Baradur's End - Part III

The Digger · Feb 3, 2010

"Since we came to the village - and mark this, we came to aid not to attack - we have been set upon, and attacked, and accused of all sorts of devilry, without any cause or reason or explanation. If any people have been injured or slain they have only themselves to blame."

Joshua stood proud and erect, a faint glow of arcane energy around him and a rising hubbub of sound emanating from his noble figure as he faced the villagers*.

"We have not yet begun to fight and our most potent powers remain as yet unleashed. We have no desire to hurt these folk more than is necessary so I beseech thee to take yourself hence and leave us and these good lizardfolk in peace to go about our business."

[Sblock=OOC]*Cantrips; Light and Ghost Sound[/sblock]

Arbanax · Feb 4, 2010

Rellek very much doubted whether intimidation or diplomacy was going to work here. Although he they had the best of intentions, the situation looked tense and it seemed only force of arms was going to resolve the issue and salve these men's wounded ego's.

As Joshua spoken he nooded, it seemed ineffectual, but words were not his forte and speaking hastily or well. If only they could be left to get away...

OOC

Sorry guys Rellek is pants at the whole Diplomacy thing, not sure what else I'm supposed to do here.

nerdytenor · Feb 5, 2010

The humans watch Joshua's display, and while the rabble show some sense of awe, their leaders do not. Clearly they have some experience with magic wielders.

The lizardfolk gesture calmly toward the enemies.

We require a moment more with these newcomers, they sign.

"Enough already!" one of the human lieutenants barks. "I grow tired of this talk! You have two minutes, and then we will settle this once and for all."
The lizardfolk form a tight circle with the six of you on the ground and sign in private.

Friends, our position is weaker than they know. We have lost many warriors of late to dark forces not from the town, and we cannot afford another battle. These townsfolk must be placated.

The lizardfolk stand up, breaking the circle, and sign openly to the one lieutenant from town who seems to know their language.

We require these outsiders to help us with a threat of our own, and cannot turn them over to you. We will offer two of our own people to be prisoners in their stead.

Two of the lizardmen step forward, apparently voluntarily. The 'speaker' nods in acknowledgement of their offer of sacrifice.

Will this be satisfactory?

The human leader and his retinue speak heatedly amongst themselves, and then turn to face you again.

"As we are a generous and understanding people, we will accept your offer. For now."

The two volunteers lay down their spears and step proudly forward toward their new human masters. Once they are within reach, one of the humans slaps each of them across the face and begins to strip them of all their posessions. They do not resist. Some of the lizardfolk bristle and groan at the sight of their people being thus abused, but they do not act.

"Now get ye gone, scum," the leader says. "We will not be so generous the next time we meet." With this, he signals to a lieutenant, who makes a brief blast on his horn. All of the combatants from the town begin to move away, along with their two new prisoners.

// Insert free-form roleplaying here. Jack and Bavak, the lizardfolk, and the four 'newcomers' may have things to discuss. Also, Joshua has yet to use the teleportation stone.

covaithe · Feb 5, 2010

Karis intently studies the faces of the human leaders, and the men who abused the prisoners. "When this is over, I'm coming back here. There's some lessons that need teaching," she murmurs to her companions. Catching a disapproving glare, she scowls. "What? I'm not going to burn the town down or anything. Well, not the whole town, anyway."

The Digger · Feb 6, 2010

Joshua grumbled, his voice low and redolent with anger "Well, whatever bit you leave I will burn."

Then he continued "So what next? Shall I use the Stone of teleportation?"

He turned to the newcomers and the lizard folk "What about you? What are your plans?"

Arbanax · Feb 6, 2010

Rellek, looked visible shaken. The stoic way these Lizard men had offered themselves followed by the men making do with striking them, made him boil inside with anger.

As he heard Karis and Joshua mutter, he couldn't help but feel the same. Even without the corrupting touch of Baradur, this was no way to treat prisoners. But he filed the thought away, the time would come.

Watching wearily as the men left, Rellek kept eye on preceedings. When Joshua mentioned the stone, he spokle up thickly, "Yes friend Joshua, precede and with haste. For this land is thick with the stench of evil and it dose alike effect all."

Ab

nerdytenor · Feb 12, 2010

As the discussion turns to the teleportation stone, the lizardfolk become animated. When they see Joshua fingering it, they become more animated still.

What do you have there, human? signs one of the lizardmen. Is that a relic of the enemy? One of the others steps toward Joshua and places his hands palms out facing him. He closes his eyes, and then opens them, signing It would appear so, brother, but whatever magic was in it is spent. You will not be able to teleport anywhere with this.

Joshua said:
"What about you? What are your plans?"

The lizardfolk twitch and shake awkwardly in a manner that Jack and Bavak have come to recognize as laughter.

We do not have the luxury of planning. We can only prepare ourselves as best we can for the next attack. The land has grown thick with dark powers and darker enemies.

We know you fight the same darkness. Do you seek to root out this evil? We can guide you through this land, but we do not know the location of the evil's source. How do you intend to find it?

The Digger · Feb 13, 2010

Joshua looked confused as he came to understand what the lizard folk were saying about the stone.

"I thought this would take us where we wanted to go. Perhaps it will lead us rather than take us?"

He started to investigate the stone in more fetail.

Arbanax · Feb 14, 2010

Rellek was less interested in matters magical, though he didn't withdraw from Joshua, he did feel inclined to make sure that the men didn't double back and attack regardless of the bargain they'd struck.

He continued to keep an eye out, circling around the group, slowly but keeping one eye on what Joshua was up to as well, he didn't want to miss anything that might further the quest and help them locate Baradur.

Ab

nerdytenor · Feb 14, 2010

[sblock=Joshua]
As you examine the stone, you can still feel the power of the homing enchantment there. The lizardman must not have been sensitive enough to feel its latent power.

// You can make an arcana check to use the stone for this game 'day' - whether you reveal the stone's true power to the lizardfolk (and Jack and Bavak) is up to you, of course.
[/sblock]