Augustus seems relatively comfortable for most of the conversation, but as soon as the transformation happen, he freezes in place. Eyes wide, all the color drains from his face and it's apparent that he has a deep-seated phobia of dragons. The smell of the sea seems to help a bit, but his lip quivers, causing his unlit pipe to clatter to the floor, as he stutters something about being happy to help if he's needed.

Though surprised, Z recognizes that a metallic dragon tends towards the side of good and lets out a small breath.
"Mistress...it is...my honor to meet and assist you, " he stammers, trying to regain a bit of composure.

Runara bows her massive head in gratitude, then continues.

“As you have discovered, this island has many old wounds. Since the fall of the ancient dragon Sharruth, generation upon generation of dragons are drawn to this place, seeking to make use of its power. One by one they are opposed. They fall, and their magic-laced remnants become a permanent part of the island, and a growing beacon to others who wish to misuse its power..."

She sighs. "I had my own role to play in this dance... One hundred years ago, a powerful blue dragon named Eldenemir came to this place to harness its destructive powers... I followed him here, pleading for him to abandon his schemes. When he refused to listen to reason, I resorted to violence, killing Eldenemir and adding one more dragon grave to this island."

She pauses for a moment, looking down, the painful memory still holding a touch of trauma for her. Finally she continues.

It was a turning point for me.  I knew I could no longer participate in such strife. And so, I hoped to break the cycle of violence by founding Dragon's Rest as a place of peace and contemplation... For a hundred years, it's been a success... But I’m afraid the cycle is about to begin anew."

She looks to Vinn and Sir Beauregard. "Shortly before you arrived, a bronze wyrmling named Aidron came to this place, drawn to it like so many before him.  I endeavored to teach him all I could about the corrupting influence of great power, and the importance of meditating on peace.  Unfortunately, the lesson did not hold. The impetuous youth grew impatient, rejecting my teachings and flew off to seek the aid of another."

Looking off to the southeast, she continues. "I fear he's returned. I've sensed he presence near the ancient observatory on the southeast side of the island... the very place I struck down Eldenemir in anger. I sense some echo of Eldenemir's power has awoken. If that's true, I dare not go there herself, lest my presence further inflame the situation, or compel me to break my vow of peace."

She extends her claw, revealing a 3-inch-long, 1-inch-wide hexagonal prism made from moonstone, with a dragon’s head engraved on one end. "And so I must send you to do what I cannot... Investigate the goings on at the observatory, protect the impetuous wyrmling from himself if necesary, and eliminate any danger... ideally without violence."

Setting the object on the ground in front of you, she asks, "Can I count on you for this?"

Bonecrusher bows and nods solemnly.  “It shall be as you wish,” he says.  He looks intently at the dragon for a moment, his orcish features clouded and dark, as though about to ask a different question than the one that eventually comes.  He smiles then and gestures to the crystal. “I would not presume, but perhaps that is meant to aid us in our quest?”

"Absolutely..." cough, cough. Morlock checks his enthusiasm and continues. "It would be an honor to help you."

So dragons did dance! Vinn listens intently, nodding profusely at every turn. He wonders if Runara and Eldenmir were also lovers, but instead of separating they fought one another instead.

"Aidron sounds like an idiot. This is basically your island, look at this place. You know it better than anyone." Vinn says. "We'll convince him, don't worry!"

When Sir Beauregard asks about the crystal, Vinn takes it, and holds it in the sunlight to examine it.

"Of course, Mistress Runara...and it is my hope that we will not have to resort to violence upon Aidron. Perhaps his youth and brashness have been tempered somewhat and he will listen to reason, " Z says.

Runara gestures her head toward the crystal. "The key will grant you access to the Clifftop Observatory. It was once was a marvel of magical innovation... but my battle with Eldenemir left the structure in ruins. It's remained in this state for the past hundred years, cut off from the world, a crumbled memory overtaken by nature... Tread lightly while you are there. I don't know what forces Aidron has toyed with, or what he might have awoken."

Augustus stands frozen, unable to take his eyes off Runara's mouth and teeth. He'll give a small nod at the request for help. If the others are ready to leave, he'll back up slowly, crouching slightly to try and feel around for his pipe without taking his eyes off the dragon.

Central Island Trail

Late morning

After bidding your farewells to Runara and the worshipers of the cloister, the five of you gather your equipment and prepare to depart.

As you make your way down the central trail, you see the kobolds of the cloister have gathered to watch you go. They observe your departure with a sort of wistful reverence. The stakes are high and they seem to know it. Myla in particular, tears welling in her eyes, bows her head to you in gratitude for your service.

You make your way along a mostly overgrown trail that leads across the island toward the southeastern observatory. An thick inland mist has settled around you. The air smells of ozone and there's a tingle of enchantment in the breeze, like the island itself is awakening.

Central Woods

Noon

As the trail leads you through the center of the island, you find yourselves surrounded by tall trees and rocks. The canopy is alive with movement and birdsong. Unique flora blooms in every corner. All the beauty of nature nourished by the magic of the decaying wyrms. Life springing, unbidden, out of the carrion of the ancient winged masters of the material plane. 

You're so distracted by natural beauty all around you that, at first, you don't notice the growling sound coming from behind the tree line. When you do, it's just in time to hear a discordant sound—half a low growl, half a piercing screech—rips through the air. Abruptly, a hulking creature comes into view. A mix of purple feathers and deep brown fur covers its bearlike body, and its large eyes stare hungrily at you from its owlish head.

WE ARE IN INITIATIVE!

To be continued over Discord...

Following a tense battle, the adventurers manage to subdue the monstrocity by covering it with a net and retrieving a wooden whistle that hangs around its neck.

Once Sir Beauregard blows on the the whistle, the beast settles down, the owlbear slumps to the ground, net still covering it, resting its head on its forepaws, panting with thready breath and looking pleadingly up at the Knight of the Ruby Rose....

Vinn looks back and forth between Sir Beauregard and the owl bear, perplexed at the sudden shift. "Sir... is that the power of Sune at work?"

Augustus takes off his pack and pull out some strips of dried fish, gingerly offering it towards the owlbear as he reaches with his other hand to start untangling the weights of the net.

"Quick thinking blowing the whistle! Any chance to save one of these nets is worth it, you wouldn't believe how long they take to weave. I appreciate your willingness to keep the 'little' rascal alive! With the collar and the training, it seems they may be lost!"

Sir Beauregard helps remove the net from the owlbear carefully.  “It was you, Lord Silver, who stayed my hand, and you who deserve the credit.  I thought only of killing and blew the whistle only because you stayed my sword arm.  We would never have known this creature has been trained if you had not wished to spare it even when you thought it savage.  Who trains a savage beast and hangs its whistle on its neck, and to what end?  I wonder if someone lives nearby…perhaps the beast will show us.”  The knight rummages in his pack for more rations to offer the owlbear.

Z peers at the whistle. "'Blackfeather's Circus of Wonders', " Z says aloud, reading over Sir Beauregard's hand. "I do not know the name, nor of any circuses. But strange land to have a circus as it is."

Judging from the matted fur and feathers, it seems the owlbear hasn't been part of any functioning circus in quite some time... And while it remains calm and docile at your feet, greedily snapping up whatever you put near it's beak, it also constantly looks past you, scanning the tree-line for every hint of movement... sniffing every scent in the air.

The call of the wild seems to ceaselessly beckon it, and it looks eager to respond.

The party takes an hour to rest, recuperate and commune with the creature they've formed a strange bond with.

As the beast licks its wounds Vinn crafts a nice flower necklace to put around its neck and attaches a piece of bark, with the name Chuckles whittled onto it. The owlbear doesn't attack, but it recoils slightly as the neckless is placed over its head, fixing a hard, unflinching stare on the genasi for an unsettling length of time.

Despite the vestigial traces of domesticity, in the owlbear's beaked face you sense no kinship, no understanding, no mercy... You see only the overwhelming indifference of nature. Its blank stare speaks only of a half-bored interest in food... And in short time, that interests supersedes any former training it once had...

Without warning, the creature suddenly stands with a heavy huff, sniffs the air, turns and clops back into the heavy brush, giving you one last cold look as it goes. You are tolerated guests in its territory... for now. But testing the limits of that tolerance may yield uncertain results.

It's as good a sign as any that it's time to continue down the road. So, on you go...

Southeastern Island

Afternoon

Clambering over the rocky ground of Stormwreck Isle, you spot strange, twisted protrusions of glassy crystal jutting from the earth. The vegetation in this area bears reddish branching scars that form similar shapes. Suddenly, you hear a screeching roar and notice a winged, glittering blue shape swooping overhead...

It's hard to get a sense of the size of the creature versus its distance but the draconic cry puts the skin on the nape of your necks on end as if it were meant for you specifically. The air suddenly smells of ozone and feels charged with energy... Before you have a chance to react, the dragon is directly overhead.

Everyone make a Stealth check...

Z covers his ears with his hands and finds some heavy brush to hide in (stealth roll: 15).

Augustus yelps and immediately flings himself to the ground with a loud clatter from his pack and mail. He lands, spread-eagle, in the middle of the path in full view of anything that may hope to see him; arms over his head, face down in the dirt.

When Chuckles takes his leave, Vinn waves goodbye to him and turns to the group. "He'll learn to like us. We're friends with a dragon after all!"

Later, when the dragon flies overhead, Vinn dives for the ground. He rolls to a nearby rock and curls into it, hoping the blue of his skin doesn't obviously show.