Jack and Bavak - whatcha gonna do?
As the battle rages, an enormous contingent of militia men floods in from the direction of town, hollering and whooping up an enormous racket. Their charge is promptly halted at the sound of a trumpet and a crescendo of hooves striking the earth.
The lead horse arrives, and both rider and beast are clad in shimmering plate armor. A retinue of three other horses arrives immediately behind - one rider holds a trumpet, and the other two hold crossbows. The lead signals to the trumpeter and he ceases his loud blaring.
"MEN! FALL BACK!" shouts the leader. "FALL BACK! WE CANNOT RISK OPEN WAR WITH THE LIZARD MEN!" As the assembled combatants begin to back off, the leader does a quick double-take as he takes in the sight of the lizard and non-lizard folk intermingled on the other side. He says something quietly to one of the members of his retinue, and his subordinate barks something incomprehensible at one of the swordsmen. The swordsmen yells back. After a very short interchange, one of the retinue retrieves and hoists a flag.
[sblock=History DC 15]
This is a standard signal flag used in these parts to signal a willingness to engage in peaceful negotiations.
[/sblock]
At the site of the flag, the lizardmen gesticulate to each other and step away from the fray. Three of them step forward and signal in unison to the enemy.
The humans on horseback and the three lizardfolk step slowly toward each other, carefully gauging the distance and making sure that both parties remain more or less equidistant from their respective allies.
A brief interchange transpires, involving much drawing on the ground and a little talking from the humans.
[sblock=Jack and Bavak]
One of the retinue apparently has some knowledge of the lizardfolk's visual language.
[/sblock]
A moment later, one of the three lizard folk runs over to Jack and then Bavak, signaling.
[sblock=Jack and Bavak]
"They say the elf, the human, and the two dragonborn are criminals," he signs. "Tell them they must come to negotiations or there will be a blood bath. Tell them we will not protect them if they do not come."
[/sblock]
OOC: I admit my life has been getting in the way of this campaign, so I've advanced the plot a bit - hope you don't mind. At any rate - Jack and Bavak - what do you do?