Expedition - Lug/Exploration - May 20, 1 VC

[Zhym]

"Do I look like a ghost?" laughs Lug. Then, figuring the Horathi might not be as adept at non-literal meaning as he is, says, "We aren't ghosts. We came from beyond the, uh, 'end of the world' to settle the old wild lands and make them less, um, wild."

"The Giriritak—do they look like lizard people?"

[Keehnelf]

"Beyond the end of the world?" Kieros stops speaking in Lawful then, and begins conversing in low tones with his companions. He appears at first to be explaining something to them, and then the three of them launch into what is obviously an emotional and contentious exchange that lasts longer than expected. After five minutes, the three are still embroiled in conversation among themselves.

Do you want to wait until they are done, interrupt, or move on?

[Zhym]

Lug...

Interrupt? [1=yes, 2=no] = err: [1d2] = 1

...interrupts.

"Um, sorry, is something wrong?" he asks.

Before this conversation is over, Bertram's going to be wishing that Lug were a bit better at guile.

[Keehnelf]

The trio cut off their conversation abruptly. "Ehh," Kieros begins, "I would speak out of turn to say too much." In response, one of the others crosses his arms angrily and steps away from Kieros. "Tell us of who sent you here to settle the wild lands."

[Zhym]

"Nobody sent us. We just sort of came. No one else was using the wild lands, except some of the 'green skins,' so why not?"

Lug beings to look a little peeved, even though he tries to hide it. "What's the big deal about coming from beyond the mountains? Come on, it's not fair to act like that's bad and not tell us why!"

[Keehnelf]

"Beyond the end of the world is only Void. Empty. A place where the dark thoughts of ancestors grow into evil and twisted things, clawing at the walls of our world to be let in. If you come from beyond, you must be such evil dreams made flesh." Says the second man.

Kieros gives him a long look, before adding. "There are many stories. Some may be true, or all. If none sent you, why do you come? What do you seek?"

[Zhym]

"Have you ever been beyond the mountains?" presses Lug. "Then how do you know what's there, huh? I don't go around telling you there's nothing where you're from, do I? There's plenty of world beyond the mountains. Lots of it. If we become good friends maybe I'll sing you songs about it someday."

"We came for the same reason you came to this mountain. To see what's here. Generally, I mean. Right now, we're trying to find this man's lady friend who I hired to help me rescue this short man here and got stolen by the big dragon man. You haven't seen her, have you? Name's Adrienne?"

[Keehnelf]

Kieros presses his lips together. "We have not been within the mountain yet. We must first make peace with the spirits of the short-men and the green-skins before we enter, lest we be punished for our trespass. I thought you might be those spirits, come to welcome us, but it is not so. Go, please, and bother us no more."

[Marullus]

Niles sees them getting angry as the others let Lug lead negotiation. "What are they saying?" he whispers in concern.

[Keehnelf]

ive assumed Orrin has been translating for everyone--Lug doesn't speak Lawful.

[Zhym]

"Hmph," pouts Lug. "I thought we was gonna be friends. People like being my friends. LOTS more than they like being my enemies." He cackles at his witty insinuation. "Oh, well. Suit yourself. But I wouldn't be too eager to meet those spirits if I was you. See this short man here? He met some of those spirits up close and personal, and they weren't what you'd call friendly. If you're expecting a welcome wagon, you'd be better off turning around and going home now."

If the spectacularly unhelpful Horathi had nothing else to say, Lug leads the way to the nearest hole in the mountain.

[Marullus]

Yikes! : If Orrin was actually doing the talking and not Lug, perhaps we should pause for Orrin's reinterpretation.

[Keehnelf]

Kieros seems upset about the turn the encounter has taken, but he says nothing. He turns instead to the other one who had spoken and continues the interrupted conversation in their native tongue, gesturing forcefully at the other man.

The closest entrance is the one on the ground more or less below where the Horathi stand, a corridor leading directly into the stone. As the party passes nearby, the Horathi momentarily pause their discussion to watch them pass, and then resume, the faint murmurs of that conversation accompanying the party into the stifling darkness of the abandoned dwarf-hold.

(I'm going to pause here to allow those who haven't been active to be able to chime in before we completely end the Horathi encounter and move on)

[Zhym]

Well, if a horde of barbarians comes down from the north to sack Vaul, we'll know it was Lug's skillful diplomacy that was to blame.

[Keehnelf]

Just as a quick clarification for folks: in general, I will happily move forward quickly when the expedition leader is communicating with an NPC, unless someone has indicated a specific intention to engage with the NPC individually. Not necessarily to the termination of the encounter, but to keep negotiations moving forward and to prevent them from becoming a morass of intertwining dialog streams as sometimes can happen.

This isn't intended to discourage others from participating, but simply to make my preferred handling of these things explicit.

[Zorroroaster]

Apologies, I've been at work when all that went back and forth. I'm not totally sure Orrin would have translated Lug exactly, and may have worded it differently...but I'm ok with how it turned out. And it is Lug's expedition...

[Zhym]

Hey, I figure Lug would have expected Orrin to edit him a bit in translation.

[Marullus]

Yeah, sorry about that. I saw the "lawful only" post but missed the "Orrin is assumed to translate" post when scrolling on my phone, so I was staying quiet. I'd have interjected more.

Niles is concerned as things begin to deteriorate. He turns to Orrin, "Give them warning. No people deserve to fall prey to the dragon's treachery."

"We give you warning of what has lain within," he says through Orrin, "The explosion included the release of an ancient dragon, a red wyrm of such age and power that it could only be imprisoned by the ancient dwarves when they built this place and not destroyed though they tried with all of their might and all of their knowledge. This dragon is known to take the form of other races, to walk on two legs as a man so he can come into and become part of your tribes, but only to sow chaos and destroy children. He has done this before in the tales of old -- have your folk be wary lest he do it again now that we have seen him fly free once more. It is this same wyrm, walking in human guise, which has bewitched and taken our companion, the woman Adrienne. We come to the mountain, at the risk of our lives, for the scant hope of her rescue. Should we not return from his endeavor, at least carry word of the beast and its ways to warn others."

[hedgeknight]

"We are from the great city of Vaul," Krysta says. "I have been praying for a blessing from Pelor, the Sun God, and it seems you are his answer! May we join you to share food and drink?"
Krysta holds up her holy symbol, unsure if the men can see it from where they are.

[Keehnelf]

Kieros listens, stony-faced. "Yes, Delekos the Sun-Swallower. We thought the short-men had destroyed him, until he was seen in the sky heading toward Noble Ixthos Under Shadows in the east." He points northeast. "It is as the Third Song of Horath spoke, portents upon portents. If you are truly ignorant, then you should fear the heralds of the next age too." He listens to Krista and looks at her amulet. "If your god is the servant of the sun, you should travel north, find Kakar Horath and submit to the tests of light. That, at least, would prove you are no creature of the void." The second man gives Kieros an unpleasant look but says nothing, waiting until the adventurers leave to continue their argument.