Snow reaches the other side of the bridge with the corpse resting easily in her arms.
Handing the Lady’s body to one of the nearest guards, ”You may want to hold herrr. Things may be about to get complicated. Why don’t you take Lady Nandarrr overrr to the watch towerrr. ” After the transfer is complete, she turns and moves to intercept the newcomers to assess thier intentions, expecting the others to follow.
When May spots them and realizes who they are, her eyes go wide. She makes no other hint of recognition, however she closely watches Snow.
Aukan's grin at Oghren is the widest its been since you've met him.
Aha! A challenge then! the goliath booms
He begins limbering up, and doing a little dance.
Tomoka, ta he ka! ohítikA, haŋbléčheyA! até maȟpíya He grabs a javelin off his shield and prepares to hurl it at the first sign of danger.
It looks like there is going to be a lot of suffering about to happen.
Dalon readies his shield and mace after he crosses the rope bridge.
Eerie emerged during breakfast with his usual toothy smile. He kept to himself during breakfast and mostly maintained a gaze on May.
*********************
Continuing his gaze throughout the events..
...he notices May's wide eyes and then turns his gaze to the oncomers. After he crosses the rope bridge, his grin gets impossibly wider as he says, "Do not come near me until eet over." and moves about 40ft away from the group, to the side.
Maintaining his gaze on the newcomers, Eerie withdraws a hand into his robe and pulls out a large book. From a distance, the book looks pretty normal except there is something odd about the book's cover. It has an oddly light tan color. Eerie then slowly opens it and immediately there seems to be an aura around him. The aura seems to distort light, like heat will do, though it also seems to darken as well. If observed longer, one notices that the light distortions aren't consistent with an aura, they appear more as shifting, invisible tendrils. Eerie then begins shaking, as if laughing.
Oghren looks at Eeerie with a dwarf frown and says, "Easily done lad." Then attempts to keep up with Snow's pace.
"As you wish Eerie"
Dalron keeps his distance as he gets closer to the riders.
Sliver keeps to the rear. He prepares for the worst and hopes for the best. "Let us hope they are not the trouble that they seem."
|
As the group approaches, noting your defensive stances, they stop at a distance, the raven-haired man holds up a hand in a gesture of peace.
He calls out, We are not here to stir up trouble. Word's come down through Daggerford that the town has fallen on hard times and the Zhentarim offers aid, to help get the town back on its feet.
Aukan frowns while twirling his javelin in his free hand. So, you have not come to test your blade on my shield? clearly wishing this were not the case.
|
|
He calls out to Aukan, If it comes to that, but we were hoping that we could help you, and in doing so, help ourselves. You see, the Zhentarim is interested in using this town as a base of operations in the Waterdeep area. We will provide a boost to the economy and aid in recovery efforts in return. It will be beneficial for both parties!
EDIT: We had hoped to speak to the Nandars, but it seems that the Lady has gotten herself perished, and we understand that her husband was lost to the elves in the nearby forest. So it seems that we must entreat with you.
Eerie's gaze switches back to May, to try to read what she may think about it.
Aukan shrugs, what did he care about such things.
"We were getting ready to locate the townsfolk and let them know to come back. They would be the better party to speak to about their town. What about her husband lost to the elves in the forest?"
”Ahhh Kella. This is wherrre you rrran off to. Perhaps if you would have told us of yourrr frrriends before now, our meeting could have been smootherrr. No, I think help of the Zhentarim is not required today. Perhaps you may try again when a new Lorrrd or Lady has been appointed. “ Snow says matter of factly, leaving no room for negotiation on the matter. ” You should rrreturn to Daggerrrforrrd. When things have rrreturned to norrrmal you may rrreturn and give yourrr prrroposal.”
|
|
Sydiri turns to Oghren, The Nandar family has long used Nightstone as a hunting vacation spot. Lord Nandar fought with the elves of the Ardeep forest over hunting rights, conflicts became more and more heated, and in the end, he was killed by an elvish arrow.
Lady Nandar negotiated peace with the elves, giving up any claim to Ardeep Forest, in exchange for sensible logging rights.
In response to Snow's comment, the man looks disappointed, Why be difficult? It is obvious that this town needs help. You would spurn our offer because of a lack of leadership? What happens after you recover the townsfolk from the caves in the North? You would let them fix everything themselves? After all they have lost?
He looks to Kella first, then to the guards, You are the leaders of the town now, not these mercenaries. Would you spurn an offer of help, given in good faith?
Sydiri and the guards are clearly uncomfortable making such a big decision and look to you all for advice... Snow's decision is pretty clear, but the guard looks to the rest of you, well maybe she skips over Eeerie, and asks, What should we do?
A high pitched whirrrrrr comes from Snow’s throat when the man refers to her as a mercenary. She steps forward threateningly. ”I am no merrrcenarrry, and I do come to take advantage of those who arrre in a darrrk time. Yourrr help comes with many strrrings attached and would haunt Nightstone forrr yearrrs to come.”
|
|
The man smirks, We are not as we once were. We are businessmen. This is an opportunity to help our community.
"Perhaps you need to find another town to give your type of help too.
Speaking to Sydiri but never taking his eyes off of the men, "Since our council was asked for, I suggest that you have them leave while you consider their offer. If they do come in good faith, they should have no problem with that. I mean, as he said, the town needs help and can not offer them resupply nor place to rest. So they should be more than willing to take their 'good' intentions away for a time." Sliver does not raise his bow, but he adjusts to be more inline with the leader.
Observing the man's demeanor, Eerie regains his creepily wide smile and levels his gaze at the man. The distortion tentacles seem to move more hungrily now.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
May narrows her eyes at these....these ruffians, and cracks her knuckles, warming up her fingers should they decide to stay.
Aukan grins wider as he notices his companions tensing up.
Wakpa wé eyÁ khízA eyÁ wé eyÁ apȟÁ the Goliath chants as he begins his little dance
|
|
Seven riders in total and Kella, who is not mounted. As for the typo, I figured as much. ^_^
Sydiri nods at Sliver's advice before turning back to the Zhentarim lieutenant, Will you give us some time to consider your offer? We have other matters over which we have to... uh, contend.
She looks back at Sliver briefly, then over the rest of you.
The Zhent shakes his head, Disappointing... You know you need help, yet you pine for an alternative. Once we leave, the offer is off the table. Are you sure?
Sydiri and the others look at you one last time...
”Therrre it is. The firrrst thrrread of a web of conditions and lies these people will spin arrround Nightstone.” Snow does not take her eyes off of the Zhents as she continues her prosecution”Send them away Sydirrri. This is not an offerrr of help. It is thinly veiled extortion. Take time to make a wise decision, an honest offer of help would rrrespect that.”
Aukan's smile just gets bigger and bigger...
"As I said before, it is the decision of the townsfolk. Give them a couple days after returning so they can discuss amongst themselves about the towns future." Oghren then readjusts his grip on his great axe.
"The Zhentarium have a reputation of being ruthless and even cut-throat in their business dealings. They will make good on their offer, but it comes with strings, hidden agendas, or worse. Even now they pressure you when they feel they have the upper hand. I would advise that you stand strong and see what their next action is. If they really want to help then they will do as you ask. If they only want to take, then, well...."
Our help does not come with conditions and threats.
|
|
Hmm, I understand. While we welcome your help, I do not expect you to have the resources to rebuild the town...
The Zhent lieutenant spits in disgust, Boys, let's kill them and then no one will be there to stop us.
Order: May & Xolkin -> Sliver & Eeerie -> Kella -> Dalron & Snow -> Zhent thugs -> Aukan & Oghren
The Zhent lieutenant slides out of his saddle and nods toward Aukan and Oghren, I will handle these two, kill the rest!
A flurry of slashes are parried by both the goliath and dwarf, but Xolbrin slips a dagger between the seams of Oghren's armor!
I think May went before Silver and Eerie? Either way, I pick someone within ranged distance and , and that's a wiff. May then backs up so as not to be too close to the melee.
Eerie's grin and gaze is directed at the closest thug. His mouth moves as if he were saying something and then a small radius around both him and the thug darken slightly.
Eerie giggles quietly, "Jou were not worthy.."
When the zhents attack, Sliver brings up his bow and aims for the leader.
Aukan roars in pleasure as the Zhentarim attack....He screams his war cry as the leader attacks him!
Aukan drops his javelin and draws his axe, a wicked looking thing with a climbing pick opposite the axe blade.
"May the blessings of Ilmater guide you"
|
|
As Sliver draws a bead on the boss, Oghren just happens to move in the way causing the ranger to miss!
Round 1 Order: May & Xolkin -> Sliver & Eeerie -> Kella -> Dalron & Snow -> Zhent thugs -> Aukan & Oghren
Kella swears, drawing her hand crossbow and drawing a bead on Aukan...
But her quarrel flies wide as the goliath twists out of the way!
EDIT: Dalron posted just as I was!
Oghren, Snow, and Aukan feel a warmth run through them...