(Nope. Choir gets out with the rest, but is prepared to fight, if things go wrong.)

Lulu was keeping very-very quiet. As brave as the little elephant was, this time she looked genuinely scared. May be because Fran was right -  Arkhan looked at her a moment longer than at the others. Though, each of you had a questionable pleasure to meed his cold calculating gaze.

Dragonborn did not say anything but as if on command the black dragon by his side stepped forward sniffing Tormentor (and the group) while turtle sent a couple skeletons to assist the reptile in it's search.

Arkhan slowly nodded as if to his thoughts and finally spoke: "You wanted to talk to me. Speak."

"We will cut right to the chase.  We are plotting against Zariel and there is something that you have that can aid us.  We have heard that your Queen, as great and powerful as she is, has some sort of plan she is working on.  I know not what it is nor do I care st the moment.  Much going on with our own endeavor.  Anyway, what we are trying to do will place Zariel's focus and likely the eyes of most on this plane squarely on is.  We believe her plans could benefit from our actions." Adray says.  He still remains calm and emotionless as he speaks.

     “By siding is you could allow us to cause a great distraction in which you could act unnoticed!” Polly chimes in brightly, realizes she did, then snaps his mouth shut and takes a step behind everyone else.

"You... plotting against Zariel?" The Dragonborn raised both brows (what passes for such on dragonborns) in an amusement. "Curious. Queens plans are her own, but you are right assuming, she would not object a bite to Zariel, even if from a mosquito. At least it could be amusing to watch." He looked down at Polly. "The Queen will not involve herself with such matters, indeed. Not directly. What did you hope to get from me that supposed to help you in your plans?"

Choir pipes up, hoping that the voice of the Dao won't be recognizable to these monsters, and if it is, that iot won;t be a problem.  "Vials of her blood, one.  The blood of Tiamat." 

Adray nods, "That is right, one vial of blood."  He holds up his hand to stop any interruptions.  "We know it is a lot to ask and you can use magic if you must to see the truth of my words but we mean no ill intent to your queen.  We have been told that such a powerful item can break bonds of other higher devils.  This would adjust our plot from that of a mosquito to that of a hornet, maybe more."

 "The only Queen," corrected again the dragonborn, side glanced at Choir (with a familiar "what was it?" Choir saw many times before) and gave Adray a very intent look. "You know a lot. You are strong. This is good. But you ask the impossible. Bonds can be broken but can be afflicted as well - blood is a powerful thing. You did not tell me yet of your plans but ask to provide you with something almost sacrilege. What do you plan to do to Zariel?"

"Us believe us can convince her to step down", says Ordrag cryptically in reply. "If that works for you and your mistress, then you should help us, or at least not get in the way. Taking our stuff... That's getting in the way."

"You can try whatever you want and already got generous help - your lives. But I missed the part where you need the blood of The Queen for anything." Dragonborn continued to talk but now fixed his gaze at Lulu, seemingly contemplating something.

Fran would take a defensive step in front of Lulu, “Says we have means teh acquire it from yeh.” She’d jut her chin. “Seems teh be a deal er bargain teh be struck with all folk in this place.” The artificer would say simply. “ ‘Nough of this dance. What’s yer proposition?”

"Well, well... So you came to bargain for the blood of The Queen." The face expression of the dragonborn was hard to read, but it was not pleasant. "You want the blood - you have to pay in blood: you will get your vial but in exchange you leave here that thing" (a short nod towards Lulu) "or one of you, would have to replace those you killed and join The Order of Dragons. I would prefer it to be you, defiler", Arkhan looked at Adray. "but The Queen accepts devotion from any." He finally gave something resembling a smile and turned his gaze back to Fran: "You think you can pay this price, red one?"

     "You can't have her!" Polly pipes up, loud and unexpectedly.  "I'll join!"

     Polly slowly walks out from behind the legs of the others, where she was trying to stay out of site... But now she steps three streps in front of everyone else (gnome steps are small) and holds her head high and plants her fists on her hips.  "You're deal is accepted!"

"No!"  Adray would shout.  "No, Polly.  You should not have to shoulder this burden.  I knew hard choices would need to be made at the start of those but this one, spareing you all from this is the easy one."

Adray turned to Arkhan, "if I do this, let me finish what we set out to do with Zariel."

Ordrag considers that a fair bargain, but is somewhat glad one of the others is offering, mainly because he is already getting overwhelmed with the number to whom he has pledged his loyalty in the last few weeks... Baldur's Gate, Tyr... not to mention his shipmates... Joining a dragon cult that he's just finished fighting would simply do his head in. No orc can serve two masters.

     Nonononono, Polly thinks to herself as Adray speaks up.  He's ruining everything!  They wouldn't have wanted me.  They would have laughed at little me, snorted and dismissed me.  Even if they took me they wouldn't have really wanted me.  They would have gotten nothing and we would have gotten what we wanted...

     Defeated, Polly drops her head and steps back.  She's saddened but also cannot help but feel relieved.  

     "What...  what will happen to him though?" Polly asks, shakily.  

Choir is silent while she thinks things over. 

All her life, she has been raised and taught by the followers of Akadi.

But not all of them were very nice to her. Choir loved the High Priestess, but she was like a very busy, benevolent mother without much time for her weird feathery child.

Akadi's followers didn't care about wealth.

Tiamat's clerics were supposed to collect sparklies...and Choir liked sparklies very much.

The goddess had spoken to her, and promised that one day, if she followed the teachings of the storm, she would fly...

Would Tiamat promise the same?

And, if she became a cleric of Tiamat...could she keep the dragon crown? And her sparkly dice? She was pretty sure Tiamat wouldn't mind if she still tried to free Elturel...

Choir nervously mutters a little prayer to Tiamat, wondering if the dragon would answer... (Religion 6 )

And she casts Augury to see whether becoming a cleric of Tiamat might be a good career move, rolling the sparkly dice across the floor...

The Dragonborn nodded satisfied and answered in almost tolerable tone: "That would depend of him. He belongs to The Queen now and will carry her words and deeds here and on another plane, wherever he will be needed". He turned a bit and pointed at the massive door "Step inside, chosen one. Very few have the privilege of initiation in the heart of the Order. Prove your worth, serves The Queen fatefully - and you will be rewarded."

"Rest of you - wait here" Adray was escorted inside with black and blue dragons following. The White one remained in the yard, though, his heavy gaze and ice cold breath did not allow to relax. Very quiet Lulu was trying to stay as close to Fran and Polly as possible, her usual calming aura seemed to be gone.

Yet, brave Choir dared to ignore unfriendly surroundings and asked Tiamat's help. The dice could not settle for a long time and when it finally did the lower number did not really tell anything to Kenku. It felt not as divine revelation but like a random roll of dice, Akadi's will was not there, Tiamat probably did not know about Choir's existence yet.

 (You were freed from unnecessary money and precious objects, but armour and weapon (and rations) was left to you. Tormentor too with both soul coins).

Choir shakes her head.  Best to stick with Akadi.  Choir hopes that she of the short attention span didn't notice her follower's temporary wavering of loyalty.

Adray calmly followed Arkhan into the tower with his head held high and blank expression on his face.  He retreated into the recesses of his mind, trying to hold remain strong.  Over the course of pain and fell magics battered against the fortress of his mind and all he could do was hang on for dear life.  As strong as he was, that magic of the ritual came crashing through those walls.  By then end of it he was drenched in sweat, panting, and he swore that there were five pairs of eyes staring at him.

With it finished, he shakily wiped the sweat and blood from his chest.  At least what he could without touching the raw mark claiming his body.  Then he put his cloak back on inhaling quickly as it contacted the wound.  He reaches out and takes the blood.  "Well use it in pursuit of our mission...  Which involves taking out Zariel in way or another."  He looked up at Arkhan, "Not to mention the claim Zariel has on my soul through a deal he made with Elturel's High Canceler's some 40+ years back for all the souls of the City."  He pauses a moment, "I hope our Queen would approve of not having to share the claim on my life and foiling something that gives Zariel thousands of souls."