Alaeron very carefully and gently helps Klikikilik up and carries it in his arms. "I am what you would call a human. No hard exterior like you, just flesh and bones."
He carries Klikikilik over to what he perceives to be the "largest" ant that he can see of the group and holds out the youngling to them.
"Mr. Longstrider," Piers said by way of warning as they were surrounded by the ants.
"Let's be careful with the grand gestures here." Casually, the soldier unslung his sword and rested a hand on the hilt.
"If we make it out of here alive Morbak, it would be time for a long talk."
Terra senses the vibraration of the earth as the ants swarm near the area.
She starts to take a defensive posture her feet firmly planted on solid ground. as she concentrates very slight vibration in the earth are at her feet.
If you plan of freeing the talking bug then do it. otherwise...well no need to explain further
The large ant examines the youngling with its antennae, then asks, "What have you done to him?!" Feeling Alaeron at that moment, it asked, "And what are you?"
"Ah, yes, the strange creatures are obviously the ones responsible for his injuries and certainly not one of the legion of dead spiders in the area," Piers said, surprisingly making a good natured jest in the face of so many monstrous beings.
"In truth heis lucky we were happening by. There is nothing worse than suffering alone, surrounded by the dead."
"He wasn't asking you!" one of the ants behind the Captain said, as it examined him with its antennae.
"Hold your speech, Kikie." the large one said as it found the puncture wounds from the spider bite. "Klikikilik is weakened, but not dying." Examining closer, it asked, "This should have been fatal, how is he alive?"
There was a short flash of irritation across the Captain's face as he fixed his one good eye on the ant behind him.
"We preserved him, healed him, with our magic."
"I have small magic for healing, I did not want to see him die or suffer, so I healed him as best as I could"
Nebari watched as the others attempted to communicate with the talking insects, a difficult task considering the social barrier and aggravated situation the ants were in.
Nebari turnes and speaks to the Orc. "Not everything is your enemy Morbak, we are practically ... lost in the forest as it is. It would be wise to make as many friends here as possable. " Nebari says.
"Now is not the time, Nebari," Piers said, stepping between his former subordinate and the civilian. Nebari had a point but Piers doubted Morbak would take kindly to being lectured by a civilian. If anyone was going to handle Morbak it would be him.
"I take it you're the leader here?" Piers asked the larger ant, flatly ignoring 'Kikie' and moving out of range of the antennae.
The ant responded to the Captain, "My name is Ki, and I lead this Hunting Brood." Turning back to Alaeron, he continued, "What is, maa gik? And how does it preserve?"
Coming out of his momentary shock at seeing them surrounded by talking ants, Morbak's grip tightened on his crossbow. "Sir, we need to get out of here. Now." He whispered to his former Captain.
Doran raises an eyebrow. Pulling out his canteen, he tosses it a few feet in the air. Pointing at it, he speaks in a steady voice "Minor Dragon-Slayer Technique: Flight of the Fire Dragon!" and it hovers, little flames flickering beneath it. "Magic is how some of us can change and understand the world, and do little tricks." Doran cancels the spell, and the canteen falls into his hand as he stows it away. "Ki, I am Doran Wyrmson; how long have you been alive? How long has the hive been alive?"
Several of the ants cringed at the display, except Ki, who didn't move for about a minute. Then he spoke, "Come with us, the Queen wishes to speak to you." As one, ants large enough to carry you scurry up next to each of you and wait.
Doran looks to Morbak. "This was going to happen anyway, so shut up." He turns to Ki. "Fine, but I am walking with her." Pointing to Terra, he moves next to her."[/b]
As the one intended for the Half-orc approached, he raised his crossbow towards it. Then he heard Doran's words, and glared at the youth, "Don't proceed to tell me what to do, you bakg ggakkot ruknhaak hauk phaan."
After handing over the tiny ant, Alaeron picks up Nemesis and holds him in his arms so that he doesn't get scared or trampled by all the feet of the ants.
He steps up behind Morbak and whispers closely, "I can understand your reluctance to go along, then consider it a promise from one warrior to another, we will get out of this..."
Ki responds to Doran, "Not a problem."
The ant in front of Morbak tilts its head to one side as if confused, but doesn't advance. Suddenly, a very large ant comes up to Morbaks side, and grabs him with its mandibles, while the one if front moved up and took away his crossbow. The Half-Orc struggled and screamed in anger with all of his might, but to know avail, he was going whether he liked it or not. You all mount up upon the ants and they take you to their nest.
The journey inside the nest itself seems to take an eternity, probably due to the tunnels being pitch black, but you can clearly hear the sounds of possibly hundreds of ants crawling around the tunnels. Eventually, there is a pale glow ahead. You enter an enormous chamber, its walls dotted with hundreds of glowing mushrooms. Inside the chamber, lay hundreds of eggs and larvae being tended by several smaller ants. What gets your attention, however, is the extremely large ant in the center of the chamber. Your escorts halt in front of this hulking creature and do not move.
"Greetings to my domain, surface dwellers. I must thank you for returning one of our fallen to us. But now I must ask, what brings you to our domain?"
Terra tries to gather information on the ants. getting a feel for thier numbers. sensing thier vibrations on the ground. it takes a bit becuause of the number of legs. but remains wary for vibrations that seem out of place.
she hears much of the conversation and can feel the heat of Doran's flame. at first she thought combat was about to begin and the ground at her feet started to vibrate but son it stops when she realizes that nobody was in any danger.
Doran steps beside Terra and she grabs his arm. will one support the weight of two? I will ride with Doran
Arduino peers around with interest the entire journey, examining the darkness and the caverns carefully to learn more. Finally they all arrive in the enormous nexus and his eyes widen in amazement, taking it all in.
Stepping forward, Doran bows his head politely. "Queen, my name is Doran Wyrmson, and we are here to-" He pauses for a moment. "Err... we came here in order to..." He frowns, and turns to Alaeron. "Why are we in this area, specifically, again?"
"A tuk'n hago nrag oanroh 'Bak, pn nro ukh' rha' un ag nrhukr. Nrag agk'n 'uh akrn, A'hh kon 'u un u roho." Piers said as the ant hoisted him up.
Inside the Queen's chamber, Piers steeled himself for the worst but tried to sway the situation as best he could.
"Your highness," picking up from where Doran stumbled.
"We are representatives of Doronan, here to investigate the tower that lies in the middle of your most recent border skirmish with the spiders. We have reason to believe that it contains an item that we are in need of."
At the mention of the spiders, the queen's mandibles quivered rapidly and a cacophony of clicking noises could be heard throughout the chamber. Once it settled, she continued, "So, the Awakener has attracted you as well, has it? I will let you have safe passage to it. On one condition, you help us with our conflict against the Eight Legs." Ki brought Klikikilik up to the Queen and set him down in front of her. After an examination with her antennae, she continued, "You can either kill the Spider King or, you can teach us how to use this, maa gik, you informed Ki about. I'll give you until the dark becomes light on the surface to make a decision. For now, you are welcome to stay by nest entrance on surface, the Eight Legs do not come near here. Rest well." Once again, you mount up and are taken to the surface, where you notice the sun is beginning to set. Despite the number of ants around the entrance, there is a space cleared for you about 80 feet in diameter.
"So, we can kill an insect monarch or arm a burgeoning nation with questionable designs on the rest of the world with a powerful new tool," Piers said when they were alone.
"I don't like this, we don't have a dog in this fight. Either course of action leads to deaths of... sentients who have yet to try and aggress us. Obviously, the Queen has no concept of diplomacy."
"I will not be teaching anything magic, and exterminating a nest of arachnids doesn't sound appealing either."
"Then it may be worth trying peace." Doran looks around his surroundings. "I can be pretty convincing, when I remember what I'm supposed to be talking about... reckon I could slip away and have a chat with the spiders?"
"I doubt that would make a very good option. If the spiders are anything like the ants, it is a fair bet they have even less of a concept of choice and negotiation. I suggest we try to pump the locals for information and if it comes to it, play hardball with Queen tomorrow until she lets us in on the whole story."
Once away from the ants, Alaeron begins to pace slightly. "We don't have much choice in the matter, we can't side with one side unless we know their motives, and we certainly can't give another side an advantage, even if it's possible to teach them to use magic..."
Terra sat quietly. breed from early childhood to remain silent on these matters.
she reflects on the meetings her father would have with officers and dignitaries of foriegn armies. they would discuss battle plans, pour over maps. discuss strategies.
She would speak up at first when she felt it necessary, but after a few lectures that eventually turned to slaps to the face. she learned to stay her tounge.
either side can over run our kind. they have numbers, thier lack of magic and thier own infighting is what keeps us safe she quietly mutters to herself. only one sitting right next to her would even hear her.
Doran frowns, suddenly serious. "We may be treating this threat, and this opportunity, too lightly. This isn't like two warring villages, bandit camps or kobolds. These are SENTIENT INSECTS. Insects who can breed incredibly quickly, are incredibly tough, who can build and set up nests very, very rapidly..." He waves his hand over the next. "I'd suggest that the only reason the two haven't been a major threat is that they're keeping eachother in check, like Terra says. If we help one side win, and that side is not favorably disposed to us and humans in general... it could end very badly."
He smiles. "But, think of the opportunity! These insects knew nothing of magic; I'd suggest they've had little contact with humans or anyone else. If we could get one or both of them on our side, they could be incredible allies against the Void Tower..." Doran's smile dies and he shrugs. "Or I'm just makin' stuff up that's not real. What do you guys think?"
Morbak looks at Doran, "Have you lost your sodding mind? These, things, cannot be taught magic. The ability to speak does not make them like us in any way, shape, or form. They are abominations, pure and simple. Monstrosities that need to be put down, no matter what."
"Who says anything about magic? I am talking about allies."
Morbak looks at Doran, "Have you lost your sodding mind? These, things, cannot be taught magic. The ability to speak does not make them like us in any way, shape, or form. They are abominations, pure and simple. Monstrosities that need to be put down, no matter what."
Trey listens to all give thier arguments. she is happy to have at least one champion on her side, glancing at Doran. This has given her strength, hope, belief that not everyone in the world is against her.
when Motbak seems adamant in destroying the insects, Terra glances toward the Half-Orc.
That sound exactly like what humans said about Orcs in the past. at least some chose not to follow that advice
Glaring at Terra, "Orcs started out sentient. These things did not."
Piers looked at his former lieutenant, unimpressed with how inflexible he was being.
"Like us, Morbak? Why would being like us matter at all? Why would not being like us give us license to commit xenocide? What they were doesn't matter. It was the same back in the 'Dags." Piers was becoming increasingly irritated with Morbak.
"I never allowed blind prejudice back then Morbak, but you aren't under my command anymore. You're just some civilian guide who is all too happy to throw dirt on the graves of my brothers. Leave as soon as you can. As a Council representative I thank you for your services and regret that I cannot pay you for your time at the moment," Piers had always held his officers responsible for their actions and words but it seemed Morbak no longer respected him enough to allow that.
The Half-Orc gathered his things, stood up, and started to walk away from the camp. He stopped and looked at his former commander, "Nrok nu nro Rohh'g ranr 'u hakt nro Zukzah. Captain." Morbak said with venom in his voice.
Morbak turned and walked out of the camp and through the ants without issue. You figure the Queen ordered you not to be harmed.
After an awkward pause Nebari asks "Was I mistaken or didn't we need him for something?"
Alaeron shrugs, "If he is in disagreement with us, he can go on his own path. He is not part of this quest. We have the sole responsible for finding the artifacts..."
Alaeron pauses for a moment, "So what is our decision about our current problem? Ants? Spiders? or the unseen option 3?"
Terra sits there contemplating what has happened.
seems he has issues, but now I wonder...would one be so abrupt like that? considering he was known and liked by the Captain? or was tehre something else..
Terra lost in thought decides that perhaps there is something more.
Captain, Sir, How long have you known that Orc? and would you say that this is normal behavior for him?
her hand in her pocket like she is about to retrieve something.
Piers says nothing in response to Terra's question, watching Morbak walk away.
"Damn fool," he says eventually, whether he meant Morbak or himself was up for interpretation.
"Tomorrow we ask for an audience with the Queen, see if we can get a better handle on the situation."
Sensing the Captain has no desire to talk to her Terra turns and walks away looking for a spot to make her bed for the night.
She seems to unpack very little. She says nothing to anyone as she does so. as she settles in she seems to remain as vigilant as possible.
I wonder if he knows? maybe he is coming back with friends?
The next morning came in a beautiful blend of reds and oranges, with the sweet music of the ants singing. Truly a wonder to behold. After your morning meal, you break camp and are once more escorted to the Queen.
She lumbered your direction, goes over each of you with her antennae until she found the Captain and asked, "Your decision?"
Doran hesitates and turns to Piers expectantly.
Terra remains silent and in the back of the group. she seems unesy about the whole situation at the moment.
"Diplomacy and Politics. We welcome you to the wonders of civilised society." Nebari answers.
"You have asked us to embroil ourselves in a war we have no part in against an enemy we know nothing about in return for a vague promise to allow us access to the tower. Tell me, your highness, why we should fight for you?" Piers said evenly.
"So far, all we have heard is that they struck first. We know not why, nor what you plan to do with a victory if we aid you. Furthermore, we have no assurances that you would not turn against us and our kind should your foes here be defeated."