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"They say that this is their cave and that they claim it for their clan, and that they will kill any "foolish enough to stay or that wander into [their] territory". I will ask them to clarify the extent of their claim and suggest alternatives, including making the way back to the holy room impassible."
"I respectfully ask for elaboration and clarification. How much of the cave system do you claim? Just this section or all the way back the way we came? Do you claim the hall of which I spoke?"
"It is of interest to humans and gillmen, especially, and has nothing of interest for you - and it will continue to draw them, some foolishly but some violent and well-prepared. (We, for example, have just slain a minotaur.) Perhaps we could block the way between here and the sacred caves, ensuring that you are left alone?"
Garedon will then paraphrase what he said and then their answers, if given.
Garedon, using the technical dialect associated with the study of spells and arcana, may have just inadvertently formulated a 'provocative' idiom in the kobold dialect.
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While Zander does not speak fluid draconic, he is fairly certain that offspring of an improperly formed egg and cared for by the undesired harlot of a bottom feeding amphibious slug. is not going to get a very good reaction from the lizardfolk. He therefore hefts his glaive in anticipation of combat.
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-Posted with Wayfinder
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Garedon considers, "The appearance to this individual is that neither my words, nor the potentially mutually-beneficial solutions to our conflict of interests represented by them, have been well-received by our reptilian counterparts, such that my apprehension is that our inclinations towards resolving this without our adversaries resorting to hostile measures may not be satisfactorily realized. Furthermore, the accusation has been made that I am trying to, loosely translated, "trick [them] with big words," and as such I am concerned that we may be attempting to deal with actors who may not be completely rational."
"As agreeing to their position would require us, any gillmen pilgrims, and any other visitors to vacate the entire cavern system never to return, I suggest that our mission requires us to make a principled stand to defend access to said cavern system."
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Vyk shrugged. "Well, we tried being nice."
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Zander's shoulders slump as the lizardfolk refuse to budge. "We mean you no harm, but we will be exploring these caves. If you insist on attacking us, we will have no choice but to defend ourselves." He then sets his glaive in a defensive posture, sincerely hoping the lizardfolk don't press the issue.
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The creatures move forward slings at the ready. One is speaking to the other as they move into postion.
The sling bullets go wide hitting the wall next to Garedon.
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Vincent sees the lizard men loose their slings at the Zander and takes that as his cue to go in. Sword in hand, he quickly moves across the cavern, attempting to leap over the shallow river.
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Still feeling reluctant, Adelaide moves , falcata at the ready, and prepares to jump across if the lizard-men press on with their attack.
This feels wrong- they only want to defend their home. I have my orders, but I certainly don't like them...
She keeps her inward musings to herself, remembering the lecture she'd gotten last time she hadn't felt comfortable cutting things down.
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Garedon strikes one with a missile fired from his wand. Tuich tries to return fire and has the same success as her attackers. Adelaide moves forward to a defensive position. Vincent rushes forward to leap over the stream and just before his jump feels a tug at his legs.
Vyk fires a ray of blue energy and almost gets Vincent's hair.
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Adelaide tries to jump nimbly across the river, but slips on the wet stone and soaks herself with a splash of the murky water. She slogs through the rest of the small stream and shivers on the opposite bank.
"Stand and f-f-fight, creature!" The effect of her normally ringing voice is lessened by the stutters as she trembles in her now-wet clothing.
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Zander spots an opening for a shot after Vincent steps back. He takes aim and lets a bullet fly.
Not being his weapon of choice his sling bullet goes wide. The creature lets out a mocking bark sound and moves up to what it thinks is a weaker target. It attempts to stab the dripping wet Adelaide as she trugs out of the stream.
He manages to connect but does only minor damage. He still hisses with delight as he thinks he is winning.
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There is nothing of value in this area so moving on. You go back to Uori and his sacred pool. "You have returned and the waters tell me you were successful in removing the final evil presence from the cave. So now I will share a lost secret for the original use of this cave. The waters tell me that there were 12 murals here and that each one had a ritual that could be preformed at the tiny city. If completed correctly it would grant a blessing. Please feel free to attempt any of these rituals as you have done much in securing this holy site for my people." He then bows respectfully to the party.
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"We appreciate all you have shown us, but The Pathfinders wish to document history and culture. To learn from our past, and secure a better future through knowledge. There are 12 murals here, you have interpreted 3. We would learn of the other 9. By performing a ritual, do we risk damaging this artifact in any way?"
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The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
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"I like the sound of this Hunter ritual as well. Is this something to be done as a group, or individually?" Vincent asks, not really sure how obscure rituals from a long-dead religion are to be carried out. But something celebrating taming the wilderness through killing monsters sounds alright in his book.
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If you have an idea on how to do the hunter ritual then you can give it a shot.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Uori looks puzzled. "I have no idea how to use an alter to the god Aroden. The waters only told me that there was a ritual tied to each carving."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Vincent thinks for a while, contemplating the party's lack of giant serpentine foes in the past day. He then announces, "I'll be right back." He goes back outside to where the slain minotaur lays. He picks up the corpse and makes the journey back to the chamber. He wades into the pool, the minotaur raised above his head and out of the water. He tosses the body on top of the miniature stone city and announces, "The most worthy foe that threatened the nearby peace has been slain, and its body shown to the imaginary little people of this city. The blood of this foe of civilization now runs through its streets. The wilds are safe!"
He looks over at Uori and grins. "Something like that?
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Uori tries his best to hide the shock from Vincent's bold choice but nothing seems to happen. After an awkward moment he chuckles at the strange scene in front of him. "Perhaps you should try something.....more to scale? This is a large cave here, I am sure you can find something more fitting."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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With a sigh of defeat, Adelaide returns to the group. "Looks like the only things in here are us, some centipedes, and...."
She leans closer to the model, scrutinizing the frogs intently. "Why are you here, in this tiny city, little froggies? Is there something you're hiding from us?"
She stands back up, wracking her brains for any connection between golden cities and frogs. "You don't suppose.... you don't suppose we have to kiss one, do you?" Making a face of disdain, she touches a finger to her nose. "Because that's not going to be happening, contract or no."