Vishal establishes the connection having received the information he quietly tells the group, “Blue scales in the sky about half mile away. Approximately five minutes until we’re in sight distance.”

 Taran points off to the side, dashing for the mouth of the cave he spotted. Gesturing for the others to follow him into cover.

They wanted to confront the dragon, but it would be better to do it on their terms, not hers.

Caelius breathes slowly, trying to keeps his cold hands from shaking, and nods.

Akuma frowns in thought before quickly following after Taran as quietly and unnoticeably as possible, eyes occasionally flickering up to keep a tab on the dragon when possible. 

You all race to the cave, and watch out the entrance of the cave as a blue dragon sweeps by. You catch a glimpse of smooth, light blue scales and soft spines before she's past you, clearly not having spotted you.

You are free to press on. Please inform me how you plan to approach the cave, and if stealth is involved, roll me up some Stealths!

 Taran makes a sigh of relief.

"W-Well, w-w-we kn-know sh-she is in-inside at l-least. I'll h-h-head up, m-make s-s-sure sh-she is a-alone. I-If sh-she is n-not, I'll s-s-sound the h-h-horn."

With that, Taran sneaks back out of the small cave, making his way carefully towards the dragon's lair.

Stealth: 16

"We should all just go together." Vishal says thinking that's a better idea before looking to Akuma, "I think your abilities with the Shadow's would be useful now." 

Akuma nods, closing her eyes for a minute silently. Shadows begin to swell around her, originating from her arm tattoos until they expand in a misty dark swirl radiating around her. As Akuma opens her eyes, the shadows expand to give the whole group cover, her eyes themselves darkened to a near black, flickering almost like a flame. With a simple nod, she takes a deep breath before speaking calmly. "There. We should be able to advance with more ease now. As normal, stay within the dark cloud. Are we ready?"

Stealth: 17

Vishal nods, "I think so, I will do all the talking that we need, if I could link all our mines I would but unfortunately that's not something that I can do right now." He then smiles and says, "Okay, let's get started going."

Stealth: 29 - Stealth including PWT 

Taran hesitates then nods. Triple checking his equipment as he allows the group to follow him to the entrance.

You slip in, following the stone corridor until it widens into a large stone chamber. To the left is a large sand pit, currently unoccupied. Near the back of the cave is another tunnel, high up in the wall and with a pile of rubble beneath it. A small sleeping bag is present next to the rubble pile, and to the right of the tunnel you're coming out of is a small basin of water. In the center of the cave is a stepped stone platform, with a dark glass orb filled with silver-grey mist. Standing near the orb is a young woman with gold hair, wearing a dress that shimmers with bronze thread and is cinched at the waist with a dark blue belt.

Half-crouched near the rubble pile is a moderately sized dragon with pale blue scales and soft spines along the top of her head and neck. Her bright blue eyes are scanning the cave, and fasten on you as you near the entrance to the cavern and she hisses, electricity crackling around her jaws. The woman spins around, eyes wildly scanning the area, although she clearly doesn't see you.

Siepha:

Inspired:

OOC: You each have one chance to keep her from blasting you. Should that fail, she will blast you all with her lightning breath and you will roll initiative.

“Wait please!” Vishal says moving out into the open and away from the group a little, “I’m here to talk not fight. You’re being manipulated. You belong with the other Storm Guardians. Doing what dragons do. Not here, slowly growing under the influence. Please, I do not wish to fight let’s just talk this out and get you back home, where you belong.”

Persuasion: 8

Caelius bows deeply, making it clear that he doesn’t have any weapons.

 Persuasion: 20

Taran freezes upon seeing the magnificence of the Blue Dragon, her feathered mane glistening with the un-melted snow from the outside. Even the threat of her lightning breath seemed to send a thrill through him, the sparks of elemental power sending an iridescent sheen across her scales. There is a small part of him simply in awe of her, but he also knew he had a job to do.

He knelt down, hoping his reflexes would be enough to save him if she chose to unleash the fury of the storm upon them, "H-Honored S-Siepha, Stormchild, my c-c-companion," he gestures to Mister Caelius, "w-wishes to r-relay th-that y-you l-left the M-Mountains w-without g-g-giving us a ch-chance to s-speak to y-you. T-To kn-know wh-what the R-Riedran's off-offered y-you t-t-to j-join w-with them... He w-wants y-you to m-make a f-fully in-informed d-decision."

Taran clenches his fist, looking at her with eyes full of confusion, wonder and a bit of something else. "I-I... I would l-like to kn-know why. Wh-why would you b-b-betray A-Adar? I-I w-w-was al-always t-t-told th-that the St-Storm Guardians w-were s-sent b-by the L-Lady of St-Storms t-to h-help pr-protect us fr-from th-the a-assaults of the In-Inspired. I-I d-d-don't un-understand y-your d-d-decision, Honored Dragon. Pl-Please.... c-can you deign t-to in-inform m-me of w-why?"

Taran Persuasion: (any bonus from kneeling?) 13

Akuma pauses for a moment, eyes scanning over the dragon with a mix of curiosity and caution. After letting the others say their piece, she nods and clears her throat. "We can talk about this and no one needs to get hurt. We mean you no harm. If you remain cordial, so shall we." 

Persuasion?: 11

Kaori holds her hands out to show that her sword is not drawn as she steps out of the shadows, looking at the dragon with wonder but also keeping a wary eye on the Inspired.

"We are friends crr Came to talk coo Don't need to fight."

Persuasion: 12 (Rolled in Discord)

"I am not going back there," Siepha snarls. "Even if I'd liked it, they'd kill me anyway." She roars, lightning arcs across the cavern, splitting into half a dozen connected strikes to form a web of electricity that slams into you all.

Everyone needs to make a DC 16 Dex ST for half of 52 lightning damage.

Initiative:

Vishal: 18
Taran: 7
Kaori: 6
Akuma: 15
Caelius: 7

Siepha: 17
Inspired: 12

Initiative order: Lair Action, Siepha, Taran, Caelius, Inspired, Akuma, Kaori, Vishal

Sand whips up around you all, stinging your eyes.

Everyone still conscious make a DC 15 Con ST or be blinded for 1 min (you can repeat the save at the end of each of your turns). If you are unconscious at this time, you do not need to make the ST, now or when you are healed.

Siepha roars and leaps forward, stopping about twenty feet away from you. "LEAVE ME ALONE, or I'll bring this entire cavern down on you all!"

(Siepha is Readying an action to attack the next person who comes within 5 feet of her. I'm going to roll the attacks in a spoiler and trust you guys not to read them unless you go within 5 feet, to avoid it affecting your decisions)

Taran and Caelius are up.

Vishal is able to nimbly dance out of the way of the majority of the lightning blast but still takes a bit of damage, standing up he is able to shield his eyes from the sand but is unable to keep hold of his spell, Kaori only being protected for the initial blast of lightning. 

Rolled in Discord: 17 Dex ST, 6 Con ST against for Concentration, 17 Con ST against sand. 

Dex save: 10

Caelius falls unconscious.

[This death save has been rescinded]

Kaori braces herself for the initial blast of lightning and with the help of both Taran and Vishal's magic, is able to come away with only a bit of damage. However, the sand kicks up into her face and she can't see.