Diplomatically

It just so happens that you speak Dwarven, along with several other languages, so you knew the full meaning of what she had just said. "Naul-Karaz-A-Valdon" means 'New-Keep-of-Titans', but Dwarven has several words for 'new', each meaning slightly different things, and in this context "Naul" would translate better to 'Reclaimed/Reopened'.

"What means this naming of 'Naul-Karaz-A-Valdon', you are not Dwarves and this is in no wise a keep reclaimed for the Under-Empire, how then do you call it 'Naul-Karaz-A-Valdon'?" You asked, while holding a hand behind your back in the prearranged signal for "wait".

"Some among us ARE of Dwarvenkind, and there are more divisions of the Dwarves than you seem to realize. Though the Dwarfish peoples are dominated by the Under-Empire of Dorna-A-Kalor and its 'High-King' other groups of Dwarves that bow not to the lord of the King's Peak yet exist, and would not appreciate your insinuation that only the High-King of the Under-Empire may sanction the reopening of a Keep." She paused, this strange woman that you could not see and seemed to appraise you all.

"If you have come because of the children that have supposedly been 'kidnapped' let me assure you we are in no danger, and not held against our will, your mission has been in vain. If you are here about the dragon, let me then tell you that you are no match for him and every man jack of us will defend him to the ****, for he is now the rightfully acclaimed Lord of Naul-Karaz-A-Valdon. If you are here thinking to rob this hold of its treasures, with the excuse of 'rescuing' us from the dragon, you have then signed your **** warrants: and if you are here as traders or to simply check on our welfare then speak, friend, and enter, for you will find no evil within these halls. We are well trained in the arts of Magery, Trapsmithing, and War, and were any **** to come against us we would shortly put paid to it with our defenses, some of which you have inadvertently triggered on your climb up to this landing before our keep's gates."

"Mechloh." You intoned with a wry grin, the Dwarven word for 'friend' and the young warriors stood aside revealing a slightly-older-yet-still-young Half-Elven woman of some 22 years or so. She had fish belly pale skin and the typical coppery-red hair of the elves but her eyes were a brown so dark that it was hard to tell where iris ended and pupil began. She was clad in a flowing gown of spider silk, splashed bright yellow-orange in the light of the setting sun. Her ear's points were slight in comparison to most half elves but still noticeable, yet it was in her slender grace and angled features that her elvish heritage showed most strongly.

"I am Rachel Cortland, Witch, and these are the Moss-Black Guards, so called for the black hoods they wear when on duty, dyed with Black Stem Moss from our gardens and fixed with lye from our fires. We owe our allegiance to the 'Red Dwarven Commonwealth', one of the many rival nations among the Dwarves that the Under Empire has driven to the fringes of the Dwarfish lands, but not completely destroyed or absorbed. We are a free keep, beholden to no outsiders save the Supreme Council of the Commonwealth and it's Premier, and have acclaimed the dragon Vladregor as Lord-Mayor of this holding. On his behalf we offer shelter to all children bereft of family, and grant them asylum here, where they learn the value of friendship and honest work while doing such as they are able to further the prosperity and safety of the city. Wander where you will, save those areas marked as unsafe, you will find no one held here against their will. However we would ask you to please take your rest at night in the confines of the trader's dormitory, the children do not need to be disturbed in their rest or nightly work." Rachel explained to all of you, as you headed into the halls within the mountain, being advised to avoid the straight path along the center of the entry hall as it was fitted with various boobietraps.

Soon you saw the massive hall full of stout stone tables and thrones meant to house traders when they came to the city, the whole area was hewed from the living rock of the mountain and had a faint earthy smell. Your guards left you to return to their posts then, and you were **** to decide what you should do next...