(Ruby was sent towards the docks)

So... did Jodie decide to sneak off, or is she staying put until the group has come to a consensus?

Nickeline replies to Tamphalic, "The other kobolds seem scared of Zoglu for some reason. I don't know what he's saying to them; I don't speak dragon. But I feel like it can't be good."

She looks at Hildegard. "He whispered something to Ruby and she went that way." Nickeline points in the direction of the docks relative to the town hall, then accounts for their current location and adjusts the angle of her arm. Mental calculations complete, she continues, "It's the docks maybe? Hey! If we go over there, we could talk to Ruby and find an escape vessel at the same time. Or I could try to talk to her with the crystal ball, if you're willing to have your conversation through me. I'll try and see what she's up to." With that, Nickeline shifts her crystal ball to scry on Ruby (Curse Roll 4).

 OOC: Ruby will have to make a DC 17 wisdom saving throw. If Ruby passes the save, Nickeline will scry on the docks instead and look for Ruby that way (Perception 11).

"If the other Kobolds are afraid we might be able to persuade them that Zolgu doesn't have their best interest in mind?"

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

did Jodie decide to sneak off, or is she staying put until the group has come to a consensus?

(OOC: Mostly waiting to see whether we currently have Jodie with us.)

Hewelathan asks, "Did Ruby and the other kobolds seem afraid of Zolgu himself or of what he was asking them to do?   I imagine that most of the kobolds would be terrified of talking to Cynurrarth, and it wouldn't surprise me if Zolgu plans to offer us up to the dragon in some way.  I agree that simply waiting here for whatever Zolgu has planned for us seems like a bad idea.  Even if Zolgu doesn't intend to do us harm, it cannot be in our best interests if he's planning it in secret."

Hewelathan also offers to spy if the others think that it would be helpful.  He says,  "I speak Draconic, and perhaps I could transform into some animal form that would be inconspicuous.  Maybe a common spider or a giant centipede?  Or...did anyone see any other animals as we walked through their little village?  If I could get close enough, I could listen to what the koblods are saying when we're not around.  But I'm not sure whether I could find and catch up to Zolgu now, and I'm not sure whether the other kobolds would say anything useful on their own.  I also don't love the idea of being separated from everyone else."

Jodie was staying put until the group decides, but was keen to be on the lookout for any kobolds heading out of the village.

Nickeline's gaze shifts over to Ruby -

Wis save: 10

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Nickeline's gaze shifts over to Ruby -

Wis save: 9

You see the little red kobold heading towards the docks, with three warriors. All of them look terrified by whatever task the Great Wyrm has assigned to them... Ruby is nervously flipping through a crudely-made tome of some kind as she walks.

The four kobolds aren't walking quickly... in fact, it almost looks as if they are dragging their feet (claws) a bit to put off whatever Zolgu wanted them to do as long as possible.

If Jodie wants to sneak off to go after Ruby and those kobolds, that's fine with Hewelathan.  He's not sure whether the whole party could sneak all the way to the docks (even without Perdita), but since Ruby seems to be a leader, maybe Jodie could charm Ruby and then have those kobolds come back to escort the party somewhere.  If Zolgu hasn't shared his whole plan with everyone, the other kobolds they see will probably just think that Ruby is taking the party wherever Zolgu told her to take them.  Either that, or maybe Jodie could just get some information from Ruby's group to figure out what Zolgu is planning and to learn the basic directions from the kobold village to the abandoned drow city.

Hewelathan finds a comfortable spot and settles down to have a snack.  Until someone tells him that they need him or that the whole group is moving, he'll just rest here.  (If the party ends up stuck in this hut for long enough, Xanrym could use a short rest to recover a use of Wild Shape. 😇)

Hildegard nods, and stands up. "Let me take Perdita over to the docks, then, and speak to Ruby. If anyone means to stop us from leaving this hut, I doubt they will be able to stop her. I will return shortly." Quickly, the paladin steps out of the door to the hut, where she left Perdita. The nightmare stares balefully at her as she takes the reins in one hand and pulls herself up into the saddle. As soon as she's in it, Perdita rears and leaps into the air, her flaming hooves galloping across the air, soaring high, and then plummeting in a wide circle down towards the docks. She looks to see if she can spot Ruby and the three warriors that Nickeline saw in the orb.

If she spots them, Hildegard directs her mount to land, clattering down onto the stone before them in imposing licks of hot flame. "Greetings, friends," she says, "Ruby, it's good to see you again. Let me first thank you for your kind hospitality to a band of strangers you found teleporting into your lands! You've been very welcoming to us and on the behalf of my entire group I thank you. However, we've gotten the sense that Zolgu is not pleased with our mission, and that our welcome may have been withdrawn. Perhaps it would be preferred if we departed, do you think that's so?" The paladin smiles, friendly and almost apologetic, but probably a bit intimidating on the back of the flaming fiend.

Ruby looks up at the hellish horse...

"P-please don't hurt Ruby," she squeaks in Common. "Th-the Great Wyrm told Ruby to go seek the council of the Great and Mighty Cynurrarth himself to decide what is to happen! The Great Wyrm Zolgu does not want any of you to leave the village until the dragon has spoken! So... maybe... just stay here so that the Great Wyrm doesn't get mad at Ruby again?"

The three warriors look on edge, ready to pull out their swords at a moment's notice... meanwhile, Ruby just looks like she wishes she was literally anywhere else in the multiverse rather than dealing with the situation she inadvertently put herself in by being friendly to strangers from the surface.

"Of course I'm not going to hurt you," Hildegard says gently. "I am willing to wait to leave until you gain his council, I cannot speak for the rest of the group, but I will tell them what is going on, and they may be willing to wait, as well." Perdita only glares, as she always does, but makes no threatening movements. Hildegard watches Ruby, trying to see if she can tell what the kobold is thinking.

Insight: 20 (dirty)

As far as you can tell, Ruby is telling you the absolute truth. You can guess that the main things on her mind are probably not getting eaten by a dragon and not getting her neck wrung by Zolgu (in that order)

"Good luck and a blessing to you, Ruby, in your address to the dragon Cynurrarth. I will inform the group that Zolgu wishes us to wait for Cynurrath's counsel." Hildegard reaches into her bag and removes her tinderbox and a candle. Ignoring the billowing flames from her steed's neck, she takes a moment to strike the flint and light the candle, mumbling a prayer and passing her hand over the candle in a sign of blessing. Then she dismounts, and walks over to offer the candle to Ruby. "A prayer, for your peace and safety." Then she climbs back into the saddle, nods her head and Perdita takes off with a clatter of hooves against the rock, throwing sparks and gouts of flame. She soars quickly through the air to land back at the hut, and, if the area seems safe, Hildegard dismounts and leaves the nightmare outside as before, bending over to enter the small hut.

The paladin nods to her companions. "I found Ruby," she says, with a glance at Nickeline, figuring that likely the gnome had watched the whole thing in her orb. "She seemed quite frightened, and said that Zolgu had asked them to seek the council of the dragon Cynurrarth. It will be Cynurrarth's decision, it seems, what Zolgu does with us, but he wishes us not to leave the village until the dragon has been consulted. I believe Ruby is telling the truth, and fears the wrath of the dragon. She appeared to be afraid for her life." Hildegard glances back towards the doorway. "I think we should be vigilant, but unless you, Tamphalic, or any of you, know some reason why it wouldn't be a good idea, I think there is no harm in waiting for the dragon's council. We may achieve a good outcome and gain some allies in our quest. But, in case the dragon is unfavorable to us, we should be ready to flee, or fight."

Jodie smiles at the paladin's compassion, "I thought we might charm or persuade Ruby against the Great Wyrm's orders, but I'd feel guilty of her outcome.  If we seek to gain trust and influence among this tribe, why not just seek the dragon now?  Surely we can express our position better than Ruby.  To the kobolds, we are 'outsiders'.  The dragon will either summon us forth, send us to our doom without parley, or come here.  If we are not going to run or fight, let's summon the Great Wrym and entreaty to accompany Ruby.  We will show our boldness and perhaps shake him by our insight.  Or he may allow some of us to accompany Ruby willingly."

Hildegard shakes her head. "You're right, I think the repercussions to Ruby would be very harmful if you did that. It would be a poor thanks for the welcome and kindness that she showed us." The paladin looks thoughtful. "I like your idea of seeking the dragon ourselves. We could stand by Ruby that way, and take the brunt of any displeasure ourselves for our own mission. I don't know what sort of taboos or chain of authority exist with regards to the kobolds and the dragon. We could provoke an attack if we came unannounced, or infuriate the kobolds with our audacity. If we are to seek the dragon, let us do it only with the Great Wyrm's permission."

"Well we know deep dragon's can be persuaded by some interesting knowledge. Does any of us have anything to offer they think might be worth its while?" Tamphalic chimes in "If yes, accompanying Ruby might be a smart idea indeed."

"You all are either the bravest, or craziest, top-siders I've met," Korba says, pondering meeting a deep dragon. "Though there is something to be said to take the bull by the horns. Or the dragon by the teeth in this case perhaps. I know little of dragons though. What chance do we have of not simply becoming a snack before even being able to present our story?"

"Well my studies back at the temple showed that deep dragons try to avoid fights when possible, although by manipulation which we should watch out for, and also that you can barter with them with knowledge. So if we got a good piece of knowledge that should give us a good chance I believe."

Jodie reminds Tamphalic of how much lore they're learned in recent days. "Legendary magic, the dragon lord who was nearly a god, and 7 legendary heros triumph over them... It sounds like some pretty epic lore to me."

If the group is willing to entertain the proposal, Jodie asks Hewelathan for guidance in persuading the Great Wrym. 

"If you seek the counsel of the dragon Cynurrarth, it would be wise to provide the dragon a gift of lore.  Our party is an eclectic group, with skills, talents, and stories that may gain the favor of the dragon.  If we could accompany Ruby, we may explain ourselves better and seek the dragon's council.  Or do you expect the dragon will visit here?  We can help prepare to host...if you could point where you think it'll land..."

Persuasion (23: 19+4)

 Nickeline, still concentrating on following Ruby, chimes in to the group's discussion. "I can offer to cast Scrying for the dragon, and to communicate with the targets telepathically. I'm kind of curious about who a dragon would want to spy on. However, I'd prefer to keep the crystal ball itself a secret; Cynurrarth might want it for itself, especially if it loves knowledge as much as you say, Tamphalic."

She adds, "To be honest, I agree with you, Korba, and I'd really rather not meet this dragon in person. That sounds like a good way to get gobbled up."

However, despite her trepidation, Nickeline would stick with the party if they do decide to go together.