The Great Dragon War

You and the other players are lords (Lord is the title regardless of gender) of small semi-feudal kingdoms, that are outside a medium-large empire. The Emperor of said empire informed you that dragons were gathering in the Blachrion Mountains, specifically near the Holden pass. The holden pass is the only way through the mountains to the more wild part of the continent, which is mostly un-populated (you think). You were going up to the nearby caves when you hear a song.

youtu.be/AvG2NMbA5z4?t=21 (it starts partway through the song intentionally)
and you decide to join the dragons cause. Now you must convince the dragons of your sincerity, and then prepare your land, for the coming war.
The empire and where you are is the southwestern part of the continent, and the mountain range seals off everything to the north and east. Beyond that is the dragons territory, not much is known about the land beyond, the official line is that it used to be a thriving kingdom a few thousand years ago before the dragons killed everyone and only a few made it out through the Holden pass. The Empire wants the land beyond the mountains.

Before the empire rose, before civilization took hold of the land, dragons were free and lived without a care.

But then humans being well, humans, they began enslaving/killing dragons, burning their nests, and eradicating their younglings (breaking eggs/infanticide)

That was during what the empire calls 'The Expansion Crusade'

That was 1000 years ago, now the empire is preparing to expand again.

And the dragons, fed up with the humans, are now ready to wage war against them, led by a powerful dragon warlord (think Alduin or Parthurnaax from Skyrim).

Naturally, the emperor--and the empire as a whole--fabricates lies that the dragons are the aggressors. Acting like they are just mindless beasts who will raid your farm and burn your town if given the chance.

You, the player characters, are vassal lords of the empire. Though you have been loyal since the expansion war, what you discover in the Blachorian Mountains, and hear from the dragon warlord himself, causes you to become sympathetic. Thus, you have decided to defect.

However, the dragons don't know that, you are currently outside the cave where they are holding their war council, just out of sight, Now what you must do is convince the dragons of your sincerity in wishing to help them fight in their cause.

Go Forth the Council Awaits.

Aria follows closely behind Fenrir; she couldn't hear what was happening in the cave. As she crouches down her eyes track a drop of water falling from the stalactites. To her knowledge, no rivers cut through these mountains. So how was water collecting here? She touches the wall of the cave gently. Her eyes widen slightly. It was damp... there was definitely a lot of moisture in this cave. That could explain the steady dripping of water.

She inspects the finger she had run across the cave wall. She rubs it together noting that it felt faintly greasy, almost grainy. Does the cave possess some different new material that when exposed to water forms into this weird thing? Thinking back to their journey the other rocks and plants looked slightly normal.

But no, this substance sticks out like a sore thumb. Perhaps the answer will reveal itself if she finds more clues. Another drop of water lands on her head. She instinctively looks up.

That's when she notices something unsettling.

In an instant, the scattered observations in her mind fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. The stalactites overhead no longer appear to be naturally formed. Long grooves carved through the stone seem far too deliberate, too uniform to be the work of water alone.



A shiver runs down her spine as she tries to comprehend the sheer size of whatever could have left such marks. There was definitely no turning back now. Yes dragons, they were the creatures they are sent to seek out. Aria remembers a flashback, somewhere in her library she read in an ancient book somewhere. Pieces of small fragmented text appear.

The Great Dragon War

@AftonsBlessing
As you look around at your party you see about 5 other people. 2 of them are your companions from your domain. Sereth, a female wolf Demi-human mage, and Bartholemew, a dwarven soldier, who despite his height wields a full tower shield, and a spear. You also have Aria Thornbrook. And there are the 2 she chose from her domain. Gerard a human knight and Halbrandt a feline demi-human spear user.
As you follow Arias gaze you see the claw marks, and as you are slightly farther away from the wall you have a better angle, and you recognize the symbol 'Home'

@Blue Wolf
As you think abut the material you remember a fragmented text you found while in the forest searching. This material matches what was described in the text as 'A sign of a dragons abode there is .... wet..... greasy, gr..ty sub...... is scent ....... nd .... br..th co....sate.'