James, with william on his back, using his superior movement will run after the fleeing lizardscale and finish him.
if needed
Nalverren also tags after the running lizardfolk, content that the beefier members can restrain the captive.
Perception
"Will, that tree!" Rehil points with his bow at the poisondusk hiding in the lower branches of a nearby tree, aiming its bow at Will and James. Rehil draws another arrow.
Initiative
"It doesn't matter. Just duck!"
"Ashshar, keep an eye on him," he says as he collects his javelins. Then he goes to each of the fallen bodies, carefully searching them without actually taking anything.
As he searches, he looks over at his teammates, "Let me know when we can get a closer look over at all that ruined dirt. That's where some kind of monument should be, right?"
He continues looking over the gear of the fallen lizardfolk.
As Cole searches, he can't help but look back into the churned-up mud and footprints around the hole. "Other than the human bootprints, the three-toed ones look to be warforged. Those big squarish ones could be a 'forged Titan, too."
He looks to where Wultram is interrogating the captive, "Ask him what he knows about all this. Did anyone see the people who did this?"
not sure if others pointing it out counts as an assist on the perception
The poisondusk shoots first.
The lizardfolk warrior looks sullen (though, to be fair, that seems to be the default lizardfolk expression) but begins to talk.
"In this place, they came in their flying boat with metal men. Again the Finbacks fought them, but we could not stop them. They performed magic here, and the trees died. Then they dug out the standing stone and took it away.
"Our chief has called to the tribes for war with the humans, and many braves from many tribes have come - sunscale, poisondusk and blackscale. Never have I seen so many strong warriors. We shall take back Daa'sheth and kill all you humans and all you metal men. Then we shall kill all the humans we find in our lands and take back what is ours!"
Rehil whips up his bow and fires. Too late, the Poisondusk has already released his arrow at Will.
... damage
Strange, the lizardfolk tribes are as fractious as the human nations, yet this lizardfolk jumps to the assumption that humans and warforged are all one group. Could they ever be convinced that their entire war is a misunderstanding?
James' jump doesn't get either him or his rider close enough to attack. Will clings to the back of James and keeps his place as the dog thuds back to earth.
Nalverren takes a shot at the little bugger
But its foot slips and it falls to the ground with a thud and lies there stunned.
Rehil strides quickly forward; his hand reaches for the curve blade. No. That shall not be how this noble sword and I first bond.
The hand drops to the knife at his waist.
A few words in elven, spoken softly, "You are too committed and dangerous a foe to leave alive. For the good of my friends, I must kill you."
Dagger against stunned Poisondusk. .... damage
As he approaches the Poisondusk, Rehil snags a foot on a root and stumbles, dropping his dagger.
“If we can’t dissuade the tribes, then the best I think we can do is figure out what this mercenary group is up to. If we can’t bring back some solid leads, Pooma and his people could get crushed in the fallout.” Cole looks over at Ashshar, "Where is this Daa'sheth?"
His eyes once again flit in the direction the chasing party went. Concern can be read in the way he holds his shoulders and frame.
Sorry long work day
Cole's anxious wait in the clearing ends when Nalverren, Rehil and Will and James return, dragging the now-insensible poisondusk by the ankle.
He is just out for a bit he says nodding toward the body
So have you learned anything yet?
Rehil frowns. Learned what? He shrugs the question away. As he bends to pick up his dagger he says, "You should have killed it. The Poisondusk are too committed an enemy. He will be trouble and we already have one prisoner to interrogate."
"Well, then, let's kill it?"
"Do as you must there is a little matter of importance i would like to resolve rapidly after " he says turning his head at Wultram how can see his usual jovial face go blank and hard
As the halfling rounds on Wultram, Cole stoops to bind the small, unconscious lizardfilk with a second coil of rope, but only before thoroughly checking the creature for weapons and poison vials.
"He could be useful ... if for no other reason than to prove we're not simply here to kill ltheir people." Cole ties the other end of the rope to his own frame, securing it tight.
Rehil cocks his head. "So your lizard man had nothing to say either?"
The elf looks at their lizardman allies. "What do Vaard and Ashshar think?"
"Wultram seemed to have a long enough conversation with him," Cole responds, still watching Wultram and Will. "From what Wultram relayed, the tribes have been having sites like this disturbed by a mixed group of warforged and humans, though we doubt if the lizard-folk really distinguish between elves, men, and similar races." He shrugs, "He says the description makes the group sound like some kind of mercenary squad or military outfit. And that there's an airship in play somehow ... though we don't know how Lyrandar figures in."
He looks over at Ashhar, "There was also a place mentioned .... Daa'Sheth. Says its some kind of 'most holy place' that the tribes are rallying to and preparing to defend. Seems worth looking into to me."
Cole's look at Ashshar becomes expectant.
"Oh, good, you managed to capture him alive,"
Portforged notes as the chasers return.
...
"My hunch is that going to Daa'Sheth would be either the best option or the worst option we have. Either it would convince the poisondusk that we are really here to destroy their holy sites, destroying any chance of peace," it continues,
"Or it would be the ideal location from which to negotiate a truce."