Soar looks at Jalt, then at the shelves again to see if the boards are serviceable at all as clubs or staffs. She’d spent, how long was it? Maybe a year? Felt like almost four… anyhow she’d spent a long time trying to help or translate for her friend but really it was a form of control and meddling that he didn’t deserve, and anyway, look what her meddling had accomplished. She stays quiet, but watchful. 

Soar, you doubt the shelves can be made easily into weapons. If you had time, perhaps.

No questions, the lead cultist snaps. If we have to knock you out and drag you, we will. Come.

The other three put their hands to their weapons.

Jalt watches the guard and then slowly makes his way towards them. He's no fool, he's not going to try anything outgunned and outnumbered. He makes his way to the cultists

The guard leader nods, and looks at Soar. Don't try anything foolish. Lord Chuth's patience is not to be tested.

The guards form up and escort Jalt out. Soar, you are left in the room, the elves still seated and looking on. There doesn't appear to be a guard to the passageway out, though you cannot really see clearly from where you are. The elf who spoke to you before, Grana, sighs and looks down, not speaking.

Large cavern

Jalt, the guards form up around you and escort you out of the room and along a passageway. You pass through what appears to be a barracks; bedrolls and chairs and a half dozen more cultists sit or lounge; they sneer as you pass by, and one spits in your direction, earning a short, sharp reprimand from the leader who is escorting you. It's a strange sight - almost like you have an honour guard, but you feel very much as though you are being led to your execution.

The guard takes you to the next room, a richly-decorated chamber, the uneven stone walls covered with tapestries and art works of elven origin.  You notice a large bed hewn from a log, and a tall mirror in one corner before you are ushered along to an exit in the opposite wall.

You have the option to speak, and you are not restrained in any way. Will Jalt go with the guards silently, or do something else?

Jalt will follow silently. 

Large cavern (Jalt)

Jalt, you are led on past the opulent bedroom, through another room with a small shrine set up; it is dimly lit with sickly glowing candles, and you can make a religion check to see if you can determine its nature.

The cultists lead you to door, and halt. Go through, the leader says, and steps back. It's clear that they don't plan to accompany you.

(I will assume that Jalt does step through...)

You stand now in a large cavern, similar in size to the one where you fought the dragon. The ceiling is high above you; you are able to see, though you're not quite sure where the light is coming from - it seems magical, but nevertheless you see the ceiling, the walls - the cavern is perhaps a hundred feet across, with a pool to one side.

Near the centre, on a slightly raised area of dark rock, lie an assortment of items - a few chests of various sizes, some bars of precious metal, some items that might be highly valuable weapons and armour, some perhaps magical. 

And beside the hoard, a rather meagre hoard for an adult dragon, lies the creature itself, a large, adult green dragon, reclining, seemingly at ease. You notice that while your own wounds still sting, and cause you a not insignificant amount of pain as you've been led here, the dragon seems completely healed and well rested. It appears to be examining something, and either hasn't noticed you yet or is pretending not to have noticed you.

What will Jalt do?

religion check: 18

Jalt takes a quick look at his surroundings and the hoard that's in front of him. He's not frightened or intimidated by the dragon and just stands there, looking annoyed. He waits for someone to either speak or approach him, but Jalt will not initiate a conversation with the dragon. 

Soar watches Jalt leave and fights every instinct in herself to stop him from being taken, or insist on accompanying him. She watches him walk out with cultists and then hears more voices outside. How could they have underestimated things so. How could she have just assumed she could talk her way inside, get some information, then, what, spring the trap at the perfect moment, getting the drop on, who? She lowers her eyes, grimaces, and tries to attend to the worst of her wounds. As she does, her eyes rise, up to Grana. 

“As I was… saying. Yes, he’s dead. Who was he? He tried to kill me.”

(She pauses, and then would continue.)

”Is the dragon still here? We- they- nearly slew it. Nearly. I know you are scared. I get scared too. I’m scared now. But if you want to hold on hope to seeing your families and your beautiful treetop village again, please tell me what you know. What happened before we woke up. And if you have seen the Warden here. Even in the blackest night there are sparks.”

Large cavern (Jalt)

The shrine is to Fenmarel Mestarine — the elven god of outcasts, scapegoats, and solitude. An odd thing to find here, given that Tiamat is a jealous goddess and does not tolerate her followers to show even respect to other deities.

The dragon notices you - or pretends to - and uncurls slightly; a huge claw lifts into the air and you see, dangling, a familiar black mask which the dragon sets on the rocky ground just in front of you. 

Ah, the thief, the dragon says in a neutral tone. Welcome.

Now that the dragon has shifted position somewhat, you can see another form in the cavern - a still form of an elf, the one killed in the last fight, the rider you had encountered previously. The elf is not moving, and is lying on his back, eyes closed.

Prison cave (Soar)

Grana replies: It was Prince Neronvain. King Melanchton's second son. In league with the Cult of the Dragon. I can scarcely believe it still, but I saw him once when I was younger and it's the same man, I am certain. He never spoke to us; only the guards ever come here. 

I don't know what happened before you woke up. Other than, the guards brought the four of your in here. You'd already been searched - I guess you had weapons and armour and things before. I'm sorry, your two friends were already gone. She looks over at the still forms of Bazavur and Tangle. We looked, but there was nothing we could do. We tried to make you comfortable and hoped you would wake up. I don't know what the cultists plan for you; perhaps you're to stay here as... servants. She swallows hard before continuing.

Reyik saw the Warden. She points at one of the other elves, who nods. He was in the lake cavern when Chuth returned, not so long before you came. The warden was unconscious, in the dragon's claw. He took him to the lair, and we haven't seen him since.

We haven't lost hope. We are still alive. But I'm not sure what we can do.

Jalt looks at the dragon and remains stoic. I am no thief Jalt replies. What do you want?

Oh, a large draconic eyebrow is raised. You are the Black Speaker, are you? A Wearer of Purple? Everything about you stinks of Bahamut. The dragon smiles. Few of my kind would have let you live so long, but I am most reasonable. And you are... quite helpless, I think. The dragon shifts again. I think I have something you want. Your life, your freedom, that of your friends. Well, your friend, I suppose. And you may have something I want. So I might be willing to consider a... trade of sorts.

Jalt looks at the mask and then back at the dragon. What is it exactly that I may have that you want? He replies Surely, everything on our persons have already been taken. What trade are you looking for?

A green scaly claw reaches over to the hoard and picks up a small pouch. It twirls the pouch in the air and then loosens the string and, skilfully for such a large creature, empties the contents on the ground in front of it. Several diamonds of various sizes scatter in a small area on the rocks.

My devoted followers found these on your person. I think you have a very useful skill, one that I would trade for. This one, the dragon claw gestures momentarily at the motionless elf, has been taken from me prematurely. Not a devastating loss, of course, but still... an inconvenience. You can restore him, can you not?

Jalt looks at the diamonds that were taken from him and then at the elf His life for our freedom? Jalt asks. What's to stop you from killing all of us if I do "restore" him?

I could, the dragon replies. If I were minded to do so. But you are useful to me alive. You are, after all, the representatives of the great Council of Waterdeep.

A claw reaches into a places unseen and withdraws a document that looks very much like the writ presented to you by Lord Neverember that empowers you to investigate the Cult of the Dragon on their authority.

I suspect, the dragon says, that you have some standing with this alliance of enemies of dragons. Perhaps you are their champions, their great hope. The dragon chuckles, a nasty, hissing sounds. And I'm sure you will remain so. After all, there's no reason they should hear of your crushing defeat at my hands.

There is a great struggle underway, and a great battle coming. Now, your side will fail pathetically of course, and our Queen will rise again to commence her eternal rule. But, suppose, just suppose, that something were to interfere with that grand design - suppose at some great battle, things were not perhaps going so well for my side as was hoped, perhaps even the possibility of defeat. In that case I would expect you to repay your debt to me by aiding my escape. A small word here, a deception there, a decision to send your forces to chase this foe rather than that one. It won't be necessary of course, but... I do like to keep my options open.

“What do they have you do? Is this where you live? Are you all from Altand?” Soar says, walking over to the shelves and spending some time looking around for anything at all that might have been forgotten there, anything useful or notable, or at least what it would take to fashion a club or staff out of a length of one of them.

Prison cave (Soar):

We are all from Altand, yes, Grana says. We were taken in a raid, not long ago. We are servants, cooking and cleaning for the cultists. Some were willing to do more, beguiled by the lies of the cultists and have been standing guard. Others resisted, and were food for the dragon. We are what is left. We stay here, but are confined now because of your attack. I think we will be required to get back to work soon.

She nods to one of the other elves, who says loudly: The cultists hunt in forests, and bring great beasts: spiders and bears, food for Lord Chuth. They have promised us that if we serve, we will be allowed to return to our familiars after some time.

At the same time, Grana whispers: We are never sure when the cultists are listening; they can hear from the next chamber if they wish. And they do not like to hear us whisper.

Jalt takes a few steps closer to the dragon Why is he so important to you? Jalt asks To hedge your bets, you must not be sure of the capability of those you have joined up with. But if I bring him back, will you allow me to bring back the others?