Market
The northern oklu spoke Giant until they realised you preferred to speak Common. Cronin is insightful enough to realise that the oklu regard Giant as more formal and thus persuasive.
Trignotarbs
"Where does this Malsalix come from?" Nayce asks.
Market
Giant:
Cronin is obviously fishing.
Trignotarb
"Malsalix is a plant of sorts. The Kadrana kept it as a trophy, much as they kept our eggs. It escaped, as we escaped and runs through the inner waters of Kadralu. Our Hive hears rumours that the Malsalix was freed deliberately to bring about the downfall of the Kadrana centuries ago, but our records are sparse."
Xurtix considers the issue.
"It is curious. Few could do such a thing. The Kadrana of five centuries ago were weak. Their hive had no substance. They would not seek to destroy themselves. Only the oklu might have had the means and they are gardeners. They only live to serve their masters.
You think us strange and brutal in our ways, but I wish nothing more than a peaceful enclave were we may live. If the Malsalix spreads, not even this garden will be safe."
Market
Cronin's polite greeting is acknowledged in kind, but he can discover nothing more at this time.
Market
"Sorta noticed we didn't think this 'split up' thing through. Don't even know where the other half of the guys went really since they all were flown somewhere, so good leadership and all that. Might as well look for those other %$(%*#ers who might've done this water tainting..."
Market
"They were flown away? Are there more of you?", asks Kagash curiously.
"Eastern cousins, as you see, our guests are happier to speak the other tongue. They are mighty oma. By their hands we of the north wall were lead to victory over the Skittering Death."
The oklu gatekeeper looks suitably impressed and bows politely to the newcomers. It might be imagination, but at Don's mention of water poisoning, the gatekeeper does not seem entirely surprised, although he is certainly shocked.
Accusingly, the bandit points at the gatekeeper, his eye squinting in suspicion. "This guy knows something. Alright, buggy, spill it."
The eastern gatekeeper's hands go to his weapon and he spins accusingly to Kagash, shouting in startled Giant.
"Speak Common, you dolt!"
Kevaras makes a half-hearted show of trying to hold back the bandit, while saying to the gatekeeper, "You'd best come clean with what you know, I don't know if I can hold him back."
The eastern gatekeeper's hands go to his weapon and he spins accusingly to Kagash, shouting in startled Giant.
** spoiler omitted **
Trignotarbs
"Could the giants be involved?" Nayce asks. "They have lately been threatening many of the other settlements in the area."
Market
To Kevaras' acute ears, the gatekeeper appears to think that Kagash has done something terrible bringing you here. At the paladin's words, he switches to common once more.
"You speak of an ancient libel. Ancient and hidden. No oklu here has any part of those happenings."
Trignotarbs
"They are poor shadows of the true Kadrana, but we find them useful as beasts of burden."
Xurtix gives the matter a little thought.
"They have been seen more often lately, it is true. The oklu may know more. Try the settlement along the eastern wall. They are more open to discussion than their northern brothers."
Having not bothered to learn many names, Don points now at Kagash, "You. Explain."
Greeg nodded at the advice. "thank you, your Highness . We'll take that advice and rejoin our companions with the news. May the great cycles bring success to your hive"
He said the words in formal thanks, even though he wasn't sure how much he wanted a culture like this to thrive and use other sentient beings for food and hosts. It probably wouldn't pay to say so right now though.
Trignotarb
Xurtix snaps a command in Trignotarb and a Savant flies in with a chest.
"Payment."
Four items lie on a nest of gold pieces. A golden necklace, a sapphire encrusted scabbard, a curious crystalline key decorated with sun motifs and containing a single drop of blood and - incongruously, perhaps, a strange knitted hat.
Timeless Locket +3
Neck Slot
Enhancement Bonus: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will
Property
You gain an item bonus to initiative checks equal to the locket’s enhancement bonus.
Power Daily (Minor Action)
You take a standard action, which you cannot use to make an attack.
Sapphire Scabbard
This scabbard bears a matched pair of azure sapphires whose magic imbues your blade with deadly sharpness.
Wondrous Item
Property
This scabbard resizes to fit any light blade or heavy blade. You can draw a weapon from this scabbard as part of the same action used to make an attack with that weapon.
Power Encounter (Free Action)
Use this power when you attack with the weapon most recently sheathed in the scabbard. Gain a +3 power bonus to the next damage roll you make with that weapon before the end of your next turn.
The weapon must have been sheathed in the scabbard for the full duration of your last extended rest to gain this power.
Headband of Insight
Headband of InsightLevel 16 Uncommon
Property
Gain a +4 item bonus to Insight checks.
Power Daily (Free Action)
Gain a +6 power bonus to a single Insight check made before the start of your next turn.
Key of Radiance
The key contains a single drop of the blood of the goddess Kaima. About 12 inches long, it was clearly designed for giant hands. A character carrying the key regains an additional 5hp whenever he or she spends a healing surge.
Market
Looking thoroughly flustered and increasingly angry, Kagash glares at the oklu gatekeeper.
"He accuses me of bringing you to conquer our eastern brothers as you have so easily rid us of The Skittering Death. He thinks you will obliterate them."
The desert bandit sighs, looking back to the gatekeeper, "Don't be so stupid. Me and em, we're just guys alright? We didn't even know about you buggies until we signed on to figure out whats poisoning the water. Now I'm not too keen on fighting a %$(^$ town, didn't come here lookin for a fight, and I ain't goin there lookin for one either. However one thing....bugs me...."
He smirks maliciously, "Interesting though that you immediately jump to those Eastern boys when I mentioned the water supply, isn't it? Oh sure, couple of yer other guys say 'Oh yeah that could be them maybe.' You seem a bit more certain."
"Start talkin."
Intimidate
"No. It is for the lothaar and only the lothaar to speak of these things.[/ooc]
Kagash holds his ground and turns away from Don.
"So much for gratitude."
Greeg looks with interest over the assembled gold and items brought by the Trignotarb queen. When his eye passed across the knitted beanie, he laughed in delight. Bending down to grasp the item, he eagerly placed it on his head, sighing as the knitt of the angora wool began to heat his head immediately. Already he could think more clearly, now he wasn't losing heat through his bald pate.
" This is a fine gift your highness, thank you."
"It suits you."
Xurtix sounds positively flirtatious.
Trignotarbs
Nayce finds that the scabbard would suit his sword perfectly. "I am grateful for this gift," he says.
Trignotarbs
Market
Market
Cronin tries to still the waters, speaking in Giant, then translating for the others. "Oklu of the eastern wall, it is as Kagash says, we are mighty oma, and we led the north-wall oklu to the destruction of the Skittering Death. We seek not to libel, but plead ignorance of ancient disputes among the oklu. It is our interest to learn from the eastern-wall oklu. We petition to enter the enclave and be allowed to learn how the eastern-wall oklu serve the masters."
Trignotarbs
"If we were to seek out the Malsalix - the probable source of the poison - where would you recommend we begin our search?"
Trignotarbs
"The oklu of the eastern wall are deluded and simple, but they have their uses. Access to the central city is their prerogative. We will take you within reach of their enclave, but we will not approach too closely. Our Hive must be protected and we do not wish to wage war on anyone through misunderstanding."
Market
Cronin's words have their effect. Kagash is far more inclined to listen to the goliath than the rogue and calms himself. As he does so, the effect passes to the gatekeeper.
"Wisely spoken, oma. We accept your petition and you may enter."
Kagash looks curious. "You spoke of others among you who flew away. Where are they now?"
Don casually rolls his dice, looks at the result, then shrugs.
Market
Cronin glances at Don and his dice, then decides to answer himself. "We encountered creatures that called themselves trignotarbs. We fought, and they yielded. Some of our number went with them. That was yesterday morning."
Kagash and the gatekeeper look at each other and Kagash explains.
"There are no Trignotarbs. Only eggs in the museum. You and your friends have made an error. The Kadrana would not release them."
Trignotarbs
Nayce nods respectfully. To his companions he says, "Perhaps we ought to meet up with the rest of our group before entering this enclave. If the trignotarbs can show us the way, perhaps we can investigate with greater numbers at our aid."
"Whatever it was, I had plenty of em grubbies on my gear. Heck, iffin you don't believe us, we could almost show ya, but well, I dunno where those other guys flew off to. Seems to me we sorta didn't think that through. I guess they'll prolly go back to that town we all checked out first."
Greegnods in agreement with Nayce. He subconsciously went to rub his bald head but came in contact with the warm wool of his cap. He sighed in contentment.
"Yeah, lets get back to the others. Gotta tell them what we know, and Cronin's gonna flip when he sees this great beanie. It's just like my ma makes."
Trignotarbs
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea, safety in numbers and all that, and we probably want to be safe, though of course that implies we probably shouldn't have come here at all as it's hardly a safe place." Guldarin peers appreciatively at Greeg's new headgear. "That is rather fine, isn't it. I can't remember what it reminds me of but it will come to me at some point, although probably not with the pattern attached as I tend to forget parts of those which is certainly sometimes quite embarrassing, at least my sister seemed a bit upset with that sweater I made her, not that it had bits missing so much as being very slightly the wrong shape. You wouldn't happen to know anyone about eight feet who weighs around four stone and likes purple and green, would you? It'd help if they had three arms. Didn't think so."
Xurtix bestows a benevolent smile on Guldarin as the dwarf describes his knitware failure.
"One final gift. I share the store of our Hive's knowledge with you. Our Hive is endangered if the Malsalix is not brought under control. Listen, little knitter."
She whispers to Guldarin.
History Revealed
You touch the disgraced general, conjuring images in your mind of a lavish masquerade ball, a military coup, and a horrible massacre.
Component Cost: 600 gp
Market Price: 2,900 gp
Key Skill: Arcana
Level: 11
Category: Divination
Time: 10 minutes
Duration: 5 minutes
When you complete the ritual, you touch a willing or helpless creature and see the most defining moments of the creature’s life. The images appear in order from the most important to the least. Your Arcana check determines the number of past scenes you see. The scenes you view are those most pivotal to the creature’s history and are not chosen by any agency. Performing this ritual more than once on the same creature invariably displays the same scenes unless the creature has experienced defining moments since the last time you performed the ritual.
Arcana Check Result Number of Scenes
9 or lower 1 scene
10–19 2 scenes
20–29 3 scenes
30–39 4 scenes
40 or higher 5 scenes
Allowing the party to gather their treasure (who has what, by the way?), the imperial Trignotarb Queen gestures to three of her Hunters.
"Take them to the edge of the oklu enclave. Do not be seen and return quickly."
Market
Cronin nods noncommittally and is ready to enter the enclave.
Trignotarbs
Dram puts his hand on Dirt's shoulder and looks about him. Moving closer to his companions, he outlines his plans in an undertone.
"I'm staying here. I don't trust these Trignotarbs and I know they won't find me easily in this garden, so I'll watch them for you. You'll get word from me if anything happens you should know about. Sleep if you want. She won't know it, but you'll have a guard."
Slipping quietly into the undergrowth, he and Dirt blend into the background and vanish from sight.
However uneasy the group may feel about Trignotarb hospitality, there is no denying their need for rest. For the moment at least, Xurtix seems to be going out of her way to present herself as a reasonable monarch. Dram's unseen presence is additional security.
Restored and ready to quit the Hive, Guldarin, Nayce and Greeg ready themselves for more travel sickness. Three Hunters carry them carefully out of the tended garden and out of the fallen towers. The desert heat blasts you as the Hunters rise and fly slowly towards crumbled walls. They set you down carefully about half a mile from some walls, hiding behind a stone outcropping. The way ahead is clear enough. In the distance you can just see rooftops.
"The Eastern enclave. Her Majesty thinks this is the safest place for you to approach the oklu."
Without waiting to see what you do, the Hunters take off again, returning gratefully to their garden paradise.
"Well. If I'd known how interesting bringing down monarchs was I'd have done it before. Deliberately, as opposed to accidentally, though it wasn't really my fault that time." Guldarin looks around. "Should we shout for the oklu, or just wander around until we find some. Or something else, which might tell us where they are or perhaps try and eat us, though I'd rather hope it isn't the second."
"I think we ought to scout the perimeter and see what we are up against," Nayce suggests.
Greeg looked down at Nayce and grimaced a little. " Ah...I don't tend to do so well at the sneaking side of things Nayce. Mostly I do my scouting by letting things see me and decide to leave or attack, depending on their disposition."
He shifted slightly, awkwardly trying to keep his bulk concealed behind the desert rocks while giving his companions some room. "I'll follow your lead on this my friend, but take into consideration that the easiest way for you to sneak with me hanging around is most likely in my shadow"
He was trying to be ironic, but just then his shoulder dislodged a chunk of loose rock and it tumbled noisily at his feet, punctuating his point nicely.
As Greeg inadvertantly dislodges rocks, he sees residue of ancient spider webs. Now that the small party have a chance to look around them, it is clear that they have been set down beside a spider nest of enormous size. Remnants of past meals bleach in the sun and a skittering trail leads towards the walls. Bar a few very small spiders, the nest is unoccupied.
Cronin's presence has its usual soothing effect. While the gatekeeper keeps a watchful and not entirely trustful eye on Don and Kevaras, he allows the pair inside. Andaros, long silent, has attracted no particular attention.
Kagash looks out over the desert towards a stone outcropping in the distance. "It gladdens me that the Skittering Death will no longer return to plague us. We have learned much from you oma and we will not forget."
"Do not forget, Kagash. And you and the northern-wall oklu fought well. The masters will be proud."
Market
Don consents to a nod of agreement at Cronin's words.
Greeg felt the overwhelming urge to just walk towards the walls. "Let's see what comes of approaching openly. After all, the Trignotarbs said these guys are fairly receptive."
With that, he got up and led the group onwards.