"I certainly wouldn't say no to taking a closer look." Gawain says slowly, secretly relieved that someone else in the party seemed as curious as he. On the road there were always threats to be cautious of: bandits, wild animals, drow raiding parties. But something like this? He didn't feel threatened by it, though he supposed that would be the perfect trap.

"How do the rest of you feel about it?" 

During this time, Crannoc would have been standing up a bit away from the campsite, mumbling to himself and swaying his hands around, ritually casting Speak with Animals.  If the group waits for him, he uses it to communicate with the curious owl in the hollow of the tree.

(In Owl):

Once his ritual is complete, if the group has waited for him, Crannoc volunteers to go with any who investigate the blue glow.  Sensing Hildr's reluctance to leave the campsite, Crannoc strives as always for harmony in the pack.

"Hildr, you are the strongest among us.  May we ask you to defend our campsite while we scout?  Alone or with anyone else who wishes to stay behind."

If and when the scouting team sets off, Crannoc summons his invisible Mage Hand, then casts and concentrates on Guidance on himself.  Calling on Silvanus to help him (eventually) make sense of the strange, unnatural phenomenon which Iris describes.

Feigning sleep, Hildr listens glumly to Iris's suggestion. After some reflection, however, reason vanquishes fear. She sits up and chimes in.

"Among the Northlanders," Hildr explains, "springs have mixed blessings. On the one hand, hot springs are the only water source besides the ice itself on Gundarlun, and it is said that the minerals in the infernal waters contribute to the Gunds' legendary hardiness and strength. Just look at me," she boasts. "My father's father hailed from the icy isle. On the other hand, you are rolling the dice drinking from the sulfurous springs in the vicinity of Mount Hotenow, which are as often as not poisonous."

After a pause, plucking up her courage, Hildr votes: "The blue lights are not far. They're not too much of a diversion. And I'm curious. Let us see if they mark a spring. If they do, and the waters are safe, we can nourish ourselves and fill our waterskins."

The owl cranks its head towards Crannoc as the half-elf begins speaking, blinking once or twice. "Glow? No. Never seen before." It hops out of the tree, gliding down to you. Quickly glancing back and forth between you and the treeline, it seems to be contemplating your bargain. After a few moments of this, it comes to a decision. "Food. Yes. I will return." With a powerful flap of its wings, the owl launches itself into the air, disappearing out of sight as it moves into the trees.

Just a few minutes later you see the creature return, landing in front of you once more. "Strange water. Weird air. Different."

"I guess that settles it then." Gawain says, standing up to join Crannoc. "I'll go. Not like I can see for crap in the dark, but that blue glow should be enough once we get close." 

“I do not blend in well so I will stay back here with Hildr. If you see trouble come straight back so we can deal with it all together. Don’t need you dying out there before our next pay day.” Gallant says with a wink to Gawain.

Iris likewise gets ready for a short jaunt into the woods to check out the phenomena, joining the other two. "If it becomes a problem and we aren't trying to stay hidden, I can light your way." 

Quote from ricketyrackety >>

The owl cranks its head towards Crannoc as the half-elf begins speaking, blinking once or twice. "Glow? No. Never seen before." It hops out of the tree, gliding down to you. Quickly glancing back and forth between you and the treeline, it seems to be contemplating your bargain. After a few moments of this, it comes to a decision. "Food. Yes. I will return." With a powerful flap of its wings, the owl launches itself into the air, disappearing out of sight as it moves into the trees.

Just a few minutes later you see the creature return, landing in front of you once more. "Strange water. Weird air. Different."

True to his word, Crannoc provides the agreeable owl whatever part of a ration it wants (likely the meat) and water.  He responds to it in owl:

Switching to common, Crannoc relays to the party what the bird described.  "The owl saw and sensed strange water and weird air.  Something different from what they are accustomed to.  Perhaps this fits with Iris' description of some extradimensional space."

Shouldering his pack and donning his small wooden shield, Crannoc prepares to set off with those who are scouting.  He casts and concentrates on Silvanus' Guidance on himself.  In addition, he summons his Mage Hand.  Neither it, nor Speak with Animals (still active) require concentration.

After the owl voraciously devours the meat offered to him, it stares at Crannoc unblinking. "Thank." It says simply, then flies off to return to its nest in the hollowed tree.

The trio sets off from the camp towards the mysterious glow in the woods. There's a short period between the radius of the campfire and the treeline where Gawain is effectively blind, stumbling over some ill-placed rocks or holes in the ground. But very soon the three of your are close enough to be bathed in the bluish hue of light, providing dim lighting going forward. You pass through the tree line, but still the source seems to emanate from deeper. After about a minute of walking, you look around to realize your surroundings have changed. Gone are the dark green colors of the maples that made up this area, replaced with flora of more vibrant hues. Even to the ever perceptive Crannoc, the change happened imperceptibly. 

You come into a clearing about a 100 feet across, with three separate pools of steaming water. The water itself seems to be luminescent, throwing off the blue glow. It's clear enough however that you can see to the bottom, which seems to be made of a shiny gold mineral. A large mound snakes around one of the pools - through the moss and dirt, you can see a slight shine of gold. 

Besides yourselves, the area looks to be empty. 

Crannoc looks around, eyes and nostrils wide.  Never in his life, even when encountering fey creatures of the forest, has he ever seen anything remotely similar to this.  The sycamore seedling on his shoulder wobbles uncertainly and he forces his breathing and heartbeat to return to normal.

Breathing.  All living creatures must breathe.  He wills himself to soft focus his eyes and sense for the flutter of air that would signify the breath of a hidden creature.  Or the slight shimmer of warmer air rising from the warmth of a living body.  Particularly in relation to the large, snaking mound.

Crannoc's Perception plus Guidance to sense for living creatures here:  14 + 4 = 18

To the others, he murmurs, "I have never seen the like.  Have you?  Tread carefully.  The gold-colored material may be a lure."

Unsettled and on guard after watching her companions vanish into the all-encompassing night, Hildr is put at ease by the sight of their silhouettes reemerging from the darkness. She watches them disappear again, this time into the trees—and the blue light.

Without taking her eyes off their last seen location, Hildr blurts out: “I do not believe in the Weave. My mother believed; she claimed it was the source of a witch’s power." Her power. "But my father forbade her to speak of it. Father said it was a lie told by the profane—by fools who would play gods. And so, I tell you this: When you pluck your strings, it is not some ‘Weave’ that you pluck.” Hildr turns to face Gallant, her tone either bitter or mocking—or both. “No. Oh no. You are granted the gift of magic because your music pleases the gods. There can be no other reason.” Raising her chin defiantly, she demands: “What say you to this?”

"I can't say I have." Gawain says slowly, taking in the sight before him. The realms of magic and nature were far outside of his expertise, but he sensed that even if they weren't, he still wouldn't be able to make much sense of what this place was. 

"I'll get a closer look." With Crannoc's warning in mind, he moves slowly towards the mound, pausing every few steps to brace for some kind of reaction. If he's able to approach without triggering some sort of trap, he'll kneel down and clear away some of the moss and dirt with his hand to get a better look at what's underneath.

Gallant amuses over the question, “My mother told me that magic was embedded in nature and the air we breathe. When I use magic I just listen to sound of the air.” 

"Magic all around, music in the air..." Hildr smiles, impressed by the bard's equivocal, noncommittal response. "So, you neither affirm nor deny the existence of the Weave?"

Hoping for further banter, the Illuskan woman nevertheless knows her duty. She scans the edge of camp, pivoting from time to time as she does. Always assume there are enemies all around.

The air throughout this entire area is warm and moist due to the springs, and scanning the area for signs of life, Crannoc spots nothing save for the odd bug here and there. As Gawain creeps forward, nothing happens. Even when he bends down to remove some of the dirt and moss nothing stirs. He has to end up clearing away an area that's around 5x5 feet to get a true sense of what he's looking at: a massive golden scale. The scales run underneath the foliage of the entire mound it seems.

The pieces click into place, as you now realize that the mound must be the partially buried tail of a massive gold dragon. But still, it does not stir.

Quote from DungeonMair >>

"Magic all around, music in the air..." Hildr smiles, impressed by the bard's equivocal, noncommittal response. "So, you neither affirm nor deny the existence of the Weave?"

Hoping for further banter, the Illuskan woman nevertheless knows her duty. She scans the edge of camp, pivoting from time to time as she does. Always assume there are enemies all around.

 “My father and sister would put it in those terms, but it is just a way to understand something that can not be fully understood, like the sentient soul.” Gallant says this with a calmness and genuineness that you normal do not see from him. 

"Hells," Gawain breathes, backing away as reality sinks in. He casts a glance back towards the other two, slowly making his way back to them without taking his eyes off the mound. "It's not moving. Asleep or dead?" He asks once he's rejoined Crannoc and Iris.

Though her first instinct is to panic, because metallic or not, any dragon is a fearsome creature...Iris recalls the own assurance she gave before they decided to scout this place out. "Remember. Travelers have come back to tell tales of this place. I don't specifically recall a dragon...So maybe they didn't realize?"

Crannoc nods, awe in his whispered voice.  "If this great dragon wishes us harm, there is nothing we can do.  I recall the huge green dragon that laired in the deepest recesses of the Misty Forest, and it was fearsome and cruel beyond belief.  But I had thought gold dragons were different."

He pauses.  "Shall we attempt to leave?  Or address it and offer our respect and service?  I learned Draconic from the lizardfolk in the marsh at my home forest's edge and I think you know it too, Iris.  Though of course, the great wyrm almost certainly knows Common as well."

Quietly, Crannoc casts and concentrates on Guidance once more, though this situation is not one that he thinks Silvanus has prepared him for...

Iris bites her lip, considering the options offered by the other half-elf. It seemed a waste to just leave...She takes a tentative step forward, raising her voice and speaking in Draconic.

"Hello, Wise One. Apologies if we've disturbed you or your magnificent home. We could not help but be drawn here." She pauses, then adds "...Are you awake?"