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[My Name is Immaterial]

Johanna:
(Intimidation check: 5+0)
Clearly enraged by the dwarf's dismissiveness, the kobolds draw their weapons as one. <No, you leave, 'pink meat'. We are many, and you are few. If you think you soft-skins can compare to us, take the worm.>
The cultists backing Johanna up begin to draw their own weapons as the kobolds do, but pause halfway through, when the kobolds mention 'taking the worm'. They turn to the wizard, their faces filled with a strange mix of awe and trepidation. It is a moment before one of them speaks softly, in near reverent tones.
<Do you accept his challenge, sister?>

Mirella:
(Religion check: 14+4)
The Cult of the Dragon Queen is a secretive organization, but the rituals it practices are variations on ancient ceremonies that have appeared in dragon cults since time immemorial. Mirella's foster mother, Alodia, fought dragons worshippers in her day, and once recounted the tale of how she halted a similar rite.
The ritual focuses around the psychological torture of the victim. Participants cast illusions, scream and moan, for the victim to ingest poisons and drugs, narrate the unspeakable acts they will perform on the husk that once was the sacrifice, and generally do their best to terrify the poor sod. As the ritual begins to reach a crescendo, a high priest selects one of the crowd to come join them on the dias.
That's about all Alodia knows about what happens in one of these rituals, because that was when she and her companions interrupted the ceremony.
To interrupt the ceremony is a tricky proposition. One might light the tent on fire, fake some sort of disturbance, like a vision from Tiamat, or kill or knock out the prisoner. Or, one could try to simply interrupt the coming of the Champion.

[Dwarmin]

Action: Think! Have I heard any rumors or conversations in the camp I can now connect as to figure out the reason and purpose of this 'worm' ritual? The magic of associative thinking!

[My Name is Immaterial]

Johanna:
(Perception Check: 14+3)
Johanna had overheard some conversations about 'taking the worm'. It sounded like a mix of a litmus test and a honor duel, where the outcome is supposedly decided by Tiamat. Apparently, failure means death.

[FelixSparks]

Arwen goes to score some of that plant. Could come in handy.

[Dwarmin]

Johanna:
(Perception Check: 14+3)
Johanna had overheard some conversations about 'taking the worm'. It sounded like a mix of a litmus test and a honor duel, where the outcome is supposedly decided by Tiamat. Apparently, failure means death.

Well, this was bad. It was like Pre-Elemental Magic School all over again...though the punishment for getting an answer wrong would be a moit more harsh than being sent back home for the day without a jelly tart. She had no idea what refusing the test might mean, but guessed it would be bad as failing it. She hoped her allies had a nice distraction prepared...

"Ah, I suppose I Accept!"

Action: She unwisely said

She nudged her 'ally', after.

"Also, I know about Taking the Worm, of course-everyone does!-but, do you lot have any regional differences in the ritual, or the like I should be aware of? These Kobolds can be tricky, I know, and I'd rather not they spring something surprising on me I wasn't expecting. I'm from the smaller sects up North, myself-we're somewhat rustic and not as diligent in keeping the 'faith as it was written', if I can be perfectly honest. It's a big part of why I came down here, to be among the true believers-like yourself, handsome. Could you help a Dwarf lass out?" She said with a wink, attempting to ooze as much charm as she could.

[My Name is Immaterial]

Arwen:
Arwen heads into the Black Wing camp, and is directed, with an eyeroll, to Amun's tent. When you enter, it takes him a few moments to notice you.
"Oh, hey, friend! Come on, make yourself at home! Take your helmet off! Should I start boiling some water?"

Johanna:
The cultist looks a bit confused. "I didn't realize that there were variations on it. I don't know how that could work. Here, we just have the challenger and the challenged each swallow a worm from a dragon egg. Whoever survives has shown they possess Tiamat's favor."
He smiles at your compliments, and preens himself a little.
"Are you prepared to take the worm, sister, or do you need to finish some business first?"

[Dwarmin]

Action: More thinking! Back to Dragonology studies. Um, Worms from dragon eggs? Is that a bad thing? What do I know about that?

[FelixSparks]

Arwen shakes his head. "Not this time. I'm just picking it up for later. What happens if you burn it?"

[Lord_lemonpie]

PTW

[My Name is Immaterial]

Johanna:
(Nature Check: 17+3)
Chromatic dragons lay clutches of eggs. Any single egg swarms with a dozen or so little worms, who all vie for dominance. They devour each other until the strongest is left, which hatches as a dragon. The same thing repeats itself in the clutch--the strongest dragon kills, eats, survives, and grows.

However, a dragon's egg can be broken and opened while the worms still squirm within. A humanoid can swallow a worm, which then infests the lower intestine. The worm, feeding off of the humanoid, deposits jellylike sacs of eggs into the stomach, which thrive in the acid. The humanoid periodically (and very unpleasantly) hacks up a mass of grape-sized, soft eggs, which hatch, are fed on the blood of small animals, and quickly grow into adult kobolds.

Arwen:
"Well, the smoke'll probably kill you. Raw mordayn is a nasty poison, so you gotta be careful. Take one sniff, and then throw the tea out, because taking more than one can really mess up your insides. Wait an hour before making more, but you really won't want to wait. If you're going to be doing it without someone who's done if before, I'm only going to give you one bag."
He pulls out a small tea bag from a small lock box and tosses it to you.

[FelixSparks]

"Good to know." He pockets the bag. "I've got to meet with a few people, I'll be back."

Arwen tries to meet with the others.

[My Name is Immaterial]

Arwen:
On his way out of the Black Wing camp, Arwen sees Mirella being hustled into a big, black tent, along with a lot of other Black Wing cultists. She doesn't look as enthusiastic as the rest of the cultists.
In the middle of the camp, he finds Johanna with some Cobalt Claw cultists and half-a-dozen kobolds. The cultists seem to be somber, while the kobolds are grinning widely.

[FelixSparks]

Arwen notes the tent's location for possible rescue later, and approaches the claws and Johanna. "<What's going on here? Seems like fun.>"

[Pencil_Art]

The elf approaches Arwen and says:

"Could you help me out a bit here? I'm not entirely sure what's going on."

[Culise]

Mirella

Quietly, Mirella attempted to slip back out the entrance.  Looking at the tent from the outside, she tried to find some way to stage a distraction that would force the cultists out of the tent, such as malodorous or, yes, incendiary materials.