So, we get there, and it's pretty much a classic dungeon: kill the minions, kill the BBEG, take the treasure. We killed the umber hulks and most of the drueger(sp?) without much trouble. We saved a couple for interrogation/domination by our sorcerer and find out where the dragon's lair is in the complex.
The entrance to the lair is a hole in the floor that goes down about 100 feet. Our druid decides to turn into a bat and scout it out. She goes down and sees four medium-sized brass dragons playing. One of them sees her, tells it's siblings about the bat hanging on the ceiling, then they go to eat it. Our druid flies back up the hole where the rest of us are waiting, and we start the beatdown. We end up killing two, one failed it's save vs. hold monster, and one fled back down the hole. We knock the held dragon unconcious, then go find mama dragon down the hole.
Mama dragon was a pretty tough fight. The dragon was loaded with defensive spells. Our druid almost died, but we did manage to kill it and the third baby that fled earlier. The captured dragon is a juvenile brass and we have confirmed that it's evil via the detect evil spell. Anyways, the point to this tale is this: what would you do with the one baby dragon that we captured? We have a couple ideas, but what would you guys do in our situation?
Rakoric
No, seriously though, if I were you I would keep it, teach it goodness, and force it to use its breath attack on people.
As an aside, how did your druid feel about cutting down an entire family of dragons? Just curious how that was roleplayed.
I'm not saying its right or wrong, but it is something to consider. This dragon isn't just some big lizard, but a sentient being.
I think it would be an interesting prospect to attempt to teach the dragon goodness and maybe get it to serve as a guardian for the area that the rest of it's brood use to terrorize.
You just killed it's mother and siblings...
I don't think any amount of do-gooder nonsense is ever going to convince it that you don't deserve to die VERY painful deaths.
You just killed it's mother and siblings...
I don't think any amount of do-gooder nonsense is ever going to convince it that you don't deserve to die VERY painful deaths.
Modify Memory + Atonement = Possibility of reform
Modify Memory + Atonement = Possibility of reform
Nothing cures "Inner Moral Conflict" like a hearty helping of game mechanics.
Numerous time during my DM career players have attempted to save a baby something with the intention of selling or raising said baby.
If your DM is open to selling the dragon, I would try that route, otherwise, just kill it.
*Kill it*.
Do it humanely.
Your chances of redeeming it are slim.
Your chances of getting it out of there- To somewhere else to "sell/trade/whatever" it are not as slim as redemption- but still purdy dang slim.
It is Not evil to slay an evil creature- provided you do so in a humane manner. (i.e. no skinning it alive, etc..).
Just my .02
-S
Eat it.
Old-school BBQ style or something like this.
No, seriously though, if I were you I would keep it, teach it goodness, and force it to use its breath attack on people.
Onward Christian soldiers! :D
First, even if one substituted "force" with "ask", is "using its breath attack on people" like Option #1 in the Good Guy playbook?
Town official: And one more time just so I've got this straight, why exactly did you burn down the school?
Dragon: The BBEG was in there. I mean what do you want me to do? I can't exactly walk through the door you know.
Town official: And you couldn't wait for backup? Wait for the homicidal douchebags or something?
Dragon: It was lunch time and I was not going to play "the waiting game". What can I say? I was thinking Arby's.
Town official: And the one kid who was running away? You toasted him because...???
Dragon: Oh, he was evil. Did a quick alignment check. Kids these days. *grins & shakes head*
Second, does "teaching it goodness" really jive with "forcing it to burn people alive"?
Teacher: And remember, be kind to others. No one likes a bully. That concludes the lesson. Oh, one more thing. Dragon.
Dragon: Yes, sir?
Teacher: Burn Sue alive.
Dragon: What?
Teacher: She didn't turn in her homework. I ran a quick alignment check. She's evil so it's cool.
Dragon: Isn't that a little over the top? I mean...
Teacher: I'm not asking you. I'm telling you. You don't want me to kill more members of your family do you? I will ya know. Who's that cousin of yours in Fresno? You know the one. Don't make me go all chocolate on her like I did with your Mom.
Dragon: Yes, master. *burns Sue alive*
You just killed it's mother and siblings...
I don't think any amount of do-gooder nonsense is ever going to convince it that you don't deserve to die VERY painful deaths.
Yeah. I would listen to approximately 0% of whatever came out of their mouths. First chance I got, I would kill them.
Nothing cures "Inner Moral Conflict" like a hearty helping of game mechanics.
:D Yeah, so much for seeking true reform the natural way. We'll just reprogram him, good guys that we are.
This dragon isn't just some big lizard, but a sentient being.
# of times referred to as an "it" in this thread so far: 18.
Mind Switch, True
# of times referred to as an "it" in this thread so far: 18.
I have always, and always will, reserved the right to refer to anything that attempts to kill me back when I am attempting to kill them and take their stuff as an "it." Things that actively attempt to kill me *before* I attempt to kill them and take their stuff will generally rate higher.
From stats alone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/dragonTrue.htm) that dragon is equivalent to your fighter in mental and physical prowess and is almost definitely older than any human in your party. What is the likelihood of being able to convince it of anything?
I'm with the "sell it for piles of gold" crowd.
Eat him
We already have 4 dead dragons we could eat, so this is out.
Kill him
This...is a viable option. I'd rather use this as a last resort, although setekh does bring up a good point about the whole "killing his family" thing. This is probably what will end up happening unfortunately, like Selgard mentioned.
Kill, then sell the parts
See above comment about eating it. :P
Convert him to the good side
This is what my character is thinking, although, like mentioned it would be very risky and difficult. I think I read somewhere in the Draconomicon that dragons do change alignment a few times throughout their lives, but the process takes years, time something us adventurers don't have.
Give to a temple
Hmmm, interesting idea I hadn't thought of. If we could find a good (or at least non-evil) organization to reform him, then everyone wins! I'll have to suggest this one to the group! :D
How did the druid feel about killing a family of dragons?
Since we knew going in that these were evil, she was all right with it. We have fought a small handful of dragons in the past, so we know that they could be really nasty. So far, we have fought 2 really young greens (1 killed, 1 fled), 1 white (also got away :mad
, and 1 half black dragon-basilisk, (killed, after a near TPK). Come to think of it, we haven't even found a good dragon yet.
Modify Memory + Atonement = Possibility of reform
Maybe if the majority of the party wasn't good, then this would work, but not in this group. Good suggestion for a future game though.
Nothing cures "Inner Moral Conflict" like a hearty helping of game mechanics.
I'd like to sig this, with your permission. :D
Mind Switch, True
Now, that is a very twisted idea. I like it, but still...twisted.
Can't teach old dragons new tricks
Another good point. I didn't think to see how old he is compared to us short-lived humans. He's probably older than everyone in our group except our sorcerer. Trying to convert it to good is looking more and more difficult, such a shame. And, for the record, no, we definitely aren't going to make a pet out of it.
Well, I think I responded to everyone. Sorry about the long post, and if I missed your comment, I apologize. Our next game session is on the 25th, I'll post an update after. And keep the suggestions coming!
I'd like to sig this, with your permission. :D
By all means, feel free to!
Eat it.
That was gonna be my suggestion too.
Now, that is a very twisted idea. I like it, but still...twisted.
My friend actually did this in an evil game. He went from Gnome to Dragon in no time. Then he killed his Gnome self so the dragon wouldn't try to find a way to switch them back. It cost some pretty serious XP and a level to do it, but he loved every second of being a dragon.
I should note that this was in an evil game and we were making the BBEGs for our next campaign, so it may not be in a good character's best interest to do this. Neutral, OtoH......
But the true Mind Switch idea is also good.
Other than that killing is the only real option as I doubt that you can hold the dragon forever.
Snip…
As an aside, how did your druid feel about cutting down an entire family of dragons? Just curious how that was roleplayed.
As for the druid's motivations there are three things to consider:
First of all, this particular druid thought it would be an interesting challenge. Her player is terribly fond of melee combat, especially when she can turn into a dire lion or a bulette or anything else with more than one natural attack.
Second, dragons are not necessarily a part of the natural order. After all, for dragons it's knowledge (arcane) rather than knowledge (nature).
Third, five hungry dragons are a huge strain on the local ecosystem. Eliminating them is simply a means of resource management.
First you killed it's family and it liely views you with a great deal of hatred, and vengence is on it's mind, the Evil dragons likely view themselves as being in the right, this is their mines, their lands, their homes, everyone else is the intruder.
The dragon likely thinks that you are vile murderers and thieves who murdered his family. He is going to resent being imprisoned and cajoled by your "lies"
Second, even if you get it to change it's ways from Evil, (most likely to neutral first) the dragon is still very likely to hate you, and still want vengence. Even if you force an allignment change via magical means, the dragon still hates you, you still murdered it's family.
If possible, I would suggest turning it over to another party, maybe a powerful lawful good wizard who isn't involved in the dragon's domain or the death of it's family or something who is willing to "retrain" the dragon to be good.
Failing that, Dragon meat can be tough and grainy, therefore it's best served after being thourally tenderized in the strongest Dwarfen ales and slow roasted and put in a stew.
Makes delicious stew and wow, Dragon Gravy is fit to be served before the highest gods.
Makes delicious stew and wow, Dragon Gravy is fit to be served before the highest gods.
Except Tiamat, Bahamut, Paladine, Takhisis, and the like.
Except Tiamat, Bahamut, Paladine, Takhisis, and the like.
For Tiamat and Paladine I suggest Dragon Jerky, of course you can rarely go wrong with Jerky.
For the rest, off to Johney's Sausage Machine, Dragon Sausages.
Bahamut though can make very tastey Burgers if done right and during the correct season. He's a bit too fishy in the late autum and winter.
"This is nothing, lass. You should see my other dragon."
I suggest using the dragon to start breeding half-dragon cohorts.
This... now THIS is genuinely F***ed up, right here...
Lawful Evil, much?