Barduk & Fort Critwall

[Darklin2]

Sai

Seeing her eyes light up, Calls to Talon.

Would you like to pet the Owl? He will come closer so be quiet and move your hands slow.


Talon: Come here to my arm. Move slow and do not bit.

He holds out him arm to receive the Owl.


So tell me where does this Mr. Iggy and Leaf Lady live? In a house, a tree, or cave? What are we looking for?

[hedgeknight]

The girl's eyes get even bigger (if that is possible) when Talon alights on Sai's arm. Tentatively, she touches Talon's feathers, giggling at how soft they are. She is mesmerized.
But...she finally says, "We live in a cabin in the woods. I came out to...to make water...and then was chasing a butterfly and now...well, I don't remember the way back home."

[ChubbyPixie]

"Oh, I thought it was a code phrase," says Kranston. "Is she not our contact? She is very young to be a contact. What a strange coincidence we should encounter her here in this precise place... hmmmm." His eyes narrow in suspicion.

He does take a moment to think if he's heard any tales of a Leaf Lady.

[Darklin2]

Sai

Being a Priest of Ehlonna starts looking for tracks on the ground to follow back to the Cabin were she came from.


Ok. Let's follow your tracks and see which way you came from.

[OGRE MAGE]

Shaking his head at the overzealous dwarf, Montego doesn't like the smell of this situation any more than the horsemans lingering morning-after funk.

"Young lady......what is your name? Don't you know it is dangerous to take candy from a stranger?"

He too searches the ground for any fresh tracks.

"Can you tell us what Mr. Iggy and the Leaf Lady look like? And what did you mean by making water? Like......peeing? Or something else?"

"Have you seen anyone else out here while you were playing with the butterflies?"

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

"No. Nuh-uh. Nope." Cassius steps back from the girl and the candyman. He tries to determine if the girl is elven or not, which would influence his reaction.

He scans the area for threats while the others try to negotiate with fey.

[Hotgoblin]

Muldgarr sees the youngster and it triggers memories of his sister, before she went missing. He shakes off the feeling of despair only to remember they’re probably being hunted! Do not bring your guard down, be weary of what you don’t or can’t see! He draws his bow and remains on Nantahren.

[hedgeknight]

Suddenly, a shadowed humanoid figure crashes through the bushes, seemingly out of nowhere. It's jagged teeth flash in the moonlight as it sweeps away the brush with a powerful swing of its thick scaly tail.

Jeremiah.jpg (35.78 KiB) Viewed 446 times

Muscles ripple beneath its reptilian skin and a loud hiss coats its forked tongue with glistening spit. Before you even realize it, the creature has a bowstring pulled taut, a gleaming arrowhead aimed at you at point blank range. You have only a few seconds to move, but the creature clearly has you dead to rights.

[OGRE MAGE]

Montego looks to the little girl to gauge her reaction. If she doesn't look panicked at all, he shows his empty hands and speaks in the native tongue of the lizardman.

"Mister Iggy, I presume?"

"We mean you both no harm, I assure you!"

If the girl does seem panicked, and the thing fires his bow at him or his friends, the ranger draws his sword and attacks.

Attack w/ 2 Handed Sword [1d20+3]=15+3=18 Damage [1d10+5]=1+5=6

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

Cursing to himself while muttering something about sneaky bastards, Cassius quickly pulls his bow and trains it on the newcomer. "Hold! This will not end well."

[Darklin2]

Sai

Steps between the Little Girl and the drawn bow.

Choose your target well for you will only get one chance. We are here to find an agent of the crown. Harm one of us and the rest will end you.

[Bluehorse]

Adelphocles

The centaur begins moving a wide circle to flank the lizard man. He doesn't yet bother arming himself until he is sure the lizard doesn't notice him.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kranston freezes in place, hands slightly raised. He is hesitant to act until he knows which, the girl or the lizard man, are the contact they seek. "He could have just said 'you'll know him because he has scales' or 'you'll be met by a child,' but no..." he murmurs to himself.

[Hotgoblin]

Muldgarr His sites and bow are set back on the reptilian. What say you brute of the murk?

[hedgeknight]

The lizardman takes in all of you, the brandished weapons, crouches slightly and then growls in a low hiss.
"Sssstep away from the girl, banditssss - sssshe issss under my protecssssion."

Before blood is shed, the little girl darts around Sai. "Mr. Iggy!" she cries and runs to hug the leg of the lizardman.
And in an unusual act of affection, the lizardman drops his bow and hoists the girl up to eye level.
"I told you not to call me that, you little wanderling > my name is Jeremiah."

He looks at the rest of you, holding the girl who now has her little arms around the lizardman's neck.
"And you are?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Everyone roll an Intelligence check. If you make it, you may recall this:

Krayquer clears his throat, crosses his arms and barks, "Ok, listen up! Here's a few things you need to know before you head out tomorrow:
1/ Border posts are a day or two of travel apart; plan accordingly with food and water and supplies.
2/ The terrain is open and visibility will clear to about 25 yards off the main trail.
3/ Orcs mainly raid at night, if they raid at all. My sources tell me they are few and far between, so if you show force, the stragglers will not bother you.
4/ And this is the most important > kill any lizardman on sight!

[Bluehorse]

Adelphocles

Blinks at the sudden display, seeing the Lizardman is caring for the girl. This is a sacred arrangement when one adopts the offspring of another. He relaxes and steps forward.

Adel was busy last night and I will assume he simply wouldn't recall anything like that he was told.

Jeremiah, I am Adelphocles of Silvertree. If you say you are protecting this girl and she clearly seems to confirm this arrangement, then that is good enough to me to call you friend. We were passing through when we saw the girl here, playing by the side of the road.

[OGRE MAGE]

Intelligence Check (15) [1d20]=17

Montego remembers nothing.

The ranger lowers his guard in hopes of diffusing the situation. "Jeremiah, you say? That is an interesting name for one of your race. I am Montego. Tell me.....have you always looked like this? Or did magic have something to do with your lizard man fate?"

Looking around the area a bit more....

"And if you are the aforementioned Mr. Iggy.....her words not mine.....then where is this leaf lady the child also spoke of?"

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

Int (14): [1d20]=6

Cassius narrows his eyes as he recalls the words of Krayquer. "We were told to kill any lizardmen on sight." He then relaxes and lowers his bow. "We were also told that the posts were a day or so apart."

"Jeremiah, huh? Jetero told us about you. It would have been good if he had led with something else, but whatever." Cassius smiles and motions for the others to relax. "He also mentioned a safe house nearby. Let's go."

[Darklin2]

Sai

[1d20]=19 Intell Check

Well it appears that she is in your care so I will trust you. We are looking for a Servant of the Duke. Would that be you? We have been sent to discuss some pressing information. Do we have some place we can talk away from younger ears?

[ChubbyPixie]

Kranston squints.

Intelligence Check (10): [1d20]=15

"He's clearly nice. This seems totally fine," he says.