20030712 DayDragon3

<H1> Day of the Dragon, Part III </H1>
<H2> Roll Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Fingle </TD>
 <TD> 3rd/17th Gnome Cleric/Wizard </TD>
 <TD> Richard Jacobsen </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Grackle </TD>
 <TD> 6th/10th/4th Half-Elf Fighter/Rogue/Templar </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kill'Dar </TD>
 <TD> 17th/3rd Elf Wizard/Fighter </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Borgar </TD>
 <TD> 10th/6th Dwarf Cleric/Warpriest </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Prince Donner </TD>
 <TD> 6th/13th/2nd Human Fighter/Wizard/Fatespinner </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Travian </TD>
 <TD> 19th Human Paladin </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Estus </TD>
 <TD> 17th Human Cleric </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 16th/4th Human Fighter/Hospitaler </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Auric </TD>
 <TD> 13th (20th CL) Wemic Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
<H2> Fingle's Challenge </H2>
One of the two blue dragons faces forward.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Blue:</B> So, which of you faces me?
<B>Fingle:</B> I'll do it!
<B>Blue:</B> So tiny! Mmmm...snack...
<B>Fingle:</B> This is a challenge, not a lunch.
<B>Blue:</B> We'll see. We'll start with something simple. Not far from here, there is a damsel in distress. All you have to do is bring her here unharmed. No, I'll make it easier than that alive. If she dies, you lose. If you die, you lose.
<B>Fingle:</B>
<B>Blue:</B> She's a damsel. She needs rescuing. Someone of your wisdom and power should be able to find her and rescue her.
<B>Fingle:</B> (Casts Detect Thoughts--is unable to read the thoughts of the dragon) A damsel eh?
<B>Blue:</B> Oh yes, the danger grows every moment that passes...
<B>Fingle:</B> Those are the only hints you're going to give me?
<B>Blue:</B> You should be able to divine her location.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Estus goes to Home to scry. The damsel is in a dimly lit room. She appears to be in a chamber made of smooth black stone. She is bound in silver chains and is completely wrapped in greenish colored cloth. The chamber she appears to be in is spherical and rotating slowly. Donner teleports the group back to the dragon's council.
Fingle teleports to the lady. He sees that the chains, cloth, and room are all magical. Fingle recognizes the chamber as being similar to the Imprisonment spell.
Fingle has the Simulacrum use the stone to do True Seeing on the figure. The simulacrum determine that the figure is evil and the blanket is green slime.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Blue:</B> So, how do you think he's doing?
<B>Donner:</B> Well, I have the upmost confidence in Fingle. If it is our
<B>Blue:</B> It seems that he figured out where she is...
</BLOCKQUOTE>
In the meantime, Estus has finished casting his Commune spell. He asks the following questions.
<OL>
<LI> Should Kill'Dar take the next challenge ahead of Estus? Yes (minimally)
<LI> Will more harm than good be done by Fingle releasing the damsel? No
<LI> Are any of the dragons still in contact with the Sons and Daughters of Lorga? Yes
<LI> Were the Sons and Daughters of Lorga after Donner's ring? No
<LI> Were they only there to recover Chlora's remains? No
<LI> Will the Sons and Daughters of Lorga interfere again, given the opportunity? Yes
<LI> Were the Sons and Daughters of Lorga looking for any specific items of Donners? No
<LI> Is there more than one allied? Yes
<LI> Are any of the metallic dragons allied with the Sons and Daughters of Lorga? Yes
<LI> Are more than two of the metallic dragons here allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is Scirocco allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is the copper dragon allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is other brass allied with the S&D of Lorga? Yes
<LI> Is the gold dragon allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is silver dragon #1 allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is silver dragon #2 allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
<LI> Is Kalfnir allied with the S&D of Lorga? No
</OL>
To recap, there are the following dragons: Kalfnir (Bronze), 2 White, 2 Brass (Scirocco and ?), 1 Copper, 2 Blue, 1 Black, 2 Green (Chlora and ?), 3 Humanoid (Arik/Raevin--Gold, 2 silver), and 1 Hydra.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Fingle:</B> I decline to free the evil being.
<B>Blue:</B> Well, that's one for me. You found her though?
<B>Fingle:</B> Oh yeah.
<B>Blue:</B> Very well. I present to you a test of your wisdom and cleverness. A quip if you will: <P> Ripped from my mother's womb, beaten and burned, I become a slayer. </P>
<B>Fingle:</B> A metal weapon
<B>Blue:</B> I am disappointed. You have given an answer that doesn't fit the question. I have won the challenge. I will see you in the final combat.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<H2> Kill'Dar's Challenge </H2>
<BLOCKQUOTE> 
<B>Kalfnir:</B> Who is next?
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Who will face me?
<B>Black:</B> (Hisses) So, you call yourself a wizard.
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> It is of my trade.
<B>Black:</B> Prove it! As before, this will be between you and I. Spells, magic, 1 minute. Until you or (snicker) I concede. Are you ready?
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Do I get to prepare?
<B>Black:</B> I am ready, but if you are ready for me to prepare myself further, go ahead.
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> I am ready.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Round 1:</B> Black casts Haste, followed by Feeblemind. Kill'Dar fails his save.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Black:</B> (Derisively) The elves get weaker every century.
<B>Black:</B> (Gets closer) I'll ask you an easy one. What's your name? (Waits a moment) Oh, I'm sorry...
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<H2> Estus' Challenge </H2>
The other brass dragon crawls forward, keeping his head facing down. Estus steps forward. The brass dragon whispers a riddle.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
What does man love more than life,<BR />Fear more than death or mortal strife,<BR />What the poor have the rich require<BR />And what contentened men desire<BR />What the miser spends and the spendthrift saves,<BR />And all men carry to their graves
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Much discussion ensues. Estus uses up his three Augury spells, but is unable to determine the answer. The brass dragon reveals that the answer is: "Nothing".
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Brass:</B> To futher illustrate the power of nothing. I place before you a challenge. There is a beast with must be destroyed. But this beast is made of nothing. The Dread Vizier. This being was immensely powerful in life. Some say he is more powerful since dying. His power grows daily. The Dread Vizier was known in life by the name Visax. I tell you now that he was the greatest of the eye tyrants in this region. Destroy him.
<B>Estus:</B> Where may I find this Dread Vizier?
<B>Brass:</B> The Dread Vizier? He currently resides in the Gray Vales.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The group teleports to Home. The Shield Golem answers George's door. Donner expresses his desire to see George. The Golem closes the door. 10 minutes pass, then George opens the door.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> We're in some hurry. We need the use of your scrying device.
<B>George:</B> Go upstairs, you know where it is.
<B>Donner:</B> Actually, I was wondering if we might negotiate for the use of one of your items--your Rod of Passage.
<B>George:</B> Yes, it's almost used up thanks to you. It would need to be replaced.
<B>George:</B> Does Kill'Dar carry that ring? Doesn't he carry a Teleport in it?
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> It holds a Wish right now.
<B>George:</B> Well, you could use that for teleporting.
<B>Donner:</B> How's your scry skill?
<B>Kill'Dar:</B> Good (+15).
<B>Donner:</B> All right, let's go.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Kill'Dar scries. It's hazy. Not nearly has hazy as in the caldera. The ground looks similar to the tundra of the Plateau, but it appears to be a gray color. In the center view looks to be the ghost of a beholder. It appears to be hovering over a pedastal. Spreading out around it is semi-translucent walls that form a maze spreading out around him.
The party discusses whether to continue with the challenge or to have Estus concede in order to have him help in the final challenge. In the meantime, they go to Father Cullaim to seek a Divination.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> We're in a precarious situation. We are going through the challenge of the dragons. We're fairly certain that should it come to combat, we would lose.
<B>Cullaim:</B> All right, I'll need a bit more information about the challenge. Well, I'll see. (Casts while the party waits) Well, this will probably make more sense to you:<BR />Be not hasty in victory<BR />Death of death brings life to life<BR />Respect is for the dead not the undead
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Donner convinces George that he needs any contingency items that he can provide. He reveals to George that his final plan is to have Seledan rescue him from the Gray Vales.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Donner:</B> So, if you have any items that we can reimburse later. We promise that we will return them to you unused if possible.
<B>George:</B> Very well. You should speak to Father Cullaim as well. He's been stockpiling potions and scrolls. In additon to that I have a few scrolls. It sounds like transportation is what you need.
<B>Donner:</B> Yes
<B>George:</B> I don't have many, but I can afford one Teleport and one Plane Shift if that would help.
<B>Donner:</B> That would be great. However, the outcome is the most uncertain of any I've been in. So, I actually would prefer to leave some of our equipment with you.
<B>George:</B> I have a combat scroll.
<B>Donner:</B> I can't imagine that it would really be needed. What is on the scroll?
<B>George:</B> Disintegrate, Empowered Chain Lighting, Finger of Death
<B>Donner:</B> Considering the sounds that Kill'Dar is making, I think we might find a use for it.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party heads back to the temple to make the same request of Father Cullaim. He offers a scroll with two Mass Heal spells, which the party gladly accepts.
Auric opens his scroll in secret. There are several spells: Elemental Spell, Summon Nature's Ally IX, 3rd spell uncomprendable (higher than 9th level). Those spells are woven among a narrative written by Belenus. It discusses the cycle of life and how certain wrongheaded faiths believe that the end of the world must come and when that happens all will fall to ruin. No, at that time, the power of nature will assert itself and bring new life at the time when all other believe the world will end. Nature will show that life is a cycle, not just a beginning and ending. Auric comes to a part where there is a significant portion to the scroll. When this time comes must the Great Druid complete the reading of my word.
Kill'Dar teleports the group. The group arrives in a misty area. There is a pattern of walls, but they are not the same--they look solid. The walls appear to be crumbling. It looks less like a maze than a dense urban area. There are little alleyways. There are some creatures there (looks like group of skeletal robed figures).
<B>Round 1:</B> The Dread Vizier wins initiative and hits him with the antimagic ray. Estus walks up and hits him with his staff.
<B>Round 2:</B> Estus gets hits by three rays, but is largely unaffected. He casts Heal on the Beholder and follows up with a Sunray.
Estus notices that the pedastal is a physical construct and has no existence in the Ethereal plane. Grackle comes out and notices the pedastal is not a pedastal--it appears to be a cylindical chest. He finds both a magical and mechanical trap. The group examines the chest. The chest appears to be trapped with strong magic. Kill'Dar uses the Dispel Evil to remove the spell on the chest. Grackle disables the trap. Inside, appears to be a beholder's sarcophogus. It's draped in necklaces and chains and jewels. Each of the eyes has a large gem where the eye used to be. Where the central eye used to be is a large (size of a fist) black pearl. All the gems and pearl is magical. Several of the other pieces of jewelry are also magical. The party grabs the loot and returns to the dragon trial.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Estus:</B> I have destroyed the Dread Vizier.
<B>Kalfnir:</B> It is as he says.
<B>Brass:</B> Then we shall have the mock battle. I shall begin. I summon a huge Earth Elemental to destroy you.
<B>Estus:</B> I cast Holy Word to send it back.
<B>Brass:</B> I breath Fire on you.
<B>Estus:</B> I call upon Apollo to help defeat you.
<B>Brass:</B> What you do will tilt the battle in your favor, but it does not complete the battle. I respond by surrounding you by living stone until you suffocate.
<B>Estus:</B> I walk out of the Wall of Stone, I convince Kalfnir that you are one of the Children of Lorga and since such beings "cannot exist", you cannot represent the dragons in that fight and concede.
<B>Brass:</B> I concede. You can escape and you will have the blessing of your god.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Kalfnir steps forward.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Kalfnir:</B> Time for the trial of combat is at hand. You may if you choose, name champions to take the place of those who are slated to fight. However, if you do, those who are slated to participate on behalf of the dragons also have that right. This must be resolved by nightfall, you have 30 minutes to prepare yourselves.
<B>Donner:</B> What are the terms of the combat?
<B>Kalfnir:</B> In this conflict. It is one side against the other side. Members of each side may leave the fight. As they do so, they may not rejoin. However, it's is not to the death. As they do so, they take away an ally on their side.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Donner considers recruiting Arik to aid his side in the combat, but decides against that plan.
After 25 minutes, Estus has finished memorizing and casting a Divination spell for how the party can win the battle.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
The brightest future lies in the eyes of the dead<BR />Harness destruction lest the Darkness return<BR />The hand of the hero or the hand of the servant<BR />Two choices, one king
</BLOCKQUOTE>
At that point, Donner decides that there's more at stake than just the return of the King of the West. The party agress that the newly recovered items are key to the party winning this final combat. Donner takes the ring from Kill'Dar and uses a Mass Dweomer on the gems.
<UL>
<LI> Bead of Force
<LI> Pearl of Power (7th level)
<LI> Gem of Seeing
<LI> Gem of Brightness
<LI> Luckstone +1
<LI> Stone of Controlling Earth Elementals
<LI> Ioun Stone (Absorbs spells up to 4th level, 20 charges)
<LI> Ioun Stone (+2 Charisma)
<LI> Pearl of Power (5th level)
<LI> Legendary Item: Moaning Diamond. When grasped it releases a low moan. Baleful moaning as if in pain. 3x/day Stone Shape accepting 5000 cu ft of material. Summon Elder Earth Elemental with max HP until slain. If slain, cannot summon creature for 24 hours.
<LI> Black Pearl: Hollow. Contains a Sphere of Annihilation suppressed inside an anti-magic field within the sphere. If the pearl is fractured, the sphere is released.
<LI> Necklace of Fireballs: Type 6
<LI> Necklace of Prayer Beads: Beads of Summons
<LI> Periapt of Wisdom +4
<LI> Silver Hoop: Talisman of the Sphere
</UL>
Donner distributes the items and outlines the options for his four Champions. In the meantime, various party members help prepare the rest of the party:
<UL>
<LI> Wish no one can fly
<LI> Or Limited Wish for Mass Fly on everyone.
<LI> Use the Moaning Diamond to create a coliseum with a low roof and force
<LI> Fingle will make use of the Maze spell, followed by controlling the Sphere of Annihilation.
<LI> Auric will control both Earth Elementals and have them grapple or attack the dragons physicially.
<LI> Estus offers the Parthenian Staff to Grackle.
<LI> Estus casts Miracle on the party (including the summoned creatures) to make them immune to Fire and Lightning for a short duration.
<LI> Estus stores Mass Heal in the Ring of the Silverveils.
</UL>
The black dragon casts some spells and is enveloped in darkness for a while (unknown). The white casts Bull's Strength, Protection From Elements, Magic Circle Against Good, Stoneskin on the red dragon. A small number of rounds before the fight, the blackness goes away around the Black Dragon and he's got the visible effects of Ghostform and Unholy Aura.
<H3> Foes Fought </H3>
Dragon Council