((May be Tic can carry it on his horse? Everything in on some kind of wagon, if I am  not mistaken?))

Toc says that he can lend his horse to Tic, and Tic can take the two wagons to the halflings by himself safely enough.  "If he gets into trouble, he'll let me know. I will use a magical mount until we get my horse back, it's no problem." 

Then Toc looks to Jahren and nods, "Alright, I'll let Chen know."  He mutters his spell and focus' for a few moments. His face seems to fall....as he seems to receive a response.  Then he opens his eyes, they dart to Sebastion.  "I have bad news. Chen's caravan was ambushed, and all but wiped out. Sebastion...I am sorry to report your retainers did not make it. Chen survived, but was on his own, and has returned to Hillsfar. He was able to get out of one of the orcs that the dragon was behind that attack. He asks if it would be ok to join us once again." 

Sebastion looks crestfallen, "This...is not good. I am afraid honour bounds me to their families. As much as I would prefer to remain to slay this dragon in revenge, my code prevents me. I must return to my home with their bodies, only then may I return.  I will accompany Tic to the halflings, since it is on my way to Hillsfar, but then I must finds their bodies and make the long journey home."

The group, suddenly in a somber mood, spends an hour to collapse the entrance of the place, making it inaccessible without full mining through again, which would take days. 

Jahren tests Gorig one more time, but it does indeed seem as if he doesn't know where Verdant Cloud nests...just where to drop the treasure.  

Toc turns to Jahren, "If you teleport us to Hillsfar, then I can teleport us back with Chen...we can do this now or tonight."  A small smile emerges on his face, "You'll have to tell him about the axe though."

 Mirica pretended not to hear the last remark, just put the necklace under the armor. "It's been an honor and a pleasure to fight by your side, Sir Sebastion. I am truly sorry for your loss and hope to see you again one day." She lowered her head in goodbye, and turned the horse toward the potential drop point. Few hours left to dusk could be better used riding.

     "Perhaps the shopkeep would trade the axe for some dust of dryness?" Fianna asked, mischievously. 

     "But seriously, Sebastion...  I ache for your loss as well as our loss of losing you.  I pray you have the favor of fates in your return and that you can bring their families some kind of solace."

((Are we all hopping back to Hillsfar or some staying here?  Would it make more sense to bring Halfling goods to Hillsfar teleporting and then ship them to them from there?  Pffft, never mind.  I'm worrying about logistics in a fantasy setting a bit too much.))

Jezun, looking almost as if he was about to say something stupid, nonsensical, or inappropriate, responds to the others' heartfelt sentiments with a solemn bow, and extending his hand to shake the dragonborn's before he leaves. "I barely got to know you, but you were always the most mysterious one here. Which is awesome. I'll do my best not to let the rest of these folks get into too much trouble."

He also offered to destroy more of the interior of the chambers with his staff, but is talked down by the rest of this group at the dangers this might pose to anyone still inside. He acquiesces to better sense. 

After the departure, he says, "so we are going to check out the Loot Drop?"

Jahren says his goodbyes to Sebastian and then agrees to take care of the teleportation back to Hillsfar.  He could take the whole group, or leave a few behind to keep an eye on things.

With regard to Chen, Jahren shakes his head in sorrow at word of the attack and the loss of Sebastian's wards.  He is glad his friend is safe, of course, and will enjoy having his company again.

Toc has a quiet discussion with Tic, and then the group spends a few minute dragging the carts through the boggy, poisoned ground to a path that will take them north. There are no roads here, so the narrow winding forest paths that reach the ruined elven city are the best they have. The carts are hooked up to Tic and Toc's horses, and then Tic and Sebastion are ready to leave. Sebastion, as is his way, is brief in his farewells, but takes a moment to grasp each persons wrist in a firm shake, making eye contact, and wishing everyone well against the dragon before he mounts up, sorrow and some regret in his eyes, and follows Tic and the two wagons along the rooty uneven path north. 

Toc nods to the rest of the group, waiting for Jahren to grab a prickly leaf from a mutated plant, and then speaks a word of power and both he and Jahren vanish with a tiny 'pop'. The forest canopy sways in a firm summer wind rising from the sea of fallen stars far to the north and rushing across hundreds of miles of forest to reach this spot. Mirica, Fianna, and Jezun are alone with the four horses that stand to one side, occasionally snorting or stomping an impatient hoof on the ground. Oh yes, and don't forget the goblin over there...bound and sitting with defeated eyes staring at the ground. With the tunnel collapsed, the alchemical agent is no longer leaking out of the rock into the ground here, but it's still mucky. Mirica uses some magic to summon forth some plant life that will hopefully help to purge the stuff from the ground here.....and soon the forest here is overgrown with creeping vines and flowering bushes.  

It's perhaps an hour later when a the still air near the forest floor is disturbed.  A gentle wind swirls, some leaves tumble about...and then with suddenness, a point of darkness appears and five creatures expand from it in an instant. Chen, Toc, and Jahren, along with two horses appear.  

Chen looks around the forest, seeing the small mountain of rock sitting here, the ground boggy with strange green glowing muck......but then also seeing Mirica and Fianna, their welcoming eyes watching him from above their big smiles.  A stranger stands behind them. Kind eyes, a little on the thin/wiry side though. He may not get enough to eat. It's possible Chen has his work cut out for him. 

Jezun meanwhile is greeted with the site of another dragon kin appearing. Out with the old, and in with the new. Where the 'old'....Sebastion...was a lean draconic warrior with a gentle soul and gleaming silver scales, Jezun sees here a kind but robust dragon kin with glittering gold scales. Jezun sees muscles ripple beneath the half-dragon's robust flesh though...and there's a glint in his eyes...is that joyous rage?

Jahren noticed it as well. Before....behind Chen's eyes...Jahren always saw a tinge of fear...a fear of himself, a fear of the deep anger that he tried to bottle away.  Something was different. Jahren saw instead....acceptance. Chen looked.....unleashed. Still himself, still the kind gentle dragonkin, but.....now there was a hint of realization that the rage inside him was needed. 

Toc seemed, as usual, oblivious to such things and glanced about the clearing, nodding to Mirica and Fianna, "I like what you've done with the place."  He climbs onto his new mount with practiced ease, slipping his elven boots into the stirrups. "Well....shall we follow our friend Gorig here to the drop?  We have a couple hours yet before dark.  Oh yes, Chen...Jezun...Jezun...Chen.  And and Gorig....Chen...Chen.....this is Gorig, our goblin prisoner who is going to win his freedom by taking us to the place he drops the treasure for Verdant Cloud.  It's a long story, we didn't have much time to update him on the way." 

     In welcoming Chen back Fianna is very smiling and welcoming.  Mainly trying to hide the fact she’s looking her big old friend over to see what kind of weapon he’s carrying...  if nothing else, Fianna thinks, we do have a spare sword.

"We did our best with what we had. Would not take the job again, though." But she smiled "Very glad to see you again, Chen. How do you feel about yet another dragon slaying?"

Jezun smiles simply, offers Chen his hand to shake. He unspools a bit as they walk along, having the sense to speak to Chen away from Gorig.

"A former student of mine said these interesting characters could use some help. I'm still waiting to see if that is true, but they seem to get up to some worthwhile tasks. Also stumbling into being -- What's the word? Collateral? Bait? Bargaining chips? -- between a dragon family and a city, or a nation, I'm not fully clear on that. Hard to remember things. I'm also not sure if I'm included in that yet, but I probably will be. Perhaps that's the help 'SinSin' had in mind. I find that putting one foot in front of the other, finding the next thing to do that seems right, is what I'm better skilled at than, um, planning."

He offers to scout ahead of the group, soundlessly padding across the ground and eyes alert for any surprises.

Stealth: 27
Perception: 18

Chen greets his old friends one by one, in many ways unchanged with his familiar hammer over his shoulder and food-stains on his tunic. But though his words are sincere and warm, he can't disguise an inner pain. It is when Mirica mentions the dragon that Chen's face darkens considerably. I see I have missed Sebastian. That is regrettable. I would have preferred to tell him face to face of my shame in failing my promise to protect his people. I shall seek him out and beg his forgiveness, but not before the dragon responsible is dead.

Chen is glad to take a few moments to become acquainted with Jezun. He reminds him of SinSin, and Chen mentions that he visited with the tiefling while briefly back in Hillsfar, and that the student sends his regards. He tried to teach me his technique, he says, but I'm afraid my physique is less suited to it than I thought. Here, try one of these pastries. But even Jezun can see that this explanation is just an excuse, and that Chen likely abandoned the idea of the pacifist fighting style for other reasons.

Upon meeting up, whether it be before or after the teleport, Jahren tells his friend "I am sorry that I could not be there when your caravan was attacked."  "We were too slow in obtaining this information."  Looking at the mighty warrior and then tilting his head slightly, Jahren adds "despite our many troubles, you look well, my friend."  "We will have need of your many talents."  To add a bit of levity he adds "especially at breakfast."  "I love a good breakfast!"

A mixture of emotion at this surprising reunion continue to swirl amidst the group as they make small talk, catching Chen up on what he missed.  The story of the exploding goblins, but also the dragon's attempt to bribe the city into giving them up, along with a thorough briefing on all of the information around Netheril and the plots of Aldlas...his network of servants, and the hint at the arch-liche that could be behind it all, Larloch. 

Leaving behind the large unnatural fragment of the city of shade, the group on horseback pick their way through the wild woods of Cormanthor. The journey proceeds for several hours as Gorig, tied up with rope and walking ahead of the group, slowly meanders towards the drop point. As you get closer, the forest does turn a bit darker. Spikey growths seem to become more prevalent and require hacking through.  The trees are strong and tall, but its clear the lesser plant life is succumbing to some twisted force. Spider webs hang massive and still in the tree tops and large shadowy forms can be seen scuttling about. There is a brief encounter with a few giant spiders and a couple of ettercap, but it's nothing that the group can not handle without breaking a sweat.  Gorig finally stops, and points forward into a densely overgrown area. "There," he whispers.  Ahead, there is a scar in the earth. Starting as a shallow indent in the earth, and slowly slanting into a gorge with eighty foot high rock cliffs surrounding it, a path follows down the center of the gorge, a gentle incline amidst small trees, twisted vines, and bramble.  It ends in the black darkness of a cave.  Gorig turns to the group, "I have done my part, now demonstrate your honor...or finish me and reveal your treachery, but so so quickly." He seems much recovered from the attack in the cave, and his voice has no waver, and a clear intelligence is visible behind his eyes making it less surprising that he was able to manipulate the alchemical materials the way he did...with Aldlas' guidance of course.

"It is a cave," admitted Mirica, "but is it the right cave? What did you do with the goods before? Leave it at the entrance? Take deeper inside?" Mirica checked for any marks left by wagons, horses, humanoids who unloaded the wagons. And dragons, of course, above all - dragons.

Survival: 22

((Fianna said they would earn their freedom, not their life.  Death is a type of freedom...  But no need to decide that yet, first must ensure it is the right cave, as Mirica is doing...))

     "Aye, sire goblin," Fianna says coldly.  "You are staying with us until we are convinced that you have led us true.  And that takes more than your say so..."

Mirica quietly moves forward. The trail from the wagon tracks is obvious to see. The two ruts head directly down into the gorge and into the cave. She glances around for other signs. Her keen eyes see old broken branches, gaps through the coverage above, fallen branches wrapped in brambles on the ground...deep gouges in the bark of trees, and the battered down greenery near the mouth of the cave...where obviously dragons have both landed and taken to the sky. It's easy for her to see that this cave is indeed frequented by dragons.

"Want me to go in?" Jezun says to the group.

Chen is happy to see Jahren, having not expected to meet again so soon. In regards to the orc attack, Chen says: There was nothing you could have done, my friend. The orcs attacked without warning. It is fortunate you found out another way, otherwise I would have to have waited for your next sending to inform Sebastian.

To the other comments Chen replies: You were kind enough to accompany me on our last foray into the forest. Now I am glad to return the favor. And my skills are undiminished, with the cooking at least. That reminds me, do you still have that magnificent axe...?

As the group near the cave, Chen briefly climbs down from his horse (much to the horse's relief) and scans the undergrowth for any small animals that may have escaped the spiders' webs. If any are to be found, Chen will attempt to speak with them and learn how often the dragons come and when the last one was here.

Whether it was FinFin or Jezun (or both) scouting ahead did not matter much (aside from the fact that FinFin could not be killed), nor was it that important if the place was indeed a drop point - it was a place frequently visited by dragons, good enough. Right now there was question of that goblin. "Seems kept your side of the bargain and is free to go. Though, I would feel safer, if you forget that you brought us us here. Or may be you want to stay? Your masters do not appreciate "last survivors" and usually help them to get extinct too."

((Hey!  FinFin can die!  Just because they can be brought back doesn’t mean they don’t die!!  It’s still emotional and heart wrenching and painful and takes at least 10 minutes to re-summon, under ideal conditions!))

     “I think it a bit hasty to release him, just yet,” Fianna pipes in.  “Assuming this is the drop point, as was the deal, it still needs final confirmation and we cannot have you rushing off to warn your bosses... You are safer with us, from your bosses and from us.”