Tangle will easily hand over her ruby, too, and gratefully accept the bow, seemingly not connecting the two actions. She will barely comment, and is terrible at small talk.

As they make their way out, she responds to Soar, “I have not been to the Misty Forest, though I have heard of it, in the time I have been here. When I was young, I did not have a head for… politics.” She ignores the comment about horses.

"I think you would do each other well," she says to Arianna. 

Soar isn't great at math, so she barely follows the exchange of goods, but is fine with Tangle's contribution. "That's a nice bow. Maybe we can find a better one and the boys can buy it for you. Let's split the potion for now. Jalt and Bazavur can have some if they're nice, or maybe they can buy them off us."

She hands Tangle half of the potions. Then disguises herself as a grumpy old cleric. If it's evening, she'll head back to the inn to rest. If there's time, she will chaperone a trip for anyone who wants to go to a shop that might have a magic item or two.

Otherwise we're just waiting for horses, right?

Jalt looks back to Ontharr before he and Bazavur leave. He just nods and they exit. They try to make me feel bad Jalt says to Bazavur. Because I am young, they think me immature and disrespectful. But I just say what everyone else wants to but don't have the nerve to say. I need to get in touch with my grandfather and I must commune with Bahamut. Jalt will then just walk back to their rooms to have some time alone. He would like to find a place where he can get a few hundred gold pieces worth of diamonds in case he has to revivify someone again. 

Jalt is able to find a jewellery store that will sell him diamonds; please post here how much you buy. Only diamonds, or diamond dust too?  Bazavur follows, lost in thought.

Soar and Tangle make it back to the inn at the same time, late in the day. Horses have been delivered for you to use, a kobold informs you.

You rest at the inn, and wake having completed a long rest and reached level nine.

You wake in the morning. What's the plan?

(If there's anything you want to do in the evening before resting, or in the morning before you gather, let me know.)

Soar stops in a shop or two that sells antiques and odds and ends on the way to the inn. She confirms they are open and steps back outside, casts detect magic and looks around. She does the same in the morning on the way out of town. 

But back at the inn she checks in with everyone and confirms that they do want to go chase down the green dragon.

Tangle is ready to go kill a dragon, yes. Green will do. Maybe we need to find some protection against poison before we do though?

Bazavur still seems to be very locked in introspection; he nods agreement, but doesn't speak.

In the jewelry store, Jalt will exchange the ruby for 1000 gp worth of diamonds. Jalt returns to his room and quietly begins to start his daily prayer ritual. As he starts the prayer, he places his shield on the ground before him and produces a reliquary and puts it atop the shield.

Great Bahamut, the voice told me to seek out the celestial Jalt says as he tries to understand the full nature of the spell. Send your ward to me and let me understand the full force of your great power, o Great One. 

Jalt feels a strange sensation; the spell to summon the spirit guardians, which he has cast so many times, appears in his mind and seems to change in nature, words becoming stronger, stranger, more powerful, more revealing of Bahamut's truth. Though Jalt knows he receives his magical abilities from Bahamut and his celestial followers, he feels the reality of that more strongly than ever.

It only takes a few seconds, but at the end Jalt feels exhausted, drained, and ready to sleep.

(You do need to rest to level up, and can't cast Summon Celestial until you have done so.)

Jalt rests, and in the morning, he casts the spell.

A figure appears; at first, it appears to be an angelic spirit with indistinct features, standing inert and awaiting instruction. But then a shimmer passes through it, and you see the specific form you saw back at Boareskyr Bridge, and hear the voice in your mind once again. Greetings to you, Jalt Rhogar. It is good to speak to you. It is a little unsettling that the figure speaks normally but at the same time speaks into your mind, the words the same. But the feeling passes, and then it just feels entirely normal.

Greetings. says Jalt Why did you wish for me to seek you out? Do you have a name?

My name is Liasell, and I came to you in the Serpent Hills because you needed aid, and faced a foe whose rise must be prevented. And I know of your struggles, to stand against the threat that Tiamat poses; I wished you to succeed, and was glad to fight at your side.

Liasell, am I right to question the attitudes and intentions of the council? Jalt asks It seems not many are willing to stand at our side but direct us like marionettes instead. Where are all the dragon that would fight with us?

I'll try to break this down into three separate lines of questioning:

I am not certain of which council you speak of. I do not know every detail of how the fight against Tiamat's rise is being organised here in Faerun. Is there an alliance against the threat?

It is in the nature of things that some lead and others follow. Have you been given false orders? Are those who direct you dishonourable, with treacherous motives?

The metallic dragons faithful to Bahamut are preparing; they heard the Draakhorn and helped bring this news to Celestia. It is not my place to reveal their plans, what little I know of them. They are cautious in their alliances with the fleeting folk of the realms of Faerun, having been betrayed more than once. Nonetheless, they are not idle.

The celestial creature looks carefully at Jalt as she speaks. Would he feel any irritation that she is not divulging as much as Jalt might hope, and if so, does he attempt to conceal this?

Yes Jalt replies Or so they say. The "alliance" seems ill prepared for the fight before us. It is great news of the metallic dragons. Jalt nods It is hard sometimes to maintain that faith when it seems allies are so far and few between.  Jalt sighs No, they are no treacherous but sometimes I feel that they lie to us by omitting some truths but I can not prove that. 

Jalt is feeling like a father right now. Not mad but disappointed. Frustrated. It'll be hard to mask that look on his face right now. 

This alliance is weak? Then strengthen it, through your actions and your words. Show them the true path, of honour and justice. And you have fine allies, follower of Bahamut. I have seen them fight at your side, when you were helpless, defending you when death seemed all but certain. Trust that they have their own worthy paths. And in particular, give counsel to your fellow dragonborn; he seeks to understand the path he is on, and has many questions.

You will not be able to contact me in this way for a long time; my duties in this battle take me elsewhere. If there is a final question you wish to ask, then do so.

Liasell Jalt says should we be worried? He looks up at her

Yes, she replies. And vanishes.

Jalt stands there, still confused but with a feeling as if he understands a little more. Jalt would do his best to make sure the room was in the same shape as it was before he started the ritual. Since its early morning he will make his way downstairs for food after his morning prayers and will await the others.

So, you gather in the morning, refreshed and ready to set out. Your horses are in the stables of the Grinning Lion, waiting for you. On the way out of Waterdeep, Soar is able to stop by a market stall that will sell a single Potion of Flying for 1,200 gold pieces - if she wants to search other places for more, it will take time - the whole day most likely.  Antitoxin is of course readily available for 50 gold pieces.

In preparation for your trip south, please give me an Animal Handling check each to see how well you bond with your horse. If you name any of the horses (which will definitely survive any upcoming dragon attacks, I totally guarantee) let me know.

Please also give me five perception checks each, to cover the first half of the journey.  We won't need to go day by day, but there is still a risk of random encounters on the road in these dangerous times.