He will cast protection from fire on himself.

Arye thinks to the group, *I can provide protection from fire for up to 4 other people.  Did we ever determine if we can summon elementals to this place?*

In reply to Ayre Vafir (msg # 961):

*No, we can't seem to summon anything.*

Warwick slides his ring of fire protection on his finger while putting his ring of elemental summoning into his pouch.

Shorty checks that his Amulet of Protection fro, Fire is still in place around his neck.

OOC:  We tried Astral and Fire…  has anyone actually tried earth yet?

In reply to Shorty (msg # 963):

*Ayre, I'll take ye're spell, please.*

In reply to Warwick (msg # 964):

Trysk has Ring of Spell Storing and Ring of Protection +3 on.

Ez’ard digs through his pockets to find his amulet of fire resistance and dons it.

Morteft switches his ring from cold to fire protection.

After about 10 minutes, he casts detect invisibility (should last 80 minutes).

"Is everyone good with stoneskin? I have some scrolls if not." Morteft asks.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 967):

*I'm good, but we should spread out so that Dispel Magic doesn't affect us all.*
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Tue 30 Apr.

*good point. A dispel is a 30 foot cube, so let's spread enough to be 30 feet apart. The risk is being overrun, but we can fly.*

"Fritz, do you need a stoneskin?"

In reply to Morteft (msg # 969):

Fritz replies to Mortfet, "No, I am still covered from before. Thank you for the offer."

OOC: Anymore prep before the Dragon's Lair?

--DM2

OOC:  Superball squeeze but that is as combat breaks out.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 971):

Trysk casts Protection from Normal Missiles on himself.

In reply to Trysk (msg # 972):

OOC: looks like prep is done, onward to glory and the grave ... ;)

The group makes their way behind the statue of Tiamat, you can tell that the statue as moved by the groves in the floor and probably moves enough for the massive double doors to open fully.  The doors are easily 80' high and some 50' wide.  In this case the doors are only open about 10' wide to allow your entrance.  The glowing red light intensifies as you get closer and you feel hot dry air pouring thru the opening - temperature probably in the high 90's .. dry heat.

The red light is almost blinding as you get to the entrance and you need to shield your eyes but once thru the entrance the red light is somewhat dull and it takes time for your eyes to adjust to the new lighting.  What you can tell is that the room looks massive, it is difficult to tell the extent given the eyes to adjust as well as the entire room, the floor, walls ceiling is a red mosaic pattern, much like dragon scales, along with the red lighting makes everything seem to blend together.

The first things that you notice are 4 individuals scattered about, a huge pile of metal coins and objects about 50' in front of you, gold statues (10' tall) of Tiamat off to your immediate right and left perhaps at the corners of the room - each at least 100' away from you and 2 sets of 3 ivoryish backless chairs (one set on either side of the coin pile).

The individuals look like the following.  Nearest to you about 20' from the coin pile, 30' from you, appears to be a cleric who is holding a long staff, wearing breastplate with 5 dragon heads on it, and a mace hangs from his belt.  He looks to be a human, perhaps middle-aged with red hair, perhaps 5'10" and looks to be just slightly overweight.  The staff is about 7' long, black wood with a ruby atop.

The next two look almost identical in feature and stand just before the chairs.  They are human fighters each with long sword and shield, wearing plate mail. Each man looks to have a round face, black hair and stands about 6' tall.  They stand with swords in salute looking straight ahead.  Warwick has seen one of them before - he called himself Zak the Sentinel.

Next, standing off to one side at least 100' to the left and further into the room is an elf.  He is dressed in black from head to toe, looks to have red hair.  His arms are folded in front but you can make out bracers, a short sword in a scabbard and a short bow at his back. He just stares at you all.  You believe this to be Keryth based on Dualis' description.

As you eyes adjust and you look around and up you notice a pair of yellow eyes about 50' off the ground staring down at you and then you can make out a face and a huge reptilian head.  Then you begin to make out the long neck and finally the massive body atop the coins and also what looked like  6 chairs are actually the creatures claws.  The red dragon, like a giant chameleon, almost blends in perfectly with the surrounding room, making her extent difficult to visualize and comprehend.

The priest bangs his staff twice onto the floor and hard, the sound echos.  He then says "Come forth and make yourselves known, all those who come before her ladyship the Mistress of Black Doom."  he again bangs the staff on the floor twice which echos as before.

Actions?

--DM2

Warwick replies.  "Ye asked to see us?"

In reply to Warwick (msg # 974):

Ez’ard sends to Warwick, *Very diplomatic…*

Ez’ard pulls out his glasses and puts them on. He acts as though he needs them to get a better look as he looks around the room, at the people, the pile of coins and treasure, and finally taking in ALL of the dragon. When finished he will try for an unimpressed sniff and carefully put them away again.

Morteft spreads out a little bit more. *Be sure to find our gnoll friend, Ez'ard. I am sure he is in here.*

Morteft gives a nod. "I am Morteft. A simple wizard in search of adventure. Nice to meet you."

In reply to Morteft (msg # 976):

Trysk continues to spread out, the opposite direction of Morteft. He had one hand in Sizzle and another on his Rod to scan for magic, evil and invisible.

*Sizzle, what do you sense in this room? Anything beyond what we can see?*

*I never claimed to be a diplomat and they're all evil.  Why play word games with creatures like this?  Just look around.  There also might be mindflayers around.*

In reply to Warwick (msg # 978):

Tzar takes a step forward, his sword hilt is back on his forearm, and he bows with a flourish "I am Tzar, Knight of the Great Kingdom in Flanaess, Knight of the Regent to his majesty King Stell."  It seems like Tzar has done this sort of thing before, he then steps back.

Fritz whispers to Warwick "You are supposed to give your name and title."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 979):

*They know who we are.  They made that pretty clear when we fought Fritz.*

OOC: Morteft has detect invisibility going so he should be able to see invisible, ethereal, astral and so on....

Morteft scans the room.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 981):

The ethereal and astral are blocked, nothing invisible.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 982):

Ez’ard tips his hat and introduces himself to Big Red, “Greetings, I am Ez’ard, a simple waif with minor abilities.”

Ez’ard sends to the group, *There is another human like figure to the right side of the dragon.  He is dressed in all black, in very fine clothes, he has slick backed dark hair and a thin goatee. And boy is she big!*
This message was last edited by the player at 00:24, Today.

Warwick sighs to himself.  He doesn't bow, but gives a head nod.  "Warwick Forgemaker.  Lord, General, Cleric of Reorx."

Shorty watches and listens and waits for his best guess at an appropriate time to speak.  When there appears to be a lull in the conversation, When he judges it a good time, Shorty steps forward and bows impressively deep for an ogre..

“Hullo, Lady.  Me bees Shorty, Grenn Knight a Arcturus.  Dis day me bees one dat brings messages.

Me hab two messages fer da Lady Red.  Me say dem as bestus me members dem.  Bes pardon if me words no so gooder.

Firstus, Da Lady Penney and da Dragon Council asks mes ta tell youse, Shorty stares down at his feet for a moment as he tries to get the words just right. “Da Council request da honor of youse Presents to talks bout story dat come to dem tention.

Shorty seems to relax a little as that message is delivered.  “Me nudder message bees from da Lady a da Forest.  Her ask me ta warns youse bout danger.  Once der bees da Bad Cloud.  Him bees sad Cloud cause him no so strong as him wants ta bees.  Him looks fer peoples ta makes him more strong.  Him Promise da Orcs new home, the ancient Black Dragon muches power, da Trolls a new land call Delith, bad men dat dem ken rule Arcturus, da giants da dem ken kills da dwarf.  Many times him makes promise.  In all da times eber, him never once keeps him promise.  Like thief him take what not his, like assassin him stab him friend in back, like coward him let udders fall to sabe him own self.  Dat Bad Cloud be name Set.  Lady a da Forse Ask me ta warns youse and da Lady a Many Heads dat Set plan da same fer youse.  Mielikki no wants youse Kingdom.  Her no wants youre power.  Her only wants da Balance be safe.  Me own son bees red dragon.  Me no wants hate red dragon.  Lady a Forest says ta helps youse ifn’t youse wants ta send da Set creatures away.”

Shorty takes a practiced step backwards.  “Me waits fer youse response.”