Marav looks toward the sound of the roar and tries to figure out how far it is.

Perception: 18

Marav can tell that the sound was for sure coming from the west, across the Evermoors. Though it's hard to say the distance, the roars certainly came from miles away, and were also definitely made by a mature dragon. 

After you have had time to say your farewells, Halani and her retinue disappear into the woods, softly and silently.

You will find that your kindness hasn't gone unnoticed by the forest's ancient spirits. 

// DM question - assuming we leave via airship and Marav shares the bit of the Dragon roar.... Has Ink, in his studies, heard, or otherwise know, of any mature dragons that have made the Evermoor its home? I remember it being more a home for certain monstrosities, like trolls, more than anything else. ... History check 22 

Ink's knowledge holds the Evermoors as a sort of no-man's land between mature dragons. There are stories of younger black dragons making their homes amongst the chilly bogs and rolling hills, but no older dragon has ever maintained a presence there to your knowledge. 

Aya looks up at the sound. She glances at her new companions, searching for signs of fear.

She's has plenty of fear herself; dragons aren't to be taken lightly. 

"That one's bigger than me. Can't tell kind though. Could be one of the good ones." He makes ready for flight, "Hope it's one of the good ones or he's gonna kill us pretty quick."

He looks up realizing what he said, "Oh don't worry, while it rips me to pieces you guys will probably be able to get away, most of you anyhow."

"If that roar is what you say it is, and it's coming from the Evermoor - then it's out of place," Ink says after some thought.

He continues musing aloud, "It just doesn't make sense. A dragon wouldn't roar loud enough for an entire countryside to know its presence... unless it's actively in battle or otherwise distraught."

"This isn't the first time we've heard this roar over the Evermoor... We heard it (weeks? months?) ago as we were approaching Flint Rock," Ink says with a face of realization. 

"We should investigate," he says with a smile. 

"Umm... After we save Don and clear out Duke Zalto that is."

// DM inquiry - if we get close to the end of the day, and Ink still has third level slots, he'll be casting sending likely targeting Don, Clarion (silver dragon ally of Mithril Hall), Arene of Yartar. 

"We know where it is now. Ink... Can you turn you and I invisible? I can fly you in there to check it out. "

Crownsguard raises a hand, “Furthermore, as a note, I have located something.”

He pulls the Giant Slayer Longsword out of his bag, “This was not there before. I believe that the elves have provided us with superior weaponry.”

// This post is by way of description, because I'm realizing that we haven't actually been through the Evermoors yet! But you've been close enough several times. //

The Evermoors are hundreds of square miles of vast, uninviting terrain. Thick, persistent fog shrouds the ground there, often hiding bogs and other treacherous environments. The occasional scraggly tree, rocky crag, or lonely ruin sometimes pokes up out of the soupy fog. Occasionally, a small peak might tower over the landscape, overseeing the otherwise dreary morass.    

Some of you have previously come across the southern borders of the Evermoors, while traveling the Evermoor Way (from Triboar, to Yartar, then Calling Horns and on to Olostin's Hold, before reaching Everlund), and again when exploring Flint Rock, which lies on the southwestern side of the Evermoors. You can tell that exploration, while made far easier by airship, could still easily take days.

It is your prerogative whether you'd like to press on to Ironslag and the Fire Giants, or explore the Evermoors for the source of the dragon's roar. 

// And as for the swords in your inventory... //

Each of you, looking into your packs, will find a single, bladed weapon of yours has been magically transformed into a giant-slayer sword! As far as you can tell, the elves never went near your packs, but there you have it. As soon as you touch the weapon, you are given magical knowledge that this charm, while powerful, won't last forever, and will have faded before a tenday is over. 

Aya narrows her eyes suspiciously at her now-beefy rapier. Magic weapons are all well and good when she's putting them to use, but she's not a fan of unsolicited arcane intervention.

"Let's tackle the known quantity before the unknown... we have an ally to break out," Ink says.  "We should be quick about it, too - the magic on these weapons won't last long."

"If we don't die in Ironslag, perhaps we could venture into the Evermoors from there to investigate this mysterious roar. We could even continue south to pay a visit to Chief Guh. I know Marav has been wanting to put that one on ice since their rumblings against the Emerald Enclave."

// If we get close to resting for the evening, Ink would like to transmit a handful of sending spells. //

"Ink do you have a plan?" he places a palm on his forehead, "Please don't just say 'Attack'"

Ink casts sending three times.... 

Arene of Yartar: "Off to do something stupid. Usurp Duke Zalto of Ironslag - to save a friend and earn some coin. I am glad we met."

Clarion, silver dragon and friend of Mithril Hall: "Sorry to  intrude - especially since we only met once... a dragon unexpectedly roars over Evermoor. Any friends in the area?  We plan to investigate."

Dontontion: "We hope you are surviving. We are heading back to you. Any insight? Defensive changes? Traps? Patterns? We will break you out."

Quote from Hardcopi >>

"Ink do you have a plan?" he places a palm on his forehead, "Please don't just say 'Attack'"

 Ink chuckles, "That's your go to plan if I remember correctly."

"I was hoping you'd grown better by now... It is a classic though."

"What if I polymorph one into something innocuous until we were done with the rest?"

"About that, I have an idea that should help... I dubbed it project 'fire-piercer' it's why i bought the cart. I want to try mounting the harpoon launcher on the cart to mobilize some artillery against Ironslag"

Quote from jr_el_leon >>

Ink casts sending three times.... 

Arene of Yartar: "Off to do something stupid. Usurp Duke Zalto of Ironslag - to save a friend and earn some coin. I am glad we met."

Clarion, silver dragon and friend of Mithril Hall: "Sorry to  intrude - especially since we only met once... a dragon unexpectedly roars over Evermoor. Any friends in the area?  We plan to investigate."

Dontontion: "We hope you are surviving. We are heading back to you. Any insight? Defensive changes? Traps? Patterns? We will break you out."

The sun sets as you sail back over the Rauvin Mountains, and the peaks of the Spine of the World loom dark over the trees of the Glimmerwood to the north. Your destination lies somewhere in that darkness.

// Replies in the spoiler... //

Ink shares the following replies with the party... 

"He also receive a reply from Clarion the silver dragon, who seems to remember him. <Ah, greetings, young elf. I haven't heard of any news, but I will investigate, as I am nearby.>" 

"When Ink uses the spell to send a message to Dontontion, he hears Don's voice in his head, alarmed. <What? Ink! They're...> and then, abrupt silence, like someone closed a door in your face."

... 

"Well... I have the feeling we're expected. We'd have fire giants and possibly... drow... to contend with," Ink continues.

"We should assume that they've shored up the defenses via the mines... Should we stake out their main entrance at the bottom of their hold?" 

"We have surprises too," he taps his chest and then points toward Aya.