"Lord Ileuthra will accept any form of address that is considered respectful in your own culture," the kobold says. "Simply 'Ileuthra' would be overly familiar, not for reasons of rank, but simply because you have not met before. 'Master Ileuthra' would also be acceptable, if you prefer that. I would avoid any overly complicated forms of address. He may feel you are wasting his time and trying to flatter.'

Soar is trying to take mental notes about the Well of Dragons, but she sees that of course Tobin has that covered. When Protanther mentions having met Jergal, she is stunned to silence.

She nods politely as they are shown out.

Then she asks Otaaryliakkarnos how many dragons are on the council. "How can I express awe at lunch with a dragon after already sharing meals with you?" she says, more to herself. "Does Lord Ileithra have any preconceptions or thoughts on the Cult that we might know about before making our case?" she asks Otaaryliakkarnos as they are walking. Otherwise she steels herself for another audience with a dragon.

"Five, myself included. You have my vote, and likely Protanther's as well, if you can win over more of the others. You made a good impression on him. I hope the apology you promised is forthcoming. As for Ileuthra, he is interested in the affairs of the humanoid folk and will probably not be the hardest to persuade. However, take care to listen to him, and understand what he says. I do not know him as well as the others, for he is rarely found on this plane, except when the Council meets. He likes games - this much I know."

Otaaryliakkarnos takes her leave and the kobolds escort you to the next cave, and your next meeting. Though the interior is equally as dragon-sized as Protanther's dwelling, what you find within does not appear to be a dragon, but rather a scruffy human with long reddish hair seated cross-legged in the centre of a large rug, which itself is in the middle of the large cave. Around him are various books of all sized, some appearing ancient, others more recent. He does not appear to notice that you have entered, until a kobold clears her throat. "Master Ileuthra, your guests have arrived."

The man looks up, his expression distracted at first but then he nods in recognition, looking thoughtful. "Oh, of course. Please do sit down. Kana, would you mind bringing some lunch for our visitors?" The kobold bows very slightly and departs. The other kobold lays five cushions in a semi-circle in front of the man, who has returned his attention to a large book whose crumbling pages he is turning very gently; this kobold too walks away to an area at the back of the cave from which you can definitely smell something cooking.

Tobin;

Entering the cave with delight, Tobin bows and sits down—but struggles to keep his eyes on their host, for the treasure of knowledge represented by the ancient books hold a much greater allure.  Tongue-tied, his eyes flit from spine to spine of each book hungrily as he reads their titles, his thirst for knowledge ever greater no matter his attempts to slake it.

Tobin, make a Perception check, and a History check.

(Tobin rolled a Perception check of 13 and a History check of 19.)

You aren't really close enough to read any of the titles except one - it's a history of Waterdeep, one you've read several times. Though this appears to be a first edition - something you've never seen before, as it was written over two hundred years ago and only later copies now survive in the city, as far as you know. You can't help but wonder if there are any differences in this version.

Soar nods in thanks at the advice. She moves into the next room and politely takes her seat on a cushion.

"Lord Ileuthra, thank you for your invitation, and for seeing us. My name is Soar Jestalle. This is Rhogar of Clan Jalt, Bazavur, Tobin, and Titus. I do not want to take more of your time than we need to, and I suspect you already know much of why we are here, and what we seek. Perhaps it would be best if you told us what you would like to know. I am happy to provide any answers, context, story, or information you like. Cutting to the quick, we are champions of the Council in Waterdeep. We have been fighting against the dragon cult and chromatic dragons, who are trying to raise Tiamat. We seek the cooperation and aid of your august Council. Working in concert will save lives, and time, and give us a better hope to prevent the return of Tiamat and the destruction of cities, the subjugation of people, and the waste and pillage of priceless artifacts. Can we count on your support within the Council? I also have much to learn, about many things, and any insight or knowledge you have to share would be most welcome."

Tobin:

Shaking out of his intellectual musings, Tobin belatedly gets out his journal and starts taking notes as Soar speaks.

Ileuthra puts down his book, and looks at Soar. His expression is calm, measured, moderate. "You are correct. I am not really one for formalities. I am a scholar, first and foremost. And while the threat the Cult of the Dragon poses is very real, here and now, I must also consider future threats, and safeguarding of those to come after us. It is good you will provide answers. For I have some questions."

"Tell me, scholar," and he directs this question to Tobin, expression suddenly more intense, "what do you know of the means by which the Cult of the Dragon seeks to summon the accursed Tiamat from Avernus to this plane?"

Tobin:

”Lord Ileuthra, I have only recently joined this group and delved deeply into the topic, so I can only tell you what I have uncovered so far,” starts Tobin, a little startled at being singled out…again.

”The cultists seem to be intent on gathering treasure as well as some unique magic items called Dragon Masks.  They plan to gather at the Well of Dragons, where they scheme to resurrect Tiamat, presumably through some sort of ritual involving the masks and treasure,” he summarizes simply based on his researches and Soar’s earlier explanations.

"Indeed. A fair summary of what I know as well, though perhaps there are few points I might share with you, later on. Not today, I'm afraid. My principle interest is in the Dragon Masks you mentioned. Yes, they are a significant part of the ritual, as I understand it. A dangerous and unique ritual. They are powerful and accursed objects, dangerous to own or even to be near, or so my reading tells me." He gestures vaguely at a few of the books that lie scattered on the floor. "Tell me, scholar. If one or more of these objects came into your possession now, what would you do with it?"

Tobin:

”I…uh…would be sorely tempted to retreat to my library and compare your first editions to my much later copies, seeing what information may have been lost in many transcriptions, or conversely what new facts may have been added to newer editions as more information came to light.  I’d like to think I would stay on task and focus on extracting useful information for our current crisis, but the lure of knowledge is quite strong for me, Lord Ileuthra,” responds Tobin humbly, not quite sure how much to divulge about his obsession—and distraction—with the accumulation of knowledge.

”I do have a small selection of tomes with me—my own personal collection and some works borrowed from the Library at Waterdeep—that might yield useful information, if you would care to peruse them, Lord Ileuthra,” he adds, “Though nothing approaching the original editions such as you possess.”

"Indeed? I would be very interested in seeing your own collection." Ileuthra's eyes flicker over Tobin and the items he carries, perhaps looking to catch a glimpse of what books there might be. "But my apologies for being unclear; it is the dragon masks to which I was referring. What would you do with such a thing, if you were to find it?"

Tobin:

”Oh,” says Tobin, the tips of his ears turning pink in embarrassment, caught looking at the books.

”As far as a dragon mask, I would wish to secure it somewhere safe, where perhaps it could be studied from a distance for the purpose of learning its curse and its method of destruction.  That is, assuming it cannot be destroyed by simple mechanical methods as my companions could easily administer…Yet I would be reluctant to touch or possess such an object, so it would indeed be preferable to learn how to destroy them utterly before we encounter one, that we might be properly prepared for such an eventuality,” says Tobin, thinking aloud and waxing towards a more verbose vocabulary as his nervousness shows.

"I would agree," says Soar, glancing at Jalt. Her expression is unreadable -- a mix of kindness, frustration, understanding, grief, and trust. "I have no confidence in my own ability to study such an item, for fear of harm, or it falling into the wrong hands. I've wanted to get them out of risk of danger ever since we discovered they existed. What have you learned about them?"

Tobin: Ileuthra's attention is focused on you; he casts a glance at Soar which is not easy to interpret, and then he looks at you once again.

"Destruction would be well, I think, if it were possible. I am not certain that it is, and know of no method to accomplish their end. So, you would secure them 'somewhere safe'. That is good. You would not use them, and risk their loss or recovery by the cult. I approve. And where would you secure them, to be out of the reach of the chromatic dragons and their servants who would use them to summon Tiamat?"

Soar sees the look and respectfully stays quiet, trailing off as soon as she gets that she is not the target.

(Insight: 22 rolled on sheet)

Soar, you get the sense that Ileuthra knows something that has left him unhappy with you, Jalt and Bazavur, and he is more open to speaking to Titus and Tobin on this matter. It's not unfriendly or hostile, just a little... doubtful.

Tobin:

”I doubt anywhere is truly safe for such a cursed magic item with unknown means of destruction,” says Tobin, thinking of artifacts he has heard of before either immune to all damage or which, upon being destroyed, spontaneously regenerated elsewhere.  “However, if pressed, I would probably hide it in my library while we needed to move it,” he adds, pulling out a black cloth from the inside pocket of his vest.

”It would not be safe in Waterdeep, even given our best intentions; a bustling city could hide all manner of secret cultists and their informants.  Knowing little more about the masks, I would probably wish to bring them here if you know of a protected place in your domain they can be kept, away from scrying eyes and other magical detection or theft.  However, I am no expert in skullduggery that I would know beyond these simple methods how best to keep such an item secure,” continues Tobin, speaking his thoughts out loud as he tosses the black cloth onto the ground nearby where it opens into his library.

“Keeping it with us longer than necessary would be ill-advised as well, as I expect we will repeatedly encounter the cultists in battle, risking loss of our possessions along with our lives in the confrontations.  I would be most interested in your thoughts on the matter, Lord Ileuthra,” he concludes, recalling that among the stories Soar told of their defeat, one of the possessions lost was a mask.

"Ill-advised indeed," Ileuthra seems satisfied, perhaps pleased, by your answer. "I do not think the Cultists will risk losing control of the masks. They will hold them close, to complete the ritual. I hope very much that we will be able to strike a decisive blow against the Cult before it even comes to that. But I must plan for all eventualities.

"During your travels, and during the ritual itself, you should take any opportunity you can to retrieve these masks, to wrest them from the cultists' control. I don't believe that the loss of a single mask, or even two, will thwart the summoning of Tiamat entirely. But it may provide some advantage, or deny advantage to the foe."

"That is my advice. And this is my demand. Your oaths, all of you, that if you come into possession of any of these masks, you will hand them over, to one of the Council of Dragons. And that once the Cultists are defeated, any surviving masks will also be turned over to us, for destruction if we have the means, or safe keeping otherwise."

"Will you agree? Will you so swear?"