A sound escapes the dragon's throat... you think it is a chuckle.

"You speak in riddles, Jodesylvin" the dragon says. "And if your goal is to intrigue me, then in that you have succeeded. There is a place within the ruins where the dead do not sleep; I wonder if perhaps the mistress of the Black Crypt may be one of those ancient lovers of whom you have spoken."

He studies all of you intently, his breath hot in your faces...

"Tell me where you wish to travel within this realm," he says after a moment. "And I shall offer you a choice of the price I shall command... the first choice I offer is that, when your mission is complete, you leave the Bard with me to fill my grand hall with her music. She will stay for a year and one day."

The dragon pauses for dramatic effect.

"As for the alternative choice... when you return from your expedition, come back to me and I shall give you a task. You will not know what that task shall be until you have completed your own quest. Whatever task I set before you, you shall perform it for me."

Jodie demonstrates keen interest in the 'Black Crypt'.  The bard stirs a little uncomfortably at the terms provided.  A year and a day.  Though what might be learned in the ancient library...

With tact, Jodie attempts to negotiate,"There is no choice before me.  For the payment remains your choice in an unnamed task.  A year and a day may be joyous compare to the guilt of a lifetime.  I will reveal our destination if I may defer my choice until hearing your request.  And if I choose to serve in your court, I defer my enrollment until I break the curse on this lute.  The fey trapped within might wreak havoc in your library."

Tamphalic listens to what Jodie has to say and is impressed that she might even be willing to stay with the dragon if the given task is to horrific. He has no clue what kind of mission the dragon would have for them and isn't sure what he could add to what she said so he stays silent for now, waiting for what the dragon's answer is.

(OOC: Sorry I went MIA for a bit; I was out of town for Father's Day)

The dragon chuckles.

"Clever girl," he says to Jodie. "I grow more fond of you every second."

He pauses, then explains himself a bit more.

"I cannot reveal the task I have in mind right now... because I have several in mind, and have not yet decided which one you would be best suited for. I cannot promise that whatever I settle on will be safe or easy, if it were then I would send the kobolds. But I have no intention of making murderers and scoundrels out of you. Perhaps I shall ask you to retrieve a tome from the mind flayer magician who has been the bane of my existence for several years. Or perhaps I will instead ask you to capture one of the powerful aberrations that stalk the Underdark and bring it back for research. Or perhaps I will come up with something else entirely between now and when you return from your quest."

He considers Jodie's statement about the powerful Fae that could be released from her instrument and nods.

"That seems a fair compromise to me," he admits.

Jodie nods, "I'm confident my troupe will accomplish whatever you set before us, if no evil comes of it.  We do seek the mistress of the Black Crypt, to bargain a trust where no trust is expected. With your permission, we'd use these channels and a kobold guide.  I know kobolds lay clever traps for the unwary."

With a bow, Jodie looks to Tamphalic to explain further in Draconic and satisfy Ruby and the warriors.

Tamphalic listens to what the dragon has to say and thinks that the deal sounds fair. After which he explains to the kobolds in draconic what Jodie proposed at the end.

"Very well," the dragon says at last. "If you agree to my terms, then I shall agree to yours. You may travel through my realm freely, and use the channels as you see fit. And you may bring one of my servants with you as your guide..."

He pauses and looks at Ruby, then speaks to her in Draconic.

"It seems that they have already taken a liking to you, little one," the dragon says. "So I will give you the task of leading them safely through the city."

Ruby nods meekly to her master.

"Then it is settled," he says, switching back to Common and rising again to his full height. "If you happen to retrieve any interesting tomes or scrolls from the Black Crypt, I would be quite interested in acquiring those as well... I might even have a reward for you if you recover something particularly interesting. But now go and complete your quest, heroes. I will be here when you return."

With that, Jodie bows and the group takes their leave to head back to the kobold tribe.  "That went better than expected.  Let's get back to the others and chart our course to the Black Crypt."

Jodie turns to the kobold sorcerer, "Sorry to ask more of you Ruby, but I think we'd be safer if you led us to the Black Crypts.  Do you know the way or have a map?  We'll need to consult the others before deciding when to head out."

When they reach the others, Jodie relays her experience with the dragon and the truce she bargained.  "I know it seems we are putting more tasks before us and breaking this curse, but I think gaining the dragon's respect was a worthy gambit.  The dragon sits upon a hoard of knowledge, which may prove useful in our quest.  I was careful to be cryptic about our end.  To the dragon, we are looking to release the mistress from her debt.  The dragon prizes knowledge and deeds, so we should look for any scrolls or tomes to please it.   And I've bargained for Ruby to be our guide.  Far better than being hunted by or skulking from the kobolds.  There is enough to the scared of in the Dark.  I'll take the the friends I can get."

Korba, weaving a small whirlwind of sand in his hands as he peers at it closely through his dark glasses, stands and greets Jodie as she returns, happy to see that they are alive. Listening to her story he says, "Amazing work. impressing and then dealing with a dragon! And we've got a new little companion as well it seems," smiling at Ruby.

Happy with how that went Tamphalic follows Ruby back to the village.

"Yes, a guide should proof usefull. Sorry if I wasn't much help with the dragon, but it was the first time encountering a dragon since the last time" he explains as he taps on his dragon mask with a finger. "Now what kind of prepartions should we do before we leave?" 

"Ruby, do you know how long it takes to get to the crypt? Also when going would you prefer to talk in common such that all can understand, or in Draconic and that I provide translations to the others?" He than asks Ruby, knowing she is probably a bit scared and hoping he can comfort a bit.

Hildegard had stayed in the little hut, absorbing herself in her prayers, for the success of the parlay with the Dragon and for the graces necessary to bring every task to completion in line with Divine Order. The flickering flow of the nightmare as it stood just outside, head lowered, but as Jodie and Tamphalic return with Ruby, it lifts up its head quickly, ears cocked towards the returning companions, its baleful, fiery stare welcoming them, if such fiendish hatred could ever be construed as a welcome.

Hildegard rises and comes out to meet the group, a smile beaming across her face as she hears of the success of the endeavour. "Well done, Jodie," she says. "To stand upright and confident in the justice of our mission and the goodness of the skills and heart we bring to it is the best way to cement others to our cause, and indeed, now we do not have to fear, or hide, we can continue to stand tall and have gained great resources and help. The Light be praised! All blessings to the Seven Stars!"

She turns to Ruby to welcome her. "You have been a wonderful hostess, and a sure guide, since we arrived here in your caverns through the teleportation circle. I am happy that you will be staying in our company. Your knowledge of these caverns will truly be invaluable."

After observing the encounter with the dragon remotely and later welcoming her companions back to the hut, Nickeline agrees with Korba and Hildegard, "Yeah, great job, Jodie; it went just like you said it would. If anything, you pleased the dragon a little too much. But seriously, thank you."

She looks over at Ruby and continues, "I guess it's okay to take this off now; I wonder if real beards itch this much," and dramatically tears off the dwarf disguise, revealing her true nature. "Ruby, I hear you'll be our guide. I'm counting on you to let your friends and neighbors know that I've got a free pass to be here."

Ruby is in an extremely good mood after the conversation with the dragon. Frankly, you get the feeling that she's just overjoyed that the dragon decided to help rather you rather than eat her. She considers the dragonborn wizard's question for a moment.

"Ruby can speak the Common tongue," she says after a moment. "So it is easiest for everyone to speak in this way.."

The little kobold seems slightly surprised at the sight of a gnome. But she notably doesn't seem completely shocked, suggesting she may have already had an inkling that something was off about this 'dwarf,' but perhaps hadn't quite put her finger on exactly what that something might be.

"Okay," she says after a moment. "But Ruby doesn't think that we spend much longer here anyway... it is some way to the Black Crypt, and Ruby would like to get in as soon as she can so that she can get out with the same haste!"

Jodie is pleased her efforts with the dragon paid off and her group has a clear plan.  "Let's be off then, now that we are all assembled our no longer need to pretend."  Jodie looks at Nickeline and smiles. 

So... is everyone ready to head out, then? Or would you prefer to try to resupply in the kobold village/get more info out of Zolgu/do something else?

Hewelathan was largely silent while Jodie spoke with Cynurrarth.  For one thing, the dragon's mere presence overawed him.  Despite his previous study of dragons, he had never seen an adult dragon this close!  Hewelathan is also aware that he has "stepped on" Jodie's plans in the past, and he doesn't want to do that during a delicate negotiation with such a powerful creature.  He's tempted to say something about their experience in capturing the gibbering mouther since that seems like a better quest than facing a "mind flayer," but Hewelathan is wise enough to keep his mouth shut.  While in the dragon's lair, Hewelathan would have kept his focus on the dragon to try to determine whether they could trust it to keep its bargain.  For example, if they return after their mission in the priestess's tomb, how likely is it to simply eat them all?  Or betray them to Firion?  (Insight 25)

Quote from Faux_Beau>>

With that, Jodie bows and the group takes their leave to head back to the kobold tribe.  "That went better than expected.  Let's get back to the others and chart our course to the Black Crypt."

"Yes," Hewelathan agrees.  As they walk back, he says, "Jodie, that was truly amazing!  Better than I dared hope."  Aware of the kobolds, he says in Elvish, "I don't know how you think on your feet so quickly and come up with appropriate songs and riddles the a dragon looming over you.  Perhaps some of the fey presence in your harp is rubbing off on you!  Hopefully, Cynurrarth did not guess the nature of our errand or what we seek in the tomb.  I would not want to face such an enemy."

When they reach the others, Jodie relays her experience with the dragon and the truce she bargained.  "I know it seems we are putting more tasks before us and breaking this curse, but I think gaining the dragon's respect was a worthy gambit.  The dragon sits upon a hoard of knowledge, which may prove useful in our quest.  I was careful to be cryptic about our end.  To the dragon, we are looking to release the mistress from her debt.  The dragon prizes knowledge and deeds, so we should look for any scrolls or tomes to please it.   And I've bargained for Ruby to be our guide.  Far better than being hunted by or skulking from the kobolds.  There is enough to the scared of in the Dark.  I'll take the the friends I can get."

Hewelathan heartily agrees that it was well worth the time and says, "You did a great job!  I hardly knew what you meant, and I guess it's good to leave the dragon some riddles to puzzle over!"  He keeps re-telling Korba bits and pieces of the experience again during the next hour as though he himself is still thinking about it.

Quote from Ben_Evolent>>

(Insight 8)

(OOC: I think that we've now established that Hewelathan has no idea how to read a scale-covered face!)

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

"Okay," she says after a moment. "But Ruby doesn't think that we spend much longer here anyway... it is some way to the Black Crypt, and Ruby would like to get in as soon as she can so that she can get out with the same haste!"

Hewelathan still addresses her in Draconic to ask about light: "Ruby, would you normally travel this path with torches or other lights?  Or would that be too dangerous?  Do we need to travel in darkness to avoid attracting attention?"  If they need to travel in darkness, then Hildegard will need to dismiss Perdita for now, and Hewelathan can cast Darkvision on her to help her see in the dark caves.  If they are able to carry torches or Nickeline's light, then he'll wait and save that spell slot for later, when they approach the priestess's tomb.

Hewelathan also reminds the others that he can reach out to the rocks and stone of the tunnels to muffle even Hildegard's loud footsteps.  He asks for Jodie's and Hildegard's help in explaining to Ruby that if they have to pass through some dangerous area where she knows monsters or other enemies of the kobolds patrol, Ruby should let him know when they get close to that area so that he can use that spell.  He can only maintain that magic for 1 hour.

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

So... is everyone ready to head out, then? Or would you prefer to try to resupply in the kobold village/get more info out of Zolgu/do something else?

Hewelathan doesn't need any additional gear for this trip.  He likes Ruby, but he does not trust Zolgu and would prefer interact with the Great Wyrm only as much as necessary before they depart.  

After the party's experience with the changeling, Hewelathan admits that he feels even less comfortable surrounded by strangers.  He'd prefer for the Accursed to be in the wilderness or even in the vast, unpopulated caves of the Underdark where they know that anything they encounter could be a deadly threat.  He finds it difficult to be polite to all of the kobolds while suspecting that any of them could be a spy of Firion's cult.

(OOC: It turns out that not recognizing when reptiles are lying to him is actually a secret part of Hewelathan's curse...)

Ruby responds to Hewelathan in Draconic.

"It's usually good to have light," she says after a moment's consideration. "In the darkest of caves even kobolds do not see well, and some of you Ruby thinks might not see in darkness at all! The monsters can see us already, so it's better for us if we can see them as well."

The little kobold seems to understand Hewelathan's instructions to warn the party any time that you are approaching a known monster-infested zone. You can tell that she's quite sharp, and it's easy to explain things to her.

Tamphalic doesn't need any extra gear either and is ready to go. What is our walking order gonna be? Also, is there anyone who, in case of a fight, really wants to have the first turn?

((Thought of something))

Before they leave Thampalic takes 10 minutes with Whiskers

"We are here in the underdark so I think you'll be safer in a different form, what do you think Whiskers?"

I like to be a cat, don't change me! I want to chase mice

"Not much Mice here now, right? And in your different form I have a very important task for you"

Well, oke, oke

"You scout ahead while we travel for any creatures that my lie in wait."

After the 10 minutes the cat suddenly changes into a bat.