Sinternal moans out a denial as she keeps squeezing the pillows tighter against her head. A short time later though, she stops. Slowly letting go of the pillow, she pokes her head out and looks around warily, "What was that uncle Perry?"

---

Silas answers Velon's question with a regretful shrug, "I wish I could tell you that we do, but in truth that depends on how many rally to face them, which is what Elia and I have been working on. There are more than enough fighting forces to bury the cult and every spawn of Tiamat in the world if they all band together, even if they march without our kind to lead the way. Regrettably, my experience has taught me that only a few nations and groups will wholeheartedly answer the call. Others will only send a token force, and even many of those will need to be bullied into it. And of course some nations and groups will stay out of it regardless. If Severin is as smart as I think he is, he won't give the nations of the world a clear enemy to face together until it is too late to rally."

A few moments later, Lia hears a deep voice replying to her spell, "Hmph, you presume much little one. You still owe me that dance. But fine, it was a call to arms, for all of my kind to..." The voice cuts off abruptly as Arauthator apparently rambles headlong into the word limit.

  Lia grimaces in frustration. She concentrates and resumes the conversation.  " I will dance.  I swear it oh brave lord.  Thank you having time for me. Call of arms for your kind to do what?" 

OOC: Sending cast once again. 

Arauthator's voice comes back, distinctly more annoyed than before, "The limitations on these spells are ridiculous. Can't get a proper word in. They told us to gather and defend the well of dragons. Of..." The voice trails off as the old dragon hits the word limit yet again.

Despite the grave nature of the horn having been used Velon begins to smirk as Lia struggles to communicate with Old White Death, not that he's thrilled about the dancing aspect of Lia's odd relationship with the ancient white.

 Lia curses in frustration and rolls her eyes.  She concentrates again and is sending another message to the ancient white...." What were you  saying? They called all of you to defend the well of dragons and what?" 

Arauthator replies after a moment, more slowly this time, "That was it. Gather and defend the well. Of course I've no intention of going. Wait I have more words? In that case let me..."

  Lia shakes her head worriedly.  She says softly, " Old White Death said that the horn is calling all of them to come to the well of dragons and defend it.  He said he won't participate of course. "  

Poljen shrugs.  "He might not.  But he also might lie to you, in hopes of getting information about us.  You might trust that dragon, but I do not."

 Lia looks at Poljen frowning.  " He has been truthful the whole time with us. He followed his agreement when we were in his territory.  He honors his agreement with the villagers that live there.  Old White Death received zero information from me.  He didn't ask about our plans    You don't have to trust him but I do.  He could have easily killed us before if that was his desire. " 

"But would he fight with us?" asks Velon, looking at Lia and Silas.

Silas looks skeptical, "I can readily believe that he'd stay out of it. Old White Death hasn't left his territory in over a millenium, and he has no particular reason to go haring off to serve the likes of Severos."

"I don't know about fighting with us though. He might not want to get involved, but Tiamat is still his goddess, and Bahamut his foe. Those bonds are in his blood. I won't say it is not possible, but I would never choose to bet on it."

Lawrance ponders this new development and asks "Could this be some sort of distraction? How many that heard this do you think likely to actually respond, if there is no compulsion to do so? Wouldn't their own natural self-interest keep them wary of gathering in any great numbers? Surely the summoners know that there are dragons that will reveal their plan to the other side, even if they sell it. If they do respond in any great numbers, what do we have to field against them? The Well of Dragons is needed to summon the Queen, so that would be where the masks will be gathered. I think going to negotiate with the faction of Red Wizards might be the wisest choice, even if all they do is give us access to a 'back door' into the enemy."

Silas is quick to answer some of Lawrence's questions. "The ancients may or may not answer. Those who are firmly established like Old White Death have little to gain, typically they have whatever territory they want to have, hold the power they want to hold, and have the treasures they most desire. Hoondarrh must want something else to be so active, perhaps he thinks he will become Tiamat's Consort."

"The younger dragons are another story. Some may decide not to go for one or another reason, but they all potentially have something to gain from this, even if it is only the chance to elevate themselves above the rest and claim territory that they do not have the power to take at present. It is likely they will show up by the hundreds."

"On the plus side, every dragon of my ilk will show if able, young and old, something to gain or not. Protanther has begun seeking out the elders of our kind that have not been heard from in some time, ensuring that they are awake and aware of the situation. Some of our eldest sleep for centuries at a time, it would not do for them to slumber through this. I hope he can find his grandmother Valamaradace in particular, her help would be a great boon. Regretfully we are not so numerous as our foe. We will need aid, whether the prideful like Protanther like to admit it or not."

"As to the possibility that the horn's message would be passed to us, I suspect they would have anticipated that. Once the dragons have gathered at the well, they could issue much more sensitive instructions in person, and from there use the horn to indicate when to execute preexisting orders, or even pass on false information."

  Lia's mouth gapes open.  " Valamaradace ? She is a legend amongst my people. She guarded the Silver Marches north of my homeland.  We called her Dragon Queen of Silvermoon.  She still lives!   I would love to actually meet her. " 

“Could we help check on some of the ancient dragons with the speed of the castle, if there is time after walking into the red wizard’s trap, of course?”

Quote from Kyrroeth >>

  Lia's mouth gapes open.  " Valamaradace ? She is a legend amongst my people. She guarded the Silver Marches north of my homeland.  We called her Dragon Queen of Silvermoon.  She still lives!   I would love to actually meet her. " 

 Adding his own tidbits, Lawrance says "She,too, has a floating home! She's reputed to be amazingly powerful in magic and a just ruler. Last I heard, shes been very diligent in hunting down evil presences in the area she literally oversees. A grand ally, if so."

Trying to focus on the practical, Poljen says, "If we do go meet these Red Wizards, what do we do after that?  Are we heading to the Well of Dragons for the final battle?  Because we will need to alert the Storm Giants.  They have said they would assist in the battle."

"Are you okay, child?" Perry asks Sinternal with a worried expression. "What was that noise? Do you need anything? I can bring every pillow in the castle if need be."

After resting, Lawrance writes up a list of items he needs, put's it into his Secret Chest and sends it off to the Ether. He then borrows the communication stone and contacts Poppo. "We could use some items from the vault as well as Penelope's skill at the market. Check the Chest. Send her to Waterdeep's Circle." 

Making his way with the group back to the surface, he says "How likely do you think it is that we'll actually get useful support from the Reds?"

Sinternal looks puzzled at Perry's question, "I don't know, but its okay, its gone now."

Shortly afterwards one of the kobolds, appointed to the lofty position of castle page comes trotting up, "Hey, uh, we just got a message in, apparently they need Penelope over in Waterdeep? Something about lots of shopping to be done."

---

Down in the tunnels, Silas answers Lawrences question, "That depends entirely upon whether useful support is something that they think serves their best interests. Even if they offer to ally with us in good faith, chances are they will also be looking for a chance to gain more from the situation than we'd prefer."

"Then again, even if they do have a wicked ulterior motive, if it also means that they keep the other Red Wizards from putting the full might of Thay behind the cult it could be well worth it anyways."