It's Good To Bee Liam

[Bluehorse]

Liam


watches all this unfold and looks more and more impressed.   You know, I bet we could change a lot of attitudes if more people were to see this.  All this puts us all to shame.

[OGRE MAGE]

"Not only that, but it proves that it is quite possible to not only survive here, but to thrive."

"From the sheer size of their clans, I would say that these creatures have been here for a long, long time."

A small group of phanaton begin to make their way towards the 2 men on the platform.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

The man nods and tries to use what knowledge and experience he has to look at what kind of things the phanaton's have done tactically and logistically to secure such a settlement. How they are exploiting their environment for resources, how they seem to be organized, a general idea of where their homes are oriented according to the landscape below, especially Beachtown.

[OGRE MAGE]

Liam takes a close look around, noticing that their humble town is positioned almost directly below this aerial settlement. The platforms with the structures on them must house some of these creatures, and others appear to have set up small homes in the trees without the platforms.

The phanaton appear to live off of the fruits and other smaller animals that live up in their trees. The curious human doesn't notice anything directly about how their clans are structured, but the small group of about a dozen tree folk is drawing even closer now, clearly headed for their position.

Raythan speaks again as the phanaton get close enough to see clearly.

"Oh ya, I almost forgot. Did you bring anything along for them? An offering of some kind to their chief? They seem to like metal very much, if you have a spare knife or ax to gift to them. This step is very important to make a good first impression. I probably should have told you that back on the ground."

[Bluehorse]

Liam


Facepalm... Now he tells me Thinking quickly he begins going through his mind of what he might have, especially metal, that the chieftain might be able to safely handle and use for himself, if only for decoration as a show of his own status.   You don't suppose coins would be appropriate?  I'm not sure what they hold in value but at least it is shiney.  Or perhaps... what about one of my crossbow bolts?  I bet that would make a handy spear and it would have a crafted metal tip.

[OGRE MAGE]

"Coins are soft, and they would have no real use for them here. But I suppose they could use them as little decorations or something."

"I would probably go with a few bolts instead though. Much more useful to them."

The entourage of phanaton begin scurrying towards the platform across the thin connecting vines, crossing them with the dexterity of a large squirrel.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

He nods and prepares to meet the chief. Once he is in view, Liam will take a knee and bow his head in a show of respect as he offers forward to the chief 4 of his Crossbow bolts, hoping he finds these an acceptable gift.

-4 bolts from inventory.

[OGRE MAGE]

A dozen of the phanaton quickly cross the vine bridges and are now standing at the edge of the platform, though still keeping their distance from the much larger visitors. All of these creatures are wearing harnesses of skin or leather of some kind. From these harnesses hang daggers and knives, also tucked inside leathery sheathes. They each have a quiver strapped on their backs, filled with several straight sharpened shafts about the size of a javelin.

They don’t appear aggressive, but they are definitely looking the newcomers over closely, staring them down as they size them up. Raythan looks a little confused by their behavior.

“Something isn’t right here. They don’t usually send only warriors to meet with me. I wonder what this means.”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Remains kneeling, keeping his eyes on the warriors' feet both to have a clue of how or who might be moving where as well as to appear nonaggressive as well. "Reythan.... you don't suppose my little monkey dance was ill-received?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Raythan holds the palms of his empty hands out to the dozen nervous phanaton, keeping them as still as he possibly can. "I hope not, I was only joking about that business. I didn't think it would actually offend them."

The tiny 3 foot furry warriors begin to click and squawk in Raythan's direction, obviously trying to tell him something. They don't act overly aggressive, but they don't look all that friendly either."Dammit! I should have cast my communication spell before they arrived, but I usually reserve that for their chief. I am afraid to start casting anything now, as they may take it as an aggressive action. I don't suppose you want to try offering each of them one of your bolts?"

[Bluehorse]

Liam


He remains kneeling and keeps his hands visible.   Looking sidelong to Raythen:  You don't suppose any of them speak a little common?  Didn't I hear there was someone living up here from town?  Maybe we could get them here and hope to interpret something? he very slowly and very deliberately reaches for the bolts now on the ground at his feet, and offers them in his hand, like one would offer a sugar cube to a horse, open flat palm, making it obvious he was not making a move towards the warriors, hoping they accept this as a gift and not as a sign of aggression.   Gift...  For you.  Friends.

[OGRE MAGE]

The phanaton warriors don't seem to understand a word Liam says. They squawk back and forth between themselves, but the human doesn't pick up on any actual words.

Raythan looks confused when Liam asks about someone living up here with these creatures. "I don't know anything about that. But I suppose it is possible. I will begin casting a spell so I can communicate with these fellows if you wish, but if they don't like it, it might cause us more trouble."

When Liam hands out the crossbow bolts to the treefolk, three of them slowly move forward to take a closer look at his offering. They continue chattering the whole time, apparently just as nervous about the exchange.

[OGRE MAGE]

Raythan begins chanting and waving his hands about in the air. The phanaton warriors have seen this motion before, many times in fact. They leap at the half-elf with their javelins poised to skewer him, causing him to lose his spell before it is completed.

"I don't think they want to talk to us. That was the only hope I had to communicate with them."

Once that excitement dies down again, the largest of their numbers swipes the bolts from Liam's hand and passes them out amongst his comrades. After much incomprehensible chatter between them, one of them takes off back over the vines and disappears into the heavy foliage again, beyond the distant platforms.

[Bluehorse]

Liam takes a step back and looks over to Reythan. You don't suppose something has happened to the leader have you?
Did the chief have any distinguishing features we could try to inquire about?

[OGRE MAGE]

After the phanaton look over their offered crossbow bolts for a few moments, the chatter seems to lessen.

The lone phanaton dissapears a few platforms over, but then eventually reappears again with another larger, brightly decorated member of their race. They slowly make their way over to the others.

“The one with all the shiny colorful trinkets attached to his harness is their chief. Ummmmm, do you have anything else to offer him?”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

nods seeing they made it through the first gate as the larger more colorful Phanaton comes forth. Thinking quickly, he considers the idea of offering the Chief something more elaborate and, perhaps something that he has not seen yet. Liam reaches into his pack and takes out his messkit.

He slowly lays it down and demonstrates how the latch works and opens it up slowly, showing off all the pieces within, before moving it to the chief's feet.

A gift for you, Lord of the Phanaton.

He places his hand on his heart, still respectfully not making direct eye contact. My name is Liam.

[OGRE MAGE]

The newly arrived phanaton bows low to Raythan when he arrives and watches Liam’s movements closely. After the human offers the presumed chief his mess kit as a gift, the chief smiles wide at the generosity. He looks it over for a moment before handing it off to one of his guards.

He then pulls out grey colored sphere that appears to be made of polished stone of some kind. He holds the shiny stone, about the size of a grown humans balled fist, tightly in his hands and appears to concentrate intently.

“Hello Liam. Thank you for this wooden box filled with curiosities. I am called Snarku. I am the leader of this clan of phanaton. We are a peaceful race of tree dwellers, or at least we were until you oomans came here. Now our people are being murdered, burned to death, and our homes are being cut down to make more room on the ground. Our peaceful ways have been challenged, over and over, and we now intend to answer that challenge.”

He smiles at his guards who all smile back as they raise their sharpened sticks towards the two men again.

[Bluehorse]

Liam

Slowly lets out the breath he had not realized he had been holding.   Listening closely to what has been said he nods.  Chief Snarku, of the proud and mighty Phanaton.  I come to you humbly.  I apologize on behalf of our town for any offenses we have committed against you and your people.  If we have done anything, I assure you it was out of ignorance.  I come offering hope and friendship between our peoples.  We are aware of the pirates by the river, who I can only assume are those whom you speak of.  We too, want to drive them off the island.  I have worked toward this.  I have worked out an alliance with the Chief of the native humans on this island, and have managed to deter him from the further slaughter of your people.  I have opened the way toward understanding with his people too.  I have proposed to him, as I do to you, to enter into a three way alliance to push these pirates away.  I hope that this will be a common enemy we could attack as a united people.  I hope this will be the first steps of friendship, understanding, and continuing peace between us all.  Violence only begets violence.  I believe we can sit and talk.  The Native Chief, Powstap (sp?) seems reasonable.  I was able to get him to order his warriors down when I realized their intent to kill one of your people.  I stood before their spears.  I shielded your people with my own body.  I explained who you were.  He seems ready to consider speaking to you as one leader to another.  We can all work together.  We can all save so much death by working together.  We could save the children from growing up in conflict, and give them instead the first steps towards friendship and prosperity if we can all but take those first and hardest steps first.  Chief Snarku.  My life is your's as a show of good faith, if we can but meet and talk together.  We of Beachtown, despite misunderstandings and poor decisions of the past, wasnt peace.  We want to live in harmony with you.  Please, consider my words.  We want peace between our people.  Imagine what a peace, a true peace, could be.  We can trade and work together.  We can make the Natives here see you are not animals for slaughter.  Those first seeds have been planted.  The Phanaton are mighty.  We would see your people become mightier still.  But what is might without the talk and the offer of peace?

[OGRE MAGE]

Snarku keeps his eyes clinched tightly as he concentrates on the conversation, still holding the obviously magical stone sphere out in front of him as he speaks.

“And what of the ooman at the ruined temple, killing my people by the hundreds for his own amusement? Have you so easily convinced him to stop murdering us as well?”

[Bluehorse]

Liam

He nods calmly. I cannot claim yo know everything about him. He seems to have equal animosity towards us as he does towards your own people. It is rumored he is the one responsible for sending the undead after us down the logger's
trail. May I offer this old saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. But perhaps with a united peoples we could share what we know about him and make an effective strike against him. I believe a group of adventurers are out on an expedition against him now. With luck, there may be good news on it's way here already.