OOC:  Thanks - sounds good!

Ragnus will be the first to step onto the giant toad.

Taiga helps Carina to collect the bat corpses before she picks up the torch and follows the bandits deeper into the cave system. When the large toad emerges, her hand clumsily searches for her rapier handle. "You said you'd bring us to Hulil, Tulgi's sister," she presses through gritted teeth, "What is the meaning of this? You are not suggesting that we ride on that?!"

The third bandit, another Elf, lets out a hearty laugh at Taiga's reaction. "That's right, princess. Your Dwarven pal has got the right idea," he tells her through his chuckles.

Carina (presumably with Taiga) will attempt to help any Animal Handling check which Elbert makes to coax the giant croaker to bear Ragnus and the rest of the party safely across the dark pool of water.  One by one if necessary.  She watches the bandits closely for any interference.

(@DM) She also tries to gauge the width of the pool at its narrowest point in case a different means of transit is needed.

Misgivings crowd Carina's mind.  I am feeling less and less confident about this.  The bandits clearly are not friendly even if they have stopped attacking us.  What do we even say to Hulil to convince her to part with the relics?  On top of that, we may need her pet giant croaker to return us across the water.

Taiga lets her hand slip away from her weapon and swallows her anger, "Right." Then, she mounts the giant toad following Ragnus, but voicing her reservations, "Is there no other way to cross the water?"

Elbert accepts the bat corpses that have been graciously collected for him. 
He watches intently at the interactions between the bandits and the croaker, looking for any subtle body language or signs of magic that might indicate how they are controlling the creatures. 

Perception: 21

As the others mount the creature, Elbert will do likewise after pausing for long sip of liquid courage from his wine skin.

Clearly uncomfortable with the situation, Brix also climbs aboard. He tries to position himself in the .Middle of the group.

Carina examines the dark pool in which the giant croaker lurks, the black water lapping onto the cavern floor whenever the toad moves. It shifts its weight slightly as the party of adventurers begin to climb onto its wet, shining back, but it seems rather accustomed to being ridden. As Elbert studies the interactions between the bandits and the giant toad, he discovers nothing out of the ordinary at work here.

It seems, just as the Ranger had appeased the croaker near the entrance, that the bandits have simply befriended and trained the amphibians well. And, as with the pool of water at the entrance, Carina can see that the water extends from one wall of the cave to the other, with no other way to cross the pool but through. It's possible that the icy walls could be scaled, but the giant toad waits patiently.

Carina crosses when it is her turn, her calm face masking her apprehension.

Her inspection of the narrowest point of the pool is to gauge if at any point, it is within thirty feet (the distance of her Fey Touched Misty Step).  In case on the way back, if the giant croaker does not help, she could Misty Step across and tie off a rope for others to hang onto.

The giant ice toad lets out another low croak once Carina climbs onto its back — finally beginning to slowly swim across the pool of dark water. Its movements seem gentle, as though the huge creature is taking care not to let any water splash upwards or any of the adventurers slip. A very well-trained beast, it seems. Once it reaches the opposite bank (a distance of about 35 feet, Carina gauges unfortunately), the giant croaker floats at the edge and waits for your characters to climb off. Once the party stands on the cold cave floor again, the giant toad returns to the other side to ferry the three bandits across as well.

From where you stand, you can see that the short tunnel ahead opens up into another cavern, from which a warm rush of heat emanates. A massive fire burns in the center of the cavern, its smoke billowing upwards through a narrow chimney in the ceiling. The flicker of the orange flames illuminates a painting of a five-headed dragon that adorns the northern wall, beneath which a bedroll is spread. Before the crackling blaze sits a stone chest — upon which a Dwarven woman bundled in a heavy cloak perches. She resembles Tulgi but has dark eye makeup dragged across her face, beneath which pulsing blue veins streak their way on her skin. An Elven man sits on the cave floor beside her, his face adorned with dragon tattoos.

Their eyes are closed — they seem to be meditating, or praying, perhaps. As such, they do not yet notice the party of adventurers. The three bandits remain near the entrance to the cavern, seemingly not very keen on disturbing Hulil and the man. They remain silent under the crackle of the fire. What will you do next?

Carina opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again.  Partly because she senses she would be disturbing Hulil and the elf's meditation or prayer.

But also partly because she has noticed something else.  Dragon tattoos?  Painting of a five-headed dragon?  I did not see that coming...  Her skin crawls.

She attempts to recall what she can from her clandestine organization regarding dragons, particularly the five-headed one, and those who worship them.

OOC:  I, Tybard, know what the five-headed dragon likely means, but I am not sure whether Carina would.  Possibly due to her clandestine faction?.  Also, if the icy pool is thirty-five feet across, could Carina try to get a running start, long-jump up to her strength score of 8 feet (say 7 feet), then cast Misty Step to get to the far bank 37 feet  from the edge?  Hopefully, it will not come to that, of course...

Taiga moved slowly towards the dwarf and elf but stopped when Carina hesitated. She glances nervously to Carina and back at the other bandits who also keep their distance. Unsure whether or not to disturb the meditation, she decides to simply wait.

Ragnus turns to the three bandits and whispers to them, "Well, ya going to introduce us, or should I do it myself?"

(@Tybard, yes, that'd be possible!)

As her gaze travels across Hulil and the Elven man's dragon adornments, Carina immediately recognizes the five-headed beast in the painting to be Tiamat — the evil goddess. Hulil Lutan, along her group of bandits, must be cult worshippers of the dragon queen, the Warlock realizes. Perhaps this was the reason for which her faction had sent Carina here? Gazing at the giant painting of Tiamat that dominates the wall of the cavern, it seems to the Warlock that it might be possible.

The three bandits standing behind the party of adventurers grimace when Ragnus speaks to them, but eventually decide they must disturb Hulil's meditative state. If not, they supposed they might be punished for allowing your characters in. The Elven woman takes the lead, stepping forward and clearing her throat. "Priestess," the bandit says solemnly, her voice cutting through the crackling of the fire. "These strangers say they have been sent to help with the disease."

Hulil's eyes open, but she does not move. Instead, the Dwarven woman gazes carefully at each of your characters, her eyes sharp and scrutinizing. "Sent by who?" she finally asks.

Carina steps up to address the dwarven priestess Hulil and her elven partner.  A stray thought strikes her - how strange it is that in Uthodurn, a land of elves and dwarves, that she, an outsider, is the only one with both elven and dwarven blood in her veins.  Also, I do not worship Tiamat.  Another difference.

"Sent by your sister, Tulgi, dying next to a roaring fire as you are, Hulil.  And compelled by our own mission to contain the disease and find an antidote."

Carina pauses to ensure her statement sinks in.  "I am Carina Ravenscale and my companions can introduce themselves.  The source of the disease must be one of the relics that Tulgi and you stole from Pelc's store in Palebank Village after Urgon Wenth returned from Eiselcross with them.  The scroll case, the jade statuette, the quiver of arrows, the silver ring and the blue glass vials.  Not the dagger, which Tulgi kept, or only she would be afflicted."

She takes a moment to cast Minor Illusion, showing an image of Tulgi shivering in her cabin, bundled up despite the glow of a blazing fire.  Carina looks at it and back at Hulil and states hunch of hers.  "Looking at the blue in both your and Tulgi's veins, I suspect I know which of the relics is the source."

"Regardless, we are not here to judge you for theft.  You have to know you cannot solve this yourself, no matter which poor soul in Uthodurn you pawn the artifacts off to.  Nor is your infernal five-headed draconic goddess in the business of healing diseases among us mortals, last I heard.  I think you know all this.  We have magic and we are your last hope.  We can quarantine the artifacts for study without touching them to identify a cure."

Carina pauses, trying to keep her voice level and hide her own unspoken eagerness.  Even if it means voyaging to Eiselcross ourselves...

The Dwarven woman watches Carina with a stare sharp as daggers while the Warlock explains the reason for the party of adventurers' arrival, and their plan to find the cure for the frozen disease. Hulil remains silent, merely shivering in her cloak — and when Carina conjures the image of Tulgi in her cabin, an expression of great bitterness crawls its way across the Dwarven priestess's face. The Elven man beside her looks like he wants to strangle Carina, but he remains at the side of his mentor despite his own wishes.

Finally, Hulil speaks. Her voice is hoarse and dripping with resentment. "That's right. The vials were cracked, and there was blue dust inside which I came into contact with. My sister and Wenth did, too." The Dwarf looks thoughtful for a moment, turning her glare away from Carina and focusing on the cavern floor instead. "I was not planning to cure myself. Her Great Highness Tiamat has yet to answer my prayers, and so I was going to search elsewhere. But it seems the answer has come to me, in the form of a group of self-righteous mutts." Her gaze travels over each of your characters again, her stare bitter and harsh as the biting cold of the Greying Wildlands. "What do you intend to do, then?"

Brix peeks out from behind his larger counterparts and addresses Hulil. "Ahhh..mmmm. Ahem, I belive through the  application of certain reagents and various magiks I'm hoping to discern what precisely the substance is and maybe be able to ascertain its origins. Once we know those things we'll be able to start investing a cure. Um...but before I can do any of that you'll have to allow us to have the vials. I dare say the rest of the items are yours to do with as you will. Though they are stolen and the opprpriate authorities know about your involvement with them. Sooooo.." Brix leaves the comment hanging with a shrug of his shoulders.

"What did you do with the vials when you realised what they really are?" Taiga asks Hulil. "I hope they are safe. Most important for now is to stop spreading whatever this is. And now that we know the source, we can start to figure out how to heal or reverse the progression." Taiga turns to Brix, "You can figure out what is in these vials? And, perhaps, find a cure?" She turns back to everyone, "I think this is our best bet," and it seems for a moment that she wants to add something towards Hulil but decides not to.

Carina remains focused on Hulil.  Self-righteous mutts?  Actually, that label suits me just fine...  She takes no offense.

She wishes Taiga would not ask whether Brix could study the vials and find a cure since the question projects uncertainty.  Time enough for that conversation later.  Attempting to keep focus on the genasi warrior's first question, Carina plows ahead.

"Aye.  The gnome has his arcane magic and tools as I have mine.  But where are the vials?  In the stone chest with the other artifacts?  If these vials are allowed to circulate freely in the Greying Wildlands, then it will mean death for all who come into contact with them, unsuspecting.  And then who would you and your band have left to rob on behalf of your draconic goddess, Hulil?  We must contain the disease at its source before we can identify a cure."