"True. Dragon should smell mostly goblins. Though, I suppose with goods could come other smells. Still not dead spiders. It's unlikely goblins would dare to bring the goods inside the cave - they would be eaten up, would not they? May be we can put some magic items in front of the cave hide around and then fight the beast outside? Not ideal, but with some preparations might be doable."

"It's unfortunate that I don't think I have a way to make ettercaps understand me, as I could probably get them to help us.  I could try the spiders, but I'm not sure they'll be of great help against a dragon."

(Don't think the ettercaps have any language overlap with Jahren, and they aren't beasts for Speak with Animals.  :(  )

(I am afraid we would need "Charm Animals" here - to convince even spiders to attack their meal ticket. Though, can not say how far a pure Persuasion from a bard can go)

     "I suspect if we're hanging around where the goblins should be, the flying snake may just come down to express their displeasure anyway...  It'll likely then be on us to find a way to keep them here for a robust and in depth discussion, rathe than allow it to talk a bit of malarky and then fly away before we can properly retort." Fianna chimes in...

"If we're trying to talk to the dragon, I'm not sure I'm the best candidate. If we're trying to kill the creature, I can stay close to it pretty easily, hitting pretty hard, and I can even fly if I need to. I'm not great at traps and planning. One time, I was supposed to get something valuable out of a building, but I got stuck in a safe before I even got inside. I almost died. It's hard to explain. But if you can think of a way to use me in this, I will happily do it." Jezun grins. Then he says, "do you think it sleeps there? Maybe it would be easier to attack when it's sleeping."

I'll not be talking to it, says Chen darkly. Nor will I speak its name or any of its family. Slaying them was Sebastian's quest, which I have sworn to complete in his stead.

"I think it is safe to say we are past talking with the dragons by now. Unless, of course, someone wants to try and set children against the mother." She shook her head. "Would not be me, though. Green dragons fancy themselves smart manipulators, politicians even - double and triple deals is how they live. Not my forte."

     "I was speaking metaphorically..."

     "By discuss I meant fight..."

     "Why were you inside a safe outside of where you...?"

     "I thought it was I-o-n...?"

     "We're building a fort?"

     Fianna shook her head to try to shake out the cobwebs she had obviously been gathering in there.  "How's about we just figure out a way to keep it on the ground so we can all wail on it until it's dead?"

"Let us observe the ettercaps for a short time to become familiar with their mannerisms.  We can then impersonate them when the dragon comes.  If it comes in for its treasure, excellent.  If it expects to have its prize brought outside for it, we'll have to make do.  Can anyone ground such a foe?  No doubt we'll need to get Chen in the air...again.  I can probably help, but it is not ideal.  Did we have a potion or something for that?"

Toc looks about at the trees. “You and I can cast walls of force in the air above it. That will delay it somewhat since it won’t see them and will have to collide with them before figuring out a way around.”

     "We do have a spare scroll, though I am not sure Chen can use it?  As for keeping the dragon from fleeing, I have one spell that could work, though I fear the dragon's strength will overwhelm it..." Fianna notes.

     "However, if we have a coordinated plan for Toc and myself using Wall of Force, if we synchronize... Perhaps together we could effectively put it in a cell it cannot even see. One entrap it straight on, the other more at the 45 degree angle.  Hopefully this could encircle the dragon and not leave hole it can slip through, but we can?"

"Whatever the plan might be, I will be happy to hit something that means you all harm very, very hard... and many, many times." Jezun is utterly sincere and serious.

"So, we hide, wait for FinFin (?) to warn us about dragon's arrival, Fianna with Toc ground it and the rest hit with all we get? So... do we blend with ettercaps and spiders?"

Chen nods in agreement. But first, let's eat, he suggests.

     “I could eat,” Fianna says eagerly to the prospect of some of Chen’s cooking.  “Meanwhile...”

     Fianna makes sure everyone is gathered closely enough around and then casts Seeming upon the group, making them all seem like ettercaps.

     “Oh, shoot!  I should have warned you all!  Sorry if anyone is startled!!  You know it’s one of us because we’ve all got green toe and fingernails, and a couple leaves seemingly stuck between our shoulder blades. Can’t have us accidentally attacking each other...” Fianna explains.

     “This’ll last about 8 hours and then I’ll need to reweave the spell... just never know when a pesky dragon will appear...” 

     After the spell Fianna sits and relaxed and waits for the food, hoping to get a short rest in...

     FinFin is perched hidden amongst the tops of the trees, alertly watching for dragon sign from any and all directions...

Is the group moving into the cave disguised as they are, or hanging around outside the cave?

((Hanging at the entrance? Not too deep to attract attention of locals, but not too far either to be able to jump on the dragon))

You figure anywhere at the entrance, the Ettin Ettercaps and spiders would take an interest in you.

(Wait - Ettin? Not ettercaps?!)

     ((Can we see ettercaps now?  We know they are around so I assume so?  Are they fighting amongst themselves at all, ignoring each other?  If we could stay at the entrance with minimal need to push back against inquisitive sorts that would be best...?))