The Sphinx looks up from its meal “Are you here to attack me, too?” the sphinx asks sulkily.
He extends his claws and plays idly with an intricately carved puzzle box while staring down Kariananamu. “I once dreamed of studying at the Magaambya to learn of your magic and history, but now I am close to abandoning my dreams and returning home to my mountain. Whenever I try to gift humanoids a riddle, they attack me like beasts!”
From his lounging position, he narrows his eyes suspiciously at you, neither intimidated by Snaps! or fooled by Karianamu this clearly powerful creature follows up “You haven't flung any arrows my way yet, so perhaps you are different, answer my riddle and I'll throw in the box, unless you'd prefer to fight...”
The Sphynx briefly extends their claws before retracting them again.
He starts to recite a riddle before stopping "Ahh forgive me, where are my manors, I'm Zandyk and I would enjoy a bit of intelligent conversation first, or even something tastier than raw camel if there are any gourmands among you..."
|
"Indeed I am from much further south than that! And I have been to many places despite the warnings of my ancestors. One ancestor, above all, says that a well constructed riddle is like the finest spider's web. Capable of stopping you in your tracks unless you keep your wits about you. Grandmother Spider, or Nana as I call her, knows of the great mischief one can do with a well told riddle, but also says that cunning should be rewarded above all else. Is that not right, Nana?"
As Karianamu speaks, something seems to skitter under his clothing.
|
Sal smiles, for while his abilities in combat are poor at best, a play with words is something he can handle with aplomb!
"Zandyk, it is a pleasure, allow us to eschew obfuscation and engage in repartee." Sal launches into a slick speech of encouragement, built upon both rhythm and rhyme with the kind of esoteric vocabulary that only an academic can appreciate. He encourages the sphynx to not giving up the dream.
Clearly more relaxed than before Zandyk alright, and listen closely for you'll only get three guesses between you.
"Four wings I have, which mount on high,
On sturdy pinions, yet I never fly;
And though my body often moves around,
Upon the same spot I'm always found,
Like a mother, who breaks her infant's bread.
I chew for man before he can be fed.
"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Zandyk nods "Well done... well done. As promised..." The Sphynx places the puzzle box gently in Aeslynn's temporary pavilion and flies off.
...
Without the possible threat of being eaten you're also able to recover quite a few pieces of Wizelboom clockwork scattered thought the bandit camp.
Eventually returning Tidbit Wizelboom excitedly rewards you and listens to your stories of what happened.
Then she finishes rotating the puzzle box opening a secret compartment revealing a treasure map. "I never dared seek it out, and after that riddle, I think you were meant to have it.”
