From: thedm@leland.Stanford.EDU (Marcus M. Trevino)
Subject: Re: To Kill a Black Dragon
Keywords: Dragon
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 07:01:38 GMT


Okay, I'll try to pick up from the diversion tactic.  Now, as was mentioned
in a previous post, Black Dragons like to make things SUFFER!!!  Depending
on the determination of the party, and the amount of preparation the party
took, i.e. did they try to plan a way to escape from the dragon.  Since the
party has a Wild Mage, and since I am not too familiar with the concept behind
the Wild Mage, I am ASSUMING that the mage can cast a levitate spell.  If
this is the case, then the plan I am concocting might just work.  Now, prior
to the rescuers, should have gone to a harbor city, In the Forgotten Realms
that shouldn't be too hard, and bought the Largest net possible.  Preferably
a Fishing Net, i.e. the ones used to capture large amounts of fish.  Now,
before preceeding to summon the dragon outside by making lots of racket, the
wild Mage levitates the Net to the top of the cave entrance.  Once that is
accomplished, the Mage should cast an invisibility on the net, that is if
the mage can cast the invisibility spell.  Now the Mage should cast Magic 
Mouth on the Cave wall, and have it say something like " WOW!! LOOK AT ALL
THIS TREASURE IN HERE" and have the triggering effect be something like
it will say this when something strikes the wall, say like a rock or an
arrow, etc.  Now that the trap is set, the characters start to make all their
commotion.  Now when the Black Dragon comes out, he will see a bunch of 
pathetic, seemingly low level adventures, having a terrible time.  If the
characters roleplay properly, the Dragon will toy with them like a cat toys
with a mouse.  At first, the Dragon will not want to kill them quickly, 
because then he would not enjoy himself as much.  The party obviously poses
no threat to the dragon, as a mouse poses little threat to a good sized tom
cat, and will want to further their "suffering".  Now the DM might have
the Dragon act menacing towards you, or swat at you with his massive size,
but the DRAGON SHOULD NOT try to kill the party off instantly.  Now if the
party itself makes measly attempts to fight back, like throwing rocks or
something, the Dragon will probably find this amusing, and try to "heckle"
the adventures even more.  

While this little cat and mouse game is going on, the savior of the princes
preferably her fiance, will have worked his way into the cave, and free
the prisoner.  Once the woman has been save, the savior should then flee the
cave as fast as possible, maybe try to pick up some cool looking items if 
possible, and once they are in good hiding position, the savior should hurl
a rock or fire a bow at the wall with the magic mouth spell on it.
Now Remember, the Dragon will only be toying with the adventurers at this
point, and once he hears the magic mouth say "LOOK AT ALL THIS TREASURE"
as loud as possible, the Dragon, being an intelligent creature, will 
immediately change his interest from that of the party and to that of the
trespassers of his trove.  Also Remember, The Dragon will be INFURIATED
that someone had the nerve to violate his cave with their presence, and
will want to get to his cave as quickly as possible.  Now, even though the
Dragon still might want to play with his toys, he will be even more concerned
with those that he thinks are in his trove.  Once the DRagon gets to the 
opening in the cave, the Wild Mage should dispel his levitation spell, which
will in turn, drop an invisible net on the Dragon, and if not totally entangle
him, should at least slow him down.  NOw the party can either
(a) try their luck and use what little advantage they have and try to
subdue the beast, Black Dragons are one of the easier Dragons to subdue,
and then take its horde

or

(b) Flee as quickly as possible, for the last things on the mind of the
Dragon will be the fleeing "toys", and he, now even more furious, will really
want to kill those who are inside his cave, and have caught him in this really
weak trap.

And presto, You have saved the princess, you didn't have to kill the dragon,
you did an outstanding job of rolePlaying, and you got away with your lives.

By the time the Dragon Realizes what happened, you should be back on the
road, on your adventuring ways.

Hope this helped,

TheDM @ Stanford University

Marcus Trevino