(Homebrew D&D) Breaking New Ground

[Manzanita]

Ulysses

In elvish. "Very well. If you are willing to give up your arms, then I will as well, as they mean less to me anyway. The alternative, according to them, is to tie us up. If they try to deprive us of our way to get home, though, I think we should escape. There also is some chance they will be able to understand our talk, as well, so let's be careful what we say."

In cat-talk: "Alsavian, we have come in peace & have no designs on your land or welfare. To demonstrate this, we will give up our weapons. But we must be treated with the respect due to peaceful embassaries. "

"Alsavian, before we yeild our arms, I must know, how long will it take for us to reach your cheif?"

OOC: To avoid having others wait on me to post, can we assume Ulysses will translate anything the cat people say to his companions so they can begin discussions of a reply?

 

[Arknath]

[ooc: not a problem, consider it assumed until otherwise noted]

Alsavian will gather up your weapons and he will not bind you. "You have passed the first test of peaceable creatures," he claims in a more relaxed voice, "You have chosen to trust us with your lives and belongings and we will return the respect." Some of his brethren look angry, others, anxious to depart.

"We are not on friendly terms yet, so remember deceit or trickery will have harsh consequences. You must understand that this is necessary for survival."

Alsavian thinks on the time back to the camp. "It is less than half a moon and we will be swift, for we were out here..." he catches himself as one of his men nudges him with his arm. Alsavian looks off in the opposite direction from whence the party arrived in the clearing. "Yes, we must leave. Please, for your own sake, be swift."

Three of the catmen will take off at full speed. You are amazed at the agility that such creatures possess, seeming to walk up the trees and then brachiate the branches with practiced skill. The other four remain on the ground with you and begin to jog at a quick pace.

[ooc: Ellar, I understand you're still in hiding?]

 

[electric-ant]

As all the weapons (except Zykovian's longsword) are handed over, Ellar watches the exchange silently. They turn, and he concludes that some agreement must have taken place. Unwilling to risk the loss of the group's ace in the hole (himself) if the conversation had been less than peaceful, he remains hiding and follows the group through the woods, knowing the group is able to contact him when and if he needs to reveal himself.

[Unfortunately, they move faster than I can move silently, I think. I'll move as far and fast as I can, but if it looks like I risk losing the group I'll just take the normal movement and forget the silently part.]

 

[Manzanita]

Ulysses

As we hurry along, Ulysses talks to a nearby catman, Alsavian, if he has remained on the ground with them. "The reason I wanted to know how far it was to your camp was that I will only be able to communicate in your language for another half-hour or so today. Tomorrow I will be able to speak & understand again, but the nature of the magic which I use to speak your language is such that I can only do so for a limited period of time. If you need to tell us something in particular today, you must do so soon."

Ulysses empaths to Margo to follow them as unobtrusively as possible, but stay w/in sonar distance.

 

[Arknath]

Alsavian looks at Ulysses as he is jogging along, a bit of urgency in his face. "My only advice is to follow us and do not stop unless we stop."

He runs ahead of you and leads the pack in an easterly direction.

 

[Manzanita]

Ulysses empaths to Margo. "Can you see if my cousin Ellar is following us? While you're back there, let me know if you see anything else. But by all means, be careful & keep you distance from anything big or dangerous."

 

[Arknath]

Margo will fly in a circular pattern as fast as possible. She will empath to you that there is indeed a creature of elven size and movement following close behind your group. She will also empath that you are being followed by several large quadrepedal creatures who are moving swiftly in your direction. She is unable to distinguish what creatures they are or if they will intercept you and the party at any time.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Zyrial will continue to observe the catmen. He will use all the skills he has available to see if there is a way of communicating with them non-verbaly.

 

[Manzanita]

"thanks Margo, "Ulysses emapths. "Stay close, now, up in the trees & stay out of trouble."

 

[Arknath]

Zyrial, when you try to communicate with the catmen, they appear to look at you strangely. It is the look someone gets when they think speaking louder in their own tongue makes it more understandable to the person who doesn't speak their language. Simple gestures are easy, as they are normally intelligent, but complex messages are still hard to get across.

After about a half mile or so, the group hears the howling of wolves behind them. As if on cue, answering howls come from the left and the right. Alsavian screams something in his own language and his men circle up, backs to each other, setting a spear with their foot. Alsavian instructs Ulysses to get his people in the middle of the circle and stay down.