"Again, speaking as both a dragon and something of an outsider, I imagine the best thing would be to keep your cool, reason through what's going on, and then just lay out the consequences of the most likely paths.  As I ponder more on it, there seems to be something else going on.  Maybe there is someone in the shadows manipulating both sides?"

The most important thing we need to do is to focus on fostering a peace between the dragons.  if we can achieve that them I feel we will all be working together.

Toben nods. "I agree with both of you. As long as we present a united front, I think we'll be ok. We'll want to make sure both sides agree to an alliance before exploring the possibility of external forces manipulating both sides."

The small group disbands and heads to bed.  Klale, at some point, forges the glyphs he had in mind.  Then the Men, a small contingent of dwarves, and five young dragons head off for the meeting.  Shock, Lucifariel, and Ys'shathas go, but Kairo stays behind.  The other two are Windfang and Starsong.  The former because of his witness against the Vile'ek and the latter because song dragons might be of significant might against them.

At the appointed time, five elder dragons and two humans arrive.  Aashera Elend is one.  The other is a masked man who does not deign to remove it which keeps his identity hidden.

[Roll Perception or Spot DC 21 to potentially recognize the other dragon master.]

The dragons are the death, eldritch, two war, and a storm dragon.  The same five Ano and Klale met when they discovered Aasha was a dragon master.

Klale has no clue.

Toben scans over the attendees of the meeting. He nods in recognition when his eyes fall upon Aashera. As a sign of good faith, he begins moving forward, hands in plain view.

"At the risk of sounding brisk, I'd like to get to the point.  The elder dragons are accused of attacking the younger without provocation.  The younger are the actual aggressors, though they were tricked into it by the Song of Fire, Naurel.  The elder have sustained heavy losses in their number, precious wisdom and power that could have been used against the Vile'ek.  They are willing to forgive, to completely renounce all claims of vengeance, in order to unite to fight this new threat, this Other that seeks to consume the world."

Toben looks back over his shoulder at Naurel and then back at Aashera. "Sadly, a few of us weren't here at the time the fighting broke out, but in the interest of time, it's best to avoid finger pointing. What's done is done, and can't be taken back."

The young man continues. "A couple of companions and I, " he says gesturing to Ryland and Windfang, "were on a mission of sorts to the Grey Havens where we encountered numerous types of these Vile'ek. It's a miracle we managed to get out of there alive as the entire region was overrun by the kind, but we did learn a thing or two about them."

Toben smiles politely as Aashera. "I'm curious, what have you and yours learned about the Vile'ek and this entity they call the 'Other'."

Naurel gives Toben a sly smile but says nothing.  He has paced back and forth since arriving, but does not go near the elder dragons and does not assume an aggressive stance.

Several of the elder dragons do not look happy at Aashera's pronouncement, but they do not argue.

It is the death dragon that speaks, it's otherworldly voice almost lost in the open air.  He seems unconcerned, detached even from any anger at the recent conflict or its abrupt end.  "We have sssent out our ssservants to ssscour Middle Earth.  Few have returned with any newsss of the Other - the Vile'ek.  One or two have returned with the infection and had to be dessstroyed.  You sssaw what happened to our brother.

After the lossssss of many ssservants, we have concluded that there are only two placesss in the world where this infection existsss.  Mithlond and the Sssshrine of Morinehtar in the middle of the Cassstormyr Desssert to the sssouth."

Toben ponders for a moment. "What happened to your friend? Did the infection seem to manifest in a grey, leathery texture upon the skin and inexplicable deformations of the body?"

"Yessss."

The other elder dragons nod.

Toben sighs heavily. "I am truly sorry for your loss. Had we been able to return sooner, we might have been able to save him. I know that may sound hard to believe, but that brings me to one of the things we discovered while in the Grey Havens. This infection, as you call it, seems to be one of both body and mind. Once touched, it fills the target with utter despair, draining it all hope until it finally succumbs. Once the will is broken, it has free reign to take over the body and transform it into an unrecognizable abomination. You seem to have witnessed only the early stages of the transformation, and as terrible as that may seem, it is reversible."

He pauses a moment to let the information sink in for Aashera and the elder dragons before continuing. "That should give us hope, but not dilute the fact that this presence is strong. It has no bias and is unrelenting. Witnessed with our own eyes, it has the power to convert the smallest of hobbits, men, elves, an elder dragon, and even a mighty balrog. We even encountered, what may possibly be, the source of the blight there. It called itself Orushand, and collectively they have a weakness. They react violently to harsh dissonant sounds. It seems to cause them great pain. However, upbeat and harmonious music has a very different effect. It cured them."

Toben looks over to Ryland. "Perhaps you would like to explain, in better details than I can provide, what we observed."

At Toben's words, Aashera turns to the dragons who look at each other, nodding.  However, they wait for Ryland to add to Toben's story before speaking.

Ryland nods. "I believe you summed up the ordeal well. The creatures had a severe aversion to what I presume to be cheer of any sort... As if to say they were beings of pure spite and mysery, though I hypothesize that as Toben the Elder Dragons have alluded to; they aren't inherently that way themselves, but rather through this being known as the Other. Ultimately, I believe that it will not be sword and sorcery that slays this foe, but something intangible. A positive and courageous spirit, one that through the powers of raw emotion counters that black cloud that skirts the borders of these lands".

Toben mods matter of factly at Ryland’s synopsis. “Were your agents able to describe how wide spread this malaise was near the shrine you mentioned? From what we saw in the Grey Haven’s, the whole place was enveloped in the gloom. Evidence has shown that anything and anyone is susceptible and going back there without a solid plan would likely yield the same results as you already described.”

"The shrine is small and our agent only flew over so as not to become tainted inadvertently.  The Other...the Vile'ek," the dragon tastes the new word and continues on, "were few and small around the shrine.  Perhaps former animals of the desert if they tend to keep the size of their victims.  I am unsure how to consider these things, separate from what they used to be and an aggressor, or somehow a different aspect.  Either way, the shrine is only the top of a larger, buried system of ruins.  No doubt, the ruins are filled with larger, more dangerous creatures."

"Well that at the very least narrows down one conundrum, the location that is. Would it be too forward of me to ask for transport somewhere near the shrine for myself and my compatriots? Not too close of course, the last thing we would want is to place others in harm's way while carrying out our duty".

There is a heavy woosh of wings and an increase in the warmth of the air.  "You have transport.  I would not trust these minions of Morgoth as far as you could throw them."  Naurel lands behind the younger dragons in a gallop before circling around to the group.  On his back is a human dressed in armor similar to Aashera and the other Dragon Master, except that this armor is the same red color as Naurel's scales.

As Naurel lands, the elder dragons draw up into combat ready stances, teeth bared.

Except for Kul'vaenurix, who blinks slowly but makes no other acknowledgments that the Song of Fire has arrived.

Ryland throws up his hands, spreading them wide as if to ward off both the elder and younger dragons. "Come now, the time for strife is not at hand! We face a common enemy, one that would delight in our infighting. We make ourselves weaker if we cannot overcome prejudices and spite. This is the very core of what Orushand is. Pure hatred for the all the living". He pauses only long enough to ensure he has the floor. "Yes, many lives were lost in a senseless battle against one another. Both sides have struck at the other. By this time, there is no aggressor and victim. Both have most precious blood on their hands. And for a mere man to see the pointlessness of this feud, what does that say for the state of dragonkind in these trying times? Lay down your will and temperament for battle, if only for a moment, and be willing to instead extend an oaken branch of kinship, one that is ancient, and strong and true. The nations of men have squabbled as petty children for years, and we are not better for it. We are weakened, frail. The vies for power come at too great a cost, for what king would rule over a kingdom of only himself after he has spent the lives of his people? Hear my words, dragons, men, elves and dwarves alike. Do not play the fool and wear a veil of pride. No creature here can survive what is to come, not without the full aid of his fellows".
This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Mon 20 May 2019.

"Well said, sir.  Furthermore, Aashera commands the elder dragons as does Pauric.  They cannot overcome the will of a Dragon Master."  The young man on Naurel's back slides down and approaches Ryland.  His armor is similar to Aashera's except it is red like the scales of the Song of Fire.  When he removes his helmet, he revealed that he is none other than Aashera's traveling companion, Cace Craab.

The young man of Pauric's army in Towerton has grown.  He strides now in confidence and his body moves with the ease and grace of a practiced warrior.  He smiles at Klale, Ano, and Toben.  "It is good to see you again, my friends."

Toben looks over at the new dragon master on the scene. "Cace?" Then suddenly, his words hit him. He looks over at the dragon master still masked.

"Pauric", he states flatly.

"Looks like the band is all back together again." He pauses for a moment as the memory of Phineas punches him in the throat just as he finishes the sentence. "Mostly."

The other Dragon Master removes his helmet.  Pauric gives Toben a nod and a smirk, but says nothing.

"We would not risssk our livesss at thisss juncture to take you near the Other, anyway.  Not unlessssss the Massster'sss commanded it, which I have faith that they will not."  Both Aashera and Pauric nod at this.  "If it isss your will to addressssss thisss threat head-on, you will do it without our aid.  You are better equipped for it than we."

Toben's blinks once before a slight look of confusion appears on his face. "Aashera, by your own words, you wished to unite our forces to fight against this new threat. There has been no commitment to any sort of plan yet, head-on or otherwise, but how do you propose an alliance if you are unwilling to face it? We are all at risk, and we all have much to lose. Both sides need to be bought in equally."

"The death dragon is correct.  We will not be able to go to the shrine.  All that would result in would be adding the elder dragons - or their Vile'ek versions - to the forces of this Orushand.  Our efforts will be tri-fold.

First, we will cease all hostilities toward the younger dragons.  This is contingent upon their agreement and active non-aggression as well.

Second, we will spread out across Middle Earth and bring to heel all rogue forces of Morgoth.  Our goal in this will not only remove the conflict your forces face and allow them to focus their own resources toward the Vile'ek, but we can redirect these rogue forces to actually support places like Therion's duchy.  Our first stop will be Moria.

Finally, we will need to meet with the remaining Dischords to work out how our might and resources can best help face this threat.  The elder dragons are powerful entities that the Dischords do not dismiss.  They will realize that alone, they seek to conquer a world that will soon be overrun by the Other and then they will become enslaved as well.  The Dischords have the power to destroy the Vile'ek and may prove to be the weapon Arda needs to destroy Orushand, or at least remove its manifestation in this world."