Zaineb ducked and tried to hide if at all possible. "First we need to figure out what it is, before we explode into action. - Ready yourselves for a fight!" strapping her shield to her back and readying her polearm...

ooc: Ready attack if creature comes in reach (10ft).

Varlian looks up to see what everyone is talking about.

In reply to Dagger (msg # 933):

Dagger, that OOC Thread is for the public gameroom. You all can start a private message to continue talking about OOC stuff.

The desert warrior tried to understand what they were facing...

ooc: Identify flyer
23:42, Today: Zaineb rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Dungeoneering.
23:41, Today: Zaineb rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Knowl.Planes.
23:41, Today: Zaineb rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Knowl. Arcana.

Zaineb feels a stab of terror as she recognizes the formidable creature as either a black or green dragon. It's too far away to determine which, and it's still too far away to determine its size. At this distance though, maybe 3/4 to a 1/2 mile away, and many hundreds of feet up in the air, it could be a young or even a juvenile dragon.

It isn't apparent if it has even noticed you, but in this dismal area, there are few places to hide with this many people and the animals.

"Beshaba's luck!" Zaineb cursed under her breath. "It is a dragon, young, but still it's a dragon." she informed the others. "There's no real cover for us to hide behind, so get ready to fight it!" The desert warrior thought for a moment, realizing they needed to discourage the creature from attacking with its breath weapon, she called out "I cannot tell if it is black or green from this distance, but be ready to protect yourself against an acid breath. We need to scatter so it won't get all of us at once." she added, the professional soldier taking over at this time of crisis.

"We don't want it to get away and prepare for another assault, or worse to bring in the parent or reinforcements. So if we can, hold your strongest attacks and wait for my signal, then we all unleash them at once." she let her friends know. Dragons were long-living creatures, very keen on living over fighting to the death. If they were hit with enough force right in the beginning, they would turn away to come after the companions later when the dragon was sure to have the upper hand. If the group wanted to slay the dragon, they had to lure it in, weaken it, then assault it with all their might in one finishing attack.

The former Scorpion Guard looked over at Dagger, concerned he might not be ready to fight. "Have you recovered, yet?"

Is this before or after we've rested during the day?

In reply to Varlian (msg # 940):

Yes.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Thu 01 Sept 2022.

OK just making sure.

Varlian walks to the first standing stone and says a prayer, attempting to remove the curse from it.

In reply to Varlian (msg # 942):

As the dragons flies ever closer, Varlian sets about removing the curse.

Do you do the second standing stone?

Uh... as in more than one dragon?

(Assuming nothing goes poorly with the first stone) Varlian walks to the other stone and says a prayer over it as well. He gulps, stands straight, clutches his holy symbol and calls back to his comrades, "If I don't fall dead, follow me in. It's our only way to hide." He takes one last look at the kobold corpses at the entrance and walks inside.

"Good luck with you spells." Is the only thing that Dagger can say to Varlian.

In reply to Zaineb (msg # 944):

There are 2 standing stones with writing of curses. They act like a conduit, and you believe that both carry the curse. That may have not been clear...

Varlian is very cautious, he will pray over both of them before entering.

The spells are cast and the dragon has closed 1/2 the distance in a straight line towards your location. You haven't a clue if it has even spotted you yet, but as it draws nearer, the chances that it will are more assured.

Peering again at the entrance one sees that the entrance is smooth stone that was once covered in wards and curses like the standing stones, but now the seal lies in blasted shards all about on the ground. The two kobold corpses also lie with the shattered fragments of the seal, twisted and blackened. Their teeth are gone, their eyes hollowed, and horrific grimaces adorn their withered faces. Darkness beckons beyond this cold welcome and a rasping hollow laughter echoes forth from the fragments of the broken seal.

Are your eyes deceiving or playing tricks on you or did you see the very shadows moving?

The dark shadowy entrance beckons.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:18, Sat 03 Sept 2022.

Varlian takes one last glance at the kobolds, says a prayer, and walks inside.

Dagger opens his palm and lets his psicrystal crawl to his hand.

OOC:
Profiting Psicrystal's Sighted and Telephatic Link ability. If there is anything in 40 ft, Dagger can see it.

In reply to Dagger (msg # 951):

PM:

Zaineb was a well educated person and thought of herself as above any superstitions but the darkness looming ahead was something else. It stirred a primal fear inside of her. "I have a bad feeling about this..." she told nobody in particular and just moved on to follow Varlian...

"Correct. Because the shadows truly move. They are incorporeal and are lurking and flying fifteen feet ahead of us. Varlian, havy any ideas?"

Breonna stood watching the dragon, keeping one eye on Varlian as he tried to gain entry to the mound

Does anything happen when Varlian walks past the stones and inside?

OOC: Dagger's psicrystal can see incorporeal shadows flying 15ft ahead.

You seem to see that there is movement up ahead in the shadows. It's as if the very shadows are the thing moving. Then, you hear Dagger confirm that the shadows are the incorporeal kind of dangerous undead.

Just as he finishes telling you this, and just as you step into the darkness of the opening (5" feet in), the shadows start drifting slowly towards you.

I've not the time to roll initiatives this morning for everyone, so if you will, roll them for me. Anyone who hasn't rolled by the time I can get back on, I'll roll for them then. Thanks!