Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus "Good idea, Kain. I would ask about the snake people. They were just one door away from them after all. Maybe they know something about where did they come from or when did tjey arrive. And same about the matron.

Something tells me it'd be better not to say anything about the gem. If they don't know anything about it, then they will want to have it. If they have it, they might want to kill us. I would ask about information about these caves. Probably there's parts of them they don't usually go to, if there are other denizens here, and that's where the gem might probably be.

In any case, I don't trust them either."

[silifi]

Sik shrugs at the talk of the dwarves crossing them. "They seem eager to bargain. I do not fear the little men - they seem fearful of us, to me. Let us find out about this gem."

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Free Work
No Idea On Time Of Day

To ease confusion, Belloc translates in real time, getting no complaints from the ugly dwarfs. They answers his questions as best they can. "Yes, many other dangerous creatures inhabit Underborea. But here you are safe. We can show you the way to the most dangerous......the snakemen you speak of. They brought us here against our will, from deeper below. They used us to keep their slaves in check, and as security to prevent anyone from disturbing their work. But we escaped them, and have lived here in hiding ever since."

"These caves are ours, but we can show you the way to the snakemen, if you return the grub to us. We know of this gem you speak of. The snakemen have it."

Actions?

Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22
Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17 Torch
Akhilleus (F4) AC4 35/35
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11 Torch
Sik (Ba1) AC5 11/12
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 12/12 CLW
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13 Torch
Taibhse (Sh2) AC5 11/11 Torch
Belloc (M2) AC6 14/14

[Rex]

Drest

"This sounds like a trap to me."

[silifi]

"Perhaps we trade one hostage for another. One dwarf that can guide us to the Gem, in exchange for the maggot. Then if he follows through, we release him. If not, we kill him," Sik suggests.

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril

"Or maybe put more plainly, a dwarf or two leads us to the Gem. Once we arrive, we will release the dwarf grub. In the meantime, I will allow the dwarf that attends us to help care for the thing...I have no interest in killing it because I do not know how to care for the thing.

Speaking of which, please ask them if this is a common form for their young...or if this has been transformed by the witch or something."

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

The process seems to be moving forward in a way he likes so he stays joining in.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus also says nothing, since what Cyric says seems reasonable enough to him.

[Belkregos]

Belloc
My opinion is that we should return the creature to its parents, its true we have leverage over them since its invaluable to them while for us is a burden, but will we adopt the matrosn tactics by exploiting their desperation? they've offered safe harbour 
i've voiced my objections but will support the majority decision, 

he starts to communicate the with representative, translating word per word both side of the conversation
we thank you for granting safe passage and shelter, we will continue to face these snakemen, could someone from your tribe guide us? we will return the infant;undoubtably the snakemen are enemies of us both, Is there any additional information you could provide to aid us in defeating them?   Would any of you join us?  

[silifi]

"We cannot let our hearts bleed for them. Whatever their moral worth, that is for their gods to decide. We must keep whatever leverage we have to prevent ourselves from falling into a trap. Survival comes first. I agree with Cyril's plan." Sik says.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Eh. You sound like true Ixians. Not everyone has betrayal in mind, just those who do." He smiles at the joke and turns to Ceana. "What do you think? A fresh opinion."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Based on their previous behaviour and the fact they were planning to ambush us, like the others I do not trust them completely. I agree with Sik and Cyril, release the grub once they have safely shown us the way. Once we defeat the snake men and gain the gem, I do not trust them to let us pass this way unaccosted, I think they will take advantage of us being weakened in both powers used and wounds to try and take the gem, but that concern we will have to deal with later. "

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Dwarfs
No Idea On Time Of Day

Two more dwarfs walk out into the light, shading their eyes and squinting. You get the feeling there may be more hidden in the darkness. Their speaker seems to be growing concerned about all the talk going on, his tone sharpening.

“No! We will not join you! Give us our grub and we will point you in the direction of the snake-men and their gem! The other business is our own!”

Actions?

Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22
Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17 Torch
Akhilleus (F4) AC4 35/35
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11 Torch
Sik (Ba1) AC5 11/12
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 12/12 CLW
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13 Torch
Taibhse (Sh2) AC5 11/11 Torch
Belloc (M2) AC6 14/14

[hedgeknight]

Kainaxarthos - ...and turns to Ceana. "What do you think? A fresh opinion."

After the dwarf's outburst, Ceana sighs. "I don't trust them. And I do not doubt they feel the same about us. But, if they will show us the way, why not give them the grub creature thingy and leave? What have we got to lose?"

[Rex]

Kainaxarthos - ...and turns to Ceana. "What do you think? A fresh opinion."

After the dwarf's outburst, Ceana sighs. "I don't trust them. And I do not doubt they feel the same about us. But, if they will show us the way, why not give them the grub creature thingy and leave? What have we got to lose?"

Drest

"At this point I think it is the best option."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"By the sounds of it this is the best we can hope for."

[Belkregos]

Kainaxarthos - ...and turns to Ceana. "What do you think? A fresh opinion."

After the dwarf's outburst, Ceana sighs. "I don't trust them. And I do not doubt they feel the same about us. But, if they will show us the way, why not give them the grub creature thingy and leave? What have we got to lose?"

Belloc
nods in agreement
I agree

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus "Alright. Lest they become aggresive, as they're irreasonable brutal creatures. But keep in mind they might ambush us on our way back just to steal the gem from us. Even if we are the heroes that killed their enemies."

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril steps forward, but stays outside of weapon range. He presents the doll with a pin in it and asks for translation.

"I have another topic to ask you about. I also found this among the old hag's possessions. Does this doll bear a resemblance to any of your people? Maybe somebody with an injury that will not heal? Once again, I do not desire to hold this and lord it over you if it is causing you and yours pain.

And to our main topic at hand, once you provide us with directions to the gem AND share with us any knowledge of hazards on the journey, we will give you the grub. I will warn you though, any lies of omission and certainly any attempts to double cross us will result in FIERCE retribution from our party."

As soon as he senses that this is translated, he uses the amulet of disguise to warp and twist his features into a grotesque version of himself fueled by Azathoth's nightmares. His skin turns a dark gray. His mouth widens into a perfect circle the width of his head, lined with wickedly pointy teeth extending toward the mouth's center. His eyes narrow into vertical black slits and what appear to be tentacles twist and wrap around his arms. As soon as he gets a reaction from the dwarves, he drops the disguise, replacing it with a beatific smile of his own.

[Belkregos]

Belloc
faithfully translates Cyril's words