At first, Echo tilts her head confusedly as Falver ventures ahead and then immediately returns, shouting for them to hide. She opens her mouth to say something but as the dragon comes into view, she is petrified and her mouth is stuck in an ‘O’ shape, gears in her head belatedly clicking in place.

Seeing Rel cast an illusion spell and hearing her shout, Echo frantically dives into the tall grass on the side of road and crouches in an attempt to hide. Stealth: 16

She's hiding (or trying to) but still peeks out from under the brim of her hat and over the tall grass. Under her breath, Echo mumbles in exhilaration: “oh my gods, holy moly…!”

Khessa sees the halfling scout turn on his heel and run back, announcing the dragon and urging all to take cover.

The blonde warrior smiles as the half-drow also seems to understand the reasons why the townmaster was not particularly eager to meet the dragon and also advises to hide.

'Hiding is not my strong point' she thinks, moving to the side for a while, before looking for a hiding place 'better not to stay too near to the group... should the beast spot me, it might at least don't see the others'.

If there is a tree or something big enough to conceal her completely, Khessa goes behind that, keeping herself out of sight outright. She goes to the point of avoiding leaning over to look... she will realize if the dragon moves away or not seeing how her companions react. If she has not something that big available, she simply tries to dive behind some high brush.

Stealth roll:

15

She also looks around to see if there is dense forest not too far... Should Rel's illusion fail, they might tyr to run and escape the dragon, if the forest is too dense for it to fly through.

Jasper is the first to spot a large, fallen tree about thirty feet from the road that would be large enough to conceal people hiding behind it. Its trunk is huge, and the tree seems to have fallen relatively recently, perhaps from a lightning strike, as its bark is charred and scorched in places. As the group scrambles to hide and take shelter, Rel's illusory goblin appears to challenge the attacking dragon. When Cryovain sees the orc, the white dragon dives straight for it, releasing a blast of icy breath at its foe. It swoops over the illusion before circling back to witness its triumph. 

Still hiding behind the tree, Rel re-creates the Minor Illusion, this time of a large orc blasted by extreme cold, frozen in place and practically encased in ice, greataxe poking out of the frost.

Khessa keeps herself motionless and silent, completely out of sight. The tall woman realizes that she was lucky, to be able to go unnoticed in spite of her chainmail and is NOT eager to try that again.
'I really hope that the image created by Rel fooled the dragon.' she thinks 'Guess we will find out soon...'
In the meantime, she watches the reactions of her companions to understand what is happening.

Hoping Rel, Khessa and Echo is safe behind the fallen tree, Jasper becomes concerned for Falver. Then the icy blast from the dragon hitting the illusion eases that concern, but not much. Rel gestures toward the blast and sees the frozen image of the orc. Keeping low not to be seen…

Quote from Tybard >>

Still hiding behind the tree, Rel re-creates the Minor Illusion, this time of a large orc blasted by extreme cold, frozen in place and practically encased in ice, greataxe poking out of the frost.

The dragon swoops low, its icy blue eyes peering intensely at the frozen goblin, but it doesn't seem to realize anything is amiss. Instead, it roars triumphantly, wings beating loudly, and takes off into the sky, heading to the north. You are safe from the wrath of Cryovain...for now!

Once you recover from the shock of almost being a dragon's lunch, you realize it will take you about another 20 minutes or so to reach Umbrage Hill, the home of the midwife Adabra Gwynn.

Seeing the dragon fly off, Jasper releases a deep breath of relief. Dropping his spear and shield and rolls back eyes still on the sky.

”Rel…thank you…”

After few moments, Jasper gets up slowly grabbing his weapon and shield and begins to look over the area for Falver.

Perception:  10

You search for Falver, but the halfling did almost too good of a job hiding!

Taking a thorough look at the sky, Jasper feels comfortable  calling out to Falver.

”Falver! It’s gone! The dragon…it’s safe…safer now.”

Jasper begins walking toward the icy path. 

Falver watches from his hiding spot as the "Not-an-orc" appears to be frozen by the breath of the dragon... then moments later watches as the dragon flies off. Utterly amazing. 

He reaches down to make sure he hasn't urinated. Phew... although it was close, he is dry. That would be most embarrassing. But... a DRAGON! In all his years, he never thought he'd live to see one. Let alone almost become its' lunch. 

Falver hears Jasper call for him, and rising up he starts patting the dirt from his clothes. "Ahem... yes. Well, then, everyone... " as he looks to see that everyone is unscathed. " That was a DRAGON. Not sure about any of you, but that was MY first time seeing one. Ever.  And we are ALIVE,.... we lived through that. I thought for sure he would have taken one bite of me.. and that would be it.  But... " And he turns to Rel: " ... but YOU!!! The quick thinking , and creating the illusion!!! Absolute brilliance!!! Gods above, that was inspired! "

He walks up to her and holds out his hand, lowering his voice so that she can only hear, Falver looks Rel in the eyes: "My grandmother always said that names have power. And to know someones' full name gives them access to who you really are. Well, you've saved my life today, so you've gained that access tenfold. Greetings, I am Falver Wildheart. And I would be honored to be called your companion for now." 

Happy to see Falver unscathed, Jasper gives him a nod as he rejoins the others. As he praises Rel’s quick thinking, Jasper continues to keep an eye out for danger. Waiting for everyone to be ready to continue. 

"Falver Wildheart.  I will remember," Rel says solemnly, shaking his hand with an odd grip, pinky finger lowered and interlaced below with his.

She is more thrown for a loop by the surface elf's thanks.  "I... you are welcome Jasper... Mooncrest," she stammers, remembering his full name from his self-introduction to the townmaster just in time.  She checks to see if Khessa and Echo are alright.

"I was not sure it would work either.  I, too, have never seen a dragon until today, though I have witnessed other deadly foes in the Underdark that are better avoided than fought.  I suspect that one day, we will need to fight rather than hide."

And in the meantime, may the dragon lay waste to every orc in its path...

Thinking the immediate danger has passed, Jasper returns to the others to see if all is well. Looking to Khessa and Echo helping them to their feet. “Echo? Are you alright?” Jasper asks remembering her reaction to the dragon.

After a bit of a breather, Jasper suggests we press on. Looking to Khessa, “Shall we take the lead?”

Khessa also joins the mass-compliments to the half-drow, patting her on the shoulder: "Nice job Rel! This trick may come in handy even in the future, should we ever come to a showdown with this beast... better if it freezes an illusion, rather than one of us!"

The blonde warrior resumes her place, ready to lead the group to Umbrage Hill: "Let's go, we have no reason to linger here".

"Oh, Falver..." she adds "If you feel like resuming scouting ahead, thank you and by all means go on, it would be useful... but if you think it's too dangerous, stay with us. Up to you".

With that, she sets off again towards the windmill.

Echo ran and crawled back to the main road with all the graces of someone who grew up rolling in mud and grass. She takes Jasper's hand (her hands are cold) and pulls herself back to the rest of the group and laughs: "Whew, thanks! And yeah, all's good! I've just never, y'know, actually seen that dragon everyone's talking about." She brushes some grass and dirt off of herself, "Oof, it's way bigger and scarier than I imagined!"

"Rel! That was so cool!! You just outsmarted a dragon, the orcs have nothing on you!" Echo says, fears completely forgotten, perhaps way too quickly. "And Falver! Thanks for scouting ahead, could've been bad if we just walked out there together."

Quote from guyu >>

Echo ran and crawled back to the main road with all the graces of someone who grew up rolling in mud and grass. She takes Jasper's hand (her hands are cold) and pulls herself back to the rest of the group and laughs: "Whew, thanks! And yeah, all's good! I've just never, y'know, actually seen that dragon everyone's talking about." She brushes some grass and dirt off of herself, "Oof, it's way bigger and scarier than I imagined!"

’taking Echo’s hand to help her is a good step’  thinking to himself. But as her hand touched his, feeling the cold skin, he try’s to hide his thoughts. ‘So cold, her skin is too cold. Even naturally for this time of day.’  Jasper speaks... “Y-you’re welcome. Yes I hope we can avoid that dragon’s breath in the future.” Jasper nervously responding to Echo. 

Following along side Khessa, Jasper searches for this windmill. Keeping a watchful eye for danger. Eyes looking to the sky and back to the hills and path.

Perception:  12

Khessa, when Jasper comes at her side, turns her blue eyes to him for a moment and whispers: "I see you're trying to behave more naturally, with Echo... I'm glad! You'll see," she winks "the more you get to know her, the easier it will be".

The blonde warrior then smiles to Echo: "Big and scary really it is! It will not be easy to properly dispose of it. I wonder" she thinks to herself "if maybe it will be possible to turn against that dragon the monsters that it has threatened or thrown into upheaval... They must not love it much more than we do. It migh be easier, then, to defeat that beast. And maybe also to defeat the surviving monsters, after they'll be weakend by the battle".

Interpreting Jasper's nervousness as residual from the dragon encounter, Echo says reassuringly: "Don't worry, even if we see that big guy again, we can just hide again! We've already done it once! And we know it's not as smart of Rel."

Responding to Khessa cheerfully: "And if they are both weakened by each other then they won't bother the town anymore!"

Echo reaches up to adjust her hat but stops mid-motion, hand hanging in air, and gulps. Speaking of upheaval... "Ahhh... but if the dragon came from that way and the townmaster said that's where the midwife lived..." She doesn't finish and looks to the others for some sort of assurance, probably the first time the others see her express worry.