CH 4: Lair of the Dragon

[JadedDM]

Tanis, on the other hand, frowns severely at the idea of Laurana offering herself as bait. As for the second suggestion, Tanis scratches his beard and says, "But how can we use the staff as bait without risking it actually falling into the dragon's hands--claws, whatever? I'd rather not risk the staff just to get the discs unless we must. But even that aside, wouldn't that put Goldmoon in great danger, too?"

[Jenara]

"It is possessive of its things, surely just the suggestion would make it come out?" She was thinking out loud, obviously she didn't have a "plan" "I would not want to put Goldmoon in Danger at all."

[mltillis]

Caramon moves about setting Raistlin's gear beside him, then unpacking some of his own as well.... "They wouldn't expect you to try your magic head on against a dragon anymore than you would expect them to try their swords, Raist." Sitting against a wall, he checks the condition of his gear and blade, while listening to the conversation..."You best get some rest along with Riverwind, let those wounds heal a bit. It will be quite a while before I am ready to sleep, I'll cover your watch." A thought comes to the warrior as they discuss the staff.... "If the dragon really wants the staff back, it may be eager enough to not notice a fake.... particularly at a distance....."

[Nuke]

Riverwind hears some of the discussion, but sits up and take notice when the conversation turns to the staff, in particular the though of Goldmoon acting as bait.

"No, that will not happen, I'd sooner wield the staff and be bait, then send her anywhere near the dragon." He reaches and hold her by the waist concerned the way the planning is going."

As he listens further, the thought of dummy staff works on his mind.

"Raist, can you enchant a fake to radiate magic?"

[JadedDM]

Raistlin gives Riverwind a withering stare. Nobody ever calls him 'Raist' save for his twin brother, and it's clear the wizard doesn't like the barbarian being so casual toward him. "I cannot," he says coolly.

[Breila]

With a frown, but realizing the importance of the question, Goldmoon had risen when Laurana started talking to her, and walked over to the group holding counsel.

"A fake might work" she says. "Especially since the staff looks so ordinary when it's not in use. I believe it doesn't even radiate magic, otherwise, we would not have been able to bring it into Solace so easily. But how to we suggest to the dragon that the staff is nearby and get her to pursue the fake?"

[Jenara]

"Actually it knows we are here already, and that we made it down this far.." She frowns, it knew because of her.

"What if... Word got to the Dragon, say through the Gully Dwarves about the staff?" Laurana asks, hand in her hair. "Would that work?"

[Breila]

"It might" Goldmoon muses. "But we shouldn't rush things. We should have a clear idea of where we want to lure her and how we want to escape before we confront her in any way."

[Jerrard]

"Agreed, shall we rest for a short time, and form a plan?" The Knight looks to the Gully Dwarf for the first time. "Is this place safe? Or is there somewhere else we can go?"

[Jenara]

"You mean do those things know about this place?" Laurana asks quietly as she moves close to Tanis, he at least made her feel safe.

[JadedDM]

"Safe here," Magpie says, still doodling on the map with a bit of charcoal. "Bosses not know this place, dragon not know either."

[Breila]

Goldmoon approaches Magpie and sits down near her, so she's not looking down at the gully dwarf.
"How well do you know the dragon, Magpie? Have you seen it often, do you know what it does?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

"Too scary," Magpie explains. "See dragon, run. Hide. Everyone see it get scared, even bravest. Magpie see dragon, she hide. Dragon not see. Or not care. Dragon not come out of lair much. So not have to worry. Big bosses work for dragon, they do what dragon wants for her."

[Breila]

"See, Magpie, you know something important." Goldmoon smiles at her encouragingly. "You know where the lair is, and that the dragon almost never leaves it. Do you know where she goes if she does?"

[JadedDM]

"Flew up to surface, up through well, earlier," Magpie says. "But never see that happen before today."