Taran shakes his head, "I-It i-isn't a-a-about b-b-being u-useful, i-it is a-a-about f-f-feeling s-s-safer and st-st-stronger." Taran looks up at her with earnest eyes, "Y-your tr-true b-body i-i-is b-b-beautiful, a-awe-inspiring, an-and terrifying. B-being s-stuck l-like o-one of u-us m-most b-b-be th-the m-most v-vulnerable an-and h-h-helpless y-you've e-ever f-f-felt. I-I w-w-would n-never a-a-ask y-you t-t-to f-f-fight w-w-with us, b-b-but, I-I d-d-do w-w-want y-y-you to f-f-feel b-b-better, m-more in c-c-control."

Taran looks away, "I-I'm b-b-being p-pushy, an-and I-I'm s-s-sorry, b-but... I-I kn-know h-h-how d-d-dark i-it c-c-can be st-stuck in y-your o-own th-thoughts, d-d-doing s-s-something, an-anything u-useful a-at all, i-it c-c-can help. Sometimes."

Siepha gives Taran a very small smile. "Thank you," she says softly. "Maybe you're right. But I wouldn't want to take your blade or crossbow for something that could just as easily be solved with a smaller weapon. Maybe a dagger?"

“Siepha.” Vishal says seriously, “I need to tell the trailblazers about this. They can help us, including you. But I need to know what to say. If you wish to head to Khorvar I need to know. If you want to stay in hiding with us I need to know. What do you want so we can best help you?”

Taran relaxes a small bit, unconsciously moving quicker than necessary to retrieve his crossbow. "I-I h-h-have t-t-two d-d-daggers, I-I j-just... th-thought y-you m-might f-f-find th-them t-t-too s-small."

Taran flips both daggers out of his wrist sheathes, presenting the nearly identical blades to her, hilt first, "Y-You c-c-can ch-choose o-one n-now, a-and w-w-we c-c-can tr-train a l-little a-a-after d-d-dinner... I-If y-you a-are c-c-comfortable with it."

Siepha takes a deep breath. "I...well, I don't know what I want. I thought that Riedra was a way to get more involved in the world, but...you all saw how that worked out. And while I'm stuck like this, it's not like I can fly to Khorvaire anyway." She bites her lip. "If the Storm Guardians find out I'm alive and away from the Inspired, they're going to want me to come back. They won't...kidnap me or anything, but they will pressure me, and well...I would prefer to make my decision on my own." Her eyes light up. "But I have an idea. If you'll let me keep traveling with you to the Tundra, I would greatly appreciate it. If so, tell the trailblazers. If they pass that word on to the Guardians, I know what to say to them." She turns to Taran and selects a dagger at random. "Yeah...I think I would be. Thank you," she says simply, before expanding her gaze to cover you all. "All of you. You...well, you really have no reason to help me. The opposite, in fact." She looks down, shame appearing on her features. "I'm sorry for everything I did."

"Not your fault ... You want to ... make your own decisions ... I understand."

Kaori looks down at her shield, staring at it for a long moment.

"Whatever happens ... Let no one ... control ... you. Be strong."

"D-Do n-n-not w-w-worry a-a-about th-the p-p-past, w-w-we d-d-do n-not h-h-hold y-y-you t-to an-any b-blame." Taran says sliding the dagger back into his wrist. "W-We s-s-simply n-n-need to w-w-worry ab-about the f-f-future."

Vishal nods before asking, "If I can promise the Storm Guardians won't know you're back in Sarlona will you come back with us?"

"Back to Adar? I...don't know." Siepha frowns. "If I can manage to transform back...I may stay in the Tundra after you all leave. But if I'm still stuck like this...yes, I'll come back with you. Is that fair?"

Vishal nods, “Okay. Let me just tell the Trailblazer. Excuse me.” Vishal then moves to casts Sending to Ranari. 

Message: “Update. Refugee is shapeshifted dragon. Can’t shift back. Doesn’t want Guardians to know. If shifted back will stay in Tundra. Otherwise will return with us.”

"...I see. Update us if she manages to shift back. Extraction team leaving tomorrow, try to survive another week or so and they should be in your general area."

Taran heads over to help Caelius prepare the dinner for the night, feeling much lighter-hearted than he had in days.

“The extraction team is on their way. They’re leaving tomorrow so expect about a week on this still.” Vishal tells the others once he has his reply 

"W-W-We sh-should b-b-be to th-the T-Tundra w-within the n-next f-f-few days" Taran adds, "An-And, o-once w-w-we are th-there, I-I'd s-s-say i-it w-would t-take ab-about an-another d-day  to g-get to the sh-shore w-without at-attracting a-attention, m-maybe l-less. W-We c-c-could h-hole u-up in a s-s-sea c-cave, un-unless w-w-we w-want to s-s-seek out the Akiak."

 The next day, Taran seemed in a slightly brighter mood as he concealed their campsite and loped off to begin leading the team through the patrols

Stealth 31   If Advantage  31
Survival 28
Perception 16

The revelation of the previous night seems to have filled Kaori with newfound confidence, and she does a much better job keeping her rustling plate armour on the quieter side today.

Stealth: 14 (This was 14, in case it changes from editing the post)
(No Advantage because of Heavy Armour)

Caelius does not continue to talk to Siepha today.

Stealth: 9

Vishal smiles and makes sure the same three people have aid in case they get ambushed. But otherwise its a normal day of travel for him. 

Stealth rolled in discord: 13

Siepha: 21

Inspired: 9

Today, despite everyone's quite impressive quietness, the Inspired seem to be on top of their game. After several harrowing escapes, you finally make it out of the Inspired gauntlet, the patrols around you dropping off as evening comes. Soon, you're camping at the foot of the mountains, about two days from the Tundra border.

OOC: Okay, I'mma handwave the rest of the journey to the Tundra now that you're out of the gauntlet. Everyone please give me your intended actions for the trip, but given current circumstances and the fact that Books is a stressball, I will not be moving you until tomorrow midday at the earliest, maybe even Friday. So no big rush, but I would like those actions please. And you'll arrive at the Tundra at the end of the week.

Taran will continue on the same, scouting ahead and keeping an eye out, making sure to cover their camp sites and such every morning.

Evenings after Dinner he will continue training with Siepha.