((Barkas would have definitely been quiet, he feels like he botched the first part of the discussion, he’s deferring to others now.))

((Thought I already posted this, but apparently I didn’t.  Since the initial encounter and feeling like he flubbed it, Barkas mainly stays quiet, shifting from one foot to the other, unclear how to proceed with the dragon, but clearly worried that they are being duped.  His facial expressions indicate so.  But as to how to take the “negotiations” from here… he doesn’t have a clue.  He will let one of his new friends speak since they already seemed to know this fearsome dragon.))

((Oops, I did post it.))

"We hesitate to enter into such a pact, being only simple beings, and knowing nothing of ancient dragon rituals. Can we not speak plainly and openly? As homey as you've made your tower, the three of us have no designs on it, we are much more suited to simple huts and hovels in the wilderness. It's alright if you have no boon to aid us against your cousin, we'll be on our way, and muddle through some how on our own."

The dragon's head disappears from the top of the tower.  

After a long silence, a voice booms out again.  

"So be it.  Leave the morningstar on the ground where you stand and depart.  That weapon is the price you shall pay for taxing my precious time with your frivolous games."

Droknin makes a “you’ve got to be kidding” face to the others. He brings the morningstar up so he can examine the weapon, maybe he can understand better why the Dragon cares about it.

Investigation (?): 16

Droknin:

It's definitely a morningstar.  The metal is unusually dark. 

"We traveled all the way back here, only to have you back out on providing aid, I think the King's head is recompense enough.", T'laren says, irritatedly. "I'm sure the morningstar will fetch a few coins from a pawn shop."

Droknin scratches his mane. He says to T'Laren's ears. "You know, I am not sure why the dragon wants this weird looking weapon."

"Back out...  why I... you were supposed to... Oooooooooooh....".

The dragon continues to complain from the safety of the tower, but she does not pursue you if you move to leave.

[So where to?  Back to Phandalin?  To talk to the druid some more?  Elsewhere?]

(Might be a good idea to give the Druid a heads up. His neighbor still sticking around. :-)

((agreed))

Barkas nods and starts to head back to the Druid’s house.  “This dragon.  Did ya’s see it before?   I’m guessin’ that we’ve no chance in bringing it down, yeah?”  He walks along, looking around the village and scanning the skies.  

"Even injured, I'd rather not tangle with a dragon if I don't have to, much less on it's home turf. The white is the bigger threat, we'd thought to gain something from the green to help in that, but I think even if we had, she'd only wish to use us. I am concerned that if we manage to oust the white, we'll have a healed and rested green looking to take its place in short order."

T'laren mutters sourly.

"Now we are talking!" Droknin is satisfied that they will be finally facing his ultimate quarry. "Though, I am most curious about this weapon that the Dragon seems to covet."

You find the old druid waiting nervously outside his cottage.

"She sounds irritated, but still entrenched.  It is alright... it was unfair of me to ask you to get involved in this.  I still have some time... I can look to the winter months to irritate that green beast until she second guesses her decision to make a nest here."

"Perhaps we will take care of her cousin, and she could be next!!" Declares very assuredly the Leonin. He looks to the others. "So, back to the town? I would like to pay a visit to the sword lady."

"Sounds as good a plan as any. I will admit that I find it concerning that forces are trying to stir the goblinkind up."

((Were there any tasks or jobs that had been put in front of the party that our character's ought to recall, but our fallible human player brains have forgotten?))

[Not really.  You came here to meet the druid, hoping he could direct you to the Goblin Castle so the dwarven entrepreneur could be rescued.  That was accomplished, and the kidnappee was escorted back to Phandalin offscreen by the former party members.  

This party really has no commitment to that dwarf or his schemings, so there is no need to follow up on that further unless you want to.

From a big picture standpoint, the party knows:

• There is a White Dragon that has staked a claim to the region between the southern reaches of the Neverwinter Wood all the way to the Sword Mountains.  This Dragon has threatened Phandalin and reportedly has made some attacks on outlying settlements as well.
• There is a young Green Dragon, allegedly displaced by the White, making trouble in the north of Neverwinter Wood.
• While perhaps not outright stated, they have encountered goblins and manticores displaced by the dragon activity as well.
• There is an agitator in the region calling itself the Red Spider, perhaps involved with the dragons, perhaps not.  It employed goblins and mercenaries as its pawns, and it was interested in waylaying the dwarf you recently rescued, as well as destabilizing Phandalin  The party defeated and scattered the Redbrands and killed their doppleganger ally.

The party has expressed interest in hunting the White Dragon, but if the young Green was too intimidating to fight, then it suggests you need a little more seasoning before seeking the older dragon's lair.

I can guarantee there is more action to be found back in Phandalin, but you guys can go whereever you want... we can even veer completely off the map if you want to go somewhere else. ] 

(I understand is it meta, but I think that we are supposed to deal with the green dragon before tackling the white. She is injured after all.)

((Losing half our party to retirement and having a new guy on board drained what very little enthusiasm T'laren might have had for tangling with the green. He's most in favor for rooting out the rest of the Red Spider stuff, while being alert for opportunities to gain weapons to deal with dragons if/when it comes to that.))