Slam sat quietly as Bander negotiated, but once it was completed and he returned successfully, he nodded appreciatively at the Kender. "Did you get their permission to travel through their lands?"
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Upon seeing the barbarians, Slam says "I'll wait here while one of you goes and talks to them." he was not hiding, but was trying to seem as inoffensive as possible: after all, it was the Qui Kiri's lands that they were going to travel through.
Slam pats Bander on the shoulder as gently as possible and says "You have more bravery in you than most. Do not hide behind jokes or your stature. Be proud of your choices."
"An interesting question. I was specifically told to hand the staff to the statue of Mishakal, but I'm not sure what that specifically means. I'm assuming that it will be obvious when I see it. Right now, I'm more concerned with arriving alive than solving puzzles." Slam lowers his voice, but he still is clear enough to hear, before saying "Truth be told, I am surprised I have made it as far as I have. I can only assume that it is by the grace of the Gods of Good that I have made it this far."
"We will probably need to purchase food, at the very least. It may take a while before we finish."
"Sooner we get started, the sooner this will be behind us." Slam said.
"Very well." is all the Ogre says.
"If we have to risk the pass, I'd prefer it if we had mounts, or even a wagon." he then shrugged and said "but we don't. We just have us, and the mission. If I provide the focus, you may be able to sneak along the sides of the pass without being seen. Other than that, you'll want to have ranged weapons." As he spoke, he thought for a moment, then added "Bander, I have a very important job for you to do, and you're the only one here who can do it." Once again, he hands Bander the staff. "Please store this in your bigger on the inside bag, and I'll carry you. We may have to run at some point and I don't want you to get left behind." The unspoken part, however, was clear: if I get killed, please complete my mission.
"Is there any way through without going through a mountain pass? Tactically speaking, it's going to be set up as an ambush, possibly several depending on how long iti is. I really don't want to spend the day fending off volleys of arrows from people on cliffsides."
"That seems like a lot of work though."
"I thought that the map they were carrying had Xak Tsaroth on it?"
"That would be different, although with the exception of wizards and rumors of dragons, I don't know of anything that breathes fire."
Slam demures the proffered meat and instead draws out some days old bread to eat as he walks.
Slam again secured the staff to the outside of his pack then secured it onto his back and said "We should keep moving."
Slam looks intently at Bander and gestures with his hand again.
"We can make sacks of whatever doesn't fit in Bander's sack." says Slam as he turns to the Kender and holds out his hand.
Slam offered a quick prayer of thanks to Kiri-Jolith before saying to the others "Let's go."
Slam blocked the creature's claw and bite with his shield then smashed his blade into it.
Slam moved into melee range and swung, but he did not target the creature; instead, he swung for the creature's weapon.
"Says someone who serves the losing side."
"Then come, and test your might against mine."
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?"
"He claims to be a member of the order of Draco."
"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?"
"Why have you been tasked with finding this staff?"
"I will not allow a prisoner to be treated with indignity. You may, however, search him for weapons or information."
"And what god does your order serve?"
"Why don't we ask our guest." Slam says as he indicates the one struggling against Maddok. "Why are you looking for a blue crystal staff."
"I did not." Slam said between prayers.
Slam nods to Maddok on successfully detaining the creature and then....completely ignores it. Instead, he moves to each of the "statues" and says a prayer over them.
"Yield."
Slam swung his blade into another Draconian and said "What are these things?"
Slam swung his blade into the Draconian that attacked him.
Slam said nothing, but instead drew his blade while physically moving Kali behind him.
Slam said "I asked you nicely once. Now I'm telling you to leave." to drive home his point, he put his hand on the handle to his sword but did not draw it.
"Whether or not I have a staff is none of your concern. Go about your business."
Slam will as well, making sure to keep himself between the "seekers" and Kali.
"We should just pass them as two ships in the night."
"I thought we were going to speak to these Que-Kiri that Thalasi suggested."
Slam stands vigil throughout the night, never wavering. In the morning, he prays for guidance and that his goal is near.
"Stay here. It's either a trap or wizard playing pranks. Neither is good in the dark."
"I am fine." Slam said.
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