Maelarra's protest tore Aerin from her reminiscing about the 'good-ol-times' and before she could come up with a comment on how the noble priestess was pretending to bear herself like an ordinary merchant, the same woman went on to stun her by thanking her and Arrazin for their part in bringing down the hated advisor of Procampur's young ruler. Her mouth stayed open while the little gears in her head were processing the fact and formulated a reply. "That was ... a long time ago." the dragonkin replied humbly, "But thank you for acknowledging this. We'll tell the others when we meet them again, our deeds have not been forgotten."

Before the situation could develop into an awkward silence, Angel changed her flight pattern and Aerin looked up, remarking "I wonder what she found..." with the elf's cat-like attention span the object of her curiosity might be as interesting as the glint of a broken mirror or a tarrasque on a rampage...

Maelarra tracked the winged woman's flight. 'She's headed toward that farmhouse.' She gestured to the burned-out farm that seemed to have been targeted in one of the recent orc raids.

*

Angel flew in for a closer look...

[Private to Angel: The dragons seemed to be looking for food, and were too distracted to look up in the sky at her.

She watched as one rolled over the carcass of about half a cow, picked it up in its fangs, and flung it to its mate. The other caught it and they began a brief but gruesome tug-of-water. Energy crackled in their maws and the meat began to smoke and char. Finally, the first one let go and the other chewed strips of roast beef off the bones.

Curiously, neither dragon seemed to have wings.]

Slove slides beside Maelarra Hlartrym.  Not letting the cleric get away with what she was saying.
My dear Lady Maelarra Hlartrym.  You are as much a simple trader as a chancellor is, of a large kingdom is that pretends to be but a simple book clerk of local general store in a little village nobodies hurd of.  And we all know it.

He takes in one of he's breath's, making rasping noise.

You still have one of the best backsides I ever seem.  I never get tired of staring at it.
He waves his hand close to her as if to smack it but they both know he never really do that.  Unless she ask him nicely first.

However you are yet to strike a deal with me.  The last one you had chance to do you backed away from.
That's not like you is it.

Then he is off to see what is in the farm house.  His feet out pacing all but the freshest of horses.
Once he get close to the farm house he slows down and moves quietly.

Aerin sighed, "Why wait for the report from our eye in the sky? - Let's walk into a trap!" she thought, remembering the time when they approached a cabin and were confronted with acid-spitting dragon-lizardfolk crossbreeds. Rolling her eyes she gave Albion a gentle nudge, the mount dutifully began to move. Looking over her shoulder the dragonkin spoke to Arrazin "You coming?"

Having gathered what information she thought she needed, Angel turned to fly back to the group only to see that they were headed her way... and the ugly elf was already nearly to the farmhouse!

She dived quickly and sped past Slove, close enough to be heard as she called out a warning... which she also hoped wasn't loud enough to alert what she had spotted in the farmhouse.

[Private to Slove: "Stop, you fool! Dragons! Get away!"]

Then zooming past the hideous elf, she continued on toward the others...

With out a word Slove turns and heads back to the group.

Angel landed in front of Aerin’s horse, holding up her hands for the warrior woman to stop. ”There are dragons in that farmhouse scavenging for food. Blue scales, no wings, and lightning comes from their mouths,” she reported...

Seeing Angel approach, Aerin signalled for everyone to stop, noticing as well that Slove was coming back. "Hmmm... blue dragons without wings? Never heard of anything like that." the dragonkin wondered, mostly to herself before turning to her other companions. "Tseran, Maelarra? Have you ever heard of dragons without wings, blue dragons in particular?" she asked the more educated of her companions.

She turned her attention back to the winged elf before her "Dragons, you say. How many, two, three, half-a-dozen?" she asked worriedly, one dragon was a challenge but two or more seemed like an insurmountable obstacle. "Have you seen a path that would allow us to circumvent the dragons? Give them a wide berth so we can pass unnoticed?" she asked the woman, hoping she had seen something helpful.

ooc: Knowl.Arcana 10 - identify dragons.

"There are two that I saw," Angel replied. "They seemed pretty intent on feasting on the animal carcass they'd found, so I don't think they've spotted us yet. I didn't see a specific path that might be safer than any other, but if you wish I fly up and keep an eye on them while you all hurry past. That way you'd at least have some warning they were coming."

[Private to GM: I assumed that the farmhouse sat on one side of the path we were following, not in it's direct way. So if you would could you provide a basic lay-out of the road we're traveling down and where exactly the dragon-infested farmhouse is? (Please and thank you!)]

Maelarra returned a look so withering she might well have cast a spell to grant eyes like a medusa. 'Master Slove, have you never heard the wisdom that one should never offend the one who casts the healing spells?'

The farmstead lay about 360 feet from the road, on the northern side toward the distant River Vesper and Troll Mountains. The ground sloped gradually in that direction, criss-crossed by low fieldstone walls separating fields and paddocks with the occasional stile between them, small shack, or feed trough. A track led up from the road to the farmstead itself, with a large two-story farmhouse, a big barn, stables, and sheds, all burned-out but still standing. The alleged dragons were behind these; now they listen, they could hear some crunching.

Aerin knew that all true dragons had wings, but also that there were a great many dragon-blooded cross-breeds (of which she herself was a prime example), mutants, offshoots, and large scaled monsters that might as well as be dragons.

'Blue dragons typically dwell in dry, desert environments, and even in summer we do not have the like anywhere near here. We may see all the other main colours, but not blue. And no self-respecting dragon would be seen without wings.'

Slove put forward the following.

Do we feel we should clear this area of the dragons and allow for it's people to return.
Or do we feel the dragons has as much right to hunt here as any other creature.

He then says as side note to Maelarra.
Have you not heard the words do not try to Teach grandmother to suck eggs.  Unless I was mistaken I was casting heal spells and using the lines of what you just used before you had taken your first breath.  And if this world keep it promise to me to extend my personal pain and I live my full years.  I will still be casting then on your children after your gone.
As for offending you.  One of these day you will admit to yourself you like it really.  That in that cold golden money laden heart of yours you have soft spot for that stupid ugly elf you meant.  But not to day I fear.

He then takes in breath of air.

Oh an unlike your faith I will always heal your children for free.  Telling them it is promise I made freely to there mother.

He then turns back to talk to the others.
So remove the dragon or go round them?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:44, Sun 16 June 2019.

Aerin listened to Slove and to Maelarra, who confirmed what she had thought herself. It was true, their mission was not to clear the area of any threats but to find the missing scions, however, somehow the dragonkin felt it was their obligation to the innocent people of Procampur, to make sure they could live without fear - be it of orc raids or dragonkin.

Chewing a bit on her lip she said "We can see the creatures don't care about who they kill or what they destroy in their search for food. Hence we can assume they will kill unless stopped; and since the people of Calaunt are busy playing with themselves, it falls on us to make sure to end this menace. - Do you agree?" she asked, wondering who else would share her view.

Slove makes another one of his hissing noises behind his hood.
Maybe it our duty to not kill the dragon and let then feed on the people around her and then the leaders of Calaunt stop playing with themselves and do something useful?

Then he shakes his head.

I think we all know that not going to happen.

"Perhaps we should lead the dragons, or whatever they are, to Calaunt and give the troops something to really drill against," Angel stated dryly, it being unclear if she was really being serious or just facetious. "But either way, as my sainted mother -- gods above rest her name -- always said, only a fool goes buying trouble."

"Which might explain you," she said acidly to Slove. "But certainly not the ladies fair," she added, indicating Aerin and Maelarra. "And maybe not pretty-boy either," she continued, flashing Tseran a mocking grin. "Which reminds me, I think this is yours," she finished, holding out to the wizard the hair-tie she'd swiped earlier.

Slove answers Angle.
So who is taking a leaf out of who's book purchasing ledger then.  Is it me out of your ledger Angle or you out of mine?

He lowers his hood for once.

Then looks at Angle and back to Tseran (giving him a wink).  Then looks down at his own hands and back at Maelarra (giving her same wink as Tseran).
This done in over dramatic way to make his point.

He returns his hood back.

As Maelarra is in charge of this expedition I think it maybe her call.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Mon 17 June 2019.

 Tseran may be forgiven for his relative silence thus far, which is largely sourced in the fact that most of the group is mounted and has a tendency to hare off at the least little stimuli like a dog who thinks they've seen a squirrel while he's entirely at the mercy of the carrying power of his own two elven feet...

 ...but he still perks up when the dragonkin are mentioned, reaching up to part the positive waterfall of hair that makes it more or less impossible to discern his expression, peering out and frowning as he notes "Wingless isn't common for dragons, more usually found in those with their blood but Blue Chromatics lean towards being a tad more discerning than most... That said... Were there any other details you noticed?" before making his own fairly reasonable proposal "I would suggest approaching them with good manners from a distance. If they have the power of speech, then they can be treated with and if they're not harming anyone, fair enough. If they don't, then it would depend upon whether or not they attack us, wouldn't it?"

 Here of course, Angel turns up and earns herself a long, dry look before Tseran extends a hand (a curtain of hair once more obscuring his features) to take the thong back, which he proceeds to use to tidy himself up again while quietly contemplating how many explosive runes it would take to repay the woman for his ending up arse-deep in alligators for most of a month and dryly replying "That's two."

 ---

01:53, Today: Tseran Tal'chiar rolled 11 using 1d20.  Also identifying dragons, +12.
 So, 23 then!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Thu 20 June 2019.

"Two?!" Angel gasped in pretend shocked surprise. "We get to roll in the hay TWO times?!" The winged she-elf asked and then clapped her hands and squealed in faux-delight as she bounced on her toes. "Should I keep the wings? Oh, don't be silly; of course you want me to keep the wings," she continued, chiding herself and answering her own question. "But maybe you'd prefer wings of a different sort," she added, fixing the wizard with a purely impish look as her form shifted...

... and in the blink of an eye a completely different sort of Angel stood there. White-feathered wings gave way to large, black leathery ones, while blonde hair had become a glossy raven-black. Her skin tone had gone from a creamy ivory to an angry sunburned hue, while her eyes became so red they almost glowed. Horns sprouted from her forehead to curve gracefully over her crown and a spaded tail grew from her backside to curl deliciously around her leg. And if Angel was beautiful before she was positively ravishing now...

"Is this more to your liking, pretty-boy?" she purred, her voice dripping with sultry temptation, as her spaded tail came up to gently caress Tseran's cheek. "Do you like it naughty... or nice?"     
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Thu 20 June 2019.

"You two: Get a room!" Aerin boomed before Tseran could answer. "But AFTER we resolve this situation." she added, slightly less loud. Watching Angel shapeshift triggered something like a deja-vu in Aerin, but of course she couldn't have seen the elf in this form before, could she? Shaking her head to clear it the Rashemi concentrated on the issue at hand again.

"We can do it the way Tseran suggested, but I would prefer to go alone, so if they don't react ... favourably to the suggestion of leaving, you don't have to suffer their anger." the dragonkin explained. "Though, I hope you can be near to back me up should things go south."

"Here that?" Angel crooned to Tseran, playing off Aerin's booming interjection. "Next time we stop at an inn you and I get to share a room," she added, giving the wizard a lewd wink, playing her joke out for all its worth. Then she laughed and in a heartbeat had shifted back to blonde-hair and white feathers...

 Tserans response is somewhat delayed in any event, by his hastily having to swallow the sudden surge of bile that's his initial and instinctive response to Angel's otherwise seductive offer - which abruptly makes him long to be sharing sleeping arrangements with the alligators once again (although in her defence, that's entirely Tserans problem rather than hers) and when he does have control of his tongue once again it's to icily answer "I should sooner set any hay I may happen to be rolling in on fire.", batting with one long-fingered hand at Angel's lascivious tail, "And I should sooner share a room with a serpent."

 From this of course, it can be ascertained that the generally ascetic mage does not look with favour upon the advances being pressed upon him - although he does have a history of getting into close tangles with at least one Naga so... Eh.

Slove added.
Aerin you selling Tsaran and Angle short.  I think they should hire a whole mansion house and be given a good month to explore the possibility there in and we must not forget grounds as well.
Then back to task in hand.
If you want do talking I happy to back you up if all goes south.

Maelarra rolled her golden eyes to the heavens at Slove's remarks, then set them upon the distant, burned-out farmstead, contemplating the problem before her. She listened to the team's ideas and proposals, and finally its distracting banter, before reaching a conclusion. 'Our mission is to find the Calauntan scions, and we cannot let ourselves be distracted by every side-quest that comes our way... However! Something has surely driven these creatures out of the mountains, just as it has the orcs that raided these farms. And if we do not deal with this problem now, we shall inevitably have to deal with it on our return, in some must worse form.'

'Aerin, as you and Tseran proposed, you will go parley with these creatures however you think best. The rest of us can follow a distance behind to provide back-up if needed.'

The Rashemi listened to Maelarra with a raised eyebrow, did she just agree with this course of action? She had and even implied that it was a sensible thing to do. Aerin wasn't one to let an opportunity pass. "Let's go then." she commented and urged Albion on towards the burnt out buildings and to face two, most likely, aggressive creatures intent on electrocuting and eating them.

As they neared the building's remains she leaned towards Tseran and said "You best wait and take cover in the rubble while I persuade these fine specimens that it's healthier to go back where they came from." Her hand went to her potion belt, confirming one specific flask was still there.

[Private to DM BadCatMan: Checking on her Resist Electricity potion.]

"I'll keep watch from above," Angel offered. "Watch my wings," she added, snapping open her white-feathered ones. "If they turn black," she continued, demonstrating by turning the feathers black. "Lady Aerin needs help." Then she switched the feathers back to white and took to the air...

[Private to Aerin of Damar: Shoot me a PM when you want me to turn my wings black and summon the others. Otherwise it's all you. Have fun!   :)]

 "That seems eminently reasonable." Tseran answers, sticking good and close to their patron, mounted though she is as he reviews his limited but so far, generally effective techniques for causing someones day to take a turn for the incendiary, whether with true, honest to Mystra magic or... Well, the other area he's been tinkering with in his copious free time.