Once Colwyn has relayed the pertinent details Richard frowns, being a bit concerned he hadn't gotten a whiff of this before now. "That's definitely worth looking into, that area is clearly within the area Restov backs as ours to claim. The Stolen lands have a lot of claims to them though... still if they stuck south of hear they would have known we'd have less of a case and would be less irritable."
"We'd best go check them out, we don't a bunch of Norgorbor or Razmiran cultists getting settled in this close to us. It's probably nothing that bad but I'd suggest we tidy up our affairs today and head out in the morning to size them up. We can likely come to an accord and if not the sooner we know that the better."
"Our best case scenario is that these are just another group of ambitious settlers, not unlike ourselves," Colwyn muses after reporting Miss Melianse's intelligence report. He continues to steer the conversation away from her actual visit, of course.
"If they are just settlers, we should stop by to say hello and, perhaps, offer our protection. But, if they turn out to be a gaggle of dangerous oddballs like Richard suggests...well, we should give them the privilege of having the land's leaders personally giving them the boot."
Colwyn sends for Sandy to be groomed and harnessed, her saddlebags packed for the journey into the Narlmarches.
Once his companions are ready, he leads them out onto the trail.
As you reach Hex28 you begin to see signs of a large predator in the area, prints seem to suggest a large reptile of some type?
What are you doing now?
Reknar takes a moment to study the tracks.
Richard draws his bow and knocks an arrow before moving to help Reknar study the tracks.
Zelera thought over the situation as it was explained and nodded along in agreement. "I like the idea, it's never good to have squatters in your territory but making them subjects would change things." She grinned an almost evil grin as she said, "And if they refuse it is acceptable to drive them off if needed. Papa had to lead a warband against rivals a few times when they tried to move into our home. They never survived their invasion.."
When they stumbled on the predator tracks Zelera looked around nervously and knew this was maybe more dangerous than what they had set out to do and maybe far more important. She knelt to look at the tracks as well to try and help as best she could.
You can easily trail the thing, it makes no effort to hide its trail, you also notice that it leaves quills the size of arrows in the trunks of the trees it passes.
It seems to be a very arrogant beast and you are drawing closer to it's nest.
What are you doing now?
Picking up and examining one of the quills, Niadroub Kliip grumbles that he's heard of these before, but he can't quite remember when or where.
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"I think I remember coming across quills like these once - lads in the platoon said it belonged to a... What was it?"
Suddenly it dawns on Niadroub Kliip.
"Eh dregoon," he states, flatly. "A tep called a 'peluda.' Breths feer. Shoots pesonous queels. Ken steeck you with theem eef you geet too cloose. Et's teeil is ets weak spoot."
Colwyn's face blanches.
"I'm not keen on tussling with any dragons, especially not ones with special names. Can we press on whilst avoiding the damnable beast?"
After asking his question, a sour look crosses his face as he again feels the weight of responsibility.
"If it's a dragon, that means it's liable to pillage towns, aye? I'm guessing there's no chance he'd leave Thornholme be?"
"They're not always wicked, but they have a much different viewpoint on life than the average humanoid given a dragons power and longevity. Best to find out more but I would be concerned since it seems to be out hunting... we might just find a more benevolent one hunting deer."
Niadroub Kliip suggests that they go around the peluda to the settlement and see what the situation is there before tackling the monster. They might learn of some sort of advantage.
"Agreed. Thornholme needs us to be heroes...but not right this very moment," Colwyn declares. "We press on to the settlement to complete our investigation. Depending on what's going on out there, we don't want to arrive worn and weary from dragon slaying."
When it was revealed that there was a dragon around by Niadroub Zelera's eyes widened in surprise and concern. She knew what dragons did to attractive fey maidens. While being made into a dragons concubine she had other things in her future and this wasn't one of them. "I agree, let's leave it be for now."
Colwyn takes the lead, guiding the party away from clear signs of the dragon's marked territory - as well as steering them away from the thickets of poison ivy that they seem to have a penchant for finding.
You travel away from the tracks that mark the Peluda's territory, despite several members of the party thinking following them will let you avoid it. :)
After several more hours travel Richard hears the faints sounds of a party trying to move quietly through the forest ahead of you. The sounds are coming your way.
What are you doing?
Richard holds up his hand and explains. "I can hear a group approaching quietly through the forest in our direction... it could be a coincidence or it could be intentional. I'd suggest we have one or two welcome them with diplomacy while the rest stay hidden close by to make them reconsider things if they get aggressive. We're both the best at moving unseen Colwyn but we're also the best two up close..."
"Perhaps another approach we stealth forward to intercept the group while the others cast spells and blessings as they deem suitable and can reinforce us or come forward once things are better understood. If you give me the nod I'll approach the group... or the other way around but you're better at taking full advantage of an ambush than I am."
"Eh'm good et eescaping. Eh'll go weeth you."
Zelera nodded and said, "That sounds good to me."
"While I might claim to have the more polished silver tongue," Colwyn quietly boasts with a smile, "I can't deny that you are better in a face-to-face fight, my friend. Approach them, Richard, and see if they won't parlay. Should things turn sour, know that I will be watching very closely with my bow. I always have your back, just as I trust you always have mine."
The group looks to be a collection of Barbarians, they do not look friendly and ready for combat when Richard & Niadroub step into their path.
They are ready for fighting, but are not not attacking you. .
What are you doing?
Niadroub Kliip waves awkwardly at the barbarians as he tries to figure out why they're here. He waits for Richard to talk.
From his impromptu blind among the foliage and low tree branches, Colwyn assesses this barbarians. He tries to recognize from whence they hail.
All the while, he silently nocks an arrow and entwines his fore and middle fingers with the bowstring, ready to loose his first shot. For now, he gives Richard time to attempt to cow these men before business turns to blood.
Colwyn recognizes the the fetishes and tattoos as those of the Tiger lords. A large and powerful Barbarian tribe from Numeria. What they are doing here is another question.
Richard inclines his head with a roguish smile. "Good day to you. I'm glad we could start things off so pleasently. I do hope you speak Taldane but perhaps we share other tongues."
"Greetings to you stranger." Speaks one of the barbarians calmly. He looks a lot older and more experienced than the others in his group.
"These lands are a good hunting ground. One which we are using for supplies. What can we do for you?"
He seems to be a very canny diplomat for a Barbarian. He has said little about why they are here in the first place.
What are you doing now?
"I heard some folk were establishing a settlement in these parts but haven't found the exact spot yet. You wouldn't have run into them, or perhaps be those people? Can I be of aid to you?"
He nods and seems relieved at Richards words. "Settlement? No we're camped in to trees by a river. Beautiful country and good hunting. We ran short back home so were sent to get enough for smoking and sausages."
For all his talk of hunting only the two in front have bows. They are really equipped more as if searching for something?
What are you doing now?
Niadroub Kliip narrows his eyes. In thought. Definitely not suspicion.
"Hoonting? The reest oof you leeft your boows beck at your kemp by the reever, then?"
The Barbarian grins a little. "We're out looking over the area. Finding the best hunting trails. If you'd done any hunting you'd know that."
He's not even really bothering to lie now. He knows you don't believe and he doesn't care.
What now?
Niadroub Kliip cackles and shakes his head in amusement. "He's lying," he says low enough for only Richard to hear.
"I'm curious, we've journeyed through these lands before and not encountered you before. Where do you hail from? Numeria perhaps, somewhere in the River Kingdoms or perhaps you've taken a wandering path from Iobaria?" Richard gives them an appraising look, examining the craftsmanship of the barbarian groups gear as well as any tatoos or scarification that might him identify the tribe.
When Richard asks his question the Old man smiles easily, making a casual gesture to his companions. "We're down from Numeria. As I said huntings grown thin so we're travelling to fill the stores again."
He's just ordered them to attack. Those that make the check get a surprise round action.
"I didn't expect Tigerlords to have to resort to such treachery! TO ARMS!" Richard charges forward and as he moves towards the speaker draws his blade in an arc that slashes towards the closest barbarian's chest.
Colwyn's nose itches, so his aim is lowered at the crucial moment when Richard shouts to lay bare the barbarians' treachery.
His arrows will surely fly, but just a moment too late.