"It appears that your dancing partner has gone off to the restroom. Care to dance with me in the meantime?"

Watching Bell walk off, but knowing she was in good hands and probably going to find a toilet bowl to throw up in, she relaxed and stared into Messa's eyes. She was standing very close. "Alright.." she said, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat. "As you can see, I won all of the Avernian square dancing awards back home. You better watch yourself."

"I can't say that I'm too familiar with Avernian square dancing, but I hope that you can appreciate our dances." Messalina takes Camilla's hand in hers and begins to slow dance. Messalina's footwork is impeccable and it's a sign of her experience how she's able to do it without thinking. She is easily able to guide her less-experienced partner throughout the dance, giving subtle cues to Camilla on when she's about to twirl her and when she's about to dip her. Although the two women very quickly become the center of attention in the tavern, Camilla is the only other person in the room, as far as Messalina is concerned. Part of that was because of the dance, part of it was because Camilla looked absolutely ravishing in her dress.

Twinkle toes Messalina suddenly trips and falls over Astrid, due to her not paying attention to anyone in the room but Camilla, and pulls Camilla down with her to the floor. As the three form a mosh pit pile on the dance floor, the Troubadour Trio band suddenly changes the song they were playing, instead picking up the pace with an upbeat tune. 

Despite being a little dizzy and very warm because of the alcohol, it wasn't enough to distract Camilla from Messa's touch, the way she guided her during the dance, or how close Messa's face was to her. At times, she was painfully aware of Messa's body pressing gently against hers. The only thing keeping from Messa's hands from actually touching Camilla's body was a very thin layer of silk. She smelled good. In a trance like manner, she breathed, "You're a really good dancer, you know." she spat out, smiling, trying to keep her composure while the wine and ale worked their effects. "You..uh.." she fumbled for words, flushing badly, noticing Messa's lips an inch from hers. "You..WHOA!!"

In a sudden twisting moment, Camilla went down, feeling Messa trip on something, and getting caught in the jumble.

18

With a loud cracking noise, she hit the floor head first against one of her horns, and she laid there for a moment, rubbing her head. "Owww, fuuucckkk...." she groaned loudly. "God dammit..ow..please tell me I didn't break my glasses again.."

"No, your glasses are fine." And Messalina calmly gets back on her feet, picks up Camilla and gives her a kiss on the spot the she bumped her head and resumes the dance like nothing ever happened.

Bell returned to the party just when Astrid knocked the duo over, causing the kenku to let out a fit of giggles followed by a few hiccups. When they returned to their dancing so did Bell with auntie Li’riya! “I won’t throw up on you, promise!”

Performance: 5

The little bird took the lead and killed it!

Li'riya smiles at the little bird. "Thank you, Bell. I appreciate the courtesy."

SESSION 2: THE SECOND SESSION / NERONVAIN / METALLIC DRAGONS, ARISE / THE CULT STRIKES BACK

At the Second Council of Waterdeep, you see two new faces. Lord Neverember has been replaced as Open Lord of Waterdeep by Lady Laeral Silverhand, who now sits at the head of the council table. Dagult Neverember sits to her right, alongside a human female introduced as Elia. The delegates discuss the raids in their various domains after receiving your report about Varram and Arauthator, providing flavor for the ongoing activities of the cult and giving a clear impression that the situation is escalating.

UPDATE: VARRAM THE WHITE
In response to the fate of Wyrmspeaker Varram, most are pleased with capturing him, the Emerald Enclave is nonplussed, believing that capturing him only complicates matters. Varram has already demonstrated a willingness to corrupt the natural order, making a trial excessive — and potentially opening the door to a rescue attempt. This will prove to be a difficult trial.

UPDATE: THE SEA OF MOVING ICE
The Arcane Brotherhood are powerful allies, and all are pleased that you risked your lives to return Maccath — with the exception of the Order of the Gauntlet. Ontharr Frume knows that the Arcane Brotherhood does not police its members in what kinds of knowledge they pursue, and that they tolerate many evil wizards in their company. Bringing the Arcane Brotherhood into the alliance doesn’t lose Frume’s respect, but neither does it earn it.

NEW MISSION: NERONVAIN
Delaan Winterhound of the Emerald Enclave is involved with investigations into recent dragon attacks in the Misty Forest. King Melandrach waves away Delaan’s concerns, saying that dragon attacks in the area have stopped since his elves increased their patrols and fortified their positions. Set out and discover the truth.

NEW MISSION: METALLIC DRAGONS, ARISE
During the council, you are introduced to the silver dragon Otaaryliakkarnos, in her human guise as Elia. She bears an invitation from the metallic dragons to a council of their own, and the council delegates ask the adventurers to attend.

Pick a new mission to begin.

At the end of the night, Messalina bows at the end of her dance with Camilla. "You sold yourself short, you were an excellent partner and I enjoyed dancing with you tonight. Perhaps we can dance again later, if you feel so inclined."

Camilla didnt look her best the next morning during the next session, being a wee hung over. Anywhere the sun shone, she squinted her eyes, and rubbed her temples. Did she have an amazing time during the wedding reception? You bet.

 Messalina buys Camilla a coffee so that she can stay awake during the meeting and be somewhat functional today. "Here drink this. And maybe let Bell stay in the bag today unless we need her." She also goes up to Li'riya. "I don't think that your grandmother would enjoy being in a meeting with dragons. Let her know that she can spend the day kicking puppies or whatever it is she does for fun."

Camilla took the coffee gladly. "Thanks." and then look at Messa in shocked horror, at least, as much as she could being hungover and half asleep. "Kicking puppies! That's awful.."

SESSION 2: THE SECOND SESSION / NERONVAIN / METALLIC DRAGONS / THE CULT STRIKES BACK

By ancient tradition, the draconic council includes ambassadors from the diminutive humanoid races.

That's us.

The silver dragon Otaaryliakkarnos — in the guise of the human Elia — comes to the Council of Waterdeep to extend the invitation to the draconic council, at which point, the delegates discussed who should be sent as ambassadors for the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast. As a group not aligned overall with any specific faction or cause, it was deemed that we would be the best fit.

Elia explains the situation:

"When the Cult of the Dragon sounded the Draakhorn, its tremors were felt across the North. In response, many metallic dragons began to investigate what the sounding meant, and to gather what information they could on the cult from nearby humanoid cultures. One of those dragons, an ancient gold wyrm named Protanther, invoked an ancient draconic rite of council, summoning ambassadors from among the metallic dragons. Meeting in the Nether Mountains, the council will determine what metallic dragons should do in the face of the looming threat of Tiamat. The council includes representatives from each of the five metallic dragon races, who will spread word to their fellows of the council’s decision. Of specific importance to the factions of Waterdeep is the question of whether the dragons should aid the civilized humanoid races in their fight against the cult, or whether they will act on their own.

So. With that being said. What needs to be done?

During the dragon council, you will have a chance to engage and debate some of Faerûn’s wisest and most powerful creatures. You must convince the dragons that the cause of the humanoid folk of the Sword Coast is just, and that dragons and non-dragons need to support each other in this conflict. To broker such an alliance, you might need to promise concessions on behalf of different factions — whether they have those factions’ permission to offer concessions or not. If you are successful, you can gain not only the support of the dragons as a whole but also the specific favor of certain councilors, including valuable magic items from those dragons’ own hoards."

The next step would be the journey to The Nether Mountains. It is 600 miles away from Waterdeep, but if you have no other business to attend to and can leave immediately, you can ride on dragonback, and the journey would only take 2 days.

"I don't believe that we have anything that needs to be done in the city, unless Camilla needs to buy some clothing that will keep her comfortable in the mountains."

Li'riya smiles faintly. "I didn't bother mentioning today's meeting," she tells Messalina. "It would be quite a shame if we were to have to depart on dragonback before we could tell her the next mission or meet up with her."

Camilla sips on the coffee, feeling the effects warm her up and waken her as well. "Nerp." she says, "I'm good, i'm ready to go."

"Yes Li'riya, it would be a shame." Said Messalina, with a smirk on her face.

THE JOURNEY TO NETHER MOUNTAINS

The journey from Waterdeep to the Nether Mountains is more than six hundred miles, but Otaaryliakkarnos was willing to grant you all the special boon of flying you guys there on her back - that took only two days. The journey takes you all through areas suffering under the cult’s attacks. From the air, you can easily see the ruins of isolated settlements and smoke hanging on the horizon.

THE COUNCIL OF DRAGONS

Five ancient dragons make up the council charged with deciding their metallic kin’s response to the cult. Though they are not necessarily the wisest or most powerful specimens of dragonkind, all are well respected. Any decision made by these dragon councilors will be accepted by the metallic dragons as a whole. The dragons have no need to judge the different factions of the Sword Coast, for they know of their reputations and actions already. The dragons’ attitudes are effectively fixed in that regard. However, they know also that among all the humanoid races, leaders often determine the character of societies. Though they understand that our adventuring party are not the nominal leaders of any faction, the dragons already know that your actions have set the course of the factions’ battle against Tiamat. As such, if the dragons side with the humanoids, it will be as a statement of personal faith in you — and in your ability to bring all the factions into the fight.

DRAGON ATTITUDES

Each dragon councilor has one of four attitudes in this episode, which are: unfriendly, cautious, neutral, and friendly. To secure the cooperation of the metallic dragons as a whole, the party must conclude this episode with at least three dragon councilors having a friendly attitude and with none unfriendly. If you make a promise or perform an act aimed at a specific dragon, you gain a two-step improvement in the attitude of that dragon (for example, from unfriendly to neutral, or from cautious to friendly). A general concession grants a one-step improvement to a single dragon of your choosing. Metallic dragons are exceedingly wise, but they sometimes have difficulty distinguishing individual humanoids from each other. As such, an individual dragon’s initial attitude depends on the party’s racial makeup — and on ancient interactions and past wrongs.

Here are the dragons, their attitudes, and their information:

PROTANTHER, ANCIENT MALE GOLD DRAGON

Protanther is the leader of the council. A former King of Justice — a royal title among the gold dragons — he does not care for humanoids, particularly humans and elves. Though he sees both good and bad in the lesser races, he believes that their capacity for attaining great power despite their physical limitations makes them dangerous. For all their capability, humanoids have little time to learn the wisdom to direct that capability. The gold dragon knows that many of the world’s most blighted creatures descend from humans who bargained with dark forces for power, including yuan-ti and tieflings. He considers the cycle of failed human civilizations across Faerûn as a sign of a quintessential flaw in human nature. Moreover, he is quick to point out that humans make up the majority of evil archmages and liches — including Sammaster, who founded the Cult of the Dragon, and Szass Tam’s Red Wizards. Even the current leader of the Cult of the Dragon, Severin, and a majority of the cult’s members are human.

Protanther can at least appreciate that the crimes of the humanoid races are usually directed against each other. He knows that the short lives of many humanoids means they might not even recognize their own evil. The elves, however, live for long years and possess great knowledge — and have used that knowledge to the detriment of dragonkind in the past. It was the elves who shaped the magic of the Dracorage mythal, causing dragons across Faerûn to go mad with rage. Convincing Protanther to trust humanoid factions that include elves is a difficult task.

Desire: Protanther would prefer that the dragons rally their forces with no regard for the humanoid factions, striking immediately and decisively before the cult and its chromatic dragon allies can muster their full strength. If this puts the humanoids at risk, so be it.
Attitude: Unfriendly. Protanther does not like tieflings, humans, or elves.
Concession: Protanther wants a formal apology from one who speaks for elvenkind for the abomination that was the Dracorage mythal. He is willing to trust that the adventurers can wring such an apology from King Melandrach on the council.
Mechanic: DC30 Persuasion check will bring Protanther to friendly. Or, you can do the "general concessions" below.

ZELIFARNA, YOUNG FEMALE BRONZE DRAGON

Zelifarna is a young bronze dragon who happily travels the planes in search of knowledge and ever more challenging games. She is a beautiful free spirit who is always smiling and curious. Seeing good and bad in equal measure among the lesser races, Zelifarna recognizes that helping the humanoids is less a case of deciding whether they are worthy of aid, and more about deciding whether you all can be trusted to properly lead the factions.

Desire: Zelifarna has no preconceived sense of what might be the best course, and she is willing to hear all sides of the discussion.
Attitude: Friendly. Zelifarna has watched the lesser races for decades from the planes, and she understands that every individual humanoid possesses the potential for good or evil in equal measure. While she is friendly, she will weigh all options for action against the cult.
Concession: Zelifarna believes that the dragon masks are too dangerous to remain in the world if the humanoid races are aware of where they’re hidden. If you all agree that all dragon masks will be handed over to the metallic dragons as soon as they are found — including any masks captured after the final battle — you have won her trust and respect.

OTAARYLIAKKARNOS, ANCIENT FEMALE SILVER DRAGON

The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and guidance, and should be shown Bahamut’s righteous way of living rather than ignored and treated as children. If the dragons refuse to engage the humanoids and focus only on their own advancement, the humanoids will persist in making the same mistakes again and again. Otaaryliakkarnos’s faith in the potential of humanoids has something of a blind spot when it comes to dwarves, however. She resents the dwarves for their Dragonmoots of old — great hunts during which clans would come together to end the perceived threat of a particular dragon. Centuries before, Otaaryliakkarnos’s niece was killed in a Dragonmoot, and with the long ancestral memory of the metallic dragons, she holds all dwarves responsible.

Attitude: Neutral. Luckily, there are no dwarves in the party.
Desire: Otaaryliakkarnos would like the metallic dragons to strike now as Protanther suggests, but she does not know if they can succeed alone. An alliance would reduce casualties for all parties, but the dragons must be certain of the intentions of the factions and their leaders.
Concession: Otaaryliakkarnos knows that the skin of her slain kin was used to make armor for the dwarf lord who slew her. She demands the remains be returned and that Ambassador Brawnanvil make an apology on behalf of all dwarves for the wrongful deaths the Dragonmoots have caused.
Mechanic: DC20 Persuasion check will bring Protanther to friendly. Or, you can do the "general concessions" below.

NYMMURH, ANCIENT MALE BRASS DRAGON

Of all the dragons on the council, Nymmurh disagrees most strongly with Protanther. He knows that the metallic dragons are made in the image of Bahamut, and have no choice in the matter of being good or evil. Thus, how much greater and more precious is good when it is freely chosen by the humanoids, who must consciously turn away from villainy?  Nymmurh’s belief in the potential of humanoids is partly driven by his affection for and protection of the noble Silmerhelve human family in Waterdeep, including Dala Silmerhelve.

Desire: Nymmurh would like to help the factions, looking to the Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet as epitomizing the best traits of humanoid aspiration.
Attitude: Nymmurh is neutral, but he knows that you all come to the council on the recommendation of those he respects and loves.
Concession: Nymmurh needs little concession unless you, somehow, offended him. Engaging him in a lengthy discussion about nearly anything would win him over, as he is willing to cooperate greatly and is very open minded.
Mechanic: DC10 Performance check will bring Nymmurh to friendly. Or, you can do the "general concessions" below.

TAZMIKELLA, ADULT FEMALE COPPER DRAGON

Tazmikella is fond of humans and has spent a great deal of time living among them, but she has reservations about supporting the factions. Her lair and hoard have been the target of cunning thieves and fast-talking swindlers more than once, and she perceives betrayal as a humanoid trait. She fears what might happen if one or more factions turn against the metallic dragons to demonstrate loyalty to Tiamat. The copper dragon also believes that unrestricted interaction between humanoids and dragons has been disastrous for both races. The Dracorage mythal serves as a sore reminder of the animosity that has often arisen between the two peoples.

Desire: Tazmikella agrees with Protanther that the metallic dragons could strike against the chromatic dragons themselves. However, she is not convinced they would succeed, and having humanoid allies would reduce casualties for both sides.
Attitude: Unfriendly. She does not trust any humanoid who have engaged in shady deals, or shady behavior.
Concession: Using the spell Legend Lore, Camilla's Dagger of Warning turns out to have once belonged to Tazmikella, and was part of a hoard she took from an ancient black dragon she defeated. The item holds sentimental value to her — or it did until a thief stole it from her hoard. Returning the item to her with an apology improves Tazmikella’s attitude.
Mechanic: DC15 Persuasion check and handing over the dagger will win her to friendly. Or, you can do the "general concessions" below.

GENERAL CONCESSIONS

You guys can make general concessions to the dragons to appease them as a group, rather than make personal concessions to individual dragons. A general concession improves the attitude of a single dragon of your choice by one step.

Wealth: Even good dragons love treasure, and bestowing a share of the hoard the cult has collected for Tiamat goes a long way toward improving the attitudes of the council dragons. You all can effectively treat the dragons as another faction receiving an equal portion of the hoard, granting one share of the total treasure divided among eleven factions. Doing so improves the attitude of a single dragon by one step. For every additional share the dragons are promised (two shares among twelve factions, three shares among thirteen factions, and so on), the party improves the attitude of another dragon by one step.

The attitude of the dragons is improved by wealth in the following order: Tazmikella, Otaaryliakkarnos, Zelifarna, Protanther, and Nymmurh. Promising one-third (five shares among fifteen factions) or more of the treasure improves the attitude of all five dragons.

Other Promises: The dragons do not prompt the party with options, but the characters can potentially sway them with other offers. Reward player ingenuity for options such as the following: A promise to turn over Severin as a prisoner if he is captured, or to deliver his body to the dragons if he is slain, consecrating a major monastery or temple to Bahamut, or dedicating a historical plot of land as belonging to the dragons.

Messalina allows Li'riya to make sure that she's all prettied up for the dragons. Before she goes to speak, she regretfully takes the Dagger of Warning back from Camilla. "I'm sorry about this. I'll get you a new one later. Preferably one that wasn't stolen from a dragon we're trying to be friends with." She walks over to Tazmikella and kneels down in front of her. "O Great Tazmikella, I apologize for the theft of your dagger. I purchased it, trying to provide someone dear to me with an item that might help keep them safe after they were ambushed by some cultists, but this belongs to you. Please take this back, as a gesture of good faith from the humanoids of Faerun."

Persuasion: 29

Next she goes over to Nymurrh, and has a lengthy, but pleasant conversation with him about how the arts are an expression of the goodness within humanoids, how it is something that they use to add some beauty in the world or express the affection they feel towards others.

Persuasion: 32

After her conversation, she marches over to Otaaryliakkarnos and once again kneels down before the great dragon. "I too know the sting of having my kinsmen slain and I can only imagine how insulting it must be to see the culprit going around bearing the skin of your loved one like it's some form of twisted trophy. I can most certainly assure you that the Dwarves will apologize for all of the dragon lives that they have taken and that your kinswoman's remains be returned to you, so that they may be properly interred."

Persuasion: 30

She passes by Zelifarna with a smile and a curtsy, grateful that the dragon already has an affable attitude towards the humanoid races.

Finally, she passes by Prolanther, but not before telling Camilla and Li'riya to make themselves scarce and silently thanking the gods that they ditched Li'riya's grandmother back in Waterdeep. Seeing his power and fury, Messalina doesn't even try to use her silver tongue to persuade him. "I concede that the humanoid races have done a great deal of evil in years past, but we are capable of repentance for the sins that we commit. As a gesture of good faith, the elves are willing to apologize for their role in the Dracorage mythal."

Before going outside the council to talk with Camilla while Messalina talks with Prolanther, Li'riya promises Messalina she'll do what she can to convince the elven king to apologize.