Cratol listens to all that is said and like Poljen he gives a snort at the best swordsman in the world comment.  He goes back to eating and after everyone else is back to eating and he is finished he will wait for Sylmae to finish before they head back to his room.  He will check on her brother to make sure he has taken time to eat before changing into some of his work out clothing.  He will walk to the battlements to watch the large dragon heading their way.

Hearing the announcement of the dragon visitor while in his workshop, Lawrance sighs and starts putting all the items back into whatever pouches, bags and sundry he can gather to hold it all, then carries/drags it out to the courtyard. On his way there, he blinks at the bright light and suddenly says "I sure hope someone remembers to stop the ballista launchers from shooting him, if it's who I think it is." Looking at his two apprentices, he says "Quickly! Run off to the ballista towers and tell them to hold their fire, if it's a big, white dragon coming. We don't want to anger him! You, to the NorthWest tower, and you to the NorthEast!"

Looking around as he struggles with the gear, he also spots a guard high on the wall and Messages them *If it's a big, white dragon coming in, tell the gunners to hold their fire! Don't unload, but don't fire unless we tell you to!*

Seeing the guard run off, he hopes they run faster than the dragon takes to get within range. "This place is too big. I can't reach anyone else." He thinks as he makes his along, looking for another runner to send. 

Perry reciprocates Lia's hug, then replies, "You're welcome, my dear. You are far too kind to a silly jester like me."

He smiles as he lets her go.

---

As Perry’s discussion with Maccath is rudely interrupted by calls of a dragon, Perry quickly says to her, “Let’s put a pin in this for now, shall we? At least I caught you up with my semi-rushed exposition.”

Then, he rushes out with Lia and the others to meet this dragon.

Velon playfully comments "looks like you're getting two boyfriends back, all in one day" as news of a dragon reaches them.  He tries to hide it but groans a bit as he stands from the table after the injuries he suffered from both magical attacks and the maw of the skeletal dragon.

The paladin makes sure all of the guards in his vicinity know not to attack a white right away.  He hefts his hammer with another groan and winces as he reaches for his shield.

Poljen shrugs at the news.  "Let us go meet him.  Hopefully he will be as honorable as Lia thinks.  But if he senses how weakened we are, he might try to take our castle."  He hefts his sword and shield and moves to the courtyard.

A huge shape comes flying out of the clouds towards the castle. At your orders Callahan's men stand down and let the white dragon approach.

The entire castle shudders as Arauthator, known to many as Old White Death, lands on the outer wall of the upper courtyard. Stone cracks under the impact, and two of the castle's defenders have to fling themselves to the sides to avoid being crushed.

Old White Death looks angry, and roars out once he sees those amongst the blaze who came out to meet him, "Did you really think to slip away without notice? I told you to let the Ice toads know what you found down there and await my arrival!"

Perry looks to his companions briefly with a confused expression, then addresses the dragon, "Oh great White Death, it was not our intent to slip away without notice. We are dumb, fallible creatures and simply made a mistake and forgot about informing the ice toads. Truth be told your Greatness, we had planned to meet you at your next offering pickup at the nearby human village as we did before. Nevertheless, on behalf of the Silver Blaze, I sincerely apologize for this error. Perhaps seeing your retrieved things that were trapped in that death trap ice castle will please you?" 

Perry looks to Lawrance and nods, "Our wizard Lawrance here has the items that were in that terrible place. Please take a look oh Great White Death."

Carefully watching the immense dragon, Lawrance lays out all the items that were identified at belonging to the Ancient one in one area, and the rest off to the side in a separate location. Backing up significantly once the items are all laid out, he grips his staff tightly, ready to respond if the seemingly forgetful Arauthator takes an offensive action, still tired from the recent battles. 

  Lia looks flustered for a moment as Old White Death seems to have forgotten the agreement.  She quickly recovers and walks out towards him with a broad smile. " I am truly sorry that we forgot your words, Oh Magnificent One. I assure you that we had every intention of meeting up with you and returning your items we recovered. " She walks up closer to him and says, " Let me show our good intentions. Oh Most Honorable of all Dragons . " She calls out to Sune and her blessing alights upon the great drake. " Do you have any wounds that need healing, oh Lord of the Air?" 

   Mari looks at the scene with great caution.  She doesnt do anything that could be seen as threatening. Her weapons stay in her sheaths.  Mari looks and listens intently to see if the ancient one is truly forgetful or is being deceptive  

Old White Death grunts, seemingly mollified by Perry and Lia's apology, "Hmph, don't let it happen again. Now, what did you find?"

He watches carefully as Lawrance lays out the items recovered, and gently nudges a few pieces with a claw. "I take it you are claiming that the horn was not present? There are other items missing besides." There's an edge to his voice. Its pretty clear he's not sure he believes that.

Bringing out the journal with all the sketches, Lawrance shows the pages with the Horn. “The horn WAS there, your eminence, but the experimenter in the place traded it off for other things. Here you can see the notes about that event and this prisoner we rescued could tell you more. We haven’t had time to try and figure out more. “ again stepping back, he gestures to Perry and Maccath. 

Old White Death takes the notes carefully and tilts his head as he holds them up to one great eye. He squints and shifts the distance of the pages closer and further away as he tries to read the comparatively tiny text.

Poljen remains in the courtyard, near one of the towers.  That way if this does turn into a fight, he will be ready to charge across the grounds at the creature, or rush up the tower stairs to meet it on the battlements.  But for now he keeps his sword sheathed and his shield merely hanging loosely from his left arm.

Perry interjects for a moment, "If I may, your Greatness, I can make that a more convenient size for you." Perry creates a 5 ft. tall illusion of the same document that is easier to read for the old dragon. "Basically, these individuals came and apparently traded various beings and other things for the horn. We had hoped to learn more about them. I suspect it was probably the Cult of the Dragon who took your horn, since they are the ones actively looking for it, but we need to learn more to find out for sure."

Then he calls out to Maccath, "Maccath dear, are you available for a moment? Can you tell us any more about the people who took the horn? Perhaps what they looked like or what they were wearing or anything they said that could give us clues."

Morgaine upon hearing of a dragon approaching goes back to her rom quickly to fetch her bow and quever she tgen head to one of the towers and wait to see what takes place at the meeti g of tjis dragon and the members of the Blaze that are there. 

Old White Death grumbles at Perry's offer of aid and returns to the notes in his claws. "I can read it just fine." But given the size of his eyes, its impossible not to notice that he keeps stealing glances at the illusion to compare.

When Maccath is brought out, the dragon grunts and bluntly states, "So, you live. You let yourself be collared like an animal from the looks of it." The tiefling wizard blanches and states, "I am sorry dread lord for my weakness. An aboleth rules the ruins below from afar, using tricks to control the place without being present. Even from such distances, he is far too powerful for one such as I. The people here speak the truth, the horn has been gone for the past two months. Men came and offered to trade for it, they brought slaves and a multitude of other magic items for the exchange. Based on what I overheard, I believe them to be from the Cult of Tiamat, as you are of course well aware dread lord, it is a holy relic for them."

Old White Death snorts in disdain, "Hmph, figures. I'll have to remind them not to steal from one such as I. They of all mortals should be more than aware of that lesson. Very well, let us see what remains." Running a paw over the two piles, the massive dragon starts to emit a rumbling hum, not unlike a cat's purr. Eventually he declares, "The other missing items are mere trinkets. You would be incredibly foolish to risk my wroth over such things." He looks up and scans everyone here, as if to catch a glimpse of uneasiness or guilt. "Very well then, I believe you when you say that this is all that was found."

Somewhat awkwardly tracing a rune in the air with his claws and casting a strange spell, Old White Death starts stuffing his recovered loot into his mouth, gulping it down. He then reaches for the other pile, "But since you did ultimately fail, I will take a few items from here as well to compensate the loss." He starts rooting around, poking through the other items recovered for any in particular to his liking.

Lawrance watches the new cast with intense interest. -It’s not often you get to see dragon magic in action- Gamliel says. 

%Shhh!% admonishes Lawrance , %I’m trying to follow what he just did. Imagine how it must be, to have a treasure trove in your body, yet not be carrying it!%

*Sounds like indigestion waiting to happen. * interjects Aisling. 

%I wonder what happens if he gets the hiccups? Do we take cover or get baskets?%

Poljen remains at his post, watching and listening.  He knows the Blaze is not in any shape to attempt a fight with this ancient dragon.  But he heard the name, 'aboleth,' before. He knows almost nothing of them, so will ask the scholars of the group later if they should try going back in to fight and track it after recovering and killing the creature.

Velon had been listening from just outside the courtyard, preferring to let the more eloquent, in Perry, and the healthier, in everyone who was not recently deceased, deal with the deranged dragon.  As their words and the return of his treasures seem to appease Old White Death, however, Velon steps out into the courtyard.  The paladin has his hammer on his back and the top of his shield casually in his hand so he can lean on it just a bit without being too obvious.  At mention of the Cults, he decides to speak up, doing his best to hide his current state of frailty.  "Oh great Arauthator, what will you do about the horn?  What of the cult?"

As the ancient dragon begins taking extra items from the pile, Perry pipes up with a suggestion, "Um, excuse me your Greatness. As you know, we share a common enemy here in this cult. We too are going after them to make them pay for all that they have done. It is true that we failed in retrieving your horn, but we did manage to get all of your things that remained and we could really put the other items to good use against our mutual enemy. We did survive that death trap after all, didn't we? If it pleases you, oh Great White Death, we would like to keep these extra trinkets to aid in our fight against your enemy."