Simon follow Venedictos trying for a a quiet but strong composure ...
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Approaching the group of kobolds in the clearing, it seems much similar to last time. You can't tell if these are all the same kobolds as last time plus a few new ones, a mix of new kobolds, as well as ones you met last time, or a new group all together. Kobolds really all look the same, especially if you only focus on one. You begin scanning the group for Meekis when you notice a kobold in the back, tied up and gagged much like Asvora was just five days ago. He looks strangely like Meekis. How odd.
One kobold runs up to the kobold nearest your group of adventurers and begins whispering in draconic.
Draconic and DC 14 Perception check.
"That's them Knezul, that's the one we told you about, the ones who rescued the dwarf. The ones Meekis tried to deal with."
"Well of course it is!!! Who else would just ride up to a group a warriors like this. Now hush, and remember, not until I give the word." The one named Knezul purses his reptilian lips together with a finger over them and let's out a shoosh to quite the other kobolds.
Brev's ears perk up at the kobold whispering. "They've tied up Meekis and are planning to betray us!" he calls out.
Then he turns to the kobolds and says in Draconic:
In sylvan
Perking up his ears Denis grits his teeth, remaining still and continuing to remain in the shadows, taking his time as he sneaks through the dark and in the shadows. Bastards want to betray us? Well...I didn't think they would be honourable. I better be prepared for something.
Venedictos scowls at this news.
"This is totally unacceptable, sir. We have come here in good faith with an agreement that will secure the safety of your entire clan of kobolds from both humans and dwarves, and guarantee your people that you will be able to live here in these lands in peace for longer than you've ever been able to live in peace before. The townspeople of Tanner's Crossing have authorized us to honour our end already, with food and supplies that will arrive in the next few days." Bluff check to not let on that the supplies are already here:
Anger starts to enter his voice and he advances slowly, trying to lock this kobold into his stern gaze. "Do you have any idea how hard it was to convince the humans to put aside their differences and prejudices? I put my reputation on the line to convince them that we were dealing with honourable and peaceable kobolds, but now I return to find you all acting like a pack of goblins! No, worse. You're all acting like dwarves, too cowardly to take a chance that maybe you could work together with outsiders, so you just go back to the violence and think that will solve everything - too stupid to see the big picture. Now you've decided to betray us, which means you are all going to start dying at the hands of these well-trained and powerful wizards and warriors, most of which are so well-hidden among the trees and bushes that you can't even tell they're there. Then we'll return to Tanner's Crossing to tell them we've been betrayed - they'll put the call out to all the other human villages and towns, to the dwarves to the north also, who will all descend upon these hills and crush you to pieces!!"
He stops himself, visibly shaking. "Or, you could rethink this lunacy, release Meekis, and allow him to honour the original agreement, where you receive food, supplies, and the right to be left alone, all for the cost of some yellow metals your people don't even need or want!"
"What will it be, sir? An intelligent agreement like a kobold, or stupid killing like a goblin?"
Diplomacy check:
"I can just kill your new leader and ALL those of you I don't like" as he unsheats and readies his shield "Make your choice very careful unless you wish to die here and now and I demand to meet your new chieftain so I can challenge him"
Intimidate check
Brev pats Venedictos's leg. "Well said, my friend, well said." He looks at the kobolds. "You'd do well to listen to them, and in the unlikely event you don't understand his language..." He repeats what Venedictos said, only in Draconic this time.
Brev pats Venedictos's leg. "Well said, my friend, well said." He looks at the kobolds. "You'd do well to listen to them, and in the unlikely event you don't understand his language..." He repeats what Venedictos said, only in Draconic this time.
Brev pats Venedictos's leg. "Well said, my friend, well said." He looks at the kobolds. "You'd do well to listen to them, and in the unlikely event you don't understand his language..." He repeats what Venedictos said, only in Draconic this time.
[ooc]Draconic must have some fancy words if Wizards write in that language and it's the language of dragons.
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Knezul stands there, head slightly cocked to the side. It's hard to tell if he understands what Venedictos is saying and is contemplating, or if he is turning his head like a dog when a human talks to it, amused but not understanding a word of it.
DC 13 Sense Motive:
Brevaddelar steps in and repeats what Venedictos said so eloquently just a few moments earlier, however it doesn't have quite the meaning when it is repeated versus coming from the heart.
Meekis is in the back wiggling around, muffled pleas trying to come through the gag. It is obvious that he is trying to reason with the other kobolds.
However it is to know avail as Knezul yells back in Draconic:
The kobolds standing over Meekis begin kicking him until his please turn to yelps. They stop and look back to the Knezul who takes several steps forward and begins to speak to the rest of the group.
Draconic:
Knezul waits a moment to see if any of the words sink in or if some one is going to translate for him.
Draconic:
Knezul turns to return to his group.
Draconic:
Isis speaks in hushed tones.
Isis speaks of what she is seeing more for Mercy's benefit then for Kiptera but Isis makes sure her words are being picked up by the Whisper spell to keep Kiptera informed of her thoughts.
'It appears that there is some sort of fight breaking out amongst the Kobolds. There is plenty of kicking and stomping going on. They're shouting to keep someone quiet. Maybe, ah prisoner?
'Now they're yelling at Venedictos and the others. They don't seem to happy. It seems they want us to give them Asvorda. They're saying that it will be war if we don't.
'Now, there leader, I don't think it's Meekis, like last time, is saying that Asvorda killed his, uh, hers, can't really tell whether it is a him or her from here. Anyways, their leader is saying Asvorda killed their mate.
'Uh, by the way, does Venedictos not like dwarves? I mean, well uh, listening to his words were real sweet and passionate and all. I mean, I can see why he'd be a priest and have a congregation but was well saying stuff like being as underhanded and unfaithful as dwarves.
'What do you think and should we do something. I mean before it is too late. Not with Venedictos but with the Kobolds. Do we stay out of it? Follow Simon's lead? Or take action ourselves?'
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To Mercy and Isis:
"So the negiotators are encountering difficulties? Comes with the territory. What is said during these talks is all bluster, like at a gambling hall. Anything to rile up the opponent and give away motives. We will hold here until actions speak louder than words."
Kiptera loosens up her flail, inventories the quiver of bolts (yup 20) carried on her person and the other on her horse (yup 20).
"But... We can get these wagons and horses turned around, prepped for a quick departure back to our last campsite, if we need to. Lets turn around the last two wagons holding our gear and some of the more valuable stuff. The first wagon, with ale keg and mining equipment can remain pointing westward. "
"Well can someone translate for me???" looks at Venedictos and Brev to get a translation.
"I'm afraid they're not very happy with us," Brev says. "I must have translated Venedictos's words poorly. My apologies for that. I will attempt to translate theirs better." He then tells Caelin what the kobolds said.
"Venedictos I do believe if it was my people we would asked for the same... how can you kill woman..." looks at the kobolds {b]"I could understand they don't distinguish male from females but children... killing children is a grave sin, Venedictos at least to me it is. I was right to blame Asvora of this and most probably, she played us with the innocent trick, by Erastil that is not how things are done"[/b] sheats his sword and turns to Brev "Translate for me. Knezul I understand your anger, Meekis did not told us of what the dwarf atrocities where, I will help protect your home from other raids from the dwarfs if you will need my help send for me. As for the dwarf we have lost her and we are going to meet with the dwarfs to see what they want with you, since I do not think they acted in an evil way" shrugs his shoulder "Give us time to go parley with the dwarfs to see were they stand in all this and so we know were we stand in this"
Diplomacy
Brev translates Caelin's words, hoping to do a bit better this time.
He also adds in Draconic, "And please let Meekis go. If an error has been made here, it was ours, not his. He acted only in a way that he felt would be best for your people."
To Mercy and Isis: ** spoiler omitted **
Mercy nods, listening intently to Isis as she describes what's going on. She hops off the end of the wagon, laying her guisarme in the bed, and then lifts it up, rotating it around so that it faces the other direction-- towards their camp site, but a little askew.
"Let me know if fighting starts so I can be prepared," she whispers to the others.
"Bevaddelar , translate my words exactly please .
Simon then speaks calmly with pauses to let Bevaddelar translate
" You are wrong . WE don't side with dwarves there . Now we'll never let anyone of any race kill or hurt people without a judgment and we thought that was what Meekis's people were doing there. So we did let Asvora go. Now Meekis was wise enough to not begin another war with humans while your people are already in war with the dwarves and you are dealing with him shamefully there. Now are you ready to enter in a deal with humans or not ? If not, we will depart peacefully . Now as I was saying , WE won't let anyone hurt defenceless people so release Meekis now or prepare to fight "
"And Brev, add this: adding more violence to the mix will not bring back your brethren, it will just mean more will die. I think you have the wisdom to see that. Perhaps I jumped too hastily to a conclusion about you. I am sorry for what happened to your mate. We do not have Asvora in our custody, and if you should happen to capture her yourselves, we would not demand her back."
Diplomacy check:
Isis does as Kiptera requests. She follows Mercy hopping off of Haggard's wagon and going to the third wagon. She does her best to get the wagon turned around facing the opposite way.
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Isis, Mercy and DM
Brev translates Simon's and Venedictos's words as closely as he can.
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Isis and Mercy
Kiptera halts her pacing between the two wagon that Mercy and Isis are on, facing the trail where the men went on. She speaks in subdued but otherwise normal tone.
"Isis, I am glad you made it out again. Nothing like stretching your wings and flying, on your own so to speak, for the first time." Kiptera glances at the two of them. "Both of ya would make a fine fighting pair. Watching each others backs like sisters without family issues coming into play."
Kiptera turns to Mercy, "Please tell me if I am too forward, Mercy, but how far can you see and what you do to compensate. I'll help out as best as I can and try not to put you in a position where you'll fail like handing you my crossbow as I charge into the battle and you can't discern me from the giant."
Isis talks with Kiptera and Mercy.
Isis tries to pay no mind to Kiptera's praise. She'd probably say the same thing if'n Isis were a seasoned vet or a raw recruit. Make the troops feel better, that's a leader's job before a battle. Still, Isis can't help feeling a bit of pride at being praised for doing good among people that were clearly her senior.
Even Mercy knew more of the real world then Isis. Mercy might not see as far as other people with her real eyes but she saw alot farther then most hawks in the sky with her heart.
'It looks like Simon and Vendictos are now talking to Bev to get him to say stuff to the Kobolds. Sorry, it's too far really for me to tell what they're saying. I can really only hear it when the Kobolds are shouting. I think though that everyone has something they want Bev to translate and pass on to the Kobolds.'
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Knezul listens to all of the words before continuing.
Draconic:
Sorry another double last night.
Isis continues to watch from the wagons.
'Despite the earlier shouting and kicking, it kinda looks like they're still talking. No blood yet and no one's running in a panic.'
Brev translates Knezul's words for Caelin and Venedictos. "It seems we're getting somewhere after all," he says afterwards, a big smile across his face.
Isis and Kiptera:
Mercy listens to Isis, and smiles, half-relieved, half-discouraged. "Well, that's good. Another day with Mercy as unnecessary baggage, I suppose."
"I agree Brev, this sounds like I'll celebrate a couple of more drinks, let's just hope everything works fine in the end" turns to Venedictos "Venedictos it seems we strike true again, what do you suggest now?"
Mercy and Kiptera
'Hey, you're never unnecessary Mercy. Besides, compared to me, you can like, well fight. All I can do is throw sticks. Without you being here, I'd be scared out of my skirts.
'And you're eyes ain't so bad. I mean, I've seen you kiss Haggard. 'Course he ain't the one I know you be wanting to kissing.'
Isis makes a kissy face of smooching.
Venedictos puts his lips near Caelin's ear and whispers low enough that hopefully only he and Brevaddelar will hear. "Well, our next mission objective is to recover the dwarven dead, but given all that's happened and been said, I don't really like our chances. It likely means that there'll be a war between kobolds and dwarves with us in the middle, but I don't think this kobold would mind."
Venedictos waits for Meekis to be released. "I can see that you are ready to fight a war, and that you are strong. Surely, however, given your recent losses, it would be better to put off that war for a time. The dwarves will want vengeance, but I suspect we will be able to talk them out of it, if...if we are able to return their dead to them, for proper burial. Would you release the bodies? The gesture will go a long way to ensuring that the dwarves won't bother trying to attack you again."
Diplomacy:
"Knezul and Meekis, I will say only this once and hope you listen to my words" points his finger towards both of them "Give us those bodies and you shall avoid a war you do not wan't with the dwarfs for we are not here to war and we are now stuck in the middle and I will kill who ever I need too for survival as well as you do" turns towards Venedictos "I trust what this man has to say to the lot of ya! so give up those bodies unless you want to die with them when the dwarfs come visiting to gether them"
Intimidate check
Kiptera and Isis:
Mercy tries to look mad but can't keep herself from cracking a smile. "Oh, come on. This from the girl with the puppy eyes and the wistful sighing all the time?"
Mercy and Kiptera
Isis points a hand at herself as she faints innocence. 'Who? Me? I don't have the foggiest knowledge of what you're talking about?'
Isis then continued in a lecturing mocking tone, 'Witches do not sigh or show emotion. They are always prim and proper.'
Venedictos puts a hand on Caelin's arm. "Peace, friend. No need for harsh words. Please forgive my companion," he says to the kobolds. "He believes so strongly in peace, that his zeal sometimes gets the better of him." Venedictos gives Caelin a patient smile with eyes that say, 'be careful', and a broader, friendly smile for the kobolds.
Diplomacy check: