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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Guest 7037866" data-source="post: 9512333">Yes, it prizes the crystals they have and cannot risk their escape.In case you missed it in my other responses the dragon has been trailing the PCs for few weeks, knows of their exploits, and has an idea of what they are capable of.If the one PC wasn't killed (which if nothing else the dragon will observe his absence if he discovers the PCs again...), the dragon would wait for more advantage and continue trailing the PCs through the wilderness.Also, the dragon will change tactics. Believing it was powerful enough to tackle them head-on, and seeing that failed, the dragon will grapple each and fly away with them in turn to repeat how it killed the first PC. Straffing breath weapons will limit the PCs to ranged attacks, which the dragon knows first-hand from the first battle are much weaker and lack range to be a threat.If the battle by chance somehow is going against it again, it will flee at half HP this time, and continue to harrass the PCs again and again until it has the crystals. However, each encounter it is likely another PC will fall...A LOT depends on how the "extra session" we're sneaking in tomorrow night goes. How the players roll stealth (they might just happen to avoid it entirely!), any chance of parley or deal, etc. before it comes to battle.This is the sort of stuff in the OP I am loathe to do. As a DM I don't feel I should bend the game to "rescue" the PCs. I will allow the PCs to make Wisdom (Survival) checks to look for the "best place to hide" and other such things, but where they are in the wild the random chance of another NPC or something happening by is rare at best.If discovered, this is likely the most hopeful resolution. One PC is dead--payment for their affront to the dragon-- and the dragon gains the crystals, it might consider the encounter a draw.However, I have been informed by the rogue player he intends to keep one crystal to use as a spellcasting focus.... I hope they don't agree to give the crystals and the dragon discovers this PC kept one back---not good for that PC then!</blockquote>

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