Zaranna hands the magical bow, the three magic arrows, and the strangely carved bone to Angus so he can negotiate to identify them. She doesn't have any money after buying her horse, so she isn't sure how she can contribute to the negotiation.
Kuruk pulls off the magical leather armor, the magical ring, the magical armored coat, and a scroll written in Nahuaña off one of the gear bundles on Hura.
"We need these items and a magical macuahuitl he carries (gesturing vaguely toward John) identified. We have armored coats of masterwork quality and some macuahuitl to trade. I also have unfinished chupacabra hides if they are of interest.
We would also love freshly prepared food, we have lots of trail rations but a nicely cooked meal would lift our spirits. If you'd rather we go immediately after the identification and trade we understand as we are strangers rather than invited guests. We are not invaders just travelers who have come to find ourselves at odds with the Mexica that refuse to leave these lands.
The warrior nods, "We will take the armoured coats and the hide. We do not wish to use the weapons of the Mexica. You may stay the night, but if you are at odds with the Mexica we would ask you not linger too long. They have come in the past and taken several of the other warriors for their dark gods." With that, he takes the trade goods and magical items into one of the tipis. About half an hour passes, and he walks out carrying the items. He gives to group the items before saying, "The bow is enhanced with magic, striking truer than normal. The sets of armour are stronger than most, and the ring will protect you from harm. The arrows will light the target on fire. The macuahuitl will do so as well. The bone though, is not something my mother has seen before. She thinks perhaps it could bring you extra luck if you need it."
"Sounds fair."
'That seems steep, but a little goodwill goes a long way.' Angus looks from Kuruk to the apache warrior as he takes the Macuahuitl back, tucking it in his belt. He nods to the warrior, "We will leave in the morning."
As they move toward where they would camp for the night, Angus shifts closer to Kuruk, he smiles and winks. "I didn't realize the Apache were such good traders, next time we might settle the price before we have the work done. Keep from loosing our shirts."
"Next time I need to make a deal I may hire you chaps to do the negotiating. Good to know what we have though."
Zaranna takes the three arrows back, but leaves the bow and the bone for someone else to claim if they would like to.
Though there was also a scroll ad the armors should still more than cover that.
As they move toward where they would camp for the night, Angus shifts closer to Kuruk, he smiles and winks. "I didn't realize the Apache were such good traders, next time we might settle the price before we have the work done. Keep from loosing our shirts."
Also small, "Trust is expensive but more valuable than gold."
The village is small, with barely more than two dozen people. As a result, come nighttime the entire village turns out to see the visitors. A few of the warriors greet Kuruk by name, having heard of his tribe. The older clan mothers prepare a simple dinner of roasted venison and some foraged roots and vegetables. Once the villagers have finished eating and returned to their tipis, the warrior that first greeted you allows you to sleep by the central fire. The night passes uneventfully, and morning rolls around as it always seems to do.
The group sets out for Postektliteptl, riding across the wide open plains. As they approach the mountains around twilight, they see quite a spectacle. Rugged mountains rise up as normal, but as they reach a certain point, they stop, as if the tops were smashed off by some colossal hammer. Off in the distance they see firelight coming from a large indentation in the ground, but Zaranna's keen elven ears hear something odd. Low, gruff voices come from the direction of the fire, speaking in Nahuaña.
Zaranna tells everyone what she hears:
What I hear from the fire up ahead sounds like Nahuaña, but it is low and gruff and perhaps inhuman, so let us be cautious.
'Caution, not a bad idea.' "We should probably dismount, do we want to send a scout ahead, or all of us ease up at once?"
Kuruk smoothly dismounts his celestial buffalo patting her white shaggy hide as he lands.
Should I scout it out? I can call on greater stealth using my powers to callon aspects of animals.
John Thomas dismounts and checks that his cold iron dagger is close at hand.
"Well, if ya want me to sneak my armor will have to come off. That might not be the best from what Zaranna says. If someone wants to take a look best I stay back a bit."
Zaranna dismounts and starts circling around to the right, leaving her horse with John.
Kuruk calls upon his owl aspect and becomes sneakier
Kuruk and Zaranna sneak forward towards the divot in the ground. It is roughly circular and about 35 feet across at its widest. A small spring sits near low cliff walls, about teen feet down. Several Mexica men in warriors trappings sit around a campfire, and two figures, one a native man, and the other a woman with skin almost the colour of brass. While Zaranna is able to stealthily creep to the rim of the hole, Kuruk accidentally crushes a dry bush, causing two the the Mexica to look around suspiciously.
Zaranna studies the scene trying to answer a few questions, so she can take the information back to her team: Are the figures prisoners or guests? How many total in the group?
While Zaranna and Kuruk move ahead, Seamus drops Marion's reins, He whispers in the geldings ear. "Guard, and don't be surprised if there is gunfire." He then moves forward a little finding a place behind a rock. He unslinging his rifle and covers his associates as they move towards the encampment.
While the others sneak and Angus readies his rifle John Thomas moves up a bit closer waiting shield up.
The native man and the woman are tied up a little ways from the group. There are four Mexica.
With specific information, Zaranna sneaks back to the group and reports.
'Ok, I'll try not to jump to conclusions.' After hearing Zaranna's description, Angus looks from her to Kuruk and John, "So we have a few options. We can approach and talk or or we can try and draw them off to rescue their prisoners. Obviously we can attack."
He pauses for a moment shrugging his shoulders. "I'm so used to the war, that attacking would be my first inclination. But what do you three want to do?"
They have captives that can quickly become hostages, and they are here against the treaty their government signed, I say we have someone creep up and free the hostages while the rest of us attack them directly.
I think try to rescue the prisoners is the main goal. We don't want to get them killed. Let me try and sneak back around and untie them while you distract them from the front, in whatever way you choose.
Give me a couple of minutes to try to circle around.
Zaranna sets off, trying to get close to the prisoners from behind, but out of the firelight, and then waiting for a distraction.
Before Zaranna leaves.
"Well one idea is simply that I can wander in looking lost and confused and you ranged folks could pick them off? I'm not much good at distance but I can take a shot or two if need be, sure I have had worse." he shrugs "Plus the prisoners might not be quite as you would like."
That's a good distraction too, if you want to risk walking in. I'd rather be closer to the prisoners though, so they don't get their throats cut.
Angus nods his head in agreement, "Zaranna, you sneak around to free the prisoners. John you go in the front and distract them, that way you can get close enough pummel them into submission. Kuruk and I will be right behind you with some fire power." Looking to Kuruk, "Kuruk, should we charge in mounted or on foot?"
Mounted, this tomahawk has not been blooded in some time.
John Thomas nods and picks up some dirt to rub on his face, hair and hands.
Once it seems Zaranna has had enough time he adjusts himslef His shield hands lose on his arm, almost dragging as he heads for the gate, changing his gate to a bit of a shuffle.
As he gets closer he starts mumbling over and over.
"Help.... help.... i..... i.... i lost.... all."
If there is time he will drop to one knee as soon as he is seen.
Hope this gives the group a clear shot.
The Mexica stand up, and one grabs a macuahuitl before shouting, "Who are you? Why are you here?" Zaranna is able to creep over to the prisoners.
Hearing the natives speak, Angus nods to Kuruk, and begins riding hard toward the encampment.
On one knee John Thomas continues the charade.
"I... I got lost.... water? My pack is gone.... so thirsty."
Kuruk rides atop Huera running full out hell for leather. His aspect presently that of the Bull (+2 to strength) if a moment presents itself to pin the Mexica down with an entangle spell without hitting out erstwhile rangers and our prisoner he will.
The Mexica notice Kuruk charging, drawing their macuahuitl and preparing to attack!
Zaranna starts freeing the prisoners, starting with the woman.
Two of the Mexica run forward at John Thomas. One of them slices at John Thomas, though the Irishman is able to avade the other. The other two warriors draw slings and load them, readying to attack when Angus and Kuruk draw closer.
"Not much for hospitality."
John Thomas responds with a rising elbow strike and then attempts to bring his elbow back down on one of the warriors.
Before closing Kuruk casts snowball at the blue bordered one
Kuruk
cold damage + Fort save 14 or be staggered (meaning you can move or take a standard action not both)
Huera
Reigning Marion to a stop, Angus studies the warrior directly in front of him as he levels his rifle at the Mexica and squeezes the trigger.
Zaranna attempts to cut the rope with the knife from her mess kit, but it slips, and she can't get any purchase on the rope, perhaps because she is trying to hurry, or because she surprised the prisoner and she moved too much. She breathes out, once, glances up to make sure that she hasn't been spotted, and sets herself to try again.
@Zaranna you'd only need to role damage it's an unintended object and if it is hemp rope it only has 2 HP
With Zaranna's effort, the rope falls and Ruth is free!