|
Having rested and regained some composure following the trial of the murder-bush, Saeron is thinking a little clearer.
Wincing and shaking her head ruefully, she casts Token Spell, and attempts to clean the mud and grime from her garments, wondering why she hadn't thought of it earlier.
If she meets with some level of success, she offers to do the same for her companions.
|
Saeron doesn't recognize the symbol. Either it has secret yeti meaning or it is singular to the vault.
As the group prepares to head off again, Zak sees a rustle in the bushes! Before he can warn you, a voice calls out of the trees, in common. "Hello, strangers. You must be lost, for you have wandered deep into my lands. I would ask you to leave." Following this, a beautiful white horse enters the clearing. After just a moment, it becomes obvious that this is no mere horse. It is a unicorn!
A beautiful specimen of her kind, the unicorn remains spotlessly white no matter how much mud she walks through and her mane shimmers with an inner light. This light glimmers off the rather large grenade launcher fixed atop her head, adorned in the same purple cloth that the rest of her body wears. However, despite her beauty, her eyes are inky black and full of cruelty. "I am Sparklemane. This is my swamp. I thank you for respecting it as you have passed through. But, nonetheless, you need to leave." While said with a neutral tone, you can tell the unicorn is quite serious.
|
Tamon marvels at the swamp denizen.
A unicorn! I thought they were mythical.
He bows in respect.
Madame Sparklemane, we are happy to comply. But in order for us to return to our homes, we must confront the, quote, "Swamp Ghost", endquote, which has...Tamon searches for a suitable synonym for "terrorized"...intimidated the nearby Gnolls and Yetis. Am I correct in concluding that we have found her?
Tamon is clearly infatuated, but struggles to remain on subject.
Madame Sparklemane, your warning signs are quite clear and we apologize for any inadvertent intrusion into your domain. Perhaps the interlopers that have come previously did so out of ignorance of your presence and not out of malice. If we may tell them that you protect your lands ferociously, I'm confident they will respect them. Would that be amenable to you?
|
|
Saeron stares at the unicorn in open wonder. Unicorns actually exist?!
She watches, transfixed as the majestic creature ambles toward them unimpeded through the muck and mire. I wish I had that knack, she admires.
Saeron starts to speak, pauses, and tries again, uncertain of the proper manner to address a unicorn. "Sparklemane, my name's Saeron." She curtsies. "What my companion says is true; we are only trying to return to our home. To do so, we need to enter the great temple after... meeting with... two great powers of the region. We believe you to be the one referred to as the Swamp Ghost."
Like Tamon, Saeron seems quite enamored with the creature. Shyly, she slowly retrieves her comm unit and holds it out before her, almost in offering to Sparklemane. "May I take your picture?" she asks, starstruck. "For my vidlog."
|
|
The unicorn turns fiercely to Tamon, death in her eyes. "Those gnolls came to steal my berries! Trampling over my precious mushrooms in the process! And those yetis were here to kill me! The savages. " She shakes her mane. "They deserved to die. They need to stay out of my land. "
But somehow, Saeron's smooth talking begins to calm down the angry being. "You wish to play the game? Fine. I have no interest. This is my swamp, and I am happy here. "
|
Rora, who is enamoured with nothing so much as she is herself, gives her hair a fashionable flip. "Hello Sparklemane. I'm Aurora Vim, but I'm better known as... RORA!" She grins winningly. "What if I told you you could have your swamp, AND get rid of the yetis and gnolls once and for all? We need to strike a balance in this place. One group has to come out on top, and if we can make a deal with each of the three other groups, the 'dominant' group is us. This will allow the temple to open and the doors to unlock. Then the gnolls, yetis, and us," she gestures at her fellow Starinders, "Can all leave this place behind. You'll have the entire swamp -- NAY -- the entire REGION to yourself. Ruler of this entire domain. Then none shall harm your swamp again. Pretty sweet deal, right?"
She waggles her eyebrows at the unicorn. "So here's the deal. You announce aloud that we've 'dominated' you -- it's got to be aloud so that the thing running the game can hear you -- and then we'll bugger off. Then we'll tell the others to stay out of your swamp. And, once we get the same from the other groups we'll all leave this place for good. The whole thing's yours. What do you say?"
|
|
The unicorn turns to Zak, eyes black as night. "If you touch my berries, you will surely die." Her horn pulses, accenting the threat. She does not deign to answer his other questions.
Sparklemane eyes Rora curiously. "It is about time everyone accepted that I am the rightful heir to this place. I agree. Get those peasants out of my lands, dominant one." The unicorn bends a knee, then stands, turns, and walks out of the clearing.
|
|
Saeron feels a faint sense of loss watching the unicorn leave.
"One down,"she says, turning to her companions with a smile. "And without the need for violence," she adds to Tamon and Medrick.
She looks at Rora, nodding several times in appreciation. "You made a great pitch to land the deal."
Looking around the clearing a last time, Saeron breathes deeply. "Let's go," she agrees. "Please be careful what you shoot at," she adds, addressing Zak.
|
|
You spend several hours getting out of the swamp, but end up back near the temple. From there, you begin hiking north along the river for several miles. After about two hours of walking, a fortified town with rolling farmlands around it comes into view. As you approach the village, you stop for a good look. The small village is built atop a low hill in the distance. A swift river borders the village to the west, its waters flowing from north to south. Fields of rice and substantial clusters of mushrooms grow from the hillsides around the town, and several figures are at work tending to the crops, their backs bent and hunched. The village itself has a short wall of piled dirt around its perimeter, and scraggly growth on top shows the beginnings of a protective hedge.
As you come closer, you quickly realize the figures in the fields have hyena-like heads and fur-covered bodies!
The field workers watch the group curiously.
|
|
When approached, the gnolls begin to walk briskly back to town, glancing nervously behind them at the group of strangers. Occasionally they bark to each other in a harsh tongue. When Rora calls after them, one gnoll turns and replies timidly in broken Common. "Uh...You need Corev. The mayor. She talk to you." Then the gnoll turns back and hurries to catch up with the rest of the group.
You follow the group into the village, where a crowd of two dozen gnolls gathers to see what the fuss is all about. Most of them keep their distance near the buildings. The buildings in this village are relatively low and squat, their walls formed from stacked bricks of peat. Most of the roofs have vegetation growing upon them, creating a soft, fuzzy look that is enhanced by the perpetual mist. You end up in the village square, which appears to serve as the primary meeting place for the gnolls of the village, opposite a small crowd.
The gnolls are standoffish, but they are not aggressive toward you.
|
|
A young gnoll runs off into the village and returns quickly with another gnolls. A female, dressed in a red habit with gardening implements at her waist, approaches you without fear. She speaks loudly, for the whole square to hear, in a deep and growling voice. "Hello, strangers. You are new to this land. What brings you to our peaceful village?"
You notice her flick her wrist and cast a meaningful glance at gnoll in the crowd. Over the course of the next few seconds, a few gnolls slip away from the crowd, heading towards the outskirts of the village.
She goes even further, speaking in a soft voice. "May we interest you in some food and a place to lay your head?"
|
|
Assuming the approaching female gnoll to be Corev, Saeron now steps forward to join Rora and Tamon in greeting the gnoll leader.
"Thank you for your kind offer of hospitality." She inclines her head respectfully to the gnoll leader. "I am Saeron. We would enjoy the opportunity to speak with you, however, we wish to return home as soon as possible so won't be able to take up your offer of rest."
She looks around in admiration. "You have made yourselves a bountiful home. How long have your people lives here?"
|
|
OP-1 stands vigilantly to the side as the sweet talking people do their thing
Clueless about the more subtle things in communications he how ever has a good set of eyes and notices a few gnolls slip away from the crowd, heading towards the outskirts of the village.
He then turns to the rest of the party and points at them while wondering
"Where do you think they are going?"
|
|
Corev takes the rejection in stride and continues. "We have lived here for a few months. Ever since..." Her face tightens with rage. "Those dirty yetis pushed us off our land and stole our crops! They're going to come back one day. That's why we've been building up our defenses!" She looks at the crowd, getting nods of approval from the group. She shrugs. "I mean, I'm all for peaceful resolutions. I just want to tend to my garden and keep my people safe. But those yetis, and the ghost? They have no mercy." She shakes her head sadly.
|
Zak turns towards the group. Odd, every faction is against each other, yet every faction gets along with us, see the problem here?
Can we stay in your village for one day before fighting the Yetis, I think I know the problem? If so Zak will examine all the gnolls and stay up all night long to see if he can diagnose the problem, maybe there is one bad egg in the group and hopefully he can spot the problem. to spot the one bad egg in the group.
|
|
She regards Zak quizzically, then turns her attention back to Corev.
"We have met the yetis and the ghost," Saeron reveals. "The yetis seemed interested in their happy smoke and not much else beyond that. We were also able to negotiate a truce with the ghost. It has agreed not to attack - unless someone should try to pick its berries or mushrooms or interfere with the glades it tends - and will allow us to leave when the time comes."
"Have your people always lived in this place? Or, like us, do you have a home to return to elsewhere?"
|
|
Rora grins at the gnolls. "We come in peace from a land beyond these walls! From a land of freedom! We wish to bring you there. To free you from this prison you find yourselves in." She looks around at the surrounding gnolls. "Here's the deal. You're all stuck here because one group must become 'dominant' for all of you to leave. We're here to make that happen. Without violence. Just with words. You say aloud -- so that the robots watching can hear you -- that we're the dominant ones. You bow to our might or something. Then we'll leave and get the yetis to do the same. Then we can head to the temple and get the door open. We'll bring you guys out of here and find you someplace else nice to build your homes. Someplace where you won't have to worry about the yeti's stealing it, or the swamp ghost stabbing you. Or the creepy robots secretly watching your every move. Got it? Sound good?"
|
|
The gnoll looks to Saeron with a sad look. "We cannot remember past a few months ago. One day, we all woke up here. We recieved our instructions, but quickly learned that fighting the yetis or the swamp creature was not worth the loss of lives." She shrugs and looks at the ground. "So we found a village down South which was partially built and decided to live in peace. Until the yetis got hungry, that is." She bunches up her shoulders, angry again.
She then turns to Rora, still angry. "And what if we can never leave? What if your foolish plan does not succeed? The Master sees all, knows all. She will see through your trickery! " Another gnoll steps forward and puts a hand on Corev's shoulder. Corev takes a breath, pausing for a moment. She continues, steadfast. "The yetis will run out of food. Or smoke. When that day comes, they will come for us again. And we must be ready. " She shakes her head, adamant. " Those barbarians take. They do not grow. "
She turns to the gnoll beside her. "Rasptooth, go check the silos. We do not want the yetis taking advantage of our new friendship. We just finished storing up for the winter." She turns back to you while the other gnoll runs off. "Your words are very pretty, but without the swamp's herbs, our people will get sick again... but, you didn't mention the swamp monster. " She looks hopeful for a moment. "Did, did you kill the beast? "
While the conversation goes on, Zak looks around. He senses no subterfuge, malice or lies.
|
|
Saeron looks around at her companions. Much like the yetis. I wonder if they were brought here, or if the simulation has created them? she sends telepathically to the other Starfinders.
"Who is this Master you mention? Have you seen someone else here?" Saeron asks, intrigued. Unable to entirely disagree with the assessment of the potential for conflict with the yetis, she seizes a topic she is more familiar. "What kind of sickness befell your people? What herbs did you use? If you choose to stay here, perhaps we could negotiate with the swamp ghost to harvest some that you may grow your own supply."
"We saw and heard terrible things as we travelled through the swamp, but we discovered they were all just illusions created by the swamp ghost's magic to frighten us."
"As Rora has suggested, if we work together, we can all leave this place - you could return to your home or come with us."
|
|
Rora smiles at the gnoll. "The swamp ghost already admitted my dominance. I suggest you do the same. I much prefer these pretty words win the day."
When Saeron suggests they might stay, Rora shakes her head. "They can't stay here. The swamp ghost will come for them if they do, and prove me a liar, which I will not have." She turns and looks at the gnoll again. "The swamp ghost won't leave. She'll stay. And if you step foot in her swamp she'll kill you. And if she finds we opened the way and you guys didn't leave with us, she'll kill you. Generally, staying is a bad plan, involving death and dismemberment. Nothing pleasant."
Rora sighs dramatically, then grins. "Lucky we're here to save the day! We have plenty of medicine outside of this place. You won't get sick, cause we'll give that awesome medicine to you. Deal?"
"And as for the master. He needs to watch. This ISN'T a trick. We ARE dominant. You just haven't accepted that yet. When you do, we'll open the way forward and save us all."
|
|
The gnoll looks to Saeron first. "We have never seen the master, only her servants with their metal armor. They do not approach us, staying at a distance." She shakes her head and pulls out a scroll. "The master spoke to us when we first arrived, a message which we wrote down." Looking at the paper, you can see the exact message you heard upon entry to the vault.
Corev then turns to a gnoll in the crowd. "Bloodbite, our healer, could explain better than I." The gnoll woman approaches and speaks softly. "This place makes us sick. I think it is the water. We were constantly getting fevers and our heart would give out." She shrugs and points to the swamp. "We found the purple herbs, which we ate. They cured us. We need them to survive."
Corev thanks the healer and turns back to you. "Illusions or no, the swamp monster murders a foraging group at least every moon cycle. If not more." She sits down on the ground, thinking. "I am reasonable. We can make a deal. If you can dominate the barbarians to the south, and keep them out of our land, we can send them shipments of food. That should satiate their hunger and keep their bloodlust lessened. We should be able to grow enough" She smiles, pats her thighs, and stands. "As for the medicine, I hope you are right and we get out of this place. Otherwise, I guess we are in the same place as today."
She turns in a circle, looking at the others. "I am calling a council meeting tonight. Tonight we shall vote. Go, tell the others." The crowd begins to disperse and she turns back to you. "You have one day, friends. Get the yetis to agree to our deal. If you do that, and the council agrees, we shall concede to you tomorrow."
|
|
You all march across the vault to the village of the yetis! You are greeted with a cheer, and one of the younger yetis even comes up to give you all a big hug! "LITTLE YETIS! YOU CAME BACK!" A chant quickly comes up amongst the group. "YETIS! YETIS! YETIS! YETIS!"
After a few rounds of that, Inix comes out of his tent and approaches you. "Well, you're not dead! You were to scared to go into the swamp, weren't ya!" He crosses his arms and smirks good-naturedly.
Rora, and those of you who are adept at reading people, can tell that any agreement will take some diplomatic words, and perhaps a show of force or intimidation.
|
|
Saeron laughs and returns the yeti's hug, then smiles around at the chanting tribe.
At Inix's mention of the swamp, she shakes her head, growing sombre. "No, we went to the swamp," she says softly. "And the temple. We found these and thought you might like to have them returned." Reaching into her satchel she steps toward the yeti elder and offers the items she collected from the fallen yetis.
After allowing the yetis some time to process any emotions stirred by the items she continues, "Rora brokered an alliance with the swamp ghost. We will all be able to leave this place and return to our homes. We have also met with the gnolls; they have offered to send you shipments of the food they harvest in return for you staying off their lands and leaving them in peace."
"Of course, this won't matter when we all leave this place. Agree to these terms and we can begin the preparations to leave." With this she flicks her hair and tries to affect a somewhat familiar air.