Fianna gives a slow, sarcastic applause to the dragon's little speech.

     "You wish to speak plain? So be it.  But drop the condescending crap.  You got friends, I got friends, we all have friends.  But you have one less child than you used to and you said the words yourself - You need us," Fianna snarled, not bothering to rise.  "So tell us what you wish to tell us.  Or grind our bones.  Just stop all the tired 'fear me 'cause I am so awesome' routine.  If you were all that and a side of porcupine spines then you wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of drawing us here..."

     "So...  You're move," Fianna says, stretches out her legs, and leans back.

 Exactly! "A comprehensive comparison of some aspects of Mythallar versus Mythal" was hardly a topic for current discussion (and to her sounded quite the same anyway). "Potato - potato," she shrugged the explanation off. It was not the time - now they had to deal with the dragon somehow, and it took all her willpower not to join that conversation.

The spines on the back of the dragon clack up in a line....literally bristling at Fianna's comment. Then she takes in a deep breath as if to calm herself, her eyes shutting briefly. Then she nods,  "You overestimate my need and over play your petulance. Off you go then. My patience is at an end, there are always others...more driven to save their kind and way of life. All other bargaining chips lay on the table, to play at as they will.  When you are letting the last breaths go from your body, this conversation will sit among your most regrettable moments.  As I'd agreed, you are safe to depart this meeting, but return to my home again at your peril." 

Nuzej sends to the group, "I'd like to hear the offer, and I think the chances of defeating a prepared ancient dragon, in her lair, with drow and ettercap spawn, and additional dragons? They are small. I think we should show herself and challenge her to give her pitch to the lot of us. She knows we're here."

The wizard steps into the passage, trying to stay close enough to Chen that teleporting may still be an option. "I would like to hear what you have to say," he says out loud. "I am new to this conflict, but I care for these people. I do not know much about you. Tell us what you wish to tell us. I am listening."

Mirica had just enough of this pointless exchange. Yet, dragon's anger with Fianna was an exaggerated version of her own, and that realization, strangely, calmed her down enough to talk without (at least visible) anger. She added her voice to Nuzej.  "What Fianna here was trying to say is that the plane speech could be better understood by humanoid's minds. You speak of a threat. The only threat to "our kind" we are aware of is you and your master - Larloch. You are denying his hold over you, but he is sure of your obedience. Is that the help you are expecting of us? To free you from him? We can leave but what was the point then to invite us here and yet saying nothing? You called, we came. Whether we need each other or not we could only learn if we talk."

     Fianna...  Just continues waiting patiently and comfortably.

The ancient dragon whips its tail back and forth some more waspishly, but she listens nonetheless, then she speaks, her eyes on Nuzej and occasionally darting to Mirica...all but ignoring Fianna now.  "And there we find your presuppositions, and your arrogance meet in a perfect union of total foolishness. You wish me speak plain?  You can't see the picture I've drawn for the paint.  Fine. I am too old to suffer some undead thing directing me. I did so for convenience, for ease, and I have paid the price. Or rather, my eldest has paid the price. No more. But, do not think I sit here plotting you against Larloch directly. I know where he sits. I know where his throne is.  If you wish a quick and very very certain death, I will tell you where to find it.  He is....intelligence personified. He is ancient, having lived lifetimes before I  emerged, and he has plans, within plans, within plans. He is a Netheril wizard you know. A left over from the first great magical empire of this world. He almost predates the elves. He perhaps walked this world when only dragons reined supreme. He saw both the rise, and fall of Netheril. He saw the magical weave broken and reformed. He saw his god, Mystral, mistress of magic, die from Karsus's folly..****y to be reborn an imposter in his eyes....Mystra. He saw over two dozen of the universes most powerful magical artifacts fall from the sky and be lost in the aftermath.  They didn't matter. They could not function you see.  Mystra changed the rules. Magic that powerful could not be allowed. Until the spell plague. Surely you know of this. It is so recent, within your lifetimes surely. And Mystra....she let the rules change once again. Who can say how gods can be so foolish. And there, across the world, under millennia's of rock, ice, and dust....the Mythallars....they awoke. And now Larloch seeks them. He seeks them with such avarice. He.....and his Lich slaves....they....are doing something. Something beyond my magical understanding......something to them that is tattering the very weave. I do not know his mind. For you to think you do....ridiculous. But, someone must find out. I fear a game has begun....and Larloch is the only one who knows the rules or how to win." 

Perhaps it was the appearance of the extra dragons, or perhaps it was the sense of hesitation coming through the telepathic link from his companions, but Chen finally paused his lethal intentions and stopped to listen. He had no intention of aligning with his hated foe for any reason, nor much interest in these convoluted plots, but he could tell the others found this information valuable. And clearly the beast had allies. If Chen were to destroy his enemy but allow those allies to escape and continue the cycle of murder and vengeance, then Chen's actions today would prove futile. So he waited and listened.

Mirica almost laughed - was she right or was she right? Larloch did control the liches. Unless the dragon was reading her mind and that speech was part of manipulation (Verdant Cloud was a green dragon after all, "manipulation" is how they interact with the world) everything rang at pure truth to her. Truly, should that being be ... not a chromatic dragon aggressively expanding her territory and - worst of all! - multiplying, Mirica would already offer a friendship. "So far we either knew or guessed most of what you said. And despite the arrogance that you sense in our group, we are not as mad as to go directly after the being, that came as close to the heretical godhood as god's creation can." Mirica even smiled. Sort of. "Still, the exact location would be appreciated".  She paused, marking the words as important, so the dragon would not forget to share the coordinates. "Now what is it you are expecting of us, and what do you offer in return?"

"Unless she is stalling to summon all her allies - which is possible, mind you! - we might learn location of other Mythallars and may be even the way to destroy them." That was sent telepathically.  

     Fianna sits, patiently and comfortably, wondering if her companions can keep up the chatter long enough for her to get a long rest in...

     She is also still scanning about her with her Eldritch Sight detecting all the magic she can.  Specially checking out the dragons, trying to get the info on their beastlinesses...  

Most, if not all, of this conversing was over Russel’s head but it seemed as though he had something to report later... perhaps be given some new instructions. Only time would tell. Well time and if he makes it out of this place ... alive. 

The dragon's voice rumbles across the sound of the rushing water, sarcasm dripping from her words, "Oh, yes. You knew this all. Of course. Well, I'm glad we're all so caught up. I offer you knowledge. A millenia of knowledge of this world. A treasure that surpasses what most wizards guild would kill for. I will also withdraw my threat over the human city of Hillsfar. Finally, I will cease trying to destroy you. In return, you will help me understand Larloch's plot. I will help guide you with information. You will act. You will be the hand that moves the pieces. You can be...the hero's...the world will thank you. Between the Trollbark forest and the Troll hills on the Sword Coast....there is well known place. Warlock's Crypt. Larloch's domain. Home to countless Lich, surrounded by all manner of traps, and magic from ages past. And....just for you...I tell you now, it is.the location where Larloch's Netheril city fell...the city of Orbedal. Which means.....there is a Mythallar there. Is all this plain enough for you to grasp?"

Does Nuzej have any sense of the facts she's laying out? Anything about Orbedal, or the Warlock's Crypt? Any obvious contradictions to what he knows (which may be not much)?

Some rolls:

"I am relatively new to this. Perhaps you knew that already. But I'm beginning to see the picture. The offer, well, unexpected, perhaps. Discern the eternal warlock's plans, his assets. Find tools to help exploit his weaknesses. And undermine them. My question for you: what happens when we learn more, perhaps gain the tools and the knowledge to put him in check? Do you join the chessboard to help? Hinder? Poison all the pieces? You seek to stop him, and then what?"

He sends telepathically, still listening: "This would not be an easy alliance, or really a true one. But it may beat the alternative. And we'd be entering it with eyes wide open. She has not attacked us, even with our... abrupt entrance. I am a bit of a newcomer to this group, Jezun as well. What do you say? Toc, would this be advisable?"

Mirica sighed and sent her answer before Toc could chime in "Technically she did attack, but considering what she could do that was just a warm welcome. Pains me to even think it but Nuzej is right - if she leaves the city alone and might help with what we are already doing... Fighting now would be unwise. Not forever, Chen!" (She made a point to address the dragonborn personally, understanding and sharing his feelings regarding dragon's existence) "but for now, while the bigger threat is still present. If you all agree, I say - retreat and re-think." 

Out loud she said nothing - the next question was already asked.

There is a few moments of pause after Mirica's last communication to Chen where the dragonborn is clearly tensed and looks about to spring out into (or onto) the water, his eyes narrowed and glaring at the dragon, his arms flexing as they grip the hammer tighter and tighter. His breathing quickens, his chest heaving faster and faster until finally he spreads his arms wide, tips his head back and releases a gout of flame accompanied by a roar louder than any before (or perhaps it's the acoustics of the cave). It is a roar of anger but also amplified by a profound frustration that can only come from a sworn oath that cannot be fulfilled. Staring across the swirling vortex, Chen shouts at Verdant Cloud:

CURSE YOU, BEAST!! CURSE YOU AND ALL YOUR KIN!! YOU MAY FOOL THEM WITH YOUR SILVER TONGUE BUT I AM NOT SWAYED! YOUR CLAIM OF MATERNAL DEVOTIONAL DOES NOT PARDON YOUR RETRIBUTION AGAINST THE INNOCENT! YOUR RECKONING WILL COME, IF NOT THIS DAY THEN SURELY BY MY HAND!

And with that Chen spits on the ground in front of him, then turns and walks out of the cave with downcast eyes, and back toward the entrance fresco.

Verdant Cloud lets out a guttural chuckle at the golden dragon, "That's just his watered down, and yet still so self righteous golden dragon blood pumping through his veins. I eagerly await our next encounter, golden half-breed."  Her tails flicks back and forth as she watches him stalk away, and then she looks back to Nuzej, "When we have uncovered his plot, if you are unable to defuse it, I shall join the fray happily enough rather than let Larloch wreak his havoc. Make no mistake though, Larloch is not the king piece on this dragon chess board. There is no outcome where you face him. He is the hand behind the board, untouchable. The best you can hope for is to foil whatever plot he has put in motion. If we are done, then I put this starting move towards you. Learn all you can from that Baelnorn's work. There is knowledge there that I do not understand. I'm no wizard. Then, when you are ready, we can speak on what comes next. In the meantime, Lucien may come and.... assist. He is a powerful wizard in his own right, and may certainly help with your research."  The armored half-drow appears on the cliff face near you. He gives a slight head bow, and a slight grin, "I would be...honored....to work with you and your elf wizard."   

Toc, still out of sight of the dragon and the drow, says out loud, "We decline your offer. Your wizard is not welcome." 

Verdant Cloud hunches her shoulder ...what may pass for a shrug, "Only a fool lets his pride prevent him from taking advantage on the field of battle. Careful your prejudice does not hinder our progress. We can ill afford to fall further behind Larloch." 

Toc mutters in your minds, "Unless any of you insist, I am firmly against it. It's not prejudice as she suggests...I do not trust either of them further than I can throw them. And they both look quite heavy."

     “Soooo, what’s their names?  Those two behind you...” Gianna says, wriggling her fingers at the two dragons V.C. Is supposedly hiding behind her.  “Do they not talk?  Are they bashful?  If they’re going to be allies they should at least be introduced.”

     Fianna continues to lounge on the rock and look over everything with her Eldritch Sight.  She’s convinced that more than half of what they’re seeing is a lie.

     “And your village of pet Drow down that other path, they available to offer assistance as well?  If we need cannon fod..  err, if we need extra hands or anything?” Fianna adds.  “I’d the proposed truce with you including all your allies into the non-aggression clause?  It seems we could have a beautiful friendship, would be a shame if a misunderstanding with an Ettercap blew it...”

Fianna's detect magic only reaches 30 feet, which isn't far enough for her to see half-way across the vortex, let alone Verdant Cloud or the other two dragons. That said, she can clearly see that Lucien here is shrouded in illusion magic...or is entirely an illusion. It's tough to say wether he's just got a disguise self on, or is entirely an illusion, or there is some other cause for the aura.  

Verdant Cloud shrugs, "Oh. The Fey thing speaks? To me? Interesting. You've not met my daughter, Berdeanostia? The other is her newest mate. He knows I despise him, but he grovels to me in askance of my approval. I don't deem mention his name at this juncture. There are drow, many wood elves and other agents in this world that work for me. They will know you are not to be harmed. This is a reasonable request. However, find your own underlings if you desire, I will employ mine as I see fit and to our maximum benefit." 

Nuzej messages to the group: "Is there anything else we want to ask? To my fellow esteemed wizard who is remaining out of sight, is there anything you'd like me to ask?"

     "Aww, now look who the rebellious little dragon is!  Isn't that cute!" Fianna says before continuing in a sing-song voice "'Find your own underlings...'"

     "Verdant Cloud...  Darling...  We have."

     Fianna stands, gives a cutesy little wave towards the dragons, and saunters back towards the original area.