"I see. The metal you describe sounds like gold. Dwarves do tend to like gold, though that does not give them the right to attack your people. These dwarves do not represent the nearby villages and towns, and the nearby villages and towns have no authority to control their actions. If you wish us to prevent future attacks by the dwarves, Meekis' clan would have to...join...with the human settlements. Then, we would be able to enforce protection of your clan."
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Kiptera out of sight and hearing from group, including Isis's messenger spell.
DM Xealot
She successfully battlecrawls to a position on diametrically opposite of the parley party of Kobolds and her group. When she can see the Kobold(s) guarding the hostage and within range (~80 feet) of her crossbow, does not approach any closer. So she does not hear any negiotations, but may be able to discern details of hostage situation.
Perception
I'll hold position, preferably in thick brush/low area and take a bead on the Kobold Guards and await for a non-violent resolution. If she sees blades bared and hostage threatened she is likely to fire, if it looks as if guards are merely moving her towards negotiating party with posturing threats, she'll hang tough and retrace her path back towards Isis.
Diplomacy roll:
Denis looks at Venedictos, surprised that he would suggest the Kobolds to join with a village. He looks back to Meekins and folds his arms over his chest, hoping to make things a bit better. He was dissappointed that it was a dwarf there and not some maiden, but at the same time he was suspecious of Kobold and didn't entirely trust him.
Seeing how the conversation was going he decided not to say anymore or get involved in the conversation in any way. Perhaps learning to get along with the Kobolds would help him learn to get along with other people and races. A skill he'll have to learn when he finds a place to call home.
"I see. The metal you describe sounds like gold. Dwarves do tend to like gold, though that does not give them the right to attack your people. These dwarves do not represent the nearby villages and towns, and the nearby villages and towns have no authority to control their actions. If you wish us to prevent future attacks by the dwarves, Meekis' clan would have to...join...with the human settlements. Then, we would be able to enforce protection of your clan."
Did she hear that last part right, Isis wondered?
Did Venedictos just suggest forming an alliance with Kobolds?
Had the sun gotten to that bald head of his? Her mother and the town elders would never agree to such a crazy thing. Kobolds couldn't be trusted.
Even if they could be trusted, if what the kobold had said was true of them sitting on top of a gold mine then her father and a dozen other men in the town would want to take claim to the land.
Tanner's Crossing wouldn't just be some stupid spit of a farming village in the backwoods. It would be a gold town with people coming from half the kingdom to mine and get rich.
This was open territory with no Baron or Lord to steal your claim with statements of divine right. This was land where the first to file a claim owned the land and every speck of gold underneath.
Dammit, she could finally get something other than oatmeal for breakfast and and clothes. Real honest to Erastil clothes like city women wore. Heck, she might be able to get a closet of clothes if the little reptile could be made to talk.
It was all right to be neighborly and good with real people but kobolds weren't people. They were comic mistakes compared to real dragons. Even if they agreed to something, it would only be for a week or so before they forgot what they had signed.
Yet, a week might be enough time to file the appropriate papers if they could get enough money and knew where to file the claim. A proper and legal claim that the power of the kingdom would uphold and defend in court and with force of arms if the claim jumping kobolds continued to be a nuisance.
"No, no, good sir, that would likely be a disaster. But an alliance with the village would be beneficial to both groups. You would give the villagers permission to mine the gold you don't want, and the villagers would protect you and offer you things you want to help defend yourselves against aggressive outsiders. Everybody wins."
The diplomacy appears to be working so well that even Denis finds this interesting as he looks at Venedictos approvingly. Indeed having some kind of alliance or help would be good, though he didn't think much on simply offering things to help them defend themselves. He was thinking more around the area of food. The humans could take all the ore and the Kobolds could get fine food and ale as a replacement. Denis remains quiet though, afraid that further speaking would ruin their chances at this negotiation. Perhaps there were many more of these Kobolds as Meekins talks about bringing back the Dwarf to a shaman.
AS he thoughtabout this he was now interested. Meekins didn't say anything about it being gold. He simply said the metal ore was a funny colour and very weak. What could it be?
'Did I hear that right Kiptera. Are they talking gold? Like in a Gold Mine? My dad has forever tried to find gold or silver just almost anything precious and these, uh, kobolds, have a gold mine?'
Isis feels almost drawn to stand up and get closer to hear better but Kiptera had told her to be ready to run if things went bad and this talk of gold could be a trick.
Oh, she didn't know. She didn't know anything of the ways of kobolds.
They could be like leprechauns or gnomes forever promising wonderful things but always using that lure to punish the greedy humans. They might have no gold at all and just looking for the opportunity to march the lot of them into a cave and ambush them.
What to do, what to do?
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Kiptera remains out of sight and communications. Isis does not get any response.
DMXealot
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Ants crawling on crossbow bolt will likely get ride of life, Kiptera thinks to herself. Hope I collected enough debris to cover myself and my fat butt. Glad it is not raining, that'll add to the fun. I wonder why the Kobolds took a prisoner? Sacrifice? Intel? I'll find out soon enough, smiles to herself. I do feel a little guilty about leading the GoldPick Clan on a bearded lizard chase. I'll have to make it up to them somehow. Hmmm, maybe negotiate a finder's fee and partnership with them. There was that one guy that did catch my eye, might like to discuss what GoldPick and Stonehaven clans have in common. C'mon Kip. Keep your eyes on the prize, not saddled down before your career starts.
End of monologue.
Simon was ready to intervene but hearing Venedictos speaking so well and saying exactly what he would have said , he stays where he is.
He is thinking furiouly on how to recover the prisoner there .
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"Meekis clan be willing to give you worthless metal for protection. Meekis even throw in that smelly dwarf if it means something to you."
Meekis points to the dwarf as he refers to her. He then beckons the kobold guards to stand the dwarf up, who is bound and gagged. The dwarf is a little over four foot tall and has dark brown hair, she is trying to talk, probably curse, through the gag, all to no avail.
"That is most generous of you, Meekis. Would you also be able to give me a sample of this worthless metal, that I may take back to Tanner's Crossing? We will have to convince the people there that this is an equitable arrangement. It will be difficult, as the people there do not understand kobolds, and tall people tend to fear what they don't understand."
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"Meekis not have any... wait, Meekis think smelly dwarf have some... we would have let them have it but they kill Meekis clan, not just warriors, but little ones too... Meekis trust you round one, you not like smelly dwarf."
Meekis begins digging through the dwarf's pockets, much to her dismay, and finally pulls something out in his hand. He timidly walks up to Venedictos and drops a small item into his hand. It's a nugget of, what appears to be pure gold.
Profession Mining,
Craft Blacksmithing
Craft Metalworking
or
Appraise checks to determine worth of the rather large nugget and if it is actually gold.
Worthless metal? Maybe to a stupid kobold but it won't take long before the whole town was ripping up the hills and wringing kobold necks for 'pots of gold'.
Venedictos was preparing to crack open a wizard's staff and see what lay inside.
The only thing, the only proper thing to do, was to file a claim that removed temptation from the average citizen. If a claim was filed then people would have to respect it. Heck, if the wording was just right on the deal drawn up to transfer the bit of worthless metal and prisoner for protection then the kobolds might forfeit all later claim to the mineral rights in the ground.
The kobolds would even profit by having more caves to inhabit after all the worthless mineral was removed.
And she could get her father back because he wouldn't have to spend months searching for gold in some distant hills when it was just a few days ride from home.
But she had to act or the opportunity might slip away.
Isis stood up putting the sticks behind her back and the spell components back in the pouch.
'Hello, uh, Mr Venedictos, sir, I, uh, speak and write draconic. I could up put something official down on paper if you like. Sorta attesting to the conversation and words you've said. I could write it in multiple languages, to make sure everyone has a fair copy of the facts.'
Isis knows the languages of Common, Elven, and Draconic. She has also Profession Village Witch, which may cover writing of some documents or scribing as it is generally a mixture of healer and political office like a Shaman.
Isis is a good person but she will try to cut as close to the law as she knows it in any writing she would do. You can determine if this might require a bluff check or a diplomacy check (both skills she doesn't currently have so base Cha if needed). She would though play on any wording using her intelligence to choose words that are similar in different languages but can be interpreted widely differently depending on the intent of the reader.
Isis' aim would be to secure the mineral rights to the land under the kobold lands for stated protection which is as vaguely specified as to what that might actually entail. The proof of contract will be the return of the prisoner and a bit of the worthless metal that is provided.
She will try to avoid specifying Tanner's Crossing as receiving the mineral rights but letting that part being indicated to be assigned later by filing of claim; so, she might get the claim officially filed while the other people discuss the matter with the Mayor and others.
Worthless metal? Maybe to a stupid kobold but it won't take long before the whole town was ripping up the hills and wringing kobold necks for 'pots of gold'.
Venedictos was preparing to crack open a wizard's staff and see what lay inside.
The only thing, the only proper thing to do, was to file a claim that removed temptation from the average citizen. If a claim was filed then people would have to respect it. Heck, if the wording was just right on the deal drawn up to transfer the bit of worthless metal and prisoner for protection then the kobolds might forfeit all later claim to the mineral rights in the ground.
The kobolds would even profit by having more caves to inhabit after all the worthless mineral was removed.
And she could get her father back because he wouldn't have to spend months searching for gold in some distant hills when it was just a few days ride from home.
But she had to act or the opportunity might slip away.
Isis stood up putting the sticks behind her back and the spell components back in the pouch.
'Hello, uh, Mr Venedictos, sir, I, uh, speak and write draconic. I could up put something official down on paper if you like. Sorta attesting to the conversation and words you've said. I could write it in multiple languages, to make sure everyone has a fair copy of the facts.'
** spoiler omitted **...
Denis turns his attention to the witch who came up to them, offering her services to write it down on a offical paper and he rose his eyebrows whilst listening to this and shaking his head. He heard stories about Kobolds and how they would agree to one thing and then stamp all over it the next. They couldn't be trusted. The Kobolds would be able to understand two languages of his, that he was certainly however he didn't know if anyone would be able to understand abyssal in the group. Speaking such language might scare them or the Kobolds might scare them so he decided not to speak but to make it obvious to them both that Kobolds wouldn't stick to their agreement.
"Why, I think that is an excellent idea. Meekis, sir, this young lady would like to write up a formal and legal contract for this treaty. I'm uncertain if kobolds have this tradition, but the people of Tanner's Crossing definitely do, and only through exploiting that tradition will we be able to create a binding agreement that the Tanner's Crossing citizens will be forced, by their own laws, to respect. I believe this contract will likely state something like we discovered the presence of this metal beneath the hills and are claiming sole rights to mine it for our own purposes. Any people to whom we do not give permission to be on these lands will be subject to the laws of Tanner's Crossing. You, as the original settlers of the land, will grant us permission to use the land as we see fit, with the stipulation that we will bring no violence against you, and you will continue to live on this land both during the removal of the metal, and afterwards also. This will be in perpetuity, meaning that for as long as Tanner's Crossing exists, no humans would be allowed to come and try to take your land from you. Does that sound like something the kobolds of Meekis' clan would want?"
Part of this little speech is for Meekis' benefit, but part of it is also for Isis' benefit (as well as the others), to suggest what he feels should go in this treaty. Giving the mining rights to the town would only encourage the townspeople to come and try to eradicate the kobolds, after all. Since this is technically unclaimed land, better to claim it for themselves.
It could also be worthwhile if you kobolds know how to mine this metal to let you mine it for us and then for us to trade with you. Now I think you should go and speak with your chief while we go and speak with ours since only chiefs can sign treaties. Should we aggree to meet again here in 5 days ?
"Well, I suppose this is a good outcome for all of us" sheats his sword and removes his helmet "Meekis my name is Caelin and I'll make Venedictos hold true to his words about a peace treaty" extend a hand forward in sign of friendship. thinks to himselfGreedy dwarfs, I wonder what Kiptera could tell us about this...
Mercy is obviously disgruntled at the turn of events. She doesn't say anything and leans on her guisarme. She naturally distrusts the kobolds to the extent that she is still fully prepared to begin fighting at any moment.
She mutters under her breath about kobolds and goblins and adventurers and continues to sulk.
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Meekis listens intently to Venedictos and then to Simon. "Meekis' clan fine miners, do hard work for tall ones, give tall ones metal tall ones want, tall ones give Meekis' clan other things. Meekis like... what tall ones call it... Meekis think it called, cake? Yes, Meekis like cake."
"Meekis and Chief be back in five moons." With that, Meekis runs and cuts the ties to the bound dwarf, leaving her gag in as she begins swinging wildly at the kobolds who all take off skittering out of her reach.
Removing the gag from her mouth the dwarf yells out, "What in the name of all that's good are you flippin' doin' dealin' with them evil lizards!"
The Tiefling finds this quite strange, but if it makes the group feel better he decides not to step out and get in the way. It's go skin off his back if the Kobolds turn on the agreement like he knows they will.
Greetings, Meekins. I am Denis Dubosc.
After speaking this language he sees if the Kobold does some kind of sign of welcome to show that for now there was a truce between them all. He looked to the dwarf and wonders something, then he remembered their origonal reason with being here.
Meekins, we were told you had come out of your normals lands. Were you forced out by something or has your tribe decided to expand out to here?
Removing the gag from her mouth the dwarf yells out, "What in the name of all that's good are you flippin' doin' dealin' with them evil lizards!"
"Evil is only a matter of opinion. We get the metal and they get cake, all is well." Denis stares down at the dwarf, not caring that she would've seen what he looks like "How'd you end up here? Did you know the Gold was here?"
"Opinion my arse, they had me tied up and would've killed me if you hadn't come along, and you just let them go?" The dwarf seems to be royally pissed.
Denis leers at him for a moment. He could almost see the racial hatred in the dwarf's eyes. The same hatred he saw in every kid's eyes in the village when growing up. The same look the clerics at the temple would give him too.
"Listen! It's our decision as a team and if you don't like it I wouldn't give it a second thought to hand you back to them, got it!" he grits his teeth and his hands move to his scheath, but he manages to control it when he looks back at Mercy, sighing and then turning back to the dwarf. "You should be more thankful. I have met one of your kin and she seems to be a lot more even tempered than you."
"Why, I think that is an excellent idea. Meekis, sir, this young lady would like to write up a formal and legal contract for this treaty. I'm uncertain if kobolds have this tradition, but the people of Tanner's Crossing definitely do, and only through exploiting that tradition will we be able to create a binding agreement that the Tanner's Crossing citizens will be forced, by their own laws, to respect. I believe this contract will likely state something like we discovered the presence of this metal beneath the hills and are claiming sole rights to mine it for our own purposes. Any people to whom we do not give permission to be on these lands will be subject to the laws of Tanner's Crossing. You, as the original settlers of the land, will grant us permission to use the land as we see fit, with the stipulation that we will bring no violence against you, and you will continue to live on this land both during the removal of the metal, and afterwards also. This will be in perpetuity, meaning that for as long as Tanner's Crossing exists, no humans would be allowed to come and try to take your land from you. Does that sound like something the kobolds of Meekis' clan would want?"
Part of this little speech is for Meekis' benefit, but part of it is also for Isis' benefit (as well as the others), to suggest what he feels should go in this treaty. Giving the mining rights to the town would only encourage the townspeople to come and try to eradicate the kobolds, after all. Since this is technically unclaimed land, better to claim it for themselves.
Isis does her best to listen to Venedictos' words.
She keeps smiling as Simon says the bit on only chiefs can sign deals. Simon was so cute when he was being so naive. He was like a puppy that was fresh weaned from its mother and expected to be brought back to her shortly.
Well, they had one to two days getting back to the village. Iris wasn't sure which because it was Kiptera's job to figure out what was the best path. That would leave roughly one to two days in the village before they'd have to turn around and come back.
At least Isis might be able to work late after they stopped to camp and start on the rough draft. She was sure that she'd be getting input from just about everyone in the group.
<sigh>
Everyone was a camel committee when it came to these things. It almost wasn't worth doing the draft because it was likely going to be ruled by the council, thanks to Simon's insistence of chiefs, that anything she started to draft was going to be given a polite glance before being ripped to shreds as something too junior for a silly village witch to try and draft.
Yup, the most important find in Tanner's Crossing was likely going to be written up by the baker, the general store owner, and someone who barely knew their letters.
Well, at least it would keep them busy.
"Listen here Dvergr I'm still in a fighting mood if you wish for me to spill some blood, I have no problems with spilling yours if ya don't start showing some respect to my brothers-in-arms" resting his hand in the pommel of his sword "Dödän hungers for death and me to listen yer bellow "
initiative incase she does decide to pick a fight with me. I will only knock her out, not kill her of course.
Intimidate
Skald
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Kiptera eyes widen in disbelief when the hostage was revealed to be a dwarf. She tightened her grip and slowly brought the trigger back to within a hairwidth firing. Still, she promised to give parleying a chance.
What?! Why is that monster fondling her? I'll save him for last and up close.... What the...? Why that bugger actually did it! He really can charm a snake from his skin! Time for me to meet yet another dwarf. Nothing for one year and now the hills are crawling with my folk.
Kiptera keeping an eye out for the kobolds, makes stealthy to remove herself from the the kobolds exit path, then beats feet to rejoin group where she last left Isis. She couldn't wait to hear this story.
And why did she have a sudden craving for cake and crumpets?
Stealth
Base speed 20'
"Listen here Dvergr I'm still in a fighting mood if you wish for me to spill some blood, I have no problems with spilling yours if ya don't start showing some respect to my brothers-in-arms" resting his hand in the pommel of his sword "Dödän hungers for death and me to listen yer bellow "
initiative incase she does decide to pick a fight with me. I will only knock her out, not kill her of course.
1d20 + 4Intimidate
1d20 + 3Skald
** spoiler omitted **
"You know this Dwarf, Caelin?" Denis looks over to the brave warrior and can see that he clearly recognised the dwarf. Denis turns back to look at the dwarf "You are alive because I brought attention to you since I speak their language. You owe us respect, unlike your friend here who already has the respect of the group." Denis doesn't bother to look for the dwarf in the group. He's not stupid and doesn't wish to reveal her location. There is always the chance that things can go wrong.
"Miss , if you have information about these kobolds we are ready to listen but it is always better to try for peace. Now did those kobolds lie to us ? They did indeed say something strange about your clan attacking them but if so why are you alone ? "
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Looking towards Caelin the female dwarf yells back, "You overgown, kobold-lovin, fat oaf, don't you dare raise threaten me, I flog your arse within an inch of your life... and you," she looks towards Denis before beginning her next tirade, "Don't you start with me about respect their goat boy, I don't owe you a damn thing, especially not respect. Why don't you just baaaahck on up and but out." The last line had some quick jabs at Denis' infernal heritage and her thoughts about him being a goat.
Intimidate vs. Caelin
Intimidate vs. Denis
"I know my fair share of dwarfs already Denis, but not this one" points his finger at her with disrespect "Now I know dwarfs greed can go far indeed but I will listen to you just beacuse Simon is asking about it" looks at Simon "You better not bring this peaceful chance with the kobolds to an end, or all the blood spilt is in your hands just remember that" turns to the dwarf female "WELL!!! I DON'T HAVE ALL DAY SPEAK ALREADY!" starting to loose his temper and getting very seriously angry.
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"Of course, your kind always wants to try for peace, get information, whine like little babies... I'm alone because they killed the rest of my clan. We were mining and apparently one of our shafts opened up into their warren. Lizards thought we were attacking and we defended ourselves. The fell back we pressed the attack, thinking it was a small warren, we were wrong... they butchered us. I fled and they tracked me down. And you just let the butchers walk away. Bunch of flippin cowards you all are!"
" This is indeed a tragedy and I'm sorry for your loss. Do you think there are still Dwarves living ? Maybe we could negotiate an end to this war "
"Now this just turned intresting!!" smiles wildly "I on't recall we had to save someone just find out about the kobolds activities" smile grows bigger and more wicked by the moment "Well casualties of battle are normal right..."starts to seriously considering beatting her into a pulp and let her live just to remind her not to mess with my warrior pride "So your greed DWARF" pokes her in the forehead "What got you into a fight with the kobolds, is because you thought you could kill them all and keep the mine for yourself instead of making a bargain or parley to explain the circumstances and that it was all misunderstood" in a very accusational tone "I should let you be kobold food, but you need a better lesson and you already have it! Your greed costed your clanmates life and your wretched state" gives out a short laugh "Well you are alive be grateful for us saving you or stay with the kobolds and be tonights main dish, pick your choice wisely for I am not in a very good mood and is best I go back before things go worst... You hynda"
Intimidate
Skald
"Shut up fat arse!, I swear I'm within' a inch of floggin' ya!" she bellows back at Caelin.
"Shut up fat arse!, I swear I'm within' a inch of floggin' ya!" she bellows back at Caelin.
"WISE choice" turns to look at Simon "Do you mind taking her back with the others" gives a piercing gaze to Meekis "We shall see you here in five moons from now starting tomorrow, farewell great warrior Meekis until our new meeting" pats Denis and Veneditcos in the back "Well done Venedictos, indeed you are more dangerous with words than with a swords" smiles at Denis "Thanks for backing me up, even if I was the shield for the rest of you to gain advantage"
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Kiptera light jogging towards group, hearing the raised voices. She has a grim smile to her and thinks While a peaceful resolution, not a happy one. She has no words and listens to the arguements but makes no attempt to sooth things over. If it goes into circular arguements and personal insults, she mounts her horse Dimple, approaches the group and says in common "We have a lot to discuss and not much time, lets ride to Tanners Crossing as we discuss the pros and cons of Kobold neighbors(and in a grumbling whisper if Meekis is there otherwise it is said plainly) and Dwarven retribution."
In Dwarven
I'll be asking names of fallen Dwarves, location of mine and how many days of travel as hostage. Also if she is part of my clan, details of how long she has been in the area and possibly setting up a joint mining operation with Clan Goldpick at a site Kiptera knows about with no Kobolds interfering.
Mercy is obviously annoyed at what just happened. She agrees completely with the dwarf they had just saved, and is feeling incredibly put-off by allowing the kobolds to live. Hearing the dwarf's story, she identifies with her completely, and now that Caelin has berated her down and called her a liar, feels a lot of helpless rage she can't quite express. She gives Caelin an ice-cold glare and then returns to where Isis is standing.
"Let's go get your damn Bear," she mutters as she passes Isis, and she walks back into the woods for the horses where they had left them where they had first contacted the kobolds . She seems frustrated, kind of walking blind, almost stumbling along the pass as she heads back.
"Mercy what seems to be the problem?" asking with sincere curiosity since he dowsn't know why she is acting weird "Is it the kobolds? The dwarf calling us cowards? what is it?"
"Mercy what seems to be the problem?" asking with sincere curiosity since he dowsn't know why she is acting weird "Is it the kobolds? The dwarf calling us cowards? what is it?"
"Nothing. Let's leave. We should get this dwarf back to town and out of this place." She's straightforward and doesn't turn back when she talks.
"Please mind your language, miss," Venedictos says to the liberated dwarf. "Profanity is a sure sign of a weak mind."
Venedictos attempts to gauge her condition, to see if she is in need of healing.
Heal check:
He channels if she needs it. He raises his eyes towards the sky as he begins a slow, haunting chant to Shelyn. His holy symbol birthmark begins to glow and the light rises and falls to the direction of his chant. The energy sweeps out across everybody within 30 feet of Venedictos, and fills each of them with peace - it is the most beautiful sound and feeling they have ever experienced, paling every glorious sunset or fragrant rose they have ever before seen. The feeling lasts but a moment, before releasing them - with the energy gone, the world looks drabber than they remembered it.