Rhogar cannot help grinning at the victory. Though soon that began to fade as Thontara and the other prisoners are escorted out. At which point he looked to Kazri with a somewhat troubled expression, as Thontara seemed at least an important loyalist. "Wa-... Wait!" He called out to the escorts. "We would have questions for that one. Or at least one before you take her away. Your Grandolpha... she would allot as much as part of recompense for our assistance here." He requests.

-Persuasion: 10. (if needed)

"What do you know of the dragon you and your fellows created? Were there any fail safes or controller of some sort implemented in it?" He'd ask if given the chance.

...BUT if not, Rhogar growled a little in frustration, but had enough wherewithal not to push the limits of their hospitality. At least in so far strike up an argument with the nearby duergars while their blood was no doubt still boiling from recent battle. Instead, he'd look to the rest of the party still in the guard tower and wave them down. And while waiting on them, turn to Kazri and say, "Our destination is one thing, but I am not wholly convinced the professor would know anything about a duergar's construction. So I say once the others have rejoined us, we do a bit of exploring of this level. See if we can find a... uh... places Xardarok might've frequented, or...." He trails off from there, truly uncertain of what to add.

Kazri relieved that she does not find another Fiend, and she hopes that the one with Xardorok was an isolated creature. As the fight settles down, she sheathes her sword, and she makes sure that the prisoners are treated fairly. She helps bringing Thontara for Rhogar's quesioning. If Rhogar fails to get any information from the female Duergar. "Many people will die, we ask for any useful information to stop this dragon that Xardorok created."

Persuation: 21

"That was fast." says Krom as he finally reaches Kazri and Rhogar at the end of the battle. "I'm not complaining of course, we are running against time with that construct attacking the dale."

While the paladin and the dragonborn attempt to interrogate the female duergar, the dwarf heeds to Vellynne's suggestion and after taking out the Professor Orb from the group's bag asks "Professor Skant, do you have any useful insights regarding how to destroy or at least stop this dragon construct?"

Chill stood and stretched.  "Well Dreck, there ya go.  Seems the lots been cleaned up." He dallied getting his gear put away and hoped that Dreck would move off on his own down to the floor of the forge.  He had a mind to see what was behind the doors they had passed earlier.  He had noted that no one had come in or out of the those doors.  In the confusion of the battle he had, he thought, a chance. After Dreck leaves Chill slips his hood over his head and quietly heads off towards the doors to the east that they passed by.

He'll motion to Vellynne to go with Dreck and keep him busy.  He hoped she would get the signal.

Deception 14

Stealth 30

16 1-10 No 11-20 yes

Dreck did start to move off towards the forge area and Chill attempted to move off on his own.  But Vellynne clearly didn't get the signal, or understand it.  "This way Chill." she said as Chill moved away from her.  "Don't leave me alone here."

Dreck stopped and turned around and sees Chill going the wrong direction.

"What's going on here?" he snaps

Chill roll Persuasion or Deception and explain yourself.

Chill stops and looks back.  Vellynne didn't get the message.

"I think I got turned around there Dreck.  Going the wrong way." he smiles nonchalantly.  "Let's catch up to the others." Chill moves to join Dreck and Vellynne down to the forge floor if there are no further problems.

Persuasion 28

Dreck stops and gives Chill a hard look.  A moment passes and then he ushers them forward.  "Go, ahead of me, go now.  Let us finish this."

Presuming you walk ahead of him for as sneaky as Chill can be Dreck has his eye on you now and there won't be another opportunity.  

You head down to the floor of the forge and join the others. Chill notices that Dreck stays close and keeps an eye on him but otherwise says nothing.

Rhogar and Kazri try to get answers from Thontara who gives a defiant look as she passes by.  "You can't recall it.  It is set on its course and will return when it is done." She refuses to say more as she is led away.

Krom draws Professor Skant out and questions him about the chardalyn dragon.

"Ah, yes, the knowledge you seek is of course found with me and not with you." Skant answers in that same condescending tone. "A chardalyn dragon serves the tyrannical will of its evil creator with a tireless drive and devotion that exceeds its own instinct of self-preservation. Thus, the dragon will destroy itself in pursuit of its master’s desires if necessary. It will not stop.  Perhaps the one that set it on its course could recall it, but certainly no one or nothing else will."

Krom's mood darkens as the Professor speaks about the chardalyn dragon "Its creator and master is dead Professor, if we do not stop it, the dragon will continue to ravage the Dales and hundreds of people will be killed." says the dwarf barely keeping at bay his frustration. "You are a well of arcane and mundane knowledge Professor, is it not possible at all to recall it here?"
As Krom notices Chill and Vellynne rejoining the group, the dwarf asks to the wizard "I have heard that some wizards can teleport at great distances, do you have such power? If we can not recall the dragon, our only choice is to find and destroy it."

Kazri updates Krom on what Thontara told them, further corroborating the Professor. “We need to find its current location if we are to try your suggestion, Master Krom.”

Despite it all Rhogar yet looked unconvinced at the construct. Yet though his maw opened several times over the course of a minute to voice denial or challenge the word of the Professor, each time it closed with little more than grunts or growls of frustration. "We'd need to know how long it may linger in any given time to do it's... work as well." He finally says as he glared at the Professor. 

Chill did indeed walk ahead of Dreck and did his best to look like he had made a mistake.  Catching up to the others he heard what was being discussed.

"Wasn't there a map that showed the course of the dragon?  We just need to get ahead of it. Then we will be in place to fight it."

Professor Skant sighs, sighs in such a way that you recognize that he thinks you are beneath him and the condescending tone is amped up.

"As I told you, only the one who set it on its course can recall it.  If that person is dead, then you cannot recall it.  Very simple really.  This concept is not so difficult to understand?  But as the tabaxi has said, you saw a map that showed the course of the dragon?  Then you have a basic idea of where and when it will be.  Study the map and then get ahead of it." The orb sighs again "And no, I cannot do this for I cannot see."

Though Rhogar lets out a low, guttural growl at the construct it's soon cut off with a huff, before then looking to the others. "It seems then our course is set. And forgive for the assumption, but judging by the look on your face, Vellynne, that such magic as described Master Krom is of the moment beyond you. If so, we have much ground then to cover it seems... Not that such wasn't going to already be the case, but-..." He waves a hand off to the side dismissively. "Either way, we should be moving on and quickly. I'm still concerned about this 'myconid sovereign' mentioned by Grandolpha earlier, but I assume the duergar have that taken care of. Though that said-..." He turns to look pointedly at Derrick.

"Besides Vellynne, were there any other prisoners of the surface world that we should be... taking off your people's hands?" He stated more than asked. 

For those in need a reminder on the route:

Not being able to help with the dragon business, Kazri approaches Dreck. “What will you do with the prisoners? I hope that they will be properly treated, or at the very least they will not suffer unjustly.”

"You make it sound very simple Professor, study the map and get ahead of it." replies Krom "The construct is a flying dragon, it took us a couple of days just to reach this fortress from Bryn Shander." The dwarf hooks back the hammer on his belt and with a loud sigh says "As Rhogar pointed out, we have to move and move quickly. I say that we make for Bryn Shander, the last city in the dragon's itinerary and move backward. We can not beat the construct in speed, but hopefully we will be able to stop it from destroying the largest city in the Dale."

"Let's get another look at that map then.   We'll have a better idea of what to do.   Whatever else is going on here I would think the people of Icewind Dale need our help first. " Chill said. 

He glanced at Dreck but it seemed to him the duergar was still keeping a close eye on him. 

Vellynne shakes her head.  "Sadly no, that is beyond my power. We will have to move by ground. Any time we spend here dealing with other issues is time lost getting back to Icewind Dale"

Dreck shakes his head as well.  "No, no other prisoners  that belong to the Dale.  Those we have taken will be returned to the Underdark.  We may all return to the Underdark, that remains to be seen.  Any other prisoners will be dealt with by Grandolpha.  It was Xardorok who wanted to take over Icewind Dale, not the duergar as a whole.  We will take care of the others. Many duergar will wish to return to the Underdark I think. There may even be a time, if you return in the future, to find this place wholly abandoned.  Though I think not.  There is an entrance to the Underdark within the fortress."

Rhogar grumbled and shook his head, and even Gorrah -- having eventually returned to the shoulder of the dragonborn -- lashed her tail in annoyance at Krom's suggestion. "Then leave we shall, but... not to Bryn Shander. For even by flight, the fact remains that it has to slow to destroy a town. And while some may be more swiftly dealt with than others, the more defended of the towns may yet slow it down further, if nothing else." He bowed his head solemnly at the admission, but then abruptly shook it. 

" And I would rather we save as many as we can -- pushing our mounts as needed to make it happen. So weather permitting, we make for Caer-Dineval from what may yet remain of Good Mead. For from there, there aughta be a trade route that connects it to the Caer. And with any luck, we may yet catch it there." He looks to the party. "Any objections?" 

The dwarf nods in agreement at Vellynne.
"None, Rhogar. You are right, it will have to slow down." replies Krom as the dragonborn explains his plan to the group. "Let's make haste we have another dragon to slay!" adds the dwarf. "We will have to think about how to bring it down to ground level. I still have strength for a few hymns, but they will not be very powerful. Unless we find the time to rest." 
continues the dwarf as he starts to walk.
Before exiting the room, Krom turns towards Dreck "Inform Grandolpha to keep her side of the bargain. If we hear again of duergars attacking the Dale, we will return."