Jalt, the dragon regards you coolly. That is none of your concern, it replies, eye flickering to the dead elf before returning a frigid gaze to you. As part of the deal, you will be released, along with your surviving companion and the corpses of the two I killed. You may leave with them, if you wish, and do with them as you please. Nothing else though. 

And what of our belongings? Jalt interjects If you wish to carry on the ruse, surely we must be allowed to take our weapons and armor back. To not would surely raise a lot of questions.

Jalt, make a Persuasion check.

12

No, I think not, the dragon says. They all look so pretty on my hoard. And the big sword is so very chatty - such nasty things he has to say about your friend the half elf. He very much wants to bathe in her blood. I shall restrain him, though, don't worry. A very valuable piece - several nice pieces in fact. I'm sure you can find the coin to purchase new items somewhere or other. Isn't that what you adventurers do? Now, no more haggling. You behave like a merchant in a market, instead of a defeated foe bargaining for their life, no? You will think of a good story to tell your masters, no doubt.

In my mind, Jalt says if we go back to our "masters" without what we left with, would certainly go against your subterfuge. Besides, I need my staff and equipment in order to bring anyone back. If I decide to bring him back that is.

I suppose you're not very convincing, that's true, the dragon chuckles, and then the atmosphere gets very cold. But I don't care. It's your problem to solve, not mine. You may of course 'borrow' anything you need to complete the magic spell, though you will return it afterwards.

So, Jalt, has pretty good passive insight, and would know that the dragon is finding his words amusing, and is happy to toy with him a little, but has no intention of offering more than the deal now on the table and could become angry quite soon.

Jalt recognizes the fact that this is the only offer that he will get

Will you at least allow a wagon for us to transport the bodies out of here? Jalt asks I will "restore" the elf..he says begrudgingly 

The dragon draws back, frowning and regarding you for a moment. And then speaks:

I have no wagon to lend you. I suppose you may take some of the Altand slaves; they can help carry your comrades. They make poor workers, and poorer lunch. Now, I think my reserves of generosity are at an end. We have a deal; this is good. The dragon's body shifts and it moves away in the manner of a snake, leaving the body of the fallen elf to lie equidistant between you.

Take whatever equipment is required for the task, and restore him.

Jalt walks over to the hoard where the equipment is and grabs the Staff of Healing, his vestments, and some diamonds that look to be worth about 500 gp each. Constantly looking toward the dragon, Jalt walks over to the dead elf. Making everything seem part of the ritual to bring back the elf, Jalt grabs the Staff of Healing and brings it closer to the fallen elf. As he kneels, he raises the staff and places it on the elf, he pulls out one of the diamonds and places it on the elf's chest and he casts Raise Dead. The diamond disappears and as Jalt raises the Staff off of the elf and casts through the Staff, Cure Wounds for a 4th lvl healing of 24 points on himself. Jalt then immediately looks to the dragon...

He's all yours... Jalt says as he drops the staff and looks on towards the Dragon. 

Jalt, the elf gasps as he wakes, wounds healed, coughing and gazing up wide-eyed at the roof of the cavern. The dragon's attention seems focused entirely upon him; it does not speak, but you get the sense that... something, perhaps communication of a sort, is passing between them for a moment.

Then the dragon turns back to you. Go. Take your friends, and your corpses. Take the slaves if you wish. I have no use for them. Return here if you like; I will be gone, along with my loyal servants. I may see you at the Well of Dragons. Or perhaps not.

The dragon watches you, clearly expecting you to leave the way you entered.

Soar quiets in the prison cave at the news that the cultists may be listening. She whispers briefly that she will find a way to get them out of here.

She walks over to the shelves again and spends several minutes looking in them, on them, between the planks, in the back corners of the top shelf, to see if anything at all may have escaped notice or been left behind. She locates the board that would serve best as a club and slowly tries to work it free.

If she does so, or if she fails to do so, she walks slowly back to Bazavur and Tangle and kneels awkwardly, but deliberately, between them. A quick glance, fighting back worry, at the passage where Jalt was taken. Then back to her most proximate failures. She lays a palm on both of their foreheads and closes her eyes. 

Soar, make an Investigation check.

Soar investigation: 17 (rolled in game log)

(OOC: WHERE WERE THESE ROLLS WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING THE DRAGON)

Soar finds a suitable shelf, and manages to work it loose; it will function as a makeshift weapon if needed. It's large, though - not really possible to conceal.

Jalt, clearly disgusted with himself and the whole situation, makes his way out the way he came. Back to Soar and the others

The cultists are waiting for Jalt, and escort him back to Soar as commanded. 

Soar, you see Jalt return, and the cultist leader calls out in elvish, a harsh voice filling the confined space of the makeshift prison: The great Loth Chuth has released you, unworthy servants. Do better. In the coming new world order, you must learn to serve all dragons, or perish. Now come. And bring your trash.  

Is Soar carrying a plank of wood?

Yeah the board stays where it is, just worked loose, resting in place and available to be grabbed. She looks at Jalt and says his name in a questioning, disbelieving tone.

The elves slowly get to their feet, looking warily at the cultists and at Jalt, seemingly waiting for someone to say or do something. 

Soar, not certain what is happening, gives Jalt some time to answer, and nods her head slowly at the cultist. She turns to Grana. "I will walk with you, can you help us carry them?" She looks again at Jalt, and picks up Tangle's form in her arms. She doesn't believe this is real but will move forward. She hopes that Grana and the others might help Jalt carry Bazavur. She will move out of the room with Jalt. What does she see? 

At some point along the way out, assuming nothing noteworthy happens, she will ask the cultist leader, "can I take my things with me, at least to get me and these... servants...safely through the forest? At least let me take my 'trash' away for you -- holy symbol, hardtack, waterskin, simple shield, sword..."