Toben thinks for a moment. "Actually, I think I might be able to handle the message back to Therion on Daven's well being. I'll just need some chalk and a large flat stone. Should be easy enough to find around here. We can take care of that before we leave for the desert in search of Lanthir, but it sounds like we need to finish up this meeting with Aashera first."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Sun 31 Mar 2019.

Klale is recovered, standing there trying to figure things out.

Supplies are easily found for Toben to send the message.

"The child, Daven, cannot go to the desert with you.  He will be safe here in the cave of Shochraos'altiui.  Will you allow Gwaelind and me to care for him until his mother can safely claim him?"  They are the first words spoken to the Men since her transformation.

Ano nods to Delunaur I can't imagine hI'm being safer with anyone else.
Will you two try to connect with thr other Maiar

Klale takes his leave and returns to the forge and to those swarves who enjoy working with him. There He crafts two Glyphs of protection, one for his armor ans one for the dragon-imaged shield.

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To make the Protection Glyph requires silica-smeared hide put in fire but wetted and sprinkled with water so it stays whole. Then the glypher works the hide into the glyph shape taps it onto the object so it becomes with the object but not into it. Finally, the glypher rubs the object while breathing onto it until it becomes a transparent tracery, seen but allowing all beneath to be seen.

When Klale is done and thanked the dwarves who assisted, one says. You are gaining proficiency. May the day come when you will be able to accomplish the more complicated glyphs.

"We will connect with Ceven and Nestael and any of the others who are free while Naurel journey's with you into the desert.  We must begin work pushing back the forces of Duath'gur and the other Dischords.  They will be weakened now, without Delunaur."  He smiles at his beloved.  "This will anger them and they will attempt retribution.  May your journey be swift and successful.  Lanthir is not just the Song of Water, she is as much a shield against evil as Ceven.  Water is purifying and we need that more now than ever with the arrival of the Vile'ek."

Klale offers fragment of thought. Desert. Means little or no water. We'll need water. How to take it or obtain it...?

Toben nobs his head in contemplation. "Yes, the Song of Water does seem crucial for our cause. I'm aware of at least four Dischords, now three with Delunaur's transformation. Are there any others we haven't accounted for yet?"

"You know of Duath'gur, Dischord of Earth and Empavausan-hugi, Dischord of the Mind.  You mentioned Basarshakath, Dischord of Body so I take it you know of him as well.  There are two others to consider.  Dischord of Wind and Dischord of Water.  I do not know their whereabouts, but Raeg'alagos, Dischord of Wind is what you would call an Assassin.  Rae is vile, rotten to the core, but she is a master of disguise and deceit.

Firn'Ninui, Dischord of Water, is a master manipulator.  Many times she will sit in the background like the Emp and control things from the shadows.  However, she will control through whatever means she deems most efficient whereas the Emp will just take over the minds.  Firn is beautiful, but fluid.  Some take this to be vapid, but she is anything but.  Like Rae, she is a shape shifter, but the shifts of her mind are reality.  She believes what she is saying and at that moment is the person she appears to be.  The shifts come when the situation requires a different guise to accomplish her overall goals.  Duath'gur has figured out how to manipulate these guises to his whim and easily controls Firn, who loves him.

Rae and Bas are a thing from time to time, but both are vain and self-centered, so their relationship is purely physical.  Nothing to work with really to turn them against one another.  They fight all the time anyway.  Can't stand each other on the emotional or mental level because the other doesn't see each as number one in importance in the relationship."

She pauses, thinking, then shrugs as if not sure what else Toben and the others want to know.

Toben raises an eyebrow. "Sounds like these two could basically be anywhere or anyone. How can we tell if we encounter either Rae or Firn? Are there any means, magical or otherwise, that might be able to see past whatever guises they might be using?"

"Yes.  They are weaker against their counterpart elements.  Rae doesn't like Earth-based things like stone and metal.  She uses bone weapons made from her victims and won't wear metal.  Firn doesn't like excessive temperatures.  The two of them get along very well, so you may find them working together."

"Those are very good details to keep an eye out for. So we could potentially be looking for two females, possibly traveling together? Or do they sometimes masquerade around as the opposite gender?"

Delunaur smirks.  "We...they would not deign to do such a thing."  She nestles against Gwaelind to take even the mild sting from her words.  Gwaelind just chuckles and the baby coos.

Ryland folds his arms, and wide grin spreading across his face. "Not one, but two femme fatales?". He looks around, unfolding his arms and raising both hands in a carefree manner. "The fight may as well already be over. If Duath'gur can wrap one around his finger, I can have both eating out of my palm within a day. This will be just like the time I ran off with a blacksmith's twin daughters.. sans the angry mob, rigged trial, and spending a weekend in the stockades of course". He trails off, mumbling to himself "Still can't stand the smell of tomatoes.."

Toben stifles a laugh. "Good to see Delunuar didn't break your spirit, Ryland."

He rolls his eyes and looks back over at Delunuar. "Thank you, you've given us a lot to keep in mind. Any other personality quirks or something that might help identify Firn? From how you speak of her, she seems to be quite the chameleon."

Delunaur shakes her head in the negative just before the baby draws her attention.

The red dragon shifts, a turn to leave.  "Come.  This meeting with the elder dragons will happen soon.  Then we should be off to the desert."

Toben nods. "Of course. Before we go, I have one last thing to do. I'd like to send word back to our tower in Therion's region regarding the child, Daven. They can hopefully get word to Mairen. I pray that they receive the message and will be granted safe passage back here to be reunited."

Provided that Toben can find a large flat stone somewhere in the cave system, he will cast Stone Messenger to send word back to the tower.

Preparations for the meeting are made for the next evening.  Naurel leaves to retrieve this other young Dragon Master he spoke of, giving his word that he would be waiting for them at dawn.

The four Men and Draugion gather at the Copper Nugget to discuss their next steps with the meeting.  For the moment, the younger dragons are left out on purpose.  Voices are kept low, too, so that the Gonhirrim do not overhear.  Their loyalty is likely toward the dragons more than these visitors, Men and an Elf.

Before much is said, even before food is brought for dinner, Kairo arrives in human form and comes over to the table.  "I...feel as though I'm an outsider here.  I do not know these dragons, though Shock and I are growing close enough.  I wish," he looks toward the door with longing.  "I wish to join you in your adventures beyond the Heath."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:40, Fri 19 Apr 2019.

Toben thinks for a moment before speaking. He almost says something, but then their meals arrive and decides to hold back. "Welcome, it's good to see you again, friend."

Once the tavern helper goes back to the kitchen to fetch someone else's meal, he speaks more openly. "I won't lie, having someone of your nature traveling with us would be a welcome boon and distinctly advantageous. However, wouldn't leaving only extend the gap between you and your brothers and sisters here?"

You'd be welcome. Then Klale smiles grimly. Advantures? More aptly, undertaking...in all three meanings.

Kairo gives thought to the words spoken by both men, then gives them a slow smile.  "Indeed, it would in the context of your lifetimes.  Yet, I am a dragon.  I have yet a thousand lifetimes in the reckoning of Men to come to know my brethren."

His face grows more serious.  "These are troublesome times and I cannot sit idle while others work so hard and so relentlessly to save us all.  What I have heard of this Other, these...Vile'ek, stirs a great fear within me.  Not for myself, but for the land and the life that lives here.  There is something so repugnant about it that I would risk temporary alliance with the mere darkness that is the ancient foe.  If the Dischords can destroy the Vile'ek with their songs, perhaps we will need their strength when we go against the Vile'ek who are not just transformed Ardaians."

"You spoke of another dragon that your traveled with for a time.  A Kornari?  So this will not be a new thing for you.  I am very young for my kind, but I would like to grow through adversity as the ancient dragons before Morgoth came and corrupted us.  I also wish to know more about the Dragon Bloodsworn.  There are only three here in the Heath.  Yet they know little of the history of their kind and one presses forward with the Elder Dragons attempting something that Shock believes invaluable.  The other Free Dragons are dubious and worry that her efforts will ultimately turn her against us."

He sits back as a mug of ale is brought for him.  It's purple glow and magenta froth indicate is not something even a dwarf dare drink.  Kairo takes a respectable drink and wipes the froth from his upper lip.  "That is why you meet here, is it not?  To speak of the reasons behind the contention between the young and old dragons.  While I have been recovering here, getting to know my kin, I have also been learning what I can.  The Dragon Bloodsworn are the key to the Heath.  They can unite the dragons if done right."

"They are the reason, I think, for the conflict now."

"I've heard this saying more times than I can recall. 'United we stand, divided we fall.' I believe that is more true now than ever. If we plan to accomplish anything, we need a united front. That includes us. What sort of plan is there to make sure this meeting goes well?"

A question Toben poses to all present.

It might not. I'll have a question or two for Aashera...keeping them to myself...wonder if she's enchanted?...then maybe I'll have a good idea how matters are.

"Easy", Ryland responds to Toben. "You let me do the talking of course".

"That", Toben raises an eyebrow, "is probably one of the most frightening things I've had to ponder today."

His brow furrows a bit. "Not that I don't trust your ability to hold a conversation, but we know Aashera. She won't be swayed by a silver tongue nor lavish compliments. I've seen what she does to men she believes to be getting fresh with her."