Wultram scrambles up tossing the now limp tentacle away from him. He cast a spell and soon the negative energy is repairing his body. The mage glances at Rehil. "How are you holding up?"
The elf shrugs.
His eyes then go to rest of the group. "Not sure about our chances on it but we could try to sneak in closer together, hope the distance gives the edge."
Rehil nods and says quietly, "Good plan. Scouting won't teach us anything that will change our plan. Keep the group tight. Move in quietly and strike fast and hard."
....
"I want to know more about the second voice. It isn't poisondusk. May not change the assault, but may have second- or third-order effects. Valuable intel. I'll slide forward and listen in, and report back. Be quiet here."
Cole watches passively, if nervously, as Nalverren scouts forward ... ready to rush in at any sound of trouble.
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Ahead, Jageela the poisondusk stands before a pool of water bounded by a low sill, his squeaky voice in full flow. His blackscale bodyguard, Ygza, squats impassively a few feet away. But Jageela isn't talking to him.
Within the pool floats the image of the head and neck of a dragon. Its scales are the colour of polished jet and its eyes are pupil-less orbs of lustrous green, sitting deeply sunken in its skull-like head. Curling horns jut forward and its skin clings closely to its bones as if the creature is emaciated. It gives off a palpable sense of menace and power, even though it is not actually present in the room and using magic to communicate with its lackey from a distance.
Jageela is briefing the dragon, shuffling uneasily under its gaze. "... totem beat of the Finbacks. Ylyeshshi is now humiliated. Together with his perceived failures at Da'sheth, his grip on the other chieftains is slipping."
"It is of little matter now," replies the dragon silkily, confirming it as the other voice. "Ylyeshshi's leadership was always a temporary contingency. He has always been an unreliable ally and the Finbacks have waxed too powerful of late. Their chieftain's folly will help peg them back to more manageable proportions. Perhaps it is time to consider Chief Zejj."
"His loyalty would be suspect, my lord. He did not support Ylyeshshi this morning, favouring the softskins and Koouri. I believe he plots against the Finbacks."
"I'm certain he is plotting - it is in his nature. But he despises humans as much as Ylyeshshi. He simply chafed at being subordinate to that buffoon, which is entirely understandable. Using the humans as tools to further his own ends would probably appeal to him. I doubt he intends them to survive longer than they need to. His interests coincide with ours much more than this morning's events would necessarily presage.
"My divinations indicate that the purpose of the humans in Da'sheth is close to culmination. The time for the final attack draws near. Our forces muster in the city. It would be helpful for the assault to be under competent command, now that we actually want to win."
"I understand, my lord. Ylyeshshi will be removed and Zejj will be appointed in his place. But there is the risk that the tribal coalition will break up without Ylyeshshi."
"Do not concern yourself. I will arrange for something to awe them into submission, and demonstrate that Zejj is appointed my champion." The dragon pauses. "When Ylyeshshi falls, see to it that Koouri falls with him. I tire of her interference."
"It would be a pleasure my lord."
"Indeed, I'm sure it will." The dragon pauses again, its gaze seeming to fall on Nalverren's hiding place. "Jageela, we are observed. A human, in the tunnel."
Jageela turns and hisses as Ygza straightens up.
It is a bit difficult for me to keep up with all the different lizardfolk, so i am going back to re-read the conversations with the various ones we have encountered. I will post in this spoiler who is who as near as I can tell, and hopefully you will let me know if I am glaringly wrong. With regard to who is in what tribe, especially, I have a hard time discerning.
Irret: warrior who was on our side in the village. Works under Koouri. Next in line for chief, should Ylyeshshi fall. Ally.
Koouri: Mystic of the Finbacks. dislikes us slightly, but is an ally gainst Jageela. Works under Chief Ylyeshshi in the daylight, but secretly working with Zzej/Zajj.
Eshsheth: works under Koouri.
Jageela: Blackscale. Works for mystery dragon.
Oula: Croc Shaman, really dislikes us. Poisondusk? Suboordinate of Jageela.
Ylyeshshi: Chief of Finbacks, now deceased.
Zzej/Zajj: Chief of Skinwings
Ygza: Blackscale bodyguard to Jageela, of little import other than a stabby wall of HP through which we must pass.
Mystery Probably Dracolich: rules from Haka'torvhak, self-proclaimed god named Rhashaak?
So my understanding of the grand scheme of things is (regardless of family/type of lizardfolk), Jageela came under orders from the mystery dragon god-king of Haka'torvhak, to do some bad guy stuff. Events have happened with our participation on-screen, and Jageela et al plan to remove Ylyeshshi (not knowing we just did so) and court Zzej/Zajj into their conspiracy.
Zajj keeps his own counsel, and may not be on the side anyone things he is. Working with Koouri as Koouri wanted Ylyeshshi gone, as did Irret and Eshsheth.
Oula is either just around to stir up war against humans, or is in on Jageela's plans.
Pooma likely knows none of this, and wants things to go back to the way they were before the desecration at Da'Sheth.
Mystery Dragon either wants what the humans in Da'Sheth are after, or truly wants to stop them from getting it, not sure.
Rehil watches Nalverren slip away with an approving nod. He readies his bow and steels himself to rush forward if Nalverren needs help.
It's sort-of Game of Thrones, with lizards.
I would like to shoot an arrow at the wall or floor near the party (probably Rehil since he is paying attention) with the intent to notify them something is going down without giving my exact position away to the enemy. Hoping Cole will come barreling down the way and that noise will distract the enemy so they won't see me.
[spoiler= Not Nalverren]Rehil looks at the arrow quivering beside him. His long acquaintance with stealth missions and the possible outcomes allows him to analyze the situation in a heartbeat.
"Not good."
The elf rises from his crouch and moves swiftly down the passage toward the no-doubt beleaguered investigator. Unsure of the exact nature of the trouble he holds his bow in left hand with the arrow nocked and trapped between the bow and his index finger.
(+1 v traps)
Rehil can hear that the voices have stopped, and then the yelling begins.
Cole watches the arrow quiver, "He better be in trouble," he rumbles to no one in particular.
Wultram finds another chamber ahead. Jageela, the poisondusk emissary from Haka'torvhak, and Ygza, his blackscale bodyguard, are within the room, looking up the tunnel towards him and Nalverren. In the middle of the room is a pool of water, within which ripples the image of the head and neck of an ebony-scaled dragon with horns the colour of old bone. Disconcertingly, it also seems to be coolly assessing Nalverren and Wultram.
Jageela limps to stand near to Ygza and the opposite entrance to the room. He screeches down the far passage in Draconic, "Softskins attack! Protect me!" Then, with a gesture, his shirt of bones expands and knits together to form a sturdy set of armour.
Cole is right on his heels, hustling to try to get into position in time.
"Hurry! It's Jageela."
Rehil dashes into the chamber. Jageela is covered by his black horse, no shot. The blackscale will probably be more than a match for the elf. There's sorcery in the water. Hoping the water is deep enough to prevent a charge by the horse, Rehil draws and fires.
....
Nalverren moves up to AU19 and studies his enemy (Jageela)
Ygza shifts slightly to one side, drawing a javelin like a small tree trunk which he hurls at Wultram.
The sheer size of the javelin terrifies Rehil into ducking. His head turns to follow the javelin's fate. Seeing it smack into the wall behind Wultram, the elf cocks his head at the necromancer before spinning back to the lizardman.
Vaard dashes forwards in an attempt to get closer to the battle.
Vaard splshes into the pool, making the image of the dragon disappear into rippling waves.
The little lizardman braces himself as the effects of Wultram's curse wash over him. But then he shakes his head as if clearing it, then sneers, "This softskin's magic is weak. Now feel the power of the lord of Haka'torvhak!" He limps forward and casts his own spell, and Wultram, Vaard and Rehil feel terror well up inside them.
Rehil turns ashen. His bow drops from his fingers.
He spins back the way he came.
I don't think he actually moves until his turn.
Panicked is a more extreme state of fear than shaken or frightened.