Kia moves up to join them and stands beside Whiteclaw at T9.
The warlock's simple statement is mightily persuasive. It would be going too far to say that the fomorians look welcoming, but they make no move to attack.
"And what do feeble feyspawn like you know about the stones and their power? We hunted and found them and we will keep them."
Tutavak bristles at "feyspawn," but says nothing.
Arianwyn smiles faintly, "Ah, I see. Then we have a mutual advantage; we were the first to unlock the stones' power over 10 years ago on this very spot. My comrades and I are blessed by the old gods to whom this isle was consecrated. We would have much to learn from one another."
"Briefly then, I propose an alliance. You have the stones' locus but not the stones. We have the freedom to roam this island and 'retrieve' the stones, and return them here. What say you?"
The expression on the Pain Bringer's face combines guile and greed in equal and unwholesome measure.
He looks across to his mumbling lord, still gazing at the single stone in the glade.
"Of course, you could show us how to summon the old gods and then we could summon the stones ourselves. If you know how to summon them at all. If you cannot, why yes - bring us the stones."
"One does not simply summon a god, especially a departed one," Arianwyn replies as if to a child, "Even for such as us, such a thing is not possible."
"What ails your master?" Besides congenital madness? he adds mentally.
"The stone is calling him. He listens and learns. For now."
The Pain Bringer moves a little further away from his leader. "When the stone speaks, it will reveal its secrets and we will conquer as we should. I accept your bargain. Bring us the stones."
"And you will aid us against the other clans?"
The Pain Bringer smiles beguilingly. "Of course. Aid us and your reward will be memorable. What is it you want, little insects? What do you want from the Rulers of the Underdark?"
"That." Arianwyn responds, pointing at the rod, "And safe passage off the island." he adds, smiling equally beguilingly.
"A bargain. We have already sent envoys to the Forest thieves. They will be at work."
The Pain Bringer's evil eye gleams joyfully and he gestures to the group to depart.
"Excellent!" Arianwyn says, "We shall... rendezvous with your colleagues then."
"Tell them who you are. Val Sholaes sends you."
The Pain Bringer returns to his rambling lord and starts whispering to him.
"Right, come on then." Kia walks out of the clearing expecting the others to follow towards the forest clan.
Kia strides purposefully down the hill and then edges into the woodland, doing her best to remain inconspicuous. Happy to be moving once more, Whiteclaw follows suit.
She turns to Arianwyn: "They will betray us." she says, flatly.
Arianwyn looks at Whiteclaw blankly, "Of course. And we will likewise betray them. We're fey."
"Sometimes I'm glad I'm just a gnoll."
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1d20+13Arianwyn looks at Whiteclaw blankly, "Of course. And we will likewise betray them. We're fey."
Kia turns to Arianwyn and Whiteclaw and whispers "Please try to stop talking."
Despite the group's best intentions, you make more noise than you wanted and your approach is not of the most subtle. On the outskirts of what is clearly a fairly permanent encampment, you are greeted by a small fomorian warband looking grim. Evidently more concerned with keeping silent themselves than killing you and making a noise, large hands drop over the party's mouths and you find yourselves being glared at by evil-eyed giants.
Arianwyn's eyes flash but he relents, thankful that he has charm to remain resolutely clean no matter how dirty he gets.
"Gag and blindfold them. We'll play later."
Tutavak fumes, but does not fight. Yet.
"Val Sholaes sent us!" Arianwyn snarls.
The fomorian stares and sneers, but the name impresses him.
"Val Sholaes sent fey to help us? Very well. Be more silent and follow."
Whiteclaw stumbles and receives a cuff around the head which sets her snarling.
Arianwyn flashes a fake smile, "Well, we of the Feywild must stick together".
Despite Whiteclaw's mis-step, the uneasy allies move to surround the encampment, leaving three fomorians prowling in a wider arc.
Through the trees, you can see six giants. Three of them are the familiar guards wielding halberds, but two carry greataxes and are of a type unknown to you. More menacing still is the clear leader. Unarmed, he carries what can only be the Rune Stone itself strapped to his back.
Your guide grins evilly. "We can take them now. We have the advantage."
Arianwyn smiles nastily and emerges with a warcry in Elven.
Tutavak brings down a second guard, though his second arrow flies wide.
The encampment seems suddenly much emptier as Tutavak neatly skewers another giant.
Arianwyn draws instant attention to himself by felling a guard.
Kia sets an arrow to her bow and fires at the remaining guard.
Kia's arrow tinkles sadly to the ground and Whiteclaw, charging recklessly into the fray, fares no better. She feels an overwhelming sense of battle rage sweep over her as she approaches the stone on the Portal Lord's back and calls a warning to her friends as foam starts to form in her mouth.
Unable to get close enough, Chary prepares to darken the Portal Lord's day as soon as he approaches.
She does not have long to wait. Seemingly unperturbed by the enormous stone strapped to his back, he advances on Whiteclaw, hitting her with huge hands before turning his evil eye on Chary. The drow responds instantly, outlining the Portal Lord in all his glory for her companions.
Arianwyn strides forwards, still yelling, as leaves coalesce around him, and blasts at a guard.
Tutavak dispatches the remaining guard with two quick shots -- one less enemy to worry about.
As G2 falls, the Ravers from the Hill Clan leap into battle, swinging greataxes and targeting the Portal Lord.
The clearing fills with raging, battling giants.