(CSRHoD) Creamsteak's Red Hand of Doom [IC]

[Arkhandus]

Warren the halfling

"I just don't think we can handle that dragon, and if we attack the bridge even just briefly, we're likely to have a showdown with that dragon. The other bridge guardians are chumps I'm sure, but a dragon? No way...." the halfling mutters. He still remembers one bite from the hydra nearly killing him.

 

[Redclaw]

Aye, Warren. This is no time for cold feet. You wanted a life of adventure? You've found it. Now's your chance to seize it.
As for strategy, I think Siobhan is on to something. I've got a scroll that will shield us all from the worst of the dragon's breath, and haste should help us finish everything else. With but a quarter hour to restudy my spell book I could prepare other useful spells as well. The only problem that I see is the ability to attack the dragon. Any suggestions about how we can bring this fell beast down?

 

[Pinotage]

Avril - Human Druid - AC 17 - hp 42/42 - Spot +12 - Listen +12

Avril's face fell at Warren's revelations regarding what he'd found at Skull Gorge. "It seems my worst fears are being realised. They have the power of dragons on their side now. This is some powerful army we're dealing with. And if they can have a dragon guard a bridge, then what have they got at their encampment in the hills on the other side."

She turned to Siobhan. "Is there another way across the Gorge? If not, then it will be of utmost importance for us to at least try and collapse this bridge." For a moment at least, she skirted the issue of the dragon. "Can't say I know how. Unless we can bring down those towers, but I don't see my shortspear doing any good. Maybe a hammer of some kind, but who here has the power to bring down one of those. Unless we can get the dragon to fly into it." No chance, really.

"I agree, though. I can't see how we can fight that dragon. Without Scarlet and Gurguannin, we can't rely on Warren to do it, and if it keeps to the air, who is going to be able to blast it. Tyrla's magic and the range of her power will be invaluable. Warren, did you see cover near the bridge. Some place we can still attack the guards on the towers but have cover from the dragon? If we force it to land and use hit and run tactics, we might have a chance. Otherwise, we have to find a way of avoiding it, but I don't know how."

[SBLOCK=OOC]
OOC:

Spells and Abilities Active:

Spells Cast and Abilities/Items Used:

Spells Prepared:

Level 0 (5): Cure Minor Wounds (2), Detect Magic (2), Guidance
Level 1 (4): Cure Light Wounds, Enrage Animal, Entangle, Produce Flame
Level 2 (4): Bear's Endurance, Barkskin, Bull's Strength
Level 3 (3): Call Lightning, Cure Moderate Wounds
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Creamsteak]

Warren, did you see cover near the bridge? Some place we can still attack the guards on the towers but have cover from the dragon?

I'll head up this question a bit for Warren.

[sblock=Warren]The nearest respectable cover is 200 feet away from the towers. There are sparse trees leading up until 60 feet away from the towers, but they are few and far between.[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

"Nothing much, Avril. And not close enough to the bridge for it to matter." Warren says.

 

[Creamsteak]

(The ball is in the group's court to decide what to do. I'm prepared to move along as soon as things start going.)

 

[Dalamar]

"We needn't necessarily be able to fight the dragon if we can somehow draw its attention away from the bridge, preferrably so that it will actually leave the bridge for a while. Also, I'm no expert on bridge design, but I think if we can break it enough in any one spot, it might collapse under its own weight."
Siobhan leans on her hammer and her brow furrows in thought. After a moment she continues.
"If we could get inside one of the two towers on this side, our position would already be much better. The dragon will have no good way of attacking us without tearing down at least some of the tower. Still, our best chance would be to attack when and if it goes hunting."

 

[Redclaw]

I would like to adjust my spell selection, and can prepare a few extra spells to deal with the dragon at a distance. Perhaps, Avril, your ability to call lightning down from the heavens will help. I believe we even recovered a scroll of that spell. Once we're prepared, I feel we should tackle this problem sooner rather than later.

 

[Dalamar]

"Kord only grants new strength for a new day, so if I am to ask for the stone-shaping prayer, we would need to wait till tomorrow anyway," Siobhan notes. "One thing to note is that I will not be able to spare too many prayers for healing use if I am to tip the scales in our favour during the battle."

 

[Pinotage]

Avril - Human Druid - AC 17 - hp 42/42 - Spot +12 - Listen +12

Avril looked around while she was listening to Siobhan and the others talking. "It's getting dark," she remarked, "Which doesn't really help matters." She considered their fate for a moment, and then spoke at length.

"There doesn't appear to be an army on the other side of this bridge. So if this is the only place to cross for some distance, then it appears we've come in time. And we might have some time as well. I'm not sure how we're going to bring that bridge down, but I'm thinking getting into one of those towers might help. The problem, as always, is the dragon."

"We have a few options really. We can creep forward in the dark and hope to get into those towers, but I think that hell hound will detect us quite easily. We cna wait and observe to see if there's any change in the guard or the hounds, or for that matter if the dragon goes. Or, we can wait until morning, prepare as best we can to face the dragon, lure it here, and fight it. I think that's something we want to avoid if we can."

"It's still early evening now. I say we watch for a few hours, see what happens, and if there is an opportunity we can get into those towers. It'll give us shelter from the dragon while we work on bringing one of those down. Let's take this one step at a time, and see what we can learn."

[SBLOCK=OOC]
OOC: Creamsteak, how long is the bridge? And what are the dimensions of the towers, including any doorways into the towers. Avril's suggesting waiting perhaps 2 hours to see what happens at nightfall.

Spells and Abilities Active:

Spells Cast and Abilities/Items Used:

Spells Prepared:

Level 0 (5): Cure Minor Wounds (2), Detect Magic (2), Guidance
Level 1 (4): Cure Light Wounds, Enrage Animal, Entangle, Produce Flame
Level 2 (4): Bear's Endurance, Barkskin, Bull's Strength
Level 3 (3): Call Lightning, Cure Moderate Wounds
[/SBLOCK]