The leader of these lizardfolk remains indignant, but Uragum's words trigger a reaction in some of the others; only a slight lowering of their guard, but noticeable nonetheless.

"Ekik mrith coi, hak. Wer fothisev di Scalecrusher soi aux batobot paci. Svanoa ui coi batobot wux siofme wux geou fi tikil edrokilt loupon jaci," the leader says, gesturing to the center of the island where the drums and the half-dissolved head of a lizardfolk sit.

For Carlthuzad, Hex and Uragum:

Uragum raises his fist and as he does so it crackles with electricity.  He raises it above his head and the lets the charge dissipate.  He unclenches his fist and then points to  Auriel's halberd.  As he watches their eyes travel from his fist to where he points, he says, "We will fare better than he because we have magic, good steel and the skill to use them.  With your assistance, it would show the other tribes your strength.  In all likelihood, they would defer to your tribes rule."

Carl hears Uragum’s speech with the leader of this group and he nods, planting his feet wide apart, holding his hands up to the skies, arcing electricity between them, and then discharging it into the ground, looking back up and with eyes glowering looks at the lizardfolk, a serious look of business on his face.  He hands his battle axe to his unseen servant and has it make a couple of slices through the air with it, then he has it give it back to him.  He nods and smiles at the leader and says in common, “Yep.  Best not f*(% with us.  Or… we can help each other.”  He nods and looks to Uragum, then goes back to ready position.  

Auriel moves a couple of steps closer to the rest and slowly moves his halberd upside down, placing its head on the ground as a clear show of non aggresion. Uragum and Carl have made clear the party's strength, so the paladin figures that he can do the gesture that shows they can also bring dialogue.

After doing this, and not wanting to interrupt Uragum, he whispers to Hex:

- Please, ask them about the dragon. Do they know where its lair is? Or from which direction did it came when it killed Scalecrusher? They might even know when it will come here next. Anything they might know will help us prepare.

One of the lizardfolk raises a club as if to run forward and strike the wizard and warlock down where they stand, but the leader thrusts an arm out to stop him. He eyes the magic warily before speaking, "Si geou nymuer dout nadot osri si sout sia clvin ekess uvelucalva nelithral."

For Carlthuzad, Hex and Uragum:

Hex nods as Auriel whispers in her ear and steps forward a bit. "I'll be honest, we don't have a plan at the moment but that's something that can be easily solved if you could tell us as much as you know about the dragon. Where is the dragon now and when will it return here? Where is its lair, or if you don't know, then from which direction did it arrive from?"

The lizardfolk leader hesitates, but after a glance in the direction of the Muckmarsh clan, provides an answer.

"Throstulgrael confnic de wer Flodentil Tibe. Jaci confna vi mrith sahri kagh oupila joork ekess hesi tolgalen. Scalecrusher wer tilsin daar kagh jacida ghergo hahri Bogclaw jahen amida. Hesi z'ar maekrix geou qe cofna de wer clvin batobot prilsin Throstulgrael mrith wer throdenilti waphir bacriri."

He pauses, looking toward the sky, and concludes, "Throstulgrael yentada jaci ornla rannox persvek jiil tolgalen. Ir tepohaic dolrutha li jaci irral annisha."

For Carlthuzad, Hex and Uragum:

When Carl translates that the dragon isn't expected for another tenday, Sylyra is visibly relieved. But after a couple of seconds, the elf squares his shoulders and once again appears to present a strong presence.

After listening to Carl's translation, Auriel looks a little more optimistic. Not needing to worry about the dragon for a few days was good news, but he wasn't really sure they could simply trust a black dragon's word. That Throstulgrael could very well change his mind and appear before ten days passed. In any case, if he at least wasn't going to appear this very day or the next one, that would give them time to prepare the plan that the leader of this clan had requested.

With that in mind, the eladrin decides to take a step forward and address the lizardfolk directly. He positions himself next to Hex, telling her "Can you please translate for me, Hex?", and then says:

- Those ten days are surely good news, if we can trust the dragon will keep his word. - As he says this he eyes Sylyra apologetically, knowing that the elf had felt relieved after hearing this information - In any case, if we could count on Throstulgrael not coming at least in the next couple of days, we can prepare for his arrival. You wanted a plan and that is a wise request from a wise leader. Our proposal is that your clan, and the other one - he says, pointing at the western leg of the island - join forces, throw away the Muckmarsh from their current position of power and then bring Throstulgrael down. This way you will be free to choose your new King the way you see fit, and live your lives as you have done so far, without having to appease a dragon.

He stops for a moment to let Hex translate, and then continues:

- My companions have already shown you our abilities. With the Muckmarsh' weapons you will be better suited to fight. And with the days ahead we could set some traps for when the creature sets foot on the island, even prepare some javelins and such in case it takes to the skies. I'll be honest, I don't know how to prepare for his acidic breath more than fanning out so it doesn't reach many of us at the same time. But you will surely agree with me that its better to fight the monster than living in fear the rest of your lives, or better said, the time Throstulgrael gives you before he decides to kill you all just because it pleases him. 

 Hex thoroughly translates Auriel's words, impressed with their eloquence. As she finishes translating, she adds in a little at the end. "Releasing the prisoners would also be a good idea. Some may be willing to fight alongside us if we were to arm them, giving us a better chance at defeating the Muckmarsh and Throstulgrael as well."

Carl stands there nodding at Auriel’s words, standing on his tiptoes and feeling they are correct.  He understands the dragon being spoken but cannot say the words himself, so he asks for translation as well.  “Aye, true words spoken well, my elvish friend.”  He looks at Hex and says “Ask the odds of a group effort, if he knows the leader of the other groups, if they would be willin to have a truce for this purpose, to be able to decide their own fate and elect their own leaders instead of living under the constant threat of an acidic death, at the whims of yon wyrm.  We can help, the people they captured might help too, then we could all leave them in peace after this threat has been handled.  Freedom!  We offer them freedom, instead of living under the yoke … how about that for a plan, for a future!”  Carl stands with his battle axe and rests it blade down on the ground, leaning on the handle, jutting his jaw forward and scratching his beard, waiting to see the reaction to his words.  

The lizardfolk argue amongst each other for several minutes; most seem to desire simply adding the party to their collection of captives but some seem to be intrigued by the idea of added firepower to take the fight to Muckmarsh. Once their leader offers support for speaking with the Dusk-Dusk clan, more earnest discussion breaks out about the likelihood that Dusk-Dusk would even accept such an arrangement. One thing seems to be very consistently felt among the clan, however - no support can be heard for the notion of freeing any of the captives.

In the midst of their discussion, your eyes are drawn to movement on the Muckmarsh's section of the island as a massive lizardfolk emerges from the water, holding a trident nearly twice as long as any of the Muckmarsh lizardfolk's javelins. The Muckmarsh seem to bristle at its arrival, and their leader steps forward to challenge the creature. Their words being exchanged cannot be heard from this distance, but their gestures indicate some sort of immediate disagreement.

As the companions translate what is being said, Auriel curses under his breath. Then he whispers, trying that the expression on his face doesn't betray what he's saying:

- If they aren't up for freeing the prisoners, then there's no possible alliance with any of them. We'll end up having to fight them all...

Before adding anything else, and as the big lizardfolk suddenly appears, the eladrin watches what this clan is doing. Are they focusing on the new arrival? Do they intend to approach the Muckmarsh side of the island to watch? Or are they staying where they are?

Hex sighs and nods in agreement at Auriel's whisper. "Well, at the very least, whatever alliance we can make with them, if we can even make one, will lessen how many we'll have to fight at once." When the large lizardfolk suddenly appears, she frowns and slowly takes out her bow. She turns to the Rootwater clan leader and motions towards the large lizardfolk. "Who is that? Someone we need to worry about?"

"Bogclaw! Jaci ui wer heini di Scalecrusher, wer wielgtor tilsin daar. Yth simethot jacion nelith kagh seaar ini Throstulgrael," the lizardfolk leader says in shock.

Whatever discussion this Bogclaw is having with the Muckmarsh ends abruptly as the burly lizardfolk impales the Muckmarsh leader with his trident, roughly throwing the flailing body behind him into the water. Bogclaw gestures angrily, saying something that seems to rally the other Muckmarsh lizardfolk, who wave their javelins above their heads in excitement.

For Carlthuzad, Hex and Uragum:

Sylyra can't help but grin as he watches the confrontation and hears the translation. "Sounds like this is the one we need to win over," he says quietly. Surely this one will side with them and want to take down the dragon.

Auriel watches this Bogclaw warily. The Rootwaters already don't look interested in freeing the captives, and this one strikes the paladin as being even further from that. So what now? Are the Muckmarsh going to attack the Rootwaters and Dusk-Dusk instead of the other way round? Or will the Rootwaters follow the Muckmarsh now that the apparent rightful heir has returned home?

Either way, it doesn't look good for the party, nor the kidnapped people.

- I think we should prepare for a fight - he whispers to the companions.

Trying to look as he's moving to have a better view of the Muckmarsh side of the island, Auriel will move a little bit closer to the kidnapped cage, as it will be his intention to slam it open to free them in case a fight begins.

Then he asks the leader of the Muckmarsh, again requesting a translation:

- What is your decision? 

Hex looks momentarily surprised as Bogclaw suddenly kills the Muckmarsh leader. Watching the rest of the lizardfolk react with excitement rather than anger causes her to feel even more uneasy. She looks to the Rootwater clan leader to translate for Auriel and waits for their answer apprehensively.

"More pieces to the board..." Uragum mutters in common more to himself than anyone else.  He looks to his companions, and nods to Sylyra.  "He might be thirsty for blood.  We just need to convince him to make that be dragon blood."

Sylyra gives Auriel a look of incredulity before stepping up behind Uragum and giving him a slight push toward the Muckmarsh's section of the island. "We need to talk to him now," he says into the goliath's shoulder. He pushes Uragum forward, ushering him toward the creature and ignoring anything the Rootwaters might be doing. Once within a reasonable distance, the elf raises his voice and calls brightly, "Oh, great Bogclaw. Rightful heir to the scaly throne. Might we have an audience to discuss the vengeful destruction of the dragon Frostgrail?" Smiling, he says to Uragum, "You're on, big guy." Sylyra gives Uragum another pat on the shoulder and bestows guidance on the wizard.