Soar fruitlessly fires off some eldritch blasts at the fleeing dragon and kicks the air a bit and swears a bit more. Then she turns back to survey the damage. As she flies back down to ground, she looks for any signs that there are cultists in town, watching them, ready to attack, or up to no good (Perception: 19)

Her first priority is to spot any wounded and offer to lay on hands. 1-2hp per person if there are a lot, and more if there are not. If there are any local officials who are upset she will try to explain the dragon is fleeing, and that it was indeed looking for her and her friends, and that she will be going and the town should be safe and forgotten, although the cult has been active and chaotic and there are no guarantees. She apologizes even though she did not ask for this to happen.

Once things are stable medically and politically, she prioritizes finding Bazavur and En and Jalt and confirming they are alright, and then looking to the two (three?) people who saved her and helped fight off a dragon. She offers a hand of introduction and a sincere thanks. "I'm Soar. Not many would stick their necks out for strangers like that, and even fewer would do it with such skill. I'd be honored to know you, friends."

They see a miraculously unharmed half-elven woman, near-white hair, and smile lines around her eyes and mouth but no smile at the moment. She sports a beat-up battleaxe and old chainmail of orcish make. 

If En shows themself, she will say, during a quieter moment, "you can do amazing things! Thank you! I hope you are okay."

Tobin:

Watching the white dragon fly away at full speed, Tobin feels pride from their initial success swell in his chest, though it is quickly replaced by a gnawing worry that the white dragon will return with allies.  Still, the damage could have been much worse, even given the bodies scattered about near the dragon's landing spot. 

Noting with approval that the half-elf in heavy armor immediately goes to check on the injured, Tobin himself moves towards where the dragon landed and looks about for anything from claw-prints to the structural damage done to give him an idea of how powerful this dragon is.  "Curious it didn't use its breath weapon on us; I wonder if is injured in some way that prevents it from doing so," he mutters to himself.

Investigation:  11

Nature:  16

When Soar comes over and introduces herself, Tobin bows formally and says, "I am Tobin of Waterdeep, Academy Librarian and practitioner of the arcane arts.  A pleasure to meet you, Soar."  Turning to the tiny scholar who has floated down to hover familiarly by his left shoulder, he adds, "And this is my Spirit Guide."  The tiny spectral scholar sketches an identical bow and then disappears into the largeish tome the gnome carries with him.

We'll take this in stages - I don't want to push forward too fast as your characters are just meeting each other.

Soar, there are dead and wounded on the ground; you treat them with your paladin abilities, leaving the survivors badly injured but not at risk of dying. Most are unconscious; a few people come to claim their dead and wounded, but they don't seem keen to interact with you. No official come by yet.

Tobin, from what you saw, confirmed by the claw marks, this is a powerful adult white dragon, a dangerous and brutal predator. It is remarkable that it fled, and you are certain that it will want revenge, now or in the future.

Soar nods. "Tobin, nice to meet you. I'm from Waterdeep as well. A Doomguide, one of Kelemvor's knights. I've been focusing on the dragon cult recently, though. Do you know much about that fight? Whether you wanted to or not, you might have just found yourself caught in the middle of it. I'm sorry about that. And you have my thanks. We've had a rough few days, Jalt, Bazavur, and I. We aren't at our best." She stows her axe. "We fought this dragon, Arauthator, in the frozen north. We'd heard it was hunting us but hadn't seen it. Somehow it found us. I wish it would have found us where there weren't so many innocent bystanders. I did what I could, but there is a lot of pain here because of us."

She looks to Jalt and Bazavur, and the second figure to come to their aid. Any sign of En?

En takes a while to reappear, fluttering out from beneath a collapse stall and flying over to your side; they promptly turn invisible again.

Bazavur finally manages to overcome his fear of Arauthator, though by the time he does so his foe is almost out of sight and the roaring fire of his rage has settled to low burning embers. This was the first time that dragon had made an appearance since beating it in its lair. Bazavur mused that it likely wouldn’t be the last.

Making a mental note of the general direction the dragon fled in Bazavur returns to the town square. Much to his surprise (not really), sees that Soar seems to have made at least one new friend. He chuckles at the thought that this small gnome will likely be Soar’s favorite new friend as he walks around the square seeking people that might be in need of healing (I have healing word and six total slots. Prepared to use all of them if needed).

Bazavur gives a wave to Tobin at the mention of his name but keeps silent otherwise, as he’s unsure what use a librarian will be in a fight against this dragon cult. Maybe he could read them a book until they fall asleep. He laughs outloud at the thought and fidgets uncomfortable in the awkward silence the follows briefly afterwards. 

Tobin:

”Arauthator, did you say?  Hmm, I will have to consult a tone or three to see if that name is recorded in the histories.  And yes, to answer your question, Titus and I have been made aware of your…progress…in fighting against the cult.  Some important people in Waterdeep are quite invested in you getting the proper help you need to push back the cult and protect towns such as this one from Draconic reprisals,” responds Tobin.

Tucking the Arcane Grimoire under his arm, the Gnome with ink-stained fingers says, “But I am sure my stew is getting cold by now.  Let’s go back inside and continue to get to know each other over a hearty meal once we have done what we can to help those hurt by Arauthator’s wrath.”

He makes to go inside, but waits if others wish to speak or otherwise deal with the mess in the market.

'Titus' has hung back, blending into the chaos and the shadows.  He watches the party closely, sizing them up, assessing their weaknesses, trying to get a sense of who they are and what it will take to get them ready to defeat the dragon cult.  Using Tobin's conversation as his cue, the trimly built human steps out and speaks up "Yes, stew and ale and a but of conversation seem to be in order.  Our mutual friends are ... eager for you all to succeed.'

Soar whispers a quiet "thank you, En, what a gift, do you want anything?" to the briefly-visible pixie and turns back to Tobin to listen. She briefly interjects, "important peop..." and then listens more.

She nods, again in thanks, and turns to welcome Bazavur back, happy to see him hale. She furrows her brow at his laugh, but pauses and, preferring unexplained amusement to a lack thereof, lets it slide without comment. There's a hint of an amused smirk when she sees him looking at the bookish fellow, but her face remains staid.

"He's still hunting us, they weren't wrong," she says to the bardbarian. "Arauthator, could never remember his name but I will now. Sheesh. I can't believe he tracked us down here of all places. Among all these people. Thank you for helping with them. Oh. This is Tobin. Bazavur, Tobin. Tobin, Bazavur. Bazavur's been mixed up in this for a while now too. A friend whether he admits it or not. Tobin, some food sounds like a good idea, now that people have been tended to. I would very much like to hear about these people you mentioned. Perhaps they're people we know." 

If Jalt's hanging back, she'll invite him over and introduce Tobin to him, allowing the taciturn cleric to introduce himself however he wishes.

She takes a step and then looks over to the human, listening to his introduction. "Thank you, friend, for your aid. Mutual friends? Let us talk over a meal. My name is Soar, though maybe you already knew that?" her eyebrow rises in a bit of an amused query, and then she walks inside the tavern again. As she does so, she asks En to keep an eye out from a perch on the roof for any sign of dragon returning. 

She looks different from the way she looked when she came inside here earlier with Gwen, and her eyes dart over to the booth where she'd told the girl to hide. She welcomes the girl back out into safety with a pat and a hug, whatever she's looking for. 

Collapsing down into a free chair wherever Tobin sits, she blows a strand of hair out of her eye and sees if the tavern's back up and running for some food. "We don't have as much gold as we once did, but you have to let me buy you both a drink. Thank you, again, for your help there. I would love to hear more about you, and our mutual, powerful friends. Maybe there's not as many blanks to fill here as I thought?"

Tobin:

Sitting down and heating his stew with a more of magic, Tobin looks around for listening ears and says, “I have little direct knowledge of the current depredations of the Cult of the Dragon, though I did my research before we came, and the threat seems real and increasing.”

Taking a few bites as others talk and introduce, he adds as he glances at his companion Titus, “My knowledge of Waterdavian politics and the forces arrayed in our favor are, alas, secondhand as well, but that is often the way of the researcher.  In my experience, the obtaining of first-hand knowledge can be quite…uncomfortable.”

Perking up, he says as he coaxed out the tiny spectral scholar, “Still, I suppose I may be of some use in the areas of research and arcane support, and my Spirit Guide here can be quite perceptive.”

Titus waves them into the corner booth he had selected before the chaos broke out - far enough away from the action that they were unlikely to be overheard, close enough to the exits that they could get out in a hurry.  As the party settles in he keeps the talk light while the tavern staff fill mugs and bowls, drop off baskets of the rough bread he's so fond of and generally bustle about.  

He looks up as the last of the food is delivered and clears his throat 'Titus.  That's what you can call me.  I specialize in ... well helping folks get out of jams.  And from what we've been told, you all are in quite a jam.  Lady Silverhand has sent us to see if we can help get things back on track.  I suspect that lingering here for very long won't be an option - either the townfolk will drive us out when they realize the Dragon is hunting you or the Wyrm will return and we'll have to face them again.  What are your plans - or rather what were your plans before you all ran into Arathour?'

Soar nods, and ensures the two fellows get the drinks they wanted. "Titus, I can indeed call you that. We are certainly in a jam. It's been a hard turn, after a long string of victories. Lady Silverhand, wow. I've never met her before, I believe she sent someone else from Silverymoon in her stead, last time there was a gathering of notables. Is she as fancy as everyone says? But really, to your point, I would gladly accept help," and she looks to Bazavur and Jalt for confirmation of acceptance of the offer.

"Why don't we finish our drinks, take a breath, and then get moving? We were headed back to Waterdeep to report back on what happened in Altand. Unless you know something we don't, and we should change plans? I don't think running into Arauthator changes that though. We are starved for news, and we haven't been checking in with them as often as we should be. That's Jalt's domain. Whatever we decide, I'd suggest we compare notes on the road rather than in town. The cult has been able to track us down with alarming ease, so we're always assuming we're being watched. Have you seen dragons before?" she says, taking a long pull from her cup.

Tobin:

”Hmm,” says Tobin, “While more mundane spying is certainly a threat, it is possible you are being magically scried upon.”

Casting See Invisibility, Tobin searches for any telltale scrying sensors.

Investigation:  29

'Titus' shakes his head at the mention of dragons 'That' he points out towards the courtyard with his spoon, 'That was my first encounter with one of the beasties.  And yes, you are almost certainly being surveilled by means both arcane and mundane. '

Titus has been scanning since they got to town, anything or anyone unusual in the crowd or the staff at the tavern (Passive Perception is a 20, roll here for an active check of the tavern after the fight 25)

Bazavur followed the two strangers into the tavern reluctantly and sits near Soar. He still has his glaive out and is using it a bit like a walking stick. He sits quietly as the conversation progresses, prodding at the food he’s been offered. Being more than happy to let Soar do her favorite thing. (Talking.)

Jalt has remained quiet throughout this encounter and lets Soar do the talking. At the mention of Lady Silverhand, Jalt enters the conversation. I am Rhogar of Clan Jalt. I am glad to see that Lady Silverhand has sent help. With the number of dragons we have encountered already, assistance is much needed. We must make haste with getting back to Waterdeep if we dont want to find ourselves in another showdown with a dragon ill-equipped to proceed.

Soar turns to Jalt, mouth agape. “Your given name is Rhogar? Your clan name is Jalt? I’ve been calling you by your clan name for all of this time?! Should I call you Rhogar?!?”

Bazavur grins slyly and calls him Junior. 

Soar, you instruct En - or the empty space where you think En might be - to keep watch, and you hear the faint flutter of pixie wings as they move away.

You all move into the tavern, which has resumed its business and hasn't suffered any damage. Gwen comes out of hiding and sits with Soar, staring at the two newcomers and not speaking with them.

Titus, you don't see anyone that concerns you, at least not at first. The people of the town are busy picking up, checking in on each other, and generally avoiding contact with you and your new group. After a while, someone dressed in a guard's uniform enters, sits at the bar of the tavern and orders a drink. They glance in your direction, a little more frequently than you might have expected. A while later, another guard joins them.

Tobin, your spell does not reveal anything in the tavern's room that is invisible, not at the moment.

Tobin:

”We seem to be in the clear for magical scrying sensors at the moment,” says Tobin, “Though I am fine waiting to discuss details until we are on the road.  So the plan is to go to Waterdeep, or at least start that direction?  If we plan to leave soon I will need to gather my things from my room first.”