Ahn'gur'frok's page

He nods to Sonechka - seeming to soften his demeanor a bit knowing his idea is understood.

To Green and Furiel he nods... "Your words lead my mind downriver while my feet are still firmly here. I will think on this... until your tribe moves for war. We will see what manner of beast beats in my chest... when the day catches up to the dream."

As he speaks, he ushers you out.

"Easily? No.... " He looks thoughtful, then lifts a sizable stone. "You are hit by a rock. You do not see from where it came, but I tell you falsely I know who threw it." He eyes Sonechka for a sign she understands. "She does not need fools to follow, to push one tribe to make war with another."

"Men serving him now? None have been seen. Behind his walls... I do not know who fights for him."

Ahn'gur'frok drips some water to mudden the dirt floor, then begins clawing a crude map as he speaks. "His tribe walked with men. The humans of the wood who fought against and beside fey-kind not born of this world. These lands turned to death as men turned on each other, and threw curses like spears. He was hatched in this time of unnatural hate... bitterness...."

"There was a name our chieftain would never speak, but he swore it was Her that drove them at each others' throats."

"Be wary of what drives you to fight. Blood and water mingles between both the just and foul. If you risk your own people to hold a hand out to mine.... I fear that a time of death has come again."
He finishes the map, and puts an X on Murque River... near Candlemere lake.
"You will find the Foul King there. Unless you seek your own end, do not go without twenty times your number."

He nods coolly with Green's assessment of the young, then gestures for the little ones to leave.

He lets an "Mmmm" when Green "can only offer words."

"If our horizons never meet, then you need no words from me. We will keep the yellow rock from the water which flows from our lair to yours." He shrugs to suggest he doesn't care... (as opposed to doing you a favor).

He then faces Green with lifeless eyes. "But until you find words that can carry the stain of my enemy's blood, I will not offer my hand... with spear or in peace, to sounds in empty air." He then looks past Green to the others... almost daring someone else to speak.

He continues in Draconic "You misunderstand. We do not lightly name our young with that sound. Ahn - gur - frok. We must bow our heads to make it. If one did not respect me, he would not bow his head... and say Ahn-gur-throk."
(it is just difficult for them to make the "F" sound with lizard lips...)

Draconic: "Ike'yurot thinks you will fight the Foul King. Ike'yurot thinks it is good for his reign to end, but does not think of the rise of yours."
"I do... I think of Gra'Whahar in the hands of a smoothskin, and wonder why this is better than in the Foul King's clutch."

The deteriorating portions of the cabins to the west of the cave have been patched with local flora. Ike'yurot leads you to the largest of them. Two females holding large jugs are leaving as you near.

Within you see the elder, the lizard with the withered arm strapped to his chest. His feet are in a shallow pool in the center of the hut while another female pours water from a jug to fill it further. Lizardfolk youth from very small to just larger than a gnome sit on either side of him.
On the wall behind him hangs an ornate spear with one offset trident tine.

He gestures to the ground on the other side of the pool.
"Sit. Healer may come."

He allows you time to get settled before speaking again.
"Names."

Ike'yurot points to each of you, and says your names. After Furiel, Ahn'gur'frok looks to Ike'yurot - who immediately "corrects" himself in a half-cringe... "Thuriel... Ahn'gur'frok."

Ahn'gur'frok's eyes narrow... he looks to Ike'yurot then Furiel before speaking again, "Ike'yurot may leave." and the lizard shaman does so.

Ahn'gur'frok continues - his gaze bearing down on Furiel. "Name of smallest has sound... hard for us. Must lower head to make. Born to lead... or name is said with Th-." He exaggerates the movement of his forked tongue making the sound.

He then gestures to the children on either side of himself while looking at Green... then nods. "Young... "