After some time to ascertain that the dragon is both not planning to attack and not planning to leave, Flametouched fixes its gaze on Lady Jenise and observes flatly, "Another dragon taking an interest in us. Never before have I seen even one and now five in one day."
"I kindly welcome you to the club, Master Flametouched. I'm not sure which rattles me more, the ones who so kindly destroyed our transportation, or the one who had decided to follow us."
Lothar says nothing, satisfied that they are moving. He keeps a close eye on the sting lizard, constantly judging where it is in relation to his bow range
Nark being grumpy and moving in the front of group with Lony, complaining in a low voice about stupidity and ugliness of dragons, although not meaning the latter, and the look of Lony just being of someone who has to take all of the complainn
Ormak sighs at Nark's odd behavior towards the dragon "Flametouched, I think you might want to check the goblin out, I think he may have hit his head in the crash"
In response to the comments on the dragons "I have heard tales of dragons taking an interest in certain people, but never like this. I have spent much time among wild animals and the couple times I've seen them attack like those dragons did, none survive."
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After another nervous mile or so, the flying reptile falls back, returning to the southwest. The party is fast approaching the are where the settlement that everyone spotted from the sky ought to be. In fact, once you clear the low, rocky outcropping a hundred feet in front of your party, the settlement ought to be visible. You expect to be there within the half-hour.
Nark looking at the settlement and wondering on his brain until nodding to himself and Lony. Turning to others Nark tink tat Nark & Lony come a bit behind otherz when going to town. Not zo many like Nark or Lony... alwayz zomething againzt Nark and Nark don´t know why he explains as his shoulders goes up a bit and back down. Maybe Nark come at night or be stealthy?
Flametouched is basically incapable of looking like anything other than what it is: a machine built for war. As such, it doesn't bother sheathing its sword, though it does lower the point toward the ground.
As we get nearer the village, Lady Jenise calls for a stop. "All right, I think it's important if we go in here, we do this properly." Her language and demeanor takes an obvious change, more direct than before. "Considering where we are, there's a good chance that whatever is in that village is going to be hostile. And even if not, they may well not have our best interests at heart. We have very little reason to trust each other besides mutual survival, which is why I ask you take what I say to heart. We're working together to get back to civilization, and anyone who isn't working with us is working against us, and I'm more than willing to leave them behind." She gives each of the others a look before continuing.
"First we need to understand what each of us are capable of. If anyone has any unique skills, now would be the time to share them. I'll start." With that, Lady Jenise's face changes, her eyes becoming sunken, her features disappearing, hair turns white, until the woman who stood before you is gone, replaced by the face of a changling. "This is what I do. That and a variety of larcenous skills. Don't give me that look, it's what I do. That and survive, and I plan to survive this. So what about the rest of you?"
Lothar does his best not to show his surprise as "Lady Jenise" changes.You know what I can do, I put arrows in targets. I hope your money is more solid than your face though.
Seeing the changing of Lady Jenise Nark squirms in excitment and claps his tiny hands together. Lony however steps a little bit forward next to his master and watches carefully at this new... creature
Uuh, tat iz a guud trik! Nark want to learn it. Will be funny when Nark goes zap! and be like a biig goblin... huuman too ugly speaking fast and thinking all the possibilities same time.
Focusing his mind and now speaking slower while concentrating to each word Nark looks at party members Nark has been living for a many hundred of days. I have seen how people... treat me and my wolf so I like to have a respect even though I am small.. and a goblin as you would like to call me. Nark is not stupid and has seen enough to know the opinion of others. Me... clearly being fatigued by this long speach and trying to twist his mouth to human language was bad... Argh, why can tey not zpeaky a normal way like a goblin but continued I am a... druid and the world so far has teached me everything I need to know. I will join you to ensure my and Lonys safety and to get out of here finishing at that and huge relieve passes over Nark when he doesn´t need to speak anymore in a stupid language.
However... how many nice things that town would have for a curious goblin... shinies and other stuff to try ... and maybe a small burning with a house, as Nark chuckled
Lothar laughed. You are not wrong little goblin, Humans are amazingly ugly. I think we ought to go in showing a united front and negotiate for what we need from a position of strength. No need to make threats unless there is a need to make threats, but they will be less likely to try to take advantage of us if they think it will be dangerous to try.
"There is no harm in making clear our strength," Flametouched agrees, "but let us combne that display with a show of friendship as well. The two approaches together will earn us more respect than either would alone."
Ormak sniffs the air, then says "I'm a tracker and hunter who has the blood of the werecreatures running through his veins."
Xzot turns back into Lady Jenise. "My recommendation for a plan is this. We'll see if we can discern what type of people live in this town from a distance. If we cannot stealthily approach close enough for this, we simply walk in, weapons stowed. I will maintain my identity as Lady Jenise. From there, it's pretty much going to be winging it. As we approach, keep an eye out for any caves or such we may be able to hide in if things go south. We should have an emergency word, something unusual, like Rutabaga. If anyone spies trouble, say the word and we bolt. If we get separated, we either meet at a cave we find along the way or head back to the wreckage. Any questions so far?"
"Scouting is wise, if we can do so without alarming the residents," Flametouched nods. It sheathes its blade, though there is little to be done about its massive adamantine plating.
I am not a great scout, but I am willing to go unless there is someone better.
"I can do some initial scouting. I don't wanna be goin too far from the rest of you, case trouble shows up"
Somat else ta consider. Ifn they can survive out here, they must be tough and canny suminb!~%@s. They might already know we are here, and the longer we wait to reproach, the more suspicious they'll get. Or inf one of us goes off alone.
"Points taken. Let us approach openly then. But remember the panic word. 'Rutabaga' at the first sign of danger, we do what we ahve to in order to survive."
Nark stands a bit further and behind of others with Lony
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With Lady Jenise leading, the party rounds a rocky bend to see the barricade walls of the shanty settlement on the not-too-distant horizion, less than half a mile away. A little farther down the trail, a small, wooden sign reads: "noW eNTErInG the hAMLet of FEstErINg holT, EsTimAtEd pOpulaTIoN 20O," in the common alphabet.
Several outlying buildings have been razed to the ground or similarly destroyed. Closer to the settlement, you can see a few outlying structures intact, but not out this far. A small guard tower, barely fifteen feet high, watches over the southern barracade entrance. A long, sturdy building interrupts the wall. A gatehouse or barracks, by the look of it.
As you make the last leg of your approach, a hustle of activity along the wall and the guard tower preceeds a shouted hailing. The voice sounds - more or less - human.
"You five! That's far enough! You from the wreck?"
A trio of guards - one, clearly inhuman, - shouts at you from the top of the tower. The speaker's tone is neither warm nor hostile. You can make out the speaker. A hideous-looking human (or perhaps just a half-orc), wearing banded mail, and leaning on a spear. The cry produces a small peek-a-boo crowd from the outlying shacks and cabins this side of the wall.
The inhuman-looking guard is clearly some sort of monster. Squat and ugly, it wears ill-fitting armor and squints at you stupidly from the top of the tower. It's more or less humanoid, but it seems to have more than two arms.
The third guard, a lightly-armored human manages to look bored while staring you down. His bow is drawn, and he keeps an arrow trained on your party.
Lady Jenise wastes no time. [bigger]"Hello there, residents of Festering Holt! We are indeed from the wreck, survivors simply looking to return home. Sadly nothing of value survived the wreckage save for a few coins on our person we would gladly trade for some supplies and information. May we be given leave to approach?"
Mumbling to himself behind the others Uff.. huumans more ugly than I though... Nark not zo imprezzed... zeen more beautiful dingos than. Ztupid in tower try to be a fascinating, maybbe I burn down the tower and soon after that a dream of burning tower fascinates Nark mind
Lothar tries to look friendly and tough at the same time. Mostly he looks fiber deprived.
Flametouched waits patiently for the guards to decide whether to permit the group to enter, but its eyes occasionally move toward the devastation in the center of the town, and a tiny frown crosses its face each time they do. What could have done that? it wonders, and images of dragons, devils and worse flash through its mind's eye in troubling response.
Ormak sniffs the air and looks around now that their closer. He also attempts to see if the buildings were destroyed naturally, or by something sentient.
Still dreaming of burning the tower and the gleam of pyromaniacal soul... pops its head up and Nark looks at the tower. Paying slight attention to the guard ztupid huuman.. and looking around for something burnable
KN: nature
KN: perception
Lothar slowly pans the area, trying to take in everything that he can, and warry of an attack.
Perception
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One of the human guards shouts back to Lady Jenise.
"Aye, but stay put!"
He turns his head, shouting down to someone on the other side of the wall. The four-armed thing peers down at the five of you, hatefully. Lony the wolf glares back.
"Rubes from the wreck, to be sure. Open the gate, and fetch mayor Karbal. Get a squad out there and keep these... er, travellers company 'till he gets here, aye?"
Nark stood silent and watched the commotion going on. Still the image of burning down of some buildings would be nice although humans burned as well as wood and cackled a bit there. Looking at the "Lady" Jenise Karbal, itz familiar name! Bugbear. No trouble zo much. He nice... mozt of time although still bugbear. Nark not zur if zame Karbal. There iz many bugbears and shrugs his shoulders.
Lothar nervously eyes the lurking "townsfolk" and worries about the possibility of more, all while contemplating how fast he can retrieve his bow and shout rutabaga.
Flametouched's eyes narrow at the use of the word "rubes." It is not really a term one applies to those one plans to deal with forthrightly. Though it does not draw its weapon, it takes a step closer to "Lady Jenise" and murmurs quietly, "Your caution may have been warranted."
"Always assume the worst in people. That way you're either right, or pleasently surprised." Lady Jenise makes sure to leave her hand away from her weapon as she quietly speaks to Nark. "Anything else you could tell me in dealing with him? Likes,dislikes,habits?"