"Actually, yes," Sir Torlgrith replies. "Surprisingly enough, the Queen herself responded to my message and agreed to knight all of you. As for armor, she invites you to visit Fort Varendell and visit the armorer there--though she requests you send word ahead of when you will visit."
"As for a pot, I'm sure we can supply something, but I'm afraid all we have for spices is salt... I think." He frowns a bit. "I'll have to consult with my quartermaster on that."
Hmm...perhaps your quartermaster should make an appointment with our quartermaster...
Mo! Come here a moment, some humans wish to speak to you. We will of course supervise the exchange closely, but it's not the sort of thing we ought to stoop to.
Mo obediently comes over, though he looks confused.
Sir Torlgrith sighs. "It'll be a few moments. He's getting things arranged for bringing your part of the feast out."
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"You're doing a good job, Sir Tolgrith. Please enjoy this positive reinforcement."
Hard as she tries Entycer cannot remember this Sir Torlgrith...
Was I asleep when these events took place? Why don't the others remember me. I know I was... Wait, I don't remember. Anything, anything at all.
The Hydra head sways back and forth as events play out around her, Once I eat I'll feel better. Yes, just need food.
Do we think we ought to visit the armorer before the lizardfolk?
Hey lizards, Tomorbataar calls them over, how urgently do we need to go save your soft and squishy tribe?
Ziphora sees Entycer's confusion. "Sir Tolgrith is the commander of the humans we first met when we came out of the swamp.
You weren't there at that point of time." Then she begins to describe the adventures they went through after that.
"Soon, great ones!" the lizardfolk cries out in response. "My kin cannot survive long against such an onslaught!"
Sir Torlgrith is about to say something when there's a shout from behind the walls. He turns and looks over there, then comes back.
"The feast is ready!" he proclaims.
"Huzzah! We feast in victory over our previous foe, then we go tae fight again! This be a good day!
Feeling festive, Grash summons up a couple drums in preparation for some victory drumming.
The gates open, and humans come out carrying the feast. Two men come out carrying roasted, plucked birds of some sort, then another comes with a platter of potatoes. Then comes the main course, a large roast hog. Behind it comes one last man with a platter of vegetables, roots, and berries.
Tomorbataar examines the birds, Where's the rest? He asks, looking around confused. Hurry up and bring it all out at once, we'll be done soon enough.
He takes a few careful bites of meat before eating most of the potatoes for himself.
Tomorbataar votes to go to sleep soon after and then head to help the lizardfolk.
After they're done, Tomorbataar looks ready to sleep. He hefts out the new bed and lies down carefully, coiled up in the middle.
"Oh Cool! Vegges! You know brothers, you have to eat your greens! Then we can all become bigger and stronger!" Ziphora urges the rest of the hydraheads to try the vegetables, roots and berries.
Entycer sticks out her tongue at Ziphora's suggestion but then eats the fruits and veggies all the same.
While the others eat, Beachhead talks to Sir Tolgrith.
"So, the Queen, huh? Are we knights now, or do we have to do a ceremony? Did she say anything else?"
Well we're definitely knights, the ceremony would be to recognize us as knights. Tomorbataar seems very sure of himself for a very brief moment.
Right? That's how it works, right Torlgrith? Otherwise we've gotta go right away, I don't think the lizardfolk would like that.
"What's all this about ceremonies? We have lizard folk to aid! The ceremonies can come later, after we've taught those who bullied our lizard folk friends a lesson!" Ziphora exclaims indignantly.
"Sorry, Sir Tolgrith, but we must respectfully ask the knighting ceremony to be postponed. For our friends are in peril, and which true knight would not fly to his friends aid in times of need?" Ziphora proclaims pompously.
"It's not a very long ceremony, and she authorized me to carry it out in her name," Sir Torlgrith states. "She didn't have anything more to say."
For our friends are in peril, and which true knight would not fly to his friends aid in times of need?"
"But we can't be a true knight without the ceremony! Which means we won't be able to immediately fly friends' aids!"
"Knighthood is what you are inside, not your fancy title." Ziphora answers sagely. "If you can do it tonight, then tomorrow we can go to the assistance of the lizardfolk." She suggests to Sir Tolgrith.
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"So, if we ate a knight... hmmm...."
"Oooohh fancy idea Beachhead. We just ate a Wizard! Though I don't feel magical... I am thinking that won't work.
Alright Sir Torlgrith, get on with your ceremony so we can save more two legs, these of the scaled variety!"
Right, Sir Torlgrith, where's the knight we'll be eating?
"Ah..." Sir Torlgrith looks decidedly nervous. "That... isn't necessary. You just need to walk over here, and I'll tap each of you on the head with the flat of my blade while declaring you a knight."
Beachhead votes to walk over to where Sir Tolgrith indicates.
Hmm...interesting ceremony. Very well, let's get on with it then.
Tomorbataar also votes to move over.
"Oh - do we need to swear any vows to protect the weak, fight for the forces of Light or anything? I mean I'd swear because it's the right thing to do." Ziphora answers.
Vote to move over
"Short, simple, to the point. Good way to do a ceremony, if one be needed. May this be but the beginning of our tale!"
Grash agrees to move over.
You walk up to the wall, and Sir Torlgrith makes an admirable show of being unafraid. He draws his sword.
"You are welcome to give an oath if you wish, but Her Majesty did not see fit to require one," he states. "Now, if you'll each... err, raise your head up to me in sequence, we can begin."
As you do so, he taps each of you twice on the head with the flat of his blade, saying something like, "By the authority of Her Majesty Queen Arabasti, I hearby knight you Sir Tomorbataar", except with each of your names instead of just Tomorbataar's each time.
"Please use the term Lady."Ziphora corrects Sir Tolgrith gently.
"In Her Majesty's name, I swear to protect the weak and defenseless, to guard the honor of my fellow knights and fight for the welfare of all."Ziphora declares.
"Thank you."
Is it really the right thing to swear vows? I mean, they'll only limit your behavior in the future, if anything, it seems like the wrong thing to do. Unless you don't trust your future self, but you're you, and you'll still be you in the future, so of course you can trust your future self.
Seems like the vows are just for Torlgrith, or us, and the right thing doesn't have anything to do with it.
Anyway, I'm ready to move on.
The other heads may detect a sense of dissatisfaction or maybe even bitterness during the ceremony, but he doesn't say anything in front of Sir Tolgrith during the knighting.
Grash seems pleased with getting some recognition, but is still restless. Not wanting to be disruptive, he just silently votes that they get going in the direction of the lizardmen (who he can't quite remember for some reason).
Upon receiving his vow, Tomorbataar looks up. He lets the end part of his neck stay straight and unbent, and closes his eyes for a moment in ecstasy.
No filth of the swamp shall bother me now, he assures his siblings, I'm above it all.
"Is that because you're holding your head so high? Good idea. I agree that it can get pretty scummy when I'm hiding underneath our body. Especially near the butt."
"Entycer", she purrs at the knight when it's her turn.
Off to the rescue of our friends!
The lizardfolk is quite happy to start leading you back towards her village. You make good time for a few hours until it gets dark.
You're just settling into get to sleep when Tomorbataar and Grash catch a bit of movement in the bushes.
It's because I've been morally elevated, the petty concerns of the earth no longer matter so much to me. I'm a knight, after all.
Thebushes are fulve something live that isn't bushes, Tomorbataar says hastily, half tripping over his words. He looks around at the others, then assumes a position five feet from the body. Beachhead there, he nods to his left, lowering into a battle stance. He glares at the bushes, trying to look fierce.
Commanding Voice
You may attempt an intimidate check (same DC as demoralizing the target) as a standard action against any creature capable of understanding you. If successful, you may give the creature a simple order it must obey, as the spell command. You may give the creature one additional command for every 5 by which you beat the DC. You can use this ability only once per day on a given creature, and it never works on your sibling-heads.
Beachhead hides!
"Hrm? Something hiding in the bushes? Show yerself, bush-hider! If ye come not ter speak, then ye be here to fight!"
Grash votes to move toward the bush.
Get out into the sunlight before I give you such a fright that your knees will quake and your hands will shake!
"Hey it ain't cool to keep hiding in bushes." Ziphora chides the bush dwellers.
A group of a dozen lizardfolk jump out of the bushes, then stand around for a moment looking shocked that they just did so.
The lizardfolk with you gasps. "It's some of them! The other tribe!"
"Huh? Where?" Ziphora looks everywhere else except the right place.
"How can you tell?"
Perception
"Attackers in the bushes?! Where?"
Entycer's mouth waters in anticipation of the fight. Of course, she does not like to get her scales chipped so precautions are in order...
Suddenly,there are several Entycer heads all moving in a swirling pattern, the words hypnotic would come to mind if one were observing them...