It's been days, days trekking through the jungle, fighting off cultists and jaguar looking tabaxi. You've frozen at night when the rain made things cold and the firewood was too wet to light. It's been grueling but you've survived, in the distance she sits on a throne of stone, the only illumination the to braziers next to her and the stars above. She's flanked by two tabaxis with bows and ten are in formation providing a path for you to follow, spears held in their arms. They make no move to attack you.
Obsidian walks forward confidently until he is at the end of the spear held path. He slowly looks all around him, left to right. In a deep gravelly, rugged voice he speaks loudly, His eyes fall on the one on the throne,
"There she is." Garidan whispered, as soon as they spotted her. "I don't trust her calm pose on the throne...."
Then they step forward and Obsidian speaks...
Yes, you have made quite a mess of things. Slaughtering my people. She grabs the staff by her throne and stands up but makes no move towards you. And what would you do with me if I didn't lead my people against you? Perhaps you could be convinced to join us instead?
Obsidian grins, "I admit, I would be disappointed. Face me and I will best you and leave your tribe alone."
Artemis steps forward, tired for the restless nights and for the lifes she had to take to get here, to see her.
May they find peace in death, may they find the path to their gods.
She silently listens Obsidian's speech. She assumes a resolute posture while he speaks, endorsing every single word.
But then, she expected a fight. She didn't expect her to speak like that.
Could that be true? If that's so, we might spare lives. I must be sure she isn't lying.
Artemis questions her, deeply focused on every movement, every change of expression.
"So you are trying to convince us that all those poor men were sent fighting us not by you, but by someone else? And that you simply waited until they were all lifeless, until we arrived here, before letting us know this? I don't know if I can trust you."
They were my tribesman, but this all started with you invading our places. You killed sons, husbands, daughters, mothers and friends. I think it's understandable that some of my people would come after you, don't you think?
"It's a trap. She's stalling." Garidan whispers to his allies and he motions them to not approach further.
"I like a good trap," Obsidian whispers back. "That may be true, but you decided fighting was your response! That's only a good response if you can win. Otherwise it is like running uselessly against a," he grins, "stone wall!"
She stands up, staff in hand. So you won't be swayed to end this foolishness?
"You." Artemis starts losing her calm. "You, started this foolishness, not us. We are here to end it, once and for all, and I hope we can settle it without murdering other innocents."
Artemis holds strong her bow and speaks loud, to the tribe. She stands behind her ape, ordering it to protect her.
"She doesn't care about anyone of you! She would let you die for nothing, as she did in the past! Let her face her crimes now! Step back, and you will live. Fight, and you will join her in her judgment."
Garidan doesn't trust the situation and readies himself for the worst. His muscles grow bigger and his arms sprout strange vines. Similar vines sprout around Bob's muzzle.
"Like you, I'm one with the jungle." He explains while showing his entwined arms.
Always so stubborn. The jungle queen looks at Obsidian, and points the stave at him. Rennoch. She whispers. You'll join me, won't you?
Garodan recognizes the spell as Charm Person
Obsidian's feet sink into the ground partially as a small roaring sound happens. The ground trembles. With a quick and powerful motion Obsidian pounds his fist to the ground. When he does this a spike of earth quickly juts out toward the queen.
Garidan prepares himself and Bob for the brawl.
Carefully protecting each other they move through the honor guard of spearmen.
Reaching her, he howls "Get her!" and Bob tries to bite her leg.
Garidan prepares himself and Bob for the brawl.
Reaching him, he howls "Get him!" and Bob charged the enemy and tries to bite his leg.
Obsidian's power is obvious as the earthen spike flies at her, thankfully the aim was off just a bit.
Garidan and his companion Bob drop one of the feline guards on his ass. The six furthest from you move into a line to protect the queen while the other five move towards the you. They're able to not quite surround you, but three are going after obsidian while two attack Garidan and the fifth strikes at Bob.
The two archers at the queen's side loose their arrows.
The queen raises her hand and a mist billows out from her obscuring her form and dousing the braziers on either side of her and leaving the temple clearing lit only by the stars above.
Obsidian gives a smile that no one sees as his feet once more sink as the ground trembles. He swings his arms in a wide arc toward one of his adjacent attackers. As he does so an earthen maul forms in his hands.
Two of the fighers attacking Obsidian take a five foot step, flanking him on either side as their friend distracts him.
His blows catch nothing but Obisidian's armor as the two now repositioned fighters strike.
The chaos of the battlefield causes one of them to swing wide cutting across his friend's armor and knocking him prone.
The eight archers shoot at Obsidian without hesitance that they might hit their comrades.
The Jungle queen hiding in the mist raises her hand and a ball of lightning forms that comes flying at you and discharges.
Obsidian swings at the now prone enemy. But attacks cautiously.