Soaring over the vast lake, astride on the nightmare, Hildegard can barely see the dark, inky depths of the water below through the wreath of flames surrounding her. The tiny jots of the boats far below remind her to lean back cautiously on Perdita's reins, bidding her to wait for the others. It won't do to arrive at this humble village unannounced by one of its denizens, she thinks. And, circles back around to trail the boats, riding to flank them as she rode to flank the carriage with Lord Akkron. As she does, she looks around at the village, the lake, and the shore, to see if there is anything of note.

Perception: 12

Quote from Faux_Beau >>

Jodie leans in to Ruby, "Say, I hope we make a good impression with the Great Wyrm.  What might put them in a welcoming mood?  Praise, some gold, or perhaps entertainment?  Sometimes a good laugh can relax the sternest folk.  I trust we can reach a mutually beneficial terms.  We would welcome a guide through your territory, so we can leave it unpertubed..  Perhaps you'd accompany us, with the Great Wyrm's permission."

 "It... is hard to say," Ruby replies. "Um... perhaps to give a shining gift would be wise when first meeting the Great Wyrm."

She pauses when asked if she can guide the party through the kobolds' territory.

"Perhaps... but... maybe you could give Ruby a nice shiny gift as well if she does this for you?"

Regarding anything unusual in your surroundings, anyone who rolls 12+ (or has a Passive Perception score above 12):

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

he uses Wild Shape to change into the form of a badger.  Then he shuffles over to Korba's feet to be lifted into a boat.

(OOC: Not sure who took Hewelathan/Badger onto the boat, but assuming that he's sitting up on a bench or on someone's lap in the boat...)

As the boat ride starts, Hewelathan/Badger sits quietly, sniffing the damp air in the underground cavern.  Then -- suddenly -- he perks up, at attention.  He stares out over the the water at a shape that shows above the surface and starts making an urgent chittering sound.  Once he seems to have aroused any attention from the others in the boat, he begins growling loudly until the shape submerges back under the dark surface of the lake.

Tamphalic walks with the others ducking and crawling, not having much difficulties as this isn't the first time he walks through a cave system. At the side of the village he immediately takes out his notebook making some notes on what he sees. When Ruby mentions the shining gift he ensures that he has the crystal at a handy place to take out and gift to the Great Wyrm.

(Would he be able to also draw a quick map of how they got here from the teleportation circle?)

 

(Would he be able to also draw a quick map of how they got here from the teleportation circle?)

 Yes, that should be possible. Make an Intelligence check to determine how good the map is.

Int check: 5 (+2 if cartographer's tool proficiency applies)

Jodie’s acute elven eyes pick up the subtle disturbances on the water, noting the giant octopus.

”An octopus, there.”  she points to the others. “That reminds me of a song of course.  I have seen the lute have a strong effect on beasts. My scroll of animal friendship will be an interesting test. It’s just nice to have another option than fighting.”

Quote from Secretfool >>

Int check: 18 (+2 if cartographer's tool proficiency applies)

Temphalic has created one of the most impressive 'quick' maps ever... it should be nearly impossible for anyone who knows how to read a map to get lost while following it.

You cross the dark waters without incident, besides the curious octopus taking a peek at the boat. But it seems that the beasts in the water aren't in the mood to eat you just yet. The kobolds dock the boat, and invite you to disembark. Several kobolds are doing various tasks on the shore, and you can see more of them further into the little city doing other tasks as Ruby and the warriors guide you towards what looks like some kind of a town hall (well, more of an oversized hut, but it's the biggest building that you see). Even though the town hall is larger than the other buildings, most of you need to duck under the low doorframe.

Inside the town hall there are several mats on the floor, upon which are seated several more kobolds. And sitting on what looks like a crudely-made throne is a white kobold. Though he doesn't appear too different from the other kobolds, you can almost feel the white kobold's great age and his commanding presence. The fact that he is wearing several bits of jewelry made from the bones of creatures that normally devours kobolds by the dozens further suggests that he should not be taken lightly...



"Great Wyrm Zolgu!" Ruby calls out in Draconic. "Strangers from above have come through the magic circle... they wish to speak to you!"

Tamphalic does a quick translation before turning to Zolgu

"Great Wyrm Zolgu, my name is Tamphalic and me and my friends seek passage through these lands, meaning no harm to you, the kobolds or the dragon Cynurrarth, this here is a token of our good faith." Tamphalic says in Draconic holding the crystal he had at the ready in front of him "Also, could we for further communications talk in the common tongue so my associates can also understand what is being said?"

Nickeline follows the rest of the party into the "town hall." She doesn't understand what this fancy kobold is saying, but she can tell he looks smarter than the rest. She glances around for possible escape routes, but for the moment she puts her trust in Tamphalic and her other companions to get through this without incident.

Once they land, Hewelathan transforms back into his regular form, that of a somewhat short and disheveled-looking half-elf.  He follows Tamphalic, and once the wizard starts speaking to the Great Wyrm Zolgu, he translates to Common for the party.

While the discussion continues, Hewelathan looks around to take note of the number of guards and how they're armed and for any exits other than the one through which they entered.  Knowing that kobolds are fond of traps, he keeps an eye out for anything that looks suspicious or like a spot that the kobolds are avoiding.   Perception 18

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

While the discussion continues, Hewelathan looks around to take note of the number of guards and how they're armed and for any exits other than the one through which they entered.  Knowing that kobolds are fond of traps, he keeps an eye out for anything that looks suspicious or like a spot that the kobolds are avoiding.   Perception 13

You see four guards inside the town hall, each armed with spear and shield as well as thick hide armor. In addition to the guards, Zolgu, and Ruby, there are six more kobolds in the room, probably acting as some kind of council for this tribe. The six warriors that were escorting Ruby remained outside while the party went in to speak to the Great Wyrm. There appears to be a small exit behind the Great Wyrm's throne, though it doesn't seem like it would be particularly useful as an emergency escape route since it would require going past all of the gathered kobolds.

Zolgu looks at all of you for a moment, then makes a gesture to one of the guards. The guard approaches Temphalic and takes the crystal to bring to the Great Wyrm. The white kobold turns the crystal over in his claws a few times, tapping it gently, until he seems satisfied and sets it down. Finally, he speaks.

"Though the tongue of dragons is superior in every way... yes, I am capable of speaking the Common tongue," Zolgu says in near-perfect Common. "Now... you say that you seek safe passage through the territory of the great and mighty Cynurrarth? Perhaps I can make that happen... but a mere crystal trinket would not be sufficient payment. So, strangers from the surface, why should I do this for you? What worthy payment can you give for our aid?"

Korba waits his turn to speak, understanding that there is more evolved social etiquette here than he had assumed Kobolds were capable of, and says, "I am very impressed with this village. Though a native of the Dark myself, I had no idea such a place existed. Have you any maps to show of it's location? I would love to know more of the history of this place and how it is that you all came to live here."

Soaring across the dark waters, the nightmare descends and clatters with fiery hooves onto the stony ledge of the shore, past whatever dock is mooring the boats. Hildegard waits there for her companions, soothing her steed with a pat to its neck, although the creature's eyes only blaze with baleful ire in response. She dismounts to accompany them, bidding Perdita to follow them and stand guard outside while they duck into the low town hall.

The paladin bows respectfully to the white kobold as to a foreign dignitary. When the Great Wyrm addresses them in Common, she bows again before giving a reply to him. "Great Wyrm Zolgu," she says, "I carry no great wealth, but I come with my companions here on a dire mission to secure from an undead drow priestess a powerful artifact that will enable us to continue a holy crusade against the a cult that has perpetrated great evil in the world. They call themselves the Cult of the Dragon, but they have intimate dealings with fiends, and are wholly corrupted in their lust for power and destruction. In the name and mission of the great Saint Tali Windrunner, I have vowed to stop their evil depradations on the innocent and offer my blade to protect the peace of the Order of the world. This is why we seek passage, and although I myself have no gifts to give, and will let my companions make what offers they can afford, my offering of service stands to you and to all good folk who wish to see the forces of evil contained."

Hewelathan grimaces and sucks air in through his teeth, making a sort of hissing sound when he hears Hildegard share so much so openly with these kobolds.  He stops looking around this "town hall" and focuses on Zolgu and Ruby to see how they react to what Hildegard said.  Does Ruby appear to be embarrassed or guilty about bringing the party to the Great Wyrm? Does Zolgu seem angry or offended?  (Insight 17)

It turns out that the scaly little dragon faces are completely unreadable to Hewelathan...

"So, you are in opposition to 'the Cult of the Dragon'?" Zolgu says, tapping a claw gently on the arm of his throne. "And what great evil is this cult responsible for which you have sworn to prevent?"

Jodie also tries not to gasp at the paladin's detail accounting and tries to weigh (20) Zolgu's response.

Jodie:

Hildegard draws herself up, and likely much to the chagrin of her companions, continues.... "Besides dabbling with fiends and slaughtering innocents of all nations in their quest for power, they seek to free Sserah Nightbane, a dragon who had pretentions to ascend to godhood at the great peril of innocent life and the peace and happiness of rightly ordered societies. It cost much for the Seven Heroes, millenia ago, to seal Sserah away, to stop this act of terrible presumption and injustice. I have spent my life serving the legacy of Tali Windrunner, one of the Seven, and recently, the Cult of the Dragon attacked her monastery, and horrifically maimed her celestial companion." Hildegard lifts the engraved reliquary from around her neck to hold it out and show it to Zolgu. "This Divine creature stands outside the door of your hall wreathed in the flames of hell, barely pulled from the abyss by an artifact of legendary power crafted by the monks to save her. I seek to restore her, and by one of the remaining Seven have been enjoined also to join the efforts of these my companions, who seek to break the power of the Cult to free this criminal, a blight on the nobility of dragonkind whom the gods made in their power to guard the deep and high places of the universe."

Hildegard replaces the reliquary around her neck and turns to look at her companions, perhaps expecting that they will bring forth their own descriptions of the Cult's crimes to back her argument to the Great Wyrm.

Does Hildegard know anything about dragons, really? I think she might be assuming they dislike evil among their own kind as much as humans do... History: 7
And Persuasion: 8 :)

"How interesting indeed," Zolgu says. "Well, with such a noble goal, who am I to turn you away? But I must decide what a fitting payment for our service is, and make some arrangements for your departure... until then, you stay and make yourselves comfortable. Ruby can show you to a hut which has been recently vacated."

Zolgu's social roll: 6