Barrow Moor: Rescue of Three-Moons.

[ateno]

"As I said I would not lie and be open to you and yours."

Cosmo brings out the Hand of Hoodo

"With this device I was able to break the seal. Please understand, I did not know what i did. "

He places it back under his shirt.

"Have I proved myself as honest and forthright?"

Cosmo

requested [1d20]=12 [4d6]=14

[Spearmint]

"Have I proved myself as honest and forthright?"

Sure, you have survived being petrified and continue to converse using your high Charisma.

So go ahead and ask a question of the Euryale or to Chingacharz'ad and make any request in regard to resolving the issue. You will be wise enough to know that they won't just free him, but a trade might be agreeable or even some kind of service. Could the dwarves do or obtain something that the Saurons cannot achieve themselves? Are there other things about Sauron culture, lore, draconic faith, the Barrow Mounds that might be valuable to find out.

Is it worth asking it about the Alastar map you have copied?

actions Cosmo, whatever creative conversation / interrogation you talk through.

[Craigers07]

Rum

Rum walks away from Three Moons and returns the spear with the sponge to where it was.

He will get Callen caught up on what was discussed with the prisoner.

"If we're to believe what the lizards are saying we know he will be dead soon. There's enough lizards that I don't know if we can fight our way out of this, but I'm not sure if we'll have a choice.

He keeps a careful watch of what the guards are doing while talking with Callen.

[Spearmint]

Barrow Moor, Duchy of Aerik.

Negotiations in the Sauron Camp.

June 29th 1066.

Callen & Rum discuss. As noted you see one lizardmen guard bearing a whip and you can conclude:

The impression you get from them is that you can enter the camp beyond but then they might take opportunity to 'converse' with the dwarf themselves, fact finding what hushed whispers you have shared.

If you want to challenge him, verbally or otherwise then action that, to take the whip off him or insist he halts such actions.

Cosmo ask the Euryale any specific questions too.

[ateno]

"Have I proved myself as honest and forthright?"

Sure, you have survived being petrified and continue to converse using your high Charisma.
actions Cosmo, whatever creative conversation / interrogation you talk through.

As you know I am here to ask to negotiate for the release of the priest, the dwarves have bags of their armor and crafts as I have already noted. But perhaps we can go beyond that also Along with that I have 2 questions, Euryale, do you have any knowledge of who specifically or where the lost Dragon egg is, I would like to return it to your clan. If I can get that i would go towards you and the dwarves getting to a better spot for becoming less hostile to each other.

After response.

"What can I offer to return the priest held by you? How many ofthe bags of armor and weapons?"
ongoing Chr[4d6]=13

Cosmo

[Hadarai]

Callen

Callen will leave the guards at their post to converse with Rum privately.

"We'll see how Cosmo has faired before we start a jailbreak. These guards are aggressive but their leader seems more willing to listen to reason, once we're back in the camp we should consider bringing in your Clan-Mates. If our words won't soften them to the idea of peace maybe a show of force will make them reconsider."

"St. Ygg willing... the Half-Elf murmured under his breath.

"Not much to he done here for now I think, if you'd like to stay and watch over Three-Moons, I can take the ransom and return to Cosmo and the Chieftain."

[Craigers07]

Rum

Rum nods to concur with Callen's thoughts on the situation.

"I'm growing tired of listening to these lizards. Let's see what their leader has to say. I will stay with Three-Moons for now."

[Spearmint]

If our words won't soften them to the idea of peace maybe a show of force will make them reconsider.

Certainly the dwarves have considered that and have come armed for conflict though the fear is at any sign of a direct attack, Three-Moons would be slain first. But as much as checking on the captive, Rum can make mental notes on the readiness of the lizardmen to fight, their numbers and gear.

On first glance, the lizardmen outnumbered you two to one, figuring a score of warriors, most half-asleep on their mats and others on guard duties. Bundles of javelins are close at hand, each warrior having a sword or axe. Those who patrol the perimeter armed with bows. It would not be easy to surprise them and a direct assault may easily falter. Dwarves are noted for their bull-charges, especially to push back regimented shield walls and create breaches that others can attack through. Perhaps thinking on those dynamics might provoke some creative ideas.

actions Rum roll me a [4d6]

While you mingle, your language knowledge allows you to pick up on various disgruntled comments.

"We should do away with them all and begone from here." (talking about you three and the captive)

"He is bewitched and half mad. He will drive us all to deaths for his vanity" griping regarding Chingacharz'ad

"I can't sleep. The haunts from the tomb below will surely plague us again." refering to the excavation of the submerged tomb under the camp.

"This is holy ground. Fayvrrtep fìtsenge lu kxanì!. She says the spine of our Draco Eyktan are here." (a mixed comment. The lizardman speaks of the Euryale refering to 'bones of our Mother' but uses a word for a dragon).

"I will take the dwarf. Scalp his beard
and use it to wipe my diarrhoea. Gracus' cooking is killing me".

Callen pushes past the two guards watching over Three-Moons. and walks through to the lizardman camp. One warrior, drinking from a jug of hooch, stumbling back from the camp latrine bars his way. He looks down at you, swigging more 'hooch' and prods you in the chest. In the pervading swirls of Barrow Mist, you are alone with him.

"Your holiness. Will you meet your god soon? Perhaps before sunrise?" He looks at your holy symbol on a chain around your neck. A red cross set upon a white background in a Sun shaped frame. "A mete trinket. God does not hear you here. I will take it." He makes to pull the chain, snapping the links and take your holy symbol away.

actions Callen respond as you see fit.

Cosmo I will add an edit here shortly.

[Spearmint]

Negotiations with the Euryale.

Cosmo

"Euryale, do you have any knowledge of who specifically or where the lost Dragon egg is, I would like to return it to your clan.

If I can get that it would go towards you and the dwarves getting to a better spot for becoming less hostile to each other."

"Renegade priest, Ngenga, betrayed trust. He is as he does. He stole from us as he dwelt among us and he steals still.

Why do you think he was exiled from the Peaks to the low plains. An usurper, driven out. We gave him refuge but he betrayed trust. Now he has taken refuge in the settlement of men. He will betray them too, thriving in their midst as a cancer. You must cut him out."

The Euryale hisses venomous words regarding Karl Barrelgut. She believes he has the egg, hidden among the dwarven commune in Helix. You know from Karl that he believes the Saurons want to resurrect some incarnate form of their draconic gods through hatching the egg.

"We can have peace, but we must also have justice. Bring us Karl Barrelgut and he can face the Euryale himself." Chingacharz'ad answers.

The six sacks of weapons and the crafted suit of chainmail seem acceptable to keep peace and they will exchange Three-Moons for Karl Barrelgut.

[ateno]

"Chingacharz'ad, I will present your request to the Dwarves. I would like to hold on for now that the rescue of Three Moons is settled.

I will inform the powers of Helix of the danger of Ngenga.

I will ask Karl to attend us here so he can sear he does not have the egg, does that meet your requirement?"

Cosmo

[Spearmint]

Ngenga this is the Sauron word that they use for 'adversary' abd is a title they give to Karl Barrelgut.

[ateno]

sorry for that. May I say this instead?

"How would I know this Ngenga, is there a human name? I assume you don't mean the dwarf Karl."

Cosmo

[Spearmint]

They do mean Karl Barrelgut.

[ateno]

"If you allow me to leave, I will attempt to get Karl here to talk for himself."

Cosmo

[Spearmint]

"If you allow me to leave, I will attempt to get Karl here to talk for himself."

Cosmo

Chingacharz'ad and the Euryale converse, discussing the terms and negotiations and perhap (as you are not quite sure and would not necessarily trust the lizardmen) they may be hatching more insidious plots.

"Stretch forth your hand." the Sauron requests, presenting it closer to the Euryale. You have seen him allow the writhing snake-hair Asps to blood-suckle some from his palm, maybe this is some ritual of bonding, a bit like when warring tribes cut palms and mingle blood by shaking hands.

"You have stood before portals of men and devils, breaking the bounds of one, withstanding another. May you stand still when you look into the Void." she speaks cryptically, refering to the bronze doors opened by the Hand of Hoodoo and the invitation to enter the Sphere of Annihilation in the maw of the Nergal Visage and prophetically auguring a future mystical encounter with another Abyssal gate.

The Asps strike your hand, latching fangs around your wrist and injecting a poison. Shocked you stand, about to defend yourself, cast spells or draw blade but Chingacharz'ad draws a handkerchief and wraps it around the bleeding wound. "Do not fear. It will heal in time." he says and after utterance more Sauron invocations, covers the Euryale once more under the linen veil.

it would seem you have agreement in place to bring in the trade sacks of weapons and to convince Karl to come to face the Euryale in exchange for the release of Three-Moons.

There is a deadline of midnight to present these items here in the camp. It is currently in the pre dawn hours, circa 3.00am.

actions Cosmo, post a final [1d20] and [4d6] please. You are free to leave this tent and camp. I will hold further actions here until we resolve these.

actions Callen, any interaction with the drunk Sauron warrior.

actions Rum, roll me the [4d6] and any reaction to the lizardmen warriors comments.

[ateno]

"I leave to get Karl, i will say you wish to talk to him, if he comes or not, I cannot say. I will announce the trade when I fell it is to both you and the dwarves advantage. I ask you keep my two friends safe while I am gone"

Cosmo [1d20]=7 [4d6]=8

[Spearmint]

I ask you keep my two friends safe while I am gone"

the lizard man nods. You can actually all leave together, but I want to resolve any issue Callen and Rum may have which is concurrent to you being interrogated by the Euryale.

Your check is another successful Charisma check, so well done there. The 1d20 result is resolved in your private thread.

[Hadarai]

Callen

The Cleric looks up into the Sauron's eyes and smiles. "I meet with my god everyday when I perform my daily prayers, just as I'm sure you meet with yours. The gods are always around, looking down on us, are they not?"

When the Sauron makes to snatch for Callen's holy symbol, the Half-Elf catches him at the wrist, still smiling. "Yes, you are right. This trinket is not worth much, especially in this camp, you would not be able to get much, if anything for it. This would be a much greater prize instead." With his other hand Callen palms 10 gold pieces in the Drunk's hand and shakes it with an earnest friendliness before releasing the lizardman's arm.

[Spearmint]

Negotiations


Drunk Sauron reactions to Callen [1d100-20]=54-20=34
Drunk Sauron: prone to negative vs 55% [1d100]=77

The drunk lizard man, swaying in his feet and tail after visiting the latrine in the early hours has stumbled across Callen who walks into the camp from the bog pits. The pervading mist means swallows both in a swirling cloud of greyish vapours, giving a screen for the Sauron to bully the Cleric. His tone is antagonistic and intolerant, particularly since Callen bears a dual human-elven heritage. Betrayed by slim, angular face and pointed ears. He tries to dissuade the warrior from ripping off his previous holy symbol, palming off a number of gold pieces instead. The lizardman batters away the handshake. "You have drank from Chingacharz'ad's canteen not mine. You are under his hand of peace. My hand will keep to my pommel ... and purse." He bags the coins, looking over his shoulder hurriedly then scurries away. -10gp.

Cosmo comes with the Officer among them. It seems his interrogation has gone well and you have verified Three-Moons still lives.

"Escort them a mile, then return forthwith." Chingacharz'ad clicks his finger and two warriors come to attention. They will accompany the trio out of camp and a short distance along the trail.

actions I will pause here for Rum to post any reaction or follow up to his scene, then continue back with an update as you share back with Karl and the other dwarves.

[Spearmint]

Barrow Moor, Duchy of Aerik.

Negotiations in the Sauron Camp.

June 29th 1066.

The initial negotiations concluded. You have verified that Three-Moons is alive though strung up on a frame over a deadly pit trap inhabited by carnivorous plants. He is injured and in poor health from his treatment but high in spirit and stoic nature. You know certain lizardmen delight in his mistreatment but have been unable to intervene sufficiently to prevent further torment until a trade or rescue can be affected.

You have learned they camo in this spot in order to excavate a nearby submerged barrow mound that they suspect holds some kind of draconic relic. The leader practises some form of shamanism, using a strange half-torso shaped 'Gorgon' type creature known as the Euryale which acts as some intercessory link to their divinity.

Cosmo, having faced a stony petrifying death in the face and come out smiling, has swung these negotiations in the dwarves favour with at least their acceptance of the trade offer of crafted items as long as they are accompanied with the Forgemaster Priest Karl also acquiescing to an interrogation by the Euryale.

Callen bribes a warrior to keep the peace in the camp, Rum remains silent despite overhearing various provocations and some snippets of the current feeling among the warriors. The three if you escorted away from the camp and along the boggy trail for a mile until the escorts return back to their camp. They leave you with a warning nit to return unless their demands have been met.

Karl Barrelgut and the other dwarves camp nearby, they are watching for your safe return, eventually you reunite together and can share back in detail what you have observed and learned.

actions make any comments or suggestions to Karl regarding the way forward. and each character roll me a [4d6] with your post which I will use to check against any strategy or skill check needed.

actions please.