CB's The Sunless Citadel v3.5

[Boddynock]

Elyan stands forth again and says:

[sblock=Draconic]"O great one, may your rule be without end! We are surprised to hear that you have made no mention of the theft of Calcryx. Surely you are keen for the return of such an important symbol of your clan's power and majesty!"

"Come, great one - goblins may only be a feather's weight in the scale of your regard, but Calcryx? Calcryx is surely worth all treasures. Such a bounty would give weight to our blows and fire to our resolve!"

"And you, who are the paragon of all leaders - we know that you would not scruple to offer all wealth for the return of this avatar of your clan-blood progenitor! Indeed, who but one of your greatness would dare such a magnificent gesture?"[/sblock]"There," he thought, "that should let her know that we understand more of the situation than she has presented - and it should give her followers something to think about, if she refuses such a gesture."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Yusadrayl appears best pleased by Elyan's grandiosity, particularly with the more verbose passages that are obviously beyond her ken. Nodding her horned head vigorously and standing up to applaud, Yusadrayl shoots an excited look at Karl. "Word of Calcryx meet Biggun Village? Calcryx known far, wide! Bring glory, honor to Clan Yusadrayl." Yusadrayl's eyes glaze over for a moment with happy idealism, then are fired by fear and confusion. "Biggun Village send yous steal Calcryx? Yous sell Calcryx, mebbe?" The chieftess affects a shrewd look. "Yusadrayl barter yous give back Calcryx. Yous drive away gobbos, give back Calcryx, Yusadrayl pay ransom." The red-robed kobold chietess gestures grandly to all the items lining her throne while pursing her lips in thought. "Yusadrayl pay rich ransom." Perhaps by sleight of hand, Yusadrayl unfolds a scaly clawed palm toward the companions. A small red gem lies, glittering, on the kobold's hand. Just as quickly as the gem is shown, Yusadrayl secrets it away. "Yous give back Calcryx, kill gobbos, no say Biggun Village Yusadrayl dragon, all thesese and firestone youses. Yes?"

[sblock=Karl, Elyan]Both Karl and Elyan spot where Yusadrayl keeps the gem. Though her hand motions were deft and quick, the gem is kept in a secret side pocket on the left side of her robes, near the kobold's chest.[/sblock]

 

[Boddynock]

Both Karl and Elyan spot where Yusadrayl keeps the gem.

OOC: Wow! I knew he was good but I didn't know his hearing was that good!

 

[hafrogman]

Karl looks once to his companions. The negotiations have taken a while. And whether or not the kobolds intended to live up to their end of the bargain, they would presumably not betray the group while they still had a chance of getting what they wanted. The goblins may have been allied with the town in the past, but for now they were also the primary suspects in the dissapearance of the group's quarry. Other than this "outsider" anyways. Now they would have to be dealt with, best to not have another enemy at one's back while fighting the goblins. He weighs these points in his mind as he considers the pros and cons of their possible alternatives. Finally, deciding that nobody else was going to make a decision, he once again dons his leader persona. Drawing himself up and looking deep into the eyes of Yusadryl and inclines his head in a slight bow.

"Deal."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Grrr...I keep forgetting Elyan is blind. He didn't see, then. Scratch that, with apologies.

Yusadrayl directs a bounder up to her throne. The bounder sweeps all the items off the back of the makeshift throne, then brings them down and hands them to Karl. Yusadrayl eyes Karl. "Dealses. Yous biggun big shinies come see Yusadrayl, bring gobbo chief head and Calcryx, Yusadrayl give firestone then." The red-robed chieftess looks about to gather her hems and depart her throne, but she stops and peers at her clansman hiding behind Grotzkoshter's thick legs. "Youses take Meepo, you like. If no, Meepo go wives' den."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Grotzkoshter

Meepo is mine!
The big warrior growls back to the clan's leader.
He is my slave for now and he goes with me to kill gobbos.
Turning to Elyan he says
Tell the lizard to grab a weapon, he is going to fight with me.

 

[Boddynock]

At Grotz's words, Elyan stands in silence a moment, then cocks his head towards Yusadrayl, as if waiting for her to comment. Finally, he turns to Meepo and says, with a hint of sadness in his voice:

[sblock=Draconic]"Meepo, the fierce warrior says to you, 'Come, share in the glory! Bring a weapon! We will slay many goblins - and you will fight alongside us!'"

"And Meepo - this is not a request."[/sblock]

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Yusadrayl narrows her eyes and, not best pleased, looks at Grotz but says nothing. Meepo looks anything but excited at the prospect of becoming a warrior. When the runty kobold shoots a pleading look at Yusadrayl, the chieftess replies with a silent single shake of her head no and crosses her arms to finalize things. Meepo slumps a bit, dejected, then accepts the petite javelin handed him by one of the bounders. The little kobold looks for all the world like he has no earthly idea how to wield or even what to do with the pointy stick.

The items handed to Karl include: three different scroll tubes, a small glass flask containing what looks to be a dark-hued liquid, and a feather. The key stuck inside the dragon's maw on the throne's carving remains in place and was not given as barter to Karl.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Addressing Elyan, Yusadrayl flatly states, "Gobbo clan two ways from here. Yous go down Hall of Dragons," Yusadrayl points back down the columned hall from whence the party came, "go north door. Traps! Or go hall past Calcryx room, east then north. More traps! Gobbos sneakses, youses careful. Meepo take."

 

[Boddynock]

Elyan bows low to Yusadrayl and says:

[sblock=Draconic]"Thank you, exalted one. We are fortunate to have met such a wise and beneficent ruler. We shall go forth to victory, and return - all of us - as conquering heroes. And I will sing your greatness in sending us on this quest."[/sblock]
To the others he says, "Let us depart! Master Karl, which of the two routes do you desire to follow?"