Ludolf follows the captain and Triäsa onto the shore, smiling to himself at the less than perfact primordial from Captain Jois, but says nothing. Listening attentively to the grippli's response as Triäsa offers the team's help, he Instead does his best to try to discern if the intentions of the Grippli is hostile in any way.

Insight: 6

(Did Edgar spot anything at all when scouting the shoreline?)

(I always forget about Edgar, it's not intentional... he would appreciate the same as Pardot above)

Triäsa -- Make a persuasion check, adv for primordial. 

The Grippli hold a rather poor quality spear tightly in their hands. They look cautious and tense but not overtly hostile, more of a defensive posture.

"I am Bullgup you come with the great ship and friend saying you here to help.... You do not look like warriors..." It turns it's head toward Daventry and nods "That one looks like warrior, can she fight the lizards alone?"

Captain Jois whispers to Pardot, "I suspect you are referring to the 'Crab Maze' as we call it. It's how they breed and grow the crabs. I've never been there myself just seen it from a distance. Their village lies just beyond it."

Translation if you are not smart phone:

(And anything on Ludolf's insight roll? ;-)

Daventry looks between Pardot and the Captain, keeping a bit back as Triasa does her thing.

She whispers to the Captain as the Grippli looks directly at her, trying to be subtle about it. "Uhm, what're they saying?"

The Captain shrugs, "I believe they like your hat? It's either that or they think you are a God. I'm a bit rusty."

"I can live with either of those, I suppose." Daventry responds. She gives a nod to the frog warrior.

Ludolf can't help but chuckle now at the captain's poor translation, although he does it discreetly and then turns to the captain and Daventry and explains. "Actually they seem to think Daventry is the only one looking like a warrior, which in itself is a fair assessment I would say, and wonders if she will fight the lizards alone. I can only assume they expect help with fighting those lizard creatures that had been spotted." He finishes in a more serious tone, then turning his attention back to Triäsa and the amphibians.

(Triäsa Persuasion: 24)

"It is a pleasure to meet you Bullup. I am Triäsa,"  she says in Primordial.  She then follows the Grippli's gaze over towards Daventry, nodding. "Yes, she is the only traditional warrior among us.  But I assure you, we are all quite capable if it comes to a fight.  But tell me, what exactly is the issue that you have?  How might we help?" 

Translation from Primordial

Taking a step back again, Ludolf quietly translates to the others, including the captain, what is being said in primordial.

Bullgup seems to consider your words carefully before speaking in it's coarse croaking language, "You say you can help in the sounds of our people. You may meet the Pond Mother. She will explain, we have little choice."

He turns and quietly expects you to follow as heads to the largest of the buildings at the trading post.

The inside of this building is a seen of despair and sadness. Clearly this building is meant to store goods and wares not people. In the corners and along the walls, battered and bleed frogfolk lie moaning in agony while a handful of grippli pack mud and herbs into wounds. In the center of the room is the largest frog you have ever seen. Fat and old the creature sits awkwardly on a large wooden cart that is elaborately decorated in primitive paints. The Pond Mother wears a heavy woven tunic of dark browns, blues and greens. Around her neck is a large necklace of shells and her ears are similar adorned.

Bullgup and the other approach with reverence and bow deeply, in primordial he says, "Mother these come with the Great Ship with an offer of help from.... Candlekeep. Seem sincere to Bullgup this one speaks our sounds." He motions toward Triäsa as he speaks.

The Pond Mother let's out a loud desperate croak which gains the attention of all in the largest warehouse. She speaks in a broken common, "Welcome.... adventures. I speak your tongue but the sounds are..... challenging for our throats." She speaks with a clear effort and there is a vibration coarseness to her words. "We... have little  choice but to beg for your help. The Snakes have returned to marsh. They kill our people, slave those they can, steal our homes.... they eat our eggs... many... of my children lost. We... I... am not strong enough." Tears form in the corner of her eyes.

Silently she gathers herself and notice the 20 or so frogfolk have silently stopped thier work and have gathered around.

As they walk towards the hut, and in, Pardot mentions to Triasa, "I noticed that their land seems rather... sparse of the creatures that should inhabit such a place. There should be far more little creatures hopping about..." Then, entering and seeing the injured people, lets out a soft gasp and walks around handing a single berry to each of them.

Ludolf nods and follows along to the largest of the buildings at the trading post. As he enters he bows with reverence to the Pond Mother and continues to quietly translate until the Pond Mother turns to the common tongue. He feels genuine pity for the por amhibians and the snakes of YIG clearly had to be dealt with. "Perhaps should ask them about what you found in Candlekeep?" He turns and says quietly to Daventry before stepping towards the Pond Mother to bow again and speak in a clear and encouraging voice. "Revered Pond Mother, we come indeed from Candlekeep to honour our pact and show our gratitude for your peoples help throughout the years with providing sustenance for the learned men and women of our home. Please tell us about these snakes that have returned and we will rid you of your torment and return your peaceful and prosperous way of life."

Persuasion: 20 Another roll if help action is provided: 25

The Old Toad seemingly smiles as her tongue flies from her mouth and devours an uncomfortably large mosquito that got a bit too close. She inhales deeply and with effort pushes the following words toward you, "Two months... ago... a band of Yuan-ti, snake people, came to us in peace. They had discovered ruins... lost to time of their civilization... they asked... permission to explore the ruins on our land... it was granted..." She again inhales and the croaking continues, "All was well for a ten day then the raids began... killed our people... ate our eggs.... Yuan-ti but also others... like I have never seen. We abandoned our home and fled here... but the children... the eggs... our lives.... ruined... Can you reclaim our home? Can you save the eggs?"

Daventry steps forward. "Matron, the others that raided with the yuan-ti, can you describe them? And did the yuan-ti have a leader that you or your people saw?"

"The others are more like serpents than even the yuan-ti. Scaled from head to toe... arms and legs like a man but the head.... the head is that of the snake. Strong... all of them." She croaks, "No one leader... that I.... saw" She breathes heavily as she looks at her people that have gathered around your group. She speaks again in primoradial, "My Children! Those before you have come to bring us to salvation. To save us from the serpents who eat our unborn and enslave our strong! Our suffering draws to a close!"

A chorus of croaking cheers rises from the grippli around you as frogfolk relax and approach each of you. They embrace you and pat your backs in thanks for a job not yet done, desperation in their eyes.

"Our village is to the north... 5 miles along the coast. The crab farm is first... the village is just beyond the breakwater... please... how, can we help." She speaks again in common.

Translation:

Ludolf turns to the others to quietly interpret what is spoken in primordial, then turning back to the Pond Mother. "Revered Pond Mother, can your people draw us a map that shows us the location of these ruins you mentioned. I suspect we would need to go there eventually to root out the evil that has been plaguing you." He explains calmly. "Or maybe a guide if that would suit you better." Ludolf also mentally commands Edgar to fly north to scout for threats along the shoreline and over the crab farm and then return to report.

The Pond Mother considers you carefully and croaks, "Bullgup and Quartle can go... with you." She nods toward the two "warriors" that escorted you to the Pond Mother from the docks, "I... hesitate to send more... we may need... some here... They can show you the way.... A map... I... don't have..."

Captain Jois who has been rather quiet and taking in the sights clears his throat, "I might be able to offer one more piece of assistance. The ship won't get you to the village but I am familiar with the area. If you'd like I can sail you up the shore a bit and you all can take a row boat into the crab farm. From there you could make your way to the village. Alternatively you could follow the shoreline north on land."

In the midst of conversation Edgar leaps into the air and disappears out a window on his recon mission north.

"Thanks for the offer captain. Perhaps we should go with The Dog Ear then and let Bullgup and Quartle stay with their people?" Ludolf suggests to the others. "Would you be okay aboard a ship a while longer?" He says quietly to Triäsa with a wink.

Triäsa followed the others to see the Pond Mother. Upon arriving she bowed low and then greets her in Primordial. "It is a pleasure to meet you Pond Mother."

She follows along with the conversation asthe others speak now in Common.  At Ludolf's comment as they prepare to leave, she gives him a brief look and simply replies, "Of course I will be just fine. Shall we get going?"