The gillman looks at each Pathfinder as he or she speaks, but his expression says little, and he says nothing at all.
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Easy will try approaching again, this time more directly. Her body language is friendly, as she rummages through her pack. She's (ahem) fishing for some kind of engagement, and not feeling threatened (unless something about this perception roll dictates a quick change in strategy).
Dear, are you hungry? Would you like a piece of cheese?
The man with gills on his neck waves his hand at Easy in a gesture of "no thanks". He continues to look at the group contemplatively. He seems to be assessing who you are and what your intentions are.
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Zemeri rolls her eyes. Her patience is at an end. She leans forward and locks eyes with the gillman.
"Okay fish sticks, we've tried being nice. Here's the deal. You tell us what's up with this cloak, why you're here, and we'll be on our way. I don't intend on making this difficult for you as long as you don't make this difficult for us. So tell us what's happening And I'd hurry it up. There's some hungry wolves not too far away."
The gillman lookks stunned at Zemeri's outburst. He stammers slightly as he answers her questions. My name is Uori and I have come to commune with the waters. Holy people like myself come regularly to do so. One of my people traveled here and did not return home. This is her cloak.
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Zemeri smiles and continues to look at the gillman. Her voice takes on a more chipper tone.
"Thanks. That wasn't so hard, was it now Uori? I'm not familiar with your particular rituals, but is the cloak important for any of that? We found it in a pit not too far from here. We were going to go a little deeper in these caves. We might be able to see if we can find out what happened with your comrade. Did you come here specifically looking for her?"
OOC: Lemme know if you need another roll for anything.
Zemeri leans in a bit, anticipating what to say. Behind her back, she attempts to signal the party that he doesn't seem like a threat.
I came for the waters. Her fate, while sad, is a secondary concern. I have heard strange noises from deeper within the caves but I fear to investigate myself.
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Easy, on further reflection, considers that fish people probably do not eat cheese. She nibbles on some herself, as if that was her plan all along, and then she puts it away.
Tell us, old friend, she asks as she tries to smooth her hair, what were these strange noises, and where exactly were they coming from?
The party hears faint moaning sounds coming from the north east and some kind of hushed speech from the south east.
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Sounds like you're not the only one who's been getting after the cheese Easy. You got any prunes on you to offer to whoever is down there?
With that Dahlia breaks into laughter that quickly devolves into a series of painful sounding snorts.
Once she's gotten herself under control...
What's so special about these waters?
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Additionally, Dahlia will then send Tulip on a reconnaissance mission to the southeast to check out the source of the hushed speech. She will give Tulip her standard direction about turning back as soon as she spots anything the least bit dangerous looking, but also to go no farther than 60' out of sight.
This site has been sacred to my people for centuries. It was also sacred to the followers of Aroden, but the power is waning and will soon be completely gone.
Tulip heads off to investigate the hushed whispers. After a short time she returns and reports to her.
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Dahlia, realizing her role playing was piss poor in her previous post, says, There’s three little people and an overgrown cockroach on the other side of a creek to the southeast.
To the northeast there’s four bipeds, one of which is either taking a dirt nap or a regular one.
I ask you again Ouri Bouri, what is special about these waters?
While still appearing friendly Uori seems slightly confused by Dahlia's question. They are sacred to my people. What is sacred to each of you? Do none of you worship your deities in your own ways? Do I wander into your temples and demand explanations?
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Dahlia stares back blankly at the frog man. Sensitive isn't he? I was just being curious. I'm really not much of a worshiper. You can go back to your waterobics now. I won't bug you any more.
With sudden inspiration from an unknown all powerful source, Dahlia decides to try and act out some of the glyph images using the small city as a stage. She will try to perform the following acts in the order that I write them, stopping, of course, if results call for it.
From afar, Dahlia will flip a copper into the city as if offering up alms to the beggar.
Then Dahlia will walk past Easy, nonchalantly grabbing Easy's spear from it's holder. She will attempt to use the butt end to crush a few of the centipedes. They are the only serpentine like creatures she sees. As she struggles to land a blow, she thinks on how she never really was much of a hunter. Once she has felled one or two (presuming no attack rolls are necessary), she will raise a corpse high and walk around the city attempting to follow the script of the glyph as best as possible. She will then take the bar of soap from her oversized canvas bag and kneel at the water vigorously scrubbing away any bug guts that she got on her hands. Shrugging to herself as she puts the soap away, she will take her tortoise shell comb from the bag and run it through her hair a half dozen times before standing back up.
The scholar is a role that Dahlia feels more comfortable in. She pulls several sheets of blank paper from her sack and stands by the city pretending to read in a falsely deep voice, And so the mighty huntress deity, Dah Lee Ah, came and smote the evil serpent beasty thingy. And the world was a much better place for it. Blah, blah, blah...
Lastly, she will use the pointy end of the spear to gently poke the frogs in their collective butts in an effort to get them to move out of the city.
That should do it. My life as a traveling thespian is truly underway now. Dahlia goes back to snickering to herself.
To the surprise of all of you Dahlia manages to accomplish 3 of the rituals. A faint feeling of warmth washes over each of you and you receive several boons
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Makolen removes a piece of chalk from his pouch and begins to write of the exploits of the Huntress Dah Lee Ah as previously acted out before the party on the stone floor near the city.
Then he reads aloud, Dah Lee Ah, the great warrior huntress, valiantly faced the vile and dark serpents with her great spear, thus saving the city and its people from destruction.
Another wash of warm energy washes through you all as Makolen performs his ritual.
The damp air becomes increasingly stale, and the stench of decay grows as you travel down this tunnel. The passage turns east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper and other unusable detritus. The body of a male humanoid lies facedown toward the back.
But before you can check on him or search the room, several creatures lunge out of the shadows.
If you roll 21 or higher, you may ask for more information.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Makolen
Dahlia
Trache
Zemeri
Easy
Enemies
The three enemies move up to the group and attack.
The red enemy strikes Makolen.
The green enemy strikes Easy.
The yellow enemy misses Trache.
Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act
Makolen (-10)
Dahlia
Trache
Zemeri
Easy (-8)
Enemies
Easy's piercing arrow hits but seems to not do any damage to the enemy.
Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act
Makolen (-10, unconscious)
Dahlia
Trache
Zemeri
Easy (-8)
Enemies