In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 13):

<<OOC:  Shorty has moved bigger Ogres that this.  Besides... how's he to know how much rocky weighs."

Shorty pauses and looks up at Penny.  "Hows come Penny bein mad at Shorty?  What be dis call thingie?  Me not unnerstan.  Me bring lunch and udder guys bring gift thingie a gold.  Penny me no not need gift.  Penny me no unnerstan friend be best gift ta have.  Not wants Penny teach baby be dis way.  Me member Penny dat fights wid Shorty save world.  Penny ferget?  Penny ferget dat all ways posed takes care a peoples dat be smaller?"

Shorty sighs and turns away.  As he walks away from Penny he looks at Warwick and asks, "What Dullis do?  Why save world if friend all be not nice no more?  Dis be why people fraid Penny now?  Not talks nice bout her?  Maybe us jes needs save Rigel Dragon by selves."

Shorty goes back to the table and ignors the chair and sits on the floor.  "Me just ogre.  What me no?"

In reply to Shorty (msg # 14):

Morteft says, "Well met, Mistress of the Mountain. Thank you for meeting with us without proper notice."

Aztar frowned a little and stared sadly at shorty and glanced at Penny to try and make sense of the situation.  He might not be showing it, but he felt almost the same way as shorty about this formal experience of meeting her.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 14):

Warwick shrugs at Shorty.  "I don't know, lad.  There are things we don't understand.  Best to not get upset about it until we know more."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 17):

Morteft nods in agreement. "For the greater good is how it goes. Certainly thousands and maybe hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved, but things have changed. The troll menance is less than it was, but we have a new threat that has moved in. I suppose much has changed...." He gives Shorty a strange look for a moment.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 18):

He gives Shorty a strange look for a moment.

Shorty shake shis head.  "Me not break nothin."

Penny nods her head in Mortefts direction and Rocky moves back a bit.  "Think nothing of it Sage Morteft, it is a welcome respite to receive such splendid guests and old friends."  She gives a dragon smile and stares at Morteft, a few seconds later tilting her head.  She appears to be waiting for something.


--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 20):

To Morteft, Shorty and Aztar, Warwick sends via the mindlink, *She's wanting her gifts, now.  We got the horse, what else are we giving her?*

Aztar, still perplexed by the need for the formality, takes her pause as the time for him to stand.  Producing a small wooden box from a pouch in his belt, he steps forward to the stone golem.  "A small gift for the Mistress of the Mountain."

He bows his head and presents the box, opening up the lid as he does so.  Inside the small box is a ring of obvious magical nature and a few gems.

In reply to Aztar (msg # 22):

She exclaims in a bit of mock surprise "For me! Oh that is very kind of you all; you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble."

Rocky takes the box, walks in front of Penny and opens it as he presents it to her.  She nods and he closes the box and walks away.   "You may now present your business."  she smiles, sort of, the lights brighten and the golems bring out large trays of food and a couple of kegs, one placed in front of Warwick.  Everyone gets a large mug.  Penny lowers her head folds one forearm up and rests her head on her claws.  "So tell me what you have been up to since I last saw you.  It seems so long ago."  she looks over at Shorty.  "I can take that hug now."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 23):

Shorty looks at Penny in surprise.  He stands up and looks at her in concern.  "What wrong wid Penny Dragon?  Why need box with Silly box?  Why need stuff to bees nice?  Penny needs help Shorty always come.  People in town talks bad, Shorty sticks up fer Penny.  Why Penny need present to be friend?  Makes Shorty unnersand?  Why Shorty gots to give gift to be friend?  Dat what me needs no."

Shorty holds his place and glances at his companions.  "Not buys help fer Rigel.  Me save Rigel Dragon n all udder dragon fer free.  Eben if dem not member what friend mean."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 24):

Penny looks at Shorty.  "I am not sure I can make you understand, it is complicated.  You are here in an official capacity, ambassadors if you will.  It is a courtesy and sign of respect for the gifts to be brought to the host.  But of course you are somewhat displaced in time, you do not fully understand what has transpired and the new ways.  You are also here as friends; but the officialness must take precedence."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 25):

Warwick clears his throat. "Las, Lady Penny, I mean.  Ye know what transpired?"

Aztar raises an eyebrow at penny's statement and nods slightly at warwicks statement, 'I wasn't aware that you knew of the events that transpired and the fate of us who were close to it.   I also wasn't aware that we were here in an official capacity.   Dualis said you may be able to present some insight as to how to help Rigel.  What is the diplomatic purpose we are here for?'

In reply to Warwick (msg # 26):

Shorty continues to look confused.  But he does look a little less upset.  "Us not here fer Dullis.  Us here fer Penny Dragon.  An to help save Rigel Dragon.  An Dullis say rock dat take Rigel maybe hurt all dragon.  Shorty gots stop dat."

Shorty wanders closer to Penny keeping an eye on the rock man.  Shorty whispers up to Penny.  "Me not likes him."

Penny looks at each as the questions fly.  "So many questions, but understandable.  Yes master Warwick, I have a sense of what transpired.  Dragons are kind of timeless so we can maintain some idea of what happened in the previous timeline. Plus I was closer to the event than most dragons so I have a little more memory than most."  over to Aztar  "This is a very official visit Aztar as what you are about to do is of great interest to all dragonkind and especially the dragon council, of which I am a junior member; so all the ceremony in the beginning was extremely important.  I wasn't sure how much information Dualis was going to provide; but sometimes being thrown in the middle is the best way to learn.
    The freedom of Rigel is of secondary import, the greatest concern is that you will be interacting with the Dragon Orbs."  she says with a bit of acidic tone.  "This is of no light undertaking and Dualis had to assure the council the Orbs would remain in their prison."  then she lowers her head to Shorty and whispers, "Rocky is ok, he's just doing his job, otherwise he is a very nice golem."

--DM2

Shorty sticks his tongue out at Rocky again.  "Penny need help dat make her laugh.  Be more funner dat way.  Rigel be bery portent Penny.  Rigel gets caught helpin save world.  Not right leave hims stuck in marble.  How come Penny not tell Shorty bad marble be in Shorty city.  How me posed protect Penny n friends if me not know be trouble."

Aztar sits silently, absorbing the information and a bit annoyed that there has obviously been a lot going on behind his back that he didn't understand.   The whole situation with the orb just didn't sit right with him and he hadn't expected the retrieval of Rigel to require talking with a dragon council or diplomatic processes to need to be followed, and ones he didn't even understand at that.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 30):

Penny: "The Golden City is very very large Shorty.  Further the Orbs are a closely guarded secret, you, all of you were never supposed to know about the Orbs.  The Troll King forced our claws.  Of course with a little introspection, perhaps we forced his."  she pauses and sighs  "You must understand what a great honor this is for you and that the dragon council even considered allowing you to make this journey.  Your recent service to dragonkind has been greatly appreciated."  she bows her head slightly to you all.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 32):

Shorty thinks hard for a moment.  "Me no city be big.  But it not gold.  It be green like moss now.  But me wander hole city make sure no new smell.  Me not let troll or black elf come no more.  If noed where special place be, me would keeps mo watch."

'so, if the council are the ones that put the orbs there and they don't want us to disturb them, is there someone that can get in there and release Rigel?  I don't care about the orbs or their location.  I just made Rigel a promise and I intend to keep it.'

In reply to Aztar (msg # 34):

Penny:"The council did not put the Orbs there.  That was done by your kind, those of the Golden City.  The council would like them to remain buried.  The men of the old kingdom placed many protections around."

--DM2

'Ah.  I see.  I was actually able to scry the orb and saw part of the cave it's in.  Something came along and then suddenly by scrying was blocked.'. Pausing a moment, still trying to put the pieces together, he continued,'So, besides being here to ask for help on getting to the orb, what is the diplomatic reason we are here?'

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 35):

Shorty looks to Penny and asks, "If be pertected, how King get Marble out?"

In reply to Aztar (msg # 36):

"It is all about having access to the Orbs.  It is a very delicate subject between dragons and the bipeds.  You were probably able to scry it while time was reordering itself."

To Shorty: "The troll kings were powerful and he also had help, the cloud you mentioned."

--DM2