While everyone is working out protocol and stuff, Wilberforce sits down at the back, largely out of sight, and scratches into the dirt with a stick. He is actually using a ritual to cast Speak with Animals

Shagrin places x himself just behind and to the right of Calitynia.

Calitynia steps forward with the scroll. "I carry a Declaration of Intent of Neutrality on behalf of the mayor of Vogler. We ask that you consider this offer. We would be pleased to convey any messages back to the mayor in turn."

She holds out the scroll, then stays patiently at attention awaiting a response. 

The messenger in red and black takes the scroll Calitynia offers her, tucking it in her satchel. She then reads from a scroll of her own:

Calitynia takes the scroll. "I shall present this to the mayor.  And we shall see what her response shall be."  She gives a brief nod to the messenger, then glances to the others to see if they are ready to return. 

The white-haired half-breed gives Calitynia a worried look. Housing the army would most likely simply be a way of conquering Vogler without resistance and there was nothing to suggest this army would not plunder the city before it eventually moved on. "So you expect us to believe there is an army of red dragons at your back?" Daryan scoffs, taking a step forward. "You come here making demands and have nothing to show for it. Who is this Belephaion you speak of boy, your uncle? And this army of dragons and this dragon queen, it all sounds like a poor joke, if you want the mayor to even consider this demand of yours you'd better expand a bit on who you really are?" He continues defiantly, trying to goad the rider to divulge more about the army and it's commander.

Deception: 21 Another roll if help action is given: 7

The messenger raises her hand, clearly making a signal. On the cliffs overlooking the gate, four soldiers dressed similarly to the messenger, but without warhorses, appear from the woods. They hold javelins at the ready. "A small showing, for now," the messenger says. "Know that we would savor raising steel against you, especially given your insolence, half-breed: it is an uncommon mercy that your village is being given a chance to continue existing. Deliver my message to the mayor or I will deliver it myself, together with your head!"

"So there's five of you, impressive, still, no dragons as far as I can see. So which one is Bele... what's his name, they all look alike from over here." Daryan presses on, looking at the soldiers on the cliffs, quite certain this messenger is not authorized to initiate this attack on her own, and if he could draw her attention away from Vogler then all the better.

(For reference: the cliffs are 30 feet tall.)

(Ori will offer her help to Daryan on the deception check) In the back Ori clutches her Hoopak even tighter as more of this army appear on the cliffs. She will walk forward slightly and whisper to Cali "Maybe we can get them to agree that there will be no harm done to the villagers, no looting, ect. and we can let them stay? Maybe try to gather some intelligence while they are here and use that to confront them at a bigger city with a bigger army? I'm worried that if we do nothing, we condemn all these people to death. I don't want them here any more than anyone else, but if we can save villagers lives it may be worth considering?"

The messenger lashes out verbally at Daryan. "If Belephaion were here, you would be dead for your insolence! He speaks for the Dragon Queen Takhisis herself, and knows she suffers not fools. The Red Dragon Army will be here by sunset. See to it that you are better hosts then than you have been thus far." With that, she turns her warhorse, intent on riding away from the village, possibly to notify her superiors of her reception. If you do not act to stop her, she will soon disappear into the woods along an earthen trail. The soldiers on the cliffside, notably, do not withdraw, their javelins still at the ready.

Daryan makes no effort to stop the rider, instead turning to speak to Calitynia and the others. "Takhisis was banished long ago, but they seem quite serious, could she be back?" He says quietly, glancing up at the warriors on the cliff above them. "Oh well, better deliver that ultimatum but I don't think we can hope for the town to survive this army, especially if it really serves the dragon queen of old, some sort of evacuation would be their only hope." 

Wilberforce continues concentrating on moving his ritual stick, while he is doing this he says to the whole team 'I'm not sure if this will work, but if anyone can help me in few minutes I may be able to generate a distraction that could buy a bit of time for the evacuation'

"Will you not wait for a reply from the mayor?"  Calitynia calls out to the messenger as he turns. "Please know this man does not speak for the town." She pointedly gives Daryan an annoyed look.

"They will simply come here by sunset as she said, only question is if people stay and surrender or if they seek refuge in Kalaman. I can see you don't approve of what I said but I'm quite certain that will not change any plans of this army, knowing more about it could mean a lot though since this army will not be content with taking Vogler." Daryan says to the white-haired solamnic knight, bowing slightly and waiting for Calityinia to head back with the ultimatum.

"I suppose anything is possible but I'd bet my beard it's just another charlatan trading on the name of another.  Could be to our advantage since it will force this, Belephaion, to make choices that keep his secret. But that also means Daryan is right about needing to evacuate. Especially since we poked the bear. Though in the larger picture it probably didn't matter much. We should deliver this so that we can start figuring out how to drag negotiations out as long as possible." Replies Shagrin to Daryan and Cali. Calling to Wilber he says, "Unless you're conjuring something large enough to distract a whole army you should probably wait till we know where best to utilize your skills."  

The messenger does turn back as Calitynia addresses her. "Very well, I will wait for a response from your mayor to bring back to my superior. Do not keep me waiting long," she says.

"We shall proceed with haste," Calitynia responds.  She immediately turns and starts walking briskly back to the Brass Crab. She makes no attempt to see if others follow.

Once about halfway back to the center of the village she steals a glance to see if others did accompany her.

Shagrin falls into lock step behind Calitynia as they return to the crab.

Wilberforce follows along continuing his ritual by swishing the stick in the air.