Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

"Why I would love to take you to dinner, fair elf..with-OUT the rest of the town in attendance...or these miserable cretins you insist on allying yourself with...shall we then? To Stonehill's for boiled goose and persimmon wine?" The townmaster sticks out his elbow to provide a chivalrous escort to his newest (and perhaps only) friend.

Vadernul is grinning wide, his people are accustomed to some trickery and shenanigans.  He is pleased to watch the scene unfold.

Vaxis growls in the general direction of the mayor.

"Perhaps we SHOULD have kicked in the door", he grumbles to himself.

Vaxis sticks with Vadernul until everyone has made preparations.

"Be glad ye didn't," snarled Wester at the cleric's comment, "ye think a man of my station wouldn't have a glyph of warding guarding my sanctuary? Especially at a time such as this?! You really are as foolish as you look!"

As if Vaxis' simmering anger finally cooked off the lingering wild magic from his body, the floral monstrosity that was his head suddenly burst into full bloom with a cloud of pollen and radiant petals that quickly browned and wilted away as a familiar draconian snout emerged from center of the blossom, followed by a set of correctly-placed reptilian eyes and a shining silver head vane that stood erect several inches above the now fully-restored dragonborn's scaly crown.

"Ha!" laughs the townmaster at Vaxis' sudden metamorphysical transformation, "too bad...the flower was far less painful to look upon...perhaps Barthen has a sack you can use to hide that hideous complexion of yours..."

(OOC: Vaxis is now completely back to his original form.)

Vaxis roars in anger, his nostrils flaring and cold steam and hostility boiling forth.

"Why you SNIVELING fool! I ought to have you frozen where you stand! You sit here hiding from those that count on you, and you dare mock those that come to help?! In my tribe you would have been thrown to the wolves you COWARD!"

He takes a step towards the mayor, his pupils dilated. He looks to the left before turning back towards the mayor.

"For once, I agree with you, fiend!"

He takes another step.

Connak steps back, leaving plenty of room for Vaxis.

Wester realizes all too late that he hadn't really overstepped the line but rather sprinted across it...his angry expression quickly gives way to one of intense fear. The group of onlookers (or witnesses as they may soon come to be more appropriately termed,) silently recalls the pompus townmaster's comment from only minutes ago of a white dragon that decimated his childhood home. As heavy clouds of frigid condensation pour forth from Vaxis' nostrils to encircle the trembling man, the common bond shared between white dragons and silver dragonborn came into stark focus...the cold. More specifically, the ability to exhale lethal blasts of sub-zero breath, which one could only image was the exact thought running through Harbin Wester's mind...as his urine was running down his leg...

Vadernul steps in between Vaxis and Wester trying to defuse the situation.  “Oh-Kay here folks, this one sprung a leak.  I think it’s time to bring this little one back home.  Some cherub vinegar will take that right out.” While ushering Wester away “Maybe You two fellas can start getting some supplies while we walk this one here back home?”  He says to Vaxis and Connak

" There, there... let's all not be too harsh on poor Master Wester here, after all he's been through a lot of stress, as of late." Tabesha'l says appeasingly, while giving Vaxis a pointed look clearly meaning 'Let Me Handle This'. She calmly steps between the terrified man and the seething dragonborn, putting a gentle hand on the former's shoulder as she comforts him: " I think our townmaster is going to need a little more time  before he can be seen in public... what do thee say to this, Master Wester ? Maybe a new set of clothes would be a good idea, one more appropriate to the occasion ?" she adds, trying not to look at the wet patch spreading down the poor sod's right leg.

She then turns to the others and offers: " I shall remain here for now with our new friend, and make sure he's presentable, then I will meet the rest of thee at the Inn. Do not worry, we shan't make thee wait too long. But I do think Master Harbin would feel... a little more, shall we say... comfortable... without so many people about, at this moment." 

Her voice is soft, but her expression clearly shows this is a little more than a polite request.

Connak is more than happy to leave this scene behind.  "I'll meet you all at the Inn, after I make a quick stop for supplies."

Wester is paralyzed by the Vaxis' piercing gaze, but as soon as the cleric turns to make his way towards Stonehill's, the townmaster flees back into his home without another word.

(OOC: if Tabesha'l follows Wester immediately, she is able to get inside his house with him before he shuts the door. If she lingers for further conversation with the others, she finds the townmanster's door to be locked if she tries to open it.)

Tabesha'l quickly follows suit inside the house after Wester.

Once they're both past the door, she observes his behaviour, trying to evaluate if her spell still holds sway...

Vaxis slowly starts to calm down, his pupils return to normal and he happens to break gaze with the terrified man. Noticing others watching him that way, he softens.

"I am...having sorrow. I shall take my leave. Bahamut's blessing on you all.", he says in a hushed voice.

He walks towards the Stonehill/the inn, but not before a single tear can be seen from his eye. He clearly looks ashamed of his actions, regardless of how in the right he felt.

Vadernul would quickly follow Tabesha’l 

(going inside if he can make it or just waiting outside)

Harbin Wester disappears into the rear of his modest home. From the foyer, Tabelsha'l hears several pained sobs, then several minutes of silence. The townmaster then emerges from the room at the back of the house and finds Tabesha'l inside. "Oh, lovely elf, I did not realize I still had the pleasure of your company. Please forgive my rudeness, it seems your companion awakened some painful memories for me..."

Vadernul was not able to get inside before the door shut, but he can hear voices from within engaged in calm, non-threatening conversational tones.

Barric shakes his head ruefully as Vaxis stands down. Even as he urged caution, he would have loved to see Wester get what was coming to him. Seeing Vadernul try (and fail) to get inside, he steps beside the big firbolg.

"I am quite confident that Tabesha'l will have him wrapped around her finger and doing her bidding without your aid. Since it seems we are no longer needed here, I was curious about your...departure on the way to the gnomish city. If you are willing to speak of it, of course. I mean no offense."

(This is where Connak buys the silk rope.  Then he heads back to the Inn.)

 Once she sees that the townmaster has somewhat settled, the elven enchantress gives him a calm smile as she pulls a chair to take a sit.

" I understand completely, good Master Wester. Please do not mind Vaxis, he has a fierce disposition, but a kind heart... So, believe me when I say onto thee: thou art here in friendly company and no harm shall come to thee: my own self as well as my friends shall protect you and thy town to the best of our abilities ! "

She then points at the kitchen corner: " I believe a nice hot mug of tea would do us good, would thee not agree ? Please come closer, so that I can aid thy poor frayed nerves. Do not fear, my good friend, 'tis but a simple calming spell... "

** As she says this, she starts whispering the arcane words to cast Detect Thoughts at the same time as she guides Harbin to the table, settling him down comfortably for a little friendly chat. She'll do her best to conceal the true nature of the spell. Deception  5 OR 3 **

The townmaster complies with Tabesha'l's suggestions and begins prepping a kettle for tea for two. He does not realize he is under the influence of her spells.

Tabesha'l observes the man's internal monologue, which are mostly horrible visions of a white dragon wreaking havoc on a small farming shire. She hears the screams of the townsfolk and at one point, she can see (from Wester's perspective) the image of a woman kneeling to help him (as a small boy) only to be turned to a block of human ice before his eyes by the breath of the evil creature.

Tabesha'l quietly absorbs all the images coming from Harbin Wester's mind and when they're settled with their tea, she asks: " Tell me, friend... do thee think there is any way thou could help the people of thy town more ? Is there anything we could do to achieve such goal ? Unless thou werst thinking of leaving this accursed place and maybe were too coy to tell me ? I am sure thou have kept enough wealth for thee to start a new life someplace less dangerous, such is thy right after all ! Thee knoweth that truth is always a great relief when it is shared amongst people who have thy best interest at heart. Feel free to unburden thy sorrows, there shall be no judgment towards thee. Especially from one such as I... ! "

** Scanning Harbin's thoughts for: 1- his true intentions towards the town and also concerning her group, 2- if he's been betraying Phandalin citizens's interests, harboring any ill-will towards anyone in particular or jeopardizing their safety on purpose in any way (and if so, why), 3- how much money he's stashed away, what he plans to do with it, and where it's to be found. **