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"You seek entrance into the vault, and you want our assistance in doing so. If it turns out that there are no riches within it, save only a corpse buried in honor, would it be adverse of us to ask for it, that the deceased may be returned at long last to her homeland and her kin?"
Andrietta offers respectfully, stepping forward only slightly to lean on her quarterstaff a bit more heavily.
"Much like your concerns about your men, the history we seek involves a warrior that fell in glorious battle against insurmountable odds and won in death. To bring a story to a close and proper mending to her family, we need to return her home."
The grandmother will hobble forward a little bit more.
"To prove the veracity of my words, I offer myself as insurance for your continued good will, if that would be acceptable, dear."
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Play hide and sap with the orcs? As much fun as that may be, it is probably a bad idea given how tough the first two were. There is also the problem that orcs aren't known for their patience. She definitely sounds like the type that doesn't like to be kept waiting...
After a short pause, Stali steps out where he can be seen and says "I'm here." ...and I'll be diving for cover immediately if it looks like you are going to roast me, lady!
Stali cannot hear the other orcs from where he is, but he does slip back quietly enough. Slightly mollifed by the reappearance of Stali, Shirish lays down her arm, and the flames on it quell slightly.
"Glad you could join us again," she calls to Stali. "Don't wander off where I can't see you. Makes me nervous and when I'm nervous, I set things on fire!"
"So... What are all your names, anyway? I only heard the old woman's. An-dri-et-ta, right?" She sounds out the unfamiliar syllables like one trying to commit them to memory. "You clearly know my name, so it's only fair that I learn yours if we're to bargain. You've also figured out correctly, that yes, we'd like in to the Vault. So, An-dri-et-ta of the tribe of speaking birds... Is 'Pathfinder' the name of your species? Are you... their chief?"
There's something a bit wistful in the tone of her last question.
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"I am Stalî," he says with a slight bow, "and our species is Tengu. The Pathfinder Society is a group of explorers that we have all joined, it allows in many species." Lots of half-orcs. I don't know if we have any full-blooded orcs. Wouldn't Shevar be delighted if we brought back a cook?
"Will your colleagues be coming out to introduce themselves as well? I'm sure that will help calm everyone's nerves." His voice carries an amused tone.
He gives her a smile. Well, that and if she would put out the fire.
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Gallako shakes his head.
"My friend perhaps overstates the matter. Although, of course, we all carefully grant Vralks words ALL the consideration that they deserve the reality is that we don't truly have a leader. My name, by the way, is Gallako"
Take 10 (getting a 20) on bluff to pass the not so secret message of "ignore the crow. We do"
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Before rejoining the party, Sarano will cast Resist Energy(Fire) on her self, and then slowly walk up to join the party, keeping on eye on the orc.
muttering quietly to herself, "If she just wanted to talk why throw fire blasts around. . .a simple hello does nicely. ."
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Andrietta slumps slightly in relief as the hostilities calm down once more.
"I am something better than their chief, dear. I'm their mother's mother, so to speak.
No, they are not mine by hatching, but I've kind of adopted them after my own blood either moved away or died in stupid fights for stupid reasons. I'm tired of seeing people die because they're dumb, and nothing hurts more than burying your first-born grandson because he got on a stupid vengeance kick and didn't want to be called a coward. A child, or grandchild should not be in Pharasma's queue before their elders."
She straightens up once more and looks the orc Seneschal straight in the eye. "You're smart, you're wise, and you don't put up with crap. If the other orc tribes had that kind of leader, they'd be hard to beat, wouldn't you agree?"
Vralk chiming in causes the paladin to lower her head a bit and place her hand over her face for a moment.
"Forgive me. It's been a long trip and I haven't had my tea yet today. Would you and your people be willing to share tea with us?"
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Shirish is silent for a bit. "Your ways are strange, birds." Then she pauses. "What is this tea you speak of, and why do you want to share it?"
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"Tea is a simple thing to consider, finely scented leaves grasped at the right age of freshness and mixed with boiling water, but the complexities of the taste can leave even warriors amazed. It's not for everyone, but it helps calm the fires, much like some tribes use leaf for smoking. If you have a cooking fire, I have a tea set and I can prepare some, if you'd like?"
The grandmother pauses.
"Much like some people have a problem fighting folks who share drinks or meals with them, I find sitting down and having a nice soothing cup of tea helps bring things to an even table, where everyone can speak without fear of being drowned out by loud and obnoxious twits who don't understand polite conversation."
"A cooking fire? Really?" Shirish sounds amused again. She extends out a hand.
FWOOOOSH!
There is now a blazing fire where the broken wagon once was. "Will that do?"
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"..." Andrietta is taken a bit aback by the eruption of flame, then shrugs as she recovers.
"That will work fine, dear." Barring any interference she will pull her blanket and her travelling tea set out of her bag, along with her tea to begin preparing it.
"Please forgive the crude nature of this set, it's designed for travel on the road, not the fine settings of softer places."
The grandmother will continue to work on the water for the tea, humming an old Tien tune to herself.
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Stali ducks to the side for cover when Shirish ignites the wagon, but comes back out before she can complain about him disappearing again. She takes entirely too much delight in doing that! If not for the others, I would be gone already!
"Vi har indført os selv. Hvor længe er dit folk vil fortsætte krøb sammen i stedet for at erklære sig selv?" Stali asks. It is fine when I'm allowed to hide, not when they are!
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“Rækkeevne? Vi er ikke hug!” An orc in light green comes out of hiding to your south.
Another calls out behind Shirish. “Hvem kalder kujon fugl hjerne?”
Shirish pushes a darker green orc forward. “Hvis du skal være så dum, så du går og smage denne te!”
“Det kan være giftige!”
“Du er en kujon, så?” Shirish asks, sweetly.
“What do bird brains know?”
“If you must be this dumb, go taste test the tea!”
“But it might be poison!”
“So, you are a coward, then?”
The orc simmers, arms crossed, and then stomps forward to where Andrietta is making tea. “Old fugl! Tharg brave. Tharg drink your poison-water.”
"My people are not injured, little healer, Sa-ra-no. Except maybe in the head, and there's no cure for that." Shirish shakes her head and comes forward too. She's got strong features, dark green skin, and sharp eyes. “I will watch you make this tea. Is this one of those recipes you spoke of, An-dri-et-ta? Also, what is this ‘pie’ that the little bird with the big beak spoke of? I have never heard of this dish.”
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"You never had pie? NEVER? Pie bestest food in WHOLE world. You put whatever REALLY good inside. Stirge sausage. Bacon. Rhubarb and strawberry. Bacon and cherry. All good.
Outside is paystery. Sweet bread. Cook together in oven. Inside good. Cooking make different things inside BETTER together than alone. Outside good. Both together? Better than good. Goodest thing possible.
We not have any now. But if you come back with us, we make you some. Other Orccs like you a lot if you show how to make PIE!!"
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Andrietta fights back a chuckle as Stali draws out all the concealed orcs with a few choice words, apparently in their language. Place settings are put out for the gathered bunch of folks as she puts water into her teapot and starts it to cooking away.
"Nothing more or less than water in the pot." she notes with sobriety, her motions somewhat casually formal yet bearing vestiges of ritual "There will be some leaves that I will be putting in a strainer to 'steep' within the boiling water. Given that the orcish legendry is that you have guts of iron, kids, it's going to be some strong stuff, a lot more potent than I usually make unless I want to stay up for a watch or the like."
"Yes, tea is one of the simplest of the recipes, but one of the hardest to master. Even an expert can mangle a brewing, leave it worse than blood strained through a dirty tunic." That the grandmother knows an analogy that the orcs might grasp might be a bit unnerving for some of the team.
"The pie that Vralk speaks of is a pastry with various items put within it. The pastry provides a backbone for the meal, the items put within the muscle. I might have some flour in my bag if it got packed properly for the trip... you know how these things go sometimes, right?"
As the water cooks the paladin nods quietly. "It is not poison-water, Tharg. My mother's mother would be ENRAGED with me if I tried to poison you, might even strike me down right in front of you to prove a point. In fact, to prove to you that it is not poison, I will drink some of it as well."
Does anyone want to roll me a wisdom check?
You suddenly remember that Vralk asked Mol for pie and she gave him recipes and ingredients.
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Gallako leans over towards the orcs and speaks softly
"I didn't want to let Vralk know because he'd insist that I use it but I actually have the ingredients and recipe for a couple of pies. Maybe I should make you one and bring one to the dragon?. Although its only fair to warn you that while I'm an acceptable cook I am NOT a particularly good one"
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Nodding, Stali says "Yes Andrietta, I was about to suggest it would be good etiquette in this situation if you were to drink the first cup of tea."
Looking to Vralk, Stali just sighs and shakes his head. Do not give their cook ideas! We don't need orcs thinking about making meat pies!
Finally he moves a little closer to Vralk and quietly hisses at the bird "Be careful, you might make them want to eat crow!"
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The grandmother gets a far-off look for a moment, as if trying to remember if SHE packed the ingredients for pies, or if Gallako did.
Then Gallako speaks up and she gives a nod to him, and to Stali.
"Because it's a dinner-type sort of thing, it does take a bit longer to cook, but if we're not at each other's throats, I think we could manage something, at least? And with some of the ancient methods Gallako might have, we might be able to share their secrets.
Vralk isn't too far off the mark, though. There was one research job we were on that very much came down to his knowledge of food, and his eagerness to get into the fight won a battle."
Shirish looks at Gallako. "There is probably no better cook for twenty miles than myself. It was the job that the Scartooth clan let me have to accompany our warrior bands. This skill I then used to turn our surviving members into the new Dragonhost clan when we met Karkadon." She grins, tusks showing, her pride evident. "If you give me the recipe, and taste to make sure I'm getting it right, then we make for Karkadon. He likes spicy food. Can you make pies spicy?"
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The grandmother cranks her head back and laughs uproariously before bringing it down once more.
"Dear, when you say 'spicy' are we talking what the average denizen of this area eats, or are we talking about 'melt-your-face-in-amazing-inferno-heat'?
I'm thinking you're in the latter bunch, as is your Karkadon, but just want to be sure because I wouldn't feel right giving Fireball-grade recipes and food to the sort of person that likes to toss a little bit of black pepper on a thing and call it 'spicy'. I'm sure you understand, right?"
Challenge: Offered
"I am intrigued, An-dri-et-ta. But first let Tharg taste your tea. Once we have tasted tea, it is time to negotiate business? I have a vault I want you to open. You have this temple in my territory you wish to explore. We also have Karkadon's 'Fireball-grade' meal to produce, and you say it will take time. All of these cannot happen at once. The great and mighty Karkadon is not known for his patience. Will you do everything we wish done first?'
Her hands catch fire. She looks at you, incredulously. "Believe me, impatient dragons are EVERYONE's problem! If you try to make it MY problem, I'll make it your problem!"
Tharg looks at her and then at the tea cup in his hand. "Tharg not have to drink poison water?" He asks, hopefully.
At Gallako's words, she pauses her hands still afire as she runs them through her hair, harmlessly. "Tasty pie could work. Or some other food, and then save the pie to offer later. You could even leave the chatty little one with the big beak with us, and have him talk up pie until Karkadon REALLY wants it."
Then she looks at Tharg, holding her flaming hand up meaningfully. "Drink." Then she pauses and blinks. "Where do you get the water for the tea? Do you bring it with you?"
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"It would be best if we research the rest of this temple first before tackling the vault area, aside from dealings with Karkadon. Many places that our organization has sent us to have had hints and clues as to things further on in a given location, but they are useless if not found.
That we were able to discern the trap should give an idea of how capable we are of picking up on subtle nuances, so if it would be possible to wait on the vault for just a bit, it would probably be to everyone's benefit.
In fact, not having to fight our way through all of this place will make our job a lot easier, and may even allow us to discover new information for you as well."
The grandmother takes the tea, now steeped, and takes a bit of a sip of it, feathers ruffling up through the exposed areas of her armor.
"Yeah! That's something. Tharg, hold the cup like this, then pour some in your mouth, carefully. It will be HOT, so if it is, stop trying to drink it and wait for it to cool some. Having beaks, it's sometimes hard to tell what flesh-lips view as 'hot' enough..."
There's a brief pause.
"We brought water with us because these lands are hostile and dangerous, as you are well aware. If there was a temple here in days past, though, there has to be some around here somewhere, otherwise they wouldn't've been able to put this place together -- no water for any mortar they would have needed."
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I would also like a look at this so-called vault. Hikaru might not care, but I'm intrigued! The first thing I would want to know is if it is really a door!
Nodding, Stali comes forward saying "Tea first, then we discuss what each side will offer the other." He waits his turn for a cup of the tea.
"Tharg no coward!"
Tharg drinks, at first making a face, and then drinks deeply, finishing the tea. The other two orcs stare at him, clearly waiting for Tharg to turn purple in the face, choke, or develop pustules all over his body. Instead, Tharg holds out his cup. "Weedy. Water, still. MORE!"
On his third cup, Shirish grabs it out of his hand. "You do not get all the water, greedy guts. Alright, ten-gu, we trust you for now." She drinks the rest of Tharg's tea slowly with you, then hands the tea cup back to Andrietta. "Is good. Might be better without leaves, though. Can you filter them out, or is that part of recipe?"
Standing up, she says, "We go see Karkadon now. Follow me. Watch your step through next bit."
She takes you to the next room directly to your south. A rectangular basin of clear, warm water fills most of this room, leaving only a five-foot walkway around the edge. The humid air rising from the pool keeps plants, including forms of moss and mushroom fungi, alive along the room's walls and ceiling. There is slimy looking moss over every surface.
She steps gingerly and carefully through, pausing on the stairs leading down from the room. "Well, you coming?"
Tharg crosses arms. "Tharg wait til they go."
Shirish laughs. "Just because you fell in last time?"
Tharg slams the wall. "Tharg not fall! Tharg choose to swim!"
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Stali takes his cup of tea and drinks it.
"The leaves are to give it a flavor. There are many different recipes for tea, even some that call for it to be cooled." Stali explains. "In many areas, the tea is safer than water."
"Nice garden, who tends it?" Stali asks as he passes the pool.
Looking back to Gallako and Sarano, he asks "Any idea what the smell is? It seems to be coming from the water, but there is no signs anything is wrong with the plants here."
Without slowing his pace, he follows along the narrow ledge.
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As they proceed along
I wonder if they know that these are edible? Might as well tell them without insulting them if they don't know
"I like your garden. Very smart to grow some food inside here
He replies to Stali
"No, I'm not sure what is in there either. Best be careful"
He slowly walks along the slippery edge of the pool.
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Seeing Andrietta hesitate, Stali finds some place to tie off the end of his rope. He then brings the rest of the coil back to the entrance and ties the other end off.
"There, that should provide everyone with a way to steady themselves. If anyone wants, I can walk with them and help keep you steady."
Sarano almost falls in the pool, but between the rope and Stali's help, she gets across easily enough. Shirish nods to the garden and then back to the quiet orc beside her. "Greenguts tends the garden." She raises an eyebrow. "The plants are good to eat, but the water they grow from... Let's just say Greenguts got his name from the first time he tried it."
Both Tharg and Shirish laugh at this. Greenguts shrugs. "Water all wrong, bad for the gut. But the plants don't have guts to puke, so they okay." Greenguts gives you a tusky grin, pleased with his explanation.