** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
preparing to rappel down behind the little one if possible
Sanriel would earth glide under the cart and inspect it, if they are speaking he would listen in. (Langs=Common, Samsaran, Terran and Abyssal) If they are speaking in something he can't understand he would channel his racial ability (comprehend languages 1/day Samsaran) and move ahead of them placing his palm flat against the surface of the road as they were about to step there. In order to get an understanding.
Illia- ports over to the pair, and in a manner not out of place on a bored fey fairy asks, "Hello, watcha doing?"
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
The two of them are walking fairly close to each other. He can see some more details.
The smaller one is a male, bald, not sure what race he really is. Not human, not half orc, not half elf, just something else. He has on some leather clothing, no obvious weapons at all.
He could rappel down behind, put him a little behind the cart though
"Such intrigues." Meredian muses to no one in particular.
** spoiler omitted **
The male is just talking normal inconsequential stuff. How is the road, will there be many sales in the upcoming visit to the other drow city, that everything is going well. Those sorts of things.
** spoiler omitted **
Illia- ports over to the pair, and in a manner not out of place on a bored fey fairy asks, "Hello, watcha doing?"
[dice=Untrained Diplomacy]1d20+6
** spoiler omitted **
As she speaks up (Make a visual perception roll please) the cart stops and the smaller figure, a male, responds back to her.
(I am presuming she used Undercommon in this exchange)
The male looks to be about 6 foot tall, humanoid but not a race she would recognize, not human not orc not half orc not one she would recognize. He is in leathers with thick sturdy boots, no weapons she can perceive.
The individual pulling the cart stops when she speaks up. That is a female, standing about 9 to 10 foot tall, huge thick muscles, rough homespun clothing covering an obvious female figure, with metallic glints along the limbs as well. She has long thick wire like hair, not a conventional beauty.
She puts down the handles on the cart she was pulling and Illia can discern many many many small red eyes behind them all suddenly all focusing on her.
Hello there young lady, care to look over our wares. We have many fine bolts of cloth as well as other small things to look at.
Here darling put the cart down and let us open it up and show off our finery and goods to the young lady. Grab the jug as well, she may be thirsty.
We are on our way to the next city, traders and peddlers we are.
"Aww.. Thank you, I turn 27,894 next month!" Illia- beams at the compliment, and nothing about her tone or attitude seems to be implying that she is correcting the woman.
"Anyway, I'm a little lost, just teleported in, so, would you mind telling me the name of the city?"
Jaduf quietly waits, a silent shadow at the back of the wagon, trying to stay out of line of sight, but close enough to still be able to help if combat breaks out. He tries to peek into the cart surreptitiously
Seeing as their small meeting disintegrated with people sneaking, teleporting and gliding trough stone away Jhaelwyn finds herself in a much numerous company then just a moment ago. But instead of a boring cat, there was now a dragon. Well, a small one. Still a dragon! And he seemed to have an interesting stance on body-art. Embedded gems and calligraphy. Hmhm. I heard some surface dwellers or cultists deal with such affairs... With a curious smile she leans forward to inspect the small creature.
"Necromancy huh? A fascinating field of study... Not as nice as proper fleshwrapping of course... But it does make feeding the slaves cheaper! Tell me Dragon, why are you marked in such a way? It might be a conduit for the necromancy. But I have seen many necromancers without it. A focus? Hmm hmm hmm"
The other dragon was unnerving. He as not sure why, but he knew that much. Fellian gave it a cautious glance from behind his mistress. It was the way it looked he decided. Completely unnatural. What manner of abomination has *six* limbs? Tiamat gave a proper drake four and that is well enough! But he had the lingering suspicion that complaining about the discrepancy the natural and actual number of limbs to his mistress might not be the best of moves, so he remained silent. Looking off into the distance he pondered - I wonder where the others went?
[dice=Perception, True Seeing, See in Darkness]1d20+22
"Aww.. Thank you, I turn 27,894 next month!" Illia- beams at the compliment, and nothing about her tone or attitude seems to be implying that she is correcting the woman.
"Anyway, I'm a little lost, just teleported in, so, would you mind telling me the name of the city?"
Of course there. Did you say you are like 27 thousand years old? My goodness you are actually older than my mate there
He points towards the other figure there, the oversized female one
So I know how to recognize the names of both cities. I do not know how to pronounce most Drow names. The one back that way Pointing in the rough behind him direction translates as something like Light in the Light of Our Goddess
The one that way comes out roughly as The Final Need for Our Silence
Pointing in the direction they are traveling in
The first one is less than a rest away while the our destination lies about three rest times away for us. we have been to both cities more than once and have always been well received, for being Non-Drow, in both locations. I think they are planning closer relations in the future.
Just follow the path there back that way and you should be able to find the first one just fine. Otherwise you could stay with us as we continue on our way.
"Hehe, I am younger than I look." Illia- winked. "But my sisters always told me age doesn't mean wisdom."
"Those names make me feel right home." Illia- is derailed in thought for a moment, before she gets back on topic. So, what kind of relations are they thinking of? More trade? Like a road or caravan?" However, while she asks this she peers around to see if they're any closer to taking the cloth out.
With that said Sanriel uses the ample distraction provided by Illia to investigate the merchants
caravan with his druidly wiles.
** spoiler omitted **
Also the large female figure is moving towards the cart contents
Stealth
Quick as a shot Jaduf grips the top of the wagon and pulls himself up, laying flat on the top, and spreading out his cloak to disguise himself as well as possible.
peeking out from under the cloak he watches them in silence, He thinks they are fairly harmless, but you never really know....
Pressing his palms to the roof of the cart he activates the special ability of his gauntlets and looks directly through the wood
As the conversation continues you all can see the male is a humanoid of some sort. Not necessarily human, but somewhat similar with more primitive features, rougher appearance, harsher lines to the face. A thicker build as well than a normal human might display. Closer to half-orc but not, in way of comparison.
He has on leathers, well stained and travel worn. No hair and a pale complexion, with no visible weapons. There might be a dagger in his boot is all.
His mate on the other hand has a vastly different appearance. Slow moving, female in appearance, with rough homespun clothing and no shoes. There are some things that are not entirely symmetrical to her body shape and composition. Female but not at all what most species would consider a traditional beauty. Standing in at least 9 foot tall and with the bulk of an ogre or giant vice a human build. Hair is shoulder length and seems to be wire or wire like.
She has no weapons at all, but the size of her fists might prove dangerous enough to anyone she got a hold of.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
With that said Sanriel uses the ample distraction provided by Illia to investigate the merchants
caravan with his druidly wiles.
[Dice=perception] 1d20+24
** spoiler omitted **
"Hehe, I am younger than I look." Illia- winked. "But my sisters always told me age doesn't mean wisdom."
"Those names make me feel right home." Illia- is derailed in thought for a moment, before she gets back on topic. So, what kind of relations are they thinking of? More trade? Like a road or caravan?" However, while she asks this she peers around to see if they're any closer to taking the cloth out.
Kindly young lady we, my mate and I, only heard rumors. Rumors that the Matriarch of Light of our Goddess was sending a Male as an offering of Breeding and Sacrifice to help bring a sense of community and blood to the two cities. Also of a trade of secrets and skills, as well as actual treaties in trade and mutual self defense. At least the rumors in the city said that around us non-Drow.
Dear please take off some of the goods there so we can show the nice lady what we have cloth wise. To the hulking figure there.
The female is at the side of the cart starting to pull stuff off, presumably to get at the bolts of cloth mentioned.
Sanriel nods satisfied that nothing seems strange or out of place in the cart, seeing the Human completing the same actions he moves on with a quick motion to the man
The druid slides into the stone moving directly under the earth Illia stands before speaking an inch below the ground at a whisper assuming the outsider capable of hearing.
"The cart contains common fare. I am going to inform the others before they arrive themselves alter the situation."
with that Sanriel glides under the earth until he is far enough away to be undetected by the traders. Rising from the ground his remaining allies sanriel coughs once so as to be noticed before speaking and begins.
"There is a pair of traders, Illia has begun speaking with them. Jaduf is investigating the cart they have, examining the cart myself shows nothing strange and Illia has yet to say anything. They seem to know the area and should know the most likely routes the Caravan we are searching for will take. They also seem highly motivated to sell as Illia teleported next to them and they tried to sell her things rather than shriek in surprise like a typical humanoid. I doubt they would react badly to our presence were we to reveal ourselves."
"A pair of traders? Why are they here ? To trade of course! They know the route? I wonder if they have nice things? We should ask them then! Oooh maybe a new dress ... Then we can lie in wait ... Yesss and slay them and flay them and empty their treacherous little skulls ... We don't know *when* the caravan will be coming - do we? No matter, we can wait. We have waited before..."
So, not our guys yet. answers Delyliath slightly disappointed at the news Sanriel brought. do they at least have anything interesting to trade? she said with a veil of boredom.
She goes and sit near the drake and start scratching him under his chin as one would do with a domestic cat.who's a nice little dragon? said amused the succubus. you see Anaxian? You could have been like this. I bet he can study arcane arts all the same.
while she was petting the dragon, Illia's call came.
looks like my services are required. I'll be right back. she said while turning ethereal.
from the ethereal plane she teleported to Illia to take a look at the traders.
they were odd...
she morphed in teh semblance of a drow and turned the corner returning to the material plane.
she acted just like she just turned the orner, and she gazed at all the present people as if none of them were an acquaintance of hers.
She finally turns to the traders.
traveling merchants? is this route even profitable at all? she ask as she browse the merchandise, her mind, really focused in another task. listening to the surface thughts of the traders.
[detect thoughts: DC will 22]
"Oh, hello?" Illia- turns as Delyliath does the talking, maintaining the ruse of not knowing her.
Meredian continues to wait calmly, though her tone indicates her patience has limits.
"Is there a reason we're going to so much trouble to circumvent these two merchants? They are two and we are many. Is there a good reason we haven't beat them into submission or simply killed them outright?"
She speaks to whomever is nearby, but to no one in particular.
The drake stretches his neck and hisses appreciatively at the petting. He stole a sideways glance at the other dragon, unsure of what the succubi was implying, but soon closed his eyes to wholeheartedly enjoy the sensation.
When she left, the drake let out a sad sigh and looked up at his mistress. As he was doing his best impression of the mystic 'puppy eyes' technique, she soon relented and picked him up continuing the petting. The drake resumed hissing contently.
Absent-mindedly petting the drake in her embrace, Jhaelwyn replied to the drow noble.
"Anyone whom travels so carefree trough these halls are either a fool - Is she a fool? All whom lives fear the reaper ... or - They have a trick up their sleeve. A sneaky trick. Poisoned blades or cursed souls. Maybe we *should* kill them so I can open them up and see? That would be nice ... And if they know where and when our prey comes, they can live a moment longer."
Absent-mindedly petting the drake in her embrace, Jhaelwyn replied to the drow noble.
"Anyone whom travels so carefree trough these halls are either a fool - Is she a fool? All whom lives fear the reaper ... or - They have a trick up their sleeve. A sneaky trick. Poisoned blades or cursed souls. Maybe we *should* kill them so I can open them up and see? That would be nice ... And if they know where and when our prey comes, they can live a moment longer."
"Of course they have some tricks. Who doesn't? However, they are few and we are many. Any one of us could probably deal with the situation, much less all of us. At least Delyliah went to charm them. She'll make them thralls in short order I imagine."
you see Anaxian? You could have been like this. I bet he can study arcane arts all the same.
I was like that. Which is why I am now like this.
Anaxian glanced at the other dragon, weighing something in his mind.
If you ever tire of being a pet, speak with me.
Fellian looks back at the strange six-limbed creature and nods. Then, with a satisfied sigh he focuses on getting petted again.
"Of course they have some tricks. Who doesn't? However, they are few and we are many. Any one of us could probably deal with the situation, much less all of us. At least Delyliah went to charm them. She'll make them thralls in short order I imagine."
"Yes, yes... We are many now. We can and see for ourselves! Is she *bored*? And her aura - strange magics ... Shall we? Will we?" The drider takes a few indecisive steps towards the traders, observing what her remaining companions do.
"Of course they have some tricks. Who doesn't? However, they are few and we are many. Any one of us could probably deal with the situation, much less all of us. At least Delyliah went to charm them. She'll make them thralls in short order I imagine.""Yes, yes... We are many now. We can and see for ourselves! Is she *bored*? And her aura - strange magics ... Shall we? Will we?" The drider takes a few indecisive steps towards the traders, observing what her remaining companions do.
"I will use the fact that they have stopped and are occupied to move my arachnid allies past them and toward out goal." Sanriel says as he calls his horde together once more. Helpfully pointing the direction of the cart in question for the curious
"I will imagine that by the time I am finished your de-Delylath will have completed her interview. If they are simple travelers and they represent no danger of alerting our quarry with their absence then I care little for their fates. I have no doubts there are arguments for and against their deaths, it seems to me our plans will go unaffected either way."
So, not our guys yet. answers Delyliath slightly disappointed at the news Sanriel brought. do they at least have anything interesting to trade? she said with a veil of boredom.
She goes and sit near the drake and start scratching him under his chin as one would do with a domestic cat.who's a nice little dragon? said amused the succubus. you see Anaxian? You could have been like this. I bet he can study arcane arts all the same.while she was petting the dragon, Illia's call came.
looks like my services are required. I'll be right back. she said while turning ethereal.
from the ethereal plane she teleported to Illia to take a look at the traders.
they were odd...
she morphed in the semblance of a drow and turned the corner returning to the material plane.
she acted just like she just turned the corner, and she gazed at all the present people as if none of them were an acquaintance of hers.
She finally turns to the traders.traveling merchants? is this route even profitable at all? she ask as she browse the merchandise, her mind, really focused in another task. listening to the surface thoughts of the traders.
[detect thoughts: DC will 22]
From the bald humanoid male The route not the best, but it connects two Drow cities, where some trade is good. There are some other places better, but we are here now, so best we can. Good silks to trade farther away.
When he says two Drow cities he points vaguely behind him and then into the direction the cart is pointing towards.
About this time the near giantess has pulled out an armful of bolts of fine silks and satin like fabrics. All are masterwork level quality and there are a good dozen of them
So, not our guys yet. answers Delyliath slightly disappointed at the news Sanriel brought. do they at least have anything interesting to trade? she said with a veil of boredom.
She goes and sit near the drake and start scratching him under his chin as one would do with a domestic cat.who's a nice little dragon? said amused the succubus. you see Anaxian? You could have been like this. I bet he can study arcane arts all the same.while she was petting the dragon, Illia's call came.
looks like my services are required. I'll be right back. she said while turning ethereal.
from the ethereal plane she teleported to Illia to take a look at the traders.
they were odd...
she morphed in teh semblance of a drow and turned the corner returning to the material plane.
she acted just like she just turned the orner, and she gazed at all the present people as if none of them were an acquaintance of hers.
She finally turns to the traders.traveling merchants? is this route even profitable at all? she ask as she browse the merchandise, her mind, really focused in another task. listening to the surface thoughts of the traders.
[detect thoughts: DC will 22]
Her roll is
His surface thoughts are on her shape, the prospect of an impending sale, curiosity as to when there are others just wandering around down there, worry about his mate, their pets that are about to catch up, common thoughts.
She has no thoughts
Jaduf can notice something coming up from behind him
Sanriel your spiders move out and communicate back to you that there is something/s coming from behind the traders as well as a very large something coming from the other direction.
When the lady of the group turns away from the cart, Jaduf makes a break for it, grabbing his rope and shimmying up as fast as he can while still being stealthy. I don't know what that is, but I don't want it to see me before I see it...
With a intentionally large movement for the benefit of his spiders the druid indicates a need for stealth pointing in the direction of the Larger thing they had indicated hearing. The skeleton pauses for a few seconds to dash out a quick note and passing it to his monkey companion. "Take that to the dead dragonling, or one of the drow. Spider or non-spider matters little" He commands as he dips into the stone and moves at great speed in silence.
The monkey scampers toward the indiviuals in question offering the message with only a slight tremor of concern being an object of interest to being so much more powerful.
The note written on stained cloth with a dark ichor of indeterminate nature reads thus.
New arrivals, behind and ahead of the caravan. Ahead larger, going to investigate w spiders. Pass on to others in an unobtrusive manner if possible.
"Umh.. this is some nice fabric" Delyliath says while morphing again, she doesn't changes her visage, the color of her skin or her hair, she remains exactly the way she is, but she lets her horns and wings show into this form, revealing her as a succubus.
"What about a trade instead of a sale? I could bless you both with my lips, and I could do with a new cloak or loincloth made out of this" She says while caressing a fine purple bolt of cloth.
"Beside from the personal convenience, it's not like you are going to miss any money. the boon of a succubus is pretty beneficial to a merchant, there are quite a few merchants I have blessed, and all of them enjoyed an increase in their profits. It's actually quite a win win situation. You really shouldn't miss the chance, it's not like it happens everyday"
Delyliath put subtle emphasis in two part of her discourse, looking at him first and at her later.
Reinforcing her coercion into accepting her profane gift.
[Suggestion, Will DC 23]
Anaxian scanned the note the dead monkey dropped before him. His mental voice silently reached out to his companions.
New arrivals incoming from in front and behind of the caravan. Sanriel is scouting. Prepare for possible ambush.
Wordlessly the drider grinned and licked her lips. It been a while since she could indulge in some carnage. And the salvage! Yesss! Her fangs where already salivating venom in anticipation. With quivering hands she retrieved a large syringe from among her tools and filled the enchanted glass container with a faint blue liquid. She stared a moment at the syringe, captivated by the clear blue liquid as the faint ambient lighting played in it and refracted trough the glass of the syringe.
"Front and back? A pincer - like a scorpion? Would the traders be bait - tasty morsels..? Ohhh... Did the Sanriel say where he went? Scouting, of course. Duh! But whiccccch way?... Fellian! Take a look where he *didn't* go. But don't go to close my little pretty one. Yess, pretty..."
The drider scratches the drake at the base of his wings once more before lifting him up. The drake hesitated a moment until Anaxian specified where Sanriel went and then takes wing.
"Hiss!"
*flapflapflap*
The tiny drake flies away into the darkness, melting away into the shadows.
As her companions start to prepare for the incoming battle, Delyliath addresses them telepathically.
"I doubt the traders are involved with this. they don't show any hint of knowing about the attack. I'm so close to make them a useful tool .. I hope to make it in time before someone attack, otherwise.. try to delay them and keep them away from the merchants. they will be useful later down the road."