Dereje sifts through the nesting material with a furrowed brow, eager to be done with their task.
"Let's not stick around for any unnecessary trouble," says Hana.
"Agreed!" Lawdrak replies, enthusiastically, making his way out of the nest.
”Do you think it will catch our scent and follow us?”
"I hope not. I say we walk quickly and do not run.
Running may draw more attention".
Just in case though, Savras places a hand on his bow and draws an arrow watching the skies above.
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Feather in hand, the party begins their retreat from the nest and back down the cliffside. As climb down, looking up in the sky, you see a very large bird-like creature with blue and green feathers. The creature itself seems to glow against the gloom of the darkened sky.
As you reach the bottom of the crags, you find a band of tribesmen waiting for you, weapons drawn.
The largest of the tribesmen asks in broken Taldane, "Why have you disturbed Chirok's domain?"
The tribesmen stand by, spears at the ready, waiting for your response.
Dereje grimaces when he sees the tribesmen, an unforeseen obstacle. He keeps his hands far away from his weapons, relying on the speed of his draw to help him if things get nasty.
"We meant Chirok and her nest no harm," Dereje explains slowly, glad that these people can speak Taldane. "We merely wished to acquire one of her feathers."
Hana bows deeply to the speaker and adds, "We were sent for one feather by a holy man, the hermit Nkechi. We assure you that we mean no harm. Indeed, it was our intent to speak with Chirok and ask for one feather, but the bird was not present, so we hoped to disturb the nest as little as possible and leave without causing an incident."
Knowledge Local
Diplomacy
"Friends of the Ijo Tribe, what my allies say is true. We quest for a mere feather and have not harmed a single egg in the nest.
I know that this Bird is your guardian spirit, perhaps a token offering to make up for this transgression would suffice? We have wares that you may find helpful in day to day life.
We have what we came for, we came in peace and we will leave in peace. Assuming that you wish peace also".
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It seems as if the Ijo tribesmen are having a bit of trouble understanding you, but do get the general idea of what you are trying to say.
The leader of the group considers your words before saying, "You have stolen from Chirok. This makes you unworthy of her feather, but there is still a way for you to prove you worthiness. One of you will have to best me in one on one, unarmed combat. Who will take my challenge?"
Savras replies in Polygot, "Give us a moment to choose our Champion".
Lawsrak throws his head back, closes his eyes, and draws a deep breath, arms thrown out to his sides and twitching. After a moment, he drops his arms and slumps, gasping a few short, shallow breaths. When he opens his eyes, the irises are bright yellow, and the pupil is a vertical spindle. The flesh of his neck and arms has a definite impression of scaliness.
He steps forward, not quite looking at the Ijo champion, and mumbles, " I'll face you." He sounds like he has something in his mouth as he speaks.
Dereje initially chafes at the thought of settling the dispute with a wrestling match, but even he realizes that it is preferable to slaughtering innocent people.
"Good luck," he says to Lawdrak. It is about all the assistance he can offer.
As Lawdrak approaches the tribesman, his tongue flicks in and out of his mouth a couple of times, and his head moves back and forth in an oddly serpentine manner.
He darts in at the tribesman, trying to catch him around one shoulder and move behind.
Savras watches with interest, if Lawdrak does not win, it is not clear what the next steps would be here. He would hate to have to slay these tribesmen, especially for a test to get the aid of a lone hermit. Savras is rather morally ambiguous to death but to slay someone for such a menial task and when trespassing on their lands, its not something he can see himself doing. He shakes his head and grins, No doubt my outsider father would be so very disappointed in me for thinking this way...
Hissing, Lawdrak does his best to lever the tribesman over onto his back, but his grip seems to slacken a bit.
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Match complete
Lawdrak and the Ijo warrior continue back and forth for a few more moments before finally the Ijo warrior gets the upper hand and rolls up the young druid, pinning him to the ground.
The contest over, the warrior stands up and nods respectfully toward Lawdrak.
"Your champion fought well, but lost. Surrender the feather and be gone."
"We will do as you ask."
Hana hands over the feather without further argument.
Savras speaks with the warriors in Polygot, "We have surrendered the feather. We would like an opportunity to speak with Chirok ourselves.
If the spirit guardian consents to grant us a feather then we shall have earned it yes?
Understand that in some ways, it is to your benefit to let us do so. The quest we undertake could have an impact on your tribe, what we seek, in the wrong hands may threaten your tribe even here. The Tempest sent us here to complete the Task of Wind and we do not give up easily".
Diplomacy
"And if we are attacked and cannot defend ourselves? Will your tribesman protect us?"
Hana shifts somewhat uncomfortably as she slowly removes her scabbard with her enchanted katana. She can stand being parted from that, however briefly.
But she does not remove her wakizashi.
"This weapon will leave me only when I am dead," she says. "Whether in battle, or by mischance, or by my own hand. And were I to give it up, I would be forced to undertake the latter."
Savras unfurls his chain, draws his rapier, and several hidden daggers and hands them over. He also hands over the light crossbow hanging at his side. He grimaces as this is the first time he has been without a weapon in a long time, "This is a crazy idea.
I hope that this guide is as useful as he is rumored to be for all of this risk", the Tiefling thinks to himself.
Hana nods and says, "I will submit to having my weapon tied."
Lawdrak hands over his weapons, and sternly tells Sharpmaw to say put and not eat anyone.
Estietre gives the tribesmen her weapons.
... and smiles... "Thank you for the opportunity."
"Be careful with those," Dereje says as he reluctantly hands over his gun and sword belt, not for lack of understanding of their goal, but out of concern for the delicate mechanism. That aside, gun safety is not exactly something that is taught outside of Alkenstar.
For a brief moment Estiretre looks serious and focused.
In a low voice... "Keep your eyes out for a feather. I will try to show we mean no harm. Let's see how she reacts."
Her expression returns to normal amiable aloof demeanor as she bows her head slightly, and turns her hands away from the stormbird. After a hushed arcane phrase and brief gesture, an illusory copy of herself appears ten feet from her - a few feet closer to Chirok. The illusion takes a couple more steps toward the bird, bends down to pick up an illusory feather, then turns and walks away.
The illusion repeats while Estrietre faces Chirok.. bowing her head more to show deference.
Savras nods in approval at the idea by bowing and adds, "Estrietre, you can speak to her as well no? I believe she speaks Auran".
Hana stays behind the other two, cautious about the possibility of making things even worse.
Lawdrak studies the creature, trying to incorporate its movements and mannerisms into his own, non-verbally conveying their peaceful intentions.