Markov listens and nods in agreement to Alexander. "Yeah, I think I have to agree. Can't wait for someone to prepare, when they might very well know we are already here. I agree with Alexander. I will follow his lead."
Tassira shakes her head. "I don't know... if we get the statue for them, we might be able to get the entire tribe on our side, instead of only the chief assisting us. Tartuk may have more allies than we think, and odds are if he's really as powerful as Mikmek claims, he knows we're here already. I'd rather we subvert any ties he has to his tribe first before we strike."
Markov tilts his head when he hears Tassira speak. "That is true as well. Sheesh! This is confusing. For one, we get the liar lizard now, but may get an upset tribe in return except for two. Or two, we try to get it from a bunch of mites. I mean, I know of "Fae", and they can be tricksters, but that is about it..." Markov shrugs as he finishes speaking.
"I am in agreement with Tassira. The statue of the one they call 'Old Sharptooth' must be retrieved first." This false god held a sway over the kobolds and whether she believed in Old Sharptooth or not, it did not matter. Their faith in him was fixed at this point.
Turning her focus back to the Kobold Chieftain, "Chief Sootscale, you did not say why the mites took it from your tribe. Is it because of the war between your respective people? Wouldn't it be better to simply release the captured mite out of good will and open the way for peaceful talks between you and the mites?"
Mikmek and Crackjaw were friendly enough. Once the kobolds shared a good relationship with the mites. It was Tartuk who ruined the peace from what Mikmek had told them of the current animosity. Could the kobolds and mites not be made to see they are better off as allies?
Tassira blushes a little when Rowena agrees with her. She clears her throat and uncomfortably shifts around.
"Sounds like we go after the statue then," He defers, not about to argue religion with a cleric. That would be like debating arcane maxims with a wizard to his thinking.
With the majority deciding to try and negotiate with the mites Alexander shrugs Very well if that is what the group wishes.
Nedyr can't quite get a read on kobolds yet.
Markov shrugs when it sounds the decision has passed. "Well, I know I will be up front. Between you guys and the enemy. So shall we get to it then?"
Rowena understood Mikmek's purpose well enough for requesting the mite's release. She would share her thoughts quietly with the others once they had exited the mine and had some privacy.
"Chief Sootscale, we have found Mikmek very astute in this matter, so far. Please heed his counsel. The sooner we leave with the freed mite for the Sycamore Tree, the sooner we may return with the statue."
Even Tassira couldn't miss the sheer fatigue on Mikmek's face as Rowena speaks with Chief Sootscale. She puts a reassuring hand on the kobold's shoulder.
"Does anyone understand the poor fellow?" Nedyr says, "I doubt he speaks elvish." Though he does try,
Markov shrugs as he looks on. "Nope, maybe draconic?" Markov then tries to speak with it in draconic.
Markov then tries to figure out what language the little mite is speaking in.
Markov sighs after racking his brain for answers. "I have no idea what it is saying, and not what language it is in." Markov turns to the group and shrugs again. "Sorry.
Not understanding the mite's tongue and attempting to grasp a modicum of meaning all the same, Rowena still could not determine what the creature was saying, even with her ear for languages.
Turning to Mikmek and hoping the kobold, who was friend to the mites, would understand, asked him plainly but respectfully, "What is the mite saying, please?"
She attempted to calm the creature while she waited on Mikmek's answer, using hand gestures and soothing sounds to relay her meaning, holding out/offering one of the moonradishes (from her basket).
"Tell him ten gold is more than fair given that it will keep the kobolds and mites from fighting in the future. It will keep him and his tribe safer." Nedyr starts to haggle out of instinct.
Tassira glares at Nedyr before handing 10 gold pieces forward.
"I'll chip in for the statue. It's important enough that I don't think it's worth haggling for."
Tassira glares at Nedyr before handing 10 gold pieces forward.
"I'll chip in for the statue. It's important enough that I don't think it's worth haggling for."
Nedyr looks a tad chagrined at the glare, "What can I say? I've spent too much time in markets not to haggle at least a little." He pulls out some coins, "I'll chip in ten as well."
I doubt his tribe will look kindly on him after he steals there prize so I have no issue paying. He very well may need it after. saying this Alexander measures out 10 gold from his pouch to join the other contributions. Alexander tones turns chilly as he continues. but if he thinks that he can take pay and not fulfill his end of the bargain he will be sadly mistaken. Alexander turns a baleful eye to the mite as he says this.
"Maybe I should have gone in and stolen it," Nedyr sighs wistfully
Markov sighs as he waits. Noticing Nedyr sighing as well, Markov speaks up.
"You know, I am not a fan of being out in the open waiting like this." Markov gestures to the surrounding area. "And sure is taking some time, you say mites are more active at night? Why couldn't they just pop out and hand us the statue when most of their kind are asleep or something? Safer for the little mites if there are some that want to keep the statue."
Markov then looks around, and moves next to the cave opening to try to listen to hear if there is any movement within.
"Oh good, I thought it was just me who hated waiting," Nedyr admitted, "I'm going to give him an hour and then get curious I think."
"Heh. yeah, I learned it is not a good idea waiting around in the open. Kinda leaves one open to attack a bit easily. Or capture. Or many other things that are not nice." As Markov replies to Nedyr. Markov continues trying to hear anything from within the cave. "Another thing, with "fae" being tricksters, how can we trust a regular old mite to do what we asked? Though I don't know anything about these mites even though we seen two of them." Markov then looks a bit questionable and then he looks around. "Anyone seen Crackjay? Erm, Crackjaw? I don't think I saw him on the way over here."
"Let's hope the extra twenty gold motivates him to finish it through. It's also possible the little fellow is on the up and up, but got caught."
"Or not?" Nedyr says as the mite comes up
Tassira looks up from her meditative silence as the mite approaches with the bundle.
"Have you succeeded?" She asks, her eyes lighting up with hope.
"Ah, it's back." Markov stands fully from where he was leaning next to the cave.
Markov notices the bundle of rags the mite is holding. "Looks like it got it. Well, we gotta see it first." Markov turns to Mikmek. "So Mikmek, can you ask it to show the statue before we give it more gold?"
Tassira winces. "He, Markov. Crackjaw's a he."
"Huh? I thought we sent the mite that was a prisoner into the caves? They do look very similar. So if it is one and the same, I am sorry?" Markov shrugs with his hands, palms facing upward. "And I kinda figured Crackjaw is a he, I mean, he kinda holds himself that way."
Nedyr is looking at the still obscured bundle The suspense is killing me.
Alexander waits quietly his senses focused on sensing any potential threats.
Rowena faced flushed at the sum the mite requested they pay for his service to take the statue. Being a rather poor cleric, she could not afford the ten gold pieces and took her coin pouch and drew out only five gold pieces. "I apologise, but I can only give five gold coins. I do not have much coin." Rowena dared not look at the others, especially Alexander and Tassira, who came from noble, well-to-do families; her embarrassment plain to see.
She handed her meagre coin to the collector before setting forth for the Sycamore Tree.
As they waited for the mite to return with the statue, Rowena silently listened to her companion's small talk until the creature returned with the ragged bundle in his hands.
As he was opening it, she waited to see what the statue of Old Sharptooth looked like, and occasionally lifted her eyes, scanning the surrounds for threat. She noticed Alexander was already watching, and she attempted to aid him as best as she could.
However, it seemed she was more eager/curious to lay eyes on what held such sway over the kobolds that she could not locate anything of note in their surroundings. She felt a little miserable in that, too, as she already could not give the full ten gold coins the others had.
Tassira just gives Rowena a smile and pats her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it--we've got enough to cover for ya."
Rowena lifted her hand and placed it gently and for a brief time over Tassira's. She replied in a quiet manner,
"I am grateful. When I make some coin, I shall repay your kindness."
Tassira lowers her eyes. "You don't need to, really."
Markov pulls out some gold coins and counts them. "Erm... I have 17 gold coins myself right now. So maybe together we do have enough, if it is the statue."
Tassira chips in 5 more GP for the statue to cover Rowena's contribution.
Rowena's hand came to rest gently on Tassira's arm, and she leaned in closer to speak quietly to the noble sorceress, "I do not reject your generosity, Tass. I simply like to pay my own way." A small, self-conscious smile played across her lips.
When Tass and Markov both spoke up to put more coin in to cover her deficit, she was grateful but still uneasy.
"Thank you" she directed to the both of them.
When the mite came forth with the large bundle, and she heard him ask for one of them to come forward to pay him, Rowena asked politely,
"Please unwrap the bundle so we may see the statue, first."
Her tone could have been sweeter and she wondered if her previous embarrassment had effected the delivery of her request.
And she scrutinised the creature, attempting to get a feel of what character/nature he possessed .. If he was trustworthy since not that long ago he was the kobold's captive and rather distressed.
Markov raises an eyebrow at the mite after it requests that it wants the gold tossed to it. Moving next to Rowena, Markov scrutinized the mite's action as it seems apprehensive of moving closer.
Markov coughs slightly and leans over to Rowena to whisper to her. "I don't like the look of this. I think that mite has the statue, but I still think it needs to show it to us before anything. Best be careful."
Markov stands straight once again, and speaks clearly to the mite. "As our friend said, please unwrap the statue so we know we can give the gold to you so we can finish our agreement."
After Markov speaks, he probably sounds a bit like he was in the past, he simple shrugs and looks to the rest of the group.
Rowena's hand came to rest gently on Tassira's arm, and she leaned in closer to speak quietly to the noble sorceress, "I do not reject your generosity, Tass. I simply like to pay my own way." A small, self-conscious smile played across her lips.
Tassira's face flushes pink as Rowena strokes her arm. She lets out a nervous giggle. "R-right. Of course."
She called me 'Tass'...
----------------
Seeing the mite return with the bundle supposedly containing the statue they sought, Tassira looks it over and scrutinizes it alongside Markov.
Not being able to read the little mite's face, Tassira opts for a different approach to Rowena's & Markov's efforts at diplomacy. "I assure you, none of us mean to cause offense--among humans, it is simply our way to make sure that a service rendered unto us has been completed. None of us mean to imply otherwise."
Seeing as the others are already thinking similarly, the half elf tries to appraise, as best he can, if the mite is playing straight with them
Nedyr looks around, slips forward quietly and picks up the statue, rebundling it if the cloth was left behind.