Arabesu's Eyes of the Lich Queen; Flashback - IC

[moritheil]

Making a show of adjusting her reins, Rosa whispers a spell designed to improve the elder's attitude towards her. She very carefully remains a little off from the lizardfolk, respecting their territorial nature.

Sleight of Hand (1d20 12=27)

After a pause, she makes a show of deference to the old lizardfolk, remembering all she can about their customs. "Honored elder," she begins in Draconic, "we salute you and thank you for letting us pass. We would greatly value any news of the road we travel on. In exchange we would like to offer a small token of our respect for your wisdom."

If there is a slight twitch in her cheek due to his use of blistering language, she attempts to conceal it as a faint smile, or other facial expression. She produces a few gold coins if she thinks it likely to improve her odds of success at this juncture.

Know (local) (1d20 5=21)

Diplomacy in case charm didn't work, or in case it's needed for anything else, like the reactions of other lizardfolk (1d20 6=19)

OOC: Skill trick to conceal spellcasting - Rosa does not appear to have cast anything unless they beat her Sleight of Hand with a Spot check.

Charm Person, DC 11 +4 int +1 feat = DC 16

Between that Knowledge (local) check and her fluency in Draconic, I am presuming Rosapila would know something about lizardfolk customs. If she doesn't, then this is a little out of character for her - but presuming she does, she would feel confident enough to go out of her way to ask, especially given that he seems to think her side already has the upper hand.

Basically if something beat up the lizardfolk, she wants to know what, and is not above spending a few gp and a spell to find out. Hopefully the elder will be able to provide other information as well.

 

[Vertexx69]

The sound of such an ancient and powerful language being butchered by these lower dragonkin grates in the obsidian goliath's ears. Straining to keep his rage in check after hearing the offensive words of the elder, Hightower grinds out the words slowly and with deleiberate enuncaition in draconic. "We shall go our way in...peace, and we ...hope that you will do the same." Keeping his eyes locked on the elder's as he ever so slightly bows his head. Then grabbing the reigns of his sturdy mount, he waits to see if Rosa's attempts at diplomatic information gathering will bear fruit or send the hunting party into some tribal display.

 

[Arabesu]

He takes your coins (OOC how many, three?) and smiles a toothy grin.

In draconic: <What would the delectable* little lady want to know? We are returning from giving tribute to the Blackscales of the temple. Since our warriors had been slain when they took our relic, we had no one except hollow-tongue and the two goract** to defend us. Apparently we came up short and they punished us.>

*it is difficult to determine if finds you attractive or if he just wants to eat you for dinner; the wording is ambiguous.

**This interprets roughly to "retard" or "cretin," either way it is as derogatory as Rosa can imagine.

 

[moritheil]

"It is most unfortunate that they warred upon you unprovoked and took your relic," Rosa sympathizes, handing over the gold coins graciously and watching carefully to see if he reacts to her addition that the attack was not provoked. "I cannot imagine that was easy for you to accept."

Sense Motive (1d20 3=19)

If he starts speaking in response, she waits for him and listens attentively. If he does not respond, she continues on to her next line of inquiry.

"Do other tribes accept the Blackscales' dominion over the lands here? Will they expect tribute from passing travelers? It does not seem they are the sort to remain isolated."

After letting the elder answer in as much length as possible, not stopping him if he should feel like rambling, Rosa plans to gauge the political system of the realm and whether or not lizardfolk would be willing to give up the secrets of the Blackscales tribe (she won't hold out hope for native allies, but information would be great.)

If she can't get any other useful information, she'll conclude by asking about the condition of the roads and any unusual recent events.



OOC: Regarding the coins, she'll give more if she thinks that their customs demand more, and fewer if she thinks that too much gold would somehow cause them to give inaccurate answers just to please her. If she thinks three will do, then three it is.

Rosa has kept the 20 pp from the split; with that windfall she doesn't feel bad about spending 5 of the 17 gp she was keeping around for expenses like these, as it won't bankrupt her and might save their lives. I'll edit the sheet shortly to add the 20 pp (haven't touched it since the campaign start.)

She will not ask anything that is outright rude to mention by her knowledge of their standards (though she will reword things if that would make the inquiry acceptable.) Feel free to adjust the conversation accordingly.

 

[Arabesu]

"Yes, it is flaming unfortunate that they were defeated... unprovoked* as you say. It is very difficult to accept the loss of Armaekrixner. It had been with us Coldscales for many years; many more than I have been alive and more than the fool Shaman before me."

"All of the 'folk give tribute to the Blackscales or get crushed under their clubs. As to travelers, I reckon I can't say, but if they thought you were too much of a threat to just attack you, then they might try to extort you. It depends upon how overmatched they feel they are at the time."

He sizes your entire group up. "I'd be surprised if they tried to attack you outright, but you wouldn't like their flaming terms. We were expected to pay 1000 gold coins; where in the flames of the dragon would a humble tribe of lizardfolk come across so many coins? We have no need of such flaming pieces of precious metal normally and so we couldn't meet their flaming terms. They wouldn't take the goract as slaves in trade. What flaming else could we give them?" Pointing to one of the weapons hanging at nearby Coldscale, "Clubs made from flaming monkey skulls and sticks?"

* Rosa thinks there is something he is not telling about this story.

 

[Vertexx69]

Hightower walks his mount past the injured troupe and waits for the others to pass him before remounting and continuing on their way.

 

[moritheil]

Rosa thinks quickly, then settles upon trying to figure out what makes the Blackscales so impressive. "Have they always been this powerful? You make it sound like their ascendance was very recent."

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

"So, what's he saying? Not all of us speak lizard..." Trent says, hoping to know if there was something he should be adding or keeping track of. For the meantime, he keeps watch, not wanting the lizard folk to get the jump on them.

 

[Arabesu]

OOC Just to clarify, Rosa thinks that this guy is charmed by her. If he is still vulgar, well thats just his personality. Other than his savage tongue, you have no suggestion that his is a genuine villain; just a desperate leader willing to take desperate measures to get his tribe back and to full strength.

The shaman hears Trent's question and turns and speaks to reply to him in broken common, but thankfully it is fee of obscenity since he knows no curse words from the common tongue.

"Me tell friendly woman-folk about heroic battle and lost relic. Past season, dirty blackscales and puny poisondusks threatened to destroy tribe unless we give tribute. Take Armaekrixner, tribal spear passed leader to heir. We come. Make final tribute. Blackscales teach us who boss and not give back."

Back in draconic, and directed at Rosa: "These flaming Blackscales need to be defeated but we are no longer strong enough. If you defeat them and get back our sacred weapon, Armaekrixner, we will give you two loyal slaves of your choice from our tribe."

 

[moritheil]

"The elder is kind enough to offer us some advice on traveling in the area, and proposes a deal if we can defeat a rival tribe, the Blackscales," Rosa summarizes for the benefit of her companions.

She turns back to the shaman. "Honored elder, we must know more to tell if we can do this thing. Where does their strength lie? Magic? Numbers? Have they a mighty champion?"