Goliath nods.
"Thank you Golden Ram for your hospitality, letting me stay among your people waiting on my brother and sisters to arrive. I will be off now with this group."
Goliath takes his leave. He waits outside for the other to emerge.
"So what is our plan here. Should we travel to the dwarfs as well?"
"Very sorry. Just one last thing: could you ask if he's bound to all requests, or I suppose commands- not something I'm fond of- from the ring wearer? I don't intend to take him from his home any time it isn't neccesary. Don't translate this part, but I'd like to know if I have the safety of not being betrayed or killed in my sleep, I'm sure you understand..."
He sounds sincere in his not wanting to run the Mephit's life, but some questions can't really be asked without coming off as a slave driver. He seems hesitant to ask a question with implications like that.
Golden Ram asks some questions of the mephit and there is some back and forth. "Maapallo is bound to answer the summons when the ring is used. It is unclear how much he is obliged to follow the summoner's orders. He says the rules are fairly clear, and that he cannot harm the summoner, although powerful magics can strip the summoner of protection, and he has heard of ways that others can usurp control."
Shortly after answering that there is an goatling at the tent flap, who speaks with an assistant.
Golden Ram advises "Messengers set by Tolhemia to the dwarven fort have returned. She has met with them and will now meet in private with me. After that I assume she may wish to share details regarding those events with you. Please excuse me while I attend to the urgency of this news."
"there is one last thing for me, I want to thank you and your people for your hospitality, even after we came to your teritory univited."
Quassine bows low, "Thank you and as you wish Golden Ram." He then bows low to the elders, then exits the tent waiting for the others to exit.
"Thank you Kiki and Quassine, it has also been our pleasure to meet such a unique group of people, which the most unusual of circumstances. "
"Indeed. We are very thankful to you and your people for your assistance. I hope that one day we may be as good to you and yours as you all have been to us."
Simon bows to Golden Ram and the elders before turning to leave.
Before they exit the tent Simon gives a short bow to Maapallo.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
He departs so as to not take up any more of Golden Ram's time.
Once everyone is outside, he addresses the group.
"Since they are meeting, she'll probably brief us afterwards. It would be good for us to learn all we can. I think we should make the most of our time while they meet and she briefs the rest of our friends in fixing our things."
If the rest of the group isn't objectant, he'll make some clothing for himself and some straps to fix his two smaller baskets to go over Aster's back (who he has yet to summon).
He makes a pair of arm guards, strips of leather tied around his biceps and ankles, a Y shaped guard for his tail, and a leather copy of his white loincloth to match the set and so that he can clean and repurpose the white fabric as a makeshift flag.
Craft
Day 4 - Mid Afternoon
After some time Tolhemia, her 'sister' Ania, and the Vishkanya woman Melanaj emerge from Golden Ram's lodge. Tolhemia returns to the part of the village that has been set aside for the people of Goodwin, and she gathers all of you around.
"Brothers and sisters, Ania and Melanaj have returned from the dwarven hold, named Cliffort and here is what we know. There, Thain Yarvik Ironfist IV rules in a stern yet honorable fashion. He is a no nonsense individual, and is not particularly happy to be dealing with monstrous refuges from another plane. His goal is to promote stability and foster an environment so that the loggers and miners that work in the area can get their materials downstream to the rest of the kingdom. At his side is High Priest Stonehammer, who seems to be a surly yet trusted counselor. Stonehammer appears to worship Clangeddin, if the symbolism still follow. It may be worth noting that some of the old gods still endure."
"Cliffort is a community of many races, largely dwarves who provide most of the defenses, but also many humans, with whom they are allied in this endeavor. Cliffort is part of a larger kingdom, and the Thain appears to report ultimately to a king. Cliffort itself is, as its name describes, a fortress built into the side of a cliff. The cliff overlooks a natural canyon, and the river naturally flows through it. The river has been dammed up and the canyon has turned into a small lake. This lake is used by the people as a defense as well as a way to coalesce the logs and mining resources that come downstream from the logging and mining camps. They transfer them past the dam on barges that are lowered through a series of locking compartments which allow them to raise and lower the water levels through some giant pumps. The materials then continue downstream. So important are these resources, that the fort itself is near impregnable and the lake is surrounded by a wall. Within the walls a small village huddles. There are apparently merchants and your regular trade and craft folk that would inhabit such a place."
"From all that Ania and Melanaj could determine, little has changed in ten thousand years in terms of innovation, attitudes or even customs. While fashions, languages, and other cultural things vary and change over time, they said they found it hard to distinguish if much had changed. Their understanding is that not that much before their arrival, another of our groups had arrived and had been given audience with the Thain, who sent them on a dangerous mission to prove their worth. The Thain's main scout is a man with the position of Head Marshal, going by the name of Hawke. This man, though also stern seems to have a larger world view and understands the plight of our people and the opportunities we could present to the fort. He seems to understand that we aren't just going to go away, and if we are, we need to know where we are going. Though some of the negotiations took place with magically augmented communications, Hawke speaks Celestial, which appears to have changed little wirh the passage of time. We believe Hawke has been trying to convince the Thain to allow our people to take up residence in the town. We have also just discovered, somewhat by accident, that there is reason for this. Hawke leads a brigade of scouts who patrol the skies on griffons. They can range far and wide and see a lot. Apparently Jovar overheard a report that indicated that a force of humanoids is gathering and the belief is that the target is the Fort. Nothing more is known about this. This places us in a position to help or to also not get involved. Our help would help them protect their fort, and show we can be allies, and give us standing to request fairer treatment for the goatlings. It also places us in a position to take advantage of their town and crafting and start as a new based to more forward."
"Golden Ram has already advised that they are willing to help the dwarves if a battle is coming. While the dwarves have not treated them fairly, if the fort were to fall, the instability would create more problems, particularly if the area was overrun with humanoids raiders and giants. Ania and Melanaj have secured an audience between Marshal Hawke and Golden Ram. They are to meet at the border. There we will reveal that we know of this impending 'army' and offer our aid as well as the goatlings' in return for protection, fairer treatment and security. Marshal Hawke is to meet with us tomorrow afternoon at the border between the lands. Those who wish to stay and help fight come with us, those who wish to leave the lands, we have also secured safe passage. Marshal Hawke will have one of his outriders escort any groups through the outlying areas to other regions. There is quite a bit more information to process and interpret, and you may all have many questions, please feel free to ask of us anything you wish to know."
Before leaving Golden Ram's presence Xanya says. "Thank you for your hospitality Golden Ram. Your kin has been more hospitable than mine would have been after finding intruders in their holy grounds. Derro would not have given up after being defeated. Still, one should not measure things by Derro standards, since that would make the whole rest of the world seem crazy, but rather than how good it is in itself. It was not good that some of your kinsmen lost their lives. But it is good if we've been able to help you with your problems with the intruders. Another good thing is the help you have provided us with gear and the like. Hopefully we'll be further able to return the next step in the spiral of goodness by finding you lands that are suitable to your needs."
Xanya will prepare and extract of crafter's fortune to help modify their gear. She'll make clothes for herself as well as turn the basket into a backpack.
"The group who went on this mission, was that Grobly's group? Someone said they heard from them after the initial encounter with the goatlings, but they weren't at the cermony of the lake. Damn, I wish I was able to prove myself. That we were able to prove ourselves as well. I think it is a good idea to head there and ask if we can prove ourselves as well. If they can accept minotaurs, medusa and goblins in their midst, surely derro, ogres, spiderlings, wayvaran and mindflayers are ok as well? Sadly I don't speak celestial, do any of you? If the humans and dwarves are being attacked, it might be a good thing to protect them, though not if the invaders come to avenge some slight given to them in turn. We have to hear more of this situation from Hawke or the dwarves themselves. I don't think fighting a battle is the best way to help find Goodwin though. Neither would it help in finding the Goatlings new lands. I think we should stop to talk with Hawke, see if we also can get missions to prove ourselves. If not we should move on, using the safe passage granted by Tolheima. What do the rest of you think? Tolheima did you hear anything about the lands beyond the fort, other than this invading army? Where is this invading army comming from?"
Quassine bows high to Xanya, "I do indeed speak Celestial and with the aid of everyone's skills of diplomacy, I should be able to hold council with Marshall Hawke and mold the situation into our best interest? Or, I can simply act as a translator? And while helping Cliffort may delay us from venturing forth to find Archmage, it may be an opportunity to acquire steel weapons for those in our group that needs them? In addition, someone else in town may have a lead to Archmage's whereabouts that was not heard by or given to Ania and Melanaj?"
Quassine looks at Tolhemia, "Or did Ania and Melanaj hear anything about master?"
"I don't like the idea of a battle, but I do think it would do everyone good to help them defend their stake and improve their ties with the goatlings. I think getting in good with them like that would serve us and all involved well. Maybe if we do that we could get niche objects we need, like alchemy tools, and cloths and such that the goatlings don't have. I don't think they would offer us tools if they were going to send us off on quests, but if we make allies of them first they may help us faster."
Simon paces back and forth as he narrates his train of thought.
Quassine watches Simon nervously wear away the ground, "And if we find out dealing with Cliffort isn't producing any results to locate Master Goodwin, then we will venture out. At least, we will be better equipped and most likely better trained and/or more experienced." Quassine watches Simon pace back and forth a little more, "And to add one more benefit, Simon will be less nervous to step out of his comfort zone."
Golden Ram nods at Xanya smiling as the group departs.
Xanya, you recall that in your time, Clanggedin Silverbeard was the dwarven deity of battle. Assuming that the deity has changed little in portfolio and tenets, he was a good dwarven deity and quite zealous for battle against dwarven enemies.
When you ask Tolhemia if the other group was the group that went with Grobly, she answers that she believes so, as only one other group is unaccounted for, one that left after the plateaur exodus and went downstream, but likely had not reached the fort yet.
Day 4 - Late Afternoon
As the new of the impending raiders spreads through the camp, people take time to prepare. Golden Ram sends out goatling scouting parties. Though unable to fortify their village, they move things around and make other precautions. As the flurry of activity increases, everyone shouts and points to the sky. You see a figure mounted on a griffon flying swiftly towards the camp. A white peace banner flies from the tip of a lance. The goatlings assembled beneath seem to respect it and hold their javelins in check.
The griffon and its rider spiral in a loop and then descend in a hovering slow drop to the ground which kicks up a cloud of dust and debris. Several dozen armed goatlings surround the rider. A man dismounts and waits for the dust to settle. He appears to wear light armor and is equipped with sword, bow and lance. He has a worn and weathered look bout him, but his features are sharp and could indicate elven ancestry somewhere. Golden Ram emerges from his lodge and moves to meet the man among all the commotion. Golden Ram takes a moment and utters a spell. They have a brief conversation and disappear into the lodge. Everyone stands around in a state of confusion. Word spreads quickly that the bold visitor is Marshal Hawke from the dwarven fort. He was not supposed to arrive until a day later, at a designated neutral meeting place at the border. The man's griffon sits stoically eyeing the crowd which gives it a healthy space.
Their meeting must have been very brief. Hawke emerges from the lodge shortly thereafter and scans the assembled crowd of goatlings and all of the collected children of Goodwin. He seems to sigh inwardly and swiftly mounts his mighty griffon and they wheel into the sky its wings kicking up more dust and dirt. Soon then are gone.
Golden Ram steps from his lodge again and speaks to a few assistants. Some of his elders are with him. He approaches the group and addresses Tolhemia and all of the children og Goodwin.
"Our visitor was Head Marshal Hawke from Cliffort. Our meeting tomorrow was preempted by news that the army of giants and their allies are moving more quickly than before. Griffon riders have spotted hell hound scouts infiltrating our lands. Several forest fires already burn. The Thain is moving quickly to secure the region of Cliffort. All logging and mining camps have been notified, evacuating, and they are moving to take refuge within the walled confines of Cliffort. According to Hawke, given the recent circumstances, the Thain has reluctantly decided to allow the goatlings and the newcomers to also take refuge within the walls of Cliffort, if they are willing to pledge and fight with the dwarves against oncoming scourge."
"Hawke explained that history shows that occasionally the giants will plunder and pillage south from their lands into this region, but that they are usually easy to dispatch or drive off. This however appears to be much more, an organized effort to march a large force out into these lands with a specific goal. He guesses that the giants remained hidden and organizing with their allies in the lands of black ice to the north, within the caves, tunnels and deep underground warrens under the glaciers. They may be driven by a longstanding hatred with the dwarves, although Hawke I believe suspects there may be another hidden reason."
"Personally, I believe this to be a sign, one that we have been seeking, and one that unite our people together against a common foe. My warriors and I will join the dwarves, humans and their allies, and meet these invaders in battle. Our people will take refuge in the fort, and we will prepare for battle!"
At that moment the mighty war drums thunder and the great battle horns that you heard at the Ceremony of the Lake are sounded. The noise shakes the earth and heavens, nearly deafening you and scaring the wits out of you.
"Our village will pack now, and leave soon, we will will make the journey tonight and take refuge at the fort. Your people are welcome too. Hawke notes that the Thain would prefer you keep a lower profile, particularly the most monstrous of you, but that you will be armed and equipped if able, to assist in the fight. He personally noted that he could make use of any of the bravest groups to act as strike forces against the giants, and any advance units of the enemy. Whatever your choice will be, this village will be abandoned soon. I must now prepare."
Golden Ram turns abruptly and goes with his elders to prepare his people for the exodus.
Tolhemia and many of the others stand there briefly, then a cacophony of voices erupts at once, and people start running hastily to grab what few possessions they have. Tolhemia gathers about her a few of her closest advisors and advises them to gather everyone into groups for the journey.
Tolhemia addresses those still assembled. "So, fate once again steers us. Perhaps this will take us closer to our goal. It certainly puts us with the dwarves and access to information, although in the madness that is sure to follow it may be a challenge to investigate any leads. I will work my best to keep our people safe."
"I wonder where Jovar is right now. I could use it's assistance."
Quassine bows low to the Golden Ram and high to Tolheimia, then looks at the group, "What do you think? Shall we volunteer ourselves to be a strike team?"
Xanya does her best to join in the cacophony of drums and battle horn with her inherent magic.
Once things quiet down she turns to Quassine and nods. "I'm quite familiar with plundering and pillaging and it's not a good thing. I doubt these giants and their allies even have an objective such as trying to figure out how to deal with the sun on their minds. Helping to stop this would be good though. Maybe we can prove ourselves to Hawke and the Thain at the same time? Clangeddin is the dwarven deity of battle, we might be able to impress his priest as well, if we do well. This won't help in finding Goodwin directly, but it can win us favor and resources to be better able to do so. The dwarves seems much more material than the goatlings, maybe they'll be able to pay us so much that we can in turn pay the dragon turtle for divination? The more I speak, the more I think it's a good idea. We help the goatlings, the humans, which is a good deed, and we get closer to our goal by getting resources for the water spirit. It's a shame we did not get to speak to Hawke before he departed. It would have been much better to do so at once rather than having to track him down in his fort. What do the rest of you think?" Xanya grows more and more excited as she speaks, nearly jumping up and down by the end of it.
Kiki nods "Being a strike team sounds good, a chance to strike fear into the hearts of giants..."
"acces to better equipment and whatever other things humans and dwarfs have to offer would aslo be good. as would be repaing the goatlings for part of what we own them would also be nice."
The spiderling uses some lether strips to create a backpack from her basket and knot a few loops for her pointy sicks into another strip to make a crude belt.
Quassine nods in agreement, "I am ready to go when you all are. If we make haste, we can be there before anyone else, hold court with Thain and Hawke, and have time to prepare for a strike tonight or whenever they prefer."
"The fates smile. I was worried when my brothers and sisters seemed to be shying away from battle. This will earn us respect and favor. More so then a mission to prove worth. That sounds as get out of cliffport monsters, if you do well then we will talk. We have the chance to throw down their enemies and shed blood in battle with them. If we fall then we were not destine to find our master. I relish the chance to strike against these giants. I am no master of stealth though. Let us volunteer for this honor and see what the dwarfs plans for us are."
Xanya walks over to Simon and puts a hand around his shoulders. "I'm sorry, for I know you to be a gentle soul, but it looks like we might have to shed some blood to protect the inhabitants of this land. There is at least a small amount of good luck with the bad. These events seem to have united the goatlings and the dwarves together. Maybe they'll be better able to work together now, even without our help in mediating."
She then turns towards Golath with a mixture of happiness and confusion. "I'm glad to see that you share my desire to spill the blood of our enemies. I too yearn for battle with every fiber of my being. To defeat those who oppose us and tear them apart. I do try to channel that desire to protect and do good deeds though. Yet at the same time I'm confused. I was taught that no matter how it comes about someone dying is a sad thing and you should not seek out someone's death of it can be avoided. Doing otherwise would not be a good thing. Yet you are a good man, a cleric of Ragathiel even. Maybe you can explain this to me? It seems best to do so on the road though. We should make haste as the majority of us seem in favor of moving quickly. Come up Kiki and ride with me."
"Yes sister, I am priest of Ragathiel. He is General fo Vengeance. I was and am an Ogre. We are kept as slaves and pets to giants. My tribe was no different. These giant much like ogre take what they want, because we are big and we can. Goodwin taught me to be good. It was with his teachings as well as the stories of knightly duty and deeds that inspired me to worship Ragathiel. Now I serve him. Duty and chivalry above all, but strike with wrathful vengeance. These are not the giant's that did wrong to me or my tribe, but they are unchecked and seek to plunder this land and put those in their way to death. I do not enjoy the taking of life, but evil must be struck down. If a giant falls to me and calls out mercy then it will be granted, unless this is done after killing one of you. This would then call for vengeance. Does that help little sister of Goodwin?"
Quassine finds and approaches Tolheimia, "Tolheimia, Do you have a map or directions to Cliffort? We are departing right now and want to make haste."
"Thank you Goliath. Ragathiel is the good god of vengeance, it makes sense then that vengeance is good. What is the fastest way to get there? If we can borrow a boat or raft we might be able to get there faster than on our own. Let's get moving though, and not just hang around here..."
Quassine receives directions from Tolheimia on how to get to Cliffort from the Goatling Village. Then he catches up with the group.
No map is needed. Tolhemia tells you to just follow the river downstream and it eventually opens out in a lake before the fort. A raft may work, but there are no rafts here. The goatling village is also not on the river, but you recall the path back to the river. You suspect if you move quickly you will reach the fort at nightfall assuming nothing goes wrong.
The group has been working on the baskets and backpacks and has made some simple modifications to their clothing and are now able to travel easier. Proper footwear would help even more, but you could work on some leather sandals, booties or slippers of some sort.
Your group departs quickly, leaving as Tolhemia and her assistants gather and organize your brothers and sisters. The goatling village is a flurry of activity, yet a few pause to wish you farewell and good luck.
You travel quickly towards the river, following the trails you came in on. When you approach the river, you look down through the hills and winding canyons. You think you can see in the setting sun the sparkle of the lake far below. You forge forward along the river, at times having to clear through brush, but before long you are able to pick up established trails used by miners and loggers to move their goods to or along the river.
Evening sets in and you keep going, the sun dropping behind you, but not far ahead you see the lights of the cliff side fort. You can hear the shouts of people and the noise and clanking of activity, all the hustle and bustle of a fortress preparing for battle you suspect. You are mix of emotions, while you have perhaps fought in your past lives, and trained often under the guidance of Goodwin and various masters and golems, and recently a real fight with the goatlings, the prospect of major pitched battles with giants and their minions can be daunting. The reality that this could be a small war weighs on your minds, as surely there will be many losses and deaths.
Ahead on the trail you are gaining on what appear to be logging camp people, refugees heading with their teams of horses and as much valuable supplies and equipment as they could gather before they left. The horse teams are moving slow, and you are gaining.
Do you overtake them? It is night and they are likely to be on edge, skittish, afraid. You have the token, but it means little to loggers. You also have the ever present language barrier.
Quassine looks at the loggers, "Thain and Hawke did want us to keep a low profile so we should sneak pass the loggers to overtake them. Can everyone sneak?"
Goliath looks down to his feet and then back to Quassine.
"I try to sneak, but things seem to find there way under my feet that make lots of noise. That and there is not much for me to hide behind. Do you think they would be hostile? I guess the are on the edge of a battle with giants, and I could be one of their slaves so yes. Best to stay away."
"I will sneak ahead again, looking for a good way past them, it would be pointless to avoid them, just to run into the next group."
Silent as a shadow Kiki disappears into the forest foliage. She scuttles ahead of the slow moving parade of people. The foliage is thick in some spots and not so bad in others. She spends quite a bit of time back and forth trying to find the best route.
After a bit, she returns to the group and has them follow her through the underbrush. It is quite challenging for Goliath to follow the same path, and he ends up having to just crash through the brush in some places. In the end the group makes its way through, clothes ripped and dirty, faces and arms scratched and puffy, but you seem to be slightly ahead of the group now. Your destination in sight you forge ahead. The river has widened here and flows to the east now rather than to the south. To the northeast and southeast the land rises steeply into a bowl. That bowl contains a large lake. A tall and thick wall on both sides of the river, runs to the cliff-side on the north side of the river, and on the south it stretches east out of sight in the darkness. Watch fires illuminate some of the lands outside the wall, and it looks like an old quarry, the source of the stone for the wall.
It is hard to see beyond the wall to the lake, what little you see is through the gap on the rivermouth as it opens into the lake. This mouth, where the wall separates is flanked by two huge guard towers. On the towers, humans and dwarves can be see manning various sized ballistas. Archers and crossbowmen patrol the walls and man the towers. In the darkness you can see that the cliffside with rises vertically north of the lake side has become part habitation. Edifices have been carved into and built onto the side of the cliff. Many more details are hard to see in the night with only distant lanterns to reveal things.
You keep to the brush and plan your next move. It would appear that you cannot actually enter the cliff town by land. You watch the people and in the dim distant light, they are all loading their goods on barges that are coming and going from a large water gate, a heavily manned gap in the wall. This is creating the bottleneck, but to defend this would be fairly easy.
Quassine looks along the shore for any boats that are either unmanned or waiting for passengers including those coming back to shore, as he looks, "I will cast prestidigitation once we get out of the brush unless of course you enjoy looking like we do now. And it appears travel by boat is our only way into Cliffort at the moment? Perhaps, we should disguise ourselves until we arrive at the throne or council room, it may allow us to transit the gates faster without being preempted because of fear?
The group sees a lot of activity. It seems likely that there are not going to be any unmanned boats just sitting there for people to use, as that would be a big security issue. In all likelihood there there will be guards and officials at the barge loading area to organize and get people through, and of course to keep an eye out for spies. Passing through the gate without some significant magic is not likely.
Simon curves his fingers over the end of his chin with his thumb underneath it, holding it as he thinks.
"Perhaps if news has reached them, it would be best for us to go uncovered. They may not be keen on what they would see as us trying to trick and infiltrate them. Maybe it would be best to go with our hands up, so we can try to communicate with the token. Whatever happens, we cannot harm any if them. That would be catastrophic not just for us, but for all of our family to follow us."
Quassine looks at Simon in nods in agreement, "Looking at the guard, they will probably see through our disguises without spells. Do you see any guards in the embark areas to present the token to?"
"Yes I believe Simon is right here. These are not the scared loggers. We have a token to show we are here for support and others like us have been here. We go uncovered with no attempt to fool them. I too think this is best."
"I can use extracts to both understand them and to disguise as a dwarf or something. It'll be strange, but they might be able to accept you more easily if you are my companions. I won't be able to talk much to them, but I'll be able to hear them. Wait a minute, what languages does Maapallo speak? Maybe he can communicate with them? I could borrow the ring and understand both him and the guards then through him be able to communicate that we seek passage."
"No, no deception. Their is a good chance there are many among them that speak giant. The dwarfs train to fight against my kind, it would make sense to know the language of the enemy as well. Let us walk in calm, weapons stowed and the token out. They have received other brother and sisters of Goodwin, let us see how the receive us."
"We should stroll down there calmly and act like we are boarding the boats like anyone else. Going down there cautiously and with weapons out, may make it worse. In addition, we hold our tokens out. Although if Maapallo can give us the common or Dwarven words for Marshall Hawke, that would be helpful. I doubt anyone here speaks the old languages or we can try and hopefully get luck with a scholar present ?"
"We should try and reduce numbers too. Aster, thanks for carrying this, but you can take a break now. I'll see you later, bud."
Simon takes the baskets from Aster's shoulders before giving him a scratch on the head and dismissing him.
"I've got this flag. I think it'll help a little bit. Maybe just trying to waltz onto a boat isn't quite the best route, but it's still in the vein. We go with weapons stowed, hands out and flag up to show we don't mean harm. If they let us get over without too much problem, I should be able to communicate with the token that we need to speak to mister Hawke. Even if they dont take well to us, we just need to retreat and find another way in. Violence needs to be the last of the last resorts. Now,Xanya, dear, it would help if you could tell me what they are saying in response with your spell. That's a very helpful one. I should see if I can learn something similar, if not the same. I've heard of spirits I could summon with a bit more practice that will be able to help us, but until then, I would appreciate if you would."
He offers a smile to Xanya and looks to see if everyone else is ready.
Quassine looks at Simon, "How about we all come out tree line at the same time in a disorganized order with tokens held up high and the flag held low, not on line or in any tactical formation, and Xanya approaches the humanoids still displaying the token? She looks the most humanoid out of all of us and she can point to the token, us, then to Cliffort or perhaps speak to them more effectively than my suggestion? And if relations do not go as plan, she is both mounted and tough enough to escape. As well as, we will help facilitate her escape." Quassine begins to step out of the treeline with the Token held up high and watching to see if the others follow.
Goliath follows trusting in the token.
As everyone exits the treeline, "Make sure your weapons are sheathed or in a non-threatening position. The less threatening we look, the better. Of course, this may not work as well but staying in the tree line discussing how to approach is not going to get us anywhere either."
Day 4 Night
The group enacts their plan and steps forth from the treeline, Quassine has the token given by Hawke, and the group tries to put forth a cautious non-threatening appearance. As the group proceeds forward, you step forth into the dimmer light put off by the torches, braziers and magical light illuminating the dock area where people are lined up waiting to cross, even at this later hour.
As people take note of the group a cry goes up, and people start to point, take cover, put hands to weapons and fumble for crossbows.
Patrols of heavily armored dwarves bristling with weapons begin to move towards you. Several humans in darker cloaks, resembling that which Head Marshal Hawke wore, stride forward confidently but cautiously.
Several guards on the large towers move a large polished mirror spotlight down to shine on you. The marshals see your token and shout back to the dwarven guard who fall into formation but stop and just stand watch. One of the others shouts to the people to apparently mollify the panic.
The first steps forward and pulls out a wand, and makes movements pointing to his mouth, and at the group, indicating he would like to use the wand on one of you to facilitate in communication.
There is quite a hubbub and chatter and talk amongst the people, pointing at perhaps the oddest array of creatures to have stepped into their realm in some time, at least peaceably.
Goliath will step back and nudge Xanya forward to talk with the dwarfs.
"Does anyone here speak Celestial like Marshall Hawke?"
If no one responds or looks around looking for a translator, Quassine takes a step back and uses both of his hands to graciously point to Xanya.
No one responds to your request in Celestial.
They move to Xanya, and motion as if to cast on her.
As he points to Xanya he too speaks.
