"I've been looking for a sign of the Old Gods for more than a year now," Bryony murmurs as the group draws near the building.  "I wonder if we'll find one in there.  Let's check it out?" she asks, pitching her voice up to reach the rest of the companions.  "It's on a public street, or what used to be one, so I doubt it'll be trapped or anything.  I wouldn't be surprised if the doors are stiff, though.  I wonder if we'll find any more dragon men this far into the ruins..."

Bryony makes for the door of the building, unless others advise more caution or another approach.  

Geoff says, "I think the healing power of the staff is surely connected to the old gods...yes let's proceed."

He follows Bryony

Alex

"We have been searching for the Old Gods for five years now. If we ever find them it will be a miracle." As he makes his way over to the building. "To have seen this city when it was alive would have been glorious. I could see the Old Gods living here."

Escarin looks across at Geoff after Alex speaks "I think that a time of miracles may be upon us.  There is danger and there is darkness, but there is also hope and light" Looking at the building he adds "I agree the building is worth investigating but I suggest we all keep our eyes open, and stay away from that noxious well..."

Shan doesn’t speak but will not approach the well. She round it from the opposite site of the others, trying to be as stealthy as she can and observing both the well and the building.

On the north side of the courtyard from the Plaza stands a small, domed temple, a structure left surprisingly untouched by the Cataclysm.

Two large, golden doors mark it as a Temple.  Of all the buildings in Xak Tsaroth that you have seen, this was one of the only ones to survive the Cataclysm largely intact. The temple is an impressive reminder of the achievements of the ancient Ergothian culture that built it. Much of the stonework throughout the temple is marble and granite. Mortar and plaster surfaces are covered by frescoes and murals, barely touched by the centuries.

The swamp, though,  has begun to slowly attack the temple; mildew and mold grow in the cracks and crevasses and a greenish sheen tints the floor of the entrance in places.

The group moves to the doors, Geoff and Bryony, move a few yards in front already knowing what they will find inside. 

At the back, Tyrros seems at a loose. He is the last and knows deep inside that great danger lurks here. Just before he has time to scream a roar shatters the tranquility of the place.

A huge black dragon bursts out of the well,  abnormally slender it seems almost gaunt but very powerful still. A smell like rotting vegetation and foul water washes over all of you.

OOC: Will save DC 16 or be frightened 

(WIS ST: 18)

Shan is able to scream “DRAGON!” When the creature appears from the well, but the fear and the awe to see such a creature, directly from the most terryfing legends, just in front of her, streching its leather wings and opening its mouth, it’s enough to freeze her. 

Geoff is just about to inspect golden doors as well as appreciate the stone work before being compelled to open the doors and proceed inside,  when he hears Shan cry out.

He immediately takes out his shield and spear, but the surprise and terror are very overwhelming so he tries to hold his emotions in check.

WIS ST 22

Feeling it before he hears a sound Escarin goes tense, as the dragon roars and breaks out into sight his whole body feels like ice.

Wisdom 20

He feels the familiar presence invade him again, and when his body wants to run and hide he feels his emotions being altered, reinforcing him.  He knows he will not run, and starts to think about how best to defend the group from the beast.

WIS 21

Xorn turns at the roar. The creatures size is intimidating and the stories of dragons that Xorn has heard give him respect for this creatures power, but he is Xorn and he will not cow. [pun intended] 

The Minotaur bellows in defiance to this magical creature’s roar and prepares to charge. 

[ooc]initiative unless he is stopped, Xorn will be charging at the dragon.  11

Geoff Initiative 9

(Just in case it's needed)

Alex

Hearing his friend scream "dragon," he turns to see something that he had only heard stories of and picture drawn in books. With this magnificent creature emerging before him, Pictures do this creature no justice.

Wisdom 6

Alex is frozen in awe and terror as the winged serpent takes to the air.

OOC : for clarifications. The dragon moved now it s your turn. Make your moves when you want. When you have all done so I 'll make the dragon move again. 

Remember that it is hovering 100 feet above the well

Escarin steps slightly towards the creature drawing his rod from it's sheath at his hip.  As he directs his energy from it the air around the dragons head is filled with twisting patterns of colour that attempt to disorientate the beast. Silent throughout as he finishes the spell Escarin moves towards the golden doors calling out.  "I don't know if that will hold him, we can't fight him while he is flying up there, run for the building".

Casts Hypnotic Pattern WIS DC 16

OOC I'm assuming Escarin is quite close to the well (i.e. within 20' - the spell has a range of 120') if not and he can get that close he will move until he is within range and any additional movement left will be back towards the doors. after casting.

Initiative: 20

Black dragon save on Hypnotic Pattern : 3 ; Roooo

Stunned by the spell the dragon forgets to fly and crashes down in the well. You can all hear a loud splatter and a louder screech of pain. 

You have a few rounds before it comes back. 

Alex

After his moment of panic, Alex watches the dragon plummet back into the dark hole from which it came. "What in the nine hells are we going to do against that?" He will then turn and move toward the golden doors. "I say we find shelter from that beast."

Shan breaths again when the dragon falls down throught the well again. She concentrates and mutters: 

“Utzilah Qazlem Vinaquirem ta puch a ya vi“

The well is covered by a think, grey, sticky substance that extends in all its circumference like a spider web 

”It will not last long but perhaps it will delay it. To the Temple!”

And she runs for the entrance of it.

Xorn watching the beast crash back into the pool seems unsure what to do. He starts to move toward the pool but the Shan says to head for the temple. He stands, his horned head looking back and forth for a moment.

[ooc - he will follow the majority of the party. If they head for the temple, he will gredgingly go with them. 

Like the rest, Bryony makes a mad dash for the old temple.  Glancing behind her, she spots Xorn and yells "Fight it later, when we have the advantage!"

She's as brave as the next warrior but a quarterstaff isn't any kind of weapon at all against a dragon!