Lord Perry Arizian |
Percival lumbered towards Amund, examined his wounds while yawning, and slapped Amund's chest lazily, discharging a healing spell.
CLW, from SoF: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Nodding tiredly as an answer to gratitude, the priest rolled back into his tent quietly, and after a few moments, snores arose.
@GM: Sorry for lack of participation.
Amund Basurto |
Mumbling a quite, Thank you. at Perry then glancing at Kasta. Whatever that was thank you as well.
Moving back to his tent and stopping short at Anthuria's comment, Meditation might help you fall back asleep. Ducking into his tent and shoving Ursa out of his bed roll and begins getting ready to sleep.
Jetta Stahle |
Jetta makes an effort to chase after the hobgoblins, only stopping once she notices that her companions—and her only source of light—have stayed behind.
"We should have killed them all," she grumbles as she stomps back into camp. "Next time, they might go after someone weaker than us. Like the workers from the fort..."
GM Rennai |
@Perry: Missed days happen, no worries.
A trick I've picked up in my long experience, Katsa replies to Amund's thanks. No one can control fate, but sometimes I can give it a nudge, as it were. Too many changes and ill luck will befall, but a bit from time to time I find a mighty handy thing. Re-shuffling her cards back into the deck, she retires to her tent, re-adjusting her hastily-donned scarf as she crawls in.
Though everyone finds themselves slightly more on edge after the night raid, the rest of the watches pass quietly, and soon the Oathday morning rises - a day of fortune for accord-making, Katsa notes with a nod. As tents are packed and the embers of the fire are doused, there is a slight movement in the bushes and reeds across the road, and three lizardfolk emerge. The figure in the lead is dressed in armor made of stone scales, similar to that you found on the dead one in the spiders' den; the others seem to defer to this one, letting them lead the way. All three wear elaborate necklaces of carved wood studded with crystals and carved pieces of bone in nose piercings. As they approach, they curl their long fingers into fists, raising their closed hands and pressing them to tight-closed mouths.
Approaching cautiously, the lead figure begins to speak, Katsa translating the sibilant speech. "The sacred swamp of the Turessk tribe, our home for many clutches, is open to you, chosen of the soft skins. Finish your preparations," she says, "that we may guide you to the strong one Kassmak. We accord you great honor, chosen."
Balthus Tauran |
Balthus grabs a handful of fur as he keeps Slasher's growling in check. The local boys are here.
Not knowing what the signs mean, he's happy for the soothsayer's translation. He sends Slasher off with a stern warning and raises his hands in what he hopes is a peace offering and waits for the 'diplomatic entourage' to do their thing.
Anthuria |
"Oh!" Anthuria says in surprise as the Turessk emerge from the growrth. "They're...beautiful. Look how gracefully they move..."
She beckons Slasher to stand near her. Then she stands still as stone, but trying to look friendly, anyway. Once Katsa translates for them, she automatically gives a little curtsey. "Pleasure to meet you...?" she says uncertainly, unsure if her etiquette is proper.
"What preparations?" she asks her friends.
____
diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Lord Perry Arizian |
As tents are packed and the embers of the fire are doused, there is a slight movement in the bushes and reeds across the road, and three lizardfolk emerge. The figure in the lead is dressed in armor made of stone scales, similar to that you found on the dead one in the spiders' den; the others seem to defer to this one, letting them lead the way. All three wear elaborate necklaces of carved wood studded with crystals and carved pieces of bone in nose piercings. As they approach, they curl their long fingers into fists, raising their closed hands and pressing them to tight-closed mouths.
Approaching cautiously, the lead figure begins to speak, Katsa translating the sibilant speech. "The sacred swamp of the Turessk tribe, our home for many clutches, is open to you, chosen of the soft skins. Finish your preparations, that we may guide you to the strong one Kassmak. We accord you great honor, chosen."
Percival answered with what universal gestures of peace he knew as well; putting down his weapon, keeping his arms where the lizardfolk could see them, and maintaining a neutral smile as his allies began to pack up.
He turned to Kasta in the meantime, saying, "Tell them that we thank them for coming out to escort us, and that we will follow as quickly as possible."Once the party was ready to move out again, Percival went up to the three, summoning Kasta by his side, and said, "We are ready. Let us be off."
Moving on
Amund Basurto |
Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Reaching out and snatching up Ursa to put him in the saddle so he stays up instead of rushing to the Lizardfolk. With that done he quickly finishing putting his gear up to follow their guides. While doing so Amund puts all of his weapons except for the sword in his bag of holding. Both bag and sword are attached to Pretty Girls saddle. While doing so he announces to the others. Raising their fists to their closed mouths is a show of peace. Their weapons are put away.
GM Rennai |
Katsa nods to Percival, then replies to the lizardfolk in their own sibilant tongue; you can recognize differences between her speech and theirs, a human accent to the Draconic tongue, but the escort seems to accept the greeting readily enough, nodding and retreating back to the swamp's edge on the far side of the road. When the camp is packed up and the horses are loaded, they motion toward the water, beckoning you to follow.
Passing into the Turessk swamp, the mists rising from the water meet the cloud cover to turn the world around a murky grey. Navigating the swampy ground proves to be a daunting task; though the lizardfolk are careful to demonstrate where the sturdiest footfalls are, more than one boot splashes into thick mud, and the horses' legs are covered in grime nearly up to the shoulders from their frequent sinking. A few times you see small knots of huts in the distance, but they remain remote as you follow the inscrutable path.
Finally, after two hours' hard slog, a huge mound of mud and stone comes into view, bedecked with stone, wood, and bone carvings, as well as the skeletons of large swamp predators. From the mound's center, a column of smoke rises to mingle with the mists, a tacit promise of welcome warmth. As you approach, you notice a tanned hide hanging on the hut's side; the lead lizardwoman pulls it aside to reveal that the mound is actually a huge, hollow dome. An orange glow spills from the opening as the flap is pulled aside, and the sound of conversation meets your ears as the smell of roasting meat meets your nose.
One of your escort offers to gather the reins of the horses, speaking inquisitively. The horses shy at the strange-looking person...and the lizardman returns the nervousness in kind, seeming little familiar with the beasts. Katsa answers, her last words sounding stern, and a short exchange follows before she turns back to the group. He wanted to know what the horses were - I told them they were work beasts, not for eating. It seems they don't engage in much husbandry, but he's offered to take them into the other hall and have one of the others start a fire so you can rejoin them to sleep tonight. He and his mate will create nests for you there as well. She glances over to Percival standing next to Jetta; for some reason, she seems to find the idea of the refined priest sleeping in a nest next to his horse mildly humorous.
The head of your escort motions for you to enter the mound. Inside, a dark pool of water sits in the center of the round hall, a brazier on its surface is lit with a strange smokeless flame; the fires in trenches along the hall's edge are not quite so smokeless. Opposite the entry is a tall throne made of animal bones - and atop the throne sits an impressive figure, tall and broad, clad in ceremonial garb and carved fetishes. He dismisses the stone-clad woman with a respectful nod, then takes in the crowd before him. Welcome, ssoft sskinss, he calls out in hissing Taldane. Kassmak welcomess tall wood housse chiefs. Rock-sscale Eless make journey ssafe?
Lord Perry Arizian |
Raising their fists to their closed mouths is a show of peace. Their weapons are put away.
Percival nodded, musing, "I thought as much."
On the way through the swamp, Percival could not help look to his companions and back forward again. If this does not work out, we might need to recall how this path winded, he thought. Perhaps not for diplomacy, but as war-path.
He then looked to Jetta, and wondered whether she noticed how easily any soldiers the fort might send could be ambushed through the swampy ground.
He wanted to know what the horses were - I told them they were work beasts, not for eating. It seems they don't engage in much husbandry, but he's offered to take them into the other hall and have one of the others start a fire so you can rejoin them to sleep tonight. He and his mate will create nests for you there as well.
"Very well," said Percival, nodding his thanks. "Thank you, Harrower Kasta."
Welcome, ssoft sskinss. Kassmak welcomess tall wood housse chiefs. Rock-sscale Eless make journey ssafe?
Relieved that draconic would not be the medium of conversation, Percival stood straight, put on his best smile, and returned.
"You are most gracious, strong-one Kassmak of the Turessk for inviting us to speak with you. We thank you for seeing to our safe arrival.I am Lord-Baron Percival of House Arizian of Karvosa, and these are my comrades; Amund Basturo, my honorable bodyguard and keeper of the peace in Karvosa; Anthuria Wilano, a rose-magi who is well-learned in the ways of natural life and flora; Balthus Tauran, our woodsman and expert in fauna; and Jetta Stahle, a student in a noble knightly order in Karvosa that also keeps the peace in our lands."
"We have received your letter in an auspicious hour, for the day where we first had contact through this elegant spear--, He then paused, drawing the message-spear. "We had just returned from our mission to purge the nests of the eight-legged menaces of the forest (asking Kasta on a side to refer to the spiders in Draconian) who had claimed one of your folk. We have brought back his body to rest with his people."
Percival then stood patiently waiting for a response, alert whether the chieftain will offer seating accommodations--or whether he would have his guests sit on the floor whilst he sat on a throne.
Balthus Tauran |
Strangely relaxed, Balthus tries to pay attention to his surroundings as Perry speaks. Not conversant in any language other than common, the ranger tried to pick up any nuances or tells of the lizardman king.
perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Anthuria |
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Anthuria stands tensely next to Balthus, again trying to look friendly.
Do lizardfolk understand a smile? I should be careful not to show teeth... I wonder if they find certain colors offensive..
With little idea whether Katsa's translations are reliable, she waits to be addressed before speaking.
Rose-magi? Well, there's a title! I'll have to write that down later.
Jetta Stahle |
Tense from the moment the lizardfolk first make their appearance, Jetta spends the trip through the swamp in watchful silence. As she had assumed from her preparations, the prospect of fighting all the way in or out of the marshlands was a nightmare. Even if they had the men to spare, many would no doubt be lost to hidden quagmires—not to mention the poisoned arrows and spears of the lizardfolk.
As the group reaches Kassmak's throne room, the Hellknight assumes a protective position behind Perry. While not overtly aggressive in her posture, she makes no effort to disarm, making sure that all of the lizardfolk can see the obviously magical halberd leaning on her shoulder. Jetta knew full well the kind awe—or terror—her fully armoured form caused in more primitive races. Often the presence of one Hellknight was enough to stop the outbreak of hostilities, and she trusted that her being there would have a similar effect, regardless of whether or not the lizardfolk knew what the armour was meant to symbolise.
Did they, though? Probably not. As Perry makes his entreaty, she wonders how many of the lizardfolk had even seen someone in full plate armour. Did they remember stories of the Chelish invaders first skirting their lands on their way to Korvosa, or the battles they fought with the Shoanti? The troops had been adrift then, arriving to colonise the northern reaches of the empire. Even though she did not relish the idea of fighting the swamp-dwellers, she knew that their home would not be enough to shield them from the full wrath of more established powers. The loss of life would be staggering, but the proud reptilians would eventually be driven to extinction. For nothing.
Jetta glances at Perry through her visor, mouthing a silent prayer to Abadar. The words felt weird on her lips, but the priest needed all the help he could get...
GM Rennai |
Kassmak listens intently as Percival makes his introductions, nodding at each in turn as their name is given; though his own Common had been broken, he seems to understand most of the priest's speech well enough. Katsa watches carefully, and volunteers a translation any time the seems to have trouble with a particular term, but allows Percival to lead the speech. When the greeting is finished, he nods. One of ourss - Koress? To lose rock-sscale Koress wass bad - to have hiss boness good. Kassmak thanks ssoft sskin chiefss. Ulpessk - Here he gestures to a lizardman standing at his side who carries a long, sturdy carved staff and wears an elaborate headdress made from the preserved head of what looks like a hydra. - will give Koress to swamp as ssun ssetss.
Now ssoft sskinss musst resst. Ssit, ssit. He gestures to his sides, where several piles of swamp reeds have been set out; two lizardfolk work to heap the last together. Have much to disscuss, ssoft sskinss and strong-one Kassmak. As everyone sits, the two seeing to the seating arrangements retire to the doorway and stand one to either side, standing ramrod-straight and keeping their gazes straight ahead. I call you for thiss, ssoft sskinss. You come through mountain gap, build wallss and bring more ssoft sskin kind. Then sstone river comess through foresst, meetss other mountain gap. Thiss mean ssoft sskinss come both wayss - and sstone river meetss Turessk swamp to north. Musst know...why ssoft sskinss here?
Jetta Stahle |
Now ssoft sskinss musst resst. Ssit, ssit. He gestures to his sides, where several piles of swamp reeds have been set out; two lizardfolk work to heap the last together.
As everyone sits, the two seeing to the seating arrangements retire to the doorway and stand one to either side, standing ramrod-straight and keeping their gazes straight ahead.
Jetta remains standing behind Perry, both to be able to react to possible hostilities and because of the practical difficulties of sitting on the ground in her armour.
Anthuria |
Anthuria carefully positions herself in the swamp reeds, knees to the side and ankles crossed beneath her skirt. She leans on her arm to the side, looking uncertainly toward Jetta and Perry. She's uncertain whether to talk, but she just can't help herself.
"The human..soft skin settlement to the west desires to expand its influence to the lands beyond the Vale. The road...stone river is only a method to accomplish that. We have come to make the Vale safer for everyone. For example, by removing the, ah, eight-legged menaces."
Lord Perry Arizian |
I call you for thiss, ssoft sskinss. You come through mountain gap, build wallss and bring more ssoft sskin kind. Then sstone river comess through foresst, meetss other mountain gap. Thiss mean ssoft sskinss come both wayss - and sstone river meetss Turessk swamp to north. Musst know...why ssoft sskinss here?
"Our mission is given to us by King Eodrid, Second of his name, King of Karvosa. It is simply to pave a way between the two mountain paths, and to provide a permanent settlement to guard the stone passage. Opening the path will allow for trade to reach the other side of the mountains, for the increased prosperity and benefit for all."
He then rested his hands on his knees, and said, "It is my sincere hope that the people of Fort Thorn and the other peoples of the vale can come to a mutually-beneficial understanding over the shared rights and responsibilities we owe one another. We have much to offer one another, Strong-one Kassmak."
He then falls quiet as to what the lizardfolk can offer.
Balthus Tauran |
Although no one asked him, Balthus added his own, "We will strive to interfere as little as possible with your ancient lifestyle but change happens to us all."
He paused and then added, "A strong chief such as yourself adjusts to change and his tribe continues to thrive."
He then asked, "Now that you know, what are your concerns?"
GM Rennai |
With Katsa continuing to volunteer translations and descriptions at points the lizardfolk chief seems uncertain on, Kassmak listens to the offered answers, replying to each in turn.
"The human..soft skin settlement to the west desires to expand its influence to the lands beyond the Vale. The road...stone river is only a method to accomplish that. We have come to make the Vale safer for everyone. For example, by removing the, ah, eight-legged menaces."
"Why need more? Their land no good? Not enough food?" Expanding merely for influence's sake seems a foreign concept to the lizard chief. "Iss good you make thiss land ssafe - make ssafe ssoft sskinss, our eggss ssafe, too. Kassmak’ss rock-sscaless mighty, but cannot be all placess.”
"Our mission is given to us by King Eodrid, Second of his name, King of Karvosa. It is simply to pave a way between the two mountain paths, and to provide a permanent settlement to guard the stone passage. Opening the path will allow for trade to reach the other side of the mountains, for the increased prosperity and benefit for all."
He then rested his hands on his knees, and said, "It is my sincere hope that the people of Fort Thorn and the other peoples of the vale can come to a mutually-beneficial understanding over the shared rights and responsibilities we owe one another. We have much to offer one another, Strong-one Kassmak."
"I speak the truth. Should the road be complete, our markets will be active and filled with various wares everyone can benefit from: vermin-repellent: alchemical pastes that repel ticks, mosquitoes, and other menaces; blackfire clay: a mixture that emits consistent warmth when worked without fire; and building materials that can make nests more permanent (or easier to move), such as alchemical concrete."
Several of the terms seem unfamiliar to Kassmak, and Katsa finds herself stumbling for explanations of terms like “mutually beneficial” and “concrete”. But when she finally explains the terms to the chief’s satisfaction, he turns back to Percival. Ssalve makess bugss go? Dusst that makess sstoness and mud that warmss? Good thingss, but Turesskss never need ssuch thingss before…our peat burnss and warmss uss, our moundss sstand for many clutchess, our sscaless make bugss no bother. Have food, have sshelter, have sstoness and treess, have our hundred-clutches sswamp. Why need ssoft sskin dussts and mudss?
"We will strive to interfere as little as possible with your ancient lifestyle but change happens to us all. A strong chief such as yourself adjusts to change and his tribe continues to thrive. Now that you know, what are your concerns?"
Conccernss... Kassmak breathes out, composing his thoughts...
More tonight!Anthuria |
"Ssalve makess bugss go? Dusst that makess sstoness and mud that warmss? Good thingss, but Turesskss never need ssuch thingss before…our peat burnss and warmss uss, our moundss sstand for many clutchess, our sscaless make bugss no bother. Have food, have sshelter, have sstoness and treess, have our hundred-clutches sswamp. Why need ssoft sskin dussts and mudss?"
Anthuria is caught off guard by the simplicity of the idea. It was true, she was here on account of her own ambition, to expand her own influence in the spheres of her own life. And she knew of course that in doing so she was acting as an agent of the College, a mere tool of the Korvosan crown. But she never had questioned the need for it. She had always taken the idea for granted. Of course the city would expand its trade, its influence and wealth.
But now that she is here, in the swamp court of lizard people, being asked to justify a mode of living that required anything more than food, shelter, and protection of loved ones, she suddenly cannot not think of a defensible answer. Have I had it all wrong? she thinks doubtfully to herself, looking eagerly toward Lord Arizian, whose wisdom she has grown to value greatly. "Tell me we haven't gotten it all wrong," she stammers, barely a whisper.
Balthus Tauran |
Balthus tried to make things simple for the chief, "You speak the truth but the simple matter is that the Korvosa family is growing and a growing family needs new hunting grounds."
he paused and then added, "Imagine your females suddenly started to lay more eggs than usual and your swamp no longer supported such a large community. You would have need to expand, yes? Well, that is what's happening to the humans of Korvosa."
He hoped Perry or someone else had a better answer.
Lord Perry Arizian |
Ssalve makess bugss go? Dusst that makess sstoness and mud that warmss? Good thingss, but Turesskss never need ssuch thingss before…our peat burnss and warmss uss, our moundss sstand for many clutchess, our sscaless make bugss no bother. Have food, have sshelter, have sstoness and treess, have our hundred-clutches sswamp. Why need ssoft sskin dussts and mudss?
"That is a question you must answer: will making the lives of your people easier allow them to develop further, or will it cause them to diminish?" asked Percival politely. "If you have dusts, your people will become less sickly and prone to diseases. If you have muds, your people will never risk a wildfire from burning peat--and the black clay can warm eggs without a risk of burning them."
He then tilted his head, and continued, "Beyond that, I know you have something my people would like to have--and mud and dust is but two things we can offer."
Investment check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Perry deduces whatever the lizardfolk may be interested in receiving and offers it as well.
"Imagine your females suddenly started to lay more eggs than usual and your swamp no longer supported such a large community. You would have need to expand, yes? Well, that is what's happening to the humans of Korvosa."
Percival shook his head theatrically, and said, "Forgive me, Chief Kassmak, but I must note the following: it seems that you and your people have come to a way to live in tune with what your land has to offer, and do not often risk overpopulation. I believe I know how to explain our motives in a better way."
Percival casts tongues and says the following in Draconic.
"We build, we carve, we pave a path from west to eastern mount.
For this strange act we have a cause; no, two; no, three I count."
Linguistics for poetry: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
After the short verse (in what he deduced was their lyrical meter), Percival gave three reasons why the people of Fort Thorn were there (also in draconic).
"Firstly, we have people in the other side of the mountain--Nirmathans and the good folk of Lastwall. Both are often pressed by dangers such as orcs, demons, and dark fey, and would need our assistance. Thus our first reason is to provide noble aid.
"Secondly, the people on the other side of the mountain have harbors that open up to lands Karvosa never traded before. Across Lake Encarthan are folk who lack things we have (such as medicines and books), and have things we need (such as reagents and produce). Should we come to trade with them, we will all benefit, "for that is the purpose of civility", thus saith the Lord. Thus our second reason is mutual benefit.
"Thirdly, the people of the fort have come to find wisdom, friendship, and purpose in this vale--we have met with the great Oakbrow and his wolf Ama, good fey, and have been invited to your great hall. Seeing the world and exploring it has its own magic, Strong-one Kassmak, and making new friendships is one step on the great journey of life. Thus our third reason is simply living life to its fullest.
"I extend to you my offer of friendship, Kassmak, and I pray that you take it."
Conccernss...
Percival relaxed in his seat, waiting patiently as his tongues spell remained.
GM Rennai |
Kassmak takes in Balthus’s reasoning, though it’s clear from his reaction that Percival’s hit the nail on the head - he doesn’t precisely empathize with the problem of overpopulation. As Percival begins to cast his spell, the lizardfolk chief’s hand jumps to the spear beside his throne, but the shamanic figure behind the throne sets a hand on the chief’s shoulder in reassurance. Kassmak was worried about the spellcasting, but Ulpesk told him it was merely a prayer of knowledge of tongues, Katsa explains. Indeed Percival doesn’t need the explanation, for though the sounds of the Draconic tongue are still strange, their meaning becomes clear in the priest’s mind, and he pronounces the sibilant language as though his own tongue had a fork at the end.
The chief seems appreciative of the impromptu verse, and his shaman even more so - your chant is worthy of our history-singers, Ulpesk replies in Draconic. But consider this:
The ways of old have many eggs sustained,
And by these truths Turessk has long remained
In hallowed fen and ancient hearth and home
for time untold - why grasp and reach and roam?
Ulpesk is right, holy one, Kassmak adds, before switching back to his broken Common to include the others. Make sstone river to aid ssoft sskin kin afar...good to help kin. And to make friendss, alliess...thiss good too. His countenance begins to darken. But ssoft sskinss were poor alliess in passt. Tall oness from mountain gapss many-clutches ago, in that one’ss ssteel hide. At this he gestures to Jetta, standing impassive in the back. And sstout oness from mountain rootss in my time and my brood mother'ss, who desspoil and ssteal, grab all they can hold. But no otherss take offer of conclave, or ssit before Kassmak’ss throne to sspeak of planss as friendss. Thesse tall-wood-housse sstrong oness will be friendss of Turessk tribe? Will keep Turessk in counsselss, come to aid sscaled oness in need? Will keep otherss from taking and sspoiling what belongss to Turessks for seasons-without-count? And what cosst to uss?
Remarks and/or Diplomacy checks from everyone involved in the conversation (including a chance to jump in for those who haven’t yet). I’ll take the highest result (let’s face it, probably Perry’s) as the base and use all other successful checks for aid another. Perry, don't forget the bonus from the circlet.
Lord Perry Arizian |
Ulpesk is right, holy one,
"Make sstone river to aid ssoft sskin kin afar...good to help kin. And to make friendss, alliess...thiss good too.
But ssoft sskinss were poor alliess in passt. Tall oness from mountain gapss many-clutches ago, in that one’ss ssteel hide.
And sstout oness from mountain rootss in my time and my brood mother'ss, who desspoil and ssteal, grab all they can hold. But no otherss take offer of conclave, or ssit before Kassmak’ss throne to sspeak of planss as friendss. Thesse tall-wood-housse sstrong oness will be friendss of Turessk tribe? Will keep Turessk in counsselss, come to aid sscaled oness in need? Will keep otherss from taking and sspoiling what belongss to Turessks for seasons-without-count? And what cosst to uss?
"It is a noble way of life, surely," said Percival diplomatically. "But beings diverge into two paths. The lizard or bird of prey finds a place in the world and adapts, as the beaver or the man makes their place and adapts the place to its needs. Both belong to the world, and both paths are looked favorably by the Lord of the Hearth, the Stag-Lord Erastil.
"As for the nature of our relations, I believe that is what we are here," Percival said with an easy smile, leaning towards the chieftain and shaman. "The people of the fort have answered your invitation, Chief Kassmak: what do you wish our relations to be like?"Diplo to deftly redirect the conversation: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Balthus Tauran |
Not the diplomatic fellow in the group by a long shot, Balthus nonetheless continues his talk with the green-scaled chief.
He nodded, "Friends. Friends are good to have. And while I cannot speak for all the... soft skins, I can tell you that you have my help when you need it."
He scoffed and was sure broke some protocol, "Hell, you've been nothing but sensible so as long as you keep acting this way, you can count me as an ally."
________________
diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Jetta Stahle |
Tall oness from mountain gapss many-clutches ago, in that one’ss ssteel hide. At this he gestures to Jetta, standing impassive in the back.
The Hellknight tilts her helmed head at the lizardman.
"So they do remember," she thinks to herself. "Good."
And sstout oness from mountain rootss in my time and my brood mother'ss, who desspoil and ssteal, grab all they can hold. But no otherss take offer of conclave, or ssit before Kassmak’ss throne to sspeak of planss as friendss. These tall-wood-housse sstrong oness will be friendss of Turessk tribe? Will keep Turessk in counsselss, come to aid sscaled oness in need? Will keep otherss from taking and sspoiling what belongss to Turessks for seasons-without-count?
Balthus nodded, "Friends. Friends are good to have. And while I cannot speak for all the... soft skins, I can tell you that you have my help when you need it."
He scoffed and was sure broke some protocol, "Hell, you've been nothing but sensible so as long as you keep acting this way, you can count me as an ally."
Jetta nods in agreeance with Balthus, seeing in his simple words something she can easily relate to. She could barely keep up with what Perry was saying—even though she could tell the negotations were going relatively well—and the lizardfolks' way of speaking often left her guessing at their true meaning, even with Katsa's clarifications. If there was something she could add to the conversation, this would be it...
"I can't speak for trade or politics," she says to Kassmak. "But military cooperation would be good for us both. You have no desire to expand outside the swamp, and we have no reason to expand here. As long as that is the case, we don't need to fight one another. Also, anyone who threatens the safety of the Vale would be our common enemy. We should fight them off together."
Diplomacy to aid another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
The idea that Jetta specifically wants to introduce here is establishing a pact of mutual defense, rather than having us be solely responsible for protecting them from threats.
Anthuria |
"The Vale will never be tamed. It will always be a wild and beautiful place, just as it should be. It can never be adapted to the needs of any race, soft or otherwise. But we can live together, I'm sure of it!"
___________
Diplomacy to aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Amund Basurto |
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Never having a voice for politics Amund keep silent as the conversation starts. Following the talking but not feeling like he should jump in yet. They are quoting poetry at each other and this actually seems to be going well. Quietly listening to the others jumping in and seeing that all of them have done so Dammit! Well lets see if I can mess this up.
We only want peace with you and your tribes. I am truly sorry that you have has faithless allies in the past. Should we be able to come to an agreement this would be legally bind... Pausing for a moment to try to simplify the term. Our people would have to obey those laws or face judgment for failing to keep our bonds.
Lord Perry Arizian |
Percival winced as his comrades spoke, and then said with a smile, "As you can see, Chief Kassmak, we all came with open hearts and good faith, and show the same sentiment you showed to us. Rest assured that we will take your concerns seriously.
"For now, what we can promise is this: we will stay in touch when issues arise that concern your people or your interests."
He then paused, thinking, Time for the calculated risk.
"We received a messenger from the dwarves of Skelt. We intend to meet with them with the same faith as we met with you," Percival said. "My comrades spoke truly when they said we wish peace. Should the dwarves wish the same and be willing to compromise, will you be ready to do the same?"
GM Rennai |
The lizardfolk chieftain takes in the wishes of good will from the assembled envoys; his teeth begin to bare as the corners of his wide mouth curl. But after a few moments it becomes clear the expression is one of happiness, fearsome-looking though it may be with a mouthful of teeth sharp enough to double as weapons. You sspeak kind wordss...and I believe you mean good will to uss. Would have Turessk sswamp and tall-wood-housse chiefss be friendss. Live with each other in rose-valley in peacce. Each come to aid of other, if trouble come.
Allow sstone river by Turessk sswamp, no pay for right of passage. Trade with ssoft sskinss for magic dussts and mudss. Fissh of Turessk sswamp big, strong - hard scale, good for make trinketss. For a moment, Kassmak's face looks conflicted. Even...conssider sspeak with Sskelt sstout-oness. If peacce they truly wissh, and will lissten when they have not before...we will try to agree. Kassmak's distaste at the thought is evident. When you sspeak with sstout oness, tell Kassmak if they agree to peacce, and if yess, we sspeak, too.
But for now, time to ccelebrate chiefss' coming to Turessk sswamp. Ssit, resst - my people bring food, drink, dry ssand to sscrub away messs of travel. We honor your coming and your hand of peacce, friendss. Ulpesk throws a handful of dust into the brazier in the mound's middle, and the flames flash blue and violet, ethereal figures with sinuous tails seeming to form from the undulations of the flames. At the flash, more lizardfolk begin to slowly enter, men, women, and children.
Some carry huge platters of food that they set on the floor surrounding the center pool with its floating brazier - varied types of fungus, steaming greens, haunches of meat dripping with rich juices. Some bring flagons of liquid, others curious musical instruments (or so you surmise); still others bring in flat dishes filled with fire-dried sand, demonstrating how to use it to clean away grime from hands. As the celebration takes shape, the surrounding chatter in Draconic has a strange effect - while there are people everywhere, it feels almost lonely to be, for once, the odd ones out.
Balthus Tauran |
Balthus was pleased. Things had turned out better than expected. In the ranger's mind, the lizardfolk had practically agreed to being friends, which meant the road at the edge of their swamp was OK.
The ranger let his guard down and tried the food and drink, especially the the drink.
he wasn't sure what to do with the sand but he soon caught on as others scrubbed themselves clean with it.
He neared Perry and the others, "So, pretty good, eh?"
Anthuria |
Anthuria's enthusiasm backfires as bits of sand find their way into her mouth. She hopes that Balthus doesn't notice as she attempts to casually spit it out into her hand, feigning a sneeze.
"Yes..yes! Excellent! I think the talk went well enough, don't you, Lord Arizian? There is at least one less worry, hmm?"
She helps herself to some steamed mushrooms, savoring the earthy taste. "Our societies have so much in common. I swear these taste of garlic! I do wonder what sort of meat that is...."
Lord Perry Arizian |
Percival nodded as the celebrations took place and the party's feel became more evident. He turned to Balthus and Anthuria, and said, "I must admit that I had feared that this would test my limits of my skills."
He then tested a sip from the drinks the lizardfolk gave him, and mused (not paying great attention to the taste). "These are noble folk who wear their hearts on their sleeves. In truth, I believe that my fear was this..."
Percival looked at the celebrations from his distant and honored place, and said, "I had feared that the lizardfolk were like us. I was wrong."
Moar character development!
Amund Basurto |
Never tried sand before. I see this not helping with certain areas. Keeping silent as he cleans himself with sand.
Sniffing at the food and taking bits of everything. Completely content to sit silently and watch the locals. Being there but not part of it is what is most comfortable for him. Glancing at Perry but no commenting on his lack of faith he quietly returns to his food.
Halting his eating at once Perry has stopped and he shifts to face him. Why would you think that?
Jetta Stahle |
Jetta relaxes only slightly after the negotiations conclude, not willing or able to let down her guard in the midst of strangers—scales or no. She stands silently over the rest of the group, her immovable form rising like a darkened steel statue out of the recurrent retinue of reptilian revellers around them. As she watches their to-be allies, the Hellknight already starts formulating plans for incorporating the lizardfolk into the fort's defenses, should the need arise. All in all, the deal had proved to be more beneficial than she had thought initially...
Halting his eating at once Perry has stopped and he shifts to face him. Why would you think that?
The Hellknight shakes her head at Amund, half amused and half annoyed at the guardsman's continued naïvety.
"Do you really have to ask?" she says. "Humans prey on each other. A trip through Old Korvosa should tell you that much, if you manage to not get stabbed. Why would the lizardfolk be any better?"
She pauses to look at the celebrations around them. "No. We're not so different, I think. They're just smart enough to know that they need us..."
Amund Basurto |
Not bothering to look back at their self-appointed Hellknight chaperone. That is a remarkably grim outlook. While not completely untrue it is rather depressing. I have walked though all the part of Korvosa and seen acts of compassion as well as cruelty. That is something found in all cultures and races. Though the thought certainly suits her. So morbid.
Taking a sip of his drink before continuing. I was wanting to know why he thought that before meeting them and what changed his mind. That was all.
@Perry you wanted to be the mediator! Get back here and mediate! Or Jetta and I may start bickering ;)
GM Rennai |
Feel free to continue party conversation in spoilers if you like; otherwise, moving on.
The celebrations continue through the afternoon and into early evening. The food is simple fare, but filling, and the most heavily featured drink besides boiled water is a strange, sweet liquor with an earthy aftertaste, served neat or diluted with a milky, starchy juice. Many of the lizardfolk greet you tentatively in Draconic, as if uncertain what to think; Katsa volunteers translations as necessary, and makes sure to personally greet everyone who approaches with at least a few words in the Draconic tongue.
Finally, as the sun dips below the horizon, the celebration winds down, with the lizardfolk growing visibly more sluggish as the evening chill sets in. Smoky fires are kindled using bricks of peat, and as you are escorted to your own quarters, you see the lizardfolk curling up around the flames, the relatively small amount of children set in closest to the warmth. Though your own sleeping space looks to be somewhat disused (and perhaps originally intended as a storage space), a fire is kindled in its center as well, and more reeds are heaped to create beds around the fire pit. Between body heat and the fire, the small subterranean space grows cozy quickly, and while the reeds aren't exactly soft, they work together to create a spring-like effect, passably comfortable and insulated from the ground's chill. Soon, your own eyes grow heavy, and it's time to rest.
Feel free to describe the night's passage if you wish - reactions, setting a watch rotation, etc.
The night passes without incident, though it's difficult to tell when night ends and daytime starts with small ventilation slits and the leather-covered door as the only portals to the outside. Soon, though, it becomes impossible to sleep through a growing clamor, a cavalcade of voices rushing through the air like a chilling wind. And as you emerge from your burrow, it becomes immediately clear why - off in the distance to the northwest, a roiling pillar of smoke rises from the trees, stark against the morning-red sky. To the northwest: the direction from whence you came.
Anthuria |
Anthuria sits with her knees below her chin, staring into the glowing embers of the fire. She can't sleep--she isn't tired. She's had little need for sleep lately, and has grown to spend most of her nights reading from the few books she's scavenged around the fort, or writing in her journal. Here she has no quill, nor paper, and so she sits, humming softly to herself and waiting anxiously for the dawn.
It's no surprise, then, that she should be the first to notice the growing urgency outside. She crawls out from the sleeping space to see the smoke. In a flurry, she rushes back inside, reaching to shake the others. For some reason it isn't Amund she wakes first, or even Balthus. Some protective instinct in her urges her to seek out a familiar, authoritative figure.
She gently shakes Jetta, hoping the Hellknight would know the proper procedure for something like this.
"Jetta! Jetta! Wake up! There's a fire!"
Balthus Tauran |
knowledge geography: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Anthuria's blabbering wakes up Slasher first and then the grumpy ranger. God knows he needs his beauty sleep.
"Anthuria girl, what's all the blabbering about?"
He then walks outside the burrow and shields his eyes trying to pierce the morning haze, "Fire but a lot closer than the fort so that ain't it."
A gulp of bile stirs in his stomach as he realizes where it could be, "The fey king. Those evil fey. It's either there or close to there."
He nears the lizardmen and does his best to speak slowly and with ample hand movements, "W-H-A-T I-S I-T? Y-O-U K-N-O-W?"
Frustrated, he asks his companions, "Somebody ask them; they probably know what's going on."
Lord Perry Arizian |
In the morning, Percival was deep in his morning prayers. Noticing the commotion, he headed to the sleeping quarters.
Percival casts tongues and learns from the Lizardfolk what they could, and then delivers the information to the party.
Jetta Stahle |
She gently shakes Jetta, hoping the Hellknight would know the proper procedure for something like this.
"Jetta! Jetta! Wake up! There's a fire!"
Anthuria's blabbering wakes up Slasher first and then the grumpy ranger. God knows he needs his beauty sleep.
"Anthuria girl, what's all the blabbering about?"
He then walks outside the burrow and shields his eyes trying to pierce the morning haze, "Fire but a lot closer than the fort so that ain't it."
Being a light sleeper, Jetta is up in an instant. She runs outside with Balthus, but almost immediately turns on her heels and runs back to her gear.
"...yeah, whatever he said," she mutters as she starts pulling on her boots.
The Hellknight looks to Anthuria and points at her breastplate. "Give me that, and help me get it on! We need to move out and see what's going on before the fire spreads..."
Due to her drawback, Jetta isn't able to succeed in any untrained skill checks. Alone, she'd have no idea where that was smoke was supposed to be coming from... :P
Amund Basurto |
Offering to take the first watch and assuming no one minds Amund sits at the entrance of their little subterranean room with Ursa curled up at his side. Half keeping an eye out for anything and the rest of his mental focus on his notebook. Which is rapidly filled with rough sketches of the Chief Kassmak sitting on his throne, the Lizardfolk moving around. His companions he spends a little more time on. Perry sitting and eating with Jetta standing over him, Balthus smoking, Anthuria sitting by the fire. His watch may have gone longer than necessary to finish that one but he wanted to do so.
Seeing that Anthuria is awake Amund mumbles, If you cannot sleep please the grumpy one when when your watch is over.
Laying down on the reeds after throwing his bed roll down Amund falls asleep quickly and Ursa slowly crawls on top of Amund to return to sleep as well.
In the morning with the scary fire.
Hearing the commotion from his companions Amund calmly asks without bothering to open his eyes, What is on fire? About three seconds later he pushes his puppy off of him and quickly scrabbles out of the room.
Geography: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Standing there staring at the rising smoke. The Fey Court is burning. Just my luck Lord Arizian might get his damn Dragons.
Calling out to Balthus, Kasta speaks their tongue. I will go wake her. With out waiting from a reply Amund moves back into their room to rouse Kasta.
As he moves into the room he calls out to Jetta and Anthuria, The fire looks like it is near the Fey Court.
Kneeling down and gently shaking the elder woman's shoulder to wake her. Kasta we need to to speak with the Lizardfolk. Balthus has some questions and I do not know how long Lord Arizian's magic will work for.
GM Rennai |
Amund enters to find Katsa already awake, tugging a brush through her greying hair still wild with bedhead; at his request, she rises and follows him out, hastily finger-combing the rest back into a loose knot at the nape of her neck. Jetta and Anthuria follow them out as well to see the huge plume of smoke rising in the distance to the northwest.
Katsa and Percival begin to ask around, finding out from the lizardfolk what they've seen. Most are concerned that its source is one of the villages in that area of the swamp; they were sleeping until well after the sun rose to help warm them back to activity, and thus saw little besides the rising column. Percival manages to track down one who had stood watch over the small village during the night, however; the woman climbs down to tell her story from a tiny clay room built into the branches of one of the few tall trees. A faint glow still emanates from inside the room - it seems the building's purpose is to hold in heat to allow the sentries to continue during the cold night.
As the day-star rose, I turned to let it warm my back, and I saw the smoke begin to rise. The sky above the trees was still dim, and I saw lines of strange fire against the indigo sky - not from the clouds, but from a stone's throw above the trees. And where the lines came from moved, as if something was circling above and dropping flame as it went. I could see not what - the light was still too little. But as the daylight took hold, the fire spread. A league by a league or more is gone now, midway between the lake of fog and the stone river. The general hubbub seems to calm down it becomes common knowledge that the fire is across the river from the Turessk swamp; it seems that, in general, a fire outside their territory is of little concern to most of the lizardfolk population.
Lord Perry Arizian |
Percival seeks audience with Kassmak, promising him that he will bring him news of any forcoming agreement between his people and the dwarves, and then says that they must head to the edges of the swamp to update the fort leader (and investigate the fire).
"It may indeed be dragons, but something is telling me it isn't. Let's go and see.
Anthuria |
A flock of blackbirds scatters to the wind as Anthuria steps lightly through the forest. Her green eyes peer between the leaves. She raises a hand to gently push aside the low-hanging branch, clearing her view of the sky beyond the lake.
A dragon? she wonders. Katsa's interpretation had strongly suggested this possibility. If that were true, everything in the Vale could be in danger. Though if that were the case, why would the creature attack the fey court? Perhaps it could sense the evil of the place. But who knew, really... Whatever the reason, she had to learn for herself.
She begins to hum softly, a variation on the melody she had been humming the night before. It was a song she had learned from her mother, a simple child's rhyme. But she is comforted by its familiarity and the memories it brings. The song takes root, and her humming transforms into a whistle.
The flock of blackbirds returns and settles all around her. She might have been surprised, and even a little worried, but she understands what's happening. She's come to accept her place in the Vale, and she knows that she belongs. The Vale is her home now, and it needs protecting.
"Well then," she says to the blackbird nearest her, her speaking voice replaced by a high-pitched chirp. "It seems there's trouble in the sky. A fire? What do you all know about that? Is there a dragon over there?"
____
Casting Commune with Birds.
Balthus Tauran |
"It may indeed be dragons, but something is telling me it isn't. Let's go and see.
Balthus pats his mutt and nods, "Yes, if we're done here. Let's go and check that out. It seems that it was too close to the road."
We don't have an 'appointment' with the dwarves, do we?
GM Rennai |
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Percival seeks audience with Kassmak, promising him that he will bring him news of any forcoming agreement between his people and the dwarves, and then says that they must head to the edges of the swamp to update the fort leader (and investigate the fire).
Kassmak waves Percival forward immediately as he enters to seek audience. He accepts the priest's promises of news on the Skelt dwarves with a few nods, still seeming slightly distracted by the murmurs around him of the fire (now more of a curiosity than an impending danger to the lizardfolk). Speak with tall wood house chief, speak with stout ones chief. Kassmak want for Turessks to be left safe, with peace.
Casting Commune with Birds.
As Anthuria whistles her tune, the surrounding birdsong suddenly transforms into rapid-fire chatter, like a gaggle of young gossips at a costume ball; as she speaks, their conversation changes from generally concerned chitchat to exclamations of delight.
Two-legs speaks our words! one interjects - (it does, it does!) is the refrain that follows. Wait - it asks of dark-smelly-cloud in forest-home? Of red light-hot-feathers and falling-hot-trees? The questions are asked with a slight chirp of questioning, and a prattle of wonder and worry spreads throughout the flock.
Tweeit came from there! one exclaims - and Craiew! another pipes up. The two begin to talk over top of each other, their voices taking the lead in the babble as the other voices turn to soft, musical consolations. Nest was near rose-king (oh no, bad-place, bad-place) - Head underwing, then sudden hot! - Light-hot-feathers fall from sky - And wings! Skin-not-feather wings big as treetop (gasp!), on creature like food-lizard but big, bear-big! - Light-hot-feathers take hold, and big-wing-not-food-lizards fly toward sun (to rising sun?) - Wings so big, light-hot-feathers grow when they fly away - What left of fey-king plant-circle gone, all gone (all gone, all gone), and lots of tree-homes too...
The conversation continues, difficult to understand between the speed and changing tones of their speech and their tendency to talk five or six deep over top of each other. But the topic remains the same - large, winged lizards were the ones agreed to be at blame for the conflagration, and flew overhead lighting the fey-king's former court ablaze before setting off to the east.
We don't have an 'appointment' with the dwarves, do we?
Nope - you guys had intended to make overtures to them on your terms after discovering their dead envoy.
Anthuria |
In the cool morning mist along the wood's edge, a startled creature darts from among the leafy trees, sprinting quickly toward the Turessk camp. Native lizard-folk might regard this as an anomoly--to see a one of the soft-skins (the darker variety), in such a fluster.
Anthuria runs as fast as she can, twigs and leaves still clinging to her hair and skirt. At least she is wearing shoes this time.
"Amund! Balthus! Lord Arizian! Jetta!" She finds them preparing the horses for the journey into the woods. "You...were...right!" she pants to Perry. "A dragon! The birds...saw it! It breathes...fire and burned the fey...court!"
Lol nice job with the bird speech. I might have to borrow that for some certain pseudodragons!
Amund Basurto |
Not bothering to look back at Anthuria he mumbles, Of coarse it is.
With a deep sigh he temporarily abandons his task to walk towards the breathless woman, Take a moment to catch your breath then please tell us exactly what you where told.