Deal with a Dragon

A random encounter in The King's Forest.

Objective
Talk to the green dragon, Veraxiena, and either defeat her in battle, or convince her to allow you to get her treasure.

Rewards
Two chests, seven gold piles, and 3,000 XP

Encounter

 * Veraxiena: Yes? I believe you have something to say for yourself? Unless you don't, in which case, I'll have no problem tearing you apart where you stand.
 * You: I am, and I'm here to aid Cormyr in the war against the Drow.
 * You: I really don't. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: Yes,, go on. The fact remains that I haven't killed you yet, so you may continue to speak.
 * Veraxiena: You mention this petty and insignificant war between the Cormyreans and the Dark Elves of the Underdark as if I am oblivious... I have observed it with mere passing interest. Their conflict does not affect me, therefore I am simply not concerned.
 * You: (Diplomacy) This war affects us all in terrible ways, even Dragons like you.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) Do go on...


 * Veraxiena: (Critical Failure) And just who are you to make that claim, my little snack?
 * You: (Bluff) Petty? But the Drow seek to enslave all of Dragonkind. That should concern you.


 * Veraxiena: (Failure) Amusing, but you don't sound very convincing.


 * You: (Intimidate) You're going to regret dismissing this war as not your concern.
 * Veraxiena: (Critical Success) You speak with such confidence, surely this is something I cannot take lightly.


 * Veraxiena: (Failure) I'm sorry, was that supposed to scare me? Because it did not.


 * You: On second thought, enough of this. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: Regardless of what you have said, I have decided I need to know more about this war. What, with it being so close to my new home. I'm rather fond of it here. There are many nearby villages to plunder and people to eat.
 * Veraxiena: Why should this war actually concern me? So far, you have yet to convince me.
 * You: (Diplomacy) The war will destroy this forest. Your new home will be gone.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) Hmm, you give me a cause to think about it. While they may not destroy my new home, the continuous fracas will at the very least be disruptive to my slumber.


 * You: (Bluff) I've seen the Drow wielding dragonbane weapons and wearing dragonscale armor.


 * Veraxiena: (Critical Failure) Impossible! Even if they could manage to take down a Dragon, everyone knows those Dark Elves revere spiders. They would have an unmanageable time trying to decorate anything they gathered from one of our theoretical corpses in a way that would make their silly Spider Queen happy. Are you going to fib more, you delightful appetizer?
 * You: (Intimidate) Purple Dragon Knights. If they win, they will turn they attention to other threats. Like you.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) Yes, those humans are prone to bouts of foolishness. They do not prove to be a threat more often than not, but they are annoying. Best not to alert them to my presence.


 * You: On second thought, enough of this. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: I have much to think about now. While this war may or may not have an impact on me, I am interested in its outcome. I understand you are trying to urge me to worry about it, but I simply cannot comprehend what you wish me to do.
 * Veraxiena: It's as if you are trying to urge me into some sort of action. I am curious as to what you believe I would do if I were so motivated.
 * You: (Diplomacy) You should get involved. This is your home too.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) I'll entertain the thought for a moment, but it doesn't sound like a terribly good idea. I'd be risking my neck, where as right now, I have my dinner coming to me. However, there is a certain appeal to convincing one of these forces to pay tribute in the form of regular sacrifices... You're not completely useless, you know.


 * You: (Bluff) Well, if I were you, I wouldn't get involved at all. I heard Green Dragons were cowards anyway.


 * You: (Intimidate) You should stay out of our way, if you know what's good for you.
 * Veraxiena: (Critical Success) And so you let your sense of bravado be known. I can respect that to some degree. Your kind are becoming bolder than ever these days. There may be something to that.


 * You: On second thought, enough of this. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: You may not be saying it exactly, but it would seem to me that you are actually trying to ask me to ally with your cause. You do realize what you're dealing with, don't you? You understand that I have no incentive to help you in any way, shape, or form?
 * Veraxiena: You've managed to convince me that I should do something notable in this fight, but why specifically should I help you against the Dark Elves, and not the other way around?
 * You: (Diplomacy) The Drow will never share your interests. You could manage a peaceful coexistance with Cormyr.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) This may be true. You're convincing, I'll give you that.
 * Veraxiena: I have not fully considered the implication of what it would mean for the Dark Elves to inhabit this Forest. All those... spiders. It's enough to give even me chills.


 * You: (Bluff) I have it on the authority of the King that Cormyr will serve you if agree to help.


 * You: (Intimidate) Because I will make it my life's mission to hunt and kill you if you aid the Drow.
 * Veraxiena: (Critical Success) That bile! That vitriol! You may have an ounce of Green Dragon blood in you yet! I can tell you might well carry through with such a threat if I don't change my tone. Perhaps we can reach an agreement.


 * You: On second thought, enough of this. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: Before you get the wrong idea, I will tell you right now that I will not go to battle for anyone but myself, or to protect my own interests. It may not be such that I am considering some form of aid in the interest of staving off the Dark Elf invasion.
 * Veraxiena: Keep in mind that I will not fight them for you. What is it you would ask of me, that I could realistically provide?
 * You: (Diplomacy) Could you at least not feed on any Cormyr citizens?


 * Veraxiena: (Success) Yes, in exchange for your information, I will live with these terms. Your allies shall not come under attack by me for the duration of the war. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you wanted to include that term in the agreement. Of course, once the war is finished, I won't hesitate to eat what I wish, from whatever I wish to take it.


 * You: (Bluff) Are you sure? I seem to recall you saying earlier that you hated the Dark Elves.


 * You: (Intimidate) Give me something useful from your stash, or I'll take it by force.


 * Veraxiena: (Success) That won't be necessary. I am sure we can come to agreeable terms for this arrangement.


 * You: On second thought, enough of this. Prepare to die, Dragon! (Start the fight)
 * Veraxiena: I have come to a conclusion about what I am to do with you. You have done an adequate job of explaining yourself, teaching me of this looming war, and convincing me to take action.
 * Veraxiena: While I have made it clear that I will not fight for you or the Dark Elves, I will agree to abide by all terms we discussed.
 * Veraxiena: In addition, I have decided to leave you be and allow you to partake of a few treasures of my collection.
 * Veraxiena: However! You must first pay me a tribute of 25,000 Platinum Pieces, or else the deal is off.
 * You: (Pay 25,000 PP) You have a deal, Dragon.
 * Veraxiena: (Pay up) ???????????????
 * Veraxiena: (If you don't have enough coin) That's not nearly enough! How dare you try to cheat me! (Start the fight)
 * You: I'm not paying you anything! I'll take it myself! (Start the fight)

Skill DCs

 * You must succeed in four skill rolls and then pay the dragon 25,000 platinum pieces to win this encounter without a battle.
 * If you fail the skill rolls twice, the battle will start immediately. It is possible to run away.