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Edric accepts being the butt of Gav's jokes in good humour, trying not to show just how uncomfortable he is with the whole 'going on a boat' idea. A loyal soldier however he arranges for the temporary use of the boat and presents the news to the rest of the group.
"We have a craft and a few of my men to help us man it. We should probably sail downriver to meet the lizardmen - it would be more impressive and quicker." The fact that he says all this without wincing or flinching is quite commendable.
Talia rather enjoys herself on the boat, finding it much more relaxing than riding a horse. Wrapping her cloak against the chill, the Viscountess closes her eyes and composes a sonnet, for no particular reason than to just do so. A faint smile graces her lips, and Talia's mouth moves just so slightly as she thinks.
8 Kuthona 4708
The trip down through the Tuskwater and the Candlemere is cold but without mishap. Luckily, some of Edric's men are skilled rivermen , so the trip is smooth as can be expected.
The same situation as before greets you as you drift up to the hummock where the lizardfolk village sits. Two guards greet you, you wait for one to go pass your message, four guards watch as you pull the boat onto the muddy shore and disembark.
The frozen mud of the hummock is slick, making footing difficult as you come ashore. To say you do not make the most graceful of arrivals is not an understatement. There some thumping and scraping as the large wooden bolt is drawn from the gate, but then the heavy wooden structures swing open.
The island itself is approximately 150' in diameter, sitting about 10' above the level of of the surrounding waters. Fifty feet of water separate the island from both the north and south riverbanks.
The palisade is 10' high, with a narrow walkway along the top. The gate is 8' and barred by a large log. Both the palisade and the gate are of very rough construction, and it appears that they could be easily climbed or even squeezed through with some effort.
There are six mounds around the perimeter of the village, with a larger mound in the middle. Each has a single entrance covered with a leather flap to keep warmth in and the weather out and a chimney hole at the top. Groups of lizardfolk begin emerging from the huts to watch. Four warriors - obvious from their blue woad facepaint - watch you. Two from the walkway above and behind you, and two in the muddy path between you and the large hut. These last two hold two large monitor lizards each on long gaff-sticks.
No word is spoken as they wait for...something. They stand in strange silence, their large unblinking eyes staring at you. There is the uncomfortable feeling that they are silently sizing you up for meal purposes.
Talia stands in the frozen mud, her hand on the hilt of her sword, the sword remaining sheathed. The word, and gesture, for Naralesh's whizbang sits at the front of Talia's mind. In case there is an attack, the Viscountess intends to blind the lizardfolk with the monitors first.
To pass the time, Talia, engages the four warriors in conversation.
Vosil does his best to look imposing, but it's hard to do when your teeth are chattering. He frowns, slightly - he never used to feel the cold. He must be getting old. Or pampered with this good living. Or both.
He keeps his hands free; it would be the work of a moment to draw his bow and send death speeding towards any enemies. He waits for Talia's signal and does his best to keep his eyes and ears open for trouble.
Gavriil grits his teeth as they slog through the mud and cold into the lizardfolk hamlet. He keeps his hands on his hips, giving him quick access to his rapier if it's needed, but he leaves it in its sheathe.
He looks around uneasily, trying to size up what they had just walked into while Talia talks to them all.
He tenses up as he hears the whimpering, very close to just drawing his rapier. He leans into Talia and whispers to her, "We're not the only 'guests' here. I can hear a prisoner crying, and he sounds young..." He holds himself in check, though, and waits to lunge in towards the source of the sound if anything goes wrong with their meeting.
Straining, Talia frowns as she can just make out the crying Gavriil noticed. "Wasn't there a boy that went missing along the river a few days ago? If they have one of our people, they'll have to give him up. Good work Gavriil. Stay alert, everyone. We may be in for a fight."
There is no response to Talia's query about the spring rains. Only the same scaly silence and the sound of the wind. Then the flap of the large hut is shoved aside, and a large lizardman steps out into the light. He is flanked by two river caiman as he emerges. All the lizardfolk of the village bow their heads as he passes by to stand in front of you.
When he is within two strides of Talia, he stops and plants his trident in the ground. The caiman open their mouths and hiss at you.
Talia stands for a few seconds, quietly, taking in the large lizardman, before translating the King's words for the others. Then, with a slight bow of her head, she returns his greeting, opting not to get into the nuance of titles with a creature that was king of a few mud mounds.
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Edric stiffens when Gav mentions the child and begins, somewhat belatedly, to scan the lizardmen for clues as to their alignment. When the 'King' emerges Edric immediately focus all of this attention on the great lizard - if a threat is going to come from anywhere, its there.
He unslings his earthbreaker and rests it head first on the ground, if anyone makes a move he'll be ready.
Gavriil stands on edge with the others, knowing in his gut that this will probably go south fast, but not wanting to be the one to step forward and screw up the talks. In a rare moment of professionalism, Gavriil promptly bites his tongue.
Aware that he doesn't have much to contribute at this point, Vosil stands ready to take action should need arise.
Gav's report of a child crying (although he can't hear it) makes him deeply uneasy about talking for much longer without investigating. He does his best to convey his unease to Talia, with a look.
"Treaty? You seek treaty with the mighty King Vesket? Excellent! We can begin with tribute. What have you brought me?"
Vosil earns an earnest look back, the Viscountess' mouth slightly turned down into a frown. She fidgets with her shirtsleeve. "There's many things to address, spymaster. We'll see to them all."
Giving the King a smile, Talia spreads her arms, open, an apology.
"We would not dare bring tribute without knowing more about what your people desire. Friends give better gifts than strangers. Tell me, King Vesket, what is your wish?"
Gavriil looks to Talia and says, "Actually..." He reaches into his bag and pulls out a bottle of whiskey, one he rarely leaves home without, and hands it to Talia with a shrug, "Never leave home without it. And I've found most every body speaks a little easier with some liquid courage prodding their tongues. Tell him we're we come from we share a drink when coming into another's home as a sign of good grace and the host generally responds with a tour of their home. Mah always said do what the guests want so it's worth a shot. It may get us closer to whoever they snatched. Then we can make a case for returning them if we can."
King Vesket's bulbous eyes narrow. "The cold is here. My people do not hunt as well in the cold. The blood is slow. What we need most is...meat."
The faces of the lizardfolk turn from their king back to you. It seems to take an eternity for them to fix those emotionless gazes on you. The caimans at the king's side hiss and twitch.
Taking the bottle from Gavriil, Talia unstoppers it and takes a swig of the whiskey, before handing it over to the King. Running the back of her hand over her mouth, Talia smiles.
"This will warm you. Where we come from, it is customary to share a drink as a sign of good grace. Then, the host generally responds with a tour of their home."
"We can provide meat. Perhaps there is some trade that we can work out? If the winter is harsh, allow our hunters to help you. What would you have to offer for our hunters? They would have to make the trip worth their while."
King Vesket reaches out and grabs the bottle from Talia. He takes a long draw, shoving the bottle back at her.
"You have brought meat," he says with a gesture of his spear, "leave one of them." He points at the Council members behind Talia. "You are in King Vesket's lair now. Stisshak has decreed that is...'good grace' to leave your offering. King Vesket does what Stisshak commands. Then we talk."
Ignoring the command - for now - Talia translates, before switching back to Draconic. "Who is Stisshak? I thought you were king?"
Hushed whispers among the lizardfolk after Talia speaks. Stisshak...stisshak... can be heard among the words spoken.
King Vesket's scales flush a bright green. He is angry at Talia's implication. "Vesket is king! Vesket's word is law!"
"So," Talia says, pushing the lizard farther than perhaps she should, "If you are king, why does Stisshak make the rules? Where is Stisshak, anyways?"
"I'll be honest. You can't have one of our people. We can, however, work out a deal for our hunters to supply you with meat. Isn't that better in the long run? Surely, the smart and fearfully strong and very broad King Vesket, who is boss of all, even Stisshak, agrees that is a better deal for his people than for us to leave you with one scrawny Concoridan?"
Turning to the others, Talia translates her words, and then adds, "Not all of them approve of this Stisshak."
"Vesket is King! Stisshak is spirit of ancient forefather, he advises, not rules! Only fools do not heed the wisdom of the forefathers!" King Vesket stamps on the cold hard ground, causing the caimans at his side to hiss at you.
Several of the warriors look askance at each other as Vesket speaks of Stisshak, not comfortable with their king's decree.
Vesket continues. "What hunters? What hunters do you bring? And how much mat do they bring to my village?"
Blowing into her cupped hands for warmth, Talia rubs them, wishing fervently that she was back in Concord, in front of a nice fire, rather than on this windy mud island, talking with a lizard receiving spiritual guidance from a sentient-eating dead ancestor. Then again, the lizard might just be crazy.
"How does Stisshak advice you? Does he manifest in some way? Or do you hear his voice entirely within your head?"
"As for meat, we will provide you with a season's worth of meat, whatever your people need to survive the winter. In return, we will want two things. One, a pact of non-agression. We will leave your people alone and alive, and we'll expect the same treatment. Two, we'll need the boy you're holding captive back, immediately, as a show of good faith. Of course, any breaking of treaty would bring a visit from our army, several hundred strong soldiers, which we left at home this visit, in an effort show our sincere desire to have peaceful relations with your kingdom, wise Vesket."
Talia rubs her cold - and red - nose, and stares back at Vesket as she translates. She wasn't afraid of this lizard king. We have the numbers, back at Concord at least. We have the meat. He'd be a fool not to take our offer...
"How does Stisshak advice you? Does he manifest in some way? Or do you hear his voice entirely within your head?"
Vesket hisses at Talia, claws grasping his trident fiercely.
"As for meat, we will provide you with a season's worth of meat, whatever your people need to survive the winter. In return, we will want two things. One, a pact of non-agression. We will leave your people alone and alive, and we'll expect the same treatment. Two, we'll need the boy you're holding captive back, immediately, as a show of good faith. Of course, any breaking of treaty would bring a visit from our army, several hundred strong soldiers, which we left at home this visit, in an effort show our sincere desire to have peaceful relations with your kingdom, wise Vesket."[/b]
"Do not threaten Vesket in his village! Bring meat? YOU are the meat!" he shrieks, releasing his hold on the caiman at his side and charging forward.
Gavriil sees the king roar and release his pet. Apparently that was their cue. He steps around the others to place himself between Talia and the king, flicking up his rapier to attack!
King Vesket staggers from the damage done by Gav and Edric. Behind him, the warriors release the knarlemarch muggers , who scramble up and over the mud huts on either side on your flanks.
The caiman scramble up next to Vesket, each biting at you!
Stepping backwards, Talia reaches into her spell pouch and tosses a pinch of ground formica at Vesket, and then waggles her fingers and speaks a harsh, loud arcane syllable. With a clap!, the area around the lizard king and his pets explodes into a cloud of golden particles, Naralesh's Flashbang coating them all with a fine, blinding dust.
Drawing Worgslayer, Talia prepares for the inevitable retaliation. "Cut the head off the snake, boys!"
Smoothly drawing his bow in a motion that has been practiced so often in the last few months that it is now familiar, Vosil nocks an arrow and fires it at the leader.
Well, that didn't take long, Naralesh thinks. Already with a spell on his lips, the wizard quickly begins the incantation which has steadily become a staple of the council's battles. As he chants, he feels the blood quicken in his veins, accelerating his allies so that the lizardfolk seem to move sluggishly in comparison.
King Vesket staggers back a step, fumbling at his belt to draw out a potion bottle.
The warriors surge forward, forming a line with the caiman in front of their wounded king.
Two warriors swing at Gavriil, but miss!
Two warriors connect on Edric, their morningstars crushing the man's armor and cracking bone!
The remainder of the villagers stand and wait to see what happens...
Gavriil grits his teeth as the lizards close in around him and Edric. At least we have their attention, he thinks as he ducks under an attack from his right and blocks a crushing blow with his buckler from the lizard-man who took the king's place in front of him.
He calls out to Talia, They're lizards! Not snakes! Don't make them any angrier than you already have!" He pirouettes out of the jaws of the caiman chomping down towards his leg and goes on the offensive. His spins around, deftly bringing his rapier up towards the throat of the lizard-man warrior between him and the king.
Feeling Naralesh's magic course through him, he pulls his rapier back to strike again!
Edric's first attack misses, but his second swing does not. The lizard warrior is severely hurt, but not out. Gavriil's attacks are similar, but his hasted thrust skewers a warrior, killing it instantly!
Both monitor lizards scramble down the sides of the mud huts, one attacking Vosil and one Talia.
The caiman attack Edric and Gav.
Talia growls as all her targets shake off Naralesh's Flashbang. Stepping back, she begins speaking in Draconic, a low, insulting diatribe against those that would dare attack Fairhaven's champions.
"Let's even the odds a bit, shall we?" quips the wizard, casting his most familiar summoning spell. "TETHREMDOR. Inimicadri nelemvortesh 'GRVMTAR' scirv 'OVLTEKH' vox encarthrimash!" Two augmented earth elementals materialize on either side of King Vesket, pummeling the lizardfolk leader mightily. Naralesh's keen eye notices the northern Caiman distracted by gnawing on Gav's leg, summoning the obsidian-colored earth elemental a few paces back to give it room to charge. Naralesh grits his teeth as the magic surges through him, leaving him drained. No matter how much he practices, those energies always pose a risk.
Vosil nods; the wizard has the right of it. Focus on the leader and then hopefully Talia can negotiate with the survivors.
Ignoring the lizard that directly threatens him, he aims at the lizard king.
The lizards of the village hiss and spit at Talia as she rolls out her insults. Nara's elementals slam the King, wounding him gravely. Vosil follows up their attack with 3 arrows of his own, and Vesket drops to his knees.
The monitor lizard next to Vosil misses a bite with it's poisoned jaws.
All eyes turn to the king, on his knees in the frozen mud. Dropping his trident, he raises his arms skyward and calls out with his dying breath:
Then he falls face down, dead.
The remaining warriors freeze for a moment, unsure what to do with themselves. Then suddenly a skull appears, floating above the king's corpse. Covered in a halo of glowing green, it surveys the scene before it. It speaks a single word: "Kill..." Then a bolt of green power arcs from it to hit Gavriil!
When Stisshak appears, the villagers recoil in fear and scatter to places of hiding. The warriors seem unsure, and so fail to act, but the animals fight on.
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Edric acts on instinct, thrusting one hand out in front of himself star motes swirl around the glowing green skull as he barges past his friend to strike at the new apparition with his mighty hammer.
Shining in the wake of the star motes Edric's supernaturally fast swings blast through the creature.