The trip back to the keep is uneventful. While everyone walks back, the dragon can be seen flying by and breathing lightning.The dragon seems to be attacking more frequently than before.
When the group exits the tunnel Escobert is waiting. He has a worried expression on his face.
"Escobert," Kosef says, "What has you worried? We cleared out the mill and meet the troops you sent there. They are well protected." He can smell ozone and burnt air. "How is the keep holding up against the lightening? What can we do to help?"
"Yes, we shall put your worries to rest castellan, although we haven´t quite figured out how to defeat that dragon as long as it strafes the keep from above. We were wondering if you have a ballista or some other warmachine available in the keep?" Evendur asks, cogs turning over a less than feasible plan."
"What's wrong?"Kendes asks Escobert immediately. "The dragon seems to be attacking more and more frequently. Did something happen to speed up this cult's timetable?"
"Perhaps there is another option, if we are forced to face it"remarks Valas to Kendes regarding a dragon encounter. "Ever negotiate with a dragon?" he asks with a smirk.
(OOC: Just thinking out loud for the future: Perhaps if that opportunity presents itself Valas can roll History with his dragon scholar background to use knowledge about this type of dragon or accounts of failed and/or successful negotiations with chromatic dragons to help with such an encounter.)
"Negotiate brave Valas?" Sir Evendur says with an incredulous expression "Are we even in a position to negotiate? Nay I say, let´s face the peril together like the brave companions that we are."
(OOC: To be clear, negotiate sounds cool if we had anything to negotiate with. If you think we have a chance, then go for it, even though Evendur might get a tad bit disappointed not getting to fight the dragon. On the other hand it might save his life. Decisions, decision.)
Escobert nods in response to Kendes' question. "As you seem to have observed, the dragon is attacking more frequently. I have no idea why, but it seems determined to do us harm. I wish we had machines that could deal with it, but we don't. I guess we never thought this town would be attacked by a dragon. Anyway, our current plan is to drive it off with weapons. It's not really working, but maybe you five would do a better job."
When talk turns to negotiations, Escobert looks hopeful. "Do you really think you could talk to the dragon? If you could negotiate it away, so many lives could be saved."
Valas can roll a history check about blue dragons.
Kosef reaches for his light crossbow. He holds it for a few moments before realizing it is upside down. Then he notices it is backwards.
"I will try to help defeat the dragon. Didn't we promise that? But I only do one thing well. I can be helpful if the dragon is on the ground. And I can get close to it." Finally, he holds his crossbow correctly. "How might negotiating with a dragon work?"
"I didn't necessary say it would work..."remarks Valas while pondering if this path is madness or not.
"Escobert, do we have access to any large white cloth? A number of bedsheets perhaps? Or perhaps a copious amount of paint, or flour or something of the sort to mark the ground?"
Valas tries to think of a concise message for the dragon in draconic, something that could be painted on a large white cloth or scrawled on the ground in front of the tower somehow, ideally with as few characters as possible such as "talk?","parley?", etc. (Dragon Scholar and Proficient in Draconic.)
As Evendur slowly realizes Valas´ plan might be as perilous as actually fighting the dragon he tries to recall anything he might have read about dragons as a child.
(OOC: Evendur actually took a history class as a kid, and although mostly bored the passages about dragons certainly got his attention. History check just in case of Evendur as an amateur dracologist could know anything helpful about what a blue dragon could be interested in except treasures, death and destruction:19 hey)
Escobert nods his head at Valas, and says, "We've got quite a few bed sheets. I'll have some of the people carry them where you want." He finds a commoner standing around and sends him off to gather the bed sheets. He then order another commoner to run off and get some paint. When he is done he comes back over and waits for further requests.
OOC: I have added some general information on chromatic and blue dragons. Valas can just automatically know it, and Evendur remembers it from his history lessons. Valas can still roll history to learn about possible other dragon negotiations.
Dragon Knowledge
Chromatic dragons feel they are superior to all other creatures. They feel they have an innate right to rule, which gives them little respect for humanoids.
Dragons love treasure. Blue dragons are especially fond of gems. Their favourite gems are blue sapphires.
Blue dragons are very vain. They dislike insults, and are fond of compliments. They also enjoy using their power to terrify and control humanoids and other inferior creatures. Blue dragons also enjoy collecting talented people as servants, such as bards, wizards, artists, and assassins. It makes them feel special.
Valas is able to think of a good, short message he could write on the bed sheets with his knowledge of dragons and their language.
"I don´t suppose we have some blue sapphires, or we could offer up wise Valas as a servant. No, that does not seem right either."Cogs turning again for some time before he gives up on thinking. "Well, perhaps I can help if we are going to negotiate with the dragon but I´m still not sure what we have to negotiate with. Any ideas wise Valas?"Evendur turns to the elf for wisdom far beyond his own. (Giving the help action to Valas if possible)
Valas peers out from the keep to see if any raiders are out front in hopes that they could quickly stake out some bed sheets with the message and perhaps negotiate near the front gate such that they have a place to flee to. If not he may suggest hanging the sheets from the tower instead, with a leap down the stairs as the only escape plan.
Valas raises an eyebrow at Escobert when Sir Evendur asks about blue sapphires, but then at Sir Evendur himself when the notion of Valas being offered up is suggested. In at least somewhat of a serious tone he replies "it would be a most rare and fascinating way to study a chromatic... one wonders if I'd ever be able to leave..."
Hesitant at first given the man's acumen, or lack of, Valas decides that "yes, your way with...ah...words and people would be most helpful here, Sir Evendur." "Perhaps we can at least find out what this particular blue wants, or if there is some item or service in some quest that we could offer in exchange for the dragon's leniency towards the innocents of Greenest? Such a quest to acquire some blue sapphires may prove less perilous than a duel with the dragon, at least? Worst case you can always try to, ah, stab it...in the end either way?"
"Well yes wise Valas, perhaps it would agree on sparing Greenest if we promise to deliver the gems at a later time. It would probably realize that I am a man of my word.Perhaps this might work after all." Evendur says, now a little more hopeful.
Kendes just watches the others talk of parley with the dragon with a sense of disbelief.
"... Trying to make a deal with the devil will always end badly for you. If you think you can save this town, by all means, go ahead and try. But if you think an honorable deal is going to stop that dragon from wreaking havoc, consider this. Even if you succeed in saving Greenest, you're going to doom some other town out there that has whatever it is that thing needs. You can't stop it, you can only barter away the lives of the people in one town for the lives of the people in another."
"Well that would depend on the deal brave Kendes. I will meet with the dragon if you would let me, and I will keep what you said in mind when I negotiate with it."
Kendes sighs, and shakes his head. "Listen... my father thought he made a good deal with the devil, too. He was wrong. I'm just saying, I don't want you to end up regretting this. Don't make promises you can't stomach keeping. Negotiate all you want, but better if you stay away from making promises at all," he warns.
Kosef purses his lips. "Promises are what makes it possible for beings to bear each other's company. But Kendes is right about the dangers of making promises that are difficult." He nods in Kendes's direction. "Nothing feels better than freedom from an evil promise, once it is kept. We ought to make any promise carefully, because we will have to keep it. But, do dragons even keep their promises? Can they be trusted?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Oh, being a true servant of the Loyal fury I will always keep my promises but I will be careful in making any to a dragon brave Kendes. And though it is thoroughly evil, I think we can put some trust in any promise it will make brave Kosef"
"Knowing the name of that dragon would probably help in any negotiations, I will go and visit our prisoners for a quick interrogation if someone would like to assist me with that."
Evendur walks over to the prisoners and starts with the human "I need one more piece of information and your life will be spared. What is the name of the blue dragon above us?"
Intimidation:19
Evendur then turns to the kobold and switches to draconic asking the same question.
Intimidation:23
(Rolled with advantage if someone gives the help action, otherwise same result with both rolls)
Negotiations with blue dragons often go poorly. Their sense of superiority makes it hard to come to agreements. They feel many things are theirs by right, and object to having to bargain for their rightful property.
A lord was once able to negotiate with a blue dragon by manipulating its ego. He begged the dragon for his household's safety, and flattered the dragon at every opportunity. He then offered the dragon all the jewels and valuables he had in exchange for letting him and his household live. The dragon was pleased to have acquired treasure in a low-risk way. When it went to deposit the treasures, the lord and his household ran away and never returned.
Other stories tell of people obtaining protection from blue dragons by offering them something they greatly desired. Those blue dragons often had unusual interest though. One example is giving a music obsessed dragon music.
Escobert shakes his head when Valas looks his way. "We haven't got any sapphires. We have turquoise, tiger eye, and azurite. The azurite is blue though. Do you want me to get it?"
The kobold trembles when Evendur asks it, and starts listing names. "Lathander! Osmund! Baldur! Abzu! Bluedragon!"
The human says, "I'm not sure what he's called. I think someone said he was Lennithor or Lennithon. It definitely started with an L."
The trip back to the keep is uneventful. While everyone walks back, the dragon can be seen flying by and breathing lightning.The dragon seems to be attacking more frequently than before.
When the group exits the tunnel Escobert is waiting. He has a worried expression on his face.
"Escobert," Kosef says, "What has you worried? We cleared out the mill and meet the troops you sent there. They are well protected." He can smell ozone and burnt air. "How is the keep holding up against the lightening? What can we do to help?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"Yes, we shall put your worries to rest castellan, although we haven´t quite figured out how to defeat that dragon as long as it strafes the keep from above. We were wondering if you have a ballista or some other warmachine available in the keep?" Evendur asks, cogs turning over a less than feasible plan."
"What's wrong?" Kendes asks Escobert immediately. "The dragon seems to be attacking more and more frequently. Did something happen to speed up this cult's timetable?"
"Perhaps there is another option, if we are forced to face it" remarks Valas to Kendes regarding a dragon encounter. "Ever negotiate with a dragon?" he asks with a smirk.
(OOC: Just thinking out loud for the future: Perhaps if that opportunity presents itself Valas can roll History with his dragon scholar background to use knowledge about this type of dragon or accounts of failed and/or successful negotiations with chromatic dragons to help with such an encounter.)
"Negotiate brave Valas?" Sir Evendur says with an incredulous expression "Are we even in a position to negotiate? Nay I say, let´s face the peril together like the brave companions that we are."
(OOC: To be clear, negotiate sounds cool if we had anything to negotiate with. If you think we have a chance, then go for it, even though Evendur might get a tad bit disappointed not getting to fight the dragon. On the other hand it might save his life. Decisions, decision.)
Escobert nods in response to Kendes' question. "As you seem to have observed, the dragon is attacking more frequently. I have no idea why, but it seems determined to do us harm. I wish we had machines that could deal with it, but we don't. I guess we never thought this town would be attacked by a dragon. Anyway, our current plan is to drive it off with weapons. It's not really working, but maybe you five would do a better job."
When talk turns to negotiations, Escobert looks hopeful. "Do you really think you could talk to the dragon? If you could negotiate it away, so many lives could be saved."
Valas can roll a history check about blue dragons.
Kosef reaches for his light crossbow. He holds it for a few moments before realizing it is upside down. Then he notices it is backwards.
"I will try to help defeat the dragon. Didn't we promise that? But I only do one thing well. I can be helpful if the dragon is on the ground. And I can get close to it." Finally, he holds his crossbow correctly. "How might negotiating with a dragon work?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"I didn't necessary say it would work..." remarks Valas while pondering if this path is madness or not.
"Escobert, do we have access to any large white cloth? A number of bedsheets perhaps? Or perhaps a copious amount of paint, or flour or something of the sort to mark the ground?"
Valas tries to think of a concise message for the dragon in draconic, something that could be painted on a large white cloth or scrawled on the ground in front of the tower somehow, ideally with as few characters as possible such as "talk?", "parley?", etc. (Dragon Scholar and Proficient in Draconic.)
As Evendur slowly realizes Valas´ plan might be as perilous as actually fighting the dragon he tries to recall anything he might have read about dragons as a child.
(OOC: Evendur actually took a history class as a kid, and although mostly bored the passages about dragons certainly got his attention. History check just in case of Evendur as an amateur dracologist could know anything helpful about what a blue dragon could be interested in except treasures, death and destruction:19 hey)
Escobert nods his head at Valas, and says, "We've got quite a few bed sheets. I'll have some of the people carry them where you want." He finds a commoner standing around and sends him off to gather the bed sheets. He then order another commoner to run off and get some paint. When he is done he comes back over and waits for further requests.
OOC: I have added some general information on chromatic and blue dragons. Valas can just automatically know it, and Evendur remembers it from his history lessons. Valas can still roll history to learn about possible other dragon negotiations.
Dragon Knowledge
Chromatic dragons feel they are superior to all other creatures. They feel they have an innate right to rule, which gives them little respect for humanoids.
Dragons love treasure. Blue dragons are especially fond of gems. Their favourite gems are blue sapphires.
Blue dragons are very vain. They dislike insults, and are fond of compliments. They also enjoy using their power to terrify and control humanoids and other inferior creatures. Blue dragons also enjoy collecting talented people as servants, such as bards, wizards, artists, and assassins. It makes them feel special.
Valas is able to think of a good, short message he could write on the bed sheets with his knowledge of dragons and their language.
"I don´t suppose we have some blue sapphires, or we could offer up wise Valas as a servant. No, that does not seem right either." Cogs turning again for some time before he gives up on thinking. "Well, perhaps I can help if we are going to negotiate with the dragon but I´m still not sure what we have to negotiate with. Any ideas wise Valas?" Evendur turns to the elf for wisdom far beyond his own. (Giving the help action to Valas if possible)
History: 18
Valas peers out from the keep to see if any raiders are out front in hopes that they could quickly stake out some bed sheets with the message and perhaps negotiate near the front gate such that they have a place to flee to. If not he may suggest hanging the sheets from the tower instead, with a leap down the stairs as the only escape plan.
Valas raises an eyebrow at Escobert when Sir Evendur asks about blue sapphires, but then at Sir Evendur himself when the notion of Valas being offered up is suggested. In at least somewhat of a serious tone he replies "it would be a most rare and fascinating way to study a chromatic... one wonders if I'd ever be able to leave..."
Hesitant at first given the man's acumen, or lack of, Valas decides that "yes, your way with...ah...words and people would be most helpful here, Sir Evendur." "Perhaps we can at least find out what this particular blue wants, or if there is some item or service in some quest that we could offer in exchange for the dragon's leniency towards the innocents of Greenest? Such a quest to acquire some blue sapphires may prove less perilous than a duel with the dragon, at least? Worst case you can always try to, ah, stab it...in the end either way?"
"Well yes wise Valas, perhaps it would agree on sparing Greenest if we promise to deliver the gems at a later time. It would probably realize that I am a man of my word.Perhaps this might work after all." Evendur says, now a little more hopeful.
Kendes just watches the others talk of parley with the dragon with a sense of disbelief.
"... Trying to make a deal with the devil will always end badly for you. If you think you can save this town, by all means, go ahead and try. But if you think an honorable deal is going to stop that dragon from wreaking havoc, consider this. Even if you succeed in saving Greenest, you're going to doom some other town out there that has whatever it is that thing needs. You can't stop it, you can only barter away the lives of the people in one town for the lives of the people in another."
"Well that would depend on the deal brave Kendes. I will meet with the dragon if you would let me, and I will keep what you said in mind when I negotiate with it."
Kendes sighs, and shakes his head. "Listen... my father thought he made a good deal with the devil, too. He was wrong. I'm just saying, I don't want you to end up regretting this. Don't make promises you can't stomach keeping. Negotiate all you want, but better if you stay away from making promises at all," he warns.
Kosef purses his lips. "Promises are what makes it possible for beings to bear each other's company. But Kendes is right about the dangers of making promises that are difficult." He nods in Kendes's direction. "Nothing feels better than freedom from an evil promise, once it is kept. We ought to make any promise carefully, because we will have to keep it. But, do dragons even keep their promises? Can they be trusted?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"Oh, being a true servant of the Loyal fury I will always keep my promises but I will be careful in making any to a dragon brave Kendes. And though it is thoroughly evil, I think we can put some trust in any promise it will make brave Kosef"
"Knowing the name of that dragon would probably help in any negotiations, I will go and visit our prisoners for a quick interrogation if someone would like to assist me with that."
Evendur walks over to the prisoners and starts with the human "I need one more piece of information and your life will be spared. What is the name of the blue dragon above us?"
Intimidation:19
Evendur then turns to the kobold and switches to draconic asking the same question.
Intimidation:23
(Rolled with advantage if someone gives the help action, otherwise same result with both rolls)
Valas recalls hearing about dragon negotiations.
Negotiations with blue dragons often go poorly. Their sense of superiority makes it hard to come to agreements. They feel many things are theirs by right, and object to having to bargain for their rightful property.
A lord was once able to negotiate with a blue dragon by manipulating its ego. He begged the dragon for his household's safety, and flattered the dragon at every opportunity. He then offered the dragon all the jewels and valuables he had in exchange for letting him and his household live. The dragon was pleased to have acquired treasure in a low-risk way. When it went to deposit the treasures, the lord and his household ran away and never returned.
Other stories tell of people obtaining protection from blue dragons by offering them something they greatly desired. Those blue dragons often had unusual interest though. One example is giving a music obsessed dragon music.
Escobert shakes his head when Valas looks his way. "We haven't got any sapphires. We have turquoise, tiger eye, and azurite. The azurite is blue though. Do you want me to get it?"
The kobold trembles when Evendur asks it, and starts listing names. "Lathander! Osmund! Baldur! Abzu! Bluedragon!"
The human says, "I'm not sure what he's called. I think someone said he was Lennithor or Lennithon. It definitely started with an L."