"Okay? So that's more of a who. I was wondering more about the what. What are your people called? Where do you hail from? Neraka is my guess."
"And what god does your order serve?"
"And what god does your order serve?"
"Takhisis."
At the lizard-man's answer, Peregrine draws in a quick, sharp breath; her focus on the thing intensifies, and her grip tightens on the walking-stick-slash-half-staff she'd been swinging. "That's kind of telling." She eyes the creature, then turns to look at the detritus of the rest, frowning as she steps away and kicks lightly through the robes and such that now decorate the road.
Staring at the collection, she suggests in a distracted voice, "Take his robe off. Or cloak, whatever it is. Let's see what we're dealing with." She then starts to rapidly go through what remains of the creatures' gear, sorting it into quick piles -- cloaks there, armor there, daggers there, swords there, whatever makes the most sense. Particular attention will be paid to purses and paperwork.
Take 10 on KS: Everything for an 18 to see if she knows what the thing is. :P :)
The elf will cast detect magic on the dragon men's equipment
The swords are heavy and designed to chop rather than thrust. Daggers are wickedly designed too. There appears to be nothing out of the ordinary, no glowing magic. Every purse contains at least 30 pieces of steel, some of them have more. As for paperwork, there are a few maps of Abassinia.
"Ooo. Maps?" Bander moves over toward the sight of maps. "Can I see."
Yes. DC 15.
Know religion
Know religion 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Yep, you pretty much know about Takhisis.
The missing constellations. the Dragon Queen has returned with her shrieking hosts the elf says.
"I will not allow a prisoner to be treated with indignity. You may, however, search him for weapons or information."
"I wear my cloak over my clothing, Master Slam, not the other way around. Presumably he does the same with his armor." The expression Peregrine gives to the ogre is one of baffled irritation.
As her hurried sorting uncovers purses heavy with steel, she frowns as the small pile of them grows. "Somebody is spending a lot," she muses, experimentally holding the heavier chopping-weight blade for a moment. When she comes up with the maps, she gives a whistle of appreciation, unrolling first one, then another, to give each a scan. At Bander's request, she gestures him over and hands them to him. "Find out if Xak Tsaroth appears on any of these?" she asks him, and returns to her fast sorting.
Trusting Peregrine's judgement in the situation, Maddok disrobes the prisoner.
He gives the garment a good firm shake before handing it off to Bander.
Bander finishes a thorough search. He looks up at Maddok, "You need some rope for our guest." He offers the minotaur.
He returns to the maps to help in the search and man he really loves maps.
Xak Tsaroth is on the map, the ruin is found due east of your position.
"I don't see anything that starts with a Z . . . there is at 'Ksak' Tsaroth. Wait can the an X make a Z sound? Its east of here."
Kali looks over the maps with Bander, more out of curiosity than any hope of being able to help.
"Sometimes. I knew a guy named Xavier, and he spelled his name with an X," Kali answers. "Must be nice to have a name that people aren't going to misspell, though. I think I envy you a bit, Bander."
The draconian doesn't like being tied up.
"Why have you been tasked with finding this staff?"
Bander laughs, "That's funny I know a kid name Javier and he spelled it with an 'H'.
The kender talks in the direction of the squirming draconian, [b]"Lizard thing, you are surrounded by foes and the ogre strains to keep you alive. Answer his questions." He sniffs, "Or one of these powerful wizards will turn you worse than stone." He waves his fingers like a child pretends to cast a spell.
Bander laughs, "That's funny I know a kid name Javier and he spelled it with an 'H'.
The kender talks in the direction of the squirming draconian, [b]"Lizard thing, you are surrounded by foes and the ogre strains to keep you alive. Answer his questions." He sniffs, "Or one of these powerful wizards will turn you worse than stone." He waves his fingers like a child pretends to cast a spell.
[dice=Intimidation]1d20+2
Okay, Kender can't intimidate to day.
"We want to destroy it, because it's a good thing."
"You want to destroy something granted by the Gods? What heresy is this?" Slam's hand wrapped around the handle of his blade, but he stopped himself short of drawing it.
Taking a deep breath, Slam says "What was the name of your knightly order? The order of Draco? Very well, I shall grant you a knight's death."
Slam took one of the creature's weapons and dropped it in the dirt at the Draconian's feet, but just out of reach.
"My name is Mel'gwamp'thama, servant of Kiri'Jolith, and I challenge you to formal combat to the death. Do you accept, or are you a knight in name only?"
Peregrine, still sorting things out, lifts her head as she hears the challenge. "Slam, I --" she begins, but can't interrupt him in time before he finishes. Staring at (and studying) the creature's form, she grimaces and flexes the fingers of her right hand as she warily watches the thing, asiding to Kali, "I don't think he's a knight even in name ..."
"You're right. he seems more like a Seeker," Kali says as things take a grim turn.
Peri shakes her head again, eyes fixed on the dragon-man. "No, I don't think so. He seems more like a soldier -- one operating in uncertain or enemy territory."
"He claims to be a member of the order of Draco."
This creature serves a goddess just as powerful if not more so than the bison of heaven and is something not seen before 9n Ansalon
Bander looks at the exchange in interest. "Knights take such matters very seriously. You will not convince a Knight Solemantic to withdraw an offer of combat regardless if the lizard thing has or deserves such an honor. The fact that this is an ogre and a newly discovered lizard person . . . that's just exciting. I'd take bets but Slam will destroy him."
Peregrine lift her hands in token of surrender in response to Slam’s statement. “Challenge made, big guy. Maddok, let the dragonman go.“ She watches the developments with a certain coldness in her eyes: long-term care of a prisoner would be difficult, and if they let him go, he’d lead his compatriots straight to them. “Kali, get your bow ready,” she asides to the other woman.
"Dragonman? Seems a bit much. Dragons were supposedly big amazing creatures of awe and power." Kender are known as fearless to the point of nonsense but the utter lack of fear in a dragon's description highlights this. "This lizard thing? Drab dressers and turn to stone and dust when battle is heavy."
Kali nods and readies her bow.
Maddok nods in understanding. He gently puts the dragon-man back on the ground.
Slam straps on his shield and draws his blade, but allows the Dragonman a changes to prepare himself, while he kneels and speaks a quiet prayer:
"Lord of Honor, please hear my cry. Guide my soul always in the path of righteousness, and let not my baser emotions control me. Allow me serenity in all I do, so that when my death comes I will not know regret."
Standing, Slam says "Make me the blade that is the instrument of your will, lord."
Turning, Slam approaches Bander and says "I believe that you asked to hold this. You know what needs to be done should I fall here." while handing Bander the staff.
He then turns back to the Draconian and says "Are you ready? Have you made peace with your wh#$e of a goddess?"
The draconian lifts a wing and says, "Takhisis will control all the lands of Ansalon. She will put you all to the task. I'm no knight, nor do I wish to be. But if you want your trial by combat, I'll happily comply."
Bander holds the staff with an awe reverence. Silent before the task.
The elf looks on/
"Then come, and test your might against mine."
Peri's eyebrows lift as Slam turns the object of such concern over to a kender, bemusement clear in her expression as her gaze shifts back to his confrontation with the dragon-man. Her expression tightens as he insults the Queen of Darkness -- while the gods may be disparate in their intentions, outlooks, and worshipers, they are all necessary for the world's existence and balance. Insulting one ... may well be an insult to them all.
But she doesn't say anything, merely remains ready to drop her wand of magic missile into her hand and snap a shot out at a fleeing, flying dragon-man.
Still standing in stiff reverence Bander realizes he's close to the fight and scoots back trying to look like he is not moving much.
The draconian makes his initiative:
He whips out his sword -- which appears to be a falchion. "I will kill you, ogre, for being honorable. Because honor is stupid."
"Says someone who serves the losing side."
"If you all are not gonna fight you need to hone the trash talk game." Bander suddenly notes that he is holding the staff and straightens back up and grows serious again.
I believe that Slam has the first turn.
The elf begins to think about the implications of what all of this means.
Slam moved into melee range and swung, but he did not target the creature; instead, he swung for the creature's weapon.
The draconian tries to parry.
His sword breaks.
Oh right. He throws his sword away and attempts to bite!
,
,