"Hmmm, interesting, but I would like to see how the children fare.
Sometimes a child can succumb to what may not harm an adult overmuch."
"Can you show us where you were making improvements to your home? According to the gnomes, that is where the sulphur was found.
If master Sharpaxe is right, we will need to consider a good plan to help you further."
Ike'yurot winces. "To hatchery? ... " "I do not know words to say this to others... I lead, but not chieftain... We have no chieftain."
She shakes her head at his last comment and asks for clarification. "Tarrasque snow angel? What does this mean?"
Ike'yurot throws up his hands "Big?" The shaman shrugs "Gnomes speak many words before question asked. Many more after... too many words, too fast.", and shakes his head.
"Hmmm, interesting, but I would like to see how the children fare.
Sometimes a child can succumb to what may not harm an adult overmuch."
Ike'yurot the shaman breathes deep, then nods... "I speak to others. Can make agree. For our young."
He excuses himself as he steps from you, several lizardfolk approach at his gestured beckon. From the body language and expressions, it does not seem to be going terribly well.After a couple minutes you do see a couple reluctant nods.
Ike'yurot returns to you "Not sure of you. I say we do river work first? Then see others trust you. They say yes to this."
What you heard of the conversation completely goes along with his report. The other "elders" are suspicious of you. Ike suggested that maybe after the river work was done they could see that you are trustworthy.
The dwarf confirmed the report of the lizard folk to the others. "The rest of the lot don't trust us at all. Like he said, we might be able to earn their trust."
Furiel follows along, unable to help much with any healing. Then he remembers his wand of healing.
Taking out his wand, Furiel asks if anyone is injured. He can perform healing.
"Well, no time like the present. I guess we better get started."
The Green Man rolls up his sleeves, clearly intent on mucking in once the plan have been drawn by those with beter understanding on what needs to be done.
Sonechka nods at Dolgrym. "What do you think of..." She goes on to describe how she would block off the sulfur leakage from the river .
Sonecka's plan seems simple enough... the materials required are little more than the removed stone blocks - which appear to still be here.
Soon after beginning the work, you find the statue - covered in the sediment and muck at the bottom of the lizard-made marsh. The conquerors of the Stag Fort recognize the face - the brow, eyes, and nose are unmistakeably a younger depiction of the decrepit druid they faced in the cellar of the keep.
You reach the halfway point of your construction. It is clear the work will take you an hour or two past sundown. Some thought should be given to how you intend to spend your night.
"Assuming we finish the work this evening, we might as well make camp closeby. So long as the lizard folk don't change their minds, we should be well protected with them all around us."
Taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow after setting in another large chunk of stone, The Green Man smiles at Dolgrym.
"Aye, and it would help cement our standing with them if we show that we trust them.
Still, I've learned from my comrades that sometimes it is best to temper certain things with caution.
It's like...offering an open hand in honest friendship, but still keeping your eye out for trouble.
Let's camp here, but not let our guard down completely.
Remember what the shaman said, this tribe was formed by "angry youths" in majority."
Sonechka isn't much help at moving rocks, but she's great at directing other people. She nods at Green. "They seem sufficiently cowed for now. Given the weakened state of the tribe it is possible that another failed attack like the earlier one could break them entirely. Hopefully we can nurture them back into an effective ally."
The Green Man chuckles a little as several thoughts comes to his mind.
"Yes, I was imagining a castle where there was a hidden entrance underneath the water level, leading to a chamber perfect for lizardmen.
Imagine the kind of guards you would get by having allies who can move around underneath water like that.
Not to mention the scouting possibilities and more...
My father once told me, that if you have a tool you can't find a use for, it is not the fault of the tool, only your own narrow vision."
The Green Man does have the good taste to keep such comments out of the hearing of the lizardmen, lest they would take the "tool" part literally and become offended.
Furiel moves them to familiar terrain to camp (by the east outpost where we fought).
Your time today - working under the eyes of lizardfolk atop the crumbling pillars (or otherwise non-suspicious behavior) - might have earned a small amount of trust. The sentry gives you a scowl-less nearly imperceptible nod as he walks to his post in the tower.
You saw no lizardfolk small enough to be adolescent or younger today, and none who appeared to be anything but a warrior. There are at least twenty more lizardfolk warriors than those you fought. During the day, there was a ritual performed for the ones who fell in battle. It took place away from the site, and Ike'yurot made it clear that even suggesting the thought of attending would be extremely distasteful to them.
There was one that seemed to have the most influence... both with Ik'yurot's encounter with his fellow elders, and throughout the day today (just in the way they behaved in his presence).
He did not seem to be ready to directly interact with you yet.
He is the largest (in frame, but not bulk). He wears a sleeveless tunic of woven strips of grey-blue hide - decorated in branded patterns, with one withered arm is strapped across his chest.
Perception
Dolgrym will take the second watch, although that certainly was not a strong suit of his. If anyone else volunteered to sit with him, he would accept.
Sonechka is comfortable taking the watch at the deepest, darkest part of the night.
Seeing that the influential lizardman doesn't want to talk to them, she doesn't push the issue. She spends her time away from the construction site with Ike'yurot, attempting to learn more about the tribe, their territory, and the threats facing them.
Seeing as there are plenty of people to take turns watching, and that they are trying to seem as casual as possible about it, The Green Man suggests taking turn to watch solo rather than teaming up.
He also make sure to take a turn when it is at it's darkest, since he too have little problem seeing in the night.
Ike'yurot accepts your company for a time... though he does seem reluctant to spend too much time - likely something to do with keeping up appearances.
You find out from him that there is a small human settlement several miles upriver of "tree-takers". They had contact with them once (about a year ago), and both sides thought it best just to steer clear of each other.
The main threats are from the nearest camp of lizardfolk aligned with the Foul King. Their scouts are spotted often - likely looking for a prime opportunity to strike. They wield dark magic, and share their lair with a few river trolls.
As Kane wakes you for your shift, you happen to spot a small snake wriggling away from your campsite, and over the cliff.
Dolgrym tells the others about the small snake heading over the cliff side.
Sonechka frowns at Dolgrym. "You woke us up because you saw a snake."
"Was it a talking snake?"
"It seemed like a bad omen. Thought you all would want to know everything, especially in this strange land, surrounded by a bunch of lizardmen, who may or may not want to eat us."
He does not know the strength... it is at least equal. He feels that for both sides, the defender has an advantage - which is why there has been no full attack by either.
Ike's tribe would not take offense. The "enemy tribe" has aligned with conquerors who claim far more land than they "need". (Apparently this behavior is bothersome enough for them, since he leaves it at that.)
Kane never saw the snake, though he admits most of his time on watch was not spent looking at the ground.
Your groggy instincts thought it might be fleeing (over a cliff which you would not expect a snake to merrily negotiate down).
Whether or not there was more to it than that, you know it would be terribly difficult to track down where it went in the middle of the night.
"Small snakes can often be very poisonous, was anybody bitten? Nobody needs treatment?
As for it being "only" a snake...well, there is an old man who seem to be able to speak to crows, the magpies MAY be using that very bird to help spy on people...
And if the foul king is a lizardman he may have a druid or shaman on his side that can speak to snakes. After all they are both scaly.
As for omens...yes, it does seem peculiar, especially since we found a statue depicting an evil druid we had to fight previously.
It may be nothing, but I suggest we don't relax our guard."
Morning comes without further incident... large or small. Those who had labored on the stone wall, worked late into the night. Your gathering for breakfast - after your individual morning routines - is your first chance for a relatively relaxed span of time since meeting.
"Right, now that we have done what we agreed on, let's talk to the shaman and see if we can earn a little more trust.
Mamzel Alkaeva, you speak the language and seem to get along best with him so far, ask him if the rest of the lizard clan are ready to extend a little trust our way yet?"
"I think asking to see the young makes them suspicious of us, but maybe if only one of us goes in while the rest of us wait outside it will be less troublesome for them. Who do you think would best be suited to examining the young? You, Green?"
Once she has the answer of who to send in, Sonechka goes to find Ike'yurot to make the suggestion that they could further help the tribe if one of them were allowed to examine their young. It doesn't even need to be in the hatchery or in the tribe's caves; the examination could take place anywhere convenient for the lizardfolk.
"Yes, in this, I think I am the best suited, for more than one reason."
Ike'yurot seems uncomfortable with the idea until Sonechka suggests the possibility of an examination in another location.
He leaves to pass on the request, and returns minutes later.
"Young will be in dry ruins - hut of eldest... Ahn'gur'frok. Come..." he looks over the group "all..."
"Ah, good! It seems like give a little means get a little back.
Well, let us see what we can learn from this."
The Green Man leads the way to the ruins, radiating an area of easy confidence, hoping to both put the lizardmen at their ease, and at the same time demonstrate that anything that happens will be something the group can deal with.
Sonechka is her usual cool, collected self as the group goes to meet the younglings. "I don't believe Ike'yurot would have allowed us to see the hatchery or the creche where the children are reared. Seeing the young somewhere else was the only way to get you to see them." Her point being that the lizardfolk were still- justifiably- wary of them.
"Ah, it is no worries, a good healer knows that it is vital to put the patient at it's ease first of all.
I've dealt with plenty of kids before, but I'm not sure a sweet root would be a good treat to get these kids to sit still."
"I hope you've got a good bedside manner, Green Man. Good relations with this tribe could be big for the village."
The deteriorating portions of the cabins to the west of the cave have been patched with local flora. Ike'yurot leads you to the largest of them. Two females holding large jugs are leaving as you near.
Within you see the elder, the lizard with the withered arm strapped to his chest. His feet are in a shallow pool in the center of the hut while another female pours water from a jug to fill it further. Lizardfolk youth from very small to just larger than a gnome sit on either side of him.
On the wall behind him hangs an ornate spear with one offset trident tine.
He gestures to the ground on the other side of the pool.
"Sit. Healer may come."
He allows you time to get settled before speaking again.
"Names."
Ike'yurot points to each of you, and says your names. After Furiel, Ahn'gur'frok looks to Ike'yurot - who immediately "corrects" himself in a half-cringe... "Thuriel... Ahn'gur'frok."
Ahn'gur'frok's eyes narrow... he looks to Ike'yurot then Furiel before speaking again, "Ike'yurot may leave." and the lizard shaman does so.
Ahn'gur'frok continues - his gaze bearing down on Furiel. "Name of smallest has sound... hard for us. Must lower head to make. Born to lead... or name is said with Th-." He exaggerates the movement of his forked tongue making the sound.
He then gestures to the children on either side of himself while looking at Green... then nods. "Young... "
"You do not need to struggle with our tongue venerable
Ahn'gur'frok, more than one of us speak a tongue more suitable should you wish it."
"So, Thuriel is a word for leader, is it a leader in battle? Furiel, Indicating him, Is such a leader, we call him a general. That is our word for a leader of warriors in battle."
He continues in Draconic "You misunderstand. We do not lightly name our young with that sound. Ahn - gur - . We must bow our heads to make it. If one did not respect me, he would not bow his head... and say Ahn-gur-rok."
You don't detect any signs of illness.
Compared to the older lizardfolk, their scales are significantly softer, and their nictitating membranes are disproportionately thick.
You feel comfortable passing this off as natural development of an amphibious humanoid.
Overall, they seem fine.
Draconic: "Ike'yurot thinks you will fight the Foul King. Ike'yurot thinks it is good for his reign to end, but does not think of the rise of yours."
"I do... I think of Gra'Whahar in the hands of a smoothskin, and wonder why this is better than in the Foul King's clutch."
Rubbing his hands together in satisfaction, The Green Man proceeds to rinse them of and nod.
"I can find no problems with the health of the young ones, in fact, I rather say the look like a sturdy and healthy bunch."
As there are people to translate and pass information between the parties here, The Green Man nods in understanding.
"We are reasonable here, tell me, what is it you worry about when it comes to being in our...clutch?
Obviously, for now, we can only offer words, but words aimed properly can become deeds."
"Let me state this clearly, we do intend to rule these lands, to unite them into something strong and grand, but we do not intend to do this by subjugating those that already live here."
"The Foul king threatens the lives of those living here, that means we have to deal with him, like we dealt with the Stag Lord before him.
If you join with us, you will also fall under our protection."
He nods coolly with Green's assessment of the young, then gestures for the little ones to leave.
He lets an "Mmmm" when Green "can only offer words."
"If our horizons never meet, then you need no words from me. We will keep the yellow rock from the water which flows from our lair to yours." He shrugs to suggest he doesn't care... (as opposed to doing you a favor).
He then faces Green with lifeless eyes. "But until you find words that can carry the stain of my enemy's blood, I will not offer my hand... with spear or in peace, to sounds in empty air." He then looks past Green to the others... almost daring someone else to speak.
"Your words are what I expected, and I have no ill will towards you for them.
We've extended one hand in friendship, and you are not yet sure if you want to take it or not.
But you will see our worth when we deal with one more menace to these lands.
A happy land, a peaceful people, that is what we intend to create here.
You could do well united with us, and grow strong under our rule.
But as I said, we will prove just what we are to you by removing the Foul king.
So tell us what you know of him, show us where he is, and when we return, once more a hand will be held out to you."
Ahn'gur'frok drips some water to mudden the dirt floor, then begins clawing a crude map as he speaks. "His tribe walked with men. The humans of the wood who fought against and beside fey-kind not born of this world. These lands turned to death as men turned on each other, and threw curses like spears. He was hatched in this time of unnatural hate... bitterness...."
"There was a name our chieftain would never speak, but he swore it was Her that drove them at each others' throats."
"Be wary of what drives you to fight. Blood and water mingles between both the just and foul. If you risk your own people to hold a hand out to mine.... I fear that a time of death has come again."
He finishes the map, and puts an X on Murque River... near Candlemere lake.
"You will find the Foul King there. Unless you seek your own end, do not go without twenty times your number."
The Green Man nods silently, mulling over the words that sounds familiar to him.
"Her" again...something tells me that if we find out who "she" is, we will solve a lot of problems for our kingdom.
The idea of 20 times the number makes The Green Man think of the promise they had made to the magpies, of making an army.
I think it may be time to head back to Stagfall and begin to work on this...
He then turns to the others in the party, raising an eyebrow to see if either of them have any questions.
Sonechka nods somberly at Ahn'gur'frok. "Death comes for everyone. What matters is how you face it."
She looks curiously at Green- who had seemed to recognize the term- and Ahn'gur'frok. "'Her'? Would one of your folk follow a female easily? And one other question. You said 'walked with men'- do men serve the Foul King still?"
"Easily? No.... " He looks thoughtful, then lifts a sizable stone. "You are hit by a rock. You do not see from where it came, but I tell you falsely I know who threw it." He eyes Sonechka for a sign she understands. "She does not need fools to follow, to push one tribe to make war with another."
"Men serving him now? None have been seen. Behind his walls... I do not know who fights for him."
Furiel listens to the conversation, and seems to follow some of the subtleties. He adds simply after making a quick bow and flourish with his arm as he pronounces the 'f' in her name.
"Ahngurfrok, I have found peace comes harder than war, but maybe because it is worth it. I have learned as a young one when you are weak, it is hard to make peace. It appears we will have to fight this Foul King. You can sit this one out and let two potential enemies fight. But we did take down the Stag Lord and shared his treasures with those who helped us. You may want to pick a side and have some control of your destiny."
Furiel explains some of the basics of the feudal system. "Although many think the rulers of the land have it easy, obligations go both ways. Rulers have an obligation to protect those under their rule and give back as to the land and people in it."
He points to the Green Man and Norton: "We have a compassionate healer with a big heart and a well spoken noble with ready smile. They compliment my more ..passionate.. personality."
He indicates the recent additions to their group. "We have been joined by capable trio skilled in magic and subtlety."
He concludes with a smile. "I like our chances."
"Tell me something venerable Ahn'gur'frok, are you content here?
Let us assume that we defeat the foul king, drive him and his ilk away. Would you like to move there and make a home there instead of in these ruins?
I am not asking for any promises, but I think having someone to guard the river would serve us well in the future."
Dolgrym knew from experience that he wasn't a diplomat, so he held his tongue and watched the tenuous negotiations play out between teh lizards and his group.
Sonechka nods, with a sly smile on her lips. Still no teeth, as she is worried they might be considered a threat display. "I am familiar with that method of... leaderhsip, Ahn'gur'frok. Thank you for the insight." She listens carefully for the lizardfolk leader's answer to Green's question.