Barrow Moor, Duchy of Aerik.
Negotiations in the Sauron Camp.
June 29th 1066.
Cosmo is very candid and forthright. Experience teaches that giving in to kidnappers only leads to more ransoms, a point he suggests the lizardmen could undertake, even at a point of betraying their welcome, the trio of hostage negotiators being kept themselves.
Chingacharz'ad has an instinctive intolerance and distrust towards dwarves and 'dwarf-kin' but the charismatic gnome is able to keep relations, while still tentative, on a positive footing.
Chingacharz'ad: reactions with Cosmo [1d100-20]=86-20=66
You open the sack of goods for inspection and say this can be multiplied six fold
as each of the accompanying dwarves bore one and a crafted armour of finest chain from
Karl Barrelgut.. The lizard men take an interest, assessing Duchy broadswords which the Forge make as a regional speciality, along with balanced throwing axes and barbed javelins. The quality is noted and approved but suddenly some of the warriors get very suspicious regarding your true intent, figuring your arrival and offer to be a mere distraction in order to lull their security and ambush them. There are words of conflict between
Chingacharz'ad and a junior. A few lizardmen give a cautionary shout to rouse sleeping comrades though guards patroling the perimeters deny any knowledge of dwarves from
Karl's group trying to sneak by them. The unnamed junior seems to demand more evidence of the gnome's trustworthiness and suggests that you are 'put to the Test'.
Cosmo gulps, not understanding the vocabulary but knowing well enough the inferences spoken.
Still,
Chingacharz'ad outstretches his arm to quell any dissent and enforce his decision that as 'guests', the customary protocols not to harm you will be followed ... at least by them. How you fare in front of 'aspects of their Divine' might be another issue.
"If what you say is true, the spirit of our Patriarchs can discern and weigh in the balance. Corruptness and lies hardened the heart and soul. We will attest your words and tongue. If you speak truly, we will listen. If not, your body will turn to stone and we will bind it to Three-Moons as an anchor that you both sink beneath this mud.
You will be forgotten and remembered no more". he says in a pragmatic way.
You are not actually seized or grappled but there is a very strong invitation / intimidation to go with
Chingacharz'ad who walks into the covered tent.
In between the boulders are a covered tent, a tarpaulin of scaly skin rather than waxed canvas;
It would seem this is some kind of tabernacle, a large tarpaulin of reptile skins erected over a shrine. The officer lifts one tent flap and you can go in cautiously. No one is inside, no shaman or priest if you were expecting that but an altar of sorts has been set up with a few votive offerings placed upon it. To either side of the altar are spears placed in the ground and each has a large, grotesque head impaled upon the blades. These are like no humanoid heads you have ever seen before, as both sprout long bat like leathery wings from their necks and from out of their decapitated necks each trail intestinal type organs. While twisted and malformed, one has a pseudo-dwarven visage and hisses and writhes yet still alive though impaled. The other is motionless and to your surprise is actually petrified, a horror filled grimace fixed in permanence upon its already horror filled and stony profile. Prominent upon the altar is a jewelled veil which seems to cover another large head.
"We will ask of the Euryale and she will discern truth from falsehood. Whether the gnome is a worthy advocate or if he speaks in the forked tongue and walks in the unrighteous ways of his Moradin priest kin." Chingacharz'ad motions you to enter while he seems to chant a prayer or ritual, laying his hand upon the head of the covered skull in order you assume, to empower or awaken it.
Cosmo, any actions, questions or last words?
Meanwhile ...
Callen and
Rum rouse
Three-Moons and after ministering some vinegary wine, begin to enquire to his state and situation.
"As bitter and sour as elf piss, yet it succours my parched throat. A tankard of blessed mead will surely overflow when I make to Moradin's feasting hall." the captive comments on the sponge fed wine. He looks through half closed eyes.
"Hello Three-Moons. My name is Callen, I'm a cleric of St. Ygg, we've come on request from your clan to negotiate for your release. I assume that they've tried to interrogate you, have you said anything to them that we should know about?
"A Yggite? The irony, for these do not know that the Crimson Cross banner flies unfurled and victorious upon the battle grounds of their tribal lands. Your Lord Krothos extends his reach, claiming their land as his and seeks to drive them into reservations." Three-Moons gives an update on a recent military excursion into their territory.
"Fortuna, Hossama meus, legions ab comae.
Fortuna, fortuna, equis ad purgatoris, in veritae
Hossana Meus, Fortuna Deus, protego causa in sanctus." he drifts back into a semi-coma, quoting
Yggite anthems. It could also be alluding to
Rum for his translated surname of
Lightbender (One who shapes the Sun's radiance) can fit into the 'auld Ygg' vocabulary used in rituals, a portion of which above translates to Legions of Lightrays
crusading warriors on a holy cause.
Three-Moons stirs, acknowledging his kinsman
Rum,
you may have a vague acquaintance..
"Honour. These reptilian savages keep to old ways, drawing strength from my withstanding their brutality. They have promised me 'a good death', though I doubt a quick or clean one. I had hopes for an axe and to die taking on all comers but I think rather they intend me a sacrifice to appease their gods.
Silent are they. They pray but receive few answers. The dragon egg that Karl has is one they hope to hatch. To resurrect the dead foetus inside with an incarnate spirit of one of the elders Wyrms. So for them, their draconic gods might become flesh and dwell among them.
The Saurons search, for the restoration of their patriarchs and prophets, that the silent centuries since the Mist enveloped the Moor would be lifted. Am I a worthy ransom for such a hope? Forgemaster Karl would have me instead speak the forbidden rituals over the egg."
You are not sure what he might mean by 'forbidden rituals' but could assume it is not in keeping with traditional Moradin orthodoxy. The captive dwarf informs you that he knows his time is short. A trade of his life for equipment and armour might be acceptable but it is a long shot. He says the Saurons camp here after finding the Barrow Mound (
of the Saurons) as it was known, was discovered to have suffered a catastrophic collapse. It is not known why, but the group are too ashamed to go home and his capture seems to offer some way of redemption or regaining honour to them.
At this point, you hear the commotion in the camp. You can turn around to check. The same two guards who accompanied you to the edge of the camp and stepping stones are still there observing what you do,
sufficient distance not to hear distinctly what you might talk.
Rum & Callen any further questions or actions here?
