The Courting of Fire (DM Lerus)

Obsben for her part, as well as Salty Bottom for that matter, took everyone's silence on her request as tacit approval. And so, she and her little flying monkey beat a hasty retreat behind the middlemost column (BE-26 and BE-27) to wait for the fire works. She'd even wait those few seconds more of the festivities kicking off before hustling over to join the fray. 

(OOC: Effectively, Obsben is willingly skipping the 1st round of any combat unless in direct danger or harmed prior to her turn.)

(OOC: I'm understanding that Obby no longer wants to go with the message/intimidation approach.)

Obsben considers for a moment the less aggressive approach. She may not be able to read any minds at this moment, but perhaps she could send a mental message to one of them. Maybe she could repeat the message to a few of them until she is satisfied it reached Spernik. Maybe... Never mind. The halfling decides she might be overthinking it a bit and lets the others do their thing. She retreats behind a pillar and waits for a bit, once again noticing the gems adorning these pillars some 25ft up their length.

Utar chooses to gather some intel before the group rushes in. He delicately produces a peephole into the next room, doing so at an angle as to decrease the chances the spell gets stuck behind too thick a rock layer. It reduces the eventual field of vision, but it proves to be the right choice. Utar slips the "speak-easy" doorlet open and peeks in. Through the narrow view point, the Tormite sees a few swolbolds coming in and out of vision. There are at least three of them but it is hard to tell whether it is always the same three coming in and out of view. There is also a human, who his locate creature spell all but confirms to be Spernik. The man is sweating profusely and looking around nervously. He is wearing clothes similar to the other scribes back at Mantor's Library, though he has added a metal breastplate atop his vestments. He is not wearing the signature purple robe you associate with the Cult of the Dragon. Spernik has lit his own belt.

Neya takes the next peep. Focusing on the features of the room instead, Neya describes it as a round chamber with decorated walls. On the right side of the room, the only one she can see, she spots a pillar and two doors. She gathers it is safe to assume these features have symmetric counterparts on the left side of the room. A safe bet for her teleporting ability is the pillar shadow being cast by Spernik's belt light.

Intel shared, Graxx gets the signal he has been waiting for and rushes towards the double doors. He easily knocks one of them off its hinges and it falls to the ground with a loud thud. Neya has already teleported within the room by then. Spernik squeals in surprise as the six swolbolds ready themselves for a fight, Spernik raises both of his hands. "Wait, wait, wait, wait," he pleas. "I am sure we can arrive at an agreement in a civilized manner." He gestures for the swolbolds to calm down and asks: "Who are you?"   

(@Drache: Neya may consider herself unseen.)

Neya keeps an eye on the situation, making sure that Spernik and the swolbolds don't make any sudden moves.

Insight: 16

Sliding the peep hole shut, Utar ducks through the door that Graxx so effectively opened. Lightbringer hangs loosely in his hand by his side.

Loitering with intent by the door a little behind Graxx, he keeps his gaze fixed on Spernik, giving him a hard stare and making sure his tusks are prominent. If he's going to try to put a touch of fear into Spernik, best to look the part. He musters up his best nasty look and adds a little more gravel to his voice. Best look like he's a well dressed member of an Orcish horde.

"You've led us a merry dance, Spernik. Tell us about this agreement."

Intimidation - 23

(OOC I'm hoping to put a touch of fear in Spernik to either loosen him up for whoever wants to negotiate or maybe put him on the backfoot. We'll see what RNGesus says.)

Graxx readies his axe and snarls at the Swolbolds.

Graxx wants to fight.

But.. Graxx respects Utar's decision.

Graxx will wait.

His breathing is still intense.

Graxx remembers Ekmong's words... "Thievery doesn't condone Murder.."

Graxx will focus on eliminating the Swolbolds first then if needed.

For now... Graxx waits...

(@Lerus: E'yup. No need to risk giving the jig up. But she'll continue to maintain concentration on Detect Thoughts.)

Obsben, true to her word, waits a few seconds just to make sure that no sudden bead of red would zip into the entryway for a good deal of decimation. Once nothing of the sort comes of it, just the initial barbs of a tense exchange, the halfling motions for Salty Bottom to follow at least fifteen behind her as she skipped her way over to the door and peeked around the corner. 

As soon as she lays eyes on Spernik, the halfling waved languidly and smiled broadly at the man. "Hi~ Quick question, if you don't mind. But is your real name Spernik? Or like, Spudnik?" She asks while scanning the man's surface thoughts now that she had a visual to focus upon. Once she had her answer her attention drifts over to a Kobold; who she directs some draconic words towards. Mostly draconic words, though there was one or two points odd word that got thrown in that didn't neatly conform to either draconic or the yipyak dialect of Kobolds... which she strangely knew how to sling in there: 

 Despite the pleasant overtones to her words, or as pleasant as the tongue could get, there was a layer studiousness mixed into her expression. As if trying to gauge if the unusualness of their physique went stepped into the mental aspects of the kobold. 

Insight: 8. 

This round room, in which Spernik and his swolbolds were hiding, is about 40 feet in diameter with walls beautifully decorated in stunning, colorful mosaics depicting stylized dragons in a number of different activities. A large door of hammered red metal rests in the far facing wall. Four other open exits with stairs are spaced evenly around the room. The room is littered with bones. The door on the far side of the room is embossed with the image of a rearing red dragon. The dragon wears an amulet with the central piece missing.

CRAP's two bulky, fearsome unknown male warriors barge into the room. Somehow, seeing only two individuals and realizing they must have not only made their way through the guards left outside but also the zombies in the previous chamber makes the whole introduction even scarier. Graxx's show of strength, evidenced by the now broken wooden bar previously locking the door shut, is followed by a disconcerting silent. Utar's aggressive pacing adds to it all. Despite having the numbers' advantage, Spernik is not liking this one bit, and the fact the half-orc knows Spernik's name does not bode well for the human scribe. From her hidden spot, Neya observes and confirm: Spernik is afraid.

Both Neya and Obby notice this: Spernik is quite young—only 19 years of age or so—and completely overwhelmed by his current situation. He is
sweating profusely and is constantly looking around nervously. Nonetheless, he is willing to talk and hoping to deescalate as needed. Once he starts talking, the female duo notices he has a way with his words in that his voice is not trembling and fear has not forced him to minimize the number of words he utters. There is some confidence in there too despite his fear. You could say that his training as a scribe has paid off.

Answering Utar's question, Spernik begins: "You know my name and have clearly followed my trail here. Surely, you chase a thief. I acknowledge I committed such crime in Phlan. However, at this very moment, I am doing nothing but exploring a long forgotten set of ruins once inhabited by a circle of druids no one cares about these days. You look like you know how complex and dirty this kind of work can get." He waves about as if displaying the swolbolds. "So, I recruited aid. They are here to protect me. Surely, their companions tried to protect me once they saw you attempting to enter the ruins."

It is then that Obsben steps forward, interrupting Spernik with a question that forces him to verbally confirm his identity: "Yes, Spernik, but clearly you already knew this." As the halfling turns to focus her attention at one of the kobolds, Spernik continues: "As I was saying... I came here to explore and was careful enough to recruit muscle. You came here after me, presumably due to my fugitive status and probably on someone else's coin. So, how about an agreement between two adventuring parties, yes? Given how tense this situation is, I'll offer a straightforward and direct proposal: Simply leave me be and forget you ever saw me here. Turn back to Phlan and take those gems in the pillars behind you. Although I found them first, they are yours to keep. Then, once we are all back in Phlan, let's say in about three days, we shall meet at my favorite tavern, The Laughing Goblin, where I'll present you with a king’s ransom in honor of our agreement. I stay free, and you become rich. Richer, in fact, than whatever your current patron has promised you."

One of the kobolds cocks his head and responds to Obby's question in Draconic (all but Graxx know this language):

@Obby (Spernik's surface thoughts):

Obsben appears to nods sagely at her chosen Kobold; and then, following a few final words, her attention shifts once more fully onto to Spernik. 

 "I dunno~ They could be booby trapped by those old druids~" Obsben singsongs and waggles a finger at Spernik. "But I will say, I do admire the hustle. And I s'pose whoever you're working with must as well. Who is... who by the way?" She asks politely enough. But if his surface thoughts fail to reveal anything on the matter, then she'd wait until the next lull in conversation, keeping an "eye" on his surface thoughts up until then all the while, before ultimately delving deeper and try to get a name on his employer or whatever significant figure loomed more heavily on his mind.

-> Wisdom Save(DC 16) for Spernik.

Focusing on their end goals, Utar plays along with the negotiations. Bristling visibly, he spits out his next words. "There are books, Spernik. Books that you have. I want them. I'm not going back without them."

Graxx holds and tries to remain calm.

He knows he's not trading his values for money.

Spernik is coming back with them... Alive.

Hopefully, it will build more credit with those in high places so that he can free his tribesman.

Neya listens to Spernik's speech and tries to discern any falsehoods.

Insight: 19

If there are any of similar gemstones nearby her, she will inconspicuously try to see if they are of any value.

Stealth: 28

General Intelligence: 16

DM's Screen:

@Neya: Although he is young, Spernik is well-spoken. However, this does not change the fact that he is visibly afraid. Lying would be a dangerous game to play in his position and he seems smart enough to realize that. You deduce he is being truthful. As for nearby gems, you do not spot any in the columns in this chamber. The ones in the previous chamber, if you had to guess, are probably worth some 20gp each. You saw 15 of them (for a total of an estimated 300gp.) Finally, you may continue to consider yourself hidden.

@Obby: Both the verbal and the mental response to your question are the same: "I am a member of the Cult of the Dragon." It is not pride that allows him to reveal such information so easily. You'd expect him to try to hide this fact, but he doesn't, for some reason. A couple of the kobolds give Spernik a look, apparently also surprised with the ease with which he divulged his affiliation. As for your direct message to one of the kobolds, you only receive a grunt in response.

Graxx continues to look silently fearsome, speaking to himself in his mind. Utar is the one who advances the negotiations, at least for now. Spernik turns to address the half-orc: "Right. Thievery. The tomes. The reason you are here. Of course." He pats his backpack. "I have both tomes here in my pack. I would prefer to keep them but, in the name of reaching an agreement, I will give them back to you. I'll hand one over now, as you insist, and keep the other so that we can complete our deal later. Same time, same place. We shake hands now and you leave me to my ruin exploration. In three days-time, you'll have your other tome and promised fortune." It is at this time, while Spernik and Utar are negotiating, that Obsben digs deeper into the cultist's mind.

@Obsben:

Spernik screams and holds his head. "Away; away from my mind, witch!" With that, Obsben's mind spell ends. The kobolds grunt in response. They are getting more agitated but fall short of starting a fight right at this moment. 

Thinking quick, Obsben flinched and immediately began rubbing at her temple as Spernik screamed, only to soon after look up seeming both pained and bemused. "That's... not something I've been called in quite a while... oof." She admits as much truthfully. "I am sorry though. I-I wasn't trying to look. Truly. But I think..." She looks about the room squinting at a few things. "I think something here was trying to connect us. Connect our thoughts... maybe... maybe we share a greater connection to dragons? Is that not why you became a member of the cult? Because they sensed that in you? And could you not read my own thoughts?" She asked, sounding at least hopeful.

Deception: 23. 

And if she sees her ruse even remotely working, she quickly hammers the point in saying, "That's it, isn't? I was told long ago that my own bloodline had something to do with dragons, but I don't think I've ever had that happen before. Perhaps we can maybe explore this place together?"

Utar raises an eyebrow at Obsben's suggestion. "That way I could both books without you leading us a merry dance, Spernik. No chance of you leaving us high and dry waiting on a no show at the Goblin."

(OOC Does Utar spot the flying swolbolds in the current room? Trying to gauge whether we're looking at all Spernik's hench hench-people.)

(@Lerus: One persuasion check coming right up!)

Persuasion: 25. 

Graxx tries to think quickly on how he can contribute to this situation without killing something.

How can he maybe turn the future battle odds in their favor.

Graxx pauses then sets down his axe keeping it close at his feet.

"How long ya'll be down here?  Are you thirsty?" says Graxx.

Graxx retrieves his [magicitem]Alchemy[/jug].

"I got some Beer here.  If you want..."

Graxx will offer Beer from the Alchemy Jug to the Swolbolds and Spernik.

Persuasion:  11

DM's Screen:

"Lies! Lies!" Spernik screams, still holding his head. More afraid than ever now that he knows this group of adventurers can tap into his mind, Spernik coils into a corner and hugs his backpack. Utar understands this to mean that his offer to hand one of the books is now off the table. In fact, whatever counter-proposal Obsben or Graxx offered, be it to co-explore the ruins or enjoy some jar beer, enters one ear and is out of the other.

There is no order, no command, coming from Spernik. Regardless, at this point, the swolbolds act of their own initiative.

ROLLING INITIATIVE:

• Obsben (Temporal Awareness): 23 (if Nat1, reroll: 18)   
• Graxx (Feral Instinct): 6   
• Neya (Alert): 16   
• Utar (Sentinel Shield): 30

• Swolbolds: 14  
  Spernik: 20   

THE CIRCLE OF THE CIRCLE - Initiative Round 1

• 27. Obsben & Salty Bottom (65+13/66 & 3+13/3; purple) - SB is a source of Light;  
  
• 25. Neya (74+9/88; cyan) - hidden (12), Darkvision;
• 19. Spernik -
• 15. Utar (93+13/104; yellow) - Lightbringer activated, concentrating on Locate Creature; 
• 12. Graxx (131+13/132; red) - DM's Inspiration;     
• 07. Swolbolds (x6) -        
  

MAP:

NOTES: Obsben and SB can see the entire circular chamber.

(Obsben and Neya may take their turns.)