"Yes, ma'am. I'm on it," Perry responds to Lia, still in his pajamas. He walks outside and loud gusts of wind are heard as he flies up to his room. He quickly grabs his things and puts on his arctic clothing. 

"Shadowsnacks, meet me in the middle of the courtyard. We're going to check out the area below from the sky," he says to the steed telepathically.

Shortly after, the pair fly off at full speed and get just low enough to be able to make out good general details of the area, keeping an eye out for anything noteworthy near their destination such as potential enemies, natural dangers, or any other valuable information on the area.

Perry and Shadowsnacks fly out from the castle. It takes some looking, as the village is fairly well camouflaged against the ice, but then the bard sees movement below. The Ice toads appear to have constructed their homes out of compacted snow and ice, and they themselves are a shade of blue that does not stand out much in this environment. But they seem to have reasonably advanced tools and weapons on hand, as they bustle about around their homes.

Satisfied with finding the camouflaged village of toads, Perry tells Shadowsnacks to head back and report what they've found.

"Well, it took some searching but we spotted the location of the ice toad village. It's actually pretty well camouflaged, and I saw no sign of the entrance to where we are supposed to go. I didn't see anything too dangerous either. It looks like we really will have to speak to the toads if we want to find this place. Hopefully they speak common, but don't worry. I am fluent in toad."

   Lia smiles wanly at Perry as he relays the good news. " Well done Perry.   I knew that I could count on you.  Thank you. We are still waiting for this egg to hatch.  " 

 She is watching the egg intently for signs of hatching.  " We can afford to delay for a little bit.  We have been waiting a while for Old White Death to show up.  We can't afford to wait weeks or anything though.  It seems that this egg...Velon... will hatch soon.  He can't reenter this world alone.   If some of you grow bored....Perry..feel free to go talk with the Ice  toads.  Find out where our next move is.  All i ask is that you don't go alone.  Take Poljen and Morgaine at the least. You will need someone strong to take that piece of ice down there.  Just remember, find where we go next  and return. Do not explore further. ' 

Sinternal and Lia wait by the egg as others go about their business. The young dragon does her best to comfort the elf, but she seems a little unsure of how to do so, and spends a good bit of time with her head in Lia's lap, napping.

Many hours go by before the egg rocks and starts to crack. Something pounds on the interior of the egg until part of it breaks free. Hands pry the shell apart until Velon is lying there, naked and wet.

It IS Velon, with the same face and hands that Lia has come to know. He has not gone through this without some changes however. The dragon heartscale that he has carried for so long appears to have become a part of his chest, placed protectively over his sternum. Other, smaller, golden scales have grown out around it, shielding the paladin's upper torso in shining metal skin that is surprisingly soft, warm, and smooth.

Sinternal immediately begins to "help" by licking Velon clean.

Lia watches hoping that Velon is being returned to her.  " Sinternal, look. He is hatching.   " She watches in awe as the egg begins splitting.  As Velon is revealed basically unchanged , a huge grin splits her  face.  

 " Oh Velon.  " She rushes to him and holds him tightly.  " I have worried so about you.  " Tears of joy run down her face as she is ecstatic about his return as his normal self basically.  

Cratool stands up seeing that Velon is mostly back unchanged.  He will silently leave Lia and Velon to reacquaint with each other as he heads down to the dining hall to get some food and let the others know that Velon has returned mostly unchanged. 

If asked, Poljen will go with Perry to meet the toads, and carry the ice medallion.  They can take the floating platform down...

Velon is found sitting inside the broken egg, beams of bright light radiating from the heartscale beneath his folded arms.  As he moves his arms away to pry at the broken edges of the egg the light is powerful and blinding, and it forms the wings and head of an incorporeal gold dragon as much as eight feet tall and wide around the nude paladin.  Slowly the size of the radiant dragon diminishes and the light returns to the heartscale.  It still glows a golden yellow, as do Velon's eyes where no irises or pupils can be seen.

Looking upon Sinternal first as she licks his face, Velon reaches up and holds her face in his still human hands.  In draconic he says "Fekiikiri, fahdon do Xymor, un Jun.  Zu'u los Sil'Vahlok, Spaan Do Fin Pogaan."  (Greetings, friend of Bahamut, our King.  I am Sil'Vahlok, Shield of the Many.)

At that Velon stands just as Lia grabs ahold of him.  He blinks and shakes his head a bit as the glow fades further, his normal eyes returning.  He looks down and smiles at Lia like never before and says in common "but you can still call me Velon" and, of course, winks at her.  He squeezes her tightly and says softly "I asked Him not to change me too much and take away the man you know."  He then takes a moment to look down at his own torso and shoulders where golden scales protect all of the vital organs now, but his normal human skin remains elsewhere.  He is pleased to find that his hands and face are mostly the same, for Lia's sake among other things, although does begin to notice that any and all old scars from battle are gone.  As she hugs him Lia may also notice that he is roughly two inches taller, a bit wider, and his muscles are more well defined.  Velon picks her up high off the ground and kisses her, then returns to an embrace as he says "sorry to have to tell you this, but I think you may have to put up with me for a few extra centuries."  He looks into her eyes and smiles.

Lawrance is deep into his spell crafting when Gamliel calls to him through the link.

%He's coming out, Lawrance! A lot of brightness and energy on many levels, but it still looks like your friend.% 

- Humph. No dramatic changes? Do I need to be there? -

% I don't think so. He's got some scales now, but no wings or tail. Not a major transform. %

- I have to say, I'm kind of disappointed I didn't get to help him change to an elf. Divine shortcuts take a lot of fun out of things. Stay with him for a bit please, just in case, but if they get cuddly... -

%Yes, indeed. I don't need to remain if that happens. It's not likely to be anything new, since he doesn't have any added appendages.%

With that, Lawrance goes back to his studies. 

Perry walks in right as Sinternal is licking new Velon, "By the gods! He's butt naked! And Sinternal, what are you doing?! Get away from there!" The bard looks shocked and horrified at the scene, "OH MY GOD, she is WAY too young for this you guys!" He closes his eyes, places his hands together, and begins to pray, "Oh dear Bahamut, I, Peregrine Pennington, a loyal but indirect follower of yours, am terribly sorry for what has transgressed here today and hope that you may forgive us all for our sins."

  Lia's eyes widen as she sees Velon's new form.   Her eyes trace over his wings,  his glowing eyes and his more muscular physique.  She laughs as he picks her up.  " Wow, Velon.  You look amazing.   You are truly touched by Bahamat.  It is a true privilege to witness this.  " She relaxes into his arms and is swallowed up by his strength.  

 Tears of joy are streaming down her face.  " I thought I had lost you my love. Give Bahamat my thanks for this.  A true blessing.  I think I can put up with you.  Now we don't have to  part due to your short life span.  " She beams up at him.  

Sinternal pauses in her task to give Perry an annoyed look, "This is a part of welcoming new life into this world, and no one else here has the tongue for it, so there!" She's then sticks said tongue out at the bard before returning to cleaning a little bit of gooey stuff off of Velon's thigh.

Velon smiles back at Lia and says "I can't wait" with regard to their longer life together.  "We have a bit more work to do first, I suppose.  How long was I in there for, anyhow?  What news of the mission?  Did you find the horn?"

  She smiles happily up at him.  " You have been in that egg since last night.  Perry scouted earlier and discovered the village that we seek.  Nothing else has been done since we have been waiting for you to rejoin us.  " 

Velon replies "well, at least I didn't miss any of the fun."  "It was hard to know whether I had been in there for a minute or a century, like a dream."  He squeezes the most beautiful of all elves once more and whispers "I'd rather stay locked in here with you for a long while, but I suppose we still have some business to take care of to earn our future together.  Will you help me with my armor?"

Velon scratches Sinternal on the head and says in draconic "thank you, my friend."  "Shall we fight in the courtyard tomorrow to prepare you for future battle?"

  Lia kisses him gently.  " We do have business to take care of first.  Our day will come when we can lock the world away somewhere.  Just not yet.  " She winks at him.  " Let me help with your armor even though it is terrible to hide your body away.  " She laughs softly.  

(Back after Perry has returned from scouting the Ice Toad village)

After his involved inspection of the egg, Lawrance is fairly comfortable with letting things progress as they may. "Bahamut is responsible for this evolution, so I doubt there is anything any of us can do to help this progress. It's now a matter of patience." Leaving Gamliel on watch, just in case he is proven wrong, he waits for Perry to return from his scouting mission and report. 

"Perry, with Velon hiding in his shell for an unknown time, we may as well proceed with Sinternal's clothing assembly. While you were out, I've prepared my spell for making finished goods from raw materials, gathered copious amounts of fur, wool, cotton and whatever else I could find that would be a good base for it in my workshop. Do you feel up to designing this gear for her?"

"Ah, when you need direct intervention from the Platinum God to keep up with the good looks of your love..." Velon laments in jest.  "It was quite overwhelming to speak to him, I have to say.  I don't think my mind could even handle it at first.  We didn't talk a lot, but he was most kind and generous."

"My armor is a bit tight, it seems.  Ah, ah, ah, no fat jokes!  Ah well, at least I don't think it needs adjusting.  Shall we request the others meet us in the dining hall?  I'm starving!"  Velon takes Lia's hand and heads out, assuming she has nothing more to address with him in private.  To the nearest guards he says "Greetings, friends.  Might you send word around the castle asking the Blaze members to meet Lia and I downstairs?  Thank you."

"Everyone, I must apologize for delaying our mission, and for scaring anyone."  Velon looks down at Lia on the latter point.  "I was not quite sure what He had in store for me, and I certainly was never expecting to HATCH during my lifetime!  Shall we carry on with the mission then?  Are there concerns I should know about?

"Yes of course! Sinternal is busy watching over the egg so let's surprise her with the new onesie. I have the perfect design in mind for her that I'm sure she will love!"

Then, Perry creates a minor illusion of what he has in mind. It appears to be mostly purple but with a golden underbelly. It has little gold spines going down the back as well. 

"How long do you think it will take to make?" he asks Lawrance.