Quote from Antlan >>

Dardek shakes his head no and puts his finger to his mouth in a shhh manner

Once again, the chief returns some facsimile of the gesture.

Seeing this, the others do as well... first one-by-one, then as a group... they don't seem entirely sure what they're doing or why but they do it all the same... you get the sense that they're following your lead out of some sort of... respect? Possibly even reverence? ...but that would be crazy, right?

The plant pygmies watch like meerkats as the little lizard one convinces the people in armor to flee.

A whispering buzz of excitement and reverent gossip passes through them. You don't need to speak.... whatever it is they speak, to translate their expressions of "Wow! They made the boat leave! Did you see that? They must be important or  powerful." The chief raises his spear over his head in a celebrating gesture and the others respond in a soft, cheerful hiss that sounds like cicadas.

Glancing around to orient himself, Dardek finally spots Ashley hiding in the bushes a few yards away. She seems to be putting her ear to that small wooden box you all found.

Ashley stops trembling when she sees that Talon has convinced the boat to move on.  She then turns her attention to the box she is holding.  She tries a soothing voice, "It's alright, you're safe.  I'll try to get you out though."

She looks at the box again and tries to make sense out of it, prodding any movable sections on it.

Quote from kqstark >>

She looks at the box again and tries to make sense out of it, prodding any movable sections on it.

You feel like you've made a bit of progress in understanding the puzzle. Unfortunately, it doesn't unlock.

Dardek Pssts Ashley and Nibs "Hey guys are they gone? My new friends seem to think so." Dardek turns to who he believes is the leader and bows his head "Thank you friends for being by my side.....I wish I could undertsand you"

The plant pygmies respond in sober, thoughtful yet totally indecipherable melody of hums and clicks.

The chief makes some sort of grand statement that the others agree with.... Whatever the adorable little root-person is saying, you sense it's intended as an expression of support and good will towards Dardek and his companions. Most of the others nod in agreement with the chief's declaration as the begin fanning out into some sort of loosely structured formation.

The chief, seeing Dardek just standing there, motions for him to follow the tribe. He gestures towards the others as if to say, "bring them along."

Nib hears sounds of the men moving off, the boat moving away and he decides to sit up and reach into his pack, he fills the bullseye lantern with oil and then lights it, being careful to shield the light.  He starts to walk and search, eventually finding Ashley and Dardek.  Then he sees the little plant-like people.  Nib freezes up for a second and stops walking.  He sets his lantern down for a moment and stops his approach, holding his hands up and with a smiling face, says “Hey, uh, Dardek?  Ashley?  These are the guys that were crawling out of that body that we found at the site of the boat crash.  I wouldn’t go with them.  There were two that crawled out of the body of the fella that died.  They were like… feeding on it?  Or something?   Maybe they were little uns, using the body for food, I don’t know.  But they may be wanting to use us to feed on or something like that.  I poked at one with an oar, but then they started to come at us.  Pal and I fled.  I would not go with them….let’s get out of here, mmmkay?”.  All said while maintaining a smile and speaking in a most friendly manner - 

Dardek looks at Nibs bamboozled by their actions prior to meeting "You poked them with an oar? Why would you do that? They readied their spears and support for me. I am going with them, they wouldn't save me to eat me. They probably did eat the dead guy you found and are probably in the scavenger group of creatures or maybe they enjoy bunny rabbit. They were ready to save me...maybe we can learn to communicate with them!"

“Pal and I defended ourselves after they came after us, I don’t know what you are talkin bout.  I wouldn’t go with them.  What do you think you’ll get from em?  This is not the way we were headed..”. Nib takes a glance back at the direction towards his village, wondering about the steps he’s taken leading him here.

Dardek looks at Ashley before stammering a bit unaccustomed to speaking his mind   "But but but you poked them with an oar....If, if, if somoene poked you with an oar wouldn't you go after them?

The creatures stand there watching you both talk, swiveling their heads in unison like watching a tennis match.

“Forget the oar!” *smiling, talking friendly…* “that was after they came at us!  They we eating a bodyyyy, maybe they would want to eat youuuuuu!”  Nib finishes with a smile.  

Dardek gasps "What? No, no...I don't believe it....Look at how friendly they are" Dardek bends down and puts out a hand or a finger to shake the tribal leader's hand

Ashley is a bit preoccupied with the box, but when she hears Dardek start stammering, she tries to pay attention.  "Well, whatever is in this box is alive and therefore doesn't make great treasure.  So we still need something for the elves, maybe these people will have something that will work?"  Ashley moves to start following them. But then smiles at Nib, "Don't worry, we've got your back.  We won't abandon you."

The chief recoils with fear at first when Dardek reaches out his finger… then he gingerly wraps his tiny hand around the finger… then glances back to his tribe. One by one they cluster around, each trying to find a piece of skin with a collective murmur that sounds something like, “Oooooooh…”

"See they just want to be friends" Dardek continues shaking his finger with whomever takes it and anyone perceptive could probably tell he's becoming uneasy with all the poking and prodding of the others trying to feel his skin

The chief, seeing the dynamic between Nib and Dardek walks up to the halfling and utters some incomprehensible chirp-croaking communication while gesturing proudly with his tiny spear. In his little speech, he extends his arm towards Dardek, then out to the camp, then all around the surrounding forest. He finishes with a definitive "I have spoken" nod of the head. The other members of the tribe nod in agreement, occasionally, impatiently wandering about the camp... studying Ashley and Talon and Seig.

Dardek nods along "See he was protecting me. Maybe they have food they will share....I could use a little nibble of something"

“Yeah, or they’re gonna share your body and with all of the camp, you will fertilize many … thingys.  One or the other.”

Talon watches this exchange from a distance, looking at the little creatures that are making such a fuss about Dardek.  He takes a moment, studying the things, and then decides he's not going to weigh in on where they go.  Instead he reaches down and grabs Seig, trying to drag his friend along by himself if that's what it takes.