Bernard will put his bow across his back to appear less threatening.  He keeps his posture relaxed but keeps his hands near his darts just in case.

When Leon reached the light circle around that small camp fire, on the other side of it a figure materialized out of the air - definitely of dwarven shape, if a bit thinner, bald, with dull grey skin and grey bushy beard, matched with an equally stolid expression on his wrinkled face.

"There are many of us around, so, don't try something funny." The dwarf was the very manifestation of distrust but at least he talked and talked Common. "Took care of orcs, did yer? Good if true. We did not have time to clean up ourselves. Yet. So, yellow one, I know your kind. Not that I trust you but we might help each other here. That "history" learning - don't take me for a fool, no one will come through the orcs for "history". You are here for the loot. But see, we claimed that place with it's forge and it's secrets. It's ours. And we will be better than those useless surfacers who shun magic. We will trade with you or with the town - sure, but don't even think of "mapping" these parts. Still, you need riches - everyone does. But there is a thing here - the treasure is with a dragon. Under this level. It's young but annoying, we could not deal with it. Want your treasure - kill the dragon, or scare it off and take it all. What do you say?"

Ramious growls to himself.  Then he points a finger at Leon, whispering words into his mind (Message) , "So tough we shouldn't mess with them, but not tough enough they could take out a dragon? And they expect us to? Reeks of double talk." 

Alyssa couldn't hide the scrunching of her nose at the dwarfs complete disregard for her desire to study here. Though, deep down it wasn't all that surprising if they're guarding secrets. Although the wizard herself wasn't too keen on greed being the main factor here, she knew the pull capitalism had. The scholar couldn't deny her intrigue over the idea of witnessing yet another legendary beast. A young dragon at that! She'd feel naive excitement bubble up at the thought of coming into close proximity with one and to inspect it with her own eyes. The wings, the scales, the claws, the horns, the eyes... Since she was being denied the dwarven secrets, for now, at least she had something to look forward too. Assuming they would accept the task. Alyssa would remain silent and allow for Leon to continue his negotiating.

"So, the dragon is too much for you to handle, but you are strong enough to take us on." Leon says bluntly.  "Yet we are suppose to be strong enough to take out the  dragon when you cannot...  Seems like you must be leaving something out here... Care to explain?"

The duergar was not even surprised at the not so hidden threat: "Do you see others of mine here? But they can see you. So, yes, we are strong enough for you. Dragon though - no, we can not. We can try, but many will die, and if they die - who will work, right? We had to make truce with the beast. But it is growing, and it is greedy, very greedy. You agree to take him down - we tell you all about the caves here and lower. And you get dragon's treasure."

"Makes sense."  Leon says with a nod of his head.  "I personally have no issues with you taking over the forges here, as it is not something I would care to do, and we have no one who has come to us about that."  He glances to the others of his group.  "Seems like a good deal to me, take care of this dragon, and get to know the secrets of this place, along with all of the dragon's treasure." He turns back to the gray dwarf.  "We have been sent here to return with some weapons of the dwarfs that use to live here.  We will require a few of those weapons to return with, if there are none with the dragon, then we would need you to agree to help us locate some prior to our business being finished here."

Ramious shrugs and gives Leon a nod.  A message arrives in Leon's head, "Uh, sounds good.  Nice job talkin it through with these guys.  By the way, you can just just mentally think back messages to me in response to these.  Just so ya know. Magic is neat."

At the mention of others in the darkness Bernard looks about but fails to see anything out in the darkness.  For now he lets the others speak and as they do, they seem to be doing well.  As they begin to mention weapons, Bernard drop his pack and pull out the string of orc ears he has.  Holding them up he says, "If you need it, this is proof of that we have dealt with orcs the orcs.  And we did so with as we are now.  Also some spiky rock thing with its many tongues."  He tosses the ears back on the pack he lowered and then drew out an arrow, but his bow remained at his back.  Holding it up, "We heard rumor here that this forge produces unparalleled weapons.  If you want the dragon dead and we take up the task then I propose you outfit us with some before the battle.  Fore we are more likely to kill the beast with the best weapons, am I right?"

Ramious grins and gives Bernard a wink and a thumbs up. 

"Yep, know how the spell works." Leon thinks back to Ramious.  He waits for the response from the gray dwarf.

"We have a deal then." Looked like duergar was impressed by the chain of orc ears (hard to point how you can tell but something in the bumps and wrinkles indicated it). "My name is Ghared and I am sealing the deal!" It sounded very official and most likely was seeing as such by Ghared. "Snorr, bring the plans"

"No weapons though. We found few, took a look at it - but now dragon has it. The place was heavy looted - orcs, troglodytes, dragon. We are working on discovering the main secret - and we are close! - not there yet, though. If you need something to be fixed - we can do it, otherwise your weapon seems quite good. At least that sword, which I see here". (He pointed at Leon's sword) "Can give you two potions - will make those strong of you even stronger, or the weak," (he glanced at Alyssa) "strong enough to fight".

"If all set, rest of you - come to fire. I'll show you what we learned. It's not all safe here still. There are a couple rooms we are not going still - nothing important, but the creatures are nasty. Will probably seal them inside at some point. Down there - that's the worst part though."

"Here", he pushed in Leon's hands two potions ( 2 x potion of hill giant strength ) and a scroll with well drawn plan of several caves. "I'll bring you to the entrance myself. But if you have to know," he pointed at the two northern doors: "undeads. All kind of them. We are clearing them out, but it takes time. Now there (he pointed south), "already cleaned up. We live there, we work there. We enter through there" (pointing at eastern door behind the throne. "Also cleaned and safe."

"Ready to go?"

Map of the lower caves (Den, description will be added once there):

Ramious shrugs, standing up and walks into the room.  He clasps Leon on the shoulder, "Good job talkin us through. Think I can get one of those, could come in handy..." 

Ramious looks to the Duergar, "Uh, what color was this dragon you're bringing us to by the way?" 

Alyssa would join the others around the fire when Leon sealed the deal. She'd nod to him in agreement to Ramious' comments. "Thank you."

The wizard would look to Ramious then to Duergar. That was a very good question.

"Black," the answer was quick and short, "you might want to cover your noses, the place stinks."

"I don't know much about dragons beyond colored are bad and metalic are good.  This black one, you said it was young but can you tell us the size or length?" Bernard asks.

Ramious shrugs, "Guess we're all going to get a crash course in Black Dragon fighting."  Does Ramious know anything about black dragons?  Nature? Survival? Arcana?  I get +1 for all those so: 2

Haha.  Uh, how do you spell Dragon?!?  

Alyssa would be flipping through pages of her notes, but also dips into the back of her book where there were notes she inherited by her mother. Perhaps she had some insight to share on black dragons  

Nature: 17 (+2 more if survival) + Guidance: 1 

(Won't make another knowledge check as we have two already.  Unless the DM wants another.)

Leon shrugs and hands one of the potions over to Ramious.  He glances to the gray dwarf again.  "Anything we need to know about black dragons?" He asks.  "Assume we don't know anything about them..."

(("you tell me" was actually a question :) as if "do you think your characters with their backgrounds and skills can know anything about dragons?" ))