Nora listens intently to the conversation between Kayla and the woman in Celestial.
Nora quietly lets her song fade into nothingness.
"We did not mean to offend. We were exploring these ruins looking for what aid it may provide in our quest and incorrectly assumed that the undead that reside here were mindless, their souls lost to the magic that had them wandering these halls. Tell us what you would seek in recompense, for we our undoubtedly in the wrong in this situation."
She quietly messages her companions. "Play suck up here. She doesn't appear totally lucid, let us make her feel as if she is in control and see what she wants."
"Surely not demands, but is there nothing that you desire? Nothing that you've been unable to obtain due to your circumstances? Undead are not looked kindly upon in the outside world and you may not be able to leave this city without being persecuted, but that is not the casee for us. Perhaps there is something that we could bring back for you? Something from outside the city that could improve your continued existance here in some way?" Nora replies, shrugging silently to her companions.
The zombie continues to shout, but the sounds of things being destroyed inside seem to subside.
Nora quirks an eyebrow at the odd annoucement.
"I'm sure much has changed outside the walls, most significant is I don't believe elves are common in this area any longer, this land is now claimed by a human king." Nora states. "Can you tell me thought what was the world like when you became trapped within your city?"
Qalendar continues to follow the conversation, though adding nothing.
"Are there others like you that are capable of speech?"
There is a pause and the sound of movement inside before she continues.
The young man frowns slightly and whispers, Another. We should find out as much about them as possible. We should still stay prepared for this to go poorly, but so far...so good.
"As for the scraps we and the others all thought this place was deserted and that we were merely looking over that which had been abandoned for many years and forgotten. We really didn't think anything sentient existed in this cavern city."
The voice gets louder and softer as if the zombie is pacing.
As the party converses with the zombie, an older-looking man walks up the path, moving with surprising speed and grace despite the cane he leans on. His heavy coat and hat are dark and dusty, and light faintly shines from what appears to be a monocle in his front pocket. When the party sees him, he raises his hands and calls out softly in Infernal.
"Hail!" the man calls out, "I'm your backup. Late addition to the team, Gaslight decided it might be wise to send someone who actually knows a thing or two about Elven history and language. What's the story with this zombie, then?"
"Well there is enough bibble-babble going on to make me think that it's at least worth trying to talk it out"
The young man waves the newcomer over and whispers, Seems this creature was an elf that lived in this place and is upset that we've come here and not treated it like people are still living here. Our negotiators are working, though it doesn't appear to be progressing just yet.
Speaking to the others, Waiting for something that does not need food, water, or even air, to come out and fight might be...problematic. They can, quite literally, wait forever.
Since Common seems to be passing by the zombie unnoticed, Martin will respond to Qalendar in the same. "What do we want from it, exactly? I thought we only cared about the citizens of this kingdom, the ones with still-functioning souls."
Kayla responds to the group. "If there was something that turned a whole city into undead, it could still be here. It may be worth talking to this other intelligent undead to find out the exact cause of the undead problem. If it is something that could still be triggered than the mages could be in danger if they come across it. Or, we can find it and show it the king and mages both as a powerful weapon made by magic."
The young balkunish man whispers back, I do not know what we're looking for. I believe it's best to leave such things to the negotiators. He shrugs, But it is good to have another here. Perhaps, while they speak, we can find a way to gain an advantage. Or hope for the best. Despite the creature being insane, our allies seem to be doing fine so far.
"The dead know nothing of sanity, to my understanding, though I know little of ghosts. But calling this one insane is a waste of breath—I suppose I am curious what it wants, and we can offer."
To Kayla, "I know something of the elves of my home. Should I attempt to address it, in their tongue, with the proper social graces?"
Kayla thinks for a bit and then nods. "It may be worth a try. I can't imagine it making anything worse."
Martin clears his throat and steps forward, bowing to the zombie.
"Greetings. I apologize for my late arrival, but I alone of my associates speak your native tongue, and wish to discuss your situation on more comfortable terms. We seek allies in this country, and have not yet traveled far, though there are many villages other than your own. It seems you are looking for something as well, and we may be able to set up a profitable trade between your village and the others—what do your people require, and what could they offer for it that might be of value, in terms of resources, equipment or labor?"
The zombie seems to be yelling much less when she responds.
It sounds like laughter comes from inside.
In common, Martin replies, "The Elves apparently know nothing outside these walls. I don't know if we're better off leaving this place alone and searching elsewhere in the kingdom, but I'll try one or two more questions."
"What sort of resources do you need—lumber, stone, blood, souls? If you told me what you wanted, and what you could do with it, I could investigate the feasibility of arranging deliveries to you."
"And I am neither human, my lady—I may not look it, but I've lived almost two centuries, still by no doubt young compared to your people. And I did not ask about knowledge, although that could be a useful offering—but I suspect that your smiths may never tire at your forge, and your masons never need rest from their building, which might lead to some profitable industry with the right materials. That said, it seems as though you do not wish to talk to outsiders, and since I doubt many as patient as us visit these parts, perhaps you simply wish to be left alone."
And with that, he turns his back to the doorway in the hopes of a response, and while waiting, casts Detect Magic.
Qalendar smiles wistfully, I realize you arrived late, but there is a reason we're here and speaking to this creature. I assure you, it is not because we wish to waste time. We are concerned that leaving such things near our clients might prove...less than safe. It's best that we solve this problem, one way or another, before moving on.
"Ah... so it seems this affliction has made it difficult for you to acquire new citizens? Are you at peace with it, or is there a cure that might be sought by foreign venturers? And if we brought you lumber, stone and ore, would you be able to forge the last into decent weapons and armor?"
"And lastly—you say your people are isolated by choice, which means you could leave if you chose, but find no reason to in the future? If all these things are the case, I think we can leave with no quarrel, and return here only if we find a nearby town willing to supply what you need."
Keep in mind that the only nearby town is that of our 'clients'. I don't believe we're in any position to negotiate a long term business deal with this creature.
"I thought there were a number of towns here, at different distances, and we're trying to ally them all? And all we need, I think, is confirmation that these creatures do not want to leave—in the worst case we can give them the materials to board up their gates and be done with them. as they rot away."
No...not quite. The closest town is quite far. And we're in the middle of a...country, or collection of villages, as it were...that are hostile to our current 'clients'. We may be able to ally with some of these towns. Or perhaps not. But we have no idea what resources they do have. I can guess. And my guess would be that they have very little to offer. But even if they had something, we have no idea what we could get from them before we even venture to them. Nevermind what it will take to find allies there.
Qalendar sighs, though it seems to be at their situation and not directed at anyone in particular, The fact remains, we have nothing to offer. We are newcomers attempting to aid outsiders. Our goal is to find resources for them, not to give what little they have away. I understand that puts us in a...difficult position.
In common, Martin relays what he's heard to the group. "Sounds like the elf zombies want nothing to do with outsiders in their land, but something's keeping them here. They'd prefer to be left alone, and I doubt they pose much risk, but if we can find them building supplies they might make a different labor force. All said, I think it might be best to leave them alone, to rot to dust in their abandoned village, unless any of you have a vested interest in beating the last vestiges of an ancient civilization into Truedeath and taking their trinkets."
I... The young Baklunish man shakes his head in confusion, I just explained why that is probably unwise. I... He shakes his head again and blinks as if he simply cannot understand something.
Very well, Qalendar shrugs, Nora, Kayla...what do you two think?
"I don't see any living people inhabiting this village, and I'd be careful not to provoke them into any attacks on the nearby mages, but... who makes the decisions in this crew, anyway?"
The concern is that attacks on the nearby mages would not need to be provoked. Any more than they already have been by existing...nearby. He sighs and shakes his head again, I understand that you just arrived. Perhaps it's best that you observe rather than jump to conclusions based on the little information that you have. I apologize as I'd previously thought you were more informed but it appears that there are a few things you were not made aware of. This is, at least partially, our fault.
He shrugs and then looks back toward the others, Nora and Kayla, what do you think? What are our options at this point?
"Maybe, but I certainly wasn't told that any attacks by the Elves had actually occurred—this sounds like a lot of reckless alarmism at the presence of what appear to be ancient, and thoroughly trapped in place, intelligent undead."
Qalendar shrugs again, Obviously you are free to believe as you like. I feel I've explained as best as I am able. He frowns in though, It appears you are lacking some, but not all, information about our current mission, but exactly what, or how much, is beyond what we will be able to cover in this conversation. Unfortunately, this seems to have caused a misunderstanding and an incomplete picture of what our current situation is. You can either trust us, or not. He shrugs again, I cannot force you to not jump to conclusions based on whatever knowledge, or lack of knowledge, that you have.
"The contract is to get the dazzlers into power. We started poking around in here to see if we find anything useful. I would say an undead army might come in pretty damned handy. Besides, we don't know how many undead there are, or how many are intelligent. The last thing we need right now is to provoke said undead army. Either we ignore them or make nice. I say we make nice. If things go sideways, we can always smash them later."
In regards to what the zombie has been blathering about, " This 'advanced civilization beyond your understanding" stuff is getting tiresome. Just tell the rotter that we hail from one of the greatest cities in the multiverse and are here as agents of powerful beings that wish to see a civilization of magic and logic arise on this stinking Prime instead of one of brute strength and chaos. I mean come on. Tell her to grab some loot and we'll take her back to the Cage. We could probably have her breathing again by dinner time."
"I would propose we tell her we will do what we can, leave them in peace, and only return if we have something to offer—as long as we can be sure they don't have the means or inclination to threaten the mages' colony."
"Leaving them alone would be the easiest, but probably not the wisest decision. We have nothing to actually offer them and she is bound to figure that out eventually when we fail to bring her the supplies she wants. Even if we asked the mages for their assistance, they certainly don't have the means to deliver enough resources to rebuild this city. They are in hiding here and can't exactly go out and go shopping. Then will have a pissed off, insane zombie mad at us."
"This discussion has been informational in regards to the history of this city and the fact that there is at least one more intelligent undead around here. I don't think we will get anything more useful out of this one. I think we are just going to have to charge in since there is no way to lure them out. We can't risk the mages wondering in here on their own or for the insane zombie to decide that she wants to purge all outsiders from the cave."
Qalendar shrugs and waits quietly for the others to decide on their course of action.
Katrin rushes in and collides with the shield-wielding skeleton. She is able to destroy the foe she has closed with but the waiting archers open fire as soon as they have a clear shot.
The zombie cries out in a rage seeing someone charge in and immediately casts a spell out in a cone that hits the archers as well as Katrin.