Daemyar was turning to walk back to the others until Shere sends his message. 

“I don’t know what makes you believe you have the right to command me anything. But if you are not careful, you’ll find your silver tongue staked in the dirt.”

Daemyar turns back to the kobold elite. “Her majesty has seen fit to use my skills to her advantage. She needs to speak with me in private.”

Deception 23 

Quote from Ereshion >>

Ithelion looks up at Garnet then closes her eyes for a few seconds, "I am with him." Once more she perceives the world through Elosa's senses, then returns to her own senses and describes the scene to Garnet.

(( @DM: What did she see -- is the scene notably different to the various other times they have visited the room? ))

 No, not really.  There are two of the mean-looking kobolds that usually guard the queen blocking Daemyar's path.  They don't seem to believe him at all.

Quote from nschrock >>

Daemyar was turning to walk back to the others until Shere sends his message. 

“I don’t know what makes you believe you have the right to command me anything. But if you are not careful, you’ll find your silver tongue staked in the dirt.”

Daemyar turns back to the kobold elite. “Her majesty has seen fit to use my skills to her advantage. She needs to speak with me in private.”

Deception 23 

 The two look at each other and sneer, chuckling.  "That so?" they snarl in goblin.  They don't believe you, of course, as they are with the queen constantly and would be the first to know.  "No one gets by," they state, matter-of-factly.

Ithelion's sightless eyes widen, then close tight as she focuses on what she is seeing and hearing. "We should prepare to move on. Quickly." There is a sense of urgency in her voice, but she remains seated. Dragon-King Meepo eh? Could be worse. She keeps watching for a time, not entirely sure what she hopes for, other than that Daemyar should continue breathing.

"Command? Threats?" The bards eyes narrow cat like ready to pounce he's shown this goblinoid nothing but support

But he calms himself anger is not his way looking around seeing the elf in her trance he sends a message to the familiar "If he doesn't succeed or does, we need to leave. Do you want me to carry you?"

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

"Command? Threats?" The bards eyes narrow cat like ready to pounce he's shown this goblinoid nothing but support

But he calms himself anger is not his way looking around seeing the elf in her trance he sends a message to the familiar "If he doesn't succeed or does, we need to leave. Do you want me to carry you?"

 Elosa squawks in anger at the intrusion and Ithelion, Elosa flashes several images of Shere to you.

Ithelion does her best too sooth Elosa, and keeps watching. She shakes her head to Shere's offer, and smiles. "I can walk, if needed, but just for now I would like to see how the queen and Daemyar react. Perhaps..." she sighs. The lad needs to calm down. Gooshy is a two-edged sword. "I think Daemyar needs to understand that now is not the time." She looks up to where she imagines Shere to be, "Come closer...closer..."

When she feels the cat's breath on her face she speaks softly, "Tell Daemyar that the Bait needs to be prepared for a new role, and that the goblins are still useful. Tell him to remember what I said: we are second on the list for the queen as well. No sense in jumping the queue just yet, not until we are all ready."

The gooshie is not active anymore, as you've had a long rest.

Shere lays his hand on Ithelion's shoulder gently and off to respond to her.

He turns in the Daemyars direction with a message "Ithelion told me to tell you that the Bait needs to be prepared for a new role, and that the goblins are still useful. And to remember what she said: we are second on the list for the queen as well. No sense in jumping the queue just yet, not until we are all ready."

Shere then leans against a wall 

Krom hefts his warhammer onto his shoulder, "Do ye want me to drag him back here? Sound's like he's gettin' into trouble."

Daemyar considers, and retreats from the queen’s chambers. 

Seeing Daemyar turn back from the Queen, Ithelion returns her senses to her own body and breathes a sigh of relief. That would have been interesting, but wasteful. She looks around the room with a detached air and a sardonic smile. Her eyes wander over the families, the crafters, the children, and finally the old woman who sold Daemyar the gooshy. Gods! What am I thinking? She closes her eyes to gather her thoughts. I have been down this path before, and it is not who I am. I refuse to return.

The smile has left her face by the time she turns to Shere and whispers, "I think we should talk privately." While she waits for the silent contact, she again starts cleaning the grime, soot and dust from her clothes, her hands trembling slightly. It is not who I am.

Shere nods to Ithelion and motions for her to move somewhere more private

Then he simply messages the elf "What?"

(( If there is a space where they can avoid being overheard, Ithelion goes there and call the others over; if not I assume she speaks to Shere alone to start with, using Message, and a relay of sorts can be done ))

"I am not sure what the queen is doing, but there are some obvious interpretations; I fear that she is planning to attack the goblins with or without us. If we go to the goblins now, we risk being -- as she so nicely put it -- canon fodder, and betraying the trust of the goblins." She rubs her temples, feeling tired despite the long rest. "There is of course the possibility that she is interested in peace, but this..." she waves at the preparations, "...would suggest otherwise."

She closes her eyes a moment and sighs, "If the queen manages to wipe out the goblins, then she may not be quite as accommodating when next we meet her. Or she may be -- she will be weaker, so it may work to our advantage."

"I have half a mind to escort Erky back to Oakhurst, and let them sort out their differences. I have no desire to be the stalking horse of this queen, or betray Sharpie's trust. Should she kill Sharpie, I am not sure that I would be able to contain..." her lips form a thin line, "...my anger."

"In another life, killing the Queen and promoting Meepo would have seemed a prudent choice. Killing her in battle perhaps, with a well-placed arrow. History is full of such events, assassinations are the simplest of statecraft. She is strong and aggressive and smart. Meepo...is Meepo. Peace might be possible under his leadership. Though one must wonder if it would become Calcryx's leadership in time."

She looks at each of the group, "I think we should talk to the queen, but as to our actions afterwards...I look for your counsel now, because we might need to make decisions quickly later."

"As I've said this game of allies is a means to an end. If the queen attacks the goblins, do you think she would be on the frrontline? Or commanding frrom behind? If we could get a message to Sharrrpie to get as many of herr kin to hide and counterr attack or just hide.  Daemyar could get an opening if he would only learn, discrretion. Herr forces would be thin to none here. But sadly Meepo may come to her aid"

He Strokes his long bushy tail to get some dirt out using his claws. Tempted to use his tongue but he never does that in public

Eventually Meepo comes to find you. He quickly pushes through the elite kobolds and greets Daemyar, gesturing him back to the group. To those around he mentions that the queen is not going to assault until you’ve talked to Durnn. She knows they must be weak, unless there are more goblin kind in the deeper levels. 

He tells you that he thinks the queen is waiting until she’s sure she can take control of the whole level before more fighting. He also says Calcryx is awake and seems a bit angry. He shows you a bloody bandage on his arm as he grins. 

“So Meepo stay here with dragon and hope see you all again!  Good luck, Bait!” he says to Daemyar before leaving. 

Ithelion nods at Meepos words, "Thank you, Meepo. And how do you feel about the Queen's plans? What did you say to her when she consulted you?"

Meepo shrugs, “Meepo say, ‘Yas, Queen’. What should Meepo say?  Meepo don’t like death much. But Meepo hope she goes, Meepo also have plans.  But Meepo not tell you.”  There is a hint of a tear at Meepo’s eye. 

It seems you’re all ready and packed up. Do you want to head back to Goblins?  If you try to get any more gooshie, the koboldess that traded to you before shakes her head and says sorry in draconic.

Remember to click the long rest button on your sheets to reset it all.

Quote from callmeLothar >>

Meepo shrugs, “Meepo say, ‘Yas, Queen’. What should Meepo say?  Meepo don’t like death much. But Meepo hope she goes, Meepo also have plans.  But Meepo not tell you.”  There is a hint of a tear at Meepo’s eye. 

Ithelion looks long at Meepo, before speaking quietly in Draconic, "We have always tried to help you and keep you safe. We returned Calcryx as promised. Tell me a little of your plans, perhaps we can help? We think you are not properly appreciated here."

Persuasion, if necessary: 13, second roll if our past actions result in advantage (or disadvantage!): 18

(( lol, here's hoping persuasion is not needed!!! ))

After falling silent when Meepo arrived. Now Shere shrugs, politics be damned "Lets just go and achieve what we came to do. Make our own fate"

He turns to Meepo "I wish you to become a grreat drragon masterr I'll take that oil you offerred me with thanks."

he takes the oil

"And thank you forr yourr help"

He waits for the elf to set off and joins