alsoyou can't see those small passages; blocked by illusory walls

Does Ganorok sees the magic in the illusions blocking the walls?

Yep

Can we assume he will, at least in the nearest one, check it for traps and get a will save to identify it as an illusion?
If so, I will roll the save.
Will Save: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Idon't want to delay things, but before we proceed, how much do our characters know about dragons? A knowledge roll to know what it's senses likely are could be important here.

Bladud considers, "Is there a way for us to sneak up on it as a group? I've always heard that's pretty dang hard, but then again .. we're big damn heroes."

I rolled pretty decently a few pages back for this dragon. Never asked about his senses, though. Maybe I could think about some other hypothetical dragon to find out what to possibly expect?

I'd think you could roll a general Know (Arcana) to know what to expect from dragon's senses in general. Basically, I need to have an in-character way to know that Silence and an Invisibility Globe isn't going to cut it. :/

You only get that save by interacting with it, so touching it; but with detect magic you can make a rough guess. Also, searching it for traps will involve creeping into the cave proper, are you alriight with that?

I think we are going together... I'll guess he will examine it later.

Kenjakana thinks about the senses of dragons.

Knowledge Arcana (Buffs): 1d20 + 25 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 25 + 14 = 53

Having already scoured her memory for specialist knowledge, Kenja fails to recall further.

She does however recall what everyone knows about dragons; that their eyes can see in darkness, and can see better in dim light than a human in bright.

Kenjakana repeats what she knows to her allies.

"Perhaps a compromise of the two approaches? I can summon some cannon fodder and send them in first. They can distract the dragon while we sneak in."

"That sounds like a good plan. I hope I am not part of this fodder, nevertheless."

"We're all somebody's fodder," Bladud responds in a mock-philosophical tone. "But yah, you'll be with us, Big Guy."

He pulls a coin from his pocket, "If we want to go in all Silent and Invisible, I can cover the Silent bit. When y'all give the go-ahead, I'll use this as our Silence-focus. I can't do anything to make us invisible, though."

If people are good with that plan, I'll cast Silence on this coin, then carry it until someone indicates otherwise ... likely when we run into a threat and someone needs to cast a spell.

"I won't be invisible, but I can be unseen." - he smiles a wide smile that let his big front teeth show.
He will use his Shield wand just before they enter the dragon's den.
"I am ready when you are."

"I'm ready. But be aware, even silenced and invisible Jensal and I aren't that stealthy :-)"

So, just move up and roll initiative?

Kenjakana will send 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Huge Air Elementals ahead to distract the dragon; the spell compels them to seek out and attack enemies, and even if she cannot speak their tongue, they are intelligent enough for Kenjakana to direct them via drawing Prestidigitation pictures of the Elementals punching a dragon and then an arrow pointing in the beast's direction.

Otherwise, time to roll out. It's fine if you just want to say that Dragon beats the tar out of the Elementals.

Move up, and I hope Ganorok sees and "opens" the illusion to the first hidden passage as soon as he gets near.

Ganorok creeps his way forward and, around the corner, spies the dragon. Twin flaming pyres provide ample illumination for the glittering hoard of gold, jewels and armor of fine make, as well as the immense dragon that lies atop it. Her scales are ruby armor, her claws ivory swords, the smoke rising from her slumbering form a volcano. A low purple light pulses from her belly on the left side, and from beneath her eyelids.

Right, let's do this properly. Everyone, state your pre-round actions and prep. Currently, Kenja summons elementals.

Init
Ganorok 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Kenja 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Haldern 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Bladud 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Dragon 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Pre combat Ganorok casts Detect Magic, Poison and uses his Wand of Shield, just before entering. I hope he, on the first round, can detect the magic on the illusion on the first tunnel, and identify it. (He got a 28 in his Will Save).

I'll cast Greater Invisibility on myself as we enter. The air elementals fly so quickly that they will reach the dragon before we do.

Haldern has Saddle Surge cast

If there's time, Bladud will cast Blessing of Fervor on the group and Divine Favor on himself. If there's only one round, he'll just cast Blessing of Fervor.

Bladud, there's time.

With the sound of a spring tornado, Kenja's air elementals form; whirling mounds of air ready to strike. The dragon's eyes shoot open and its jaw opens to let loose a furious roar of challenge.

Round 1. Go everyone except Haldern.
Note that there are some height differences in this room; they hopefully should be more or less apparent.

I hope he, on the first round, can detect the magic on the illusion on the first tunnel, and identify it. (He got a 28 in his Will Save).
If so, he signals the others as he go inside the tunnel.

Can we get clarification on Ganorok's question before choosing our actions?

That'll be sufficient, but how illusions work is that everyone needs to make a save, but if you know for sure it's an illusion, you get +4 on your save.

Ganorok moves into the tunnel, stops, moves towards a wall, signals the others to follow, and disappears into it!

I'm a tad confused about the tunnel situation. How many are there exactly? Is the plan to sneak down a side tunnel and then jump the dragon while the elementals distract it?

Ganorok sees one, and will follow it. I am not sure if anyone will follow.

They're those small passages on the map. Ganorok seems keen on using them to somehow gain a position advantage.

And stay out of sight and breath weapons for a while longer.

Right. There's a map! My bad.

Realizing that the group will probably need all the help they can get, the invisible Kenjakana casts Summon Monster VI and starts summoning an Azata Lilliend.

The air elementals swarm the dragon.

Elemental 1 Slam (BoF, Charge, PA): 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 8 + 6 = 25

Elemental 2 Slam (BoF, Charge, PA): 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 + 6 = 19

Elemental 3 Slam (BoF, Charge, PA): 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 6) + 8 + 6 = 25

Elemental 4 Slam (BoF, Charge, PA): 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 17 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 32
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 + 6 = 19

Kenja's air elementals streak across the room; their blows fail to raise even a bruise on the dragon's jewelled skin as it roars its indignation.