Seres also fires at Zeke's foe.
;
Larisa will load her weapon, firing in the last worg as well.
Veronica stands, takes aims and fires her long bow on the remaining worg - the arrow strikes true and elicits howls of pain from the creature.
Seres fires his magically imbued bow at the worg and drives the gravity laden arrow through the beast's head - ending the fight.
"I HATE the gods damn woods!" Raff growls as he stands. He kicks the red Worgs corps as he retrieves his travelers anytool, he flips it into a skinning knife and gets to work removing the oddly colored beasts pelt. "Told'em I would. Though I think he'll make a better cloak."
Raff looks up at Ezekial as comments on his woodsyness. "All out of necessity I assure you. Got stuck in the woods once so it was either learn this garbage or die, almost did really. If it hadn't been for that old fart..." Raff shakes his head and goes back to work. "But here I am gabbin on, bitten all over and cutting up a worg. Your right! These things are dangerous we should probably deal with'em if they've been givin you guys trouble."
"We do this work so others can be safe. Thanks to you all for risking your lives every day." Connor pats Cinder on the neck, feeding her an apple.
"Shall we continue on?"
"Zeke's right. We should search the area for their lair. There may be more, and if not cleared, the threat will only return. And perhaps we find more unattended puppies..." Seres adds with a wink.
Connor nods in agreement.
Veronica dusts off her trousers, rejoins the group, and calls upon Erastil for a healing blessing for the injured.
You spend the rest of the day searching the surrounding grasslands, but you find no sign of the worg lairs. As the sun begins to set over the prairie, you set up camp for the night.
The next morning you wake to seasonably cool weather. After breaking camp, you continue your trek across the Kamelands to the Sootscale warrens. About mid day you cross the muddy banks of the Shrike river to find kobold sentries waiting for you on the other side.
After some discussion in broken common, the kobolds take you to the throne room of Chief Sootscale. Sootscale regards you silently as the kobold Mikmek emerges from the shadows to address you. "The mite slayers return! Mikmek is happy to see his fellow soldiers. Have you come to join us in battle again?"
Chief Sootscale barks out a stern command in his guttural language.
Mikmek looks at you nervously. "The chief kindly asks that his allies refrain from colonizing north of the Shrike river or east of the Thorn river."
|
While setting up camp Ezekiel speaks with Veronica Thanks to both you and Erastil for the healing. One of those bites was deep and still troubles me a little. Is there more you can do before we sleep? He places his bedroll close, but not too close to the clerics.
At the meeting with the kobolds Ezekiel pales a little when he hears and understands the words of the chief. But not being the diplomat he says noting at the moment, only tries to recall who else speaks the creature's language.
Larisa relaxes as the healing removes the minor wounds the worg inflicted. [b]"Thanks, Ezekial has the righ tof it, one of these days we need to do something about the worgs in these lands."[/ooc]
Larisa nods in agreement with the translator, not speaking the kobold's language for a moment she opens her mouth to speak but shuts it just as quick when she recalls her position instead she opts to examine the chief.
"Yes, of course. Let me just clear this up."
She looks over Zeke's injuries with a critical eye and says, "Oh, this isn't so bad. I can bandage this up and you'll feel better in the morning." She takes her healer's kit out of her bag and carefully stitches up the remaining wound on Zeke's leg, then applies a smooth, faintly aromatic salve and places a bandage over it.
"You should be right as rain in the morning," she says as she wipes the leftover salve off her hands.
--------------------
The next day, as the unexpected meeting with kobolds commences, Veronica keeps quiet simply because she doesn't know the language.
Raff raises an eyebrow to the translator before looking back to the chieftain. "Why exactly is he making this request? What's so important about those places?"
Connor listens intently to the translator and eyes the temperament of the room.
Comfortable with his assessment, the cavalier speaks up, "A reasonable interest. But we won't enter an agreement unless we receive certain accommodations. We have interests as well: We need the body of the slain shaman, Tartuk, to secure an alliance and keep peace in the region. Additionally, we are interested in a controlled and safe path through to Bokken's trading post ... perhaps it could be northwest of the radish patch. Finally, a mutually beneficial treaty where we support each other wars that threaten our sovereign land."
Veronica seems to misunderstand Zeke's offer (whether deliberately or unintentionally is not clear) as her mane of dark hair thickens and fur emerges from her wrists and arms and she says with a chuckle, "I have built-in warmth, but thanks, Zeke."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veronica whispers to Connor during the negotiation.
Raff chuckles at Veronica's reaction to Zeke's offer, nearly choking himself on the contents of the flask he had been nursing. Wiping his mouth, Raff sits up and raises his drink to Ezekial. "Got all the warmth we need right here!" He says, flopping back down onto his bed. "So you can just come on over here if it gets too cold for yeah."
Connor flashes a confused look, but keeps quiet as Zeke responds, trying to recall Zeke's list of languages. He covers it by leaning in to listen to Veronica, but waits to see what happens after Zeke's comments. He puts a stoic face on and stares hard at Chief Sootscale.
Chief Sootscale stares at you coldly as Mikmek faithfully translates your request. Chief Sootscale then addresses you again in draconic.
Mikmek again looks nervously at Connor. "Chief Sootscale kindly extends free passage to you and your emissaries across the kobold lands. Chief Sootscale wishes to accommodate you further, but cannot do so while you continue to harbor the gnome leader Jubilost. This gnome has killed many kobolds and is considered a criminal by our people. The chief requests that you turn over the terrorist Jubilost as an act of good faith before we begin negotiations."
Mikmek then motions to one of the tunnels that descends steeply into darkness. "The bones of the traitor Tartuk have been interned under the Shrine of the All Maker, as is the ancient tradition for all kobold dead. Chief Sootscale is hesitant to disturb the dead lest we incur the ire of Apsu."
"You and Jubilost were both deceived. Yar tum was actually a gnome, reincarnated as a mobile. That corrupt shaman has caused a war between you and the gnomes based on false pretenses. Don't allow it to continue to affect you. We can make this a better place for humans, gnomes and Sootscale alike."
Veronica likewise chimes in. "With a strong border we can make sure that your territory is respected and no gnomes come into it. Since you are a good leader, Chief Sootscale, and well able to protect your people, surely we can agree to end such raids and let you live as you will, free to hunt the creatures of your lands, without need to throw your people into battle, able for all of them to grow strong too."
Sootscale tilts his head back and laughs as Mikmek translates.
Mikmek nods at the Chief and raises an eyebrow to you. "The chief is unconvinced. He demands proof concerning Tartuk. He also suggests that if you can assist us with a small matter, he would be willing to show some leniency concerning Jubilost. Northeast of here, on the Shrike River, there is the remnants of an old bridge, known as Nettle's Crossing. The crossing is haunted with a ghost. The ghost prevents our people easy access to the fertile prairies of the southern Kamelands. As the priestess says, we must be free to hunt and feed our families. Lay the ghost to rest and you will earn the gratitude of Chief Sootscale."
"What proof does he require that Tartuk was not a kobold given his treasonous actions? Surely a true kobold wouldn't act that way. As far as the ghost ... once again, New Hope will prove their willingness to a true alliance and treaty. I anticipate the Sootscale tribe will accede our requests after we've removed the unremovable."
Mikmek quietly confers with the chief and then translates. "We readily accept that Tartuk may have been possessed by a demon, but we see no evidence of gnome magical trickery. The Sootscale tribe holds you in high esteem, but we cannot believe such outlandish claims that Tartuk was a gnome. We advise you to not believe Jubilost's lies. He is a murderous killer and should be condemned for his crimes. Beware the treachery of this vile gnome - he and his murderous brigade will repay your trust with blood."
With that, Chief Sootscale nods curtly at you, signalling that the discussion is over.
"That did not turn out how I expected. I doubt we can make the kobolds and gnomes see each other as anything more than foes. But if we can keep them from each others' throats, its a success."
"We should have developed some sort of indication system earlier, Zeke. Damn it, I feel the fool, now. Next time, let's work out a signal for when Mimek isnoutright changing the words in translation."
"Lets take care of this ghost, but we have got to find a way to depart with Tartuk's body. Without some evidence,the goes and kobold will continue to war and it will spill into our nation. "
|
|
Seems this ghost is almost doing us a favor at the moment by limiting this tribe of now nearly hostile reptiles. Ezekial offers. Threats were made to kill settlers and burn buildings. Whatever inroads we made with these folk before I fear we have completely lost. Connor they are certainly rattling sabers if not outright hostile.[/b]
"I agree, Zeke. But the problem with the gnomes is still ours to solve if we want them as allies. How about this? We end the ghost, return to the tribe and demand Sootscale step down or even challenge him to ridership of the tribe. Strongest wins, right? We will have demonstrated twice thst we succeed where he cannot. Remove him and then leave Mimek as our vassal. He loves us. We secure the body and the alliance with the gnomes."
[Oocp question is for everyone, not just Zeke[/ooc]
Seres nods, "Sounds reasonable. Let's do it."
That night you camp in the relative safety of the kobold territory. The following morning you wake to a seasonably cool fall day.
After several hours of travelling northeast, you come once again to the swiftly moving Shrike River. You find the soggy remnants of an abandoned river crossing. A thick, sagging rope still hangs across the river, all that remains of the bridge that once spanned it. A signpost at the end of the ruined bridge reads “Nettles’ Crossing, 5 coppers, ring bell for service.” A rusty bell hangs by each sign. On the south bank of the river, the crumbled remains of a burnt-down wooden building are slowly being overgrown by encroaching vegetation.
Larisa looks around, taking a moment to read the sign. "Maybe we should ring the bell." She says with a wiry smile. "This place looks like it could use a bit of love."
Raff shrugs at the whole scene, walks a bit ahead and taps the bell. "What's the worst that could happen."
Veronica rubs her forehead. "If you have to ask..."
She wraps her hand around her holy symbol, in case she needs to channel Erastil's power against the undead.
Connor smiles at Raff's boldness and leans forward in the saddle, anxiously anticipating something unique.
When Raff rings the bell, a deathly pale woman rises from the water and begins walking inexorably across the river surface towards you. The woman wields a ghostly, dripping ranseur and is dressed in rusting plate mail. The woman raises a putrescent finger towards Seres. "You are not by tormentors, but you have spared my nemesis. Now you will share my fate in the cold depths until my malefactor joins me in death."
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=S, 5=V
Raff had turned too at Veronica as the woman arose, failing to notice her in the process. "Just a joke. Besides, It says ring bell for service. Really, what COULD go wro-" The woman speaks and nearly topples Raff in surprise.
Connor starts at the woman's words, "Seres, you know this poor soul?"
He fumbles for his axe.
Veronica is too busy saying "I told you, Raff!" to respond.
Seres's eyes widen, "Nemesis? Do you mean the necromancer, Nugrah?"
Seres holds up his hands, trying to forestall combat. "He is our enemy, and we did not spare him -- he escaped. He is yet our foe and will meet his certain doom."
If she persists, he casts a defensive spell.
Startled by the appearance of the specter Larisa fumbles for her weapon.
The ghost pauses and looks forlornly at Seres as he casts his spell. "I want you to suffer as I have suffered. I want your friends to experience the same drowning death that he inflicted on my family. Only then, will you understand my pain. Know that while the Stag Lord lives, I will continue to haunt you until the end of days."
The ghost now turns and flies across the water towards Connor. Her cold, dead eyes stare at him with haunting malevolence.
.