The Half-Elf woman assess Eric critically. A hint of disgust in her eyes.

I already suspected you weren't friends of the Cult. I only expected to meet some allies here to discuss various matters of my ascendancy in the ranks. And now you show up. I wonder why?

Talis turns back to Khessa.

Tell me dear, have you heard of Rezmir the Black? Without waiting for a reply she continues: Of course you know her. It was only a matter of time before one or more other factions would take action against her.

Talis looks at the crocodile and then she turns her gaze to Zale.

So here's the deal: I offer tou the chance to thwart the transport of a large treasure hoard. I ask nothing in return, except that you succeed in your mission.

Eric ignores the disrespectful gaze of Tails, she just said a Dwarf obstacles her ascension in cult hierarchy after all, it seem reasonable that she doesn't like him much either...

Khessa smiles, steps forward and holds out her hand: "Deal!"

"You are a smart and practical Half-Elf woman, Talis..." the blonde arcane warrior admits "Yes, I know Rezmir the Black. You can be sure that, if you give me the chance, I will make sure that she fails spectacularly".

"And if Rezmir's poor heart can't take the disappointment and stops," the tall adventuress winks "we will just have to live with it and our queen's plans will simply be advanced by someone more deserving, right? Well, what do you have in mind in order to thwart the transport?"

Zale gives Talis a toothy twisted grin. "Oh? So you be offerin gold and nothin else in return? Eh? Heheh. Sounds like my kind of deal, so long as ye don't rat us out about hatin Rezmir." The dragonborn is fairly certain that they cannot trust this lady. She's just trying to use them. No matter, two can play this game...and in this case five can as well. Whatever this white dragon mask is...it sounds interesting and this lady just said all she want's is for Rezmir to fall... sure she hinted at wanting the mask to fall into her hands, but she never outright said it.

She stands up straighter, placing her hands on her hips. "Well now matey's sounds like we done got some work to do."

Excellent! Talis says, as she accepts Khessa's hand. A genuine smile on her face before she continues (polite but not warm). I knew you would see reason.

To Zale she replies: That you do, my ally. Rezmir and her g... those onder her command are using a Cloud Giant’s flying castle to expedite the delivery. You need to get aboard Skyrech Castle before it departs. It's near the villiage of Parnast, a five-mile hike from here.

Parnast is under the Cult's control. So you'll need to know our signals: the most common being holding the hand out with all five fingers extended, which they call the “Tiamat salute.” In addition, the phrases “All hail Tiamat!” and “They shall rise!” are frequently used pass phrases. Talis think for a short while. To get on Skyreach Castle you'll need more. In the room with linens on the ground floor you will find a banner that has five stripes colored black, blue, green, red, and white, respectively. The banner is meant to be flown on a lance or spear as a signal when approaching Skyreach Castle, to show that the bearer is friendly. And use the pass-phrase: “Tiamat, our Mother and Strength”.

I'm not sure what you'll find there. But I'm sure you can handle it. Any questions?

Khessa makes a mental note of all the details and says: "The information you have given us is really valuable - and we will make good use of it to infiltrate. But yes, Talis, I have just a few last questions".

"Do you have any idea when the Castle is supposed to 'take off'?" the blonde arcane warrior starts asking "And do you know how it is 'driven'?"

"And, last but not least: almost certainly," the tall adventuress concludes "at some point in our initiative, it will be unavoidable to resort to violence. I noticed two sets of fine plate armor on our way in... Having such armor could make the outcome of the initiative more certain. Can I take one of those? Or can you get me a similar one? After all, it is a small investment, compared to the great result we are aiming for..."

[[ OOC: Look at what a heroine must do, to try to get an improvement by 1 to her AC... Lol! ]]

I'm not sure when it leaves... so you better hurry! Talis takes a goblet from the table and after a sip she adds: As far as I understand the spirit of a Giant enables it to fly—this ancient bond dates back to the days when giants and dragons fought great wars. 

As for the armor.... [make a persuasion check]

Eric nods in excitement when the conversation comes about the armor suits 

occ: he would love having one, although he is quite armored already with plate armor he's going to have AC 22, which gets to 23 at lvl 6 :3 

Khessa's Persuasion check : 4

'The spirit of a Giant enables it to fly...' Khessa thinks 'But the Cult must have a way to communicate with this spirit of a Giant, so that it can guide the Castle to its destination... And Giants aren't exactly great friends with Dragons... Something tells me that, if we can give it the chance, the spirit of this Giant won't mind crashing the Castle into the ground or into a mountain, wiping out the Cultists present, causing them to lose the hoard it was carrying forever, and making it much more difficult for future Cultists to transport large quantities of men and goods...' a furtive smile of expectation appears on her face... 'All while my friends and I just Feather Fall to safety...'

"A flying castle ye say!" Zale's wry grin shifts to one of excitement, "Ehehehe, that sounds an awful bit like a ship in the sky. A ship filled to the brim with treasure." She rubs her clawed bronze hands together as her grin grows more giddy. "You've found yerself the perfect people fer this here job matey. Sinkin ships and stealin loot be my line o work." The short-statured dragonborn doesn't seem to be paying any attention to Khessa's attempt at gaining a set of armor, but she does pay attention to the rest of Talis's information. The more she think's about it though, the more she hopes that maybe, just maybe she could claim that castle in the sky as her own pirate ship..... even if that is probably impossible.

"Cmon ye skirvy dogs! We got a castle to catch!"

Talis replies to Khessa:  As you probably know by now, dear, those armors are part of my defense. I can't give them away.

She take another sip from her goblet and picks up on what Zale said.

You heard your leader. I wouldn't use the same language, but she's right: you've got a castle to catch.

Khessa is slightly disappointed: "I understand, Talis... Everyone has their own priorities... If your fears for your safety outweigh your desire to increase the chances of Rezmir's downfall..."

The blonde arcane warrior shrugs dramatically and turns to her companions: "If no one else has any questions, then, let's go. Indeed, we have no time to waste, given the circumstances".

Although with a veil of disappointment, Eric shrugs "yes my dear, it seems we have a job to do, better going" while getting away he says "By the way, we no need their stuff to protect ourself, let this dwarf doing that job" he says laughing "And I'll be dead before asking a cultist to borrow a suit of armor" "

In front of Talis, Khessa agrees with Eric and says goodbye to the Cultist without insisting further: "Of course, my love!" she smiles to her beloved dwarf "I would feel more protected naked next to you, than far from you wearing an Adamantine Plate!"

Assuming that Talis does not accompany the party to the exit in person, before leaving the blonde arcane warrior, remembering how she managed to avoid the 'trap' connected to the armors by passing behind them, tries to detach one armor from the wall completely and, passing behind it, to take it out with her, while leaving... After all, the 'guardians' of the armors, apparently, were the gargoyles... But the gargoyles have been eliminated already...

If the tall adventuress manages (as she hopes) to take the armor out of the building without further consequences, she suggests Eric to do the same with the second armor: "...But apparently, nothing prevents us from combining the protection offered by you with that offered by these armors".

Zale marches eagerly ahead of the group, clearly on the path to collect the banner required to enter the castle. She doesn't appear to notice any scheming from her companions....

So you make your way down to the ground floor. There you notice the same servant as before and about 6-8 Kobolds (they keep walking in and out) are cleaning the hall.

Zale, I believe you were looking for the banner? Are you asking around?

The dwarf laughs and hugs Khessa "Well said, my dear! we need nothing but ourself! "

Khessa enjoys Eric's hug as long as she can... but once back to the ground floor, if Zale doesn't seem inclined to ask the servant, the blonde arcane warrior, who has already spoken to him and finds him nice, asks: "Thank you, my friend! The advice you gave us was invaluable. Now, in agreement with Talis, we are leaving, but there are some things we should take with us... One is a banner that has five stripes colored black, blue, green, red, and white, respectively. Can you tell us where it is?"

The man nods and guides you  through a narrow corridor. Various tasty aromas drift in from the door on the left. From the door on the far side (to the right) however a foul odor permeates. The servant opens another door to the linens.

This room is stacked with blankets, sheets, various animal furs, tablecloths, flags, banners, and rolled-up rugs.

I believe this is what you are looking for? The man says as he hands you the banner with 5 colored stripes.