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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carnifex" data-source="post: 791683" data-attributes="member: 227">Well, I now have d20 Modern <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />And here's a short update:The beholderkin, central eye still closed, scowled at Sebastion and Ebri. "I couldn't care less where you pathetic abberations are limited to travelling, but you disturbed my meditation and that irritates me. And as for calling me beholderkin, my species is the true beholder species and the others are what you should be calling beholderkin, the poor relations of my kind." It was clearly not happy, its pupils seeming to be getting slightly brighter.The rock-chomping beast floated arrogantly toward the party, while the dead rock walls of the ravine offered little hope of escape. The thing was irritated and egotistical, and Kale could have mistaken the thing for any manner of supernatural bully... but for the genuine fear in Wolf's voice when he identified it. Taking two slow steps back, Kale hardly had to feign fear as his hand inched toward his weapon, then fell to his side as his will seemed to surrender completely. Hope, it seemed, was tiny at best, although if the beholder had known how many times the young mercenary had embraced the cruel trial by fire and survived... no, even that wouldn't give the thing pause. It was just as well the monster considered them all puny and worthless... and then Ebri spoke up. Fighting back a curse, Kale couldn't believe the woman, who could talk that smooth, condescending tone to the very sorcerer king of Naseria, with nary a concern for how treacherous her footing. But flattery, at least. And feigned, for the woman didn't care any more for the thing than the dirt underneath her soles, 'obligation to record' notwithstanding. Hopefully, the many-eyed thing did not see with as much muddled clarity as Kale learned to regard the woman. Sebastion added his own short questions, and Kale wondered what the thing would think, being interrogated by a grip of worms. He also wondered why he was geting so judgemental. I do get kind of pissy when I'm about to die... Time to dive into the mix myself, I guess. Swallowing loudly, Kale spoke without taking his eyes off of the huge beast. His hands made no move for anything. "I've heard fearful tales of powerful beasts called solar beholderkin. I see the legends are... all true." Let the orb imagine what Kale's nonexistant legends said. He was sure the ego-puffed monster could come up with some great stories. "Whether or not you were expecting company, sir," How does one address a giant rock-ball? "You certainly aren't to be bothered by us. We were clumsy to have walked into your place, our small eyes not expecting to find a being of such power." He paused a moment, hoping he could answer his party's questions for the beast. Being asked petty questions may be insulting to one with a 'swelled head', much better to have a fearful representative answer in one's stead... the beholder was far too important to have to introduce himself, or be subject to the scrutiny of little pink ants. The crew were little ants, and despite the thing's bluster, they may all be squished just as easilly. Carefully, Kale continued. "I won't waste your time bargaining for our lives- we clearly are of no use to a being of your stature. But I would ask for the priveledge of offering tribute. I have something... that may just make up for the bother we've been." Hoping for interest, he waited for a reaction from the giant beast. "Clearly, you could just fry us all and recover whatever puny treasure we posess. But this, what I speak of, has never been made before." Voice and action, Kale began to get a little more animated. Interested that his plan might actually work beyond the bluff, what was far more important was that he sell the idea. Buy time, buy time. A small trickle of sweat ran down between his shoulderblades. "Though men may have ambition, we lack your power. Back east, it's not even possible what we can make here today." Weighing suspense against the being's obvious impatience, Kale decided to bring his sale to a close. One final pitch. "Tolerate me for a short while more, and you will be able to extend the warmth of the noonday sun... effortlessly." Hopefully, that last word would make all the difference.Kale's words seemed to stave off its immediate anger, curiosity flickering across its bizarre expression. "Tell me what you have in mind, and make it good."</blockquote>

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