Seeing Kroshav shrugged Cladmir will take that as an ok to use the soldiery skill of sneaking about and go see if he can get more info.

Stealth:  14

12

I think Ernos may have just experienced spontaneous combustion.

((I'll take that suggestion under advisement...))

((Kroshav is staying in reserve unless Jaq gestures him forward. The two of them have traveled enough together that Kroshav knows he's not the one for stealthing.))

Jaq agrees to let Kroshav stand still in the back.  Best idea today.

Stealth: 25

stealth redo: 16

Sneaking: 22

As Cladmir and Kroshav hang back, Jaq, Thir and Ernos sneak ahead to check on the status of things.

Thir, despite her injuries, still shows her mastery of her home terrain and glides soundlessly over the snow from boulder to snow drift. Jaq, tired from a long day, isn't able to match her this time but is still respectable. As the two of them return to the spot Jaq was in before, they find the dragon unmoved and the trio of women joined by an older bugbear man Jaq doesn't recognize. The conversation seems just as terse as before, but neither side appear ready to start a fight.

Then Ernos, after a relatively smooth ascent, steps on what he is confident is solid mountain. Perhaps, many centuries (or millennia) ago, it had been solid mountain but now it is just a large rock waiting for an opportunity to relocate. Ernos, kindly, provides that opportunity for the rock that slides backwards under his foot. Ernos finds himself landing roughly on a knee, but not too loudly, on the icy snow. The rock, on the other hand, takes the opportunity to bolt and starts a slow skid down the small hill. This, while not silent, isn't too loud either. What is loud is the sound the rock, more of a small boulder, makes as it strikes a trio of rocks not far from where Cladmir and Kroshav stand watching.

*CLACK* *CLACK* *clack*

The three clacks are made even better by their, somewhat muted by the snow, echoes.

Thir and Jaq watch as four sets of humanoid eyes and one set of draconian eyes turn to look in their direction.

((Anyone doing anything right off the bat or do you want to see what the response will be?))

"Even I can be quieter than that," Kroshav whispers to Cladmir. The big dragonborn checks the straps of his shield, and makes sure Sword is not binding in her sheath (sending her reassurances when she undoubtedly urges him to kill something).

((Cladmir, she wants you to stab him. Just in case.))

<Hush, he's a friend.>, Kroshav thinks back to her.

He'll reach out to Ealu, in case she's within a mile and able to communicate back. <Ealu, looks like the dragon was chatting with some of Thir's folks, Jaq and them were sneaking up to get close, but knocked a big ol' rock loose and it made a lot of noise. How are things going there?>

“Oh ok.  We’ve been seen,” he says quietly to the two others. “Let’s just keep on walking to them and start talking and see what’s going on.”   He looks to them to see if they agree with this.  

Ernos' instinct, after stumbling, is to drop flat to the ground and hope.  Jaq, who he stares up at, seems to have other plans though.  "A bold play, elf."

Sword sends back,

<Friend? Right until he stabs you. Remember I warned you.>

Kroshav's mental call to Ealu goes unanswered.

Thir is ready to go with Jaq, but a quick glance back shows Ernos is splayed flat on the ground.

Once Ernos is up, the trio descend towards the dragon.

The little meeting, is silent as they approach, but the dragon's tail lashes to the sides a couple times. Once the trio are within sixty feet the dragon says,

"Elf...so nice to see you again. And you've found one of my injured... subjects for me."

She turns to look at the three woman in the entrance, the older bugbear man having retreated at some point.

"I was just arranging terms with those in this...den. Where are the rest of your group, elf?"

((While she is talking mostly to Jaq, Ernos is there if he wants to chip in.))

From the outside the old solider looked still and calm, his hand hanging loose not making a move to ready his weapons, but inside Cladmir's mind was paralyzed with indecision.  Normally he would grab his mace and shield ready to protect the paladin, but throwing himself in front of a swung weapon is one thing, throwing himself in front of a dragon -- would that even do anything?  Should he instead ready his bow and perhaps distract the dragon with his shots?  But what if other minions were summoned, should he be near Kroshav to guard the paladin's back?  But if hung back he could see the battle better and draw the minions' attention with his bow?

((Ernos would rather the dragon not look at him if at all possible.))

Cladmir, without even seeing the dragon, is struck with what must be dragon fear. If Kroshav was paying attention to his companion he'd see them get a glassy look to their eyes.

On the other side of the hill, Ernos actually seeing the dragon, experiences dragon inconspicuousness. He surreptitiously slows down and talks a few steps to the side so Thir is, mostly, between him and the dragon.

((Ernos can give me an insight check please.))

“The rest are nearby, we just wanted to talk and see what is going on here.”  He looks at the others that are here with the dragon and not that he is closer tries to discern how they are feeling.