RE: april (dragon hunting)
If we think we can afford the time spent, we should wait and set a hidden watch to see if we spot different dragons, if the patrol is constant day and night, and if there are any other patrols on the mountainside. However, it might not be too long before these trolls are missed, given that they were obviously a guardpost. I don't require extra spell preparation time, personally, and these troll beds are not my idea of a comfortable sleeping place, so I have no particular need to delay other than information gathering.
Because this is likely not the only dragon (though hopefully the biggest) in the area, we definitely need to find a relatively concealed location in which to do battle. There will also no doubt be many, many lesser creatures like these trolls, giants, etc. that will come running if they see the combat. Presuming we defeat the dragon, we should be prepared for an extended battle with its numerous supporters immediately thereafter.
I'm not sure if I know anything about the efficacy of dragon slaying arrows on older dragons; even if it doesn't kill the dragon outright it will certainly do it grievous harm, no? I agree that we shouldn't spend all our resources on the first battle, but it does seem like we'll need all the advantages we can get when dealing with a dragon of this size. Unless we know that a better target is coming up, I think it'll be just as useful now as on a lesser dragon.
From: "Joshua Nase" <djawshua@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 12:53 PM
To: patty@rutins.com, aithdim@comcast.net, vt.dolphin@gmail.com
Subject: RE: april (dragon hunting)
First I must clarify... I have no desire to avoid combat with this Red. In fact I am itching to engage it. However the loss of multiple friends recently has worked itself into some form of caution, strange as that may be. I like the plan thats forming here.
I had initialy thought to use Westwind as bait as well, but I am much happier that you said it. :)
WW is the only one that can stand toe to toe with this thing for more than a couple of seconds. If I appear after you have some time to damage it then I can hopefully draw its attack off of you, giving you a chance to be healed.
I get the feeling this dragon is not alone. It was making regular passes above the mountain, implying that it is on gaurd. A powerful watch I know but we are nearing the very powerful and wealthy center of this slaving organization. I feel that there are going to be multiple dragons that we encounter here.
Some of our inteligence states that the slavers report to "Northash" high priest of the Earth Dragons. We have also heard these mountains called the "Dragons Mountains" if I am not mistaken.
"Ajaxtu" is one of the nine Slave lords. Sounds like a dragon name to me. What if all nine of the slave lords are dragons, and they have multiple lesser dragons at their disposal. They already sent one Black dragon after us, a demonic one at that...thats a whole other possible problem. My guess is this is not the only dragon we will find.
I also have my doubts about the Dragon Slaying Arrow. The more my dragon heritage grows the stronger and more resiliant I become. I think most mature dragons will not be affected by this arrow. I recall a giant withstanding one of these missles. I think our best bet is to use the arrow againt a younger dragon that we may encounter.
Trapping it or luring it into a tunnel would be ideal i think. We could fight it in the air but as stated all would likely see and it offers more of a chance the Red will get away.
Scouting the area to see what we could ultiately be up against makes sense to me. Is this something Larry the Wraith could achieve. Only if you get made we will not be in the best possion to rescue you.
Lysander has good points, and I agree that counterspelling could be a huge asset. So true about the anger and arogance.
Speaking of assests, I have: 3 potions of fire resistance, 1 potion haste, 2 scrolls haste(capable of affecting the entire party for 30 seconds) 2 scrolls fly
Don't want to blow everything on this first fight though.
Should we rest to prepare spells (ie protection fear, resistances, powerups)? I am not down too far on spell points but how about Tess and Lysander?
Tess are you planning on heavy artilery spells?
Larry how do you see yourself combating a foe such as this? If we can work in tangent to flank the dragon when WW need relief we could have a devastating impact.
If we can get it down to half HP or less I stand a good chance of dropping it.
Message will work well for this battle, will help us coincide our attacks and get aid where it is needed.
I am sure that wasn't everything....
From: "Patty Rutins" <patty@rutins.com>
Reply-To: patty@rutins.com
To: <aithdim@comcast.net>,<djawshua@hotmail.com>,<vt.dolphin@gmail.com>
CC: <cperkett@adelphia.net>,<erik@rutins.com>,<argg-swords@blogger.com>
Subject: RE: april (dragon hunting)
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:01:27 -0400
1) Fear: Agreed. Perhaps Tess has a prayer that might help us combat fear? Kespin's singing should help as well I'm not mistaken, and we can gather, have a song, and still have a few seconds to get in position and start the attack.
2) Super-senses: will make the initial surprise attack challenging, but Westwind's plan might just be crazy enough to work -- reds are notoriously arrogant, and if we can get him mad then he may forget to use his superior intelligence.
3) Thick Hide: There are spells that can make even fists magical, if need be. Laurence, is this something that you need or do you have other options?
4) Flight: Making the group fly isn't a problem as long as we have enough spells for everyone. My personal spell can last all day if I need it to, but I can't cast that on anyone else. However, my speed in the air is fine for maneuvers, but the dragon can outpace me at least ten times over. The regular fly spells give you better speed, if I recall, but have a limited duration. Expeditious Retreat may even give you enough speed to keep up with the dragon, but do we have enough of those as well to successfully execute a high-speed sky battle (which will also be visible to everything within 50 miles)? Of course, if the duration of the flight spell becomes an issue then my guess is that we'll have already lost the fight. However, is there anything we can do to keep the dragon grounded? Get him to land if possible, stone-shape him into the mountain, web or entangle, or even just a net? Air elemental to create turbulence, force him to land?
5) Fire: I've got some fire resistance for myself and I believe I have a couple of scrolls (I'll check).
6) Reinforcements: With luck, this one is as territorial as the rest of the red dragons. If we can figure out a way to whack it out of sight, that would be even better.
7) Gold vs. Red: Again, if we can get the dragon mad then we've got a better shot at defeating it. The key to this is keeping Kespin alive... Kespin, any songs that you know that would insult a red dragon would come in handy, too.
8) If we don't kill it now, we'll have to kill it later and probably when we're in much worse shape.
9) Reconnaissance: It would be good to find a more confined place to do battle than in the open air, however. I don't think this crevice is large enough for the dragon to even consider entering, and right now this is the only spot on the mountain we know about. We may not need to scout the caldera if we can find a large enough opening on the mountainside. It may even lead directly to the dragon's lair. We'll have to be very cautious about it, but we might have the opportunity to disguise a couple of us as trolls (a patroll...?) so that we have free access to the slopes.
10) Spells: I'm working on cold-based, but I haven't figured them out yet. Perhaps we should go practice on the fort for a little while and then come back... (kidding, kidding.) Right now, though, if the rest of you can keep up the damage, then my best position might be in counterspelling. The dragon not only will have spell resistance, it will also have a sizeable arsenal of magic that it can cast. I can certainly toss around Dispels at range, and if I can make it stick, I've got a scroll of Silence (I think). If we have anything that can bolster our own spell resistance (especially Westwind, if you're the bait), that would also be handy. As for prep spells, I may have a Cat's Grace that I can spare.
11) Agreed about the slaying arrow. I believe I have a scroll of True Strike, Westwind, which you should have no trouble figuring out how to use. You'll have to take the shot immediately, though.
The dragon may be smart enough to realize that it never saw this lone halfling coming up the road, though, so it may suspect trouble. It will hopefully still be overconfident, but it may not think Westwind will be helpless. We have to be able to close to effective healing and fighting range within seconds.
We should also make sure that we have a couple of retreat options (not that we'll use them). Windwalk is one, and perhaps this crevice is another if it's too small for the dragon to enter.
From: "Andrew Cancellieri" <aithdim@comcast.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:11 PM
To: "'Joshua Nase'" <djawshua@hotmail.com>, <patty@rutins.com>, <vt.dolphin@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: april
Point by point.
1) Fear bad. This is my biggest worry.
2) Super senses bad but not as bad as fear.
3) Thick hide. I don't think it's a problem as far as magic only but I can't speak for the Larry. In more mundane terms it isn't going to be easy to get a damaging blow in general.
4) Flight. We have had to fly before.
5) Breathing fire. I have two of the potions incase anyone else doesn't have one.
6) Reinforcements. Knowing the bit I do about reds I don't think this one is sharing its turf.
7) Yes Kespin you are a target.
8) I am not going around the dragon I am killing it.
9) I am against scouting in this case. I think the possibility of detection out weighs the information we are likely to gain.
10) SPELLS. Any one got any cold based spells? Do not fear or become discouraged by its innate resistance to magic just keep pounding it. Got any spells not subject to magic resistance?
11) The way I see it is the best chance to kill it without becoming dead ourselves is to use the arrow of dragon slaying. I admit it is a long shot but it is at least 5% and those are even odds to me. Here is where my fear of fear itself is laying. For me the dragon will need to be within 110' to make my best shot. Thus I think within its fear effect. Kespin are you proficient with a bow? Wrye's bow is available if you think you can make the shot. Larry do you want to use a bow?
A possible tactic: Send me up there. Every one else be flying and invisible and 400' away if you really think its senses are that good. Why? The dragon may not feel threatened by a lone Halfling. I will take all the resistance boosting I can get. With message going can I talk to you? So mister dragon comes over to collect the foolish Halfling who fire a slaying arrow at it followed up by regular magic arrows. It gets pissed and breathes on me which I might be able to avoid, or it lands assuming an easy victory. Dragon and Halfling lock in mortal combat. Then everyone else except Kespin moves in. Lysander firing magic bolts, Tess doing whatever kick dragon butt holy spells she has and the Larry does whatever he can do. Can you do anything at range? Spells? Missile weapons? Within 30 seconds someone, likely me, will need to heal damage so Kespin comes charging in, screaming singing and slinging spells. From then on we keep battering it until it dies. With us flying we may be able to keep it from escaping.
Westwind
From: Joshua Nase [mailto:djawshua@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:13 PM
To: patty@rutins.com; vt.dolphin@gmail.com
Cc: aithdim@comcast.net; cperkett@adelphia.net; erik@rutins.com
Subject: Re: april
Let me recap:
1) Fear, we need to bolster our resolve so we don't lose anyone from the battle.
2) Super Senses, the last Dragon we fought could see right through my invisibility. We will have a difficult time avoiding its detection, I would guess that any closer than 400ft away, and it has a good chance of knowing we are there.
3) Thick Hide, only magic will hurt it. Anyone not using a magically enhanced weapon should go home now. (kespin shoots a look at Wraith) Those fists of yours magical by chance?
4) Flight, uggh. We can't let this thing fly around where we can't hit it, and then possibly escape when we hurt real bad, which we will do. Perhaps we can trick it into coming down this tunnel or something.
5) Breath Weapon, well we have a couple of potions of fire resistance.
6) Reinforcements, if this thing has siblings we could be in big trouble. The last thing we want to do is take on more than one at a time.
7) Me, the second this Red gets a whiff of my BO its GOING to come right for me, no doubt in my mind, that's fine because I will be going for it but maybe we can use this to our advantage. If we time my appearance in fray, it could provide some timely relief to others who may be hard pressed by its initial attack. Tess please be ready with the big heals though, its going to relentlessly attack me until I or it cease to exist.
We do have the element of surprise currently and that's good. They don't know we are here and they don't know how many we have. We also have a couple of people who can disguise ourselves. Could be helpful. Some sort of plan that involves luring the Red away from its post and into territory we are comfortable in seems best. I can provide a couple of big hits that could drop him if he is sufficiently damaged. That would keep him from running away when he is hurt, hopefully. Any reconnaissance we could achieve would be most helpful. I just don't think we'll get far around that Dragon. But we do need to know if we start a fight what will likely show up and how soon. I am thinking that just marching up to the top of the mountain and fighting this thing is stupid. There could be two dragons circling for all we know, or an army camped up there.
Any other thoughts, ideas or concerns?
-joshua
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