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Cao hands the katana to Drail, hilt first. "For Our Master At Arms. We find you a most promising warrior. Grail, was it? We believe that We have a shogunate that would be most suitable for you. Have you heard of Kaoling?"
He titters in his usual way and nudges Hooli in the ribs.
Inside the compartment is a tightly-rolled document, which both serves as a letter of credit and details a trade agreement between any holder of that agreement and a group called the Way of the Kirin. The terms are written in both Tien and Kelish, and promise the holder the full support of the Way of the Kirin, along with naval and war materials worth 50,000 gp.
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Drail looks down at the sword. He takes the proffered blade gently in two hands, one just under the guard, the other along the scabbard.
He stays quiet, simply looking at the weapon.
Finally, he takes a firm grip under the guard, twirling the hilt into his other hand. His fingers brush along the guard, pressing in a deft motion. With a soft click, a hidden compartment at the end of the hilt cap springs open.
He smiles softly, removing a tightly-rolled document.
He looks back to the boy, the smile now gone.
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Drail steps past the boy, moving toward Etta.
He bows elaborately to the kobolds, looking at the young gunslinger.
"Queen...Big-Bang, apologies," he murmurs, looking slightly uncomfortable, "there are many...flames...to which...you have to speak, yes? We should depart and leave your loyal...subjects...to guard this...mighty...statue?"
He extends an arm, as if offer it to the 'queen', to guide her gently away.
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Etta takes Drail's arm, stretches her neck as though she is trying to improve her posture and steps forward with all the delicacy her awkwardness will allow.
"My good...kobolds...be..excellent to each other." Etta gives the troupe of kobolds what she thinks is a regal nod. She begins to take her leave, obviously quite pleased with herself.
To Drail she wispers "That was pretty good, wasn't it? very noble, I think."
The seven kobolds all look to each other for guidance in how to respond to Queen Big Bang's gestures, finally turning their attentions to Drail and making an attempt to mimic his deference to the gunslinger.
Seven tiny voices murmur in broken Common, "apologies..."
As the seven tiny "samurai" all continue bowing and parting for the Pathfinders, they all take a final moment to gesture, moving their right arm in a slow, wide arc while their left arm is clocked at a right angle. At first it looks like they are pantomiming playing a lute, but then Etta realizes it's actually a pantomime of drawing a gun from its holster and firing it.
Tiny voices continue to echo, "be.. excellent" as the Pathfinders make their way to the east and into the room beyond.
Archibald's earth elemental "companion" completely bypasses this room and lumbers ahead into the web-filled room beyond, its grating voice bellowing something out in Terran.
The six Pathfinders, sizing up this most recent room can make out a mournful howl coming from a stone well in the room's center. This large chamber's walls, once painted with vermilion and gilded with gold leaf, are now splotched and crumbling. Unlike the walls, however, the tiles that decorate the well are untouched by the ages and gleam as if recently polished.
Amara Li smiles as Drail hands over the jade katana and congratulates the six of you on your successful sortie to Asad's Keep.
Politely, she adds, "I hope this wasn't too much trouble..."
You all watch as she fiddles with the katana and flips open a secret compartment hidden in the base, apparently in search of something...