Chapter 5: All Aboard the Ark-Ari

[MevlyTM]

While the dragon is distraced by the crown, Maju immediately retrieves the wand from the chest. Maybe it can aid us in what is likely a battle with the dragon.

[mTeasdale]

Jaali feels the situation getting dangerous, and will run back, trying to hide himself somewhere he can still peek out to see what's going on.

[Longman]

Maju retrieves the wand sucessfully. It is about 2 feet long and made of black iron with silver inlay, with a knob on the end. There are markings in Persian style magic which could take a while to decipher but it is almost certainly magical.

The halfling thief retreats toward the mast, his job done. He still feels a sense of evil and foreboding about him.

The paladin realises that the monk is best placed to catch the crown and tosses it towards him. The throw isn't that good but the monk is pretty fast and can lay his hands on the crown after only once small bounce on the ship's deck.

YC, do you want to catch the crown? You can do so and move, if you want.

The dragon is drawing breath and looks potentially hostile. From what Maju knows, the thing can breathe steam, which would likely kill several crew members if it were to attack you.

Many other NPCs are standing by with weapons and spells, but combat hasn't fully kicked off yet. If someone wants to give the attack order, you can fight the creature.

[quozl]

YC will catch the crown and dive into the water with it.

[Rhialto]

Rostam tries to make himself as tall as possible (which is not very tall) before the dragon and speaks loud and clear, hoping to get the beast's full attention:

We do not want to cheat you!
The crown may be dangerous!
You hear me - dangerous!
Please let us look at it first.

[MevlyTM]

Maju will next cast Read Magic on the runes on the wand in hopes of being able to understand what it does.

[mTeasdale]

Jaali will stay hidden like a coward.

DM:

[Longman]

The dragon shows no evidence of being able to understand the paladin.

It looked like it was about to breathe, or possibly submerge. When the monk enters the water, it changes its behaviour immediately and goes to grab the crown from his hands.

The dragon hits and now has the crown in his jaws, and an opposed strength test against YC sees the dragon win very easily and rip it out of his grasp. It's getting a bit scratched up but the dragon does not seem to care.

YC, what do you do? The dragon is right next to you and may be about to swim away. Do you try to get the crown back?

Everyone else?

[quozl]

YC gives the dragon a monk's salute and returns to the ship.

The dragon did not harm me when it had the chance. If the crown is evil, I believe the dragon will not do evil with it. Most likely, it will hide or destroy it. Now let us leave this place.

[Rhialto]

As soon as the dragon disappears, Rostam jumps to the gunwale to look after it.
He is relieved to see that the beast seems interested only in the crown, leaving the monk alone. If YC wants to come on board again, the paladin will help.