Tink takes down lots of notes and files them away for later. Perhaps she would be able to put all this information to good use one day. At the mention of preparations however she turns to the others, "You have fought this dragon before correct? What can you tell me about it? I want to make sure I can prepare the appropriate concoctions to deal with. After all preparation is half the battle won!"

She pauses for a moment before continuing, "Friends Minsys and Connak. If you don't mind turning your weapons over to me for a few hours, I could make some modifications that could possibly give you an edge in our upcoming battle."

 Connak seems bewildered, "You're all talking like we're going to walk out of this cave and Cryovain will be right there ready to brawl..."

Minsys shifted from foot to foot and looked at the weapon.  He then handed it over saying, "then you'll have to accept a payment for when it's done."

"I don't know about right out of here but I bet if we spread word that he is a lily livered, flower blooded, pile of yellow snow, he'll froth at the mouth and come running."

Tabesha'l selects a tome from the floating bookshelf and hands it to her grandmother. Aerydesia examines it and rifles through the pages until she stops on one, inspects it closely and then tears the page out and hands it to Tabesha'l. "There you go, my dear - this is the arcane formula for the earthbind spell. It will allow you to keep flying dragons on the ground, assuming it can overpower their ability to resist the magic."

The elder elf then responds to Connak's last statement: "While I certainly hope the white wyrm Cryovain is not at our doorstep, I believe we could safely deliver you to his upon your departure from our little subterranean hideaway here. We have access to the Feywild from here, and while that realm is no less dangerous than the Material Plane, my moonstone dragon friends here are able to traverse its skies largely unobstructed. They could safely usher you through the Feywild to the planar portal that lies nearest to yon dwarven fortress where Cryovain lies in wait, should you be willing to embark on such a journey. But if you feel you must gather more strength, allies or items of power before confronting the white menace, we could offer safe transport to a different location of your choosing."

The moonstone dragon then addresses Minsys: "Our white draconic cousins are the least intelligent or our race...they are more akin to beast-like apex predators, preferring mostly to sleep in between the hunting excursions that afford them their meals. While a rumor campaign would most definitely offend their fragile egos, it could take months or even years before such news may come to their attention...they have a bad habit of eating their minions, out of sheer laziness I might add, but as a result, they are often solitary creatures and in such case would likely not be made aware of any taunts you chose to spread throughout their domain."

Tabesha'l takes a long look at the spell her grandmother passed on to her, her saphire eyes sparkling with a mixture of respect and intense curiosity. She then thanks her ancestor in elven as the two clasp hands briefly, their faces betraying both the joy and surprise of this unexpected reunion.

" I have much to say about what was and what could still be, En'nethë, yet I fear thou hath the truth of it: indeed we must take the fight to yon frost-breathing fiend. What sayeth thee, brave companions ? Vaxis, Thee who hath sworn to battle evil ? Thee, fierce orc-blooded Minsys-of-the-Great-Maul ? Or Thee, ahm..." she seems to hesitate for a moment before clearing her throat, " ... Tink, 'gnome extraordinaire'  and unique indeed amongst thy kin ? And finally Thee, Thar'fiscael  Thuniviel ? Is thy bow ready for the task ahead ? Are we all ready to make our stand indeed ? Are our wits sharpened and our resolve steeled ?" she declaims grandly to the group, eyebrow raised questioningly, wide lace sleeves flapping dramatically as she gestures towards the moonstone dragon... and resolutely ignores some of her companions' eye rolls.

" We may still have to take what opportunities we can to rest properly 'fore we ride through the Feywild. Also, be aware that the kingdoms of the Fey Courts are tricky and filled with embezzling wonders: let us not get distracted !"

Connak shrugs.  "I can hit a dragon with my arrows from a great distance.  It is Minsys, Vaxis and Tink who are going to be taking the greatest risk.  If I was leading a squad and you were my men, I would not make the choice to throw you into that situation.  But you are all your own people, you can make your own choices."

Over the next couple of hours, Tink busies herself with enchanting Connak and Minsys' weapons while Aerydesia assist Tabesha'l with adding the earthbind spell to her spellbook. The moonstone dragon shares stories and lore with Vaxis (in draconic of course) while Connak broods and Minsys grouses.

After what amounts to a short rest, Tink and Tabesha'l's prepatory tasks are complete, and the party must then decide what they intend to do next.

Minsys waits restless while Tink tinkers with his maul.  Revenge... no justice would soon be at hand. He paced looking at the Gem dragon from time to time and finally asked.  "Most honored um... Ms. Dragon Ma'am.  We go to fight this white, is there anything you can provide of aid?  A boon against its breath, scroll to burn its hide, something. Anything?"

Over the next couple of days, Tink takes the opportunity to work on improving Connak's bow and Minsys' maul with her special blend of gnomish improvements.  Once they are ready, she would hand the weapons back to them while she meticulously explains just what she has done.

"So Connak, come take a look at the improvements I've made to your bow. I've added this bit of gnomish technology called a repeater. It helps steady your bow's aim and helps its arrows hit a little harder. But! But that's not all. You see these runes here on the side? The bit where I've added that pulsing blue crystal? That crystal is a Rapid Energy Leeching Optimal Armament Device. Each time you draw your bowstring, the crystal will pull the surrounding energy to create an arrow that will last just long enough for you to hit your target. Unfortunately I haven't found a way to make the arrow stay around for longer just yet."

She then turns her attentions to Minsys and returns him his maul.

"I too have improved your maul Minsys. Though I would love to just add the same gadget to your maul as I did with Connak's bow,  it wouldn't be very efficient having arrows popping up each time you swing your maul. Instead I have create a brand new Brilliant Light Inducing Nimbus Device. Besides improving the balance of your maul and helping it hit a little harder, runes also allow you to use it as a torch. However the best part is if you activate the runes at just the right moment when you hit an enemy, you can discharge the light in a blinding flash that could possibly impair your target's sight!"

Tink then looks a little rueful, "Unfortunately the runes can only hold so much light. You'll be able to only get off four such bursts of light before you deplete the stored energy. They will partially recharge each day though."

The party whiles away the time over the next couple of days while Tink applies the modifications to her companions' weapons. Aerydesia is especially interested in the artificer's craft and watches intently as the self-described gnome works, occasionally stopping her to ask questions and jot down notes in a large, leather-bound tome, which floats along beside the elder elf.

The myconid makes his way from one party member to another asking each to share stories from the world above. The moonstone wyrmlings enjoy some high-minded conversation with Tabesha'l. Nubs tries to impress Minsys with several items from the dragon's massive trinket hoard, while the dragon continues to speak in her native tongue with Vaxis.

Once Tink has presented the finished weapons to Connak and Minsys, Aerydesia addresses the group: "While you are all welcome to remain here as long as necessary, I urge you to not delay any further in the fulfillment of your quest...whatever that may be. A dragon plagues this land and will only grow stronger with each passing day. They feed much more often as younglings, seeking to enhance their size and fearsomeness, eager to achieve adulthood. If Cryovain is indeed still in his formative years, then I believe you possess the power to oppose him in battle, should you choose to enter into that challenge. But if your sights are set on a different prize, then perhaps you should hasten towards your goal."

" Very well." Tabesha'l says, taking stock of the group. " What is our decision ? Shall we take the fight to yon fearsome foe forthwith ? Or explore said-Tower of Storms, first ? Or even yon Altar of Stavras, where surely more treasure - and orcs- lie in wait ? Any other wishes, dear comrades ?"

"Delaying the fight with with Cryovain mean, just leaves more time for him to kill others.  I say we fight,"  Minsys says.

Following Aerydesia’s revelations concerning Cryovain and Viathirix, (which seem to have come to her upon her interaction with the diamond pendant dangling from her neck), the dragon addresses Vaxis once again: “Tell us, silver cousin, do you know what became of the demonic cultists that were endeavoring to help Viathirix enter undeath through dracolichdom? Though the ancient white’s soul may now be the possession of Orcus, I doubt the Demon Lord of Undeath intends to keep such a potentially powerful minion on a shelf in the Abyss forever…”

Then to Vaxis: " And obviously, if thou should happen to recall anything concerning this Cult of Dracolichdom as my grandmother suggested, it shallt be much appreciated as well, dearest !" 

Vaxis thinks for a bit. "I unfortunately do not know much, admittedly. Evil and powerful wizards were members of this cult. Powerful enough to beseech Orcus and gain his aid personally. That is about the extant of it. The wizards died that day, but who knows if they had acolytes."

Vaxis gets up, for the first time in days and looks determined, rather than angry at himself. "We must leave immediately for the dragon. The longer we wait here, the stronger it gets, as it has been mentioned. Shall we depart?"

"Splendid," exclaims Aerydesia "I shall fetch the moonstone and her brood." The party gathers their things while the elder elf informs Tratainthraxjharelden that the party has elected to advance towards Cryovain's lair. A few moments later, she reappears and beckons them to follow her. They walk down a long side passage from the hoard room that slowly curves to the right and up a wide staircase until they emerge into a large circular room with a domed ceiling.

One half of the ceiling is exactly that - covered in ancient stone brickwork painted with an elegant but fading mosaic of moonstone dragons, their kin and followers. The other half appears to be some sort of translucent portal opening, through which they can see the the breathtaking land of the Feywild, as if they were perched upon one of its highest mountains. The sheer beauty of the scene was awe-inspiring from the lush forests ranging the green spectrum, to pink sands and purple skies and crimson toadstools that grew as tall as redwoods.

"Our ancestral home...it's quite something to behold, isn't it?" the voice of the dragon booms from behind them. The party turns and sees Tratainthraxjharelden and her younger siblings - all outfitted with elegant riding saddles. "The heaviest of you should probably come with me," she says eyeing Vaxis. She bows gracefully and allows the silver dragonborn to climb aboard while the others take mount on the moonstone wyrmlings and before they know it they are soaring through the crisp night air of the Feywild.

A couple of hours later, the flight of dragons comes to light upon a rocky ledge that juts out about 20 feet from the side of the mountain, which serves as a basic landing platform. Centered in the wall at the center of the ledge is a cave opening of approximately humanoid size. The dragon speaks as the party dismounts: "Through that passage is the way back to the Material plane...as long as the moon is full, which fortunately it will be for at least another hour or two. Don't tarry to hasten through it, lest ye want to be at the mercy of the Feywild until the next lunar cycle..."

Aerydesia climbs down from her wyrmling and addresses Tabesha'l: "My dear, you've grown so lovely...and apparently have your grandmother's thirst for adventure. I can't wait to her what your father will have to say about that..." They share a brief embrace, toeing the limits of what would be accepted among the largely emotionless high elf society. She then turn to Connak and places in his hand a single arrow, crackling with purplish energy. "Earthbound arrow," she says with a curt nod before climbing back onto her mount and the dragons disappear into the night.

Connak looks at Tink, showing her the arrow, "Is this meant for Cryovain or for Tabesha'l when she gets all snobbish?"

Tabesha'l returns her grandmother's embrace, and dabs away a tear with one of her finely embroidered silk handkerchiefs as the moonstone dragons take flight, before turning towards Connak and pointing at his new arrow.

" A fine gift indeed. I dare hope this hath somewhat abated thy preconceived notions that all High Elves are merely good for snobbish prattle and look down upon thee and thy brethren ?" she asks with a teasing tone, before her face grows more serious. " Now... I am quite aware of thy misgivings towards me and my ways, but I need to know we will stand as one in yon coming fight, because this shall be the measure of our success as a group. Thou hath my trust and willingness in this. I humbly ask the same of thee. Agreed ?"

Connak seems disappointed...  "Really?  Fine.  If you really have to hear it, then I vow that if you all keep Cryovain occupied, I will stick Tink's manifested pointy bits where the sun don't shine as fast and often as I can whip them out.  And I do promise that I shall not turn and flee until you are all clearly dead."

As an after thought, he adds, "... Or if Cryovain ignores all of you and comes after me."

Vaxis thanks the elder dragon heartily and steps through the passage.

Minsys hefts his maul upon his should and gives a slight thump to his chest with his free hand.  "Appreciate the help.  Next we meet, justice will be done," he says and walked into the portal.