From: jackson@ess43.Berkeley.EDU (Jeff Jackson)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Re: To Kill a Black Dragon
Keywords: Dragon
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:49:38 GMT
Reply-To: jackson@ess43.Berkeley.EDU (Jeff Jackson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Applicon

In article <1992Nov13.172130.15948@wixer.cactus.org>, raistlin@wixer.cactus.org (Eli Boaz) writes:
|> In article <GSPIEGEL.57.0@bsa1.kent.edu> GSPIEGEL@bsa1.kent.edu (Greg Spiegelberg) writes:
|> >A virgin, female cleric who just so happens to be engaged (kinda) to someone 
|> >in my party has been supposedly kidnapped by a very large black dragon.
|> >(BTW, we're in Forgotten Realms)
|> >
|> >Anyways, half of us want to press on, the other half is suicidal and wants 
|> >to get the cleric back.  SO!  How should we go about killing/subduing this 
|> >black dragon?
|> >
|> >Background Group Info:
|> >   Group Contains- 1 Swashbuckler of Tempus (level 5 human)
|> >		   1 Pirate (level 5 human)
|> >		   1 Priest of Tempus (level 5 half-elf) <--- That's me!
|> >		   1 Wild Mage (level 4 human)
|> >		   1 Gypsy Thief (halfling)
|> >
|> >Honsetly, we haven't a clue how to fight this thing and we've tried 
|> >recruting help.  Basically, I'm just trying to find a way to save my 
|> >character.
|> >
|> >Suggestions???
|> 
|>       ----- stuff about wild magic deleted -----
|>   2) Run like hell and never look back.
|>      Taking on a dragon in FR with a low-level party is almost sheer
|>      suicide.
|> 

   I suggest you brainstorm some non-combat ways to resolve the situation.
   Like Eli says, taking on a dragon with your lot is suicide, especially
   a black dragon which is both CE and breathes acid, which makes it hard
   to defend against and VERY untrustworthy.

   It has been my experience, however, that Dungeon Masters (including
   myself) do not usually put the party into a situation that they cannot
   deal with in some way.  Yes, it may be beyond their combat abilities,
   and may require obtaining more experience, or help, or magic, whatever...
   but there's always a way to handle it in time.

   Of course, all bets are off if your party deserved what it got (for
   example, stealing some of the dragon's treasure).  You didn't mention
   how your cleric was kidnapped, but if the dragon simply plucked her out
   of the blue, there's surely a way to get her back.

   I would move on it rather hastily, though.  Your DM probably has a time
   limit in the back of his head, and after that time, the dragon has eaten
   or sacrified, or sold, your cleric.  (Virgins are hard to come by.)

   Suggestions:  1) find a wizard and pay him/her to find the cleric and/or
                    teleport her out;
                 2) find someone who knows the dragon and negotiate through
                    that person or creature;
                 3) find a powerful NPC who also has a score to settle with
                    the dragon;
                 4) go to this cleric's church and inform them that one of
                    their better priests is about to become a sacrifice to
                    evil.  THAT ought to raise their dander a bit.

   Good luck (you'll need it)


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             Dwarf jumps on flying carpet.  Evil Mage orders it straight up.
   - JWJ     Mage steps off carpet and casts Feather Fall.
             Guess what happens to dwarf.
                                                - Last week's campaign
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