Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jack_of_all_shades Aug 28, 2008 16:21:15	Okay, first I would like to say hello. First time posting on this wonderful board. But to business. As my party crossed a rickety bridge over a mote, we were introduced to a large and relatively empty field. In the middle of it was a bloody dagger. A few spot and listen checks later, my DM swears there's nothing around right now and everything looks and sounds safe. So I (My bard) walks over to the dagger and picks it up. Well as I look up, I'm greeted by a giant blue dragon... And that's where we left off 'till next Sunday. Well I havn't been playing for very long but I'm pretty sure that anything with the word Giant and Dragon in it is going to outclass a lvl 3 bard, and it being blue must make it even worse. Any ideas on how to get myself out of this sticky situation? Oh and 3.5 rules... Don't know how much it matters but yeah...
#2 hazard84 Aug 28, 2008 17:06:34	Well, you are a Bard and there is a big dragon appearing out of nowhere, because you picked up a dagger. Roll a Knowledge (local) check if you know the dragons name, and talk to him. Dragons are intelligent, and sometimes like to hear rumours. You as a bard are perfectly able to deliver them.
#3 jack_of_all_shades Aug 28, 2008 17:24:40	Ah, that's good to know. I didn't know if dragons where intelligent monsters or not. My bard usually talks his way out of stuff anyways. Thanks allot! :D
#4 dirtyfrank Aug 28, 2008 20:15:17	Dragons are usually smarter than people. Make knowledge checks for any knowledge skill you are trained in. History: knowledge of dragons History: knowledge of the areas history Arcana: figure out dragons abilities Local: is the dragon known to live around the region Local: does the dragon have a name or Nobility: if dragon lives by then the dragon may rule something, so this can find out any sort of political status the dragon has Religion: if one of the other checks helps identify the dragon then is that dragon known to be part of a cult/religion Bardic Knowledge: find out obscure knowledge of any kind The good thing about knowledge checks is that they are free action, so you can make the above checks before anything happens. Use any knowledge gains to find a way to speak with the dragon and what to speak about. If this fails then hopefully you have 5 ranks in tumble. If so then go into a total defensive stance to gain a +6 dodge bonus to AC and get out of harms way.
#5 jack_of_all_shades Aug 28, 2008 20:43:24	The good thing about knowledge checks is that they are free action, so you can make the above checks before anything happens. Learning new stuff all the time here. I'll be sure to make those knowledge checks right off the bat. And the tumble to defensive should prove to be usful in the (possibly near) future.
#6 angelus_obscura Aug 28, 2008 20:59:27	You know, something almost exactly like this happened to me once. In a 3.5 game I've been in for quite a while now, my own bard met an ancient blue dragon, in a desert. With my bard's reputation for the voice of a siren preceding her, my companions and I were allowed to live IF I can move him with a song. Of course, I had magic items to help (choker of eloquence), but I succeeded by a narrow margin. It also looks like the whole situation was planned, by the dragon I mean. The dagger was obviously planted to attract someone, and perhaps force that victim to do something for the dragon. Blue dragons are often lawful evil. They can be reasoned with and/or struck a deal with. Use diplomacy, which I hope you maxed out.
#7 voidraithe Aug 28, 2008 21:29:01	Dragon also enjoy feeling superior (Chromatic ones anyways) feed it's ego, butter it up but don't lay it on too thick or the Dragon will know.
#8 daknit_bard_of_tarot Aug 28, 2008 21:34:55	What not to do: 1) Dragon: "Who dares disturb my slumber!?" You: "Dragons can talk?!" (That actually happened) 2) Stab the dragon with the dagger. 3) Leave with the dagger without talking to the dragon. 4) Pretend to be a fellow dragon trapped in human (or whaterever race you are) form. I only know of one character that has pulled this feat off and I'm pretty sure he was higher than a level 3. And not a bard. 5) For the love of god, do not sing to the dragon. They hate that. (especially that "Puff" song) Suggestions: 1) Kiss the dragon's ass! Nothing says "Don't kill me!" more than "I worship you!" 2) If things get rough, don't forget to mention that other party members do "really funny things" with elecrticty, and that you have too much grissle and fat and not enought meat on your bones....unlike say the fighter in your group. 3) Claim that the dagger is actaully a key to a puzzle leading to a copper dragon's home in a desert in some far away land. Say you are checking it for authenticy or some thing like that. Be sure to give directions. If your bluff check fails, see suggestions 1 & 2. 4) Put the dagger back and see if the dragon disappears. If not say "Huh, I thought you'd go away by now". Reffer to suggestions 1 & 2. 5) Play dumb. Or best yet, play crazy. Pull the dagger from the ground, claim to be king of the Brittons, and knight the Dragon with the Dagger. "Rise, Sir Papa Smurf" The more crazy you act the more confussed the dragon will be. If all else fails, reffer to suggestions 1 & 2. 6) Tell the dragon you are a carrier of a magical plague that will wipe out all of the creatures on the planet upon your death. The only cure would be to be slain by a Blue Dragon. "Of course the dragon that slew me would die within a fortnight, but the world would be saved!" It helps if you say your party member also share this affliction. Oh! And act really bumed about it to like nothing really matters. If not, read suggestions 1 & 2. Just passing thoughts from 1 bard to another.
#9 MrCustomer Aug 28, 2008 22:20:51	hehe, I am reminded of the armed robber in 5th Element who after being disarmed does that little dance shuffle.
#10 nephlite Aug 29, 2008 7:43:18	5) For the love of god, do not sing to the dragon. They hate that. (especially that "Puff" song) Actually Do sing. Fascinate defeats anyone before combat starts. If you don't roll poorly of course. Sadly, since you aren't 6th level, you can't suggest stuff, so it will only buy time to run.
#11 daknit_bard_of_tarot Aug 29, 2008 19:09:51	Actually Do sing. Fascinate defeats anyone before combat starts. If you don't roll poorly of course. Sadly, since you aren't 6th level, you can't suggest stuff, so it will only buy time to run. Singing at a low level vs, say, a giant dragon will only get you killed quicker. Fascinate works on the weak minded. (Go a head, ask the dragon if he's weak minded.) Wanna have time to run? Have someone else sit there and sing!
#12 dirtyfrank Aug 29, 2008 21:00:47	There are only 2 times when it is OK to sing to a dragon. 1) The dragons is a Brass Dragon 2) You are auditioning to be the dragons new minstrel (never ask what happened to the last one)
#13 jack_of_all_shades Aug 29, 2008 21:19:32	Ok so no singing. *Writes notes* Got it.
#14 darkraven18599 Aug 30, 2008 22:53:51	Two little words that sometime worked, and sometimes were the last words uttered by my character before an extremely gruesome death. "I disbelieve!" If it's an illusion, yer golden. If it's the real deal, start taking some of those previous hints to heart because you're probably going to need them. Good luck!